ALKALI WORKS REGULATION BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 27 July 1863)

§ THE EARL OF DERBY
said, that the Amendment almost deprived the measure of practical utility; but the Bill laid down a principle which might have some moral influence; and as the owners of these alkali works were men of respectability and high character, he hoped that they would themselves pay, and enforce on others under their influence obedience to the requirements of the law, when they found what the law was.

§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY
thought the Bill as amended was calculated to effect the object contemplated by the Select Committee, especially as the owners of the alkali works declared their readiness to adopt the measures referred to in the Bill. The Commons were of opinion that the County Court should be substituted for the Quarter Sessions as better calculated for carrying the provisions of the Bill into effect, and an appeal clause was also carried unanimously. The only clause to which there was opposition in the Commons was that which would make masters liable for any fault of their servants, even though they themselves had taken every precaution which could be fairly required of them. He was of opinion that the objection of the Commons to this clause was well founded. The masters themselves had shown every disposition to submit to Parliamentary regulation; and as nothing would be more dangerous than undue interference with the conduct of important branches of manufacture, he trusted the noble Earl would not persist in his opposition.

§ THE EARL OF DERBY
said, he would not offer any further opposition; but he would suggest, that though the Bill was not to come into operation until the 1st of January 1864, the Board of Trade should appoint Inspectors in the mean time who might go down and make themselves acquainted with the districts.

§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY
said, measures would be taken by the Board of Trade so that the whole machinery of the 1440 Bill might be ready to come into operation on the 1st of January.