Evidence Given Before the Sadler Committee

Question

Joshua Drake, a worker and father, was called in and questioned by the Committee.
Question (Q): You say you would prefer moderate labor and lower wages; are you pretty comfortable with your present wages?
Joshua Drake (JD): I have no wages, but two days a week at present, but when I am working at some jobs we can make a little, and at others, we do very poorly.

Q: When a child gets 3 s. [shillings] a week, does that go much towards its subsistence?
JD: No, it will not keep it as it should.

Q: Do you receive any parish assistance?
JD: No.

Q: Why do you allow your children to go to work at those places where they are ill-treated or overworked?
JD: Necessity compels a man who has children to let them work.

Q: Then you would not allow your children to go to those factories under the present system if it was not from necessity?
JD: No.

Q: Supposing there was a law passed to limit the hours of labor to eight hours a day, or something of that sort, of course, you are aware that a manufacturer could not afford to pay them the same wages?
JD: No, I do not suppose that they would, but at the same time I would rather have it, and I believe that it would bring me into employ; and if I lost 5d. [pennies] a day from my children's work, and I got half-a-crown myself, it would be better.

Q: How would it get you into employment?
JD: By finding more employment at the machines, and work being more regularly spread abroad, and divided amongst the people at large. One man is now regularly turned off into the street, whilst another man is running day and night.

Q: You mean to say, that if the manufacturers were to limit the hours of labor, they would employ more people?
JD: Yes.

Question 1
Why does Joshua Drake allow his children to work in textile factories? Include evidence from the document to support your answer.
Enter your answer to Question 1 here:

Question 2
How does Joshua Drake feel about a law that would limit working hours for children? Include evidence from the document to support your answer.
Enter your answer to Question 2 here:

Answer 1

Question 1
Joshua Drake allows his children to work in textile factories out of necessity. He states, "Necessity compels a man who has children to let them work," indicating that he feels he has no other choice due to their dire financial situation. Despite the poor conditions, he feels obligated to have his children contribute to the family's income to survive.

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Question 2
Joshua Drake has a positive perspective towards a law that would limit working hours for children. He expresses a belief that such a law would ultimately lead to more employment opportunities for adults, stating, "if the manufacturers were to limit the hours of labor, they would employ more people." He suggests that this could lead to a more equitable distribution of work, implying that fewer hours could result in more job openings for adults, thus improving their overall situation.