The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-20 00:00:00

THE DISTRESS IIfTHI_MANUPACTURING

DISTRICTS.

An adjourned conference of representatives of
boards of guardians relative to the exigencies of the distress
in cotton manufacturing districts, was held yesterday
afternoon in the Mayor'. Parlour, at the Town-ball, Man-
chester. There was • very bilge attendance, including
gentlemen representing • large majority of all the unions in
hire and Cheshire. Alin Hat WOOD, Faq., Mayor of
Manchester, presided.
Mr. HOLOATZ read • letter from Mr. Cobden, M.P., to the
effect that he should watch the proceedings of the meeting
with much interest, bet could not make it convenient to
attend. He hoped a satisfactory measure would be obtained.
The Rev. Mr. Prreauut (Eccles) moved the adoption of the
report of the committee, which was speed to unanimously
The Mayor of ROCHDALIt (Mr. Ashworth) moved the
adoption of the following resolutioo :—" That inasmuch as
government has introduced • bill to facilitate the execution
of public works in certain manufacturing districts, As., this
meeting partially approves of the principle of such bill, but
considers that it will not meet the exigencies of the case.
That the bill, if passed, can only come into operation where
there is %local authority. That where no local authority
exists the meeting is of opinion that as boards of guardians
are responsible for the maintenance of the poor in the dis-
tricts where the act will not take effect, such boards of
local
=pared (m
VOiatatfimabcence
proveruaentmcoumnirocipaliasioncenr ought such
places to be the local authority for the purposes of the act,
in order that all portions of unions may be provided for and
similarly dealt with. BM such bill, if passed into a law
with the alteration now suggested. falls far short of the
requirements of the suffering localities, as any works which
CAD be devised in these localities will only afford partial
employment for the thrown out of occupation, leav-
ing aline portion such persons still unemployed ; and
the position of boards of guardians is are of very grist re-
sponsibility, mid calls for special aid from government,
because boards of guardians mist at all times provide for
and relieve existing distress and destitution."
Mr. AakIWONTH spoke at some length to show that the
distress would be very great in the coming winter, and that
the government were bound to make adequate provision to
meet it. There most be • continuance of the ltate.in•Aid
Bill in some modified form.
Mr. JO/1/4 Ptarr, of Oldham, seconded the motion, and
said it was necessary that some extra borrowing powers
should be given in the bill to boards of guardians.
Mr. Romans, of Bury, thought that a clause should be
inserted requiring the auditors to pus accounts when they
bad been sanctioned by the boards of guardians.
Sir J. KAY-SBUTTLILIVORTH reviewed the subject gene-
rally, and remarked in particular upon the erroneous view
entertained of the distress in the cotton trade by persons
at • distance. Some portions of the press contended that in
• short period the prosperity of Laocashirewoold be restored.
it VS.O arrange to ontrut obtivioatioo of that kind with the
doom predicted by the same authority ; ihet the extinction
of the cotton trade was of little importance to the national
weal, that England would hardly afford it a decent funeral,
and that its epitaph would be one of ignominy and forget-
fulness. There was still meat misconceptions as to the con-
fidence in the returning trade of the district. The answer
was that the whole history of the cotton trade was •perti-
oacious triumph over obstacles and embarraas-
manta. Each successive crisis of invention was
overcome with the ingenuity and enterprise characteristic
of the district. He had confidence that even with only
the present half supply of cotton the great capital, genius,
and enterprise of this district would resuscitate the trade
either by finding new fibres, creating new fabrics sod com-
binations, or usurping the trade of some neighbouring dis-
trict. The trade would not lie down in the ditch simply
because it had this obstacle to overcome. (Applause.) But
they had also confidence that the trade would be invigorated
by supplies of cotton from new soon's, as well as by the
resources of science and art. Hence the wisdom of those
who were embarking their capital with a view to
future returns. Parsing on to an anticipation of
the future, Sir James gave his reasons for ex-
pecting great distress during the coming winter.
First' there was a limitation of the supply of the raw
material ; and second, there was the limitation of price,
which was not taken into account by those who were sot
conversant with the subject. This limitation of price
limited the market, and new fabrics came in and helped to
destroy the trade. These things tended greatly to disturb
the calculations of the manufacturer, and stocks had to be
bald for months before the original outlay could be reaped.
At present there wu • certain limitation of supply, but •
temporary increase of demand. Stocks bad bad to be
replenished at home and abroad ; but they could
easily calculate how soon that supply would be ex-
hausted. From these causes the Central Executive Committee
were assured that the approaching winter would witness as
much distress as last winter, while it would bare to be met
with diminished resources among the working classes, les-
sened charity, and a condition of the middle clones and
small manufacturers every day becoming more perilous and
more onerous to the country. This was the Mate of things
that hod to be met. His impression was that it would be
better to leave Mr. Villiers's bill to be considered by itself,
for it was • question if tin bill provided proper machinery
for the outlying districts. (Hear, bear.) It was not the
object of the guardians to tied employment with wages.
The law did not enable them to do that. AU that boards
of guardians were enabled to do was to find the means of
sustaining life, and to employ testa to determine whether
the applicant, were really indigent. Mr. Villiers's bill pro-
lased • totally different thing ; it proposed to find employ.
ment for the ablebodied with wages, instead of alms or
parochial relief. No doubt the outlying districts would be
considered in committee. They ought to ask for the re.
newel of the Unice Relief Bill of last year, with power to
enable the guardians to obtain loans for relief of the poor.
After a discussion the resolution was pared by • large
majority.—The meeting bad not concluded when our report
was despatched.

