The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-09 00:00:00

MRS. GLADSTONE AND THE UNEM-
PLOYED.

,1 A breakfast was given on Tuesday to about 300
unemployed dock labourers in the Congregational
Mission Hall, Old Gravel-lane, Wapping. This was
one of a series of similar repasts given under the
auspices of the London Congregational Union, and
was provided by Mrs. Gladstone, who was present
with her daughter. Other ladies and gentlemen on
the platform were the Marquis of Lorne, Lord
Brabazon, Mr. C. Balfour, Lady Frances Balfour,
Mr. C. Flower, M.P., Canon Mac Coll, the Rev. A.
Mearns, Mr. Arnold White—who has taken a pro-
minent part in the organisation of these breakfasts
—and the Rev. S. Reany, who occupied the
chair. The meal—which consisted of bread, meat,
and coffee—having been concluded, the Marquis
of Lorne addressed the gathering. Speaking
of emigration, he said that the depression
in trade felt so keenly in England was felt also all
over the world, and it was therefore necessary for
them to look before they leapt, and ascertain before
going to any colony whether that colony was able to
provide employment for them. Australia was of
course open for emigrants all through the year, but
it was now too late for going to Canada this year.
He intimated that a result of the talk about the
federation of the emigration societies would be the
formation of a central intelligence department, to
which authentic information about the requirements
of the different portions of the colonies would be sent.
Mr. Arnold White spoke briefly of the evils of intem-
perance and adulteration, after which the Rev. A.
Mearns gave some information as to the emigration
movement which has been associated with these
breakfasts. Twenty-two men had been sent away,
and fifty more were ready to go. But the funds had
about given out; as each emigrant cost £lO.
Not only was the emigrant's ou'.fit and passage
money provided, but something was placed in his
hand at the end of the voyage. A friend also met
him, and work was found for him ready to go to
immediately upon his arrival. This morning, at the
gates above the docks, only one out of every five of
the casual hands were selected for work; that was to
say, 400 men were turned away without work, and
readily travelled two miles for the sake of getting a
breakfast such as was provided there. A number of
men had to be turned away unfed this morning. Out
of 20 men who had signified their willingness to
emigrate, it had been decided that only one was fit to
be sent. Out of the 300 men present this morning it
was ascertained that 90 were married, 82 were under
35 years of age, 49 had had more than four children
in family, 33 had slept out at least one night during
the past week, 33 had been in the army or navy, and
85 were willing to emigrate_ Mrs. Gladstone then
addressed a few words to those present, the earnest-
ness of her manner being extremely touching.
She said she was no speaker, but her
heart was moved to tell them how happy
she was to be there in that hall. She felt the
deepest sympathy with them in their troubles, because
she knew that in many casea it was not their fault that
they were poor and had no work. She had come
there, as others had come, anxious to help them, not
as a matter of charity, but in the spirit of self-help.
She was sorry she could not have been early enough
to as3ist in serving the breakfast, but her daughter
had been there, and she had probably done better than
she herself would have done. She repeated the ex-
pression of her happiness in meeting them and her
anxiety to assist them, said they were heartily wel-
come to the meal they had just consumed, and, in
conclusion, prayed God to help them, and also to
induce their fellow-men and women to help them too.
Canon Mac Coll and Lord Brabazon afterwards spoke,
the later remarking that at the present time there
was more sympathy between rich and poor then there
had ever been before. The proceedings were through-
out of a most enthusiastic character.