The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-25 00:00:00

LANCASHIRE DISTRESS.

CENTRAL RELIEF FUND.
The weekly meeting of the Central Exerettive
Committee was held yesterday in the Mane heater
Town-hall, the Earl of Derby in the chair.
Mr. MACLURE, the honorary secretary, ri sported
that the balance in the bank was £310,588 Os. 10d.,
and that £l9olBs. 10d. bad been received d ueeng the
week. The honorary secretary also repol.te d that
during the week three parcels of clothing Lad been
received. Nothing hid been sent off.
Mr. FARNALL lead the following report e—
" I beg to inform you that on the 15th ir it. there
was an increase in the'number of persons PI :ceiving
parochial relief in 27 union in the cotton IE anufac-
turing districts, as compared with the nee nber so
relieved in tebe previous week, of 382. The increase
of 382 is explained as follows :—There is an increase
at Blackburn of 91, at Burnley of 73, at Bury of
46. at Chorley of 29, at Chorlton of 6, at Clitheroe
of 13. at Glossop of 476, at Haslingden o f 60, at
Lancaster of 3, at Leigh of 16, at Macclesfie id of 8,
at Oldham of 170, at Preston of 76, at Prestwich of
28, at Saddleworth of 60, at Todmorden of 111, and
at Wigan of 15—making a total increase of 1,281.
But there is a decrease at Ashton-under-Lyne of
195, at Barton-upon-Irwell of ;V:, at Bolton of 2, at
Garstang of 6, at Manchester of 236, at Rochdale of
169, at Salford of 232, at Stockport of 24, and at
Warrington of s—making a total decrease of 899,
BO that there is a net increase of 382, and since the
6th cf December last a total decrease of 125,752.
There were on the 15th inst. 146,231 persons re-
ceiving parochial relief in the 27 unions adverted
to ; in the corresponding week of 1861, 46,807 per-
sons were so relieved ; there is, therefore, an in-
crease of 99,424 persons in the receipt of parochial
relief, or 212.4 per cent. In the corresponding
week of 1862, 126,580 persons received paro-
chial relief. The total weekly cost of out-door
relief on the 15th inst. was £9,023 14s. Bd.; in the
corresponding week of 1861 it was £2,264 15a. 9d.;
there is, therefore, an increase of £6,758 183. ld.,
or 298 4 per cent. In the corresponding week of
1862 it was £7,127 la. 6d. The average percentage
of pauperism on the population of these unions
on ti.e 15th inst. was 7.4; in the corresponding
week .in 1861 it was 2 4 ; avd in the correspond-
ing week in 1862 it was 6.4. The amount of
money in the hands of the treasurers of the above
unions on the 15th inst. was £79,183 8s: 2d. Your
committee will have observed the increase of pau-
perism in the union of Glossop—viz., 476 ; but the
clerk of that union wrote to me on the 21st inst. as
follows
" ' This increase is caused principally by the
Glossop Relief Committee throwing the single men,
and men with their wives and no children, on to
the guardians, and also by the stoppage of a colliery
in the township of Chisworth.'
Had there been no alteration of arrangements- in
the union of Glossop I should have been enabled to
have reported a decrease of pauperism in the cotton
manufactured districts."
A discussion followed on the general prospects of
the district.
Mr. J. IL KAY said that the conditions of things
in the district which he represented (Bury) ap.
peared to him to be more gloomy now than it was a
few weeks ago ; and mentioned as a fact in point
that one of the largest manufacturing firms in his
neighbourhood, that of Messrs. Grant Brothers, was
about to close their mill and retire from business.
Mr. T. ASHTON thought there were no new
grounds to warrant any important variation from
the estimate of the prospects of the cotton trade
put forth by this committee at Christmas last. The
imports of cotton in the interval had been, if any-
thing, rather less than was calculated upon ; but
the difference was inconsiderable. There was no
doubt that every bale of cotton imported would be
used. In reply to the chairmen, he observed that
next year a large supply of cotton might be looked
for, inasmuch as they ought not to anticipate
another failure in the Indian crop.

