The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-01-13 00:00:00

wise than in the current coin of the realm.—
Bradley and Hill, who were called to be witnesses
for the prosecution, had to be pressed- for their
evidence, and were treated as a lverse witnesses
They denied sta'ements which' it was al ee,e.l had
been written down as they made tkAzon, and to
which they had put their marks of signature.
They admitted working for the defendant and
also said that they received cash for their work.
They further admitted that they had had some
conversation with defendant and his solicitor. Mr.
Williams the secretary, and -Daniel Cartwright,
of Dudley Road, Lye, dep .sod that they had an
interview w•th Braley, when be made the follow-
ing statetnent, which was written down by
Williams :—"I began to work for Mr. Kilson
about a fortnight after Easter, 1882. I have been
working for him upwards of 6 months, and during
the whole of the time I never received any money
for the wok I did for him, and even when my
score for ale and provisions have• exceeded what
my work came to, I have brought money, which I
got from my son, to pay up th difference."
Wilitanas, Cartwright and Bashfield deposed to a
statement made by Hill. It was to the effect that
on the 7th of Nov. he took 91bs of nails to the de-
fendant, and had ale in payment for them .—The
cases were adjourned until Tuesday week.
BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—TIIO usual meeting of
this board woo held yesterday. Mr. Raybould in
the chair. A.dmitted 12, discharge i 15, dead 1,
543 against 560. Relief, Kingswinferd, .239 Bs. Ocl.,
Stourbridge .231 ls. 7d., lialesowcn £23 9s. 8.3.,
non-residents 17s. Bd., £94 16sald against £9l 15s.
sd.

souru STAFFORDSHIRE AND EAST WOR-
CESTERSHIRE TRADE 3 COUNCIL.

The meeting of the ahove body was held at the
New Inn, Lye, on Saturday last, Mr. Ilusielhoe in
chair.

The Chairman said the secretaly (Mr. Williams)
invi written to Mr. Broacthurst with reg ird to t
subject of hmale labO•tr in the district, and in
rerly Mr. tiradhurst had asked him to supply the
committee with a statement of the facts re4,rding
what now took place. _ _

The Secretary- said as the chainnaakers were re-
pr,sent.2d there, it would be well if they stated how
far the assertions as to the employment of km kle
labour were borne (mt. There had been a na.43ting
at Cridley Heath, at which a resolution was passed
disapproving of the action ol the Walsall Associa-
tion in condemning female labour, and inviting the
member for Dudley to visit the district and see it
matters were in such a disgraceful state in conse-
qu,nce of the employers of female labour, as had
been alleged. A resolution was also carried at the
same meeting, on the motion of a female, that
females do not work longer hours after the 15th
instant than from 7 a,in. to 7 p m.
The Chairman said he ‘‘ as struck with the wide
difference in the statements made at Walstl and
Cradley, but the agitation at Walsall was already
bearing same frui's in leading the women to frame
a resolution not to work earlier than seven in the
morning and after seven at night.
Mr. Pumice said the ohject of the Walsall meet-
ing was not to abolish female labour altogether,
and the Council never entertained the idea that the
time had arrived when it could be done. Great
abuses followed from females working so late at
night as they now did, amid he himself had seen
chill working up to eleven o'clock at night. The
women too, made chain of a size which was de-
trimental to their health.

The Chairman moved a resolution that the society
send the Parliamentary Committee the particulars
asked for as to labour. Mr. Price (of the Nail
makers' Association) explained his reasons for
taking part in the Walsall meeting, and said he
thought the time had come when females should be
prevented working at labour which was hurtful to
them. The time had not come for abolishing
female labour, but it was important that restric-
tions should be vut upon it to prev.-nt the physical
evil to the women themselves which now occurred.
Mr. Parsons thought there had been some mis-
understanding as to what Mr. Juggins had intended
to convey at the meeting referred to. Mr Parsons
stated that he had seen women carrying a hundred-
weight of iron on their shoulder, and in one instance
a roman wheeling two to three hundred .eight of
chain, and when be remonstrated with her, she said
she was obliged to do it. It was time there was
legislation which would protect the sex. The chair-
man's_re olution was carried.

Mr :Holmes (tailors society) m.ved, "That this
Pneeting impresses upon the operative ot the &tick
i;ou .try the advisability of taking irrew er iiterest
in local matters by interveiiing representa-
tives soliciting their votes, and assuring themselv,
that they are pleged tosupport movements in favour
of the working classes." This was seconded and
carried.

Mr. Packwood (clasmnakers' society) moved,
"That this Council view with pleasure the appoint-
ment of Mr. Councqlor W. J. Davis as one of her
Majesty's factory inspectors, fully believing that al,
addittional number is necessary.to give effect to the
Factory Acts, more especially in certain districts in
the Black country" Mr. Packwood expressed his
pleasure that a man of their own class had risen to
the position Mr. Davis now held. The resolution
was carried.
With regard to the question of female labour. a
res lotion was pas-ed inviting Mr. H. B. Sheridan.
M.P., to invest Late the subjthit of female labour in
the district; and it was subsequently agreed to in
vite Mr. Broadhurst also and Mir. G. W. Hastings
(one of the members for East Worcestershire) to
take part in the pr,ceedings.
The Secretory stated what was being done with
regard to the truck system, and mentioned that
there were cases which would be brought before the
Halesowen and Stourbridge districts Ile read a
at tomcat giving some very flagrant instances of the
abuses .which arose under the truck system.
The accession of several fresh societies to the
associ tim was notified.

Mr. Eickwoorl drew attention to the early closing
movement at Stourbridgc' and a resolution was
passed sympathising with it.