364

LAISSEZ FAIRE

A.D. 1776
—1850.
who paid
framerents,


were responsible to the masters for paying frame-rent, whether
they had employment given them or not’. The proposals to
regulate wages were negatived, however, and things dragged
on till 1811 and 1812, when the interruption of trade caused
a general reduction in the lace-making at Nottingham, and
the oppressiveness of the charge for frame-rents was especially
felt ; but the disturbance appears to have been aggravated
by the action of a new class of masters, who had very little
knowledge of the trade, and regarded frames as a profitable
and sub. investment. At the same time, large quantities of goods
sequently v . ,
indemor” were produced of such an inferior quality as to damage the
goed reputation of the trade very considerably’. The Committee
of the House of Commons were inclined to recommend the
entire prohibition of certain classes of manufactures, and to
insist on the publication of a schedule of payments; but after
hearing additional evidence, they realised more clearly the
very complicated nature of this industry, and the impracticability
 of carrying out the suggestions which had been
incorporated in a Bill. A kind of cheap stocking, known

winding, seaming, needles and candles. They had to work from 6 to 10 o'clock to
earn 1s. 7d. When work was given out it took some time to prepare the materials
for the loom. Masters would not employ a man who has a frame of his own,
but force the persons they employ to hire a frame from their employer. That
geveral hosiers in Tewkesbury compel the men to buy the materials and make the
stockings, which they afterwards purchase of them, and sometimes throw them
npon the hands of the workmen. The men are compelled to buy the cotton wool
from the masters, and sell it to the spinners, and then purchase the thread from
the spinners. Commons Journals, xxxviL. 870.
\ A witness (Marsh) said, “ That he knows several of the Masters of London who
employ journeymen and let out more frames to them than they have Employment
for, for the Sake of the Frame Rents.” Commons Journals, XXxvI. 742. Another
witness deposed in 1779, ¢ That he has been obliged to pay Frame Rent though his
Master had not given him work, and in case of illness he is obliged to pay Frame
Rent.” Commons Journals, Xxxvir. 370.
2 «It appears by the evidence given before your Committee that all the
Witnesses attribute the decay of the trade more to the making of fraudulent and
bad articles than to the war or to any other cause. * * * It cannot be necessary for
your Committee to state that the making of bad articles and deceitful work in any
manufacture tends to bring the Trade into disgrace and ultimately to the ruin of
the Trade; of this the Lace Trade at Nottingham, which has been for many years
a most lucrative and flourishing trade, is a striking instance. And it appears to
your Committee that in this particular branch most gross frauds are constantly
practised which must destroy it, unless some check can be put to these practices
by the Legislature.” Report of the Committee on the Framework Knitters’
Petitions, 1812, m. 206.
3 « Vonr Committee have been confirmed in the Opinion expressed in their