The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-22 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETING OF POST-OFFICE
EMPLOYES.

A public meeting was held in Exeter Hall, London,
on Ttie.day evening, to advocate the claims of what is
termed the "Minor Establishment " of the General
Post-, ffice throughout the country to increased re-
muneration and she abolition of Sunday labour. For
or. obvious' reason, the proceedings did not commence
till towards nine o'clock; shortly before which there
was an immense rush of persons belonging to the
various departments concerned, and the large hall WAR
Quickly Ii led. A procession, headed by a baud, started
from Finshory.square at half.past seven, and has-kg
marched throngii the City, arrived outside Exeter
Hail shortly before the meeting commenoed. The
chair woe taken by Mr. R. Eykyn, M.P. and on the
platform were Mr. Watkin Williams, M:P., Mr. W.
Fowler, M.P., Mr. Staveley Hill, M.P., Sir John
Benns tt, Sir Antonio Brady, Mr. Edwin Janes, Rev.
H. folly, the Rev. Dr. Bores, Mr. P. Twelle, Mr.
Odger. Mr. George Shipton, M.. George Potter, tic.
The Birmingham Post office employth were repre-
sented by Mr. Joseph Fairfax, the Liverpool employ
by Mr. W. Simpson, the Effinburghemployth by Mr. T.
J. Johnson, and the Sheffield employ & by Mr. John
Dronfithi.
Letters expressing sympathy with the object bad, it
was stated, been received E. om the Archbishops of Can.
terbnry and York, the Bishops of London Gloucester
and Bristol. and Bangor, Revs. Canon Liddon, Daniel
Moore, J. Kennedy, and W. Landed; Mr. Mundella,
M.l'., Mr. W. H. Smith, M.P., Colonel North, M.P.,
Lord G. Hamilton. M.P., Mr. Peek, M.P. Mr. J.
Miller, M.P., Sir C. line M.P. Mr. A. Kinnaird,
M.P., Mr. Baillie Cochrine, M.P., Mr. John Pim,
M.P.. elro. -
The Chairman in opening the proceeding; expressed
his regret at the absence of Mr. Donald Nicoll, who
was to have presided. As regarded the question of
wages, he did not hesitate to say that to leave such
men as he saw before him ill paid was a great error of
judgment. (Cheers.) Last session they npproached
the House of Commons in the most conciliatory spirit,
and he and otners gave them a cordial reception,
because they considered their appeal reasonable.
(Cheers.) A change had Jost taken place In the head-
ship of the Post-office, and he believed that the gentle-
man who had been raised to it, and who had shown
deep sympathy with the working classes would do
honour to that position. (Cheers) During the last
year 870,000,000 letters passed through the Pat-
office; in addition to which there were 75.000 000
post.oezds, gg 000,000 newspapers, and 103,0(0 000
book parcels—m round numbers-1,147,000,000 articles
passed through the Post-office within the year. The
public were satisfied with the manner in which the
work was done. A number of gentlemen of weight in
the country had come there for the purpose of en.
deavoutiug to improve the position of the postmen. If
awe gentlemen thought the proper deliveryof letters
likely to be interfered with by a combination adverse
to the public interest not one of them would be
present. There were about 40,000 men and women
employed in the Poet-office service of the country.
Of these 9 000 were employed in the Metro.
politan district, 3 000 in the Chief Office andF.,soo
in the Central Telegraph Department. They were
toll that if they were dissatisfied there were plenty
of substitutes; but it was unwise bemuse there
were substitutes to he got to starve any department.
(Cheer. I in 1838 the gross resentrs hf the Post office
War £2,346,278, io 1072 it was £4 €BOOOO. Since 1870
the net income of the Post-office had averaged £275,000
per annum. He contended that those who were em-
ployed in such eretteormible position origet to be &Vowed
in some d.gree to participate in the results. Those
who v ere employed in the cork deserved more rams.
neration. In conclusion the hon. gentleman expressed
his confidence that the present authorities of the Poet-
office would not be indifferent to the application for an
improved rate of wages. Let the men continue to pursue
a tem,,wate, firm, and consistent course, and their
clause would meet with due consideration from the
totolic ; and he for one would do his beet to forward
their views. (Cheers.)
Sir Antonio Brady, after expressing his cordial
concurrence in the object, moved the following resolu-
ion , _

That the time has now arrived when a reebton of the pay i
and system of promotion of the Pot office employds ahoald
receive She prompt consideration of the anthnriiier, based
apit inch • Kale nod inch a system as will he aline con-
ducive to the merest, of the men and of the public service.'•
Sir John itei nett seconded the resolution.
Mr. Watli in Williams, M P., in supporting the reso-
lution, said he did uot believe that there were • biro,
number if subetitutee ready to fill vacianci. a in the
Pont. elfin. Thom whom he addressed had, he believed, '
a real freed in the new head of that department, and
he shimid be greatly surprised if that gentleman did
Lot listen to their firm and respectful' prayer. They
must, however, if they wished to succeed, press their
Oahu,' earnestly and persistently. He felt certain that
they had right on their side, but that was not enou.h,
they mutt tress their claims in a firm and orderly
manner, and he believed that if they did that their
if tie would he crooned with success. (Cheers.)
Mr. Simpson, of Liverpool, said he was a Post-office
' rfficial, and would not have been there that evening
had he not been told that no one occupying that posi-
tion dared to attend, (Hear, hear.) If theme men
were dissatisfiei they ought, like other Englishmen, to
be able to exercise freely the right of stating their case
In public.
The resolution was pawed amid great cheering.
Mr. George Potter moved a resolution declaring
that in the opinion of the meeting it was expedient
that petitions should be Meroutod to Parliament with
the vir‘v of obtaining a Parliamentary inquiry; and
oheerveit tat by acceding to the just demands of the
Poat-office. eo . Livia, Mr. Gladstone would add another
I' laurel to the n any which he had already gained.
The Rev. Dr. Peens seconded the resolution.
Mr. W. Fowler, M.P., expressed his belief that
i ptil,,ie ovicion Irwin 1 sivonr of the employe'', and that
ili they continued in their 1 rocent mons of action, they

would summed in obq&ing Vest a imp portion of
what they demanded; WAng that a scow of wages
which was fair twelve years *gown ,d not be dais now,
the cost of the necessaries of life having increased so
much in the fut. real. (Cheers.) If the men oould mak.
out their case, the House of Commons would do thew
jostles. He supported that movement because it had
been conducted fairly, earnestly, and as became Eng.
nehmen. (Loud-cheers.)
Mr Staveley Hill, M.P., also supported the resolu-
tion, declaring that be had lug felt that the cue
one which required careful consideration. The dun,
of those concerned being among the most important In
the country, there should be an inquiry to ascertain
whether those who perfoimed them were properly paid,
and if they were not, let some of the profits of the
service be employed in remedying the defects.
Mr. John Wtstley Rowton. • Post.olfice employsi
said he was sure the country did not wish that economy
should be carried out et the expense of • bard-worked
body like his own. (Cheers.) He said it took upwards
of twenty years for • sorter to rt ach the receipt of 455.
• week. If there wee to be an enquiry let the em-
plos As be examined as well as others. Let them all
stick together and they world succeed.
The resolution was then carried.

Ws/ k

dati#

Mr. Booth, a letter carrier, afterwards addressed
the meetin ; and proiaried a resolutirin ctlling upon
all Postoffice employSs who had not on Co to j iin
the United Kingdom and Telegraph Service Bencht
Soilety.
The resolution having been sec ndo I and ailipte.l,
the proceedings terminated at eleven o'clock with a
vote of thanks to the Chairman.