The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

.our manufactures, that it would be quite impossible to keep
up with the competition. Yet the Americans do keep it up ;
and 1 believe they will keep it up, and will furnish • great
part of tho manufactures which go to other parts of the
world. I believe that these things depend much more on
the general means and appliances of each country for mauu-
factoring—much mom en the enterprise and manufacturing
skill of different countries—than upon their particular legis•
lative regulation.. I say that Russia, with all these advan-
tage., has been unable to compete with us ; while America,
with great disadvantages in this respect, and wages about
one-third more than our, has been enabled to keep up that
competition. lam told that the general avenge rate of
wages there is still greater than I have stated ; and it cannot
be denied that there are very great restrictions on the labour
there. But my belief is, that if it is right and wise to restrict
the labour of women and young persons to eleven hours, you
will find that those fears wick have been so loudly expressed
upon this subject will, shortly after that enactment, give
place again to confidence. (Hear, hear,) We have repeatedly
seen measures of this kind introduced and we have seen
them have complete success; we have den the people better
off in every respect after those measures were passed. (Hear.)
At the same time, I should delere, as the consideration is so
very serious a one, that I think it is far better toned a bill,
reducing the number of hours to eleven, than to go, with the
bill of the present yesr, for the limitation to ten hours. I think
it is far better to adopt that which has been proved by experi-
ence to be useful, than to go at once to the greatest limits-
tion proposed. Ido not think that our manufacturing pros-
perity will at all gaffer by this change ; and I do think that,
if it u possible to introduce that change, you owe it to the
rising generation to make a change so beneficial. I cannot
look with indifference at the statement that a great propor-
tion of the people of this country have only to work, to
sleep, to eat, and to die. (Hear, hear.) In my opinion it is
the duty of the state to endeavour that you should have a
people, in the first place, aware of the doctrines of their re-
ligion ; in the next place, able to cultivate domestic habits
and affections ; and in the third place, likely to look up to
the laws and government of the country as their protectors
from undue inflictions upon the young of the country.
(Cheers.) And, I confess, Ido not not see that that object
has been attained, or is likely to be attained, so long as the
home of these young persons are permitted to be so pro-
tracted as they have hitherto been. I cannot conceive how
a girl of fourteen years, employed at work twelve hours
everyday—fourteen includiag intervals—coming homeevery
day tired, and jaded, and unable to do anything but rest in
order to commence the labour of the next day, is to be
brought up so as to be a good wife and a good mother.
(Hear, hear.) I am willing, therefore, though I confess !
there is a risk, to incur that risk, is the hope of improving
the character, and of elevating the condition, of these per-
sons. I may be mistaken in that view; of course, I can
only act acoordiog to what appears to me the best, after
seriously considering the question. I am, therefore ready
to go into committee on this bill; and I shall be ready, air,
when you leave the chair, to vote for the clause restricting
the time of labour of these persons to 11 hours. I wish the
bill to remain in that shape, for I think that while it gives a
considerable advantage to those persona who are the objects
of it, it will be a proof that this how/ is disposed to do every-
thing it can for the promotion of the welfare of this portion
of the community. (Hear, hear.)
The house then went into committee on the bill.
Oa Mr. GRIEVE taking the chair andreading the firstelause, I
Mr. DENNISTOUN asked whether it was intended to
go on with the committee, it being then near five o'clock.
(Loud cries of " Go on" from all parts of the house.)
Mr. HUIdE said if the bill wee to go on at all, theny
could not do better than go on with it now. He eonadered
that the measure wax altogether wrong in principle; and he
would suggest to those hon. members who thought with him
that they should abstain from making or attempting any
altaratious in it whatever, but allow it to pus in its present
form. The sooner they agreed to restrict labour to eight
hours the better, and then the absurdity of these restrictions
would be at once exposed. Any attempt to amend this bill
would only be a waste of time. He should concur in every-
thing that had been said by the noble lord at the head of the
government. if the noble lord could ensure a regular demand
for our manufactured products; but, as he was not able to do
that, and would not provide for the education and mainte-
nance of those who were kept out of employment, that in-
volved the whole question. (Hear.)
Mr. BRIGHT suggested that the clause, instead of stating
the hours of labour of women and young persons should be
restricted to eleven, ought to specify the hour in the morn-
ing at which they should commence work, and the hour at
which they were to leave of While agreeing with the
hon. member for Montrose as to the mischiefs of the bill, he
felt bound to vote against the proposed limitation in every
stage ; and the greater the limitation, the more he should
oppose it.
Mr. FIELDER mid the precise hears of labour might be
regulated by the factory inspectors, under a power given
them for that purpose.
Clause 1, which restricts the hours of labour in factories,
for women and young persons to 11 hours, from the lat of
May next, wasthen agreed to.
On clause 2, which makes a further reduction of one hour
after the lit of May, 1848,
Mr. FIELDER mid he had been advised to extend the
time for working 11 hours to two years ; he would therefore
the insertion of 1849, instead of 1848, in the clause.
propose
eROEBUCK said that one of the great arguments in-
sisted on throughout this discussion had been the evils aris-
ing from the non4ettlement of the question, and now it was
tole delayed for two years longer. 'rte. evil bad been moll
dwelt on of allowing the working classes to be continually
excited by the expectation of great changes; and he should
have preferred the bill if it had began with ten hours. He
should therefore move that the words " 1848 " should stand
in the clause instead of "1849."

Lord J. RUSSELL said if the committee came toe divi-
sion on that clause, he should vote that it be omitted alto-
gether.
Mr. FIELDER was understood to say that he would not
press the alteration, but would allow the clause to stand as
originally proposed.
On the second clause being read, which proposed a further
limitation of labour, after 1848, to fifty-eight hours a week,
Instead of sixty-nine hours, that is, to ten hours a day instead
of eleven,
Lord MORPETH said that though he was of opinion ,
that the trial of eleven hours a day wee, when made, found
practicable, he would oppose any further limitation, u no
such step should be taken without gnat caution. He wished
the clause to be expunged altorther.
After a few words from Mr. FRAPAND and Mr. DUNCAN,
The house then divided on the question.
For the clause
Against it
Claws agreed to.
Clauses eine and four were then agreed to.
Mr. ROSS postpond his motion for the introduction of •
clause, after clause three, to the effect that the provisions of
this act shall not extend to Inland, until the bringing up of
the report.
The other clauses were then agreed to, and the report was
ordered to be brought up on the 21st of April.
The house adjourned at • quarter to six o'clock.