The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-24 00:00:00

LABOUR AND WAGES QUESTION%

AGRICULTUR ‘L LABOURERS.

Thi• wijourned meeting of labonvera VllOl held
at Mr. 'Tompkins's, no. Prince of Wali.s Jon,
lisglcy, on Momlay evening last. The large
romn was crowded to excess. Mr. T. Hunt, ot
Stourbridge, was voted to the chair, and read
the minutcs of the last meeting, which was con.
firmed. - -

The Chairman then proceeded to read several
letters he had received from various gentlemen
in different parts of the country.
One was from Nottingham, sent by a gentle-
man who formerly resided in the parish of
Bromsgrove. This gentleman stated that he
had no doubt that 100 hands could soon get
work, and he was willing to give Dis per week;
and asked for the addresses of some of the men.
Another was from a gentleman at Glossop,
who writes to say that be will come over to
Stourbridge, and give the men better pay than
they are now receiving, maid that he is willing to
take some labourers, their wives, and families
back with him, and pay all expenses.
A letter from a gentleman at Derby was also
read, asking for men and their addresses.
The Chairman took down several of the ad-
dresses of the men whose time expires on Satin,
day night, and ho was requested to write to the
various gentlemen, and invite them to the next
meeting.
A Labourer, from Hureott, addressed the
meeting at consider.tble length, mid stated that
having attended the previous meeting, he went
home, talked to his fellow-workmen, and bad a
meeting on the following Wednesday, and they
deeidod to give their masters notice on Satur-
day. They each one signed a paper which was
drawn up, and, having been refused the rise of
wages handed in their notices like men ; and
he hoped those who had not done the same would
do so at once, and that there would be no black
sheep ,iniong them. He was getting but lls pm
week himself, and he considered lie was worth

24 64 per day, and could not afford to maintain
himself, his wife, sod family on It an. Ile ex
hotted all those present to be firm and nnited
and it the masters refirre.l theta the rise to emu,
oat like men. lie, for one, would do so, whether
hie emurarlem did or not—(cheers).
A man from Clout next addressed the meeting.
lie said that his parents when he was a boy llvec
lialesowen pariah ; that the Labourers at tha'
i 1111 e ree.nv.d 12s per setic. Me:A was 4el ane
5 I
.r.er 1,0lut11....;:ood Ole lie 41. f esh butter lud

Hour, co,i ~ nod iliimzs were cheap I two. In connection with the army, he had to
prop ,et nt. i.e f coxi wit; now soivii•• ask them to drink the health of Adjutant Wol
tliintt I,ko, Is ocr ca., me.,t, 91 and 10i1 per lb. rige. He was perfectly sure they could not have
cheese 9.1, fresh batter 2., eggs, bacon, an , a better Adjutant, or a better friend—(l(ml ap
everything else in 'r portion, avid the fare. please).
labourers a .t, -some 94, some 10s, and other, 1 Adjutant Wolrige, in responding, thanked hi-
Ils, lie would ask if it was possilvle for e man brother officers and all present, for the very flit.
to keep himself nil tulle on so small an animal 1 tering manlier in which they ha 4 responded t..
It was not a living; hat the fainilie, were atm' , the toast, mil rental ked Hirt from the events
villa. Thd ivien did not have svillivient t., k u which had occurred of late years the oar:,
themselves honest. Lie WaS quite sore that seeined to ho put itt the fore-front of the fight.
the mageri woold its the w ,ges :iskeii no for if a ritp,mre were to occur between this cram •
would live :II I ter. bucululeStoro/11yr. nth,' ti • . try and !merles, it was to Hie navy they wool.;
Insisters snub( he the gaia.a'a in tae end by g. have to look to protect :Mein from invasion. 11
hug a tiet:,r itay'ikw•irit mine —(Miners). Iwas, however, afraid if such a thing were 10
Oth•r speakers address. d the meeting, a, hsppen, and the generality of the vessels in tlie
miinted out that ill other parts the men had g t , 111, y were in no better condition than the Me-
-ise, and that what they asked was only ja giera, they would not be able to do this, and tie
-nimble. The North Warwickshire mi ~ long and short of it was the nation would have