Star.
London, England, 1820-06-02 00:00:00

Ili. It was not his intention to trouble the lime at
ary length, but he begged it to bear in recollection
ti.at many Acts had been passed for this object,
mhich being thus recognised AS a legisrative principle,
had the less difficulty in asking Parliament to en-
force by the new Bill the preceding laws against
paying in truck, and of rendering effectual what had
been devised for the protection of labourers, artisani.
and mechanics. It was the purpose of the Bill, that
these classes should not be under any controul in the
expenditure of their money; but that that which they
received in wages, they might be free to lay out as
they would. The Bill also proposed to take away
the right of appeal to the Quarter Sessions; because
pool n.en were unable to meet the expense of such
proceedings, and this gave the rich an advantage
over them, which ought not to be possessed. He was
persuaded that these alterations would be productive
of much good, and would assure the House, from a
vast quantity of information which had poured in
upon him since he gave his notice on the subject,
that the pressure occasioned by the evasions of the
existing laws was very severely feit. He acknow-'
ledged that the Bill might cause some bad conse-
quences, by preventing masters in a I.irge way from
buying provisions wholesale at two or tilre, months,
and retailing the same at a reasonable retail rate to
their workmen, end also by interfering v. ith those
persons who, from humanity, furnished those they
employed at a cheaper rate than they could purci:a.e
elsewhere; but still the advantages would, iii his
opinion, far outweigh these inconveniences, and place
every one in the same situation, and not AS now,
some used according to the law, and others oppressed
by its evasion.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH world not opprise tl!e Bill
in this stage, but he entered his protest against ti,e
principle. The true rep edy of the grievance, he
thought, would be to repeal the Acts already in force,
riot to extend them. If all restrictions were taken
away, it would be infinitely better for all parties, to
Thom such transactions as those prohibited were often
expedient and convenient.
Mr. F. ROBINSON also entertained great doubts
as to the policy of this measure. He was not satisfied
that if they had to begin to legislate on this subject,
they would think it one to enact any of the old laws.
Mr. WRATTULEIG Colonel WOODi and Mr. HUM;
expressed similar opinions.

Mr. BARING followed on the same side. Restric-
tions had better be removed than added. He sug-
gested a Committee to inquire and see what remedy
could be applied, as a preferable course to bnnging
in a Bill upon a matter so important.
Mr. LITTLETON replied, that so long as such
laws remained on the Statute Books, care should be
taken to render them effectual, as A protection to the
pot r, and also to the honest trader, whose conscience
did not allow him to violate them. He instanced the
iron trade in Staffordshire as subject to considerable
abuses in this respect, in consequence of which the
Poors'-rates were greatly burdened. Seeing, hon.
ever, such an array of opinion against the nieasuie,
he should only express his desire to be allo‘,e,i
bring forward the Bill, and, if he found the H.,the
against it, he would adopt the advice of the Honoui -
able Member, and move for the appointment ut a
Committee to inquire into the laws, and suggest a
remedy for the evils complained ot.
Mr. W. SMITH confirmed the Sl.t.ement respect-
ing the great inconveniencies of the present practice,
but thought a Committee would lead to the most
effectual redress.—Leave gi, en to Wing in the Bill.