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FACTORIES REGULATION BILL.Lbrd ASHLEY having moved the order of the day for the house to go into a committee on this bill,Lord ALTHORP thought it would be rather inconsistent of the house to proceed to legist* on this subject before the re-port of tli* Factory OgmmissiotHix laid upon the table. He further considered that the course pursued by the noble lord (Ashly), in moving that this bill be considered by a committee of the whole hoiise, was objectionable, and he ptoposcd, In preference to that course, that the bill should be referred to a select committee up stairs. He considered that the mode he-suggested would rather expedite than reinrd the bill* (Hew, hear.) He could not but feel some ap'pfcbcnsioTi as to the effect which the measure might have on the manufacturing interests of the country- (Hear, hear.) Instead of being a measure of humanity it would be one of irremediable mischief if, as he Feared, the bill of the noble lord (Ashley) had a tendency such a* he had described. (Hear, hear.) He was perfectly ready to admit that parliament ought to protect children of a tender age, but he considered that the noble lord (Ashley) had carried his measure too far with regard to adults. (Hear, hear.) He admitted the severity of working the younger children In the same way as adults were worked, and he considered that the legislature was bound to protect those who could not protect themselves. He was, therefore, of opinion that the noble lord ought not to extend his bill to adults, and he should suggest that all children under 14 years of age should not work more than eight hdurs a day. (Hear.) He did not wish, however, to alter the existing law with regard to persons above that age. The noble lord observed that there ought to be some exception made with regard to silk mills, and he considered that in any measure that might be passed for the relief of manufacturing children, a provision thould be introduced in order to afford them a proper education. (Hear, hear.) Hcnbo thought that a provision should be introduced for the purpose of appointing inspectors to ascertain from time to time the stare of the several mills. He considered that there was no necessity for the clause by which the master manufacturers could be charged with manslaughter in the event of any accident occurring in their respective mills. The noble lord concluded by moving that the bill be referred to a select committee. Heathen read the instructions which he proposed that the committee should receive if it should be appointed. The instructions embraced three points; namely, that children under 14 year* of age should be allowed to work fur eight hours only—that a plan of education should be formed for them, and that a system of inspection should take piece in the several mills in. order to see that the measures of the legislature were carried into effect. (Cheers.) The noble lord con-eluded by moving, as an amendment to the motion that the Speaker leave the chair,u That the said bill should be referred to a select committee,to whom it should be an instruction to make provision 1st,rbat no child who had not entered upon its fourteenth year should labour more tlren eight hours a day; 2dly, for securing opportunities of educating the children during the times they were not employed; and 3dly, that a system of inspection be enforced throughout the factories so as to ensure the execution of the above provisions'!* 'On the question being put,I/ord ASHLEY said that as the only question now was, whether the bill should go before a committee up stairs, there was no necessity for his entering at large into the subject. It was only for.him to say that if there were inconsistency in legislating without having the evidence taken before the commissioners, he (Lord Ashley) would be pronounced a guilty party, became he had protested against the course pursued, and pointed out that should this be followed it would be impossible* to legislate. But he now asked the noble lord (Althorp) would he hold to the guarantees he had given? for, if not, it was odd thst he (Lord Ashley) should have been put off frorta day to day as he had been.
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Albion and the Star
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Jul 06, 1833
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