The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-09-18 00:00:00

IMPORTANT MEETING.

On Monday a meeting of nailers was held at
the Golden Cross, Old Hill. In consequence of
the inclement state of the weather, the formality
of voting a chairman was dispensed with, and
Mr. Price at once commenced to speak. He said
that he had fonnd that 43 nallinasters had signed
their names to gIVO the prices the men asked I
for, with some few exceptions of which he would
speAlt presently, and that there was only one
master in the trade, at Rowley, who had failed
to comply with these terms. He should be in
possession of the list on Wednesday next, when
he would bring it before them, and if it was eat-
isf actory to them then they might resume their
;labour. If not, the strike would be continued.
That maiming he bad to attend meetings in
Halesowen and Lye Waste, and on the following
Morning at Sedgley and Dudley, and at each
place he should read the list signed by the snag.
ters, so that one and all should know its full
meaning. He would now read to the meeting
I the Ilst signed by the 48 masters.
The following is a copy of the agreement
which has boon signed by the nailmaeters
We, the undersigned, pledge ourselves to
adhere strictly, without deduction or deviation
tu a net worko.s.. list of prices, based on the
workmen's hit. oi the 113th July, 1884. (The
I new list to be dated September 10th, 1889) ;
few deviations from the 1804 list to be as under
" Rivets, all sine up to a lab, a price squat*
10 per cent, reduction.
.'ltiveta above a 21b, a price equal to 15 pa
cent, reduction,
" Stitt' strong rose, 121 b lin,, 201 b 2in , 28%
3611 i Sin., 401 b 3in„ a special price, equal
I to 10 per cent. reduction.
I 0 Smaller else rose nails than a 121 b, the full
list price of 1804, what -,ver may be the length.
" Pose nails, the 1934 list for all sizes, fnll
lengths.
" The list to be distributed throughout the
trade, and one list to be placed in a conspicuous
place in each warehouse.
" We also agree that no nails be bought at a
less price than the regular trade list (dated as
above), under the pretence of their being of bad
quality ; but if not well made shall be returned
I to the workmen.

Any factor who disposes of his nails to any
other than a nailinaater in the trade will not,
upon any consideration whatever, be allowed to
take carria,ge trete the workmen."
Here fallow the signatures.
Mr. Price went on to say that he had called a
meeting of delegates of the spike branch, as it
would be seen that there was a reduction of
per bundle, to see if the men would accept the
same. If they would not agree to that he could
, not see how the strike was to be brought to a
close.
Mr. J. Hackett said the nailers were out, and
they ought to keep out till the whole trade had
heard the list read. They intended to do so at
Old Hill, at any rate, for it was only right to see
whether the spike.makers were willing to submit
to the reduction proposed.
Mr. Tibbetts expressed similar views.
Mr. Price said that, in concluding the meet-
ing, he had a very important matter to mention
to them in regard to the new list. The result
of the masters signing it was that if any of them
(the roasters) should fail to fulfil what was there.
in stated, any man had power to take that mas-
ter before the Magistrates, and compel him to
abide by its emidititions, besides making him
pay all costs. Tne masters, too, had a similar
hold upon the men.
A meeting was held later in the day, at Hales.
owen, when the same sentiments were given
expression to.

THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING.
On Wednesday forenoon, a large number of
notices, of both sexes, met at Islington, Hales.
owe.n, and having formed in procession, marched
through the principal streets of the borough to
the parish church, where a thanksgh ing service
was held, in consequenee of the happy terrnina.
lion of the strike. There would be about 1,000
persons preeeilt, a large number of whom were
women, Prayers were road by the Hon. and
, Rev. llouverie. curate ; and the sermon was
1 peearbed by the Yen. Archdeacon Hone, rector
lof Hatesowen. The text was taken from the
ITU chap, of let Corinthians, the gtlth verse :
tt And whether one member Rulers, all members
suffer with it, or one member be honoured, all
members rejoice with it." The Ven. Archdeacon
want on to say that he believed the day might
be regarded sfllollg them as a day of good tid.
inge ; and they bad done well to desire to lisem•
ble together in the house of Almighty Cod, to
manifest towards Hint their thankfulness for the
mercy vouchsafed towards them at that time.
Looking back a little time in that place he could
remember that many of those present had been
called upon to go through a great many trials,
and many of them had even had to feel, both in
their own persons and in their families, what it
was to want a sufficient supply of wholesome
food. He was sure that many had suffered with
them, and felt deeply for them in these circum-
stances. There were the tradesmen, for instance,
who had suffered with them. Many of them
had given to persons whom they believed they
could trust the necessities of life, and he hoped
that it would not be a matter of complaint
among tradesmen, now that better times were
come, that those whom they had trusted made
no effort to pay them. It had been so before,
but he hoped nothing of that kind would be
heard this time. Many of the straightforward
masters, too, had suffered with them, and he
urged upon them not to encourage those who
carried on the truok system, and who asked them
to take goods Lf a bad quality at a high price and
of short weight instead of wages for their work.
It was that system which tended to lower their
wages, and which led to these unhappy strikes.
After dwelling at some length on other matters
having reference to the circumstances of the
congregation, the Ven. Archdeacon concluded
his discourse by pointing out the spiritual bear-
ings of he text, and the duties it imposed on
professing, Christians.

On Wednesday morning iron was given out at
nearly every warehouse in the parish of Rowley.
In accordance with the promise made on Mon.
day, iron was also given out on Wednesday, at
the advance of 3d per thousand, by Mr. S. Lewis,
of Withymoor. Most of the men commenced
work at once.