The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-02-26 00:00:00

THE STRIKE IN THE CHAIN TRADE.

A crowded meeting of chainmakers belonging to
Cradley Heath, Old Hill, Cradley, and ad-
j oitiing districts was held on Mon lay in the Salve -
tion Army Barracks, Cradley Heath, to take into
consideratisn the question of State-directed Colon-
isation, Mr, T. Homer preslded, and amongst those
present were Colonel C. E. Stewart, C.8.,"C M.G.
(late Assistant - Commissioner Afghan Boundary
Commission), Lieutenant Mansfield Smith, of the
Royal Navy, and Mr. Richard Jugging.
The Co airman said they had that day met to
consider a question of considerable importance, and
which to his mind was one deserving of their
favourable consideration. As they were favoured
by the attendance of two gentlemen from London
he thought it was only right that these gentlemen
should know that the majority of the chainmakers
in the Cradley Heath district had been out on strike
for twenty-eight weeks, many of whom, prior to
coming out on strike, were unable to earn, owing
to the miserable prices paid, more than 6s or 7s a
week. It was also a fact that they now looked
better than they did prior to the strike taking place
—(hear. hear). He rejoiced to state that, owing to
the noble assistance reeffered by friends residing in
various towns, the chainmakers had been provi ed
with food, and no death had occurred from starva -
tion—(applanse). He hoped the present dispute
would soon terminate, and that such steps would be
taken so as to prevent any unpleasantuess or strikes
in the future—(applause).
Lieutenant Mansfield Smith said representations
having been made to an association in London
with which he was connected of the distress pre-
vailing in many parts of the Black Country district,
and in the Cradley Heath district especially, Colonel
Stewart and he had been it, quested to come down
and see if they could suggest any thing which would
be for the men's benefit-.-(Ii ear, hear) He regretted
to hear of a strike having existed in th it district
for more than six months, because strikes were in-
jurious not only to. the workmen, but also to the
employers and the tradesmen iesiding in the
locality—(hear, hear). He was n t there that day
to ascertain the exact cause of the strike, but he
believed the people in the district had been com-
pelled to undergo great privations through .the
ogeneral depression in trade, unfair competition, and
other causes—(hear, hear). He also regretted to
hear that many of the wives and daughters were
compelled to work at the nail and chain blocks.
In his opinion every industrious Englishman ought
to be in a position to earn sufficient money to
maintain his wife and children —(applause)—and he
for one did not think such an agreeable state of
things would take place until the pluckiest amongst
them delerinined upon going into the Colonies,
where there was a more brilliant sun and more
feeble land than in England—(hear, hear) In the
past many people had felt disposed to go to the
Colonies, but were unable to go for want of funds.
He had the honour of being connected with an
association which had been formed for the purOite
of obtaining State-directed colonisation. In several
of the Colonies a man had only to ask for 160 acres
of land and he could have it, but it was no use to
him unless he could have money, and the associa-
tion had prepared a scheme by which he who
emigrated without money shon'.d receive wages
whist he was cultivating the Imo', and that he
ehoald receive assistance to ere o, a house, and at
tlu expiration of twelve months he should repay
th amount of wages received, sad in the course of
thsae years repay other moneys advanced to him,
Tae speaker afterwards at consi lerable length ex-
plained the details of the scheme.
nel Stewart said he was please l that he had
come into the Black Country in order to ascertain
the extent of the poverty existing aitiongBt the
chainmakers, and from the facts which hal come to
his knowledge he had no hesitation in saying that
the chainavakers had been subjected to dissraceful
treatment. o,le of the causes, in his /pinion, of
the misery that existed amongst them was over
production, and this, in his opinion, was to be re-
moved by a good number of families going to the
Colonies—(hear, hear). He had succeeded in
obtaining subscripiions in
,London amounting to
.£lO, aud after what he had ascertained that day he
should deem it his duty to write to the London
p apers on behalf of the chainmakers—(applause)
Celoeel Stewart afterwards urged the ehainmakers
to petition Parliament in favour of voluntary State
directed colonisation.
The Chairman, Mr. Sideway, and other speak. rs
spoke in favour of the movement, and eventually
it was decided to forward a petition to Mr. Brooke
Robinson. M.P., to present to Pal liament.
Ihe Chairman tinuonnced that he had rec ived ii
number of donations, including £lO from tie
Mitchell's Caps Hill B ewery, Birmingham
It was resolved to continue the-strike at t
factories wl.ere the employers refttsJ to conce le
the advance.

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