§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Dublin Co., S.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, Who is responsible for the carrying out of the provisions of the Workshops Regulation Act in Dublin; whether complaints have reached him that in many houses the Rules of the Act are not complied with; that the workshops are overcrowded, and the employés forced to work overtime; and whether he will take steps to ensure a more searching inspection of the Dublin workshops and factories in future?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I am informed by the Chief Inspector of Factories, whose duty it is to see that the provisions of the Factory Act are carried out in Dublin, that very few complaints have been made to the resident inspector in Dublin, and in each case they have been most fully investigated. Prosecutions have followed when young persons or females were employed beyond the legal hours. Careful regulations have been made and insisted upon as to the proper cubic space for each person employed. If the hon. Baronet will bring to my notice any violation of the law, full inquiry will be made.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)asked the right hon. Gentleman to call the Inspector's attention to the fact that numerous complaints had been made in the public Press, especially in regard to girls employed in workshops?
§ MR. MATTHEWSpromised that due attention would be given to the hon. Gentleman's statement.