Proposed Action in the Settlement In an interview with representatives of the Chinese press, a spokesman of the Social Affairs Bureau made a statement to the effect that the inspection of factories in Nantao, Chapei, Woosung, and Pootung /—estimated to total more than 200 thi thorities were prepar mence similar activities in the International Settlement next month.
According to Chinese reports the Joficial added: "It is learned that the Settlement authorities intend to conduct the inspection themselves, but according to the Regulations they have no right to Ido this. The Chinese authorities are determined to exercise their right of inspecting factories in the Settlement."
Herald' ite that the applica-Inquiries by the. "North-China tion of the Chinese factory, Jaws establishments the Settlement can be carried out only with the proval "has yet been given. [question of imposing regulations on factories within the Settlement has wen under consideration for nearly hal Municipal Council been discussed
Jointly with the Chinese and French authorities, but so far no procedure has been formulated. Tt has been Suggested that factories in Settlement should be licensed, this would give the Council a measure of control over them, but would be necessary to hold a special meeting of ratepayers to
been found possible to hold a special ike the 9 in the by-law cived. Though it has not yet
ratepayers' meeting. for this. purpose, there are hopes that it may be Freld'im the not far distant future.
General 'Macnaghten, in his spoceh by eaplaned by, Bei fas Chairman of the retiring council the Inst annual meeting of rate-avers, it had been intended to convene the" special meeting March, 1932, but' owing to la troubles following the recent Japanese hostilities, the elo Hdown of many factories, a large number of factory labourers unemployed, the Council had decided to postpone the meeting until more favourable conditions prevailed.
was fully recognised, stated Brigadier-General Macnaghten, that the application in the Settlement of some of the provisions of the law Published by the Nanking Gove Trent in December 1929, if practicable from a legal point of view, Would be welcomed by Chinese an foreign factory owners "alike, and would" make' a the Settlement, in some classes of factories were "little short of appalling." Foreign owners of factories in the Settlement w! enjoyed extraterritorial rights did for same within the Svadiction of the National Government, factory laws promulgated
laws of the extratersito had never so. as. to inelade their nationals resident in China, and there were therefore no factory laws applicable for foreigners residing "in the Scusiement and enjoying' extraterr® torial privileges:
Te had Been found that the onl practical way by which the Counci ould obtain a measure et conted orer factories the: Seulement licensing, which could be done by securing smending Byelaw 33. The licence Gonditions, #f was stated, tould be framed t9 include " whatever pro-¥isions of the National Goverment Factory Law it was considered desirable or expedient to adopt.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.