reducing tlie severity of the penal law' of the 20th August, 1842,
which is still, in the main, in force. The entire penal legislation
is at present undergoing revision.
Of the entire number of crimes in the years 1891—1895,
about 52 per cent were thefts, while the corresponding number
in the years 1871—1875' was 61 per cent. There has thus been
a considerable decrease. The same is the case with offences
against public morals. On the other hand, the total number of
assaults and crimes against public authority,’ has risen from 11
per cent between 1871 and 1875 to 18 per cent of the total
number of crimes in the years 1891-Hl895. The total of the
more serious offences committed in Norway for the following
periods of five years is here given.
1871—1876. 1881—1886. 1801- 1896
Murder and manslaughter .. . 66 58 38
I n f a n t i c i d e ......................... 147 147 130
22 34 22
Incest . ..........................■ . 47 68 54 -
Bobbery .. . . . . . 22 11 IQ
Incendiarism ..................... ..... . . 25 25 7
The punishment most frequently inflicted in Norway is imprisonment
on bread and water, the sentence being from 4 to 30
days. Nearly half (48 per cent) of the total number of persons
condemned in the years 1891—1895 were sentenced to this punishment,
of women separately, as many as 62 per cent. During the
same period, 1809 men and 341 women (altogether about 14 per
cent of the total number) were sentenced to penal servitude, and
of these respectively 9 and 1 for life. Capital punishment still
exists in Norway, but no such sentence has been carried out since
the year 1876. About 20 per cent of the offences were expiated
by fines.
Unlike the offences against the ordinary penal law, breaches
of the police laws have. increased, steadily and greatly during the
last few decades, and in the years 1891—1895 amounted to an
average of 31,003 as against 16,546 for the years 1870—1874,
respectively 93 per cent and 94.8 per cent being committed by
the male sex.
I t is not easy to determine the' position that the Norwegian
nation occupies among the nations with regard to the relative
number of criminals,’ as the varied penal legislation in the various
countries, and the different degree of severity with which it is
enforced by the police authorities and the courts of justice, place
almost insurmountable hindrances in the way of a reliable comparison.
This much may, at any rate, he said, namely, that our
nation stands comparatively high in this respect.'
THE PROTECTION AND INSURANCE OF WORKING-MEN.
As early as 1878, by direction of the government, a full
statement was drawn up of regulations relating to the inspection
of factories, its aim being to protect working-men from the dangers
and over-exertion thatgjactory-labour so often entails. A work was
thereby commenced which resulted temporarily in the act of the'
27th June, 1892, according to the proposal of a labour-eommission
of 1885. With this act, the social-political legislation in Norway
may, be said to have been introduced. The act of 1892 includes
all work of the nature of the factory work (and handicraft), and
mining. I t contains a number of provisions intended to ensure
the safety of working-men, and on the whole to provide the best
protection possible of the working-man’s life and limb, and preserve
his health. Out of regard both to health and school education,
it has introduced restrictions in the work of children.
Children under 14 must not he employed in factory work at all.
For young people of ages from 14 to 18, a maximum working-day
of 10 hours is- fixed; and there are several rules relating to
the kind of work that may be assigned to them. One consequence
of this is that the school course is now, as a rule,
continued longer than formerly. Women must not be employed
in underground work,,' or to take care of machines, nor must
they engage in factory work for the first 6 (in exceptional cases 4)
weeks after confinement. Nor is work with grown-up men allowed
from 6 o’clock in the evening before a Sunday or holy day,
Until 10 o’clock in the evening of the holy day. Infringement
of this law is punishable with fines not exceeding 1000 kr., and
it is to be enforced by govern ment inspectors possessing technical
skill. Bach municipality has its local inspection, consisting of the
chairman of the Board of Health-, or a doctor appointed by the
Local Board, and two .others. The government is furthermore
authorised to supplement the law -by regulations, etc.