WORK AND WAGES in factories.—This is the subject of a number of various statutory provisions, examples of which are those relating to MINES, HOSIERY MANUFACTURERS, and THE TRUCK SYSTEM. In this place reference will be made to only certain sections of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, which require particulars of their work and wages to be given to certain piece workers by their employers and which impose penalties upon workers who divulge " trade secrets" disclosed to them as a consequence ef those particulars having been furnished according to law. Piece worker8.—The occupier of a textile factory, in order to enable each worker who is paid by the piece to compute the total amount of wages pay able to him in respect of his work, is bound to publish particulars of the rate of wages applicable to the work to be done, and also particulars of the work to which that rate is to be applied. Such particulars must accord with the following statutory requirements :—(a) In the case of weavers in the worsted and woollen, other than the hosiery, trades, the particulars of the rate of wages applicable to the work done by each weaver is to be furnished to him iu writing at the time when the work is given out to him ; and they must also be exhibited on a placard not cciataining any other matter, and posted in a position where it is easily leg: Ole ; (1)) in the case of weavers in the cotton trade, the particulars are to be furnished to the weaver in the same manner as the foregoing case, but they must also state the basis and ,condi tions by which the prices are regulated and fixed ; and the placard must also be posted in each room ; (c) in the case of every other worker the regulations as to the particulars are the same as in the first of the above cases, except that if the same particulars are applicable to the work to be done by each of the workers in one room, it is sufficient to exhibit them in that room on a placard not containing any other matter, and posted in a position where it is easily legible; (d)such particulars of the work to be done by each worker as affect the amount of wages payable to him must (except so far as they are ascertain able by an automatic indicator) be furnished to him in writing at the time when the work is given out to him ; (c) the particulars either as to rate of wages or as to work are not to be expressed by means of symbols ; (f) when an automatic indicator is used for ascertaining work, it must have marked on its case the number of teeth in each wheel and the diameter of the driving roller ; but in the case of spinning machines with traversing carriages, the number of spindles and the length of the stretch in such machines must be so marked in substitution for the diameter of the driving roller ; (g) where such particulars of the work to be done by each worker as affect the amount of wages payable to him are ascertained by an automatic indicator, and a placard containing the particulars as to the rate of wagc.4 is exhibited in each
room, in pursuance of an agreement between employers and workmen, and in conformity with the foregoing requirements, that exhibition will be a sufficient compliance with the law. The occupier of a factory who fails to comply with the foregoing is liable to a fine of .E10 ; and so is he if he fraudulently uses a false indicator for ascertaining the particulars of any work paid for by the piece. And so is a workman who fraudulently alters an automatic indicator. Trade secrets.—A fine of 1'10 is incurred by any one engaged as a worker in a factory who, having received any such particulars ns are above mentioned, whether they are furnished directly to him or to a fellow-workman, discloses them for the purpose of divulging a trade secret. And a like fine is incurred by any one who, for the purpose of obtaining knowledge of, or divulging a trade secret, solicits or procures a person so engaged in a factory to disclose any such particulars, or with that object pays or rewards any such person, or causes any such person to be paid or rewarded for disclosing any such particulars. See FACTORIES.