7190 
Belegstellen. 
the workmen, and others look only to see how they can get wages cheaper, 
and a great number give themselves no trouble about the matter? — Yes, 
874. Then, in point of fact, there are only a few of them that are 
absolutely opponents to these boards of trade? — There are only 10 
that remained a short time without subscribing the list of prices; there 
was one in the gauze trade and nine in the silk-shawl trade, that stood 
out for some time; but they have all joined now. I had a conversation 
with one silk-gauze manufacturer, who does a great deal of business; the 
night before I came away I went to him, and he stated that he would 
like to see our present table of prices for silk gauzes have a legal sanc- 
tion and a penalty attached to it, so as to make the prices binding, as 
they are at present; but generally both the weavers and the manufacturers 
admit that the prices should vary according to circumstances, 
875. Do you suppose that the manufacturers dislike the weavers 
coming into their shops when any particular house has endeavoured to 
lower wages? — That is my own opinion, The mannfacturers had a 
committee and a convener; that convener was the same that the weavers 
applied to; he called the meetings; they were not attented at this time. 
When the weaving body were taking up the question about boards of 
trade, they repeatedly went to him; he called one meeting; there were 
anly four come; he said he had resigned his situation, and hence the 
manufacturers in Paisley are, as far as I know, not in a connected state 
at present, and I believe that one cause of that is, that they do not like 
to see the weavers interfere so much; and the weavers would be perfectly 
willing to give up much of this interference if they would take it under 
their own management. 
376. Then the Committee may infer from what you said, that the 
manufacturers generally in Paisley do not object to having those boards 
of trade, but they object to the inconvenience and trouble and loss of 
time which it may entail upon them, to be obliged to attend and to hear 
the complaints and disputes that may arise? — Yes; and I have something 
here to confirm my own opinion upon this subject. Here is a letter dated 
Paislev, 25th June 1834: 
„We have made a careful inquiry as to the table of prices for regu- 
jating trimmings, and agreed to upwards of three years ago, and can un- 
hesitatingly state that it has given nearly universal satisfaction to both 
{he manufacturers and weavers here, as preventing both underworking 
and underselling, acting as a safeguard to capital invested, and as 3 pre- 
ventive against undue speculation and glutted markets. 
„Wm. Harvie, Provost; Wm. Jeffrey, Robert Hendry, James Clark, 
Magistrates; John Henderson, Crown Treasurer; John Dunlop, Robert 
Bisset, James Drummond, Thomas Calderwood, Dewar Watson, Coun- 
esillors.“