Citizen Marx could not coincide with Milner,**? that it [the 
reduction of the hours of labour] would lead to a diminished 
production,* because where the restrictions had been introduced, 
the instruments of production had been vastly more developed 
than in other trades. It had the effect of introducing more 
machinery, and made production on a small scale more and more 
impossible, which, however, was necessary to arrive at social 
production. The sanitary question was settled.*” But a reduction 
of the hours of labour was also indispensable to give the working 
class more time for mental culture. Legislative restrictions were the 
first step towards the mental and physical elevation and the 
ultimate emancipation of the working classes. Nobody denied, 
nowadays, that the State must interfere on behalf of the women 
and children; and a restriction of their hours led, in most 
instances, to a reduction of the working time of the men. England 
had taken the lead, other countries had been obliged to follow to 
some extent. The agitation had seriously commenced in Germany, 
and the London Council was looked to for taking the lead. The 
principle had been decided at former congresses; the time for 
action had arrived.