27 JUNE 1874, Page 3

The Home Secretary carried his. Factories (Health of Women, lee.)

Bill through Committee on Tuesday night, with very little trouble, the only difficulties interposed being an attempt to get Ireland, as a whole, excluded from the operation of the Bill, and Mr. Fawcett's renewed effort to exclude adult women from its -scope, which was defeated by 252 against 59. In a debate on the Intoxicating Liquors Bill, Sir Wilfrid Lawson referred to a rhyme composed by the operatives in Mr. Cross's honour :-

"For he is a jolly good fellow,

Whatever the Rads. may think ; He, has shortened the hours of labour, And lengthened the hours of drink."

So far, at least, as regards the first and better side of the reputation, Mr. Cross certainly deserved it in Tuesday's debate, even though be did decline to knock off the extra half-hour on Saturday allowed for "cleaning," which makes the full-work time of the week up to 563- hours. What.was very wise was, Mr. Cross stood firm against pressure to lower the age at which children might not be employed in factories,—a most necessary outwork of educational compulsion.