exempted from the provisions of the act, and boilers or steam heating plants of a capacity not exceeding 30 square feet of heating surface are also exempt. Every person buying, selling or exchanging a boiler must now notify the chief inspector by registered letter. The new act further revises the regulations governing the erection and equipment of boilers and safety-valves; no certificate issued under this section is transferable. A new scale of fees for the examination of engineers is fixed as follows: $15 for first class, $10 for second, $7.50 for third, $5 for fourth class and for special certificates, and $2.50 for temporary certificates. Third-class engineers are now authorized to take charge of a condensing steam plant up to 225 horse power, or, if acting as assistants, up to 750 horse power. A fourth-class engineer may act as assistant on any steam plant up to 375 horse power. New regulations are made regarding registration, and a new scale of yearly fees is established. It is provided that the Crown shall have a lien as a first charge upon any steam boiler for the amount of fees due.

An amendment to the Mechanics Lien Act eliminated the clause which required that any person claiming a lien for material supplied must give at least ten days' notice in writing of intention to deliver such a claim. The time limit for the claiming of a lien for materials supplied is fixed at thirty-one days after

completion of the contract between the contractor and the owner, or the contractor and sub-contractor. The Attachment of Debts Act, which was amended at the first session by the raising of the amount of wages exempted from $40 to $60, was further amended by a supplementary act bringing the schedule into line with the act in its amended form. The 1920 amendment to the Weekly Half-holiday Act of 1916, requiring shops to close on the regular publie holidays, was revised so as to apply to shops which must under the Act be closed on any half-holiday. Such stores must also close on any additional public holidays appointed by proclamation, penalties being provided for offences under this section. A new section was added to the British Columbia Railway Act requiring street railway companies before introducing into their systems street cars operated by one man to obtain first the consent of the Minister of Railways, the minister being required to consult with the officials of the municipalities affected before sanctioning "oneman cars." All employers are required under the Income and Personal Property Tax Act to furnish annually to the Surveyor of Taxes a list of those employed by him during the preceding calendar year, with the amount of wages paid to each employee. Some amendments were made in The Co-operative Associations Act of 1920.

in the various cities and towns of the province: confectionery, biscuits, candy, chocolate, grocers' specialties, jam, gum, pickles, crushed fruits, etc.; paper boxes, corrugated paper boxes, paper bags, envelopes, manufacturing stationery, tags and cheque books, etc.

The provisions of the first order of this series, applying to such industrial establishments in Toronto, were outlined in the September, 1921, issue of the LABOUR GAZETTE (page 1156). The

new orders, three in number, relate to the above-mentioned industries respectively in cities of more than 50,000 population (excepting Toronto), in cities and towns of more than 5,000 and less than 50,000 population, and lastly in places in Ontario other than cities or towns of more than 5,000 population.

In all the four orders females of 18 years or over are classed as adults, but special rates are allowed for inexperienced workers over 18, as well as for young girls under 18. The period of training for the latter class is limited to 18 months, divided into three periods of six months each. Any female employee, however, who has been working a year or more in the industry before reaching the age of 18 years will be considered experienced on reaching that age, or if she reaches the age of 18 before completing a year's training, she will be considered experienced on the completion of the year's training. "In no case," it is provided, "shall any employee of 18 years or over be paid less than the rates for inexperienced adults."

The number of inexperienced adults or young girls in any establishment must not exceed one-third of the total female working force, and the number of inexperienced adults and young girls together must not exceed one-half of the

total female working force. Temporary employees whose term of employment is less than one month are not included in this calculation. Neither does the rule apply to plants where the female force is four or less.

The wage rates provided may be averaged for any piece-worker over a period of three months, or where employment has been for less than three months, for the length of her employment. At least 80 per cent of the piece-workers in any establishment must receive wages at or above the prescribed rates.

Any violation of these orders is punishable by fine of not more than $500 and not less than $50 or by imprisonment for a term ranging from 2 to 6 months. Each establishment is required to keep a copy of the order governing its operations posted in a conspicuous place. (The Factory, Shop and Office Building act, as amended during the 1921 session of the Legislature, charges factory inspectors with the duty of reporting to the Board any violation of this section.)

