The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-10 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETING AT MANCHESTER.

On Wednesday evening a public meeting was
held in the Theatre of the Mechanics' Institution,
" for the purpose of taking into consideration the
best means to be adopted for obtaining from Parlia-
ment a general Act for the regulation of the hours
of labour of young persons employed in cotton,
woollen, silk, linen, and other factories where chil-
dren are employed and machinery used." In the
notices by which the meeting was convened, it was
also announced that " the accounts of the Society
for the Protection of Children employed in Cotton
Factories would lie laid before the meeting, and a
report of the progress male in accomplishing the
object of the Institution." The meeting consisted
exclusively of the working classes, and was attended
by from six to seven hundred persons. James Tur-
ner, an operative cotton-yarn dresser, was called to
the Chair.

Mr. DOHERTY, the Secretary to the Society for
the Protection of Children, &c. then came forward
to state the progress that had been made in effect-
ing the object of that Association. He observed
that about fifteen or eighteen months ago a public
meeting had been held, and a society formed to pre-
vent the over working of the children employed in
cotton factories. At that time in several parts of
the country, cotton factories were kept at work
fourteen, fifteen, and even sixteen hours a day. On
the formation of the Society, persons were appointed
to wait upon the masters in those districts where
the greatest irregularities prevailed, and to desire
that they would discontinue such illegal and op-
pressive practices. This was accordingly done.
Mr. Doherty then detailed the success which the
deputies met with in different quarters, and
stated that the masters generally were willing
to restrict the hours of labour to the time pre-
scribed by law, but pleaded that they were
cempelled to violate the Act, by the ille-
gal conduct of their neighbours, who worked still
longer hours than they. Glossop, Stayley-bridge,
Hyde, and other places were thus visited ; and the
consequence was, that by laying informations against
some of those who transgressed, the masters in ge-
neral were induced to restrict themselves to the legal
hours. At Wigan it was found that by the charter
of the borough no Magistrate was allowed to inter-
fere with any matter occurring within the liberties of
the town but the borough Magistrates. It happened
that these were all cotton-spinners; and by a pro-
vision in the Cotton Factory Act cotton-spinners
were expressly prohibited from hearing or deciding
upon any case under the Act; so that the only per-
sons who possessed any jurisdiction as Magistrates
within the borough were expressly disqualified from
disposing of these cases. Under these circum-
stances a public meeting was held at Wigan, and a
letter was sent to Mr. Secretary Peel, informing
him of the difficulty. In reply to that communica-
tion a letter was received from Mr. Peel, stating that
he had written to the Magistrates of Wigan in
terms which he hoped would remedy the evil com-
plained of, but requesting to be informed if the reverse
should be the case. The consequence was the cotton-
spinners of Wigan very soon became as strict observers
of the law as any in the kingdom, although previ-
ously they had kept their mills at work from five
o'clock in the morning to nine, and even to half-
past ten, at night. Mr. Doherty then alluded to
the difficulty which was experienced in procuring
evidence against those spinners who violated the
Act, as the witnesses were persons in the employ
of the offenders themselves, and of course were very
backward in giving their testimony, lest they should
be turned out of employment. Since the formation
of the Society, 187 informations had been laid in
and from among these twenty-four convictions had
been obtained. Air. Doherty then read the acconnts
of his receipts and disbursements, from which it
appeared that he had received in subscription', the
proceeds of convictions, &c., 164/. 2s, ld.; and ex-
pended in procuring information and evidence, in
travelling expences, costs of summonses, &e. 1631.
Its. Bd., leaving a balance of only 10s. sd. in hand.
When Mr. Doherty had concluded, Mr. Jlarbottle,
Mr. Chappell, and Mr. Ilfirvey, three respectable
mill-owners, were appointed to audit the accounts
which had just been read.
TuoarAs FOSTER, an operative spinner, in the
employ of Thomas Houldsworth, Esq., M.P., then
addressed the meeting, and in a speech of consider-
able ability alluded to this dreadful consequences
arising to the health and morals of the children
employed in cotton-mills., in consequence of the
length of time in which they are daily kept at work.
He remarked upon the insufficiency of the existing
laws to repress the practice of over-working chil-
dren, and urged the necessity for a new Act, with
more extensive powers, being obtained for the
regulation of the hours of persons employed in cot-
ton, silk, and woollen manufactories. Mr. Foster
enforced his view with much energy, and at times
with considerable eloquence, and was loudly ap-
plauded throughout his speech.
Several other individuali, chiefly operative spin-
ners, subsequently addressed the meeting; and a
series of resolutions were unanimously adopted,
embodying the sentiments of the speakers on the
subject before the meeting.
In the course of the proceedings, the principal
alterations to be introduced into the proposed new
Act were communicated to the meeting. It was
finally agreed that petitions founded on the resolu-
tions, and praying for an alleviation in the law to the
effect stated, should be presented to both Houses of
Parliament.