The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-09-14 00:00:00

LABOUR AND WAGES QUESTION.
AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF RAILWAY

SERVANTS.

On Sunday evening the members of the Stour-
bridge Branch of the above society held a meet-
ing at the Labour-in-Vain Inn, Oldswinford.
The President of the branch occupied the chair,
and there was a large attendance.
The Chairman, on rising, said they would
commence the business by receiving the contri-
butions, and that part of the work he hoped
would soon be finished, as they were very much
confined to time, for, as they no doubt were all
aware, they had to be off the premises by ten
o'clock. He trusted that if any one had any-
thing to say they would speak it as soon as pos-
sible, and he should endeavour to conduct the
business in a straichtforward manner. There
was a gentleman in the room whom he was sure
they would all be glad to hear; but before he
called on that gentleman he would ask those pre-
sent if they had speeches to make, to do so as
soon as possible. The first business was to con-
sider the levy to be given to the London and
North-Western men on strike at Camden. He
hoped they would give their candid opinion upon
the subject, and then he would call upon Mr.
Vincent, the agent for Mr. M. T. Base, M.P., to
give his opinion— (hear, hear).
A member of the branch rose and said: Mr.
Chairman and Brothers, I rise to oppose the Is
levy, for this reason. Our society is very young,
and there are a great many men in the society
that cannot afford to pay the levy. We have
been at great expense in getting books and dif -
things, and the men cannot afford the shilling.
I do not believe the men in this district, one and
the same as men in other districts, who have got
good houses and gardens. Here they have not,
and we cannot afford to pay, for everything is so
dear in Stonrbridge. I, for one, cannot afford
it, and I get as much as some of the others. I
think it would discourage the members. I thilik
that under the present circumstances we ought
to pay the money out of the funds, and let it go
at that—(hear, hear).
The Chairman: Has any other gentleman an
opinion to offer on the subject.
The previous speaker said: There is one
thing I quite agree with the course taken by the
Executive Council, that is of sending the men
on strike out of the county, if they like to go.
It keeps their railway labour well in the mar.
\
ket,
The Chairman said he was not present on the
last meeting night, as they were all aware he MN
in Birmingham; but he believed it was proposed
and carried that a voluntary levy of ad per mem-
ber should be made towards the support of the
men on strike.
A Member: It was agreed by all in the room
that we should give 3d per head, and pay Is 3d
to-night.
The Chairman: The shilling will be sent in
from the funds.
A Signalman: I take it for granted that a
member of another branch of the society, but
not our own branch, may be allowed to speak.
The Chairman. Certainly so, we consider him
as one of us.
That Gentlemen then said that he did not
think there was ono amongst them who would
not support the Camden men on strike even Hit
was only Id per week. He would say this, that
1
they undoubtedly took a wrong and rash step
without consulting the Executive Council. He
thought they ought to end them some mist.