The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-05-19 00:00:00

THE SPIKE-NAIL TRADE

CONFERENCE AT OLD HILL.

On Monday afternoon a conference of employers
and workmen engaged in the spike-nail trade in
the East Wor estershire and South Staffordshire
districts was held in the Trinity Hall, Old Hill, for
the purpose of discussing the arrangement of a list
of prices for the trade, both in the factory and
workshop; also to consider he desirability of limit-
ing the number of hours of employment, the dis-
continuance of employment of female labour in the
trade, especially of married women, and other
matters relating to the making of tools, the pay-
ment for carriage, and the truoking. The folbwing
firms were represented 1— Messre. E. Tinsley and
Co., S. Wilke l (Sedgley), Messrs. Shaw a-id Co.
(Birmingham). Swindell and Co., Messrs. Walker,
Messrs, B. Fr est and Sons, Messrs, Homer and Co.,
Counop Bros., and Messrs Davis and T. Williams.
Teere were present, on behalf of the operatives,
Messrs It. Jug,rins (Darlaston), Joseph Hig•eins,
Alfred Naylor, George Haywood (Sedglay), William
Price, henry Cole. J. Hardwick, an A. Wilmott
(Halesowen). Mr. G. Green, who was voted to
the chair, explai%ed what was done at the previous;
meeting, and remarked that it was acknowledged
then that the working men were getting Kicl.
prices thst they ought not to work at, and the em-
ployers showed a di4position to concede a higher
rate of %ages. The masters complained that when
the wages had been advanced before the workmen
had commenced Co to take the orders out at lower
rates, which had the effect of bringing the prices
down again. Consequently, some of the employers
felt incined to &soak of ever succeeding in ma'n
taiuing the prices. His idea was that the movement
for an advance of wages come to them through the
large shopmen or factory holders over at Sedgley,
and that they were working with their own work-
people, and that all they (the masters) had to do
was to advance the price per cwt. for spikes and
nails, and that they would divide it fairly between
their "headers" and "pointers." That was accepted,
and a new list was to be made out by Mr. Jugging
and brought before the workpeople. Now however,
they f und a different state of things. He did not
expect that the workpeople would attend that con-
ference, as they had in large numbers. It was under-
stood that the negotiative were to be with the
factory holders.
_ _

Mr,-Ju.gins said he thoroughly understood that
it was to be a representative meeting, and that they
were to prepare a list which would be an advantage
to the trade, for the benefit of both the masters and
workmen. It was admitted by the few masters who
were pres,ert at the previous meeting that the
wages of the operatives were too low He thought
bete masters and men were agreed upon that poi t
and that there was no advantage to be derived
either by masters or men where the wages were
below living pint. Their contention as to the spike.
nail trade being chiefly heevy work cer: airily called
fer the serious consideration of the masters. They
had prepared a list, and they believed it was a very
fair one. He might tell he meeting that some of
the operatives, particularly those in the Sedgley
district, did not think it was a fair one, as thny
had an idea that the representatives of the work-
people had not asked for enough. They thought
that the state of the trade would warrant even a
larger increase than th•-y had claimed. Some • f the
Sedgley employers admitted hat they were entitlso
to a greater advance.
The Chairman said it was only for odd work.
Mr. Juwgins said they ha I adoeted the sugeestion
of the masters at the last meeting by dividing the
" beading " and " poiuting." Ile strongly recein-
Inenlld that any list famed for the future govern-
erent o! the trade shotal be made by both si es.
Tn. Chairman temat 'red that the "headers" and
" pointers " had been at the mercy of their masters
as to what they should get, and he thought their
prices should be in theist.

Mr Williams said there was au undersLnding
that t},e;e should be a meetiog of inworlivis and
out workers to formulate a list.

A Delegate eonsider,d that the " heaters" and
"pointers" oogdit not to be on the list ; it was a
matter that did not concern the masters, but was
ths business of to mn. Mr; Williams pointed out
that the large masters had not the alightec chance
against the men, who employed a num-,er of opera-
tives in small shops..

