§ Colonel DAYasked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that women workers in aerated water factories complain that the waterproof aprons provided to keep their skirts dry cause the water to run down into their boots or clogs so that. their feet are always wet, it is proposed to introduce any Regulations providing that the workers shall be furnished with waterproof breeches and gaiters to work in, the wearing of skirts and aprons in the factories to be prohibited?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am advised that the proposal to prohibit the wearing of skirts and aprons is unnecessary and would almost certainly be resented by the workers. The difficulty can he easily overcome either by wearing puttees as suggested in the last Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops, or by wearing a piece of rough sacking over the waterproof apron, and this latter practice is frequently adopted by the women on their own initiative.