The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-07 00:00:00

FACTORIES BILL-COMMITTEE.

On the motion of Sir J. GRAHAM, the House went
nto Committee on the Factories Bill ; Mr. GREENE in
the Chair.

On the 22d clause, which relates to compensation for
accidents to operatives in factories, being read,
Mr. MARK PHILIPS objected to the clause, on the
ground that it was not called for. They might just as
well legislate for accidents occurring in the ordinary
course of domestic life.

Dr. BOWRING and Mr. HUME also objected to the
clause.

Sir J. GRAHAM said that the clause was in accord-
ance with the recommendations of the Committee of
1841.

Dr. BOWRING cited a return to show that fatal acci-
dents occurred only to ten persons out of 116,000 opera-
tives in factories, in the course of a year ; and he con•
tended that in such a state of things there should not be
that interference in the management of factories which
this clause proposed.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that if accidents were so rare,
still more rare would prosecutions be. The power given
by this clause was not likely to be abused, and he con-
sidered it of great value.
Mr. BERNAL said that the return quoted by the
Hon. Member for Bolton (Dr. Bowring) contained fatal
accidents only, and made no mention of those accidents
that were more likely to occur in factories, such as the
mutilation and maiming of limbs, which might disable a
man for life. It could not, therefore, be relied on in the
present case.
Mr. M. PHILIPS thought the return a very fair ono.
It showed that the fatal accidents in cotton factories were

in the proportion of 29 to 85 to those in coal-pits, and it
was a fair inference that the same proportion existed in
minor amidents.

Mr. HUME asked why it was the Government had
not got a return respecting accidents in factories for the
last ten years? The Government had it in their power
to collect the requisite information. He thought that
there ought to be some general account of how matters
really were in this respect, to show that they were war-
ranted in such interference.
Sir J. GRAHAM, at the suggestion of Mr. C. Wood,
consented to an alteration in the clause, allowing twenty-
four hours' notice to be sent by a messenger.
The clause, with amendments, was agreed to.
Clause 23 was also agreed to.
On clause 24, relating to prosecutions in case of acci-
dent, being proposed,
Mr. HUME moved to insert the words " provided
such machinery shall not be properly secured and guarded
as required by this Act."
Sir J. GRAHAM opposed the clause, on the ground
that if an action were commenced, and it should turn
out the machine had been properly guarded, no damages
would, in that case be awarded. It was a question en-
tirely for the jury.
The amendment was negatived, and the clause agreed to.
Clauses 25 and 26 were agreed to without discussion.
On the reading of clause 37,
Mr. STRUTT objected to that portion of the clause
which would render the owners of mills liable to actions
under circumstances in which they must be sure to suffer
heavy costs, whether they had infringed the laws or not.
He moved the omission of that part of the clause.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM did not think that the clause
would, as it stood, have so much hardship in effect as
the Hon. Member supposed. The Right Hon. Baronet
suggested a verbal amendment, which would remove
all possibility of doubt as to the intention of the Legis-
lature.

The amendment was after a short conversation con-
sented to, and the clause so amended was agreed to.
Clause 28 was also agreed to with verbal amendments.
On the reading of clause 29, to the effect that children
above the age of eight years might be employed in
factories,

Mr. FOX MAULE said that this vvas an innovation

against the children, for, as the practice was at present,
children under the age of nine years were not allowed
to be employed.
Mr. FIELDEN opposed the clause, and assured the
Right Hon. Baronet, from his own practical experience,
that (as we understood the Hon. Member, who spoke at
some length, but in a tone scarcely audible) children of
so tender an age were not capable of enduring the labour
of the factory. He moved that the clause be omitted.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that the clause, taken
with that which followed (the3oth clause), would greatly
limit the hours of labour during which children should
be employed. The hours of labour for young children
would be restricted to six hours and a half.—(Hear.)
Mr. FOX MAULE was disposed to support the mo-
tion of the Hon, Member for Oldham. He did not
think that the additional protection to be afforded to the
children would be a compensation for their employment
at so early an age as eight years.
Sir J. JAMES GRAHAM said he would take the
sense of the Committee, if the Hon. Member for Oldham
persevered in his amendment.
Mr. FIELDEN again addressed the Committee in
_ .

