The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-07-22 00:00:00

OFFENCEB UNDER THE FACTORY ACT.

At the Borough Pohoe-court on Monday, before Mr.
Alderman Ernwon and L ock, Est,
William Genre, William Dixon, and William
Henry Jameson, drapers. ter . of High West-street, were
summoned, at the instance of Nisi tr Wolliam Bsadon,
11N1. Inspector of Factories, for breaches of the
Factory and Workshops Act, by employing the
following young per•ons at work after ten o'clock at
night on the 20th of May : —Susan Armstrong (fore-
woman), Emma Jane Desnon, Mary Jane Trevett,
Emma Louisa Isegg, Annie Jane Langford, Annie
Lake, Rose Leech, Mary Cousins, Sarah Annie
Holly, and Elisabeth liammet.
Mr. H. A. Huxtable (Messrs. Andrews, Son, and
Hurtable) appeared for toe defendente.
Mr. Dixon pleaded guilty to tloe whole of the
charges
Major Beadon said be regretted to have to appear
that morning, ash. always did in any a curt of
justice against penny, who unfortunately were
tempted to break the law, and thus bringh.dirres-
ableems upon themselves. Ho was more especially
, sorry to have to appear In this case, as he nes ,n
to know in the present case the defendants much
regretted what had been done, but there were occasions
when inspector, had to harden their hearts, an I this
, was one which was so flagrant that it was impoesiblo
to pass it over. This wee not ',innately a case where
young persons were kept at work from half-past
eight in the morning until nine or ton on the follow
log morning. Ht. first objection to this was first and
foremost that it war contrary to law, which was •
conclusive argument. Toe next waa that it was
unfair to others, who competed in the same clue of
trade and wla o observed the law. Another point we.,
that It was prejudicial to o the health of the
pawns so employed. That might be called a technical
objection, but it was • matter nf grave importance, as
it was well known a delicate persoo employed for so
many hours might receive lej eriel from which she
might never no over. Hs hop d .uoch would not be tha
case on this 000$11011. It Use It, be • very common
thing to keep young peopi • ',corking all night, and
hundreds were sent to 11111 early grave. He was very
sorry to say there appeared to bi a tendency in this
district to revive that injur cv cu-tom. The excuse
made by Mr. Dixon was v t.ty bad one—that the
firm were pressed for mourning orders. He told him
what the Chairman of the B rich of Magistrates said
at Bournemouth when • eimolsr moos came before
them who pleaded such an exc me. He sail t' the
defendant's solicitor—" You are only making yo if
WWI worm, for if what you say is true, 'he only c
clusien I and my brother masicrates can arrive at is
that you would rather serve y ,or custom ono than obey
the law of the land, an I people who do so muit
expect to get Into trouble." The answer that perions
gave that they were busy wan the very worst one they
could give, because it was only on ouch times when the
Act was necessary to be lout into operstion. When
people were not busy thiy wire not tempted to break
the w. He believed for the future defen lento w mid
take care not ti evade the law, and that they were
really sorry for what bed nc.urre.l, but at the sauce
time he thought the Bench ...told isy this was a very
bad cam, and one in which he would ask the Beech
to inflict a moderate penalty. lie did not ask for an
extreme one, but at the 'erne time • d one. The
penalty In each case for wo.king nor hour. in the day
time WY not exceeding 1.1, and during the night
. .

Mr. Mutable stated it was by his advice the clef ad-
ants admitted the facts of these noes ; hut before the
Beuch proceeded to • ju Haste he should like to make
• few remarks. If, thonked Msj ir Itoc lon for the
very fair way In which be Its I put the crops bed irs
them, and be did not think hoc nel.l have lone tither.
wise. The firm was well Ica on not only in Dorches-
ter, but throughout the county. oft it we. only upon
extrema pressure they had %Dotard their work-people
to work beyond the hours of the Act. The facts of
the case were these .—A hr ivy order came. Mr.
Dixon, the partner who ell 'tided to this pa.ticaler
bra ch of the business, &eked his empl qt if they
would object to work after hours, when they all said
they w..uld not. They worked the greeter portion of
the night, but for this they received extra pay, and
had everything done for their comfort. The f. liowing
day they had • whole holler, sr al to meke up for
their working during the night. Coneld•ring all the
clrcuinetances of the CYO, an.l that this was the first
time the defendants had ever bieu in a c nut of law,
and thy had always beau ready to listen to any su4-
gestioia which the inspector bed ,ade for the o imfort
of their work•people, he hoped the Bench would only
Inflict • nominal fine.

