FACTORY LEGISLATION IN ENGLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2547, 27 June 1895, Page 3

FACTORY LEGISLATION IN ENGLAND.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, May 3. Mr Sydney Buxton, M.P., wont down to Poplar to address a ward meeting of his constituents, and tho audience which greeted bun in the Poplar Town Hall showed by their hearty recaption that ho has lost none of his popularity, Pr T, Power presided, and soon introduced Mr Buxton, who went on to speak of tho probability of a general election coming next year, although affairs were still looking rosy for tho Government. Mr Asquith had been good enough to associate him on what he must say was an extremely valuable amendment to the present Factory Acts. They had had two hasty elections at Oxford and Mid Norfolk, bnt those in Wicklow and Leeds showed that the Irish people were still on tho side of tho Government. For p weak and tottering party and Government, the Liberals seemed to hold their place very well. (Cheers.) They fiad Ojojp differences, but they were. not the only party that had little family fends. (Cheers,) The Liberal Unionists and the Tories wore like the two boa constrictors in tho Zoo, one of whom had swallowed the other, though it could never he discovered which was tho swallower and which was the swallowed. As, however, tho great amount of swallowing 'had resulted in the death of both, he hoped this was an omen • that the two parties now swallow! g each other in the House of Commons would be rendered innocuous. (Cheers and laughter.) They had this Session to deal with ' several Important measures. That flight the Chanc'pllor of the Exchequer had introduced hjs Budget, whiefi wps pot such an epoch-making pnp ps that of 1 lasti year, Still the finances of tho country were in a satisfactory state, and although tho Budget was a humdrum ono, the country was paying its way. As to the now Factory Bill, its principle was to take tho standard of tho host employer and to force that of tho worst employer up to it, and gradually, stop by stop, to improve tho conditions under which work should bo done. It was probable that there would bo many amendments of a drastic character with a view to altering the Bill. Ho looked upon some of these amendments ns dealing with theoretical questions, of which he was in favour. But when they, considered the enormous number of people affected by the Bill he thought they would see the wisdom of not overloading their measure, and thus imperilling the chances of its passing, Mr C, E. Hothouse, M.P„ also spoke; and on tho motion of Mr A. Mercer, a vote of confidence in Mr Buxton was carried.