The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-25 00:00:00

THE NEW BRITISH 11/ 1N COMPANY AND

THEIR COLLIERS.

The miners of Old Hill district have issued a.
manifesto appealing for aid, and stating that for
Upwards of two years the men under the New
British Iron Company, "not to mention other
firms," have been on short work, and that from
three weeks before Christmas the pita were al-
together closed. They add, "such is the state of
trade in this district that we have but little hope
of commencing work for sometime' hence;" and in
asking for assistance for those who "are literally
starving fer lack of bread." They acknowledge
that they have no claim on the fellow mines as
their want is not reduced by a strike or lock-out,
but by the general closing of the pita. They plead,
however, the stronger claim of humanity. The
difference, with the New British Iron Company has
arisen, the men assert, out of a desire on the part
of the company to effect an alteration in the work-
ing hours. The company employ about 500 men at
their different collieries, and of these all except
those employed at the Wagon pits were discharged
on fourteen days' notice three weeks before Christ-
mas. Those at the Wagon Colliery, where (the
coal being brooch) most of the fire-coal is raised,
and none for smelting purposes, remained at work
a fortnight longer, when they were also discharged
No reason was assigned for this general dismissal,
and it was popularly ascribed to the bad state of
trade. On Monday, however, the under managers
at most of the pits sent for the men or their re-
presentatives, and at an interview explained to
them (as all the men distinctly assert) that work
was to be had when they chose, but only on the
condition of working an extra hour, with the re-
compense of an extra shilling a day. Learning this,
which if really intended by the company, would be
equivalent to a breach of the Birmingham agree-
ment as to three months' notice being required
before any alteration of hours, the men decided to
call a meeting, which was held on Tuesday, at the
Duke William Inn, Old Hill. 4 Working Man
presided, and there were present the miners' agents
from Brierley Hill (Mr. Watts), Old Hill (Mr.
Breakwell), and Dudley (Mr. Brittain). The room
was crowded to excess, and the meeting was one of
the largest ever held in the neighbourhood. The
circumstances above recounted were explained, and
t was decided to appoiut a deputation, consisting
of the three agents and three titiners, to wait upon
the head officials and ascertain definitely what they
proposed doing. Later in the day the deputation
waited upon Mr. Kean, the company's certificated
colliery manager, Mr. Hunt (their head manager)
being absent. It is understood that Mr. Kean
denied that the under managers bad had authority
in offering work at the extra hour, and that he led
the deputation to understand there must be a
h au ire, without saying in whet direction, His

complaint is that under the present system the
Cocn iegre do not raise Sufficient coal to supply the
riesaves Ironworks of the company.
Under the above circumstances on IWednesda,y
ol lr
night a crowded meeting of miners was held at
the Duke William Inn, Old Hill, to receive and
consider the report of the deputation appointed to
to wait on the officials of the New British Iron
Company.
Mr JAMES TomuNsort, who occupied the chair,
commented on the serious importance of the
question which had arisen. The company had kept
600 or W 3 men out of work for
ently with the object of introduci six weeks appar-
ng longer hours-
Mr. BREAIMELL (miners' agent) addressed the.
meeting at length. He said they were at first
uncertain what was the cause of the difficulty
between them and the employers, but it had now
transpired that the question was that of the work-
ing time, and it appeared it was the old battle of
the eight-hours system in which they had to
oontend. Mr. Hunt and his manager had before
given them intimation that they desired an exten-
sion of time, and he supposed they gave instructions
to the under-managers to call the men together,
when they told them (according to the statements
of the men) that they could only go to work again
on the nine-hours system instead of the eight hours
with 6d, a day extra pay. The speaker then
proceeded to relate the circumstances of the inter-
view he and the other members of the deputation
appointed at Tuesday's meeting had with Mr.
Keen, the certificatd manager under the company
Mr. Kean distinctly said that the undernaanagers
who coiled the men together and offered the
extension of hours, did it without his authority,
or that of Mr. Hunt. He also told the men that the
old "ten foot" stint was entirely done with, and
there must be an alteration, as at present the
collieries did not raise sufficient coal for the works
and the company had had to buy coal. He (the
spcaker) suggested that the miners should work
a double shift, and Mr. Kean said he did not think
that would answer. He said distinctlyia change
must be made, and they had to infer what'sort of
a ()hinge he meant: 'As te these statements of Mr.
Kean the speaker' said -he could not understand
that the under-managers would dare to venture to
411 11l the men together and; offer terms to them
without authority, The terms he observed were
the same as those offered some time ago at the
Dudley Arms Hotel. As to the "change" which
was to be made, he remarked .that changes were,
as a rule, not for the benefit of the workmen. They
had themselves to look to their interests and
prevent encroachment such as was certainly
intended in the present instance. In conclusion, he
strongly urged determination to keep to the eight.
hours' principle.
Mr. WX&ELER said the company 'turned the men
out on notice, and then said if the men would
volunteer to work nine hours they would not stop
them. Thus they did not actually break the
Birmingham agreement by enforcing altered hours
of working, but they "walked round it."—A. reso-
lution was moved to canvass the miners in oar,r
districts to support those out of work in Old Hill
district.—This was carried.—A. second • resolution
was also unanimously adopted to the effect that
"We do not accept of any extension of time or any
alteration whatever in stint or hours, suffer what
we may."