The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-05-11 00:00:00

THE LABOURERS' AGITATION IN
WARWICKSHIRE.

The meeting of the County Chamber of Agriculture
at the Warwick Shire-hall on Saturday last proved
that to the farmers this labourers' agitation is a serious
matter, for, whilst avoiding any pledge as to terms,
the meeting showed every disposition to court reconci-
liation with the men (writes the Correspondent of the
Daily News). This may be accounted for by the re-
markable success of the Labourers' Union, which has
now extended into the adjoining counties, and in a few
weeks is to be expanded, by a congress of representa-
Uses, into a national union. At the same time, owing
to migration and the state of the labour market, the
price of labour is still going up, and therefore the pro-
bability seems to be that the longer the " arrangement "
is deferred, the less favourable will be the terms for the
farmers. The wages of labourers have risen already
from 12a. to 14a and Da, but the union insists upon
the Ns., arguing that able-bodied men can get their
23a, and even 275., by taking the train to the northern
counties.
The object of the farmers' meeting on Saturday was
to consider what further steps could be taken to bring
about an adjustment of differences, the offer of a
conference by the Chamber three weeks ago having
been declined by the union, on the ground that the
organization of the labourers was not completed. Mr.
John Ford. of Leamington, presided. The most
prominent members of the Council, including several
landowners and about thirty tenant farmers, were

present.
The first question discussed, with a view to the
amelioration of the labourers' condition, was Mr.
Reed's Bill for requiring agricultural children between
the ages of eight and ten to attend an elementry
school 210 times during the year, and those between ten
and twelve to make 150 attendances. After consider-
able discussion a resolution was passed, approving of
the hill as it stands, against an amendment limiting
the attendance to schools recognised by Government,
for which only six voted, showing the disposition
of the meeting to take advantage of every possible
means of education for the labourers' children.
The Chairman having ref eared to the series of reso-
lutions passed at the last meeting, with the view of
bringing about a better understanding between em
ployers and employed, the secretary read a letter he'
wrote to the correeponding secretary of the Labourers'
Union, enclosing the proposition for the labourers to
appoint three representatives to meet three landowners
and three tenant farmers on the following Saturday
with the above amicable purpose. In his reply Mr. E.
Russell said :—"The executive committee would have
1 been glad to know a little more about the properly ap-
pointed representatives. What are the qualifications
that they are supposed to possess?" The resolution of
the executive was, That in view of the present in-
complete state of the formation of the Agricultural
Labourers' Union, this meeting is of opinion that the
proposal should be postponed for the present."
The Earl of Denbigh said as he was the proposer of
the resolution expressing their readiness to meet the
labourers in confeience. he wished to propose this
resolution m answer to the one sent by the labourers—
"That the secretary be instructed to acknowledge the
receipt of the letter from the secretary of the Agricul-
tural Labourers' Union, dated April 29, postponing the
preliminary conference; and that lie shall further ex-
plain, in reply to his inquiries, that the chairman and
two other members of the Chamber of Agriculture will
be willing to meet any three members appointed by
the committee of the Agricultural Labourers Union as
their representatives."
Mr. Muntz seconded the resolution.
Mr. King thought, in joining such a conference, the
Chamber was acting as a union of farmers, whereas
there had been a great outcry against the labourers'
union.
Mr. T. Draper (Kenilworth) strongly protested
against the opposition shown to the Lebourers' union,
and said the Wellebourne farmers' resolutions, pla-
carded about the county, intimidating men from joining
the union by threatening to turn them out of their
situations and their cottages, was most illegal, incon-
siderate, and uncalled for.
The resolution, having been discussed, was carried
unanimously.
Mr. Muntz proposed that the resolutions agreed to
at the last nteeting as to payment by piecework, and
in coin not in kind, be sent to every member of the
Chamber in a circular letter' with a request that the
recommendations be carried out as far as practicable,
in order to remove misapprehension as to the value re-
ceived by the labourer.
Mr. Dun seeonded, and moved as a rider, that the
farmers also be requested to pay the labourers their
wages the day before the local market, in order that
they may have the opportunity of laying out their
money to the best advantage.
In the discussion that ensued conflicting opinions
were expressed as to doing away with the practice of
supplying the men with beer at the hay and corn
harvests. On the one hand, it was conteniled that the
men preferred the present plan, and needed good ale in
preference to the adulterated stuff they got at the
public-houses; and, on the other hand, it was argued
that the supply was excessive, led to intemperance,
and was extravagant on the part of the labourer. If
he needed beer he could have it at home, and hie wife
and family oould share it.
The resolution was ultimately adopted.

A crowded meeting of delegates from the various
agricultural labourers' unions in Leicestershire was
held at Leicester on Saturday night. Addresses were
delivered by Mr. Strange, a representative of the War-
wickshire labourers, end by several labom ers of
Leicestershire knelt, who entered into details as to the
mode in which they were compelled to live on from
fourteen to fifteen shillings a week. It WWI atated that
in some instances an advance of two sbillirirs a week
had been conceded ; in °tilers the Leer bad been 6topped.
The delegates resolved to support the farm labourers'
union in obtaining increased wages and in improving
their condition generally.

The Economist remarks that one of the phenomena
connected with the agricultural labourers' strike is the
displacement of labour likely to ensue. The labourers
are obtaining some advancement of their wages,
whether owing to the attempts to form unions or not
is a different question ; but this is far from being the
only change that is taking place. The labourers, to
some extent, are migrating to manufacturing towns, a
circumstance which would tend to raise the price of
labour in the places they leave; but it is probably less
effective than might othervvise be the case, from the
unsuspected fact that the English apienitux lnlmum-r
has not after all been at the bottom of the scale, and
that there is an inferior labour only too ready to take
his place.

AMMOMA AR A CURE FOR SNAKE BITER.—AR
many as 8,000 persons die annually, in British India
and Burmah, from the effects of snake•bites. The In-
spector of Police to the Bengal Government reports
that of 939 cases, in which anatonia was freely ad-
ministered, 702 victims have recovered, and in the
cured instances the remedy was not administered till
three nod a-half hours after the attack, on the average.
In the fatal eases, the corresponding duration of time
was four and a-quarter hours.