The second field of research has been in the metal plating and polishing industry. Though fewer workers Jere involved in these occupations than in the printing industry, the Jeircumstancer of the work for the reasons explained in the preceding rection are such as to require acfeurate information concerning the health factors involved. Dr. S. G. Hatem, formerly of the Rockefeller Institute in Beirut, made medical ox-Jaminatlone of 200 workers in the trades, Dr. Bernard Read of the Henry Lester Institute of Medical Research directed the collection of material on the diet of the workers. [The ce-Incident availability of these two aspects of study ig fortunate, and ithe results which are expected to be published cuely In 1936, will be of value.
The third study under the direction lot Dr. Bernard Read on the diet of Jworkers assumes perhaps an even [greater significance than Its own Intrinsic importance, in view of the fact that this subject was raised both the 1935 Conference of the International Labour Organization and the League of Nations Assembly. He-Jquests for information said not to be elsewhere obtainable for Chinese workers have reached the Industritl Section from Geneva. Diet of 845
Jworkers in seventeen factories was studied, Employers have been, in-Nerested to ce-operate in permitting the study to go-forward, for a.ertain faibility of learning of a better and more varied diet at lower cost, The results are expected to be published
Workers! Living Conditions There is in China an intimate retation between the living conditions fof the workers and the problem of health and safety in factories and workshops. The situation differs from that ruling In western industrial countries where a worker seldom lives where he works, and lives his apart from his set hours of work jas he pleases, To a not inconsiderextent, exactly the opposite holds good in China, Dormitories specially constructed for the purpose fare beginning to appear where men large numbers or groups of women workers are housed. In other cases workers and apprentices live on the premises In totally unsuitable accommodation.
'The living accommodation of work Jers presents difeulties in obtaining betterment." There 1s an obvious fire risk when' large numbers of people fre sleeping on wooden lofts. from Which there Is Inadequate exit. Workers' houses the kitchen is often. rented for residence and cooking then done in any corner by every family in the four or five or more who may occupy a house; and in this lies a cause of fre.
The question is a matier of economies, When wages remain low, and house rent high, only a smal! portion of a house can be occupied. When Industrial depression forces down the price of commodities owners, especial Ty of small factories, cannot provide 1B ace are then huddled on lofs and otherwise confined, The efforts of the Industrial Section in respect of living accommoda-ton are for the time being confined {to urging that upper lofts from which there is no proper exit be not used {for sleeping and in inducing owners of property to consider whether or Jnot' it' 1s possible to design living Jaccommodation for workers which will take account of the fact that a family can only afford to occupy one room. Some close ce-operation has been established with factories using dormitories in an effort to obtain voluntary betterment, Whenever possible, owners of factories are Induced to supply bathing accommodation for worker The report of the Superintendent of Education deals with the Kinchow Road Evening School for apprentices, but the existence and success of this undertaking Is of significance also for progress in betterment of conditions, Though it cannot be said that the hours of work of the boys attending the school are lessened by their ate tendance thereat, it has been the Jexperience elsewhere that extension of educational facilities and reduction in the working hours of workers have gone hand in hand. For th reason also the adoption by the Council of the proposal of the Superintendent of Education for an experiment in a simplified form of half day school for children of limited financial rescuees 1 also important.
During the summer the Education Department stimulated the operation of literacy courses by those schools the Settlement which were in receipt of grant from the Council and otherwise played a part In the national Iiteracy drive, Ail. these efforts are related to the possible betterment of working conditions of the future, International Settlement during 1935. The strikes involved 21,008 workers with a loss of 378,072 man-days, Compared with o loss of 27,075 man-Gays for 1034, the 1035 Ngures reflect the dim cult economic" conditions referred to in the carller part of this report, Disputes concerning lowered wage rates accounted for 22 out of $3 strikes, and twoly: were related to "engagement or dis missal of workers," It is probably safe to assume that in the economic situation ruling, dismissal "was the predominant cause in this Inst-mentioned category. Increased hours of labour accounted for only four strikes, Though small, this also reflects the trend of events, No disputes arose over systems of work, factory regulations, and only two over "treatment," indicating that in a depressed economic position workers accept rulings except those which vitally affect their livelihood. The fact that no sypathetie strikes or strikes with a political basis took Place indicates also that workers were concerned with maintaining their livelihood, In his report for Februmry the Commissioner of Public Works, that the Chengtu Road Police Barrack: will be, ready for occupation by the end-of March, These barracks will house the families of Sikh and Chinese personnel of and Creek.
"RIN Divisions (south of Soochow
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.