§ MR. MAPLE (Camberwell, Dulwich)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, as to the workings of the Shop Hours Regulation Act, 1886, which sets forth that no young persons under the age of 18 shall be employed longer than 74 hours in the week, including meal times, What is the number of convictions under this Act within the Metropolitan area to the 31st of March, 1888?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. STUART-WORTLEY) (Sheffield, Hallam)(who replied) said: From a Return I have received from the Metropolitan Police Courts, it appears that four convictions have been obtained under this Act—three at Marylebone and one at Lambeth.
§ SIR JOHN LUBBOCK (London University)asked, whether it was not the fact that certain Trade Societies had issued Circulars to their members advising them to comply with the law; and that in many cases, when shopkeepers were employing boys and girls over 74 hours in the week, it had been found sufficient to call their attention to the matter, and no legal proceedings had been necessary.
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYsaid, no doubt the hon. Baronet had just handed him a letter to the Secretary of State to that effect; but he had not had time to ascertain the fact from independent sources.