be prohibited from exercising them if there is evidence showing that he is not sufficiently reliable for the purpose." The new Act adds to the industries enumerated in §35 the business of contractor or manager of building operations in general or any particular branch. Experts must be consulted before such prohibition is declared, and the right of the possessors of certain certificates to carry on the trade cannot be disputed. In the case of building operations. which, in the opinion of the Lower Administrative Authority, require a high degree of experience or training, the same authority may prohibit particular persons from carrying on or managing such operations, if facts show them to be unsuited. A protest may be raised against such prohibition.

An Order issued by the AUSTRIAN Ministry of Commerce, dated 7th February, 1907 (Title, E.B. II., p. 212; text, R.G.Bl. 1907, XIV., St. No. 24, and Soz. Rundschau VIII., No. 2, p. 163) contains regulations for the prevention of accidents and the protection of the health of workmen employed on high buildings and works of construction in connection therewith carried on by way of trade.

10. Polygraphic Industry. In pursuance of §120e of the GERMAN Industrial Code, the Federal Council has replaced the regulations contained under III. of the Notification relating to the establishment and management of book-printing works and type-foundries, dated 31st July, 1897 (R.G.Bl., p. 614) by a notification dated 5th July, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 169). The earlier provisions allowed, in the case of firms already established when the notification was issued, certain exceptions to the regulations during a term of ten years. These exceptions related to the standard air space for each person employed (12 instead of 15 cbm.) and the height of rooms (2.6 instead of 3 metres). Now that the ten years have elapsed the air space must, on and after 1st August, 1907, be at least 15 cbm. for each person employed in all printing works, and in type-foundries at least 12 cbm. On the other hand, exceptions to the second rule (height of workrooms) may still be allowed, on application being made by the occupier, in the case of premises where not more than five persons are regularly employed, provided that the rooms in question have been in the occupation of the present occupier or a member of his family for at least 10 years.

Chemists. An Order issued by the AUSTRIAN Minister of the Interior, on 2nd January, 1907 (Title, E.B. II., p. 214; text, R.G.Bl., 1907, IV., St. No. 6), establishes committees of dispensing chemists and regulates their election. Until chemists' councils (Apothekerkammern) are formed these committees are to give opinions in cases where representatives of the class in question have to be consulted in pursuance of the Act of 18th December, 1906, regulating the work of chemists.

12. Carrying Trade. The FRENCH Merchant Shipping Bill, which was introduced on the 3rd July, 1903, at last became law, after a protracted passage through Parliament (see G.B. III., pp. 72, 86; IV., pp. 91, 243; E.B. I., pp. 85, 212; cf. also E.B. I., p. 184). The new Act (E.B. II., p. 246) came into force on 17th April, 1907. The Act contains provisions relating to the compulsory inspection of French ships of more than 25 gross registered tonnage by special commissions and inspectors of navigation; to the granting of sailing licences; and to appeal to the Higher Commission. The Act regulates conditions of work as follows: At sea and in foreign roadsteads, deck hands and engine-room staffs (officers and crew) are to be divided into two watches, or in the case of *See v. Landmann, Kommentar zur Gewerbeordnung, 5. Aufl. Bd. I., S. 331, 1 Vorbemerkung

ocean-going ships, ships engaged in the international coasting trade or the national coasting trade on a large scale, the engine-room staff (officers and crew) has to be divided into three watches. Except in stress of circumstances or on occasions when the safety of the vessel is in question, a supplementary allowance has to be paid for overtime. In harbours or sheltered roads, the hours of work of officers and deck hands must not exceed 10 hours a day, and of engine-room staffs, 8 hours a day; on days when a ship comes into or leaves port, the deck hands may be required to work for 12 hours without any supplementary remuneration, but this must not occur more than twice in one week.. Sunday has to be kept as a day of rest as far as possible, but the cpatain may choose another day for the whole or a part of the crew. Work on Sundays and holidays in harbours and sheltered roads is restricted to such as cannot be postponed; and at sea, to such as is indispensable for the safety and progress of the vessel, necessary cleaning operations, and the service of passengers. In harbours, work on a day of rest, except urgent work under stress of circumstances and the providing of food for persons on board, gives the right to a supplementary allowance. As regards the two classes of young persons on ships (boys and cabin boys) the following rules apply: provisional registration in the books of the Maritime Register may not, as a rule, be effected till the age of 13 years is reached, but boys who hold an elementary school certificate may be so registered, if they are at least 12 years old. Further, their physical fitness must be proved by a medical certificate. Boys may not serve on board vessels equipped for deep-sea fishing off Newfoundland and Iceland until they are 15 years old. Boys may not be employed during the night watches (8 p.m. to 4 a.m.) nor may they be employed on duty in the stoke-hole or storerooms. The number of boys carried in any vessel may not exceed one for every 15 men of the crew. The Act also contains provisions dealing with the food of ships' crews and prohibits contracts with an officer for the supply of food; the crew may delegate one of their number to check the quantities served as rations.