-1;;;pl-Yri-o-ii-eift;art, Mr. ilaxtahle said when the
work-people had a holiday the n st day they w••re
pidd just theism.. The inspector had newer cautioned
the defendant before, . .

Mr. Emeon said it had been clearly and admittedly
proved there had been an infringement of the law in
this moo, and in order to vindicate the law and to act
as • csution to this firm and to others hc might have
an opportunity to be inauenced it, the AIWA way, ad
be led to work young people who were not in • fit
state to work, they had lecrid. I to 1111P040 a flee.
Although there had been en ry 1111M011 t Ikea to
remove in some measure the evil effects which theca
very long hours might have on the health of e.,ase of
these young people, it was very certain no in me,
payment. cull c tupOneoti thee per ~,,, • for that
o:erwork lie sod his brother in tgivtratee thought
the law would be vindic Jed Icy inflicting a fine in each
cowl of the older peps .ne . f 10s. and it itte, and in the
ow/1(j the youn,or 14 'cue under 11, kt ant costs.
Be was quite eure the tirm would never infrilge in
this way again, and eh Ad they ice t would be the
chits of the Bench to inflict a much heavier he.

Mr. lioxtsble remerke I they were o it at all likely
to come before them &gale.

DUICIINT WHAIRT,

Richard Cave Bunqt we. summoned under the
Bread Act, for selling bred I without weighing it.—
Mr. Hu:table ap,,eared for the defence.—S.rsot
Mitchell said on Saturday, 12th inst., about five o'clock
in the shun on, be went t Mr. I3ennett'e shop in
High E.aet.street. He saw Mr,. Sennett in the shop,
and asked her ti supply him with a dia. of. She
handed him the loaf, and he paid her :a He tork
the loaf to the Inspector of Weight. and Measure.
(Mr. C ,wardl, and it wee f.,und to be
2ost. 6lrms. deficient.—Mr. I luxt.th: • contended
he was not there to .n. 'or .• rirgt of
deficient weight, but merely ti, .t the bread
was not weighed.—The Bench W... etched
the evidence wu -1; .1, I Proved
going to Mr. Bennett'a .hop in finch I.;•et,trolt On
the 15th inst. Be waged for • 41h. hat She handed
him a new loaf, which he paid &I. for. She did not
weigh It. Witness took it t Mr. coward, anion
weighing It it was Fenn! to he to, e. d fidtmt. -
Mr. Hurtahl-, having addreolea the Reach,
William Coakley, who said whets the daub was put
in the oven six oat were allowed ..n va,-h 411 t. loaf for
wasting, and three e•ch 211.. I .af The hut ,4
the oven and t or atrn e•..o.re vat a e .1 deal to do
with the shrinking -oometimee it wen, 1 ',brink 41h.—
By Mr. Cower I : He rill not weigh t ,o bread alter
It came out of tho ovah—Reuhon 11w. shlv. r of Mr.
Hoonett's van, was called to Arne the amle. were
alwaye needed in the vehiekt, al Is • ale/ .ye
them whenever is.k,ql to doe ~—Mr.O I -nid as
proc. efface were taboo I,r • • titian,. • f c .inplain•e
from the Btrractu.—Fined ne I te• t. in t first
use. and the ',mend cue .v..., with 'rn .
William Walter Peach we, •muin e I f.a.
offence on 7th July.-11r. Flux able n e. r for the
defenct-..—P.C. Redford avid he root t the 410,1 mid
naked for a 4lb. loaf. Mr.. Poach t .11 him ti titre
one off • AUL He did tie pal I. for it, a
on its being weighed by Mr. C 'ward, iv his presee,-
it was 11/ ,"21. deficient 4 the 4,13. .r. Hustal,le
pleaded defendant hat never been lit o• the pout.—
Mr. Coward said he bed ha I I /cc 01.'1 ,tition Mr,
Pesch of deficient w 11/ht.—Fined In.. a costa.