The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-26 00:00:00

The Factory Act in the Potteries.

A meeting of the manufacturers of the Stafford-
shire Potteries, called by the Chamber of Commerce,
was held at Stokeson-Trent on Monday afternoon,
" to meet Mr, Baker, the inspector of factories, ap-
pointed by Government for this district, and confer
with him as to the rules and regulations to be
adopted for carrying oat the provisions" of the
Factory Acts Extension Bill. Between 50 and
60 manufacturers, representing most of the firms
in the district, were present. Mr. M. D. Hollis
occupied the chair during the earlier part of the
meeting, and, on his leaving, his place was taken
by Mr. E. Wedgwood, of Tunstall. Mr. Baker
was introduced to the meeting, and explained the
principal provisions of the Act, after which he an-
swered a number of questiona pat to him as to the
intentions and operations of certain clauses, and ex.
pressed his views on the best mode of carrying them
oul, and the character of the regulations ho recom-
mended to be adopted. In the course of conversa-
tion several questions of importance were raised and
talked in a candid and impartial spirit, and though
some little objection was urged to the principle of
the measure, the unanimous wish of the meeting ape
peared to be to ascertain the best mode of carrying
out its provisions in a manner whica would be satis-
factory to all parties. Mr. Baker expressed his
confidence that the manufacturers of the district
would work amicably together when they came to
know each other. In reference to the medical
examination of children employed in the manufac-
tories on their commencing to work, required by
the Act, Mr. Baker recommended that the Pot-
teries should be divided into five districts, with
a surgeon appointed in each to make periodical
examinations of such children at the manuface
tories, and ascertain their fitness for work other-
wise. In respect to the rules and regulations to
be made under the act, he suggested that the ope-
rative potters should have a hand in framing them
in conjunction with the manufacturers, so that
there should be no risk of unfairness to either
party. In reply to a question as to who would
provide schools for children under the half-time
system, Mr Baker said he supposed schools were
already provided. It was remarked in reply to
this that the schools in the district were already
full—and it was further said that the teachers and
children of many of the present schools would ob-
ject to receiving half-time teachers and children in
their schools, especially in their working dress.
Mr Baker suggested that the half-time ;children
could change their dress, but it was replied that
many of them had no other clothes than those they
worked in. It was hoped, however, that means
would be found to get over this difficulty and some
others which were urged. Among the questions
put to Mr Baker, was one as to whether china was
included in the operations of the act. Mr Baker
replied that it was; it came under the general
term earthenware. Mr Baker announced that he
should appoint a sub-inspector for the district, who
who would report to him week by week. Mr Baker
expressed a desire to do all he could to make the
new measure agreeable to the district, but, at the
same time, stated that he should not overlook any
• infractions of the law. He left the meeting before
it was concluded, and a cordial vote of thanks was
passed to him for his lucid and satisfactory expla-
nation of the act, and the information he had giver.
A committee was appointed by the meeting to draw
up rules and regulations, with authority to receive
any communication from and grant an interview
with representatives of the operative potters on the
subject. The committee consisted of about 30 gen-
: demon, representing equally all the towns of the
district.—.Birminghant Daily Post.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—Last evening Mr Payne, the
city coroner, held an inquest at St. Bartholo-
mew's Hospital respecting the death of Robert Everington,
aged 26 years, who had been a foreman of bricklayers iu the
employ of Mr Kelk, the contractor for the construction of
the Finsbury extension of the Metropolitan Railway. James
Budd said that on Wednesday last the deceasEd was stand-
ing on a scaffold plank at the old Smithfield market cutting
of the new railway. He was giving some directions to the
men, who were at work several feet beneath him, when he
attempted to reach ono of the pulleys for hauling up the
bricks. Ile lust his balance, anti came with great force to
the ground at the bottom of the cutting. He fell among
the men, but fortunately none of them were injured. Mr
Stone, house surgeon, said that the deceased's spine was
fractured, and he had received severe internal injuries, lie
died on Thursday morning. The jury returned a verdict of
accidental death,