166 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
obnoxious substances. The amendment, therefore, makes provision for making washing places obligatory on all factories.
Section 23 deals with fire-escapes to be installed in a factory. Here, again, it has been found that the section is defective. The section leaves to the occupier required. It does not give to Government the power to prescribe the number of fire-escapes that a particular factory may find it necessary to have. Consequently, section 23 has been amended by the present Bill in order to give power to Government to prescribe the requisite number of fire-escapes which the Factory Inspector may find it necessary in the circumstances of a particular factory.
Then, Sir, coming to sections 45 and 54, the position is this. These sections deal with two matters. They deal with hours of work which a child and a woman is required to work in a factory. They also deal with what are called the limits of the spreadover. The present amendment docs not in any way alter the provisions with regard to the number of hours which a child or a woman is required to work in a factory, nor docs it in any way affect the
13 hours spread which has been prescribed by these provisions. All that the present amendment does is to alter the limit of the spreadover by changing 7-30 p.m. to 8-30 p.m. This change has become necessary on account of two reasons. Firstly, it is due to the change in the standard lime and, secondly, it is due to the necessity for saving light.
Sir, I do not think anything more is required from me to explain the provisions of this Bill. I move.
Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Motion moved:
“That the Bill further to amend the Factories Act, 1934, be taken into consideration.”
I find notice of amendments has been given by Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani, but he is not in the House. The House, will, therefore, proceed with the consideration of the Bill.
Mr. Muhammad Nauman (Patna and Chhota Nagpur cum Orissa : Muhammadan): Sir, I agree with the Bill and its principle as explained by the Honourable Member. My only objection is that the Honourable Member has not taken pains to consult the opinion of the Chambers and the merchants who would have been really the proper people to say whether such amendments were necessary. What I am