CONTENTS xix 
Most of the evils, which were brought to light, had attached to cottage 
industry, and parents deserve a large share of blame as well as masters. The 
Commissioners of 1838 tried to isolate the question of child labour, and hoped 
that shifts would be organised. Limits were imposed on the employment of 
children ; and inspectors, acting under a central authority, were charged with 
enforcing the Act. The over-working of children could not be checked 
affectively till the hours for women were restricted ; and a normal working 
dey of ten hours and a half was at length established, in spite of the 
forebodings of experts who ignored the results of Owen’s experience. 774 
270. Distress of Hand-loom Weavers. The low standard of comfort of 
hand-loom weavers was not treated as a subject for State interference. The 
power-loom was superseding hand work; the concentration of weaving 
in factories gave facilities for supervision, and encouraged regularity and 
honesty, so that cottage weavers had no constancy of employment. The 
depression in the linen trade, during the transition to power weaving, was 
aggravated by the competition of Irish, and of cotton weavers; and in the 
tlk trade, by the habitual spreading of work. The application of power to 
cotton-weaving was delayed through the cheapness of hand work, and led in 
the worsted trade to labour shifting. The woollen weavers had lost their 
abnormally high rates, and suffered a period of depression. State action 
seemed impracticable, but thers has been improvement of wages from other 
influences, and the conditions for health of factory employment compare 
favourably with those that characterised cottage industries. . . 790 
271. Conditions of Work in Mines. The conditions of work in various 
industries were the subject of enquiry, and a strong case was established 
for interfering in regard to mines, when a Commission reported in 1840, 
The employment of young boys in mines had been increasing, but was 
now prohibited, as well as that of women under-ground, and a system of 
State inspection was organised. . . . . . s 802 
272. Conditions of Life in Towns. The conditions in which labourers 
lived attracted attention at the outbreak of cholers in 1831, in insanitary 
districts ; and, after thorough enquiry, a Health Department was organised, 
but on an inadequate scale. The work of providing for the housing of the 
poor has been partly dealt with by building societies, though the problem ia 
increasingly difficult either for individuals or municipalities. The new 
administrative machinery for social purposes is very different from that 
of the Stuarts, both in its aims and its methods. . . 808 
V. FaciLities For TRANSPORT. 
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2783. Railways and Steamers. The demands of manufacturing dis- 
tricts for improved transport were met by the development of railway 
enterprise, which was a boon to the public generally; but it accelerated the 
decline of rural life in England, especially after the system was introduced 
in America. The application of steam power to ocean transport was more 
mradual, and it has greatly benefited the commercial, but not the landed 
interest, . . ; . . . . . “ " * 811 
274. Joint-Stock Companies. Under the influence of new conditions, 
facilities were given for the formation of joint-stock companies with limited