The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-24 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 24, 1852.

RECONSIDERATION OF THE FACTORY

QUESTION.

A meeting of factory delegates wee held at the
Queen's Hotel, Todmorden, Yorkshire, on Sunday, to eon-
eider the propriety of applying to parliament for a restric-
tion of the motive power in factories. Mr. Joan )(ALLA-
LIM! presided, and expremed his belief that from the diM-
euhy of convicting under the present short time set, no
measure short of one to limit the hours during which the
machinery shall run can ever produce the effect intended
by the legislature. Delegates were in attendance from the
following places :—Todmorden Waterhead Mill, Rojton,
Littleborough, Bacup, Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne,
Ikaton, andd Padiham. Letters were reed from Hudders-
field, Bradford, Warrington, Staleybridge, and Bury,
regretting their inability to send delegates to the
meeting, but expreming their firm determination to
use their utmost endeavours to sapport Its objects.
The various delegates present then made reports as to the
feeling in their districts in favour of re-opening the ques-
tion, and placing a restriction on the motive power. Tod-
'Borden was quite favourable to this abject, and wag deter-
mined to persevere with it. In Oldham. the present fac-
tory law was shamefully violated. sad any UMW would be
I regarded as an improvement on the poem* Mate of things.
There were open violations ief liee law, sad lbs 'motives
were in favour of a teetrietles es the mid* power. At
Royton, the operatives watt the* of gsfag la parliament
at present, but would willingly jets yin any anoriatioa
to organise tar the perms of
to dm peeps* re-
&nista*. Ti'
wee waft is Min say statement
to better the mem* sadists& at Woke tVQosweripie.bielt nes
eireedingly wee
opera fie reetrieties tithe motive power. lop
wood woe missions ter the roped of the pMr
set einesiens sot, with obi* se am seentid
The to preiremd Mm KeashaMer Meted that in
Chorltornposalledlock and Balm the present law was
generally weß observed, but the apereilme thought, if the
motive power was restricted it naiad bare a tendency to
remove the evils complained of in Mbar places. Many of
the Manchester operatives however thought this was a very
improper time to commence such an agitation. The fine-
spinners preferred the present act to that of the late John
ielden. In Ashton the law was shsniefully violated,
especially in the neighbourhood of Glossop and Mossky. In
Bolton the aet was well observed, except at one mill. At
Padiham the operatives were perfectly satisfied with the
operation of the act in their own district, their hours of
labour being scarcely fifty-eight per week, and stopping at
noon every Saturday ; they were, however, willing to co-
operate to make the time generally more uniform.
After considerable discussion, the following resolutions
were moved, and carried unanimously:
01. Whereas the provisions of the Factory Act are openly
violated by the master manufacturers and spinners in cer-
tain localities, to the manifest injury of the honest and con-
scientious masters, and to the workpeoplo in the said facto-
ries, resolved—That it ia the unanimous opinion of this
meeting that no law short of one restricting the moving
power, and imposing severe penalties for its infraction, can
ever effectually protect the rights and interests of those who
are entitled to the benefits of the factory acts.
"2. That an associationbe immediately formed to obtain
such restriction.

meeting most mpeetfully and urgently
requests the aid and co-operation of all persons who are
favourable to the obtaining a restriction of the moving
power.
"4. That the delegates now present pledge themaelvee
individually and collectively to use their utmost exertions,
in their respective localities, for the purpose of initialling
their various committees, arid concerting measures for ea-
rn?".a
oat the
above resolutions.
committee;of threebe appointed provisionally
to draw up and publish an address to the factory workers of
Orest Britain and Ireland.

"6. That limn. Mills, Holmes, and Mollalieu be ap-
pointed for that purpose.
7. That it ii the opinion of this meeting, that gross and
flagrant violations of the present Factories Act are daily
taking place in various districts of England ; and this meet-
ing, therefore, urgent!ii recommend the factory worsen in
every locality to a ly memorialise the Home Secre-
tary to put in forts di the powers of the government to
cause the Factories het to be duly observed so long as it
remains on the statalwbook.

--"7111. That the met cordial and heartfelt thank' of this
meeting be preseuted Is Richard Outlet, the unflinching
and saver-swerviag timmopion of the rights of factory
laboar.
'll. That this meakag de new adjourn until spin
called together by the abriwommel provisional committee."

RAILWAYS.

TRW DAY.

_
Two o'CLocx.
The share market is quieter to-day. Prices of some
descriptions have shown a little flatness, Caledonians,
Eastern Counties, Great Westerns, North Westerns
and Midlands having receded a fraction from the
;
advanced quotations of yesterday, but generally the
feeling of the market is steady, and prices are fairly
supported.
French shares are inactive, but prices are likewise
steady, except for Orleans and Bordeaux and Tours
and Nantes, which are weaker.

No. Shan. Yams. Paid prism. ~....00.,
! done
yeeterday.! to-day.
100,000 1 Asua Fria I IS 12 pm.l 24 1
100,000 10a. Anglo Calikomian
15,000 30 Asturian . .
10,000 10 Australmids
20,100 20 Amtratan
100,00[ 1 Australian Freehold
60,000 1 Are /dam. all IMa par
0,000 50 ihaensram Iron and Coal all ... ...
100,000 1 Brlti.h Australian Gold . all I 2 IVIO,OBO 33 Brasil Imp. (la. at 3/. pa 314 14 2 14 4
8,400 20 Do. Oman and Nish&
11,000 20 Do. lit. John UM 143 lll
210,400 1 Canon's Creed all a Irn 14
12,00 . . O,brr Copper
70,000 Ede. & Australian Copper 24 2 4pm Si
110,000 20 Gement
110,000 1 holden Mountain . .
11.000 3 On at Polgooth all 12 11 pa
wow 10 Median& Soutlantsrldas I
200,000 1 Nouveau Mande
7,800 SO !MMus.° de Cubs II
6,0 N) 10 iris Croft
13,174 10.201 United Mexican
100,000 1 Went Mariposa all I dis per