support of his amendment.
Mr. AGLIONBY wished the Hon. Member for Old-
ham would repeat what he had said at the table, for
really no one had heard what he said—(Laughter)—and
if he meant to divide the Committee, it would be most
desirable that gentlemen should be able to understand
what were the reasons derived from his great practical
experience, upon which he now opposed the clause.
After a few words from Mr. FIELDEN,

•
Strangers wore ordered to withdraw.
The Committee then divided, when there were—
For the clause . . 137
For Mr. Fielden's Amendment ... 40
Majority —.97
On the 30th clause being proposed, for regulating the
manner in which relays of children were to be worked,
Mr. STUART WORTLEY expressed a wi:sh for
a relaxation of some of the provisions of the clause. In
places where there was a dense population tlae clause
would work well, but it would inflict great iiardship in
places where the population was scattero,!„ more espe-
cially in mills which were worked b 'Water power. He
therefore put it to the Right Hors, Baronet whether it
would not be right to introduc.:e some relaxation of the
clause.
Mr. STRUTT said 4:ne effect of the clause would be
to destroy all the sr-',h.11 manufacturers. It would inflict
great injury ur'Jn the woollen manufacture which was
carried on in country places, where it would be, in many
instances, w, possible to procure relays of children. He
therefore 'proposed the addition of a proviso, to the effect
that ri it could be proved to the satisfaction of the in-
513tcy.tor, that from local or other causes great inconveni-
en' ,!e would arise in the working of woollen mills driven
water:power, in consequence of the enactment of this
clause, it should ho in the power of the Secretary of
F 'tate for the Home Department to issue a license autho-
r icing the working of children in those mills for any
period not exceeding eight hours in the day, or forty-
. ,sight hours in the week.
', Sir J. GRAHAM opposed the proviso. The clause,

as it stood, was in exact conformity with the recommen-
dations of the Select Committee. The effect of the
clause would be to render the employment of four chil-
dren necessary where three were now employed ; but as
a countervailing advantage, the age at which children
might be employed was reduced from nine to eight years
of age. The provisions of the fol:owing clause, which
allowed children of thirteen to work on alternate days
for ten hours, bad been introduced at the recommenda-
tion of parties connected with the woollen manufacture,
and employing water power. They were meant to meet
the case where a supply of children was scanty.
Mr. C. WOOD supported the clause as it originally
stood. The advantages of the relay system were very
great, and he had been informed by manufacturers who
had adopted the relay system, that they felt no inconve-
nience in obtaining relays. The plan afforded the chil-
dren an additional hour a day for attendance at school.
Mr. ALDAM said that the effect of the clause would
be to make manufacturers concentrate themselves in
large towns.
The clause was agreed to after some further discussion.
Clause 3 t was then proposed, and after a few words
from Mr. HINDLEY and Mr. COLLETT, was agreed
to.

Clause 32 was then proposed.
Viscount EBRINGTON opposed it. He was not
satisfied with the arrangements with respect to adult
labour, and he should, therefore, move the expunging of
the clause.

Mr. HUME would vote against the clause, consider-
ing that it offered a premium to prostitution under the
disguise of morality.
Mr. F. MAULE objected to the clause, but trusted the
Noble Lord would not divide upon it.
Mr. HINDLEY objected to the clause.
Lord EBRINGTON said his only object was to re-
cord his vote against the clause. He was in the hands
of the Committee whether he should divide or not.
After some short discussion,
Mr. lIUME said he was determined to divide the
Committee upon the clause.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
Committee divided, when there appeared—

For the clause ' 161

Against it 22
Majority in favour of the clause 139
The clause was then ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses up to 36 were agreed to with a few verbal
amendments.

On clause 37 being proposed,
Lord J. MANNERS moved the amendment of which
he had given notice, that the words " Good Friday and
Ascension Day," be substituted for the words " Good
Friday," as a day to be observed by a cessation of labour.
The day he proposed to add was peculiarly fitted, by the
time of the year at which it occurred, for the amuse-
ment and recreation of the working-people. With every
anxiety to promote the views of the Noble Lord the
Member for Dorsetshire, he thought it would be to the
advantage of the working-classes that they should have
one clear day ; though their hours of labour might be
limited, yet they could not have much time for recrea-
tion. He, therefore, moved the insertion of the words as
an amendment.

