The annual report of the industelal section of the Municipal Report covers a wide area ina" very. thorough manner and will be found of great Interest, specially by employers of During the rst nine months of the year, it slates, industrial enterprises Buffered considerably from a. general depression. A returning purchasing. power in the interior, however, fol-Towing a good harvest after several years of poor crops, stimulated Shanghai factories, specially textile mills, Additional wages of textile workers, who constitute more. than, 40 per cent. of the workers in Seltlement factories and workshops, in turn contributed to a demand for goods from other fietories, and hence to fan increased general industrial activity. The Shanghai Power Com pany's oad rose (0 reach a high point November, Owners of several factories Indicated their intention to extend: their operations.
Factories in Rented Premises 'The publication during 1936 of "The Growth and Industrialization of Shanghai," by Dr. D. K. Lieu, the facts In" which aire restricted to Chinese enterprises, gives important information not previously available. By' far the greater number of Chinese factories are in rented premises: less than one third,—possibly one fourth, are" in premises which are owned. Approximately 20 per cent. only are financed by share capital. The mainder depend" on bank toons, either on the premises if they are owned, or on the plant, or on raw materials or even on future finished This speculative basis of capitalize tion is one reason, why factories find "aimeutt to withstand economic adversity, and why closures and re~ Oganizationg are frequent. From the point of view of betterment of in~ Gustrial conditions, the effect is that there ig little money available even for those basic safely measures without which industry should not be carried on, 'Woges, which during 1995 were redueed by 10 per cent, or more in many enterprises, were restored in part during' the latter part of 1936 some undertakings. One group of textile mills which had not reduced wages raised them nevertheless Stper cent. in November. An interesting statement in Dr. Lieu's study that, 60 far as Chinese factories fare concerned, Wages constituteva very small part of the operation penses. Under such circumstances it would' seem that wage reduction might be regarded as a last expedient In adjustments necessary in times. of industrial depression, Relation with Chinese Authorities Useful informal relations with oMicials of the Bureau of Social Affairs of the City Government. Shanghai and with the National Pac-tory inspection Bureau of the Ministry fof Industeies cane Fecorded. The Tater organ. eld, in January" 1036, a'first National. Paetory Safely, First Exhibition. In Nanking. A series of exhibits which had been related to petual accidents were forwarded. by the Industelol section, "and "roused onsiderablo Interest. "The thanks of the Bureau were expressed. for. terest and ce-operation In the enter prise.
Work aiming at the regulation of industrial conditions has proceeded as before, namely, on the basis of educa ion' and request. Four inspectors continued to make regular visits to factories, Tt Is. recognized, however, that when the question becomes one of the application of such restrictive clauses ux Usose concerning hours of Work, persuasion will be inadequate, Five thousand copies of those Portions of the Chinese Government Factory Act and. regulations "governing health and. safety provisions, were printed, os well as leaflets defining the tegal position and protection of apprentiges. "These are distributed to owners ax vials 9f0 pala.
"The number of Reported accidents was 2.200 as against 2801 in 1995 and Tras in. 1034." Ninely-tve cases had fatal consequences, aw against 108 in 1035, Roller Pressure Controt In a section dealing with greater industrial safety, the question hollers and systems under pressure is given considerable attention. The indlusirial section has concerned itself with inducing owners of pressure ves-gels in factories to conform with the Files." A total of 200 bollers had attention during the year 12 certificates. were issued, 82 boilers were under inspection and repair' at" the end. of the year, and six were condemned as. being unfit £0r use. At least 200 boilers are known to have had expert attention within the last year and a half. This represents approximately 50 per ent. of the total number" in the Seitioment, tu the period from October to December, when the new Foqulations were being enforced, application was made for identification! Act contains clauses which provide numbers for.69 boilers, and. permit was given to manufacture. two boilers attempting to reduce.to a mint-mum the risks of fre and explosion many, trades had attention. Twenty rubber factories were regularly visited, use of gasoline in 47 colour print ing shops checked, safe practice required in storage and: use of inflammable sqlvenis ti 34 photo-engrave. ing shops, alcohol! plants'advised, and efforts made to provide safer situations in' eleven lamp bulb factories using coal gas with Improper piping, 40 acetylene welding shops, and in connection. with 55 machines where dust is associated with the raising of nap on cloth. Electrical installations are improved where possible.
Tu machine safety, 260 bevel gear guards In eight dyeing plants have been Atted and GO other gears, belts, and 30 calendars in twelve factories. have been guarded. A guara for platen presses has been evolved. An emergency stop for rubber rolls is now working satisfactorily in five plante—156 lathes have had all gears guarded, and eighteen drills, 37 grinders, three crank hoists and 28 power have been supplied with profective devices.
The Public Works Department] woodworking shops have provided useful demonstration in guarding of saws and other fast moving machinery. and an efficient exhaust draught to remove sawdust has been installed, while 100 each of belt and, gear guards have been provided in transmission machinery. Doors and exits fare satisfactory in 22 out of the 40 cotton and woollen mills. Fifty tobacco' factories have been visited and exits checked. Lift wells are guarded and lift openings provided with doors in 22 mils
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.