The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-12-04 00:00:00

MEETING AT CRADLEY HEATH.

PROPOSED PROIIIBITION OF N[GEIi WO 711:C
A densely crowded meeting of chain makers on
strike was held on Monday morning, in the Method.
it New Connexion Schools,Seholding Green, Cra lley
Heath. The attendance was so large tha hundreds
were unable to gain admittance into the room.
Mr. T. Homer presided, and in opening the meet-
ing said he was pleased to see such a large attend-
ance, and it was satisfactory to know that after
having been out on strike for sixteen wee (s they
were practically united in demanding such wages
as would enable them to get a living --(lra.r, le a ).
At first, as they were uware, they had clifLulty in
getting the .press to take up their cause, but he was
gl d to seer that dur.ng the past few weeks the
editors of sev ral papers had taken up th,dr eatts.
the result being that they had now t e ej mp thy
and support of the pu dic.—eshear, he o) in the
Birmingham, Daily Gazette on Monday. the 22,..:d inst
three columns were devoted to tt e chainmake s'
grievances, and he was bound to say it was a g o I
article, and, he wouli add, a truthful article, and it
would be the means of doing the down-tri.dden
chaiumakers a great deal of good—(aplause) —A
Voice : And there was a good leading article on
Thursday morning in the same paper —The
Crair-
man : Yes, a very goad article : but I will not refer
to it, as it made refer nets to me of a flatteting
character.—A voice : You deserve to be pra se l.—
The Chairman Raid he "shoeld have Fle?d ry
chninmaker in the district to hive a copy of the
paper, but it was not in his power to supply them;
they, were. unfortunately, short of the Penis-
(hear, hear) but he t:op,al the time woul I not be
far distant when they would be able to afford to buy
not ouly newspepers but eoale comforts. Owing to
the part the Press had taken matter, he was glad to
say thy were now baying support from all over
England, so much .so that those .vrao had three
loaves last week would be able to have six during
the present week—(appleuse). He had received a
letter from the Rev. Dr. Cosens, Vic ir of Dudley,
in which he stated that he was willing to hold a
ete:Ciel ee vice, aft r the ordinary sect ice, on Sun-
day evening next, and fer a collection to be made on
behalf of the Chainmat era' Relief Fend (tpplau.e).
He was sure they all appreciated the rev. genVe
man's kind offer, and would be very thankful for
any areti.tance the Dudley people might render them
—(applause).-1t was resolved that the thanks of
the meeting be given to the Rev. Dr. Cosens.—The
Chairman said he was glad to sate, t,,at some
workmen at the gasworks at Cowes had sent les ,
and he eoped the gastnen at the Cra ley Heath
Works would follow the example He was also
pleased to announce that Mr. IV. Bassan ), J. P., had
contributed ano: her sovereign to the r.i.4 fund—
(hear, hear) They had the sympathy of the public,
and he was sure they woeld not be elowed to
starve in t'le present struggle (hear, bear). He
also considered it to be his duty to state that he had
received a requisition signed by about 30 well known
chainmakers urging that a tnenaocial should be
presented to Mr. Brooke Robinson, the member for
Dudley, urging him to introduce a bill in the House
of Commons for the restriction of working hours in
chain shops, viz., that the working hours be from
seven in the morning until five or six o'clock in the
evening. He (the speaker) thought it was desirable
that such a bill should be introduced, as it was well
known they were suffering from over-production,
which was brought abeut in a great measure by
miners and others werkiug in the chain shops at
night. If the hours were restricted the mine; s and
others would not be able to work in the chainshops
until and ten o'clock at night (hear, hear).
Under the circurnteeinces, he thoullat every chain-
maker in the South Staffordshire district would be
in favour of signing such a memorial—(appletis .).
The Chairman, in conclusion, urged the chain makers
to continue to be. firm, because if they continued to
be united they would be c:113.1 upon to resume
work at the 4s. list of pric 'A, whieh tv is ,in incteate
of 40 per cent upon acme of the prices n w paid--
It was resolved to continue the strike.
FURNISH ON NORNUN & STACEY'S HIRE.
PURCIIA.SE SYSTEM. DEPOSIT not necessary
Economical and strictly private, without the objecti ,n-
-able formalities of dealers and others. 1. 2, or 3 years
Sixty genuine wholesale manufacturing firms to select
goods from. Write for particulars Carriage paid and
special arrangements for country. Offices, 79, Queen
Victor's Street, London, N.C.