Star.
London, England, 1831-01-21 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21, 1831.

No. 13,688.

MR. OWEN'S REPORT.

To the Committee of the Association for the Relief of Manufacturing
and labouring Poor : (laid before the Committee of the Howse of
Commons on the Poor's laws, is the Session of 1517.)
MT LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,--Havingbeen requested
by you to draw up a detailed Report of a Plan for the gene-
ral Relief of the Manufacturing and Labouring Poor, I
have the honour to submit the following:—
In order to do justice to this interesting subject, it is ne-
cessary to trace the operation of those leading causes, to
which the distress now existing to an unprecedented extent
in this country, and in other countries in no very slight
degree, is to be ascribed : the evil will be found to flow from
a state of things to which the progress of society has giros'
Meth : a developement of this will therefore suggest the
means of counteracting it.
The immediate cause of the present distress is the depre-
ciation of human labour ; and which has been occasioned by
the general introduction of mechanism into the manufactures
of Europe and America, but principally into those of Britain,
where the change was greatly accelerated by the inventions
of Arkwright and Watt.
The introduction of mechanism into the manufacture of
objects of desire in society reduced their price ; the reduction
of price increased the demand for them, and generally to so
great an extent, as to occasion more labour to be employed
after the introduction of machinery than had been employed
before.
The first effects of these new mechanical combinations
were to increase individual wealth, and to give a new sti-
mulus to further inventions.
Thus one mechanical improvement gave rise to another
in rapid succession ; and in a few years they were not
only generally introduced into the manufactures of these
kingdoms, but were eagerly adopted by other nations of
Europe, and by America.
Individual wealth soon avowed to nations. prosperity,
as that term is generally udderstood ; and the country,
during a war of twenty-fire *ars, demanding exertion and
an amount of expenditure unknown at any farmer period,
attained to a height of political power which °Wounded its
foes and astonished its friends; both were alike unable to
assign the real cause. So 'Beadily, yet rapidly, did our
country advance to this envied state, that there appeared
to be no limit to its acquirement of riches, and the kind of
power which wealth creates. The war itself, when it ex-
tended its favages over Europe, to Asia and to America,
seemed but a now stimulus to draw forth our enthusiastic
resources, and in its effects the war did so operate. The
destruction of human life in its prime, which it caused
throughout the world, and the waste of all the materials ne-
cessary for war on so large a scale—perhaps unparalleled in
ancient or modern times—creaied a demand for various pro-
ductions, which the constrained industry of British manu-
factures, aided by all the meehanient they could invent and
bring into action, was hardly competent to supply.
But peace at length followed, and found Great Britain in
poae~ton of a new power in constant action, which, it may
be fairly stated, exceeded the labour of one hundred mil
lions of the most industrious human beings, in the full
strength of manhood.*
Thus our country possessed, at the conclusion of the war,
a productive power, which operated to the same effect as if
her population had been actually increased fifteen or twenty
fold ; and this had been chiefly created within the preceding
twenty-five years. The rapid progress made by Great
Britain, during the war, in wealth and political influence,
can therefore no longer astonish: the cameo was quite ade-
quate to the effect.
Now, however, new circumstances have arisen. The
war demand for the productions of labour having ceased,
markets could no longer be found for diem • and she re-
venues of the world were inadequate to purely:es that which
a power so enormous in its effects did prodese : a diminished
demand consequently followed. When, therefore, it became
necessary to contract the sources of supply, it soon proved
that mechanical power was much cheaper than human labour;
the former, in consequence, was continued at work, while
the latter was superseded; nd human labour may now be
obtained at a price far less than is absolutely necessary far
the subsistence of the individual in ordinary comfort.e
A little reflection will show, that the working classes have
uow no adequate means of contending with mechanical
power : one of three results must therefore ensue :
1. The use of merbenben moat be greatly dingedshad ; or,
2. Millions of human beings must be starved, to permit its MINNS
to the present extent; or,
3. Advantageous occupation must be found for poor end unemployed
working classes, to whose labour mechanism must be rendered subser-
vient, instead of being applied, as at present, to supersede it.
But, under tbe existing commercial system, mechanical
power cannot in one country be discontinued, id in others
remain in action, without ruin to that country in which It
be discontinued. No one nation. therefore. will discontinue
it; and although such an act were poseibie„ it would be a
sure sign of barbarism in those who should make the at-
tempt. It would, however, be a far more evident sign et
barbarism, and an act of gnus tyranny, were any govern-
ment to permit mechanical power to starve millions of human
beings. The thought will not admit of one moment's con-
templation • it would inevitably create unheard-of misery to
all ranks. The last result therefore alone deserves to be con-
sidered, which is, " that advantageous occupation must be
found fur the unemployed working classes, to whose labour
mechanism must.be rendered subservient, instead of being
apOied, as at present, to supersede it."
To conduct a change so important, and of such vital neces-
sity to our well-being, demands a comprehensive view and
an accurate knowledge of the real state of society.
The measure should be well considered, with respect to its
present bearings and connections, and its consequences

to=se
• To give an instance of this power, dime is at work in
one establishment in this country, aided by a net ex-
esed!og 2,500 souls, which produced as much as Wide. popu-
lation of Scotland could manufacture, after the mods in mown prac-
tice fifty years ago l And (heat *bele pout* wend mei our
blobs:tents !
t Human labour, hitherto the great mum of wealth in Mdse..
being thus diminhbed in value, at the rate of not less than hest two to
threw millions staling per week, in Grist llritaln dons, that wed. Es
whatever more or fresh may be, leas oonsorently been withimrsimen
the circulation of the country, and hm necesearcly bees flea maw by
which the farmer, tradesman, manufacturer, and tuemitme, him been
so greatly impoverished.

PRICK 7n.