The Industrial Revolution

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1027928145

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-159926

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Cunningham, William http://d-nb.info/gnd/128907487

Title:: The Industrial Revolution

Place of publication:: Cambridge

Publisher:: The University Press

Year of publication:: 1922

Scope:: xxii S., S. 404-886

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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A.D. 1776 —1850. whteh drs- mppointed the advo- sates of repeal, the Com- hination Acts were rot re- ymposed, 758 LAISSEZ FAIRE McCulloch had argued that peaceful combinations among workmen might raise the rate of wages in any trade, if they had fallen below the normal level ; he held that combinations were powerless to raise wages above the natural rate. He argued that if they did so temporarily, there would be a diminution in the opportunities of employment offered by masters, and that this would soon work the needed cure, without legislative intervention; he was quite convinced that the working classes incurred heavy losses and could not possibly gain by engaging in strikes. It was a great dis- appointment to the men, who had worked so hard in the cause of repeal, that the first use which the working classes made of their freedom was to embark in a course of conduct that their advocates, as well as their opponents, regarded as necessarily mischievous, not only to the country as a whole, but to the operatives in particular. The dislocation of business in many places became very serious. The Thames shipbuilding trade was completely disorganised ; despite the efforts of Hume and Place to prevent them!, the Glasgow sotton-weavers came out on strike; and there were similar trade disputes in many parts of the country. It was little wonder that the great shipowners and other employers? were roused to demand the re-enactment of the laws which had been so recently repealed, and drafted a bill to be laid before Parliament. Mr Huskisson had been much influenced by the ship-builders?, and the opinion he had held as to the necessity of retaining the Combination Laws was so far confirmed by the results, that he was glad to have another Committee on the subject. According to Place, he intended to hold a formal enquiry, and thus give apparent sanction to the determination he had already taken to carry the shipowners’ bill for re-enacting the laws. Hume and Place set themselves to balk this design: the operatives, who had formerly been must occasionally take place; money matters can be regulated in no other way and by no other means; but beyond these there will be very little association of any kind, nothing deserving the name of combination in the sense this word is nsually understood.” Observations on Mr Huskisson's Speech on the Laws relating to Combinations of Workmen (1825), p. 21. 1 Wallas, Life of Francis Place, 218. 2 The great strike of woolcombers at Bradford was imminent, and the smployers urged the desirability of re-enacting the Laws. Burnley, Wool and Wool-combing, 168. 8 Wallas, Life of Francis Place, 226. 4 Tb. 226.

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