Mr. COLLETT would have no objection to the day as
a day of amusement, but as it was a mixing up religious
observances with that relaxation, he should oppose it.
Mr. WARBURTON said if a holiday was required,
they had better take the Queen's Birth-day than one
that was no longer celebrated as a festival even in their
own church.—(oh, oh.) ' At all events it was not cele-
brated by him.—(Laughter.)
Sir J. GRAHAM said the present clause was only in-
tended to give effect to the existing law. He was not
prepared to enter into the discussion of the day, nor
could he support the amendment.
Mr. M. PHILIPS said if the working people were
desirous of a holiday, they had only to represent it to
their employers, and they would obtain it.
The question was then put, and the CHAIRMAN de-
chred that the Noes had it, but a divisioa was de-
manded, and the numbers were—

For the amendment
Against it ll5
Majority against the amendment B9
Clause 38 was agreed to. On clause 39 being put,
Mr. HAWES moved the following proviso:—Pro-
vided always, that if an inspector, on his personal exa-
mination, or on the report of a sub-inspector, shall be of
opinion that any schoolmaster who grants certificates of
the school attendance of children employed in a fac-
tory, is unfit to instruct children by reason of his in-
capacity to teach them to read and write, from his gross
ignorance, or from his not having the books and ma-
terials necessary to teach reading and writing, or
because of his immoral conduct, or of his continued neglect
to fill up and sign the certificates of school attendance
required by this Act, the inspector or sub-inspector of the
district may annul any certificate granted by such dis-
qualified schoolmaster, by a notice in writing addressed
to the occupier of the factory in which the children
named in the certificate are employed, or his principal
agent, setting forth the grounds on which he deems
such schoolmaster to be unfit ; and after the date of
such notice, no certificate of school attendance granted
by such schoolmaster shall be valid for the purposes of
this Act, unless with the consent in writing
of the inspector of the district ; but no in-
spector
shall annul any such certificate unless
in the aforesaid notice he shall name some other
school, situated within two miles of the factory where
the children named in the certificate are employed.
Provided, also, that any schoolmaster whose certificate
shall have been annulled, or the occupier of the factory
in which the children named in the said certificate are
employed, on behalf of She schoolmaster, may appeal to
the Secretary of State against such decision of the
inspector, and the Secretary of State may, if he
think fit, rescind such decision. Provided also, that
every irspector shall, in his annual report to the Se-
cretary of State for the Home Department, state the
instances (if any) in which he shall have had occasion to
annul any such certificate, together with the reasons
which he has in each case assigned for so doing.
The proviso was agreed to, and the clause passed.
Clauses from 40 to 44, inclusive, were agreed to, with
a few verbal amendments.
On clause 45, which related to costs, being proposed,
Mr. GRANGER objected to the power proposed to
be given by the clause of seizing all goods found on the
premises. He thought that the onus of proving that the
goods belonged to the party subject to the seizure should
lie with the party levying the distress.
After a desultory conversation, in which Mr.
Aglionby, Mr. Stuart Wortley, and several other Hon.
Members took part,
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the Com-
mittee divided, when the numbers were,

For the clause 77.
For the amendment 22
Majority
Clauses up to 64, inclusive, were agreed to with some
verbal amendments.

Clauses 65, 66, 67, and 68, were then agreed to.
Clause 69 was then proposed, and, after a short dis-
cussion agreed to, as were also clauses 70, 71, and 72.
The remaining clauses were then agreed to without
discussion.

The House then resumed, and the Chairman reported
progress.
The Gold and Silver Wares Bill went through Com-
mittee.
The House then went into Committee of Ways and
Means, when the 2d,:3d, and sth resolutions relative, to
the alterations of dut,iea proposed in the Budget, were
agreed to, and the House resumed.
The House then adjourned at a Quarter to Two o'clock.

On Tuesday morning last this town was thrown
into a state of consternation by its being reported that
James Thompson, Esq., the late chief constable, had
died suddenly at Harrogate on the previous day. On
making inquiry we found that the report was too true.
It appears that Mr. Thompson, who had been a few
days at Harrogate, had retired, on the Monday
evening, to rest before the family with whom he was
staying; immediately after getting to bed, it is said he
was seized with illness, and got up and dressed himself,
and requested a friend who was at Harrogate with
him to be sent for. His friend arrived only just before
life was extinct. Mr. Thompson was much respected in
the town by men of all parties. It is somewhat singular
that the late Mr. Hartley called at our office with the
information of the death of Mr. Rishworth, the banker;
in a very short time we had to announce Mr. Hartley's
decease, Mr. Thompson being one of the first to inform
us of it, little expecting that wo should so soon have to
chronicle him in our obituary. How true that in the
midst of life we are in death. '— Wakefield Journal.
SIGHT AND HEARING TESTIMONIALS, 39, ALM.'
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.. , .

