The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-02-20 00:00:00

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN.

On Monday morning the Lord Mayor received the
following letter:
" OSBORNE, Feb. 13, 1886.
"My Lord,—l am commanded by the Queen to
inform your lordship that her Majesty wishes to con-
tribute five hundred pounds (X 500 to the fund you
are raising for the relief of the unemployed poor in
London. I have the honour to be, my lord, your
lordship's obedient servant,..

"HENRY S. PONSONBY.
To the night Hon. the Lord Mayor."

DISTRESS AMONGST WORKING WOMEN.

On Monday afternoon a meeting of the executive
committee of the National Labour Protection Union
was held, under the presidency of the chairman, Mr.
E. F. King, at their rooms, 184, Church-street, Dept-
ford, for the purpose of hearing a statement of the
grievances of unemployed sewing machinists and others.
The deputation, all of whom appeared to be respect-
able women, declined to have any of their names pub-
lished, as it might militate against their obtaining em-
ployment in City houses at a futnre time, but they
were made known to the chairman and committee. The
spokeswoman complained bitterly of the loss which
her class sustained through foreign competition. She
stated that many woollen and linen drapers, who
had hitherto employed hundreds of women in making
costumes, mantles, and other garments, now imported
them from abroad, thereby depriving their own
countrywomen of the means of obtaining an honest
livelihood. It was impossible for any working man,
be he mechanic or labourer, to support a family and
pay the exorbitant rents now exacted by landlords
without the help of some member of the family. Her
class did not want charity doled out to them. She
thought if the Lord Mayor were approached he might
award some of the funds now being collected for the
unemployed to her co-workers, not to buy food,
fuel, or clothing, but to form a nucleus for starting a
co-operative sewing machinist factory of workers,
which would relieve them from the necessity of being
obliged to labour for a set of " sweaters," who gave
very little work, and for that paid only starvation
wages. In conclusion, she asked the committee to
instruct their secretary to write to the Lord Mayor
on the subject, and also to communicate with the
Government respecting foreign imports. After some
discussion, the committee agreed to comply with the
request of the deputation, and also to depute a sub-
committee to visit the various sewing-machine ware-
houses of the City in the course of the week, and
endeavour to obtain all the informatiou desirsble for
their purpose.
FURTHER ROYAL DONATIONS.

The Lord Mayor of London reported on Tuesday
that the fund amounted to over £42,000. He had
received the following letter from Lieutenant-General
Sir Dighton Probyn :
"Marlborough House, Pall Mall, Feb. 16. My
Lord,—l am desired by the Prince of Wales to enclose
your lordship a cheque for 250 guineas as a donation
from the Prince towards the fund which his Royal
Highness is glad to see is being raised by your lord-
ship for the benefit of the unemployed poor in the
metropolis. In transmitting this contribution, I am
directed by his Royal Highness to add how sincerely
he sympathises with elle suffering and distress which
he feara both the men and their families are now
undergoing.—l have the honour to be, my lord, your
lordship's obedient servant, D. M. P.uonyN, Lieutenant-
General, Comptroller and Treasurer to his Royal
Highnes.s the Princs of Wales.—The Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor."
The Lord Mayor his also received a letter from
Colonel the Hon. W. J. Colville, enclosing a donation
of £5O from his Royal Highness the Duke of Edin-
burgl..

•
•So-..a • clifevulli, has been experienced in dealing
with the question of unc,..wloyed labour at Lowestoft.
A deputation of the un:o2lployed waited upon the
Mayor and asked him ti) head a subscription list for
the men out of work in; the town. The Mayor did
not comply with the requfAt. He lost no time, how-
ever, in calling togettler the Town Council, who
passed a resol24.tAon giving a committee power to set
unemployed men to work at 28. per day in clearing
refuse and sand from the beach, and other more or
less useful labour. Large quantities of bread have
also been distributed by the Mayor's authority.