The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-08 00:00:00

To the Editor of The Timer.

Slr,—l notice in The Times of Saturday that the furnace-
men here, who have steaddy followed their work at the 10
per cent. reiuction during the past month are reported to
have been induced to strike On its expiration ; but I am
happy to inform yew that, note ithstanding the pain'ul
pressure brought to bear upon them, they have manfully re-
siited all cajoieries and menaces, and have already com-
menced a new month, which is likely to be equal to the last
In the remuneration for their lab ,ur—naniely, Re 9s 9d.
per week to each of the founders and fillers on the aver-
age of the four weeks working of the Aberdare and
Abernant furnaces.

A t first sight it might appear that to se^ept such earn-
s In place of living on c iarity would c immend itself at
once and irresistibly to good steady workmen with families,
but a vague terror of the power of the North of England
Union seems to have partially naralj their faculties ;so
that they continually and piteously repeat the phrase, "
be afeard of my life." Vet why should we wonder at such
timidity after the awful disclosures of the Sheffield Corn.
mission, whereby it became too evident that the power of the
law had lament .I,ly failed to save inoffensive workmen from
the vengeance of • ruthless Union ? Rather, I say, should
we admire the courage, coupled with good feeling to their
employer, which has distinguished the Aberdare and Aber.
flout fere:icemen at such a orbit, whereby they have cur.
mounted their natural apprehend m, ted sets noble example
to the quiet inoffensive majority who daily urge that
their return to work is only prevented by their fears.
Thinking you for your past courtesy, and trusting that you
Will again spare room for this communication,

I am, your obedient tervant,
RI,FIARD FOTHERGILL.
Aberdare Ironworks, Aberdare. Glamorganshire, Feb. S.

The actual result and operations of the Strike, as
affecting individual families, are strikingly shown by
a Welsh clergyman, who says:—
'A month ago! asked one of my Welsh people if her bus
hand earned 6s. a day. 'Yes,' was the reply, 'and scans -
times 105. per day.' Ile Is an Ironworker, and a great
Unionist. tart Saturday he had lOs ,or his three weeks'
strike—for hima If, wife, and seven children. When at work
this man earned £2 per week. For three weeks it would
been O. Deducting 10 per rent ,he w.,uld have had £5 Sd.
left. Thials sacriticed, and he now takes is 4d. per week.
A Coal-Owner writes to The Times :

It or ly be well, during the dist:tendon of the " double
shift eyatein in collier4s for the public to notice that the
questi di of safety has never one.. been disputed by the
miners' delegates Not mauy years ago the Sheflield needle-
IL Tinders opposed the use of the meg, etize remirator on
the grounds that it would t lid to pr dong hie and reduce
wages. Will the movers In this great strike in South
Wales deny that wnrking " double shifts" will greatly re-
duce. the loss of life from falls of roof? Any one enure.,
sat with mining knows that If the working•plares in a
mine are long delayed or kept back by the colliers Wing-
-114 two or three oays together—the roof heroin e tender,
and, in spite of pr ppine, very liable to fall. By the pro-
posed "double shit." plan the rot ter would work under a
new roof in less than half the tine, and hence be in far lees
danger of being Injured. Surely the roman that " two
Welshmen can never work t 'getter without quarrelling"
shou it not be allowed to stand in the way.

The reports of the Mines' Inspectors show that the loss of
life Is much leas where this system Is adopted, partly arish
probably, from the strata above the coal being generally
firmer In the Newcastle coalfi4l than in the mine, of Lan-
cashire and other counties, but this will not account for the
whole.

In the opinion of many experienced viewers, the " double
shirt ' means fewer rOlVil to keep In or ler, better ventila-
tion, less capital expended, fewer men employed tr raise
the same quantity of coal, and, above all, less loss of life.

This Easy not be In accord with the policy of the Union,
hut It greatly affects tse Interests of the public, because it
would result in a larger production at a reduced price.