Mr. Aclandwished to know from his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary whether he would bring on the Factory Bill and the Education question together?
§ Sir J. Grahamintended to bring on the question of Education on Friday. He did not anticipate any objection to the principle of the bill from any quarter.
§ Mr. Hawesdid not think that sufficient time had been given for the consideration of the clauses which the right hon. Baronet had introduced. He hoped that a sepa 1083 rate discussion might be allowed on the two leading features of the measure.
§ Sir J. Grahamsaid, that in his opinion, a sufficient time had been given for considering the principle of the bill and of the clauses which had been introduced.
§ Mr. Humesaid, that the principle of compulsory education was wrong. There might be, and no doubt there were, many who would approve of one part of the bill and not of the other. He would suggest to the right hon. Baronet to divide the bill into two parts, the one relating to the factory question, and the other to that of education. This would simplify the matter and render the whole more easy to understand.
§ Mr. M. Philipssaid, he had received several communications from proprietors of factories on this subject. They did not object to that part of the measure which was to regulate factories and the employment of children in them, but many of them had conscientious scruples as to some other parts of the bill. He therefore joined in the suggestion of his hon. Friend (Mr. Hume) that the measure should be divided into two, which would greatly facilitate its working.
Report on the salaries under the Registration bill was received.