The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-19 00:00:00

modificatiow calm talle clause, by which modification it was
propu•ed to graduate the scale of charges, whetehy al cla•ws
of shipping, fortign•going as well as those in the coasting
trade, would be benefiteo.
The interview concluded by Mr. LABOUCUBRE ado it-
Ong that a very strong cue had been made by the deputa-
tion, and they retired under the impression tha• the right
bon. gentlentas would have a bill for the moditLatiett 01 the
light dues passed. if possible, during the runt soden.

HOURS OF LABOUR IN FACTORIES.-
DEPUTATION.

On Thursday week last a deputation of millowners
from Manchester, Carlisle, and Glasgow waited upon Sir G
Grey, Lord J. Russell, and Lord Ashley, with a view of re-
commending the introduction of an 11 hours' bill. A report
of the proceedings of this deputation appeared in the Daily
New, and the consequence was a general excitement
amongst the workmen sad their friends who supported the
bill. They immediately met and appointed • mixed depute-
tion of masters and men to wait upon the Home Secretary
and Lord Ashley upon the subject. Subjoined is a beef
report of the interview with Sir G. Grey on Saturday last.
Mr. W. WALKER, of Bradford, introduced the subject
to Sir George Grey by remarkiog that since he, with ether
factory masters., had had the honour of an interview, acmes,
pained by their late lamented friend, Mr. Fielden, about
five weeks ago, great anxiety had existed in the factory dis-
tricts to learn the decision of a superior court in reference to
the legality of the relay or shift system, which had
for some time been praatised by a few millowners. He
felt that a great repponsibility rested with the govern-
ment for having neglected to remove the doubt which had
been ;permitted to arise, as neither himself nor any of his
friends could advise the operatives to consent to any exten-
sion of the ten hours clause, as had been proposed by some
masters from the cotton districts of Lancashire, and that he
lelt confident that the amount of good derived from this va-
luable measure by all who worked in factories was so great
that they could not be inducel to content to any extension
of the period of ten hours a day for five days in the week,
and eight on the Saturday. He also stated that he thought
it very unfair to ask the operatives to assent to any extension
of the time merely because oertsin Lancashire magistrates
refused to enforce the uniform tine of working which the
law provided.
Mr. J. WOOD, of Bradford, stated his conviction that the
Ten Hours Act had worked well whet ever it had been fairly
tiled since it same into operation.
Mr. S. FIELDER, eldest son of the late Mr. John
Fielden, stated that on the 10th of May last the deputation
of masters who presented a memorial to Sir G. Grey against
the relay system, understood distinctly that he (Sir G. Grey)
would endeavour to get the legality of the system tried be-
fore a superior court. This was stated to the operatives in
the manufacturing districts, and they were, in consequence,
induced to abstain from any agitation to do away with the
system of shifts or relays until this decision was obtained.
Term was now over, and no motion had been made before
the judges, although a ass was prepared by Mr. Cobbett, of
Manchester, under Mr. Homer's inetructions, expreuly for
that purpose.
In reply to Sir George Grey's repot that there should not
be • compromise, Mr. Fielden stated that he thought a great
responsibility rested on the government if they d.d not get
this question settled. As long as trade was in a depressed
state and the operatives were afraid of losing their employ-
ment, they were unable to assert their opinions against the
shill system, but should trade revive, and there b 3 a demand
for their labour, there would be turn-nuts against this ob-
jectionable system, and a great deal of distatistaeion amongst
them. It behoved Sir George Grey to consider well whether
he
ought to leave the question in the unsettled state in
which it now was, and he might rest assured that the opera-
tives would never consent to abandon one particle of the
principle of their Tee Hours Act.
Sir G. GREY observed that if the parties interested could
sot agree span the terms of an arrangement it was not hie
business to dictate to them what course they ought to pursue,
sad he rave it as his opinion that the only way now left open
by widish the question could be settled was by further leg:tt-
ladies maths subjeet. The mere fact, however, of bringiog the
disputed Oats Wore a higher tribunal than the magistrates
sight set suede the question, inasmuch as it was im-
pugilists he foresee what would be the decision of the
Ji=They might simply grant a mandamus com-
the court below to hear the case, without
Wen opinion upon the law of the case. He argued
es the act did not give the power of appeal to •
Meer inert, it was to be liken that the legislature is-
tended that the decision of the magistrates should be Lai
lag, however inconvenient it might be for the millowners et
Yorkshire to be restricted from the use of relays or "
whilst the millowners of Lancashire, by the decision of their
magistrates, were allowed that privilege; he said he lied
kineselt a strong objection to the system of "shifts," sad
believed that it materially, if not entirely, deprived the
workers of the advantages intended to be conferred by the
Pt. The propos ;1 made by the opponents of the measure,
to accept an 11 hours bill, and in return limit the range of
the time of working from 15 to 124 Inure per day, was, he
thought, a fair one; but, as matters now stood, end seeing
no hope of an amicable adjustment of the question by
concessions on both sides, he would not pledge himself
to any course, nor would he say whether it was
the intention of the government at present to 'pro-
ceed with the mode suggested by Mr. Cobbett, of Man-
chester, to bring the matter before a superior court. Under
any eireanastanees that could not be done until next term
(November). He said he was at all times willing to listen
to suggestions and receive information from the parties con-
cerned on both sides, but thought, if he was again to have
deputations, it would be better it the supporters and oppo-
nents of the measure would meet him at the same time, and
in his presence discuss the merits of the question, from the
results of which he could come to his own conclusion. He
regretted to hear from the deputation that there was every
probability of an extensive agitation in the country, bemuse
from all the information he had received he believed that the
people were well employed, and in most respects comfort.
able. If, however, such an agitation was commenced, he
could not help it.
Several other topics were freely discussed during the in-
terview, which lasted an hour, after which the deputation
thanked Sir George for the attention with which he had
listened to what they had said, and theu withdrew.