Mr. Williatne-r tised an objection t.) Mr, Win.
Price acting MI a representative of the men on thi.
grand that, tie was also engaged in the trade, but
upoa Mr. Price assuring the mooting that he iii
not buy in.: sell nails he was allow to tewaiii en,
take part in the discussi n.
_

Mr-. Russell (iwinde 1 and Co.) argued that if
the Act passed in July 1887. could not be main-
tained for so short a time, what hope could the
people have of nitiintaiuing a list wiLch repre,en:ei
an advance of 15 to 20 per cent upon that of 1837.
In one ease he pointed out th iist pr seuted on
h ill of the men represented an a lvattee of more
,itau oder cent. They were, be co,.aidered, was ing
tone in diecusiing any suggestion to put an article
into the market at 50 per cent, advance all at once.
They impressed urion. .he r3p esen,at;ves ,)f the man
at the last meeting that thy must hot tt,ink of ex-
cee,ling the list of July, 1837, and t:e %;tas t.f opinion
that if they went up to that pun i 1 y two awe's rah. r
than one it would be much be • er for the tra.le.
The Chairman thought t,i,ey should all agree to
concede an wivanoe if th?y felt cure that it would
be maintained. (Hear, hear.) lie appealed to the
representatives of the men as to wileth,r there was
a 'miter prospect now than in the past of work_
people maintaining au y increase tbat might be
granted by the emi
Messrs. Juggins and Price aigued that there was,
as the men we e now eounected with the Iradc
Federation, who would aealst th,tu to retain the
advanced rated.

Mr. Juggins reminded the meting that the un-
due cornp-ti.ion and undtrs lling was not confined
to the mtm, but urged that it WWI in the interest of
tie waiters to Assist the men to m sintain the
p,ices.

In reply to the chairman, Mr. Juggiae said the
nailer s wore so affiliated to the Trai Federation as
to place them in a pu,ition to avail them:elves of
the s rength of Cita asacei ttl,sn i resisting re-
‘i uotiw.e of wages.
The Chairman: So that if no aivalio is given
t be a tike ?

Mr Jugg ns: Certainly,
Air. Williams contended that unless tkeoutworkers
were put on the some level as the men who worked

in the small factories it would be quite useless
formulating any list.
Mr. Wilkes said the factory men wanted to bc.
brought up to the level of the otttworkers.
Mr, Juggins thought they should discountenance
outworkers, and get them all into the factories,
noes outworkera, vrere the ruin of the trade. (No,
no.)
Mr. Russell sail the factories had brought the
prices down, aid argued that if men had worked in
the shops at the back of their own cottages they
should never have seen spikes made at 9d. per
bundle. He regretted to see the trale in such a
beggarly state that the men could not earn bread
and cheese.

Mr. Fellows thought that anything above a 10
per cent. advance would be revolutionary.
Mr Jogging reminded the masters that at the
previous meeting the meeting the men were led to
expect an advance of 16 per cent., and he thougt if
Anything they should go for 5 per cent above that.
Ultimately, on the motion of the Chairman,
seconded by Mr. Williams. it was resolved that a
committee should be appointed of leading employers
and workpeople, or their representatives, to ascertain
the average wages that have been.paid for the last
three months, and that an all-round advance of 25
per cent, be given on those wages, the advanced
rates to be paid on the first Saturday in June.
A committee was then appointed, and it was ee-
cided that they should meet to-morrow weex at
Dudley. _

A ot of thanks brought to the chairman
the proceedings to a close.

~‘RADLEY HEATH

A Row AT THE SALVATION ARMY BARRACKS —At
the Rowley Regis Police Court on Wednesday,
Jeremiah Westwood, licensed victualler, Grainger's
Lane, was summoned for assaulting Jesse Weaver,
a member of the Salvation Army, on the 10th inst.
—Acogrding to complaitiant's statement th e
defendant, with others, disturbed a meeting of the
army by beating buckets with hammers. 'fhby re-
fatted to desist and a general distarbance followed,
during which several persons *ere assaulted.—A
cross.summous was beard, aud the Bench dismissed
both cases