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I S DOCUMENT I S THE PROPERTY OF H I S BRITANNIC M A J E S T Y ' S
C A B I N E T .
CRET .
P.135 (32 ) .
GOVERNMENT.
1
Copy N o .
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS B I L L .
Memorandum
I circulate,
"by
the
Home
Secretary.
f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n by the C a b i n e t ,
memorandum by Mr. O l i v e r S t a n l e y ,
C h i l d r e n and Young P e r s o n s B i l l ,
who i s
a
i n charge of
asking for
the
instructions
as
t o t h e l i n e w h i c h he s h o u l d t a k e i n d e a l i n g w i t h a n amend­
ment t o t h e B i l l
w h i c h h a s b e e n p u t down by Lady A s t o r ,
i s s u p p o r t e d b y Members o f
local authorities
a l l P a r t i e s , proposing
that
s h o u l d b e empowered t o d e a l ' by means
by-laws with the c o n d i t i o n s
o f employment of Young
b e t w e e n 14 and 1 8 i n t h e s o - c a l l e d u n r e g u l a t e d
H. ' S.
15. 4 .
32.
and
of
Persons
occupations.
CHILDREN
-AND
YOUNG
PERSONS
BILL.
Memorandum by Mr. Stanley.
The Secretary of State will remember that the draft of the
Children Bill, as originally submitted to the Cabinet for
approval, contained proposals which would have enabled local
authorities to deal by means of by-laws with the conditions of
employment of young persons between 14-18 In the so-called
unregulated employments.
The refusal of the Cabinet to authorise these proposals
was, as I understand it, due to two reasons.
(1).
The fear, expressed by the Chief Whip, that thoy would
arouse great opposition among Government supporters
in the House of Commons.
(2)
The view of the Minister of Labour that these restrictions
would be regarded as oppressive by employers, while
industry was in Its present critical condition.
The objection of the Cabinet was not therefore' to the principle
of these, proposals, to which in fact successive Governments
have given their approval, but to the time of their introduction.
The proposals were in accordance with the Cabinet decision
deleted from the Bill and I was instructed to oppose on behalf
of the Government any attempt to insert them in the Bill during
its parliamentary stages.
A curious and somewhat difficult situation has now arisen
in Committee.
A new Clause has been put down in the name of
Lady Astor, supported by Members of all Parties, which would
have the effect of restoring these proposals.
I have made discreet inquiries among the members of the
Committee and this new Clause appears to command a volume of
support which makes its passage not only possible but even
probable, even though the Government Whips are put on against
it,
a s f o r r e a s o n s which I need not p a r t i c u l a r i s e ,
o f t h e Government Whip h a s
temporarily l o s t
the
some o f
crack
its
effect.
Two c o u r s e s a p p e a r t o me t o b e o p e n , and I s h o u l d
the S e c r e t a r y of
State's
like
instructions.
(1) I c o u l d o p p o s e t h e new C l a u s e " s a n s p h r a s e " , make
full
u s e o f t h e p r e s s u r e of
t h e Whips, and, i f
as
seems
probable
i n Committee, t r u s t
to
the
greater
I am d e f e a t e d
s t r e n g t h of
House t o d e l e t e
t h e m a c h i n e on t h e f l o o r
the offending
This c o u r s e , whether i t
might
still
effect
do,
C l a u s e on R e p o r t
ended i n v i c t o r y ,
in defeat,
of. tho
would h a v e t h e
of g i v i n g p u b l i c i t y t o d i f f e r e n c e s
Stage.
o r , as
it
unfortunate
of
opinion
b e t w e e n t h e Government and a c o n s i d e r a b l e b o d y of
its
own s u p p o r t e r s u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h e r e
sympathy o f
And, i f
this
t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c was w i t h t h e
finally
Clause,
it
(2)
accept
would I n c u r t h e h o s t i l i t y
the
the
any c r e d i t
and a t t h i s
from t h e
the proposals
t i m e , b u t g i v e on b e h a l f
Government an a s s u r a n c e of
and s i n c e r e
of
proposals.
I could oppose t h e i n c l u s i o n of
Bill
supporters.
t h e Government was f o r c e d t o
employers without r e c e i v i n g
s u p p o r t e r s of
the
in
of
sympathy w i t h the
i n t e n t i o n to proceed with the
as soon as opportunity o f f e r e d .
To be
this
the
principle
proposals
successful
I s h o u l d p r o b a b l y h a v e t o g o as f a r a s p l e d g i n g
Government t o t h e
i n t r o d u c t i o n of a m e a s u r e a s
as tho i n d u s t r i a l
situation
remembered t h a t b e f o r e
b e e n g i v e n on b e h a l f
Labour
the
improved.
crisis
soon
I t w i l l be
s u c h a p l e d g e had
of both the Conservative
and
Parties.
I should not use such a u t h o r i t y ,
but,
h a v e an a s s u r a n c e
t h e p l e d g e w o u l d i n f a c t be
that
possible
if
u n l e s s I was
i t would be e f f e c t i v e ,
at the e a r l i e s t
the
I do u s e i t ,
satisfied
I should l i k e
to
implemented
moment.
0. P. S.