The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-05-31 00:00:00

SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 31, 1/123.

PA RI.IAMENTARY COMMENTARY.

Mr. Attwood presented last night a petition from the
Wurvers of Stockport, against the use of Machinery ;
and that the local Magistracy might have the power of
fixing a minimum of wages. Any legislatira interference,
upon such subjects, in a sound state of things, would be
mischievous ; as rhysic would be detrimental to a person
in good health ;r—but our system is unhappily a system
of infirmities; and it is continually necessary to bolster
it up by expedients, abstractedly erroneous it: principle,
:but necessary in practice, until we have courage to at- •
tempt a thorough cure of the evils. Nothing but the
use of the machinery could have carried our commercial
prosperity so high ; and yettin every revulsion of trade,
the nee of machinery has been productive of great evil
amongst the inanfacitering dosses. It is said partial in-
terest must give way to the general good ; but can that
evil be fairly called a partial one, which affects so large
a troportion of the country as the manufacturing in;
terest ? Mr. G. Phillips says that wages and comforts
are encreased where the cotton machinery is introduced.
Yet in the same breath, be says wages are low, and men
cmly find the means of living comfortablyPn the extremely
' moderate rate at which provisions may be procured. This
is an evident contradiction; but it steeds no argument to
show that machinery which • dispenses with human
labour, must lessen both the price of labour, as it
lessens the demand for it. And if it were true that
individuals were •' paid more for managing machi-
nery for the mere labour of their own hands,"
than it would be a strange way of benefiting a class
by giving an individual higher wages, and throw-
ing a sec►e entirely out of employment. Mr. Bennet
quoted Mr. Cobbett, as having the most satisfactorily
proved the advantages of machinery; and, certainly,
to M.. Cobbett the country is indebted for the effectual,
suppression of those riots, which had for their object,'
the destruction of treachinery as applied to maneaetures.
But this does not prove that no evils result from the nnli.
mited use of machinery; nor that those wise feel them
' have no right to complain of them; nor that a,retnedy
' should not be'epplied, if a remedy could be found. We
are decidedly in favour of a nanintuni of labour being
• fixed. Let the demand for labour regulate the price of
labour, in every degree beyond what is absolutely neces-
' vary for the labourer's existence. Secure this point—se-
cure a maintenance for the labourer—and let the addi:
tional value of his labour be regulated by the necessity
for it. Regutate this minimum by •the price of wheat!
Give him, as. the lowest remuneration for his labour,

the price of a certain quantity weekly. Hut to leave
labour to regtilate its own remuneration, when there is a
lessening demand, it is to leave the labourer without pro-
tection, and to confer arbitrary power upon the capitalist
whn may seize that moment to enter upon speculations
that may have the effect of keeping labour depressed,
and the market glutted. Mr. Ricardo, with much good-
natured simplicity, said " the remedylwas inithe hands of
the people, and that a little foresight, and the cauCon
that better educated people use, would enable them to

improve their situation." A man who has always been

successful, wonders how any body can be unfortunate.
There is this fallacy in the;ease. The" better educated...
have generally the means of existence within their pow-
er; and by a provident care of the excess, they
may provide for future occasions; hot those who
have a hard struggle to obtain barely enough
for the passing day, and to satisfy the hourly
wants of their families, have no opportunity of exer-
cising this " foresight." They are in the power of cit.-

cumstances which they cannot controul, and it would
be as wise to ask one bound on the wheel to release him-
self as to tell the labourer to better his condition. Mr.
Maxwell presented a letter from Middlesex and Surrey,
and very sensibly observed, that a low rate of wages was
nut strvicahle to the country. The more the labourer has,
the more lie is enabled to consume; and it is the colt-
samption of produce that creates the prosperity of the
country : and the home market is, of much greater
im-
portance than is generally conceived. To enable the
population of Ireland to he well clothed,' would be to
.create a new market for English m inufactures to an
enormous extent. And to do this, it is only requisite to
free Ireland from a stesilizine system, and enable her
to exchange the produce of the fertility of that Island
for the manufacture of this. The petitions were ordered
to he printed ; but we must not hope for any legislative
interference. The parties are tuo low in rank, to have
a rested right in their means of subsistence.
Mr. Huskisson, to prevent any discussion upon the
reciprocity of Duties Bill, postponed it until Monday.
He did wisely, for the measure will bear no discussion ;

and he will be the wiser still to postpone it to the end of

time. As tending to an act of suicide navigation laws
we shall take the first opportunity of chewing that it is
an experiment which ought not to he risked.

Mr. Calcraft postponed his motion for the repeal of the
Leather Tax, to the next Sessions. As it wo,d hare been
lost, had it been passei, the circumstance w1:1 excite but
little regret.

The Irish Tythe Commutation Bill was considered in. Com•
',awe.. As an experiment it is not likely to satisfy any party
bet as breaking up the ground, and opening tt.e way for
Much more insiiortsnt alterations, we should wish It to psis
of which, howler, we base but little hope. Should It get
through the lower House, there Is the House of Lords.