The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-17 00:00:00

LABOUR AND WAGES QUESTION.

AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS.

The adjourned meeting of agricultural
labourers was held on Monday evening at Mr.
Tompkins's, the Prince of Wales Inn, Hagley.
Mr. T. Hunt, of Stourbridge, was again voted
to the chair, and notwithstanding the inclemency
of the weather the large room was again filled
by labourers from Pedwore, Hagley, Clent,
Churchill, Belbroughton, Chaddesley, Cookley,
The Heath, Kluwer, Kidderminster, and

Churchill.
The Chairman read the minutes of the last
meeting, which were confirmed, and called upon
the deputation to give their reports.
A man from Pedmore said they gave Mr. N.
Smith 14 days' notice. He employed six men
Mid a boy. The waster remarked that he could
not afford to give the increase asked. He gave
two of his men 14 days' notice to leave their

cottages.
\ workman for Mr. Samuel Smith said that
his master would give the same as the rest.
Mr. James Smith, farmer, said he would give

thO.-;i.s.e-wVen the rest did.

HAGLEY FARMERS.

Mr. Wright, farmer. advocated the men at.
tending the meeting, and gives his men 2s 8d
per day, aml considered they ought to have the

rise.
Mr. Pagett, it was stated, gave his men 2s 6d
per day, and was willing to give is per day if
other masters would give 28 Od.
A deputation from the iron works here stated
that the iron workers had agreed to support the
men as long as they were on strike—(load
cheers).
It was stated that Mr. Daniel Beddees, of
Clent, was giving his men Se lid per day, and if
other masters gave a rise he would rise his men
accordingly
Mr. Farmer, of Warton, said he was willing
to give a man what he earned.
A deputation from Churchill attended, and a
labourer said he had seen Mr. Birch, his master,
who said he knew there would be an alteration,
and he would meet them.
A deputation from Belbroughten, said they
had waited upon Mr. Brown, of Brookfield, who
expressed his willingness to give the rise, what-
ever it might be—(cheers).
Mr. Farmer, of Belbroughton, said he Would
wait and see what the rest gave.
A deputation from Chaddesley Corbett said,
they had wited upon Mr. Charles Blakeway, who
was willing to give the same as the rest.
A deputation from Wolverley, said he had
waited upon Mr. Trow, of Ismere, who said he
was willing to give the same as the rest.
Mr. Shutt, of The Heath, was willing to give
the rise.
Mr. W. Pargeter, of Kinver parish, would give
the rise if the rest did.
It was stated that Mr. R. Thurstans, of
Churchill, and Mrs. Bache already gave 2s lid
per day.
A working man from Kidderminster attended
as a deputation to see what steps had been taken
to obtain an increase of wages. After being in-
formed by the Chairman, he addressed those
present at considerable length, and said that his
wages were lie per week, and that many men
had to pay as much as 2s 6d per week for rent
out of it.
Another labourer said he got but lie per week
to:keep himself and two children, and had to
pay £8 Ns a year for a cottage.
Several friends present advocated the cause of
the men, and advised all who had not yet given
in their notices to do so at once, unless their
toasters agreed to give the money asked for, and
the following resolution was proposed and car-
ried unanimously, "That all those men who
have not yet given in their 14 days notice do so
on Saturday next."
A long discussion then ensued as to the desir-
ability of forming themselves into a union, and
the Chairman read the following paper from Mr.
W. It. Ablett, secretary to the National Society
for Workmen and Agricultural Labourers. It
stated that the aims of the society were classed
uuder two heads, No follows :
WORKMEN.

Ist. To promote the technical education of Workmen,
in aid of which a definite system is proposed, which it in
sought to eatablish in all manufacturing districts.
find. The general adoption of Courtin of Conciliation
and Arbitration between masters and workmen.
3rd. The establishment of the system of Limited
Partnerships and Co-operation.
AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS.

ISt. To secure a suitable systematic education, and
promote the acquisition of useful knowledge likely to
benefit their condition and cause them to become more
valuable to their employers.
dad. To procure better cottage accommodation where
it is required, and for some houses to be let irrespective
of farms, 60 that a labourer may have the option of
working for more masters than one,
3rd. To obtain large gardens and allotments.
•lth. To secure adequate weekly wages in those cases
where they ire notoriously
sth. To endeavour to facilitate the easier acquisition '
of lar.d in 6/11,tn vol irons.
fib. To encourage in the rural districts petty trader,
such as the manufacture of rustic garden seats, fences
and ornamehts, birch brooms, straw bottle covers, hue-
dles, &c , aid establish a system for their disposal, to aid
Shove who may be in .ustriously inclined in their leisure
on winter eveninga, or to be followed when out of work.
7th. To scare by co operation tome of the many ad-
vantages that are enjoyed by every other industrious class
in the community, which. fr•ini their isolated aril de-
lien lent condition, they hat, hitherto been unable to
obtain, no th it viillIOUL lutes teeing wan the interests of
others, they may idithavour to reise themselves and their
families to a higher step iu tie social torah., by hi-rowing
more inteliigerit proeucers of the Si as of the earth, ti,
the gtueral good of the nation et large, and the aufficient
supply of their f:Wfl 0,11.6 in the first elements of
vu , adequate lid, clotitiog, and berme accommodation ;
of winch, it iv they PI.. .fteu ILiserabl)
diticient•
- -.••

Votes of th mks to the Chairman and " The
Press," closed the proceedings.