The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-10-23 00:00:00

CONFERENCE OF MINERS.

The adjourned meetintr of miners took place at Mr.
Joseph Weston's, New lan, Brierlcy Bill. on Monday
last. Mr. Breaker!! was chairman, and Mr. Hickman
vice.chsirmAll.

In openinv. the proceedings, the President woke at
congiderable length. At the conclusion of his speech,
the Secretary wa• called upon to read the replies of was-
ters to the requests itrole et the last Conference
..•. . . .

The only letter. which ha 4 been receive 4 were from
Mr. Thorneyeroft. Mr. Hartley, and Mr. Timinin,. That
.4 the former (which was similar in effect to the others)
was as follows:

"Bradley Colliery. near Bilston, Oct 1, 1869.
'• Mr. JIIIIII,I Wall6.—Sit—The contents of your circular
were fully discuseied yesterday at the meeting at Bir-
mingham, where most of the iriminastere and coalmen..
tern of the district attended. and it wax the decided
opioion of those present, that at this tinie the trails stilt
continues in an unsatisfaetory state, and there is nothing
to warrant any alteration being made either in the iron-
workers' iir miners' wages. Hit lug that trade may 6000
revive, and so benefit men and masters,
" lielitve tue to remain. yours very truly,
"T. TIIOI(NEVCR.FT."
After the rending of the correspondence, Mr. Pickard
(a delegate from Lancashire) remarked that the tenour of
it was unsatisfactory, and not so favourable as anticipa-
ted : and, he said, it was in keeping with that received
in Lancashire. All the masters there, except one, had
stated that under esiating eirenm.tanees they were not
prepared to grant the demanda of the nmi. Mr. Pickard
addressed the meeting upon various subjects connected
with mining operationa, and a vote of thanks was after•
wards passed to him for the useful informatiou he had
afforded.

The Preaident then milled upon Mr. LeVi Brittain to
report the minnow; of his agitation among miners in the
varioua towns of the diatriet. lieiinid that in everyplace
he had viaited the moo were greatly in favour of a united
and national amalgamation that v fillet they were not
desirous of interfering with the (location of avagat. they
were strongly in favour of • reduction in the hours of
labour. The men were rife for a powerful coinLimition
—(bear, hoar).

A resi.lutinn was passed expressing sstistsetion st
result of Mr. Rritisin's Ishoors. .

One of the Delegates thought that the master.' reply
whloh wt, haeeQiv«ri above treated the men with contempt,
and he thought a rectlatieu should to passed expressing
diaaatiafaction. This was not done, however, anti another
Delegate then oropooal that a deputation should be au.
pole tat to wait upon the masterm to urge upon them the
deximhility of adopting the short-floor system. It was
agreed that Mr. Fredei ick Smith should be first waited
upon, it being understood that he was the chairman of
the Board of the coo! trade, and would call the masters
together to discuqa the matter.

The question regarding the education of miners' chil-
dren was then considered, and the Rev. Mr. Sardford,
who attended in the afternoon, eddreused the meefieg.
He remarked that the question of education amenutt
miners' children was one which had oecopied his anxious
attention. He alluded to the plans which have been sog-
Rested for securing education amongst the mining popu-
lation. One of these was that five or six hours' education
weekly should be secured to miners up to the age of six-
teen by their hours of labour being reduced to ten hoots,
and they being allowed to work only from six to four
o'clock, thus giving them time efterwards for receiving
instruction; but education could not be eatisfactorily
carried out so long as the present long hours of labour
continued legal. Another plan was that children between
i the ages of twelve arid fourteen should work and receive
education on alternate days, that is, boys should go to
school every other day: and a third plan was suggested
by Lord Rich°, that six hours' schooling a week should
be provided. He attended that ineetitig not to advocate
either of the plans, but to learn the views of the confer- "
ence.
Mr. Pickard made come lengthened observations on the
subject; and then Mr. Levi Brittain proposed that bora
should not be permitted to work until after the age of 12,
and that they should Cease working at four o'clock every
day, and that they be compelled to go to school one hour
a day until they are It years of age.
Mr. Hickman seconded the motion, and it was unani-
mously carried.
The opinion was afterwards expressed that a comPul-
• " • ' • • '

sory scheme should be adopted, to secure the education
of the children of miners from the ages of six until 1.2,
and that it should be provided by a national rate.
A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Sandford for his
attendance.

The Rev. gentleman responded, and intimated that
Lord Lichfield would like to hear their opinion on the
educational question, if a meeting could be appointed;
and it was understood that such a meeting would be
called at a future time. .

------
The third glicstion on the programme was that of the
miners' field pay.
A Delegate proposed that the masters should present
a balance-sheet to the miners eiery twelve months, such
sheet to show the income and expenditure.
_ . .

Mr. B ittain said if the mover ineaut that Government
was to compel masters to give such sheet he would vote
for it. .

The Chairman said the a.ct about to be brought before
Parliament contained a clause making it compulsory un
the part of the masters to present such balance-sheet.
The meeting thought that in the face f that they
should shnw Parliament they desired it, and the motion
was carried unanimously.
The question of the Hartley &len re was the next con-
sidered, and the meeting was congratulated upon the up•
parent settlen.ent of the question. It was determined
that every man in the district should subscribe 6d to the
fund, and every boy 3d.
Votes of thanks were passed to Mr. F. Smith, Mr. J.
P. Baker, Goverunient. Inspector, and Mr. Tally for their
kindness and advocacy.
Mr. William Jeffries was appointed treasurer tin the
Men's Fund. . _

_
The final question was, "The utility of the amalgama-
tion of the miners of Great Britain."
It was agreed that the agitation to bring about the
amalgamation of the miners should be carried on. After
the reading of the balance-sheet, showing the expenditure
of the last fourpenny levy, another levy of fourpence was
determined upon.
The Conference was then adjourned for • month, tLe
place fixed for the merting loon 4 Oldbury.

Printed and Pohliirhed by the Ste Proprietor. SIMEON
FIELD. at Lia Maces. 92, High-street, Stour-tints'.
the County or Worceeter to which place all lettere and
ntrier comumnrcatious Innet be addressed.
Eat triraY, October n, 19e9.