HC Deb 12 August 1835 vol 30 cc395-6
Mr. Fielden

presented Petitions from Stockport, Oldham, and other places, praying for some measure to enforce the provisions of the Factory Bill. He would say that the Government should take care to enforce the provisions of that Act, which was of much more importance than a reduction of the duty on newspapers. The law was at present shamefully evaded.

Mr. Hindley

supported the petition. He wished to know from the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government would oppose his bringing in a Bill to repeal the Factory Act, and to substitute a more effective measure in its stead? If he were allowed to bring in such a Bill, he would then only ask to have it printed, and the country and the Government would come to the consideration of it next Session with a matured judgment. The present law was grossly evaded, and Mr. Ricards, one of the inspectors, who had 2,000 mills under his inspection, asserted that nothing but a limitation of the hours of working the machinery would effect the object in view.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

was sorry that he could not give a distinct or decided answer to the question of the hon. Member. The subject was, in fact, one not connected with his department. He would not, however, consent to the introduction of a Bill without first knowing its provisions, and if it should appear that those provisions would go to interfere with the ordinary wages of labour, and with the employment of capital, he doubted, upon general principles, the expediency of bringing in such a Bill at the close of the, session, and leaving it loose on the country for the recess, unless the House was at once prepared to assent to its principle. When the President of the Board of Trade was in his place, the hon. Gentleman had better repeat his question. With regard to the other matter, the administration of the existing law, any evasions of it could not of course be too soon put down. That was only justice to the individuals engaged in the trade who observed the law. He was satisfied that the inspectors did all in their power to enforce the law. If eases of infraction of the law existed anywhere, let the matter be represented to the Government, and immediate steps should be taken to inquire into it, and to apply the proper remedy

Petition to be laid on the Table.