The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-02 00:00:00

DOTTATION TO NIL WALPOLE.

Yesterdayifterneon adeputation waited, by
appointment, on the Right Hon. S. H. Walpole, for the
purpose of representing to him, and through him to the
government, the position in which trades' unions have
been placed by the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench
in the case of the Bradford Boilermakers, and of impres.
sing on the government the importance of putting theta
in the same position with regard to protection as friendly
societies in general. The deputation consisted of Mr. Wil-
liam Allan, representing the Amalgamated Engineers ; Mr.
D. Guile, Ironfounders' Society ; Mr. It. Applegarth, the
Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners ; and Mr. George
Odgen, the trades' council. The deputation was intro-
duced by
Mr. TO/IA6 HUGH6I4. M.P., who said he believed, and
with great reason, that the decision of the Queen's Bench
had placed trades' societies entirely outside the law. The
deputation wished to lay their case before the right hon.
gentleman, and ask whether the government could not
assist to place them in the position in which they under-
stood they had been placed by the acts of former govern-
ments.

After constderablediscussion,
Mr. WALPOLE said two distinct propositions had been
laid before him. One was to deal with this particular
cue by some legislation immediately ; and as to that he
understood the deputation were prepared to lay a memorial
before him as to the exact potnt on which they wished
legislation. Secondly, with reference to the importance
of a full investigation into the working of these societies,
all be could say now was—and he believed Mr. Hughes
would bear hint out—that they would find in a very few
days that he was not in the least unfriendly to such an ob-
ject as that.
The deputation then thanked the right hon. gentleman,
and withdrew.

THE LONDON DILESSINAKING COMPANY. —The re-
' port to be presented to the shareholders at the annual
meeting, on Monday, congratulates the shareholders on
the results of the working of the company's business
during the past year. The object for which the company
was started, namely, the improvement of the condition of
the workwomen of London, has been steadily kept in view.
The limitation of the hours of work has been strictly ob-
served, and it is satisfactory to be able to state that the
system adopted by thia company is being gradually carried
out by the best houses in the West-end trade. The direc-
tors have good reason for believing that this change is in
great measure owing to the establishment of this com-
pany. That the advantages offered by this company are
lily appreciated by the workpeople, is manifest from the
fact that applications for employment are so numerous
that it is found impossible to employ more than a small
proportion of the applicants. Turning to the financial
affair of the company, the directors wish, in the first
place, to call the attention of their shareholders to the
favourable turn which has taken place since the butt gene-
ral meeting. At that time (the expiration of the first nine
months) the company's balance sheet showed a lass
of 409 f. 17s. 6d. The accompanying balance sheet for
the past year shows, on the other hand, a profit of 291 f.
6a. Sd. The directors have thought it best to apply this
sum in liquidation of last year's lass, and do not therefore
resocumend to the shareholders the declaration of a divi-
dend. In order to secure prompt payment, and thus en-
able the company to trade with a smaller amount of capi-
tal, the directors allow to their customers a discount of
five per cent., if their bills are paid within one month. In
this manner the directors have allowed upwards of 5001.,
and this sum must be taken into account in estimating the
value of the business which the company has secured.
The director, would, moreover, impress upon the share-
holders the fact that the past year was one of unprece-
dented dulness in trade, notwithstanding which, from
their now well-established connexions, they have been
enabled to do a good business, and they look forward with
confidence to a large increase of custom and consequently
of profits lathe future.
CATOTAL PLL•OI. OWE SHILLING DAY.—
FRIDAT, RIA. 1. Admissions on payment, 1,073 ;
ditto. by maim Woe* 1,2118. Total ateliers, 2,341.