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TEE CHILDRENS EMPLOYMENTi OMMt S SION.The first report of the Royal Commission appointed toinquire} into the employment of children and young per-cons in trades aad manufaetarea not ah eady regulated bylaw', has been issued. The Blue Book, which extends to 340 pages, contain-, in addition to the report ot the Commissi mere, th * report and evidence taken b\ three as-istant commissior era, in reference, among othei subjects, to the pottery manufacture, lucifer match manufacture, percussion cap manufacture, the lace ant hosiery manufactures* climbing boys,. e.; including, also, various documents bearing upon the mbjeets inquired into. In the case of the pottery manufacture, the recommenda ions of the Clt; mmiHsioners’ include improved ventilation and other sanitary arrangements ; the appointment f r two years, of a medical inspector, the sanitiry supervision of the potteries to be afterwards placed und r the in spectors of factories; the discontinuance of overtime; thea gradual application of the half-time system, which the commissioners consider most important to the physical and moral condition of the children; further security for education by requiring a certificate of a certain amount of it on a child’s attaining the age of 13, c. In the account of the inquiry as to the lucifer match manufacture, a singular statement is mnde of the development of a peculiar disease, called “the jaw disease,” since the beginning of this manufacture. The powers of the Public He 11th Act are not considered sufficient, and various practical rlt; commendations are given by the commissioners as to the workrooms and the management of them. The appointment of a special medical inspector for eighteen months'is recommende d also in this case, and the application of the provisions of the Factory Act iu regard to education. These, regulations the commission also recommtnd for the percussion cap manufacture, including the Government fact *ry at WoolwichArsenal. In paper staining, the machine and block printers, they urge, should be placed under the Factory Act, and the children employed ought, they think, to receive the protection of the Act. Education is much needed amongst the children. The commission also think that the Factory Act should be extended to fustian cutters, and that no child should be permitted to wora in his trade before the age of 11.With regard to climbing boys, it appears that, despitethe Act of Parliament, a great number of boys arestill employed in different pans of England and Scotland, contrary to the provisions of the Act. One of the chief recommendations of the commissioners relating to this class of persons is, that no master chimney-sweeper shall fee permitted to employ in his business, in any capacity whatever, anyone under the age of 16. The commissioners also recommend that no person should .be-allowed to cany on the trade of a chimney-sweeper until he has received a license from the magistrates, re vocable under certain circumstances. 1The branches of manufacture to which the recommendations embodied in the report of the commissioners apply, employ the following numbers of children: The potteries, 11,000; the lucifer match manufacture, 1,613; the percussion cap manufacture* 160; the paper staining manufacture, 1,160; finishing and hooking, 2,300; fustian cutting, 1,663* Thus, if Parliament adopts the recommendations of the commissioners, nearly 18,000 more children and young persons will he placed under the protection of the Factory Act.The establishments of dressmakers and milliners, and the condition of those employed therein, do not appear to have engaged the attention of the commissioners,as no report or evidence relating to them is included in the “Blue Book” published. The Royal Commissioners by whom the report is signed were Mr. H. 8. Tremenheere, Mr. R. D. Grainger, and Mr. E. C.Tufneli.
Newspaper Details
Englishman
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Jul 11, 1863
Page 3
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 10 Jul 2023
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