The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-14 00:00:00

CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES.

Mr. SLANEY, in bringing forward the motion of
which he had given notice, felt it would be neces-
sary to trouble the House with considerable details.
The humbler classes of society, he need hardly re-
mind the House, were divided into two different
classes. First, the agricultural; and the condition
of this class was different in the north and south,
as he had shown on a former occasion. The other
class consisted of those who were employed in
mechanical occupations. He had always thought
that the agricultural and manufacturing interests
were insepatable,—that both of them rose and
were depressed together. Let him, however, call
the attention of the House to the increase which

lad taken place in the numbFr of those employed

in manufacturing and mechanical occupations, as
compared with the agricultural class. In England,
the former as compared with the latter were six to
five in 1801; they were as eight to five in 1821;
and, taking the increase of population to have pro-
ceeded in the same ratio, they were now as two to
one. In Scotland the increase had been still more
extraordinary. In that country, they were as five
to six in 1801 ; as nine to six in 1821; and they
were now as two to one. The increase in the gene-
ral population during the last 20 years had been 30
per cent; in the manufacturing population it had
been 40 per cent.; in Manchester, Coventry, Li-
verpool, and Birmingham, the increase had been
50 per cent.; in Leeds, it had been 54 per cent.;
its Glasgow, it had been 100 per cent. As this
class was better off now than at the beginning of
the century, it was evident that capital must have
increased in the same proportion. Besides these
facts, the improvements in machinery were to be
taken into consideration. Great as was his sense of
the services of the Noble Duke who had conducted
the military operations of the country, still, if he were
asked to name any one person to whom England was
most indebted in bearing up against nearly all Europe,
he should say that James Watt was that person.—
(Hear.)—The suggestions of Watt in the use of
steam had been productive of incalculable benefits
to the country. In 1814 we had eleven steam-
vessels, and the number of tons was 542; in 1628,
we had 338 steam-vessels, and the number of tons
was 30,000. Thus, in the space of 14 years, the
steam-vessels had increased thirty-fold in number,
and sixty-fold in tonnage. Another fact connected
with the manufacturers was, that a very large por-
tion of them were unrepresented in that House, and
this gave them a strong claim on the attention of
Parliament. He hoped, however, that the motion
of which the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) had
given notice, might have the effect of giving them
that desirable object. It was not the depression of
trade, but the occasional fluctuations, to which ma-
nufacturers were exposed—fluctuations which at
one time, by raising the price of their labour, led
them to riot and extravagance, and at another, by
greatly depressing it, led to want and to crime.
It was at the present time more peculiarly necessary
to consider the situation of the working persons en-
gaged in manufactures, for up to a very late period
England enjoyed the monopoly of the world, kept
up in part by the circumstances in which she was
placed in her political relations towards the rest of
Europe, hut also mainly upheld by those principles
of freedom which experience had shown were so
favourable to the extension of commerce. Eng-
land, however, no longer enjoyed this monopoly.
Opposite to her shores were two great countries
copying, in a great degree, her institutions, and
imitating her manufactures. He did not mention
'this for the purpose of exciting any jealousy, but as
a reason to show the importance of elevating the
character of our manufacturers; for, in proportion as
we did, we must tend to keep up that superiority
which we had so long enjoyed. The Hon. Mem-
ber then • proceeded to point out the chief causes
of fluctuations which were often felt so severely by
the working classes. These, he observed, were
more felt in the work carried on by hand-labour
than in that done by steam-engines. In the latter,
there were daily improvements in the machinery,
which, on the whole, benefitted the community, but
were a temporary evil to those whose labours were
dispensed with. In the result, they found means of
employment, by the additional stimulus given to the
employment of capital; but, in the mean time, some
resource should be provided for them, by which
they might be prevented from coming upon the
poor-rates for support. The number of hand-looms
in 1820, was about 240,000, and was at present
not greater; but in the same time the number of
power-looms had increased from 14,000 to about
55,000, each power-loom being equal to three
hand-looms; so that in these was now business
done equal to that which 165,000 hand-looms would
have performed. He did not not urge this as an
objection to power-looms, but merely to show that
some provision should be made to guard against the
effects of those fluctuations to which such improve-
' merits must give rise. Another cause of fluctua-
tion was the change of fashions. In this respect
there had been a great change from the use of wool-

