XllA.NjiACllUNi Oi'' SLCTIIXN F. 



853 



already evident at homo tliat local governiii|? bddies must assume somewl 

 rule which is ii<>w exercised by the Imperial I'arliameiit ; and mnel 

 orL'anisation in Canada need not he destroyed. It would he a orand di 



i-hat of the 

 much oxistinp 

 orpaiii""''"" in I'anacla need not be destroyed. It would he a grand day slioulil 

 jhc k'conio as much an inte^M'al part as Scotland and Ireland now are, hy tlie 

 L'liited Kinirdoin heconiing tliat not of (heal Hritain and Ireland, hut of (treat 

 liritaiii, Ireland, and North America. Canada seems already ripe for the discus- 

 sion of such a (iwustion. Australasia may ripen whilst it proceeds, and, together 

 withtlie snuiller dependencies, ho included in tho scheme heforo fii\al etleet is given 

 to tho decision. 



4. The Factory Ads, By R. Wiiately Cooke-Tayi.or. 



The object of the paper is to discuss both the proper sanctioiis for fjictoi-y legislation 

 and the means of making it most etlicient and useful. Many of the advocates of 

 Factory Acts have never comprtihended, still less formally announced, the sound 

 basis, both economic and historic, on which such legislation ro])oses. Much of this 

 misunderstanding has arisen from a double interpretation of tho word 'labour,' 

 wliicli at one tinus was used as a nu're abstract term, implying a purely impersoiial 

 force, and at another time as the embodied etl'ort of sentient beings. It is in this 

 latter sense, as 'the buman element in industrial jtroduction,' that political economy 

 is concerned with the Factory Acts; and one object in studying that science is 

 lo obviate whatever — like the unimpeded force of competition — is harmful to 

 humanity in economic tendencies. Hence the scientitic basis for Factory A(t8. 

 There is e(jually an historic basis, inasmuch as industrial production has from time 

 immemorial been under some t'xterior controlT— whether of the State, of some 

 industrial labour corporation, or of custom. 



With respect to the question how they can be made most operative and useful, 

 'lis matter is considered under three heads. First, tiie objects of factory legisla- 

 tion; second, the subjects of it ; third, tlia methods of enforcing its decrees. The 

 objects are properly women, ciiildren, and young persons, but circumstances are 

 conceivable which would make men proper objects too. Under the second hea<l is 

 considered tho range which factory laws should take, the industries and occupations 

 with which they should interfere." A very wide latitude is advocated for them 

 to the extent of including legislation for sho])S, and even for some kinds of 

 services, as railways and the Post Ollice. It is argued that having departed so far 

 already from their original intentions, no logical resting-places short of those 

 mentioned can be found. On the other hand, the proposal for interfering specially 

 with the employment of married women in mills is condemned. On the subject of 

 the proper method of inspection, the paper advocates a combination of local and 

 central supervision. Tlie result to aim at is aggregate justice, not absolute uni- 

 fonnity. Localities can best decide on the precise requirements of the several 

 industries located there, and officers from the central authority should see that on 

 the whole the law was fairly observed. The sanitary and educational authorities 

 of the district should furnisii the means for putting the sanitary and educational 

 portions of the law into effect in the first instance, and what little supon'ision would 

 still remain unprovided for could be furnished between them, or would result 

 spontaneously from the impulse of other enactments relating to industry. 



6. The Phosphate Industry of Canada. By Robekt C. Adams. 



Mineral manures were suggested by Liebig in 1840, he having observed the 

 effect of sulphuric acid in making minerals soluble. 



As a ton of wheat takes sixteen pounds of phosphoric acid from the soil, this 

 must be replaced to ensure future production. Phosphates are obtained from 

 Spain, England, Norway, France, West Indies, South Carolina, and Canada. 



Canadian apatite was mentioned in 1827. In 1847 Dr. Hunt reported it in 

 New Rurgess, Ontario. About 1860-3 mining was begun there, and continued 

 intermittentlf. In 1876 mining was begun in Ottawa County, and work has in- 

 creased constantly, large deposits being discovered. 



