HL Deb 15 September 1909 vol 2 cc1223-5

[SECOND READING.]

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

EARL RUSSELL

My Lords, in the absence of my noble friend Lord Pirrie, who was in charge of this Bill, I have the honour to submit the measure to your Lordships and to ask that you will give it a Second Reading. Although I shall not be able to do so with the knowledge of the subject possessed by my noble friend, I hope your Lordships will extend your indulgence to me while I state in the barest outline the object of the Bill. There exists in Ireland an industry of weaving in a handloom linen damask goods, and that industry is one which gives employment to a considerable number of persons, particularly in the North of Ireland. There is supposed to be, and there undoubtedly is, a superiority in these handwoven products over similar products made by power looms, and the practice of occasionally trying to pass off goods which have been made by machinery as goods which have been made by hand is not altogether unknown. I think your Lordships will appreciate that that practice is really a double deception, because the purchaser is deceived and the maker of these goods is also damnified by a competition which is unfair. The object of this measure is to provide a remedy for that state of things. The first clause provides that all those goods which are made by handloom shall be marked in a manner which will make that clear. The second clause provides that goods which are not so made shall not be so marked and that it shall be an offence to so mark them. I think the object of that should commend itself to the House. When I add that although this is an Irish Bill dealing with an Irish subject it has commanded universal assent in another place, I think your Lordships will believe that that is an overwhelming reason for according it a Second Reading.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Earl Russell.)

THE MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRY

My Lords, as I am personally connected with the Province of Ulster and especially with the county of Down in which handloom weaving forms a prominent part of the important industry of the linen trade, I cordially support the Bill. Not only has the Bill passed unanimously through the other House, but it has received the support of the Unionist Members who represent the Province of Ulster. As the noble Earl has mentioned, handloom weaving is superior to that done by machinery, and consequently it is but right that those who purchase these goods should know whether the linen they buy has been made by hand or not. I do not know that there has been any great amount of linen passed off under false colours, but the present state of the law does give opportunities for that to be done. There is another reason why I support this Bill.

In the county of Down, where, as I have said, this is an important industry, we notice a very great decline, almost a decay, in handloom weaving. I have only this afternoon had placed in my hands some statistics which bear this out. In Waringstown, which is in the centre of the hand weaving linen trade, there were in the year 1881, 1,730 houses; in 1901 the number was reduced to 1,521. The population in 1881 was 7,902, but in the year 1901 it had been reduced to 6,036. These are serious figures as showing the decay in this trade. I think the Lord-Lieutenant a short time ago visited Waringstown and promised the people there that steps should be taken for the introduction of a Bill such as this. A number of the people who work at the handloom also have small holdings, but they could not live upon the holdings without the work of the handloom, and, consequently, if they can no longer obtain employment at this industry they will have to give up their holdings and make their way into the cities adding to the number of the unemployed or else emigrate from Ireland. The handlooms also give employment to old people who otherwise could not find employment, and if handloom weaving ceases these old people must eventually go into the workhouse. The Bill, therefore, is a useful one not only in the interests of honesty of trade but also in the interests of the population, and I hope your Lordships will give it a Second Reading.

LORD DENMAN

My Lords, I am glad to hear the cordial reception which the noble Marquess, who speaks with great authority on this question, has given to this Bill, and on behalf of His Majesty's Government I have only to say that we cordially support the objects which the Bill has in view, and will be glad to see it passed into law.

On Question, Bill read 2a and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.