Mr. Mundella on Tuesday called attention to a terrible abuse,
the constant infringement of the Truck Acts. Great firms, more -especially in Scotland, still cheat their men out of their wages by paying them in bad stores instead of silver. Of course, they comply in appearance with the law ; but they advance money to the men on condition that they shall buy goods at shops kept by persons apparently strangers, but really in their own employ. Of course, workmen who do not take such advances are dismissed, and *very possible fraud is practised in the quality of the goods supplied. 'The workmen have repeatedly endeavoured to prosecute under the Acts, but the only penalties are fines, which are paid, and the :system goes on again. Mr. Bruce, in reply, declined to interfere, Alleging, first, that the evil was not increasing,—which is not true of Scotland ; and secondly, that it was the workmen's own fault, which may be true enough, but is an argument against the Truck Acts themselves. He seemed to think these preventive laws out- side the province of the State, and forgot that in every code of taw in the world the rigid enforcement of contract is one of the frst objects. The masters promise to pay so many shillings a week in gold and silver, and don't do it, but pay in base metal instead.
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