HC Deb 25 June 1874 vol 220 cc478-9

Bill, as amended, considered.

Clause 9 (Notices of hours of employment and mode of employment of children.)

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

moved to insert the following clause:— (Abolition of recovery of lost time under 7 and 8 Vic, c. 15, ss. 33 and 34.) In a factory to which this Act applies, a child, young person, or woman shall not be employed in the recovery of lost time in pursuance of the Factory Acts, 1833 to 1856, or any of them, during any hours during which they cannot he employed in pursuance of the other provisions of this Act.

New Clause brought up, and read the first time.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the said Clause be now read a second time."

MR. W. SHAW

complained that Clause 10 had been struck out of the Bill without Notice, and contended that that would inflict serious injury upon the silk trade in Ireland.

MR. ANDERSON

said, the original clause could not have been rejected without Notice, as his Amendment to omit it was on the Paper nearly a fortnight before he moved it. One of the hon. Members who advocated the omission of the clause represented Dungannon (Mr. T. A. Dickson), and spoke from his own experience of the abuses perpetrated in the North of Ireland under this clause. If they gave permission to make up for lost time for six months, it was possible to keep up one hour per day in perpetuity; so that a great deal of time could be recovered that was never lost.

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

said, they were practically endeavouring to prevent women and children from working overtime, and he could not consent to omit the clause.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause added.

Clause 4 (Hours of employment of children, young persons, and women in factory, where period from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

moved, in page 2, lines 14 to 17, to leave out subsection (4), and insert the following subsection:— (4.) A child, young person, or woman shall not on Saturday (a) If not less than one hour is allowed for meals on that day, be employed in any manufacturing process after one o'clock in the afternoon, or for any purpose whatever after half-past one o'clock in the afternoon; and (b) If less than one hour is allowed for meals on that day, be employed in any manufacturing-process after half an hour after noon, or for any purpose whatever after one o'clock in the afternoon.

Amendment agreed to.

Bill to be read the third time upon Monday next.