§ MR. DENTsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he has issued the promised instructions for further inquiry into the employment of women and children in agriculture; and, whether he will inform the House to what extent that inquiry is to proceed?
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, in reply, that the Commission under which the former inquiry was conducted expired with the last Report, and therefore it was not in his power to give further instructions to that Commission; but it would be necessary to issue a new Commission, and the Commissioners would be the same two gentlemen who reported upon the previous matter. The words of the Commission would be recommended to Her Majesty to-morrow, and would be a satisfactory answer to the other part of the hon. Gentleman's Question. The direction would be to inquire into the Report upon the employment of children, young persons, and women in agriculture; for the pur- 259 pose of ascertaining to what extent and with what modifications the principles of the Factory Acts could be adopted in the regulation of such employment, and especially with a view to the better education of such children.