Thomas Dalby and Co

of Albion Mill, Eccleshill, Bradford

1835 'FACTORY ACT. BRADFORD PETTY SESSIONS, APRIL 8, 1835.
Mr. Baker, the superintendent of factories, applied to report a complaint against a great number of mill owners in the neighbourhood of Bradford, for infringements of the Factory Act: two gentlemen submitted to the informations, and it being their first offence, Mr. Baker did not press for any penalty, they were therefore fined 1s., and costs.
Mr. Baker then said the next was a case of very different complexion, and he should most earnestly press the Court to commit the full penalty (£20); it was a case of great aggravation, for the parties had been warned twice, and informed that if they were found to work their children longer than the law allowed, the full penalty would be most certainly inflicted. He complained that Messrs Thos. Dalby and Co., of the Albion Mill, Eccleshill, had worked a number of children as long as 13 hours a day for several days together, and had thought it his duty, and a duty owed to the public, to bring the case before the Court. There were no less than five informations laid against this Company, and as they appeared determined set the act of Parliament at defiance, he was determined make an example, and let them see that they should not do so with impunity; he therefore hoped that the Court would (if proved his case) inflict the full penalty.
The Court asked all the parties were in attendance, upon which Mr. Ashton rose and said he appeared for them. Some of them were also present, as well as six or eight of the children. He said, I shall not take up the time of the Court in making attempting to make any defence to the present information. I believe that some of the children have remained in the mill longer than the law allows, and if they have been there ten minutes too long, Mr. Baker is entitlcd to a conviction. The business of mill not so easily carried out as some people might imagine. The wool could not spun until it had been slubbed, it could not be slubbed until it had been carded, it could not be carded until it had been scribbled, and it never never be scribbled until it been been through the woolley, and if any of these different processes should be behind the other, the consequence is that the preceding processes must of necessity be at a stand still. In the present case I am prepared to prove that the children have not been worked longer than the law allows; that they have been longer upon the premises I must admit, but not working, for they were, in fact, a great part of this very day waiting for the previous process of scribbling before the wool could be carded, and the overlooker has got a notion that if the children are not actually working, they may remain in the mill as long as they think proper; under the circumstances I do hope and trust that the Court will be lenient with the parties and bear in mind what they are called upon to do. You are called upon to put this Act of Parliament into full force; an act that has only lately been passed; and act which is admitted on all hands, by all parties, to be full of the most complete absurdities; an act which will not be allowed to disgrace the statute book many weeks longer, as the Hon. Member for Ashton, Mr. Hindley has now a bill before the House of Commons to repeal it. If it had been an old-tried, useful, salutary act, I could not have said one word for the parties, but under all the circumstances I do hope the Court will not lay any more than a nominal fine upon them, and I pledge my self that you shall never see the same parties again upon a similar complaint.
The Court said it was an aggravated case, as the parties had been before warned of the consequences.
Mr. PARKER. - That is the reason I press the case, and I do most earnestly request the Court will inflict the full penalty.
Mr. ARCHER.— And I do most earnestly request the Court will do no such thing.
The Court, after consultation, said this certainly is an aggrvated case, but as we hope the parties will take warning by what has taken place, we shall only inflict a penalty of 40s. on each case. The penalty and costs were immediately paid.'

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