FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

r Bombay Calling r This section is the monopoly of " JUDAS " and he writes what he likes and about tilings ivhieh he likes. The views expressed here are not necessarily oars, but still they carry irciglit because they are written by a man who knows his job. THE NEW FACTORIES ACT IN ENGLAND In a foreword to the New Factoires' Act of 1937, which has come in force from 1st July 1938, in England, Sir Samuel Hoare, the Home Secretary, claims that the said Act is an important milestone on the road to safety, health and welfare of the industry. The new Act is definitely an advance, because it embraces all the film workers with the exception of the acting staff, and is applicable to every film studio whether big or small. It is a dangerous job to summarize the official Act, but here are some of the regulations of the new Act. 1. Accumulations of dirt and refuse must be removed daily. 2. Floors must bo washed or swept weekly. 3. Effective provisions must be made for securing reasonable temperature and ventilation. Workers must not be unreasonably exposed to excess of temperature either high or low. In addition to these, there are other clauses which regulate— ventilation, lighting, drainage of floors and sanitary convenience. Another clause of particular importance to the workers in the laboratories is the one giving the power the Secretary of State to insist on certain conditions with regard to the health of the employees with n intention to minimise the risk to their lives in he discharge of their duties. Some of the other ompulsory items embrace fire precautions, precauion against acids and other dangerous liquids, proding of soap and clean towels for washing, keepng a well equipped first aid box in case of accidents, nd in the event of employing more than 50 persons, aving a qualified person for rendering first aid on ccasions. The total hours of work must not exeed 44 hours per week with a very limited proviion for overtime. Something of this nature is badly required for e film workers in our country. ONDITIONS IN OUR LABORATORIES As matters stand to-day our film workers napen to be the most unfortunate lot of people, we an ever find, struggling for a living. The present ade depression has compelled the studio execuves in India to carry out heavy retrenchments in ur army of film workers, with the result that the resent people who are employed are putting excesve work, for which they get normal wages. And le conditions under which they actually work are not heavenly in any case. The film laboratories in India with the exception of a few, are no better than birth homes of disease and ill-health. While every one admits that the health of the laboratory workers should be the consideration of all producers, the economical conditions do not permit the producers to introduce radical changes tor the better. However, a lot can be done if the producers intend to put some human element in their business by providing to the workers more rest and changing conditions suitably to make the laboratories more comfoi table for work. A visit to one of these laboratories would bring home forcibly the necessity of installing air conditioning plants and introducing up-to-date ventilation. Let us consider the fumes in the different parts of a film laboratory Taking the cleaning department, where methylated spirit is used, the air is so stagnant with the fumes of this particular spirit, that one can hardly breathe with comfort. The developing rooms where the tanks are cleaned with profuse use of hydrochloric acid are full of choking fumes which must in the long run, cause a sorry effect on the health of the workers. And to all these fumes, add the bad ventilation and the necessary darkness which we find in our laboratories, and you can well imagine the conditions under which our laboratory workers actually work. In foreign countries, Governments are takiing serious notice of these affairs, but not so on our side. Something must be done and that too urgently to improve the lot of our studio workers by bringing new changes in cur Factories' Act. The first and foremost thing that compels attention is to equip every laboratory with an air conditioning plant. This item at least must be made compulsory by an official regulation. THE HUMAN SOUL ON THE CELLULOID! Right on the blazing trail of "Brahmachari", the Huns people are out to give a stunning picture to the world, if some of the rushes and a complete scenario are any evidence of the greatness of a picture. In "Devata", the next production of Huns Pictures, which will come to the screen in the month 13