The minimum wages as fixed for the various classes of female employees in the orders regulating the industries above mentioned are set forth in the following table:

ON December 13, 1921, the Ontario

government issued an order-incouncil outlining definitely their policy with regard to unemployment relief. This policy is in agreement with the proposal of the Honourable Gideon D. Robertson, former Minister of Labour, as outlined in a public statement issued on October 6, 1921, and confirmed by Order-in-Council P.C. 3831, dated October 7.

The Ontario government's order states that the Ontario government will pay one-third of the estimated extra cost of work undertaken by the municipalities for relief purposes between December 13, 1921, and April 15, 1922, provided the federal government and the municipalities concerned pay the other two

thirds in equal proportions. The following are some of the more essential regulations governing all such municipal work as may be undertaken:

Estimates of normal cost to be submitted to and approved by the provincial government;

Estimates of the cost in excess of normal cost to be submitted to and approved by the provincial government;

The provincial government to bear equally and jointly with the municipalities and the federal government the actual expenditure over and above the estimated normal cost, but not to exceed one-third of the estimated extra cost as a result of proceeding with the work under winter conditions.

No payment to be made in respect of any work done or materials used after April 15, 1922. Work undertaken but not completed by the above date to be paid for in the proportion that the expenditure at that date bears to the approved estimates;

That the offices of the Employment Service of Canada be used wherever practicable as a means of registration and placement of all workers who are engaged for relief work as above defined.

At a conference held by the Ontario government in Toronto on Thursday, January 5, 1922, at which the federal Department of Labour and several of the larger municipalities of the province

were present, the Ontario government agreed to share in equal proportion with the federal government and the municipalities any relief granted by the municipalities to married men and families where work could not be provided. Such relief is to consist of food, fuel, boots and shoes and underwear. The municipalities are to undertake the administration of this relief. This arrangement to be in effect from December 13, 1921, to April 15, 1922.

The matter of furnishing relief to single men is to be considered by the Ontario government at an early date, and their policy in this regard will be announced immediately the Cabinet deals with the question.

Α

MONG the recent measures enacted

by the British Parliament with a view to relieving the distress caused through unemployment was the Unemployed Workers' Dependants (Temporaly Provision) Act which became law on November 8, 1921. This Act, which is designed to help those people who remain unemployed during the coming winter, provides for the payment of allowances toward the maintenance of their dependants for a period of six months from November 10, 1921.

To finance the scheme a compulsory levy is made upon workers and employers coming under the Unemployment Insurance Act, and the fund thus raised is assisted by grants from the State. Men contribute 2d. and women and boy and girl workers one penny a week to the fund while employed. Employers add an equal amount in each case and the State 3d. per week in the case of men and 2d. in the case of women and young persons. Contributions are payable from November 7, 1921, to May 7, 1922. Provision is made, however, for extending this period, if necessary,

to ensure the solvency of the fund. All contributions are made in the same way and at the same time as the contributions under the Unemployment Insurance Act, a single stamp representing the combined value of both contributions being affixed to to the Unemployment Books.

Out of the Unemployed Workers' Dependants Fund married workers receive grants of 5s. per week in addition to the 15s. payable under the state insurance scheme and 1s. per week for each dependent child. The grants may be obtained only by unemployed workers who are in receipt of unemployment benefit under the Insurance Acts of 1920-21. No grant is payable in respect of a wife or woman dependant who is herself in receipt of this benefit, or who is in regular wage earning employment or engaged in any business or other occupation carried on for profit. A woman claimant may obtain a grant for her invalid husband if he is prevented by mental or physical infirmity from supporting himself and is being maintained wholly or mainly by his wife. Both men

and women may claim grants in respect of children under the age of 14, who are maintained wholly or mainly at the claimant's cost. In the case of children under full time instruction at a day school, the maximum age is 16 instead of 14. Grants may be made for stepchildren or adopted children as well as for claimant's own children.

rests with the Minister of Labour who has, however, the power to refer cases to the Local Employment Committees for consideration and examination. In practice it is thought that such reference will be regularly made, and a memorandum outlining some of the leading principles upon which decisions should be based has been issued for the guidance