NOTICE. The repealed portions of the Statutes set out in this work are distinguished by being printed in italics. THE FACTORY & WORKSHOP ACTS. C. 73. An Act for the Preservation of the Health 42 GEO. 3, and Morals of Apprentices and others, employed in Cotton and other Mills, and Cotton and other Factories (a). [22nd June, 1802.] WHEREAS it hath of late become a practice in cotton and woollen mills, and in cotton and woollen factories, to employ a great number of male and female apprentices, and other persons, in the same building; in consequence of which, certain regulations are become necessary to preserve the health and morals of such apprentices and other persons; be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of (a) This Act remains unrepealed; but it is not incorporated with, nor is its continued operation recognised by any of the subsequent Factory Acts: indeed, not only was it in a great measure practically superseded by the more comprehensive provisions of those Acts and the Workshop Acts, but from the first was rendered almost entirely inoperative on account of the insufficiency of the machinery for carrying it out; the enforcement of its provisions never having been brought within the scope of the duties of the inspectors of factories. See 3 & 4 Will. 4, c. 103, s. 17, n. (h), post, p. 25. But legally speaking at least the Act is still in force, and cannot, therefore, with safety be entirely overlooked. See INTRODUCTION. B 42 GEO. 3, C. 73. and fac the same, that, from and after the 2nd day of December, 1802, all such mills and factories (b) From Dec. within Great Britain and Ireland, wherein three 2,1802, mills or more apprentices, or twenty or more other tories em- persons, shall at any time be employed, shall be ploying a certain subject to the several rules and regulations connumber of tained in this Act; and the master or mistress ject to the of every such mill or factory is hereby strictly regulations enjoined and required to pay due attention to of this Act. and act in strict conformity to the said rules and regulations (c). persons sub The rooms shall be quick lime and water and care II. And be it enacted, that all and every the washed with rooms and apartments in or belonging to any such mill or factory shall, twice at least in every twice a year, year, be well and sufficiently washed with quick lime and water over every part of the walls and ceiling thereof; and that due care and attention shall be paid by the master or mistress of such mills or factories, to provide a sufficient number of windows and openings in such rooms or apartments, to insure a proper supply of fresh air in and through the same (d). shall be taken to admit fresh air. Apprentices shall be supplied with two complete suits of clothing, etc. and a suit shall be delivered yearly. III. And be it further enacted, that every such master or mistress shall constantly supply every apprentice, during the term of his or her apprenticeship, with two whole and complete suits of clothing, with suitable linen, stockings, hats, and shoes; one new complete suit being (b) The Act in its application was limited, it will be observed, to cotton and woollen mills and factories in which there were employed three or more apprentices, or twenty or more other persons. (c) For the penalties in respect of offences against the Act, see infra, ss. 11, 13, 15. (d) As to the provisions now in force respecting limewashing, &c., in factories, see 7 & 8 Vict. c. 15, s. 18; post; and as to those respecting ventilation and other sanitary matters, see 27 & 28 Vict. c. 48, s. 4, and note thereto, post. delivered to such apprentice once at least in 42 GEO. 8, every year (e). c. 73. to exceed 1803, no apprentices pelled to work between nine at night and six in the IV. And be it further enacted, that no appren- Time of tice that now is or hereafter shall be bound to working uot any such master or mistress, shall be employed 12 hours. or compelled to work for more than twelve hours in any one day (reckoning from six of the clock in the morning to nine of the clock at night), exclusive of the time that may be occupied by such apprentice in eating the necessary meals: From June 1, Provided always, that, from and after the 1st day of June, 1803, no apprentice shall be employed to be comor compelled to work upon any occasion whatever, between the hours of nine of the clock at night and six of the clock in the morning (ƒ). V. And be it further enacted, that in any mill or factory, wherein not less than one thousand nor factories more than fifteen hundred spindles are constantly wherein a used in the carrying on of the manufacture, it ber of shall and may be lawful for the owner or owners of such millto employ his apprentices in the night prentices until the 25th day of December, 1803; and in employed in any mill or factory wherein more than fifteen the night till hundred spindles shall be employed, it shall and periods. may be lawful for the owner of such mill to employ his apprentices in the night until the 25th Repealed. day of June, 1804; any thing herein contained infra. to the contrary notwithstanding (g). morning. In mills or certain num spindles are used, ap may be certain See n. (g), (e) As to a master's criminal liability for neglecting to supply his apprentice with proper food, clothing, and lodging, see 24 & 25 Vict c. 100, s. 26. (f) For the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Acts respecting the hours of employment, see note (g) to 13 & 14 Vict. c. 54, s. 1; and 16 & 17 Vlct. c. 104, s. 1; post. Apprentices, it may be remarked, come under the provisions of those Acts. See 7 & 8 Vict. c. 15, s. 73 (definition of " employment "), post. (g) This section is repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act, 1872; 35 & 36 Vict. c. 63. 42 GEO. 3, C. 73. Apprentice to be instructed every working day for the first four years of his apprenticeship in reading, writing, and arithmetic, etc. Apartments of male and female ap be kept VI. And be it further enacted, that every such apprentice shall be instructed, in some part of every working day, for the first four years at least of his or her apprenticeship, which shall next ensue from and after the 2nd day of December, 1802, if he or she is an apprentice on the said 2nd day of December, 1802, and for the first four years at least of his or her apprenticeship, if his or her apprenticeship commences at any time after the said 2nd day of December, 1802, in the usual hours of work, in reading, writing, and arithmetic, or either of them, according to the age and abilities of such apprentice, by some discreet and proper person, to be provided and paid by the master or mistress of such apprentice, in some room or place in such mill or factory to be set apart for that purpose; and that the time hereby directed to be allotted for such instruction as aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken on all occasions as part of the respective periods limited by this Act during which any such apprentice shall be employed or compelled to work (h). VII. And be it further enacted, that the room or apartment in which any male apprentice shall prentices to sleep, shall be entirely separate and distinct from distinct, and the room or apartment in which any female apshall sleep in prentice shall sleep; and that not more than two apprentices shall in any case sleep in the same bed. two only one bed. Regulations to be ob VIII. And be it further enacted (i), that served for every apprentice, or (in case the apprentices shall the instruc- attend in classes) every such class shall, for the (h) For the educational clauses of the Factory and Workshop Acts, see 7 & 8 Vict. c. 15, ss. 38, 39; 30 & 31 Vict. c. 146, ss. 14, et seq.; post. (i) The Factory and Workshop Acts contain no provisions for religious instruction on Sundays. |