§ MR. HOWELL(for Mr. BURT) (Morpeth)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the decisions at Halifax in the matter of some factory prosecutions, which are viewed by the cotton operatives with alarm, as being calculated to counteract the beneficial results of the action which, under his direction, have recently been taken by the Factory Department with the view of checking irregularities; and, whether he will cause investigation to be made into the cases?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)My attention has been called by the Inspector, as well as by the hon. Member, to these decisions, and I do propose to inquire further into them.