COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 7 July 1863)

THE EARL OF DEBBY

My Lords, I am not disposed in any way to object to this Bill, which I think is founded on a right principle, and is calculated to afford considerable relief in the manufacturing districts. But perhaps I may be allowed to call the attention of the House to the state of affairs which exists in those districts at the present moment, with the view of showing what it is we have to do, and what are the prospects for the coming autumn and winter. From a Report presented to the Central Committee yesterday by Mr. Maclure, the hon. Secretary, it is gratifying to find that there has been a very great increase of employment in the mills during the last month. So great has that increase been that it has enabled no less than forty-seven local committees to suspend operations for the present. From reliable information which 345 he has received, Mr. Maclure is led to believe, that out of the 55,362 operatives resident in the districts in which committees acted, about 25,690 are working full time and 16,801 short time. In the districts in which local committees are still continuing their labours there are 2,874 more operatives working full time than were so working last month. Mr. Maclure concludes by stating— It must not be forgotten that this is in addition to the 13,451 operatives who were reported to have obtained full work during the month of May; and it is now certain, that out of those persons usually employed in the mills in the cotton districts," about 234,642 are in full work, 125,097 short time, and 180,729 out of work, against 192,527 full time, 129,741 short time, and 215,512 out of work in the last week of April. Gratifying as this report is, it nevertheless shows that there is a large number of the population still out of employment. It appears that there are no fewer than 180,729 persons at present out of work—a fact which must cause us no little anxiety and apprehension in regard to the coming winter. The House and the country are hardly aware, I think, of the efforts made to relieve the distress during the last twelve months; but, as a circumstance which is highly creditable to the good feeling of the nation, I cannot help calling attention to it. Excluding what has been done by private charity, of which there is no public record, and of which the public never can be fully informed—excluding what has been done by means of those efforts, but including £150,000 spent in the purchase of articles of clothing and food—of relief given in kind—the subscription for the last year amount to £1,900,000. I call your Lordships' attention to these facts in order that you may not be led away with the idea that the large sums now in hand will be more than sufficient, or will be sufficient, for the relief of the distress which is likely to prevail during the next winter. I have reason to believe, that excluding a sum of about £80,000 at the disposal of the Mansion House Committee, there still remains in hand, including subscriptions promised but not yet paid in, available for the purposes of the Central Committee and of those committees depending on it, a sum of about £600,000. It is a great step gained that the amount expended by the relief committees has been reduced from something like £90,000 to £53,000 a month. That is the amount now expended by the various relief committees, exclusive of the 346 assistance from the poor-houses. If that monthly expenditure were not increased, it would enable us to supply the demand for another twelve months; but at the end of twelve months the funds will in that case be altogether exhausted. I believe we cannot expect the public to make such another effort as that which they made last year, and the resources of the operatives themselves are at present reduced to the lowest point. And, my Lords, I am apprehensive that we cannot take £53,000 per month as the amount which will be required, because there is now very considerable outdoor work, which we cannot expect to see continue during the autumn and winter; besides which there are many mills at work which are not likely to continue working. Therefore, I think the prospect which is before us calls for a very careful husbanding of our resources. Large as the amount on hand may appear, it is hardly adequate to meet the demands which are likely to be made on it; and therefore a Bill like this, which will remove many of the difficulties which we have had in finding employment, in finding occupation for the distressed operatives, and thus guarding against the demoralization that arises from idleness, must be acceptable to those who have taken a part in the administration of relief to our suffering fellow-countrymen. As a general rule, the intervention of the Government, in matters of this kind, may not be considered desirable; but this Bill is an exception which, under the circumstances, demands our approval. There are one or two points on which I may say a word in Committee; but, approving as I do the principle of the Bill, I do not think it necessary to trouble your Lordships with any further observations on the general character of its provisions, or on the circumstances which render it advisable that we should pass such a measure before the coming autumn and winter.