A deputation yesterday waited upon Sir Charles
Wood, the Secrermy of State for lodic, is reference to a
railway through Egypt with the object of considerably
risorteciog the overland route to India.
METROPOLITAN BOARD or WORCS.—The usual
weekly meeting of the board was held yesterday ; Mr.
Thwaites is the chair. The Chairman announced that
Mr. Baralgette, the engineer to the board, Lad nearly cons.
plated the plans and sections for the embankment of the
northern side of the Thames. He would be able to lay them
on the table b 7 the 16th of July, and the board then could
proceed to invite tenders for the work. The tenders
might be returnable by the 13th of August, sa the board
would not adjourn for the holidays before the 14th of that
month. Mr. Cornmeal moved that the question should be
referred to the Thames Embankment Committee to consider
the best mode of inviting tenders for the work. Mr.
D'lffanger seconded the rnotioo, which was cerried. Mr. WHITEHALL, JUNE 10.—The Queen, BS sore.
Smith, the solicitor to the board, reported that the paths-
mentary committee had sat during three days of the present v reign of the Mast Noble Order of the Garter, has been
I graciously pleased, by letttn tateLt under the Great Seal
week on the bill for the new street from Blackfriars-bridge
to the Moosioo.house, sod the chief opponents of the RAILWAY AND PUBLIC COMPANIII3 IN PAHLLA- lof the Order, beating date this day, to dispense with all the
measure were the corporation of London, the City COM. =NT.—Yesterday a committee of the House of Lords, Earl , „mute. sad regulations in
room to installation,
of Sewers, end certain landowners. The corpora- Romoey in the chair. met to voider the merits of the fol. I sad to giant unto his Royal Highness Prince Alfred Ernest
tins proposed a different plan for the street, and prayed lowing railways :—Wrexham, Mold, and Conosh's Quay
that the authority for argentin the works might not be Railway ; Osweetry, Ellesmere, sad Whitchunh ; Drayton Albert, e Color
Duke of Saxony, sued Prince of Sax rg
vested in the board. The committee of the House of Com. Junction ; North Staffordshire 'additional powers), Potteries ; Gotha, Knight of the said Must Noble Order, full power
moos rejected the corporation's plan and prayer, and re- Junction, Brecon Junction and West Midland Railways, I and authority to exercise all rights sod privileges belong.
ported the preamble of the board's bill proved. The cons- taking hst into consideration the Wrexham, Mold, and lug toe Knight Companion of the said Most Noble Order
mittee of the House of Commons had also reported that the ronnah's Quay, in favour of the promoters of which evi.
preamble of the Southern Thames Embankment Bill had dance was adduced. In the other committees, and that of i ,in asfull so ample a manner as if e
of the Garter, • d h had
been proved. The remainder of the business was of a Lord Redesdsle, the him passed were those for the Letter. ' been formally installed, any decree, rule, or usage to the
routine character, after the disposal of which the board ad• 1 keony Railway, Southampton Port and Harbour, New Mil- contrary notwithstanding. —Guyette.
Ijonned. ford Docks, Oseestry sod Newtown Railway (Mancha), ; A NEW YACHT FOB THE VICEROY or ROY'S.—
Da. DE JONOH'S LICHT-BROWN COD LITER on.. Charier crow Railway. Evesham and Redditch, Shrews- I A eplendid iron steam yacht, built by Mogen. Serrno of
—The unquestionable superiority of this oil tree ail other kinds I bury and Welctipool, sod Blackrock Improvennet. In the Blackwell, for the Viceroy of Egypt, was yesterday laued
Is thus at ested by &hole Canton. Eq.. surgeon to
Deers
•.a.l*: Commons the case of the Wolverhampton and Brillgenorth
cross liOirrilai :—'. For severed years Mast 1 liaaibeti i ttlueoaoton . Railwoy was forwarded • stage.
tirrirtco renitUTii it'
j ef:C:CiLiotgishtt-hrn"other varieties Of the I
same medicine which I have also employed with a view to teat I &CIE, BEltncriP:re4d.
.Full beue6t of reduced duty obtained by pur-
Tea ; very choice at 3c 4d. and es.
as A (I y 411. Bd.), Is tin • gee
1 d meet il II I Imported. Agents in town 1 from the premises of that firm. She will be fitted with het
pp machinery by Messrs. John Pentland Co., of Greetnrich.
Among the passengers by the Great Eastern,
- i from New York. are Mr. Henry Bergh, secretary of the
ettedir "4.
ii'lid.e9all.u,Pebry°DT.Ya'e.—.lBl4igho'siley-leenta,"PeAsearuledix44, Hartle; sad". lea ec 0" "Ten WWII' Ail legation They"f the limited. St3k'_at.S.t. P,eten_ 1'e,114 nod Hrs.
Co, Ti, Strand, Loodow, and ehetelete•--tAdmtieefeeet] peckete.—(Advertleament.) I Bergh. are stopping at 31aarigy s Bawl.