en to that of linen and cotton, and rom cotton to

that of silk. After noticing the objections made by
the manufacturers at Worcester to any opening in
the trade in foreign gloves, the Hon. Member stated
that after deducting the foreign importations, there
had been an increase since 1826 (when the trade

was opened) of 144,000 dozen pairs of gloves, and
since 1820, an increase of 490,000 dozen pairs. He
then noticed our exports in 1827 and 1828; which
were, of cotton goods, 17,500,000 ; of woollen,
5,250,000; and of metal articles, 2,500,000; mak-
ing in the whole 25,250,000 of exports in those three
branches of trade. The Hon. Member then went on
to point out the policy ofgivingto the working classes
some means of protecting themselves against those
fluctuations towhich their respective trades were liable.
It was impossible to guarantee fixed employment or
fixed wages; but, supposing employment to exist,
Parliament might give them the means of guarding
against evils which were continually recurring. The
plan which he would suggest would he to extend
the operation of the principles of benefit societies.
Those societies made provision for the contingencies
of sickness and old age. He should propose a se-
lect committee to inquire how far the principles of
mutual assistance might be extended, so as to make
some provision for the contingencies of little or no
employment. To show that the working classes,
engaged in the principal branches of manufactures,
had, within themselves, the means of making this
provision, the Hon. Member took a view of the
average rate of wages in the principal seats of those
manufactures. Thus, in a circle of 30 miles diame-
ter, the centre of which was Manchester, there
were, he observed, about 500,000 persons engaged
in the cotton trade; of these, one-fifth received on
the average 20s. per week, one-fifth 125., one-fifth
consisting in the great part of women and children,
received 75., and one-fifth, including young children,
who received 2s. 6d. per week. These supported
the remaining fifth, who were infirm or disabled
from work. In the woollen trade there were about
20,000 persons engaged in Leeds and its vicinity.
These were divided into three classes, the weavers,
earning on an average 14s. per week; spinners and
slubbers, at 21s. per week, and dressers, also earning
21s. per week, working for twelve hours, six days
in the week. The women in this trade earned from
6s. to Bs. per week, and the children in proportion.
In Birmingham the working classes earned on an
average 125., 18s., and 245. per week ; the wages
of the women varying from 10s. to Bs. and 6s. per
week. Some of those classes were provident, and
made savings of their wages, but the great majority
were improvident, and when any fluctuation came,
they were without any relief, but that which the
poor's rates afforded. The same might be said of
the persons engaged in iron works, who were about
66,000 in number, and who he regretted were as
improvident as the others he had mentioned. Now
to induce them to make some provision while em-
ployed, for the contingency of occasional non-em-
ployment, he would apply the principle of the act
which had been passed last year respecting benefit
societies, and the committee for which he should
move would have to inquire how far that was prac-
ticable. It might be objected that such a fund as
would be necessary for this purpose might lead to
combination amongst the working classes ; but he
must contend, that in proportion as the condition of
the working classes was improved, so would be their
disinclination to combine against their employers.
The repeal of the combination laws would also
much lessen any disposition to do so. After ob-
serving that the present state of the corn laws
would prevent those very fluctuations in the price of
food which had so often distressed manufacturers,
and would therefore lessen the chance of too many
being thrown at once upon the funds for relief when
out of work, the Hon. Member proceeded to point
out the beneficial regulations adopted in some trades,
particularly amongst the journeymen tailors, by
which they obtained a certain allowance when out
of employment. There were, amongst these regu-
lations, some things which would well deserve the
investigation of the Committee, with the view of
ascertaining how far the principle might be extend-
ed. In some instances, when there was a depres-
sion in the trade, the quantity of work given to
each man was diminished, but the same price given
for what was done. By this means the market was
not glutted, and when the temporary pressure was
passed the men found full employment. In other
cases, the quantity of the work was increased, but
at a reduced price; so that a man, to earn the same
