The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-23 00:00:00

TAMENT. The object of this bill was to prohibit the system by
direct legislation.
Sir W. CLAY moved an amendment, that the bill be
read a second time this day six months. The bill pro-
posed to prevent certain contracts now entered into be-
tween the masters and workmen. Those people worked
uantdhoNmoettiinngthhaeimr haonuasesL,
esiccaets.-
tneorte
d in
agbroeuatt
the factories, c
oun
tybarot
ter, working at looms which were not their own,
but were the property of the masters, to whom
they paid so much for the use of the looms, and he
tholight such an arrangement was most desirable, and
he considered that the relations of masters and workmen
rested _on principles over which legislation had no con-
r aby
regulated mainly the condition of
trol, but .7hich wase, -ewas therefore certain that if
the labour m...'"; He
into a law it would become a dead
this bill should pa.. ronet concluded by moving his
letter. The hon. ba.
d the amendm
amendment. t. He
Mr. WILKINSON seconal' e
'"1 it ;to be quite impossible to re "elate rates of wa;es
heir .4 Parliament ; and he opposed the bill also on the
by act ,t it would direct the attention of the work-
ground the.. from
men themselv, •
—their own good conduct, and lead them to believe Par-
liament could do eveything for them.
Sir ;,T. WALMSI-,,8Y supported the second reading
of the bill. The stocke'ng-weavers were frequently en-
gaged 12 or 15 hours a-day' at hard work— for few de-
scriptions of work were more severe ; and at the end of
the week nearly the whole of the it earnings, which were
only 125., or 145., or 15s. a. week, were taken
to pay for their frame-rent and chaiZes ; and often,
when attacked by sickness, and laid L y for weeks
without earning anything the hire for the looms went
on. He denied that the object of the bill was to enable
the men to dictate to their masters ; on the contrary, it
was only to enable the men to obtain their wages in cur-
rent coin of the realm, instead of by the present cruel
truck system.
Sir G. STRICKLAND thought this was a most ins'
portant measure, and deserved the most serious consi-
deration of the house. He went the whole length with
the honourable baronet (Sir William Clay), that there
should be no interference between masters and em-
ployers, except in the cases of children working in fac-
tories, who, from their youth, were incapable o! de-
fending themselves, but he thought that did not
apply to the present bill, because it would only affect
adult labourers, who were as capable of taking care of
themselves ac the masters were.
Mr. PACKE spoke in favour of the bill. The looms
which those hosiers had to hire they had frequently to
pay at the rate of 100 per cent. for• those loorns
in most cases, not being the property Of the masters,
but of middlemen, who hired them out at enormous
profits, awl to the oppression of the workpeople. He
contended that the hon. Bart., the member for Preston
(Sir W. Clay) was mistaken in saying this bill would
affect adult labourers who could take care of them-
selves, for those workpeople must either submit to the
terms dictated by the masters, or starve. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE thought if this bill were to be
understood to be referred to a select committee, that
understanding would save the time of the house in now
discussing it. He considered the system of hiring out
the looms was most unjust and oppressive on the work-
people.
Mr. FITZROY said as there had been a committee
appointed on a somewhat similar system, the truck
system, and the Government had no objection to refer
this bill to that committee. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE was sorry to hear the intention
of the Government respecting this bill, being convinced
that any legislation between masters and men would only
have the effect of raising false hopes among the hosiers,
and end in disappointment.
After a short reply from Sir H. MILFORD,
Mr. BOUVERIE said it was distinctly statzsd by one
of the gentlemen whose names were on the back of the
bill that its object vas to obtain a higher rate of wages
for the workmen, and he believed this was the first time
the British Parliament had been asked to do this. He
hoped the house would reject the bill.
Mr. PACKE explained that he did not mean to con-
vey the impression attributed to him by Mr. Buuverie
that it was a bill to obtain by aid of
Parliament a higher
rate of wages for the hosiers than they now obtained.
Mr. COBBI:TT spoke in favour of at least referrino-
the bill to a seleot committee, although he did hardly'
expect it would have the effect expected b
of it. y the framers

After a few remarks from Mr. BARROW and Mr. BASS,
The house divided, when the numbers were—
For the second reading l2O
Against it
SLIGO ELECTION.
Sir F. BARING brought up the report of the
select committee in the case of the Sligo borough
election, which declared that John Sadher, Rig.,
was duly returned at the last election. That
two voters were bribed by sums of money to vote for
Mr. Sadleir, or to abstain from voting, but that such
acts of bribery were committed without the knowledge
of Mr. Sadleir or his agents.
The other business on the paper was then disposed of,
and the house adjourned at six o'clock.