FACTORY AND WORKSHOPS ACTS COMMISSION. 129 
appeared in the course of the evidence. Their Report goes to 
show that in this respect not much alteration of the law is called 
for. In Educational matters, they considered that much was re- 
quired, and that the strictest regulations — those of Class (1) — 
ought to be enforced in all the Classes. They recommended, more- 
over, that, outside the Factory Acts, the Educational law should 
be at once completed, by the establishment of universal direct 
compulsory attendance; thus changing the aspect of the special 
provisions of the Factory Acts, known as the half-time system, 
from one of exceptional stringency, to one of exceptional privilege, 
and of indulgence in favour of industry. In Sanitary matters, 
they recommended the extension of the most efficient provisions 
applicable under the present law, and the introduction of a few 
others. 
(iii.) The principal fields of labour suggested as proper to be 
now placed under regulation are those of agriculture, service in 
retail shops, and employment on canals. The Commissioners did not 
approve of the extension to any one of these of the regulations as to 
hours of labour. The education of the children therein engaged 
they recommended should be secured by the general Educational 
law ; and the necessary sanitary regulations they desired to see 
enforced by the general Sanitary law. In some exceptional cases 
they recommended an extension of the Acts, but only when 
"handicraft labour by protected persons upon definite premises 7 ' 
was in question. For sanitary and moral reasons, they recom- 
mended that the prohibitions of particular kinds of labour to 
children and young girls, but not to adult women, should be 
somewhat extended. 
The points selected to be specially dwelt on in the lecture were : 
A defence of the Commissioners' recommendation as to (a) The 
stricter regulation of " Workshops," by the enforcement of the 
legal " Working Day ' ' of twelve hours, within which all work 
must be taken ; (b) The refusal to extend to all factories the limit 
to ten hours of the working time, now enforced in Textile Factories, 
in place of the limit to ten and a half hours, now enforced else- 
where ; (c) The refusal to extend to Retail Shops the principle of 
Factory Act Regulation; (d) The maintenance of the status quo 
in respect of the restrictions on adult female labour. The im- 
portant recommendations of the Commissioners in respect of Edu- 
cation were not, on this occasion, discussed by the lecturer. 
VOL. VI. I 
