Henry
Thomas Hope,
the youngest son of Lord Decies, was born in
1808. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge,
he became a director of the London and Westminster Joint Stock Bank
and was a magistrate for Surrey and Gloucestershire.
Hope
was elected as Tory
M.P. for East Looe in 1830. He opposed parliamentary
reform and factory legislation. Hope
was defeated in the 1832 General Election.
Hope
returned to the House of Commons in 1833
when he was elected as the M.P. for Gloucester
and held the seat until 1841. He also served between 1847 and 1852.
Henry Thomas Hope died on 4th December, 1862.
Child
Labour Debate Activity (International School of Toulouse)
Child
Labour Simulation (Spartacus Educational)
(1)
Henry
Thomas Hope, speech, House of Commons (16th
March, 1832)
It
is obvious, that if you limit the hours of labour, you will, to nearly
the same extent, reduce the profits of the capital on which the labour
is employed. Under these circumstances, the manufacturers must either
raise the price of the manufactured article or diminish the wages
of their workmen. If
they raise the price of the article the foreigner gains an advantage.
I am informed that the foreign cotton-manufacturers, and particularly
the Americans, tread closely upon the heels of our manufacturers.
The right honourable member (Michael Sadler) seems to consider that
it is desirable for adults to replace children. I cannot concur with
that opinion, because I think that the labour of children is a great
resource to their parents and of great benefit to themselves.
I therefore, on the these grounds, oppose this measure. In the first
place I doubt whether parliament can protect children as effectively
as their parents; secondly; because I am of the opinion that a case
for parliamentary interference has not yet been made out; and thirdly,
because I believe that the bill will be productive of great inconvenience,
not only to persons who have embarked large capital in the cotton
manufactures, but even to workmen and children themselves - that I
feel it my duty to oppose this measure.
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