'There was a large attendance of members, ing rotarians and guests at the Rotary Club Meeting' held at Ladow's Tavern on Apr. 23. Dr. Fong Sec, the president, in in-traducing, the' speaker of the day Gol. M. 'T. Tchou said: Col, Tehow is a product of Shanghai schools and graduate of Glasgow University. and is at the present time head of the Research Division of the Com-was Vice-President of last year's International Labour Conference leaving soon for Geneva as China's first delegate to the next Labour Conference Geneva on May. 28.
Tehou in part said: The la re Club was on the time that I had the pleasure of
to establish a model workers village here and I thank you for the gift fof one of the houses of this village. T have a great deal of admiration for the work that this club is doing and the spirit of brotherhood that ig shown amongst the members. The chairman has been most gener cons in his remarks but I feel that T-do not deserve all the credit or all the kicks that have come from the framing of China's factory law: In talking to you on the factory Inws I do not feel that Tam talking to those th thet Our ideal be taken care of, of course we shall rect with difficulties. The world without ideals would be a very dreary place and all countries are striving to improve conditions of life in this world.
'The main aim of the China factory law is to improve the conditions of the millions of workers this country, and it should be real help to' all industrialist Secondly, to raise the standard of cffcioncy. I maintain that China's industries are very inefficient. 'To bring up afew salient facts the Chinese are meeting with severe competition from foreign markets and industry is finding it extremely dificult to' meet this competition, What are the reasons?) There is not another country in the world where the workers are paid lower or work longer hours. suffering from restrictions with regard to child or women labour, we fare not entailed with insurance for workers for. sick Other count ons, What is wrong with industry T contend that our me is sick and increasing. the of Jabour and employing vand children would only make matters worse, Our labour in its present condition of-living is in-
The Factory Law aims at improving these conditions and wants to ive labour certain minimum forms, Working hours at present in China are unrestricted and the Factory Law will encourage the eight hour day but will perm under certain conditions up to ten hours, India has a 60 hour week, Japah 54/60 and these countries are being called upon by Interna {tional Labour to conform to the 48 hour week, Our age limit of 14 conforms to international standard and it is not desirable to employ younger children, I was asked by man: "What are you going to do with the children under the age limit? In Shanghai we have young children, who bring in $2,000,000." I replied:" Would you stop produc tion or employ others?" The Fac. tory Law is not to enforce idleness Dut to replace the children wit older workers who would be idle otherwise. We have to meet not only the production of larger quantities but also quality and you cannot produce quality with children of 8 or 9, I do not think any industry deserves to live under the shelter of inhumane conditions.
The Factory Law introduces these measures because they are right, fair and perfectly just. Industries jean go ahead if they meet this im-Provement in these conditions of workers. Regarding night work, the law requires the restriction of women labourers between 10" p.m, and 6 am, and children under 16 between 7 pam, and 6 am, Chapter 10 of the law seems to have caused. some misunderstanding. 'The funetions of the Joint Council are chiefly consultative between labour and jeapital and do not. mean joint control. 'The question' of, China's. dustries being able to' stand—the rates for compensation for sickness fand accidents is to be settled Ju, consultative manner. The Infer-national Labour Organization' ha: agreed to send to China a commis sion to advise on factory inspection.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.