Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/124

 116] ENGLISH HISTOEY. [may

members. The next suggestion was that the age for half- timers should commence at eleven and a half instead of at twelve years, which led to a still more protracted discussion, in the course of which the principle of half-timers was strongly denounced by competent speakers. The discussion on this point was practically closed by Sir J. Gorst, who stated that at the Berlin Conference the British Government pledged itself with other Governments to the acceptance of the principle that it was desirable that the minimum age for child labour in factories and workshops should be twelve years. After this official expression, it was surprising that Mr. Bobson's clause was gained by only 177 to 18 votes — the Lancashire members of the Government still abstaining from recording their opinions. The only concession to which Mr. Bobson, the author of the bill would consent, was a proviso with reference to rural districts, where the local authority had fixed thirteen years as the minimum age for exemption for children employed in agricul- ture. Mr. Bobson was willing that under his bill such children, over eleven years of age and under thirteen who had passed the local standard exempting them, should not be required to attend more than 250 times in a year. This proviso was opposed by Mr. Yoxall (Nottingham, W.) t a Badical re- presenting the School Teachers' Union, who thought that too much was done already to conciliate opponents, but it was supported by the representatives of the Conservative land- owners, with whose concurrence it had been brought forward. Mr. G. Whiteley (Stockport) at once seized upon the oppor- utnity to extend the exemption to other than rural districts, but finding the feeling of the House against him, he attempted to limit the operation of the proviso to "children not employed in any factory or workshop.' ' To this dangerous exemption Mr. Bobson would not consent, and finally his concession to the agriculturalists was endorsed by 245 to 26 votes. Mr. Buther- ford's (Darwen, Lancashire) amendment, under which children might claim partial exemption at the age of twelve, provided that they could show 300 school attendances annually for five years, was accepted in full belief that such patterns of regularity were very exceptional. On the other hand, Colonel Mellor's (Badcliffe, Lancashire) desire to exempt children upon whose earnings the parents were dependent, was promptly negatived, and the clause as amended was then submitted for approval. Again Mr. Whiteley endeavoured to stop the bill, but urgency had been recognised on all sides, and the closure was agreed to by 263 to 26 votes, and the clause carried. A week later, by a clever display of parliamentary tactics, favoured by good luck, the bill was reported aS amended ; but it was not yet safe, for on coming forward for the third reading (June 14) Mr. Seton- Karr (St Helens) and Mr. G. Whiteley (Stockport) again attempted to impede its progress, but the feeling of the House was now so thoroughly awakened to the importance of the change involved