§ MR. KINGI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he 1060 is correctly reported in the Times to have said at Chatham on. Thursday, February 12th—
He contended that the State might very well limit the hours of labour of their own employés, of railway servants, those engaged in unhealthy occupations, and also of the natives employed in the mills in India;and whether the Government contemplates any further interference with the conditions of labour in Indian mills than is necessary for the protection of women and children, or intends, as appears to be suggested by his remarks, that all labour in Indian mills shall be placed within the category of exceptional legislation?
SIR J. GORSTThe report quoted is an epitome of what I said. It is not intended to legislate for the protection of adult male labourers in India beyond providing for the fencing of machinery in factories and for the general stoppage of all work for half an hour in the middle of the day.