Mr. HUGH MASON mentioned that a manufac-
turer with whom he was well acquainted, employ-
ing 700 hands, and whose works had been stopped
for several months, bought cotton about eight weeks
ago, and again opened his works, thinking that at
the then price of the raw material there would be
less loss in working than in keeping the machinery
idle. Since he went into the market, however, the
price of cotton had advanced 21d. per lb., and it
became a question with him whether he should not
close again.
Mr. ASUTON said that similar changes in the
market had been occurring during the last 18
months.

Mr. E. ASHWORTH expressed the opinion, as
member of the Cotton Supply Association, that there
would not be more than 22,000 bales per week for
consumption till the close of the year, leaving the
stock in Liverpool at that time the same as in the
present month—viz., in round numbers, 150,000
bales less than at the commencement of the year—
that was to say, the trade would lessen the stock in
Liverpool beyond the imports to 150,000 bales. This
22,000 bales per week would be equivalent to three
days' working. He could show from correspondence
received by the Cotton Supply Association, a pro-
mise based upon crops of cotton now growing, of a
supply equal to 42 days per week employment for
1864.

The CHAIRMAN inquired from what countries the
increased supply was expected ?
Mr. E. ASHWORTH replied that 350,000 bales,
equal to 250,000 bales of American, were expected
from the Turkish dominions; there 'would be a
small increase from Italy and the Mediterranean
Islands, an increase of 50,000 tales from Egypt, and
of 100,000 more from Brazil and Peru. Sir Charles
Wood had stated that, owing to the unfavourable
season in India in 1862, we had a much smaller
excess of quantity than might have been anticipated
from the increased breadth of land placed under
cotton. They might now take into their calculation,
however, last year's increased breadth of land and
the increased 'breadth this year; and he thought
they might safely estimate an enlarged import from
India for 1864 to the extent of 250,000 bales.

The CHAIRMAN said if these calculations were ac-
curate, they were most important. Heretofore these
districts had been dependent, he believed, upon Ame-
rica for at least five-sixths of their cotton ; and
according to the estimate now made, there would
next year be
per
week,
supply equal to nearly five days'
Ivo-11r111ri.nAgs Irr o NI
said he had no doubt that the whole
of Lancashire' mightof cotton
be at full work in 1865 or 1866
without a bale
and
sapposfncotton being received from Ame-
rica, Inthe war were still progressing
in that country. e
rreply to Mr. Worral, he added
that lie believed there be a sufficient supply
for 41 days' working immediately after Christmas.
Mr. E. A suwoRTR cgoit
observed that the time
at which the 41 days'
some
should commence
would be regulated, to
Ifthey
extent, by the ex-
rewi era ee
tent of stocks in hand.
keephey.were sufficiently
reduced at Christmas to
the point
seeantrse to fuller
which would permit of immedialat
working, extended operations
com-
mence. The Indian cotton eropsulda. then com-
till towards Midsummer, but prices would
not arrive
Mediterranean and some other crops by bijog the
During the past year the exports of maynufErarY"
etured
goods from England had exceeded the •
imports of
the raw material, and therefore the old stocks in the
warehouses must have been considerably lessened.
The CHAIR:IAN (Lord D.:rby) asked if there we,
any prospect cf an increased supply of cotton from
South Africa—Natal, for instance, or Australia?
Mr. E. Asnwoi,Tll—Very little: indeed. We shall
not have 10,000 bales fron2 all Africa, excluding

EgYPt•
Lord EGERTON inquired what was the prospect
with regard to the export of manufactured goods.
He understood that the exports depended upon the
price of cotton here.
Mr. E. ASHWORTH said that in 1860 or 1861 we
exported cotton. goods to the value of 1:60,000,000
sterling. When the price of cotton rose the exports
began to fall off, but the Tittles twitted them by
saying that they stiq sent out £60,000,000 worth
of goods—that was, half the exports at double tto
price. The question was whether, when the bulk
of raw cotton imported was 50 per cent. more than
at present, the £60,000,000 of money would be
raised to i90,n00,000.

