The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-10-30 00:00:00

IMPORTANT MEETING OF

IRONWORKERS.

A mass meeting of the ironworkers of this
district was held on Monday nioriiing, at the
Dog and PArtridge, Brierley Hill. The attend-
ance was largo, there being upward,: of 200 men
present...

• The Chairman who was appointed opened the
business by observing that the men wanted no
strikes or lock.outs. but simply their rights. If
these could net be obtained, the question of
giving notice next Saturday would have to be
eonsidered. He called upon a delegate from the
Round Oak Works to address the meeling, end
it IVFIR stated that a deputation had waited upon
Mr. F. Smith, who had told them that the pre.
sent price of iron would not stand any Increase
of wages. It was considered strange by one of
the speakers that puddlera in that iii.triet could
not have wages equal to those of the North of
England, where SA 91 and thi 3d, it not 9a 9d
per ton was paid for puddling —(ap7danse).
Mr. Smith said, upon the representations of
the depotation unn.tioned, that he would bring
the matter peoleinently before the io:isters' :neat.
in', anti that was everything they could
learn.

A Delegate said Messrs Hinglev end Smith,
of the Hert's !lig Works, conhi give no answer
Until the end of the present week. He gave no-
tice to them that if ad per ton MMA ;10t. At once
given, notice would be given for 1,.
Another Detegate, who came frmi Hingley's
works, said the firm for which he worked was
anxious that the men should have u rise of Is
per ton instead of 6,1 per ton.
The Niue Locks Works' Delegate said that
nothing definite had occurred at these works;
but the men expected an answer that night.
The Level Works were represented, and the
Delegate said he had been led to understand
that the firm eonsidereil the peddlers were under
paid. Air. Brown, of the firm of Brown and
Preer, was seriously ill, and there hail been no
interview at either the old works or he new.
Browley Forge was not represented.
A Delegate frou the To Wurks (Messrs.
Builds) said a number of men had given notice
to leave.

The Chairman then said he was not for trnst•
ing the mn%ecrs. for when trade wit, better they
did not fulfil their promises. If the men wanted
any increase in wages they must get it by their
own exertions.

A Delegate from the Stourbridge Work 4 said
the manager had toll him that Mr. b i,-ter would
be certain to uct as liberally as any other master
—(loud applause.).
A Delegate from Messrs. Wood's Works, Bret.
tell Lane, said their firm at once ed to pay
the men an a ivince of ill from filo time the
Wecluushary Company did the same— (renewed
appluosm.

A Delegate from Corbyn's Hall (Mr. Hingley)
anid Mr. Hingley was tleairens thlt every iron-
worker' wag.,a should be ineretmed.
The Chairman here observed that Messrs.
Ringley had acted in the most straiehtfm ,trd
manner, and that their conanct was idghly far-
ourable.to the altimate sareess of th,. mom

A Delegate from the Corogreaves Work; said
a meeting was to h held M the works ; they
had not op to the present eousidered iho matter.

The Chairman thoug.ht it wouid he wise for
the delequto to tat• word to the Corngreaves
the result of thst lueeting.
A Dclegate proposed. •"rhat we give notice
on Saturday next, °et. fiOth, to leave work-
ing if an advance of Is per too to peddlers end
a corresponding increase to other hneLes of
the trade be not notified on Thursday next."
This was nnsnitnously carried.
The Chairman said the real meaning of the
resolution was that all most refuse to accept the
0,1, even if it wag °tiered to them, amt that cli
the works most receive notieo it the same time.