Henry
Hardie
was
a doctor who worked in Manchester.
In 1818 Dr. Hardie carried out an investigation into the health of
children working in seven local textile mills. Dr. Hardie appeared
before Lord Keynon's House of Lords
Committee on 26th May, 1818.
Child
Labour Debate Activity (International School of Toulouse)
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(1)
Henry Hardie was interviewed by Michael
Sadler and his House of Commons Committee
on 26th May, 1832.
Question:
Have you carried out a survey lately, with reference to spinning-factories
in Manchester?
Answer: I carried out a survey in seven factories.
Question: Did that arise from any particular applications to yourself.
Answer: I had an application made to myself by the chairman of the
committee of cotton-spinners.
Question: What observation did you make with regard to the state of
health of the adults and children employed in those seven factories.
Answer: That it was generally good.
Question: What was the state of ventilation of the several factories
you visited?
Answer: It was good.
Question: Have you found that persons who have grown up in the business
of cotton-spinners are generally less healthy than those who have
followed other occupations?
Answer: No, I have not found them worse looking.
Question: Have you found that the infirmities of age came on sooner
than with persons in general?
Answer: No; I have not.
Question: Is a daily employment of thirteen and fourteen hours a day,
in an erect position, and in a temperature of 80, consistent with
safety to the constitutions of children from six to sixteen?
Answer: I cannot answer that question.
Question: Are you aware that the flue they inhale might be injurious
to health?
Answer: I am not.
Question: Did you, on examining the several cases of distortion, perceive
anything which led you to conclude that distortion was caused by the
employment in the cotton-works?
Answer: No, I did not.
Question: Who determined as to the seven which were to be visited
out of the forty-seven factories?
Answer: The proprietors.
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