In comparison with the previous half-year, the number of manual workers has increased (58.5 per cent. as against 47 per cent.; or 62.5 per cent. of all whose occupations were stated, as against 60 per cent.). The percentage of masters and technicians was practically unchanged (10 as against 11). There was a notable increase in the number of employees (13.5 per cent. as against 8 per cent.). Relatively, the number of the students declined from 6 per cent. to 2 per cent.; absolutely, the number of students was only one half in the second half-year of what it had been in the first half-year. The other figures were practically unchanged.
There thus originated in Russia a genuine workers’ inspection, which merited the name in respect of its personnel no less than in respect of its aims.
Nevertheless, in the matter of labour protection much still remains to be done in the factories. In the enormous majority of cases the working conditions are still abominable, especially in the more backward forms of enterprise, where the workers are