The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-22 00:00:00

THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE COLLIERS'
STRIKE.

The strike of the colliers in this district has
deprived the manufacturers of Birmingham of the usual
supply of coal ; the result is that several of the works aro
partially stopped in cooaequenom Yesterday afternoon a
meeting was held on the subject in the committee-room of
the Town-hall. It had been convened by the Mayor, who
presided in compliance with • requisition prmented to him.
The Maros said be bad been induced to call that meet-
ing upon representations which had been mede to him of
ea important character, sod notwithstanding the
table character of the requisition, he bed been told that
time permitted hundreds of the most intlasutial ishabi.
tents would have gladly signed the document. The meet-
kg was aware that a strike had existed is what was flown
as the " black country" for now more than three
months, but few were acquainted with its extent, or the
injuries which were being indicted by its cootinuance.
There were now Dot lees then between twenty and thirty
thousand colliers oe strike, • large number of colliers stand-
ing idle, as well as mast extensive works io the district, and
it might readily be imagined that the parties iatsnstsd—
more particularly the men—had suffered greatly is wow
queoce of the unhappy dispute. A strike of such magni-
tude in a district so close to Birmingham, and in • trade
upon which Birmingham manufacturers and coal othaumen
ripen* so moth depended, was • serious natter, sad ow
which he was sorry to way was assuming • rather alarming
character. He had beta told upon good authority that so
scarce was coal becoming that manufacturers in the town
were now greatly embarreseed, and that if the strike COG-
tinned a fortnight or so longer some fifty thousaad seises.
in Birmingham would be throes out of employment.. The
affair, therefore, wore a serious aspect, end be felt quite
justified in calling the inhabitants together tomes if means
could sot be devised for bringing the dispute to an end, and
thereby everting the threatened calamity. He would ab-
stain from expressing an opinion Upon the strike or its cause,
the result they bad to deal with, and he hoped that some
proposition would emanate from that meeting which would
bring the masters sod Ines to amicable arrangement.
Mr. DisON said Birmingham was threatesed with a coal
famine, as Manchester hail experienced a cotton famine,
and if the present strike continued great suffering would
have to be borne by the artisans of Birmingham. The
supply of coal was now ktelly inadequate to wants,
and within a fortnight the scarcity would be so great that
their manufactories would be partially stopped. He would
like to have oriel as cheap as possible, but the question was
DOW Incoming not one of price, but of getting noel at all.
He toe one did sot oilect to pay the prices soled in
Jams last for coal, they should have to keep their works going.
He mewed the following resolution :—" That this meeting,
while abstaining from expressing soy °piston on the yaw-
Coos in dispute between the colliers and their em
deeply regret the unfortunate strike that has occorrPer=
with a view to the settlement of this difference, darks to
express the willingness of the consumers of coal in this lowa
to pay the prices that ruled previous to the cOnsmisonneat
of the strike."

Mr. Samovrrs said he could not support the reaolution.
Coal was dearer pow than it had been for seven years, and
the advises which bad taken Place had made a claimants of
700 f. a year in the consumption of coal at ha works. Mama-
factures could not afford the high price ; but while raying
that, he was in favour of the men receiving &dogmata roma-
aeration for their labour. He wouldalmegly advise the coil.
masters and men to settle their differeemis spmdily. They
mid/mood one soother very well, sad We &spat* should
not be pushed too far. The masufactarine of Birmingham
mould not do without coal, and if they could not gat it from
Staffordshire they would procure it elsewhere. Three wen
nurneroua coal Saida, and capital would not be wanting to
work than.