§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to alleged breaches of the Factory Act at Low Moor, and especially to the decision of the Bradford West Riding Court in a second case in which the defendants were charged with failing to exhibit a placard in accordance with Sub-section. 1 (a) of Section 40 of the Factory and Workshops Act, 1895, the Justices holding that the inspector could not proceed on a second information under the same Section; and whether instructions have been given to the inspector to take further steps in the case?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYMy attention has been called to this matter. I am informed that the magistrates, having dismissed the first summons against the defendants on the ground that the pieces of cloth measured could not be identified, expressed the opinion that the second summons could not be sustained, as the "particulars" section only describes one offence, and the summons related, therefore, to a matter which had already been decided. Upon this the second summons was withdrawn. There is no power to take further steps in the case now, but attention will be paid to the point if similar proceedings have again to be instituted.