The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-20 00:00:00

CRADLEY,

FATAL ACCIDENT TO A CARTEL—A fatal accident
occurred on Saturday last to George Barnes (35), in the
employ of Mr. S. Leonard. He fell from a cart,
was kicked by the horse, and died very shot:ly after-
wards.

THE STRIKE IN THE NAIL TRADE.
A mass open-air meeting of nailmakers now on strike
in the Halesowen and Old Hill districts was held on
Monday evening last, at the Crass, Old Hill.
M. John Price presided, and stated that at a meeting
held that morning, and attended by delegates from the
various places where the tellers were on strike, it was
unanimously agreed that all the nailmakers should turn
out for a list to be framed at the rate of 10 per cent, re-
duction from the list of 1875. Some of them might not
agree with the steps the delegates had taken, but the
list they proposed would amount to an increase of 20
per cent. upon most of their wages at the present time.
(Hear, hear.) The reduction caused by the lists recently
issued by the masters varied from 40 per cent, from the
list of 1875, and some of the masters had even paid their
men 71 per cent. below that list. (Shame.) It was
urged that care should be exercised, and that they
should ask for an advance of 10 per cent. upon the list
issued recently, which would be 10 per cent. less than
they were now demanding. But such a coarse would
not satisfy the whole of the men. He pointed out that
whilst the thousand makers might accept a 10 per cent.
advance upon the present lists, it would not meet with
the approbation of the spikemakers, who had been
reduced from is 64 to 101 d per bundle of 561 b. The
advance of 10 per cent, would only raise them from 101 d
to Hid. He felt sure that the 41n. spikemakers would
also resist such a course. He was convinced that the
body of the men would not accept such terms. (Hear,
hear.) At Balesowen the men had all turned out, an I
were eager for the strike, He believed the present
strike would be one of the shortest, and at the same
time one of the most successful strikes they had ever
known. He considered their demands reasonable, and
he believed there would be no difficulty in inducing
the masters to concede them. (Cheers.) The men at
Bramsgrove had postponed the strike until next Monday,
to see if some arrangement could be made with the
masters in the meantime. He hoped. however, the
Bromsgrove men would join them, and assist in attain-
ing their object.

Mr. Hackett reported that he had attended a meeting
at Bromsgrove, and informed the men that if they
would turn out there would be from 18,000 to 20,000
nailers out on strike before Saturday. He found
that the Bromsgrove men had been round to the masters
to try and effect a compromise, and they wanted the
men in the Old Hill district to follow their example.
He was determined not to go to see the masters for the
paltry sum of 10 per cent, advance upon the present
list, as was proposed by the Bromsgrove men. (Hear
hear.) The Bronisgrove nailers would not strike un ti
next Monday, if they did then.
Other speakers having addressed the meeting, a reso-
lution was unanimously adopted expresing determination
not to resume work until a list based upon a 10 per cent.
reduction from the list of 1875 was conceded by the
masters.

Similar resolutions were passed at meetings held at
Halesowen, Gorsty Hill, Blackheath, Long Lane, Row-
ley, Scc.
On '1 uesday last it was resolved, at meetings held at
Upper and Lower Gornal, Sedgley, Dudley, Lye Waste,
and Oldswinford, "That the milers now on strike do
not resume work until the masters revise the list on the
basis of alO per cent. reduction on the 1875 list." At
each of these meetings Mr. John Price urged those pre.
sent to continue on strike till the masters conceded their
terms. In the strike districts the usual concomitants
of a strike are everywhere visible. The masters state
that the nail trade at the present time is in such a
depressed state that it is impossible for them to accede
in the slightest degree to the wishes of their work
people; if they were to do so it would be simply ruin to
thsmselves. The only hope the men hid of obtaining
better wages was by continuing at work at the old rate
till an improvement took place in the trade. The labour
representatives state that at the present rate of wages
they are unable to obtain an honest livelihood, in fact
it is labour in vain for them to •‘ take out" iron, the
remuneration is so small. There is every appearance at
present of a protracted contest between capital and
labour, as the masters are determin.A not to give in, nor
the nuilers to return to work. _

On Tuesday a very large meeting of nailers was held
in the Bull Ring, Sedgley, when representatives of all
the adjoining districts were present.
Mr. John Price (the Chairman of the Nailforgers'
Association) addressed the meeting at some length, and
explained that the object of the gathering was to come
to a decision as to what should be done to regain proper
wages for their hazd toil. He spoke of the many heavy
reductions which had been made in the wages of the
nailers. until they were now working at starvation rates,
at which it was impossible to continue. (Hear, hear,)
They had now come to the conclusion tint there was
nothing left tr them but to strike at once and remain
oat until they got what was right. He pointed out that
the present wages were at least 30 per cent. less than
formerly.
Mr. J. Marson also spoke to the like effect.
In the end a resolution was arrived at to strike for the
1875 scale of wages, less 10 per cent.
The nailers were advised to remain firm and be united,
and then they would certainly get all they asked in a
short time. Work has entirely ceased.