III. Administration.

A Decree of the PRUSSIAN Minister of Commerce and Industry, dated 15th May, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 181) enumerates the conditions for the appointment of probationary inspectors of industry.

A Decree of the PRUSSIAN Minister of Commerce and Industry, dated 12th August, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 185) withdraws railway workshops from the supervision of the Department of Industrial Inspection.

The Inspection of Industry in BAVARIA has been reorganised by a Royal Decree, dated 7th February, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 186).

An Order issued by the Provincial Government of BOSNIA AND HERZEGOWINA, dated 9th April, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 212) defines the sphere of action of the inspector of industry in these provinces, and specifies that, in particular, it is his duty to inspect all industrial undertakings in respect of safety, hygiene, hours of work and employment, registers, rules of employment, etc., sick and accident insurance, and the industrial training of young workers.

The SPANISH Department of Labour Inspection was created by the issue of regulations, dated 1st March, 1906 (E.B. I., p. 429). Six district inspectors of labour were appointed by a Decree, dated 12th December, 1906 (title, E.B. I., p. 441). A further Decree, dated 24th January, 1907 (title, E.B. II., p. 220) contains the necessary instructions for instituting the work of inspection, and, in particular, regulations relating to the co-operation of inspectors and the local and provincial councils for social reform.

In FRANCE two Decrees issued in pursuance of the Housing Act of 12th April, 1906 (E.B. I., p. 442) regulate the organisation and work of the Central Housing Council (10th January, 1907; title, E.B. II., p. 33) and of the Patronage Committees (26th January, 1907; title, E.B. II., p. 33).A Circular, dated 12th April, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 243) deals with the respective functions of the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Labour as regards the enforcement of the law relating to mines and quarries.-A Decree, dated 3rd May, 1907 (title, E.B. II., p. 258), regulates promotion and discipline in the Department of Labour Inspection. By a Decree, dated 24th May, 1907 (Title, E.B. II., p. 259) the Higher Statistical Council was attached to the Ministry of Labour, and the number of its members increased.

An Order of the Canton of SCHAFFHAUSEN, dated 20th February, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 298), creates an Industrial Committee with the duty of examining and reporting on important industrial and labour questions, and also of acting as a conciliation board in labour disputes.

IV. Industrial Courts and Conciliation Boards.

The laws regulating the system of industrial jurisdiction in FRANCE have been codified by an Act relating to Committees of Counsel (conseils de prud'hommes), which repeals all earlier legislative enactments on the subject. (E.B. II., p. 223.) The two essential changes introduced are the right of women to vote on the same terms as men, and the inclusion of all employees (not only workmen) under the Act.

Thus women of French nationality who are fully 25 years of age, who have for three years (which may include a period of apprenticeship) followed the occupation in question, who have resided within the district of the Committee for one year, and who have not incurred any penalties forfeiting their civil rights, and also commercial and industrial employees, and foremen whose duties are those of supervision and management only, are now entitled to vote.

Not only male electors over 30 years of age who can read and write and who satisfy the conditions for electors are now eligible to the Committees, but also former male electors who have left their trade not more than 5 years previously, and who have exercised it during not less than 5 years in the district.

As regards procedure, appeal may be made, as formerly, if the claim put in exceeds 300 francs. Disputes between employees and their employers are dealt with in the civil courts if the sum in dispute exceeds 1,000 francs; but no such limit is imposed for disputes between workmen and their employers.