wages as before, must work, say 16 hours instead
of 12; and the effect of this was to overstock the
market, and increase the depression of that branch
of manufactures. In Wolverhampton, this system
was carried to such a height, and the quantity of ar-
ticles manufactured so much beyond the demand,
that he had seen a strong and well-finished curry-
comb sold for one penny. He had communicated
on the subject with several principals connected with
the manufacturing interest,—with Mr. Kirkman
Finlay amongst others,—all of whom agreed in opi-
nion, that workmen became tractable arid obedient
in proportion as their comforts were increased, and
their general condition was improved. The Hon.
Member, after thanking the House for the indul-
gence which he had experienced, concluded by
moving, " That a Select Committee be appointed
for considering the means to lessen the evils arising
from the fluctuation of employment in manufactur-
ing districts, and to improve the health and comfort
of the working classes dwelling in large towns."
Mr. MARSHALL seconded the motion.
Mr. CRIPPS had no wish to throw cold water
on the Hon. Member's proposition, but he did desire
to guard the House from the erroneous notion that
it was likely to produce a benefit which he greatly
feared it could not realise. It was impossible that
workmen could now contribute, out of their low
wee-es, sufficient materially to assist their brethren
who were at present out of employment. The case
of the southern counties somewhat differed from
that of the rest; but the advantage to be derived
from any associatio n that raised contributions of
twopence and threepence would be a mere trifle
compared with the wants of thousands, who might
daily require assistance.
Mr. ROBINSON expressed his disbelief of the
correctness of the sources from whence the Hon.
Member had derived his information as to the im-
portation and consumption of gloves. Whatever
might be the policy of the system, there was cer-
tainly but little of fair play in bringing the foreigner
in competition with the home manufacturer. Price,
not quantity, was the proper criterion of prosperity.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
consented to the motion more for the purpose of
procuring the information which might be obtained
by a Committee, than with any expectation of ac-
complishing the object which the Hon. Gentleman
professed to have in view. Such an extension of
the principle of benefit societies as the Honourable
Member proposed, he conceived to be impossible.
Under the system recommended, it was not impro-
bable that parties would subscribe first, and. with-
draw their subscription at a period of depression.
Where the contingency of sickness was the subject
to which the funds of the society were to be di-
rected, it was sufficiently evi•lent that but a small
portion would be demanded at a time. According
to the Hon. Member's system, however, the calcu-
lation would lead to a conclusion directly the re-
verse. If a number of different manufacturers were
concentrated in one spot, he admitted that such a
plan would lie more practicable, as in that case the
superfluity of one manufacturer might supply the
deficiency of the other. But the lion. Member
seemed to overlook a difficulty of a different kind,
which would nevertheless be found materially to
embarrass the operations of his societies. How
were they to be enabled to ascertain whether the
distress of applicants for relief had proceeded from
fluctuation ? How should they discriminate between
the industrious and the indolent ? Might not their
credulity be abused, and their funds encumbered by
the idle and profligate, whose fraudulent represen-
tations it would be difficult to controvert? On the
whole, he should not oppose the motion, being de.
sirous of information, but he feared that the plan,
when developed, would not be found practically con-

NN... • _
ducive of benefit to 'those for whose advantage it
was intended. _

Sir G. PHILIPS said he was not opposed to the
Hon. Member's proposition, but the plan of savings'
banks appeared to him better calculated to benefit
the lower classes of society.
Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN observed, that it
would be a mere delusion to appoint this committee,
which could be productive of no good results, after
they had already refused to inquire into the distresses
of the people.
Mr. SLANGY stated, in reply, that he could not
believe the proposed committee would be altogether
useless, when he reflected that similar objections had
been made to benefit societies, which were now
known to enrol a million of members, and also to
savings' banks, in which at present not less than
16,000,000/. sterling were invested.
The motion was then agreed to, and a Committee
appointed.