§ MR. BROADHURST (Nottingham, W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the injury to the health of factory operatives in Lancashire, caused by the practice of over-sizing in the cotton trade; whether his attention has also been called to the Report on the Effects of Heavy Sizing in Cotton Weaving Upon the Health of the Operatives employed made by Dr. Bridges and Mr. Edward Haydan Osborne in 1883, and to the remarks made in the last Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Borough of Blackburn on the same subject; and, what steps he proposes to take to remedy the evils complained of?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The answer to the first two paragraphs is in the affirmative. In consequence of the Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Blackburn, the Inspector of the district was instructed to place himself in communication with that officer, with the view of ascertaining any particular instance of excessive steaming. The Corporation of Blackburn have now taken the question up, and are making inquiries, in which the Inspector will give every assistance in his power. In consequence of the Report of 1883, a Circular was issued in that year to all the cotton-weaving sheds in which the practice of steaming was adopted, urging the mitigation of the evils complained of by an improved system of ventilation. It must be borne in mind that the power of the Inspectors to enforce the adoption of ventilation is very limited.