The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-01 00:00:00

THE IT:VILERS' STRIKE.

A. mass meeting cf the nsiitnakers of llalealwen
and the sub.dimtricts was held in the open air at
Halc3w.ven on Wednesday —Mr. hairs WlLLtams
said that only continued reducti ,ns had caused him
to take part in the strike. He trusted the misters
wonld soon con-ede the demands of the oparatieFa—
(A Vnice : "1 am sure they will"), Ho considered
the strike was a very good one when he remembered
the fact that it had only just started They were
not agressive ; but were striking for bread.—Mr.
lonia PRICE said the last general strike of nailers
was important, but this was more so. On the last
occasion they missed their way, and had to return
to work at the masters' terms, but circumstances
were now very different, and they were more deter-
mined, because repeated reductions had resulted in
nailers having to work at between 40 and 60 per
cent. lower than the proper prices. The present
movement was to make the future of the nailmeksrs
for, wretched and miserable as their condition was,
he was sure that unless they continued the action
they had commenced the floodgate of deeper misery
would be opened and Dower would be given to un-
principled masters.—lt was unanimously resolved to
adhere to the resolution carried on Monday as to the
terms they demanded.
A well-attended meeting of nailers was held in
the Cattle Market, Bromsg.rove, on Wednesday to
consider the desirability of joining in the strike com-
menced in the up-country districts. Mr. FREDERICK
%NG presided.—Mr. Mons NOKES said he had been
round to all the masters with a petifirm, asking for a
meeting of the masters to be held or 1 a. nayment of
the 1879 list of prices. They were willing to give it
but no one made a start. He believed Mr. Seroxton
had written to Mr. Ball asking him to convene a
meeting of the masters, but he had received no reply
—Mr. HADLEY, of Blackheath, who att..nded as a
deputation from the up-country, said the men in
that district had been struggling with the masters
for months, and one of them had said they would get
no higher wages until they showed a determination
to oppose the present prices. The strike in the up
country WAS commenced upon condition that the
Bromsgrove men should join in it, and if they refused
to do ea work would he resumed —After a few
remarkes from Mr. THOMAS CR WFORD it was re-
solved to strike at once for the 1879 list.—The
names of Messrs. Thomas Crawford, Joseph Nokee,
John Wheeler, and William Giles were added to the
committee, and Mr. Thomas Crawford was appointed
secretary for this districts.
An onen-air meeting of nailers of the "up country"
was held at Old Hill on Thursday, Mr. Hackett pre-
sided.

Mr. John Price, nailers' agent, said it had been
reported by a delegate who attended a meeting at
BromsgTove on the preceding day that a communi-
cation had passed between a Bromsgrove master and
Mr. Ball, late chairman of the Masters' Association,
and it was nrobable that a meeting of the masters
wc,uld shortly be call ,d to consider the dernanis of the
oneratives—(applause). Mr. Price stated that at
Halesowen, Lye Waste, Old Swinford, Sedgley,
Upper Gornal, Lower Gornal, Dudley, Netherton,
and other districts, the operatives were enthusiastic,
and expressed themselves as determined to continue
the strike until their demands were coneeded.
It was then resolved to continue the strike.
A meeting of nailers was held in the open air at
Blackheath on Thursday.
Mr. Price advised his hearers not to act as the
chainmakers had done. They had turned out in: a
body ; but when any individual master had offered to
pay the price demanded the men had gone to work,
and after the master had got a particular order coin-
pleted the old system of payment had been resorted
to. The result was that the operatives were in a
worse condition than ever, and had again to turn
out in a body, Throughout the district there were
1,000 tons of nails sent into the market weekly, so
that the operatives would have to hold out forla few
days. It was intended on the part of the delegates
to appoint a deputation to wait upon certain masters
to ask if they were willing to pay at the rate de-
manded. If they consented there would be a
masters' meeting called immediately. Bromsgrove
masters agreed with some of those of the "up district"
that the prices paid to nailers were not such as
would keep them from poverty, It was unanimously
resolved to continue the strike until the list de-
manded is established and recognised by the whole
of the masters.