William
Bolling,
third son of Edward Bolling, was born in Bolton in 1785. A Tory
who was totally opposed to parliamentary
reform and factory legislation. Bolling
sat for Bolton-le-Moors from 1832 to 1841. He returned to the House
of Commons in 1847 and was M.P. for Bolton-le-Moors until his
death in 1848.
Child
Labour Debate Activity (International School of Toulouse)
Child
Labour Simulation (Spartacus Educational)
(1)
William Bolling, speech, House of Commons (9th May, 1836)
I
mistrust interference on behalf of the poor which the poor are themselves
to pay for. Let the question be presented honestly and fairly. Let
the parents of factory children know that the diminishing the hours
of daily toil must diminish the amount of weekly pay. Certainly, there
are cases of hardship and oppression, but I dislike all cases of legislative
interference between master and man - between parent and child. And,
moreover, all such interference would be unsuccessful. Your laws to
regulate wages, and hours of labour, and conditions of contract for
work - they are merely cobwebs broken through at will - because it
is the interest of master and servant that they should be broken.
Cultivate commerce with all the nations of the world; this will raise
wages and will prevent the necessity for exhausting labour.
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