§ MR. REESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the rules of the Factory Act have recently been applied to the case of florists in London; if so, whether the result will be to enforce the employment of foreign men instead of English women; and whether he is aware that the restrictions imposed by the Factory Act make it extremely difficult for florists to carry on their trade, owing to the perishable nature of flowers and the fact that they are required at very short notice, the demand also being uncertain in time, character, and quantity.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TUE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)The hon. Member has no doubt in mind the recent case of Hoare v. Green in the High Court, which decided that the making of wreaths, crosses, bouquets, and the like was the making of an article, or adapting for sale of an article within the meaning of the Factory Act, and that where the substantial purpose for which any premises are used is the, exercise of manual labour in the making of such articles the provisions of the Act apply. Representations have been made to me in the sense suggested in the Question as to the effect of the decision, and the matter is now under consideration.