The Earl of Haddingtonbrought up the Report of the Select Committee on the Chimney Sweepers Bill, and moved that the bill, together with the amendments, be printed. When the bill was formerly before the House, he expressed a hope that in committee relief might be given to the suffering class of persons—the climbing boys—to whom the bill referred, by the invention of a system of cleansing chimneys with machinery, affording security to the public against danger from fire. He was happy to say that his hope and expectation had not been disappointed, and that the bill, in all its main provisions, would be found to meet the evil that existed, and at the same time afford the protection that was required. The bill as it came from the Commons would have come into operation on the first of January, 1841, but the committee deeming it desirable that the new system should come simultaneously into use in Ireland and Scotland as well as in England, the time of its commencement had been postponed till July, 1842.
The Earl of Wicklowsaid, that the evidence given before the committee had induced him to change the opinion he originally entertained upon this bill, and he was now quite willing to give it his support. He was satisfied the public could dispense with climbing boys to clean chimneys, although they would be occasionally necessary for the purpose of repairing chimneys.
The Marquess of Normanby, being one of those who had opposed referring this bill to a Select Committee, thought it 982 right to express his gratification at the Result of their labours.
§ Bill to be recommitted.