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 districts
 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