§ Mr. GILLasked the number of firms in the cotton trade in Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Stalybridge, who were prosecuted for breaches of the Factory Act last year, distinguishing the offences, the number of convictions, and the amount of penalties inflicted, and the number of previous convictions in each case?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe particulars are as follows:—
Number of Firms. Offence. Number of Cases. Number of Convictions. Amount of Penalties. £ s. d. 1 Failure to keep general register 1 1 0 5 0 Employment without certificate of fitness 2 2 0 10 0 17 Failure to ventilate * 17 see note — 4 Failure to fence machinery † 4 4 2 11 0 2 Employment without school certificate 4 4 1 0 0 5 Employment before or after legal hours‡ 25 25 14 17 6 1 Employment after legal hours on Saturday 4 4 2 2 0 17 Employment at meal times § 358 358 221 1 0 1 Failure to supply correct particulars of work 4 4 4 0 0 * In 14 cases orders made for compliance with the law, 3 cases withdrawn on payment of costs, as dust extractors were installed; 1 firm was previously convicted 4 times, 1 twice, 3 once. † One firm was previously convicted twice, 1 once. ‡ One firm was previously convicted once. § One firm was previously convicted 3 times, 2 twice, 5 once.