Carlisle Patriot 18 May 1844 Protection to Agriculture (2)

Protection to Agriculture (2)

Carlisle Patriot - 18 May 1844

AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES. - I wish I had here a map of our beautiful island: you would see at once that with the exception of Yorkshire, especially the West Riding, Lancashire, Warwickshire, and one or two other counties, it is altogether an agricultural kingdom; and I cannot too often impress upon your minds that seven-ninths of its population are dependent upon the soil, and constitute by far the largest and most important part of the customers of our manufacturers. I must not, however, be understood to deny the value of our export trade. I know it is extremely valuable; but if the manufacturers, by a system of over-production, have crowded the foreign markets with more goods than there is a legitimate demand for, are we to be called upon to sacrifice the most important interests of this country, that they might have a chance of disposing of their excessive produce? The outcry for free trade has arisen entirely from this, and not from any great inadequacy of the supply of home-grown corn for the consumption of the country; but I deny that the free trade they propose is the best mode of extending their markets; and I say, let the people at home be well paid, and they will consume more goods than the whole of our export trade can carry off! - Speech of G. H. HEAD, Esq. REDUCTION IN THE HOURS OF LABOUR. - A reduction in the hours of labour has commenced at one of the principle cotton mills in the town of Preston, that of Mr. Robert GARDNER. The mills commenced running only eleven hours a-day for five days in the week, and nine on the Saturday, the understanding being that if there was a reduction in the amount of work produced the hands would submit to a corresponding reduction of wages. From the short time that had elapsed no correct opinion of the result of the experiment could be formed, but we are informed that for the first week - that is up to last Saturday evening - the wages of the weavers were only ½d per head below the average of the last three months, during which they had worked twelve hours, and that of the spinners 1s. per head below the same average. The arrangement has been interrupted during the present week in consequence of a break-down, by which the engine was twice stopped, and the hands have to work twelve hours till the lost time has been fetched up.

 

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