The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-10 00:00:00

THE STRIKE IN THE NAIL TRADE.

On Monday morning a meeting of nailers was held in
the Cattle Market, Bromsgrove, and there was a good
attendance. Nothing fresh had transpired with respect
to the strike at Bromsgrove, and Mr. H. Cramp and
Mr. John Price, of Halesowen, who attended as a depu•
tation, reported that the strike in the Dudley, Hales-
owen, and Old Hill districts still continued, though
there were signs that a general concession would soon
be made by the masters. He stated that the strike was
the largest and most general ever known in that country.
Some of the masters had. offered an advance, and others
were buying the nails which a few weeks back the nailers
were unable to sell at any price, and were obliged to
keep them, at the price which was now asked for them.
Mr. Crump, who had visited the un-country districts
as a deputation from Brornsgrove, confirmed these state-
ments The letter of Mr. Ball in last Saturday's Post
was read, and it was decided to continue the strike until
a satisfactory settlement with the masters in all the dis-
tricts.

On Monday afternoon largely attended meeting of
the nailers now on strike in the Halesowen and Old
Hill district was held at Halesowen, when the men
unanimously resolved to " play " on until the masters
concede their demands.

On Monday night a mass open-air meeting was held
at the Cross, Old Hill, when addresses were delivered by
tlessrs. John Price and Joseph Hackett. The former
reported the result of his visit to Bromsgrove in the
former part of the day, and said that the operatives
were fully determined not to resume work until the
employers gave them the advanced list. The usual
resolution was then put, and carried most enthusiasti-
cally. . _

The :milers on strike held two very large meetings at
Gornal and Sedgley on Tuesday last, when they were
addressed by Mr. John Price, the president of the Nail-
forgers' Association, and other delegates. In reviewing
the position of the strtke, the speakers said there were
theering prospects of an early settlement, by the masters
conceding the reasonable demands of the operatives
:Applause.) Trade was evidently improving, and the
masters ought to give them back what they had taken
from them, although at the meeting of them about to
be held it was expected, that an attempt would be made
r.O offer the workers something considerably less than
%hat for which they were striking, aktch was for a scale
ia.sed on the 1875 list, less 10 per cent. They coun-
selled a continuance or the unanimity and firmness
litherto shown by the thousands now on strike, being
fully persuaded that they were about to achieve a
riumph, after being so miserably paid for a long period.
I:he meetings were cautioned against resuming work
intil the strike had been officially declared at an end,
even should the masters say they consented to give the
wages asked, as there might be a mistake, and thereby
much mischief would ensue if part went to work until
he whole matter was fully settled. He said it gave
lima great pleasure to inform, the nailers of that district
that throughout South Stafford hire and East Worcester-
shire the nailers were of one mind, viz., for refusing to
sork at the present prices. (Hear, hear.) The em-
„iluyers were going to have a meeting to consider the
que,tion, and in last Monday's Daily Gazette he noticed
it was to take place next Wednesday, but whenever the)
held it. or whatever they did, he felt sure the nailer,.
mild not come to any other terms than those he had
sooken of. (Hear, hear.)—Mr. Hackett also addressed
Lae meeting.—Resolutions to " play on " were passed ;
..,i1 it was agreed to adopt the precaution pointed
ad.

on Tuesday last meetings were subsequently held at
Dudley. Blackheath, and Rowley. whoa Arnilar resolu-
tout; wet e adopted to those passed at Gomel.
A meeting of employers in the nail trade was held on
Teursday l:st, at the Birmingham Cliamber of Corn.
merce, to consider the present dispute between tht
masters and operalives. Mr. Ephraim Ball presided;
tad there was a good attendance, the following eznongo
o:lier firms being represented :—Guest sad Co„
and Co., Eliza Tinsbi and Co., and Holt Brothers (al,
Dudle) ; Stephen Wilkes (Sedgley), Homes and Hick
ton and Kir:miter and Sons (lialesowen), Mountford
domer, and Mountford (Crsdley) ; S. Willett and Co
mild Swindell and Co. (Withymoor), li. Villetts (01:.
Perry and Brookes and S. Turner (the Lyr), T
itsw:iy (10.4,11. S,r.,xt”n nue Brookes. o:itiocii 1154
I y and Co., T Parry and Son. Perkins and Lawton, ap
El. Perry and Co. (Bromsgrove).—After considerabl..
liscussion it was unanimously resolved to appoint eight
•nasters to meet eight of the representatives of the
workmen on Tuesday next, August 13, at twelve o'clock,
t the Exchange Room, Birmingham, to frame an ad-
vanced new workmen's list of wages.
INTENDED STRIKE IN THE HORSE-
._ .