FACTORIES; FACTORY-SYSTEM. The word factory has had two different meanings. It formerly meant an establishment of mer chants and factors resident in foreign coun tries, who were governed by certain regula tions adopted for their mutual support and assistance against the undue encroachments or interference of the government of the coun tries in which they resided. In modern times these factories have, in a great measure, ceased to exist, because of the greater degree of security which merchants feel as regards both the justice of those governments and the protection, when needed, of their own country. The Venetians, Genoese, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English have all had establish ments of the nature of factories. In China the Portuguese established a factory at Macao, and the English at Canton. In most instances factories have at first obtained the privilege of trading, and afterwards procured for the pre cinct assigned to them some exemption from the jurisdiction of the native courts. In this state of things the supreme government of the country whose subjects have established the factory prepare laws for its control and administration, and treat it in feet as if it were its dependency, though the sovereignty of the native government is undisputed.
But in its usual acceptation, the word fac tory has now a different meaning. By the Factory Act of 1814, a factory means any building wherein steam, water, or other me chanical power is used to work any machinery employed in the manufacture of cotton, wool, hair, silk, flax, hemp, jute, or tow.
What is called the Factory System owes its origin to the invention and skill of Arkwright; and it is probable that but for the invention of spinning machinery, and the consequent necessary aggregation of large numbers of workmen in cotton-mills, the name would never have been thus applied. It is in the cotton-mills that the factory system has been brought to its highest state of perfection. The power of subdivision of employment accord ing to strength and skill, and that of bringing to bear upon every distinct process exactly as much force as is necessary, without waste, are the two great and valuable advantages of the factory system.
The legislature has interfered to prevent children in factories being tasked beyond their strength, to the rermanent injury of their constitutions. This abuse was the more to
be apprehended, because a large proportion of the children engaged in cotton-spinning are not directly employed by the masters, but are under the control of the spinners, a highly paid class of workmen, whose earnings greatly depend upon the length of time during which they can keep their young assistants at work. A parliamentary committee sat for the inves tigation of this subject in 1832, and subse quently a commission was issued by the crown for ascertaining, by examinations at the factories themselves, the kind and degree of abuses that prevailed, and for suggesting the proper remedies. In consequence of these inquiries, an act was passed in 1833 for regu lating factories. This act was amended by that of 1844.
On January 1, 1846, a new act came into operation, which brought print - works, or calico-printing establishments, within the ope ration of the factory regulations. By the terms of another act, passed in 1847, ' no children' or 'young persons' are to work in a factory more than 11 hours a day, from July 1, 1817 ; nor more than 10 hours a day from May 1, 1818. The same provisions were made in respect to all women of what ever age ; so that at the present time the work-hours of women, boys, and girls, are limited : those of men unlimited by any enact ment. By an act passed in 1850, a few minor changes were made, chiefly with a view to pre vent night-work in factories. The ' Ten Hours' Bill,' advocated by many persons, would, if passed, limit the working hours of males in factories.
The United Kingdom is divided into four factory districts, presided over by four inspec tors and several sub-inspectors. Each in spector presents a report half yearly to the Home Secretary, respecting the state of the factories within his district. These reports occasionally give such information as will show the number of factories and work-people. In 1845, Mr. Horner, whose district is very nearly coextensive with the county of Lanca shire, gave the following as the state of his district in that year :— The great strength of the woollen and worsted trades lay in another district, con cerning which similar returns were not made.