- -
The Queen and Prince Albert took an airing late on Sun-
day afternoon in the vicinity of Claremont in a pony car-
riage.
Yesterday morning, at 10 o'clock, his Royal Highness
Prince Albert left Claremont on horseback, attended by
Colonel Wvlde, Equerry in Waiting, and rode to Richmond, '
His Royalllighness left Richmond in a travelling carriage-
and four for town, and proceeded to the Hanover-square -
Rooms, where his Royal• Highness remained during the re-
hearsal of the Coneert of Ancient Music, which had been se
lected by his Royal Highness, the Prince being the director
of the concert to-morrow.
After the rehearsal, Prince Albert, attended by Colon-el
NVylde, went from the Hanover-square Rooms to Buckingham
Palace, where his Royal Highness arrived at ten minutes
past two o'clock. The Prince, after lunching at the PalaCe,
took his
_departure in a carriage and four, and returned to.
Claremont at half-past four o'clock, attended by Col. Wylde,
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess
Royal, and the Princess Alice, were taken airings yesterday
in Claremont Park.
The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay took his departure
from Claremont yesterday.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge left town on
Sunday evening, for his residence at Kew.
The Governor of the Bank of England, and the Deputy-
Governor had an interview with the Chancellor of the Ei-
chQqner yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street;

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

•
TA.TTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY.
MATCH.-THIS DAY.
Even betting between Semiseria and Extempore,
SUFFOLK STAKES:-WEDNE.SDAY.

6 to 4 agst Mr. Williamson's the Cure—taken
9 to 4 agst Duke of Bedford's Minotaur
6 to 4 offered on the two
The following horses, engaged in this stake, are now at
Newmarket:—Semiseria, Scalteen, I- am-not-aware, Minotaur.
Cataract, Albion, Hartshorn, Sister to Potentia, the Cure,
Bourra Tomacha, the Manto filly, Buzz, Deuce Ace, Lucy
Long, and Candidate. Ben-y-Ghlo and St. Lawrence were
expected yesterday. Semiseria, the Manto filly, and two or
three others are not expected to run.

THE DERBY.
5 to 2 agst Mr. Crockford's Ratan
5 to 2 agst Mr. John Day's The Ugly Buck
10 to 1 agst Mr. Lichtwald's Leander_t and aft off
20 to 1 agst Col. Peel's Orlando
20 to 1 agst CoL Peel's lonian
25 to 1 agst Sir G. Heathcote's Campanero--taken
25 to 1 agst Sir G. Heathcote's Akbar—t and aft off
25 to 1 agst Mr. Osborne's Mount Charles
25 to 1 agst. Mr. Wood's Running Rein
30 to 1 agst Mr. Ongley's King of the Gipsies—taken
35 to 1 agst Mr. Quin's Loadstone—take 40 to 1
1000 to 15 agst Mr. Quin named Foig-a-ballagh—taken,
40 to 1 agst Mr. Ford's Qui Tani—taken
1000 to 15 agst Dawson's lot—taken
20 to 1 agst Ugly Buck winning this and St. Leger--t 5 to 1 on Ugly Buck agst Akbar—taken
A liberal outlay upon the Ugly Buck at 3 to 1, and repeated
offers to go on had the effect of making him quite as good a
favourite as Ritan, upon whom we did not see any money
laid outright. The betting touched upon most of the other
favourites, but generally in small sums, and without much
influence on their positions. lonian was backed at one period
at 18 to 1, but went back a couple of points and finished
without friends, Orlando once more being in the ascendant.
A reported trial of Sir G. Heathcote's horses, in which Akbar
was second best, and Campanero beaten 100 yards; and from
which arose the offer of 40 to 1 mentioned in our last, would;
appear to have been all moonshine, as nothing said or (lane
yesterday will justify our quoting either of them at more
than 25 to 1.