XXV 



RESIGNS CHAIRMANSHIP 329 



him through with it if the Opposition would agree, 

 on which he wrote to Sir W. Harcourt who was then 

 the Liberal Leader. 



117 Piccadilly, W., 

 June 18, '92. 



My dear Harcourt — I write to make an appeal to 

 you about the Shop Hours Bill, the object of which in 

 its present form is to enable local authorities to appoint 

 Inspectors to carry out the provisions of the Shop Hours 

 Act of 1886. 



The Bill has passed through a select Committee by 

 whom it was unanimously approved, and who took the 

 somewhat unusual course of passing a special resolution 

 urging the House to pass the Bill. 



We had very strong, and I may say heartrending 

 evidence as to the terribly long hours during which young 

 people are being worked in shops, and the fatal effect 

 on their health. 



Stuart Wortley has informed me that the Government 

 are willing to pass the Bill, if you will consent. 



I write then urgently to beg you to allow me to say 

 that this may be done. — Believe me, yours very sin- 

 cerely, John Lubbock. 



The Rt. Hon. Sir W. Harcourt, M.P. 



To this Sir William Harcourt replied : 



45 Brook Street, W., 

 June 18th, 1892. 



My dear Lubbock — As long as I thought that the 

 Government really meant to accelerate business with a 

 view to an early dissolution, I did not feel myself justified 

 in contributing to burden their list with additional 

 measures, which might, or might not, give rise to dis- 

 cussion and delay. Now, however, that it is made 

 apparent that they only desire pretexts to stave off the 

 dissolution to the period which suits their own book, I 

 feel I have no further responsibility in the matter, and 

 have no reason either to assent or dissent to any course 

 which they may think fit to take. I consider that in the 

 spirit, if not in the letter, they have violated the under- 

 standing upon which I did all in my power to aid them in 

 passing their bills. That being so, I consider I have no 



