The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-06-21 00:00:00

THE GLASS•MAKERS AND CUTTERS' PIC-NIC.

To the Editor of the " Observer."

Sir,—We noticed in the contemporsry of last Satur-
day's County Epress, a very queer letter on " The com-
ing Fetes," by a P.D.C.R. A letter more destitute of
fact and vague statements we scarcely ever read, but
whether it be an artifice to mislead the public and there-
by injure a respectable and industrious body of this
locality, whose sole aim in their present endeavour. is
to ameliorate the condition of their more unfortunate
fellow-workmen ; or whether it be written in total ignor-
ance of the position he assumes we are st • loss to know,
and for these reasons forbear to reproach or treat with
contempt his unfouoded assertions. But out of self-
respect and to do justice to the orders we represent, we
beg te explain that the Glass Makers' and Cutters' Pic-
Nit's have been before the public for the last 16th years,
and as a means to relieve our distressed members, the
old and infirm, the widow and the orphan they have
done an incalculable amount of good. They have also
been the means of creating • kindly feeling between
us as working-men and establishing • better under-
standing between us and our employers, from the latter
we are proud to say that we have on all such occasions
received willing and valuable assistants. And from the
character of the entertainments provided, the public
always seem satisfied, they patronize them well and
always appear delighted to learn that a Pic-nlc is going
to be held.
We have whilst trying to improve our position not
overlooked the interest of others. We have always
been ready both by personal aid and counsel when
sought for, to render all the support we possibly could
and are still prepared to give help where help is re-
quired. In supporting our statement we hope we shall
be excused (in making our proposition clear) by those
Institutions who have benefited by our support. In
1857 the committee for the Reading Room, Wordsley,
held a Pic-nic in Prestwood Park, which was supported
by the Glass Trade walking in procession, for which
the trade received the thanks of the committee and was
a great success. The next wee about the year 1858 for
the benefit of the Stourbridge Working-mans and
Mechanics' Institute. The trade again marched in pro-
cession from Stourbridge to Higley Park, which was
a grand success and again receiving the thanks of the
committee for their support. Again in 1872, the Glass
Trade brought the whole of its experience and influence
to make the Odd-Felliws' a success the result is well
known. Again in the same year (1872). the Glass Trade
gave their assistance a second time for the benefit of
the Wordsley Institute, the members walking in pro-
cession from Wordley to Prestwood Park, so whatever
motive your correspondent may have in writing about
" playing fair," and "live and let live," impartial minds
will be able to judge from the above abridged facts that
selfishness forms no part in our past programme nor is
it intended to do in the Mute.

. ...dement that appears to aa worthy of
no aradiction in P.D.O R's letter is where he
ventures to assist (without giving proof or data) that a
'treaty or kind of understanding" was entered into
between Foresters, Odd-Fellows, Glass Makers and
Cutters', to hold Pie-nie's alternately. But for the
better digestion of this reckless and unfounded suertion
by the members of the respective bodies we will quo.
in full, he says,—" 80018 time ago the thinking porno,
of the members (of the above orders) came to a ' kind
of understanding' that each one had an equal claim upon
the publie for support at these Fetes, Intl that it wield
not be wise policy to have two in one year, that each
one of the three should take it In turn." To form Una
" treaty 1 or " bind of understanding" as our friend is
pleased to call it, he must allow that negotiation wutdd
B. necessary, that • meeting of the respective bodies to
consider the proposed " treaty" must take place, that
representatives must be elected, • special meeting
called, a discussion of course would follow, a resolution
one would suppose would be formslly and legally drawn
up and forwarded to each of the bodies represeuted,
Perhaps all this wu done and the resolution to the
Glass trade got miscarried, or our representative to the
meeting as become • Pic-nic Rip-van-winkle gone to
sleep since the passing of the " treaty or kind of under-
standing," for be hu not awoke yet. But surely we are
not all Rip-van-winkles and if ever such a "treaty or
kind of understanding' was entered into they could not
, all have fallen asleep, someone must remember it and
certainly some record kept of it somewhere. The Ohm
Makers and Cutters' both as a Pic-nie Committee of 16
years experience, and as • Unity totally deny ever being
called upon to enter into such an arrangement, that no
such an arrangement has ever been entered into betwees
them and have not the remotest idea of such a "treaty
or kind of understanding" being in existence, and pro.
test against the insinuated breach being foisted upon
them. If any member has presumed to elect himself
and led the Foresters into this belief we are very sorry,
and he alone must bear the responsibility of wrong-
doing and not the trade.
We have in the interest of truth and justice and on
the principle of " fair-play " to the orders we represent
to respectfully ask P.D.C.R., to supply the date and
place where this" treaty and kind of understanding "vie
made? The name of the chairman of the meeting sad
the representatives that attended the meeting ? We
give our friend better credit than to suppose that he
intends to injure a cause, or mirsepresent as be admits
an "influential body of men"; but we think after such
an assertion as been made public that oar questions see
quite in place ought to be answered, or some further
explanation given.
Supposing the arrangement reterredto. to be correct,
we question the wisdom and the fairness of the idea of
confining a whole season to one Plc-mule. Our experience
is all on the other side and say that daring the summer
months with the present prosperity of trade, the fecility
afforded by Railway to visit strange places, the eagerness
elways displayed by the public to resort to public
holidays and pleasure parties on fine days, is fully borne
out by the recent holidays. Our last fete at the Reath
Perk and the Agricultural Show, in this town of the
same year, and which proved a fine success. The idea
from present surroundings cannot be defended and of
course it is not worth entertaining. And we hold that
if these festivities were to be wisely considered by the
respective orders before referred to, that they could be
made a source of pleasure and profit to the locality,
and by good taste and proper arrangement of dates end
plaice there would be ample room for two each season,
if not more, for we must naturally conclude that if
wholesome and occasional out-door recreation be not
provided for the working-classes of this locality and at
moderate rate, they will go elsewhere to seek it, and the
organised societies of this district and the neighbour.
hood will suffer by the neglect.
Wishing success to the" Coming Fetes,"
We remain, yours respectfully, sad on behalf of the
Committee.