The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-27
4S HOUR MEASURE
BEFORE COMMONS
British Governmental Bill
Also Provides for q Min
imum Wage.
FEW EXCEPTIONS MADE
Commissioners Are Given
Broad Powers to Force In
quiries to Sustain Act.

Special Correspondence to TIE Sun.
= LONDON, Oct. 1. - Among the first
measures hiatt will be taken up by the
House of Commons after the vacation
are the Government bills dealing with
tho forty-eight hour week and the Dill
setting up a commission to inquire Into
the question of minimum rates Of wages.
The forty-eight hour act Is to apply
to all persons who work under con-
tract Of service or apprenticeship under
an employer, whether the contract Is
expressed or implied, oral or in writing.
1t applies to all servants Of the Crown
or public authorities as IL the employer
were a private person. But It does not
apply to soldiers, sailors, airmen or
policemen.
The exceptions to the act are those
employed in horticulture agriculture, or
forestry, members of the employees own
family dwelling or working In the
house. domestic and outdoor servants,
persons holding responsible positions of
supervision and management, persons
employed in a confidential capacity who
are not usually employed on manual
labor.
Hours Limited to As.
The act provides that the number
Of working hours in any week, exclusive
OF meal times. shall not exceed forty
eight except on a recommendation from
joint industrial council. a Cancellation,
or trade board, or by arrangement be-
tween employers and workers, when a
| higher or lower number may be pre-
| scribed. Hours worked in excess OF this
| will be regarded as overtime, the extent
and conditions Of which must be sub
| mitted to and registered by the Min
| lister of Labor. The payment of over
| troa 10 nf tn 11a
above normal time rates.
Evasions of the act will be punished
by fines.
The minimum wage bill declares In
its opening clauses that at Is expedient
that minimum time rates Of wages
should be fixed for all persons Of Il
years of age and upward"
These rates should in the case Of per
sons of Is years and upward be fixed
at such amounts that all such persons
whether employed at time rate or &C
| cording to any other method of re
enumeration, will be afforded an ade
quate living wage.
1t Is expedient also that commits
sion should be appointed to inquire into
and decide what those rates should b,
and the manner in which they should b,
brought into operation"
Have Broad Powers.
The Commissioners are given ampl,
powers.
They can order any person to produc,
documents and attend to give evidenc,
on oath.
They can appoint an accountant t.
examine registers, wage sheets and al
the accounts of persons engaged In tn,
industry under inquiry and make ex
tracts from them for the use of the Com
missoners
The accountant, however. is not t,
include In the report to the Commission
ers or otherwise disclose any informa
tlon as to any individual business.
The sittings of the commission will
usually be public, but the Commission
ers may at their discretion exclude tn
public.
The Commissioners may make recon-
mendations as to the grant of exemp
lions from the rates. so fixed in the cas-
of infirm and incapable workers and Il
other exceptional cases. and the method
by which such exemptions may b
granted.