§ Mr. Mackinnonmoved for leave to bring in a Bill to "Prohibit the nuisance of Smoke from the furnaces of Factories." The Bill he proposed to introduce was almost identical in its provisions with 832 that he obtained leave to bring in last Session. He anticipated no opposition, and proposed to take the discussion on the second reading.
§ Mr. Brightsaid, that the Bill proposed by the hon. Member last Session, was totally unfitted for the object it proposed to accomplish. He had no desire to interfere with the hon. Gentleman, but he thought it would save a great deal of time if leave were not given to bring in the Bill. He would advise the hon. Gentleman to consult practical men before he took the subject in hand.
§ Mr. Ferrandsaid, that a short time ago he was speaking to a very large manufacturer, who was a member of the Anti-Corn-Law League, and who said that he burned his own smoke, that it was easy to be accomplished, and who had asked him to use his exertions in Parliament to compel every manufacturer to do the same.
§ Mr. Milneshaving inspected the magnificent machinery of Mr. Marshall, at Leeds, for putting down this nuisance, gave his cordial support to the Motion.
The Earl of Lincolnapprehended that there were two questions now before the House—first, whether it was possible by any legislation to suppress this nuisance; and, in the second place, whether the scheme proposed last year by his hon. Friend was at all practicable? With reference to the first question, he was inclined to believe that it was possible considerably to abate, if not altogether to remove, the nuisance. He had been in communication with some scientific gentlemen on the subject, but he doubted whether the Bill of his hon. Friend would be effectual. If, on discussion, the House should be of that opinion, he should be prepared to introduce a measure of his own, being persuaded that the subject itself was not only important with reference to the public health, but also in an economical point of view.
§ Mr. Muntzsaid, that in some trades smoke might be got rid of, while in others that would be perfectly impossible. For instance, it would be ruinous in the iron trade, and therefore the House ought to be very careful, and should look close at the Bill they introduced, before they legislated upon this subject. It was useless to expect to get rid of smoke without an increase of the expense of fuel. He had tried many experiments, and had always found this to be the result.
§ Leave given.