A deputation is soon to visit the Home Secretary or
the subject of the promised Factories Bill, and we sin- cerely wish it well. The Factory Act of 1901 is extremely cumbrous ; it contains an enormous number of sections and schedules and has to be read together with nine other Acts and with reference to six more. Everybody long ago admitted that simplification was necessary, and a Bill for this purpose was prepared before the War. The War itself brought increased knowledge in many matters, for example in regard to industrial fatigue. It was,. therefore, felt that a new Bill was necessary. When Mr. Bridgeman was in office he drafted one ; it was revised later and was introduced by the Labour Govern- ment, but it was not passed owing to the fall of the Government. It was mentioned, however, both in Mr. Baldwin's election address and in the King's Speech. Surely, here is a much needed measure about which there is general agreement, yet the Government now speak of not being able to find time for it. We agree with those who will form the deputation that the Government should make a point of finding time if that is humanly possible.
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