The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-22 00:00:00

THE STRIKE IN VIE CHAIN TRA.DE.

On Monday a large meeting of chainmakers who
are on strike was held in the Trinity Hall, Old Hill,
when about 2,000 persons were present: The object
of the meeting wa to hear addresses from several
local gentlemen, and it was understood that a
proposal e‘ould be made to terminate the strike.
Mr. W. Hassan° presided, and there were also
present Mr. Brooke Robinson, M.P., Mr. W.
Showell, Mr. R. Jugging, and Mr. T. Homer.—The
Chairman having brit•lly opened the meeting, Mr.
Robinson remarked that he was glad to have such
an opportunity of showing his sympathy with the
ohainseakers in their time cf need and suffering.
He felt that the great bane of the trade was that
there was no standard rate of wages, and masters
sold at competition prices; and in order to secure
orders he feared some employers were willing to
take them at impossible rates. Then, for the
purpose of recouping themselves, the masters
required their operatives to work at reduced wages,
and also increased the price of glervis at the same
time, which the men were compelled to purchase
from them. By working for such employers they
were destroying the trade, and hamperieg all
ess
bseaicnrgi c emit,to
e
pr ersi
cpee catna I
come
onmi asters
petition,. Eavnedrytthhei nagit
cheaply, ruin and starvation followed as a matter
of course. He argued that Act of Parliament
could not assist them, and that the matter rested
with themselves. Although the Truck Act was
passed more than twenty years ago the cruel.system
of trucking had not, been abolished. The employers
were not combined, and from the nature of tho
trade amalgamation could hardly be expected. He
was glad to be informed that some of the masters
were willing to pay an advance, and his advice was
that the operatives should take the increase in every
case where they could obtain it. He also dwelt
upon the necessity for protecting the industries of
the country —Mr. W. Showell, after speaking upon
the evils of the truck system and condemning the
action of some of the masters weo undersold the
others, said he and his friends on the platform
gawantedit,gcettotlnto
ecat
doi
bitb:hrt
that
discussingnga
btnhou aamtrdbe disastrouswrtah seoifers t
ebrellietiegstvis
grievances
et
sots arthhaeo
ulwbdeeatngt
:lee:.
question and
feeling
ent
lodi
nhany
vwe
ooaut hledbfdeeirsieprituerteoe
dswumi
et
elitgdht
the
e He
a tsrhteeof
reusrgr
the
odt
latqtesohuftapnepetslp,tiublic would back up Vie ohainmakers in Ik-jr
consider
dnedr tthhaet
besttheir
mweaagness
osfhsoeut
settling
dl be
twheepeda
sdp
settle might be referred to an arbitrator. current coin of the realm. (Applause.) He
if necessary, any point which they
might not get all they demanded, but he thought
they would get a considerable proportion of it. He
ha Ino doubt the roasters would meet them in the
unableTu The
tei mt andi
t no
tghoeo good
rbiekheav lasted. i ur. He h
He strongly matter, :tnd if they accepted the suggestion he
swtoriukledehxeclupsathbleem,
aanllahhee
wasld could.—Mr. W. Bassano
said, whist be deplored strikes, he considered this
assistpleasetdhteomnotice hei rs
advised to sneering
to adopt Mr. Showell's suegestion.—Letters were
received from several employers. stating their
li
grant the increase; but as no reference
was made to the truck question ths cunsidera im of
their applications was deferred.—Mr. 13assano gave
should
them a donation of £10.; ends letter was rea from
wailsumganess to
Mr. B. Hingley. M. P., regre:tinz his inability to
attend. It was decided that steps should be taken
to arrange for a conference to be hel I with a view
of terminating the strike. The customary resolution
to "play on" was passed.

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t uil s6ul yrt6crtpti lu at ,v,ii clue you free of
cha ga. VOA r. to .3v WA diR ;OV.?re by a Mission-
ary in 01 Mexico. send add,eued stamped euveloue
to .o noile, B iiry ALA,sion
El.onasuury t quarts, LonJoo.