The term fixed for application to the Court of Cassation is raised from 3 to 5 days. Married women and persons under age who are unable to obtain the assistance of their legal representatives, may be authorised by the Court to take part in conciliation proceedings or to make or defend a claim. A new ground for challenging a member of a Committee of Counsel has been added-viz. : the fact that he is an employer, workman or employee of one of the parties concerned. In future, the right to legal assistance may be granted to persons appearing before Committees of Counsel, as well as to persons appearing before Justices of the Peace. The fees have been reduced in some cases: the fee for summoning persons to appear before a Board of Conciliation was formerly 30c., and it is now 15c.; for drawing up a report of drawings or models the fee was 3 frs., and is now I fr.

V. Unemployment.

The PRUSSIAN Act relating to Labour Homes for Itinerant Workmen, dated 29th June, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 184), realises the demand for the voluntary erection of labour homes for itinerant workmen attached to employment registries, made by the Deputies v. Bodelschwingh and v. Pappenheim, in view of the desire of the province of Westphalia, to erect such labour homes. Accordingly, on 6th April, 1905, the Prussian House of Representatives agreed to the principles laid down by its Municipal Committee, and embodied these principles in the Act. But at that time opinions differed as to the degree in which the State was legally and morally bound to support these labour homes. The Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Finance emphasised the fact that the relief of itinerant workmen was by rights the business of the poor law and local authorities, but announced that the State was ready in the future, as at present, to render material assistance, although under no obligation to do so. A proposition for charging the State with two-thirds of the costs was accordingly rejected. In the Session of 11th February, 1907, the Minister of the Interior dealt with this controversial question, and declared that the Government could not see its way to accede to the wish expressed that the State should bear a reasonable proportion of the costs, as such a measure came within the province of poor relief. Speakers of many parties opposed this view, and the national liberal deputy, Dr. Schroeder, declared that care of the itinerant workman was the first step towards insurance against unemployment. The Minister could not agree to this, but the State undertook (§5, paragraph 4) to bear, by agreement with the provinces, a suitable proportion of the cost of the employment registries attached to labour homes." Notwithstanding, the principal outlay (two-thirds of the cost) is defrayed by the Provinces, and not by the State or Districts, as proposed in the principles adopted in 1905. -Where provinces undertake to make provision for itinerant workmen, the rural and urban districts may be required by resolution of the provincal Landtag to establish, maintain and manage labour homes for itinerant workmen. These labour homes are required to as employment registries for destitute, able-bodied men seeking work outside their places of abode," and to "provide temporary board and lodging in return for work done."

"act

The Canton of ST. GALL has issued regulations, dated 1st June, 1907 (E.B. II., p. 299) for labour bureaux attached to sanatoria, and for public labour offices, whereby labour bureaux are enjoined to provide openings for work where possible for workmen travelling in search of work.

National Labour Legislation

I. LAWS AND ORDERS

I. German Empire

(4) EMPIRE.

1. Gesetz betr. die Abänderung der Gewerbeordnung. Vom 7 Januar 1907. Nr. 3285. (R.G.Bl. 1907, Nr. 2, S.3.)

1. Act to amend the Industrial Code. 7th January, 1907.

The following new paragraph 5 shall be inserted in §35 of the Industrial Code:

No person shall carry on business in the building trade, or any particular branch of the same, as a contractor or manager, if there is evidence showing that he is not sufficiently reliable to carry on such business. Prohibition shall issue only after consultation, in accordance with detailed regulations drawn up by the Central State Authority, with experts previously appointed by the Higher Administrative Authority to give opinions in such cases. In so far as opinions are required in respect of a handicraft, such experts shall be nominated after consultation with the District Chamber of Handicrafts.

2. The following new Section shall be inserted after §35 of the Industrial Code:

$35a. Lack of theoretical training shall not be accepted as evidence within the meaning of $35, paragraph 5, against building contractors or managers or persons carrying on particular branches of the building trade, if they possess a certificate showing that they have passed the higher or middle grade of the Civil Service examination in architecture, or the examination or qualifying certificate of a State technical school of architecture, or of another school recognised as equivalent by the State authority concerned, or if they have an engineering diploma.

Lack of theoretical or practical training shall not be accepted as evidence within the meaning of $35, paragraph 5, against building contractors or managers if they have passed the master's examination for bricklayers, carpenters or stonemasons, in pursuance of §133, nor against persons carrying on particular branches of the building trade if they have passed, in pursuance of §133, the master's examination for the trade so exercised,