I+lr. t'i..'•llloN htlicied that -with the low price

of cotton formerly prevailing, the trade would again
extend in proportion. They could not enlarge their
operations at the present prices of cotton. The cot-
ton growing districts of India had, owing to the
high price paid for their produce, enjoyed a degree
of prosperity never before witnessed. The effect
was beginning to be seen in Calcutta. An esti-
mate had been arrived at as to the quantity of goods
they could use in the six months, from January to
the end of July, and this was one of the causes of
the large business done in Manchester last week.
The usual consumption in Calcutta was, in spite of
present high prices, only 25 per cent. per month
more than that of the first six months of this year.
In addition to this they knew that the stocks of
goods up country had been reduced materially
during the same period.
Mr. E. Asrtwormi said the money paid to India
during the last year for cotton had been about
£20,000,000 sterling more than had been customary,
and the increased amount to Egypt—to a popula-
tion of 3,500,000—was about £7,000,000 sterling.
Some portion of that money would be sure to come
back to this country for manufactured goods.

Mr. STERN did not think there would be any
difficulty in selling all the goods they could produce,
provided there was no very sudden fall in the price
of cotton.
Lord E. HOWARD, M.P., said they could not be
too thankful for the hope of brighter prospects
which had been held out to them, but he gathered
from the conversation that a period of something
like two years must elapse before tbeymcnouetldbebaer
realised, and thought, therefore, that they
in mind what they had to encouonidterhaivnetahsat
winterlong
interval. He was sure they
fig
ning
ee
mmpolnoeyy.
appnnd reora
tenhee dr plyubeini
ctvt
ordkoe, bAo
et
th
nn
da pi
np lfiyni nd
ment by other means for the distressed population.
These people, if he mistook not, would soon be
badly off for clothing, and that might interfere
with their going to a distance in search of work.
He should be glad to learn what had been the
result of efforts made by certain benevolent
persons to employ these cotton operatives in out-
door work. It would be well, especially as a long
period had to be tided over before brighter times
arrived, if such persons would publish the result of
their experience in the employment of factory
operatives at a distance. It might probably en-
courage others to follow their example by finding
occupation for the same unfortunate class.
Lord EGERTON said the expense of removing
deterred married men with families from going in
search of work to long distances; they had also a
natural repugnance to breaking up their homes.
Mr. MACLURE (hon. sec.) said that wherever
operatives had gone to avail themselves of specific
offers of work through this committee, he had taken
care to inquire how they had conducted themselves
as regarded their general behaviour and suitability
for their new employments. In every instance
the reports bad been most satisfactory, and
on more than one occasion he had laid those reports
before this committee. There was a great advan-
tage in offers of work of a temporary nature, as
they enabled single young men to employ them-
selves for a time, and yet be within reach when a
better state of the cotton trade came. The great
difficulty was, as Lord Egerton remarked, the ex-
pense of transit. He stated that he had received
an offer from Mr. Haig, of Newton, North Wales,
for the employment of 20 men for five months,
which he hoped to be able to make available. Such
offers showed great consideration and would always
be gladly received by the committee.
Mr. E. ASHWORTH inquired whether, if the
whole of the money provided under the new act
were borrowed, employment would nct be found
thereby for the whole of the operative population
not occupied in the cotton trade. It would be bet-
ter in every sense not to send them away till it was
ascertained that there was no work for them at
home.

In reply to the CHAIRMAN, he said he estimated
4-I days' work in the mills from January next.
The CHAIRMAN thought it highly important that
the facts detailed in the conversation should be
made public, particularly as they might tend to
reconcile an apparent inconsistency with which the
manufacturers had been charged—namely that of
endeavouring to prevent the people to disperse to
other districts, at the same time that they made
the most dismal statements regarding the present
state of things.
After a little further conversation the subject
dropped.
The MAYOR of MANCHESTER said that in all
probability Manchester would make application for
£lOO,OOO under the Public Works Act. The cor-
poration were most anxious to follow out the inten-
tions of Parliament, and assist in finding employ-
ment for the distressed population.