The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-09 00:00:00

THE FACTORY ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.

Mr. Mundella, in moving the second reading of this bill,
said that although this was the third time it had been before
the House, it was the first occasion upon which they had an
opportunity of considering it on its real merits. The pre-
sent bill proposed to shorten the hours to 54 per week, and
raised the age of half-timers from eight to ten years,
raised the age of full-timers to 14 years unless they
could pass the minimum standard, which he had fixed at
standard three, and finally it abolished the exemption
at present enjoyed by silk throwsters. The bill alluded
to textile fabrics only. The horn gentleman then alluded
to the Act of 1867, which brought within its scope 1,400,000
persons, principally women and children, and went on to
eall attention to the great reduction of hours which had taken
place during the last few year., not only in England hut on
the Continent. He urged that the House would he acting in
the interests of the country if they limited the Ileum of
children's labour, so that we could have a more healthy
populations in our manufacturing districts, and the low stan-
dard of education at present found to exist, among the
children could he raised by the longer time given them at
school. lii conclusion, lie argued that the fear of foreign
competition on tins account was totally unfounded, and
drawing a comparison with more than one Continental State,
showed the evils which had arisen from the um•estricted
children's labour.
Sir Thomas Baxley moved, "That legislation upon interests
so vast and important as are involved in the question of
diminishing the hours of lalmur in factories, and of further
restricting the capital of the employers, ought to originate
with Government rather than with a private member,
and with the previous inquiry of a committee or
commission to report upon the merits of a ques-
tion of such mag,nitude, to guide the House and
the Government in determining whether any and
what amendments are needed." the contended that
further restriction of ours was riot necessary for the sake of
the women engaged inn factories, a number of whom hail
sent in a memorial, stating that they were quite able to
work during the present hours. Ile urged that English
manufacturers had more to fear from foreign competition
than had been shown, and contended that the passing of the
bill would decrease the general producing powers of the
country.
After remarks from Mr. J. Crossley, Mr. Callender, Mr.
W. Holms, and Mr. Tennant,
Mr. Cross, referring to the magnitude of the question,
mid the reports of the factory inspectors, speaking alone
of the cotton branch, showed that there were no less
than four and a half millions of Immune depending upon
its prosperity for life. They had to consider in
dealing with a question like this the vast amount
of capital employed in these trades, and whether
any action on the part of the Legislature would
interfere with it ; and in the interests of the
operatives it must be remembered that if capital
were materially interfered with by the shortening of
hours, the ultimate etfeet would be felt in the wages.
In recent years a large increase had been shown in the pro-
ductive power of nat.ons on the Continent. arising from nanny
causes, but they could take it for granted that although there
had been that increase manufacturers were prepared to meet
it. Unless Parliament went too far in the way of restriction
there was nothing whatever to fear in competition in the
open market. Adul s' labour and their power of freedom
of contract nmst be left unfettered, but he thought
they would agree that the hours of children's labour
should be regulated by the Legislature. They then
came to the third class, the women, and they
had to consider whether they were to be looked upon as
men. twhether they were to be treated as children, or
whether they could be looked upon as free agents in this case.
His own experience hi this case was that women could not
be actually looked upon as free agents, aml manning it scar
right to interfere, the question was whether they should step
in further, and if so, upon what grounds. Quoting the
reports of Mr. Baker, the Home Secretary showed that he
and other inspectors were greatly in favour of a reductio nr
of hours. The Government thought they ought to proceed
in this matter upon scare definite principle, and settle the
matter finally, or at least for a very long time. It would
he ill advised to make the delay longer than necessary by
the appointment of a committee when one tribunal of the
kind had already considered the subject, arid they proposed
to lay a measure before the House. The proposition would Ire
of au elastic character, so that manufacturers would he able
to suit the hours to the convenience of their own trade
and the usage of business, but they considered that
nu work should be commenced before six o'clock in the
morning, and continued later than seven o'clock in the
evening, though each factory would decide whether they
would work from six until six, or from seven to seven
o'clock. No labour would be continued more than four
hours and a half without a break; the hours of labour
would he ten per day, and six for Saturday ; children would
not he employed until they reached nine years of age in
1875, and 10 years of age ins 1876, and half-an-hour would be
allowed for clearing up on Saturday. Half-timers were not
to work more than 37. i hours per week Ile was prepared to
introduce a bill to carry these propositions into effect, to
press it forward, carry it with the assistance of the House,
and settle the question.
Mr. Forster suggested that the Government should take
up the bill now before the House and amend it in Committn e,
mid that the defeat of the measure should not be risked to-
dire. but the debate adjourned.
Sir. Roebuck moved the adjounonent of the debate.
Mr. Fawcett thought the bill should be divided into two
measures—one regulating the employment of children, the
other iinestion of the employment of adult labour being left.
In answer to Mr. Forster,
She. Cross saint the draughtsman had already got the bill
inn hand, and it would shortly be introduced.
Mr Easley WalitireW his amendment, and the debate was
then adjourned.
Some forrind business having been transacted, the House
adjourned.