§ MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of Stats for India what is the present position of the India Factory Act Amendment Bill; and whether, having regard to the Resolutions adopted by the recent Conference at Berlin, in relation to the employment of women and children in factories, Her Majesty's Government is prepared to sanction the provisions of such a measure as that proposed by the Government of India?
§ MR. JAMES MACLEAN (Oldham)I have also to ask the Under Secretary for India whether he has seen the 666 statement in the Times Calcutta telegram of March 30th—
That the Factories Act Amendment Bill has been postponed till next winter, the Government being of opinion that there is no pressing necessity for the measure;and, whether any information has been received at the India Office to show that this is the real reason for the postponement of the Bill?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe India Factory Bill has been postponed by the Council in India till the receipt of replies from the Local Governments and Administrations. The Resolutions of the Berlin Conference will be transmitted by the Secretary of State to the Government of India, and will no doubt receive due consideration from them before the Bill is passed into law. No such statement as that referred, to by the hon. Member for Oldham (Mr. Maclean) has been made by the Government of India to the Secretary of State. The reason given by the Government of Bombay for postponing the Factory Bill is that they are awaiting the receipt of replies.