The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-23 00:00:00

THE LOCK-OUT IN THE IRON TRADE.

The adjourned meeting of the London Trades'
delegates was belt at the Bann Hotel, Boaverbe.street,
len eight, when there wee a very fell attiodans.
The South Staffordehire nes wen represented by Yr.
1 North fitaffordabire, by Messrs. Baker sad Plum
sal tke esillraes, by Newts Biddlesion and Lawton.
Delegable were preset frees the tollowiag trades : Maw
obsaist Order of Lea Bellermakere, Weed Osier of
ps weieweaskin, egeepurative Ifs-plate weeleses,
toners' society, earpeates (ward sisieliesk pelotas
leen& societies), plasterers. rePentkeekOregabs Massoi
liesisey, chronslypognsphic penises, beekbladesk ehoe.
aselses, boonnakees, glusestiers, ins ship•bailden, Lew
den District Iron-worken . several nailer 1100illtiel, sad
several delegates from radon large henries and shops is
&Sweat trades.

After a long died ion,
Ito. COMO= morel the following resolution :
"Thai in the opinion of this westing the course adopted
by the imantaMers to °papal the North Staffordshire pod-
Mum to accept a redaction is their wages by inflict*, the
saimeiss of a lock-out en the families of nem who are no
participators in the dispute, is nejestiflable and cruel ; end
with a view to mews any ponade which may exist for
their continuing to inflict snob distress, the meeting rooms-
nieleils the North Stafforehire an to inbuilt the question
of their wages to arbibation when the masters open their
weeks and allow the nee now locked-out to resume work."
He denied that the lock-out was a mosimary result of the
shrike, and characterised the policy adopted by the masters
es not only a creel but an exterminating policy. At the
same time, in order that there might be no excuse whatever
far the router., still in the interest of hormaity and in
under to save the awful misery which must otherwise emus
to thousands of immoset parsons, they ware content to rr
aesemsad the gemlike of the justice of the 'Mike to arbiter
hien, on the cooditioo that the works should be opened, sad
matters should be treated epos as Iran the first day of the
Meat
Mr. Ibismerr, earpeaker, smonded the resolstioa, expense-
* his opinion
_at the same time, that after what had
mewed it would he vary lam to desert the North Stet-
ferddline men on strike.
Mr. Binnusermen denied that be bad in say way
=tthe muter'. Both masters and men were guilty,
oed unto these flan whore the first offences proceeded.
The resolution wee carried umaimously.
Kr. WILLARD, reproesetative of the irorboilarenakme
sad shirbaildna, moved the next resolutioa "It i
having hem stated through the press and by many
public moo that the lock-out by the bar-masters is at many
▪ with the laws apiast illegal combination, this meeting
moomusends that coonssrs opinion be taken thereon, and
snob proceediep instituted se he may direst to test such
Modality." He expreseed a strong opinioo that the conduct
of the masters in locking-out the South Staffordshire men
sad the mill-men was lanai, and that if men on strike in
an locality bad attempted to influence those of another
locality to strike they would. under the Combination Act,
be Bale to imprisooment
Hr. B. Nerniacctr, boiler-maker, secoodedthe resolution.
Mr. Ramona. plumber and braes finisher, moved as ea
amendment, " That, in the opinion of the meeting, it is
altogether unseomsary to take the adMos of counsel with
regard to the combination of the mutate." He pointed ad
to the meeting that in passing such a resolution they mesa
*tying with edge tools, that the masters bad just as musk
eight to combine as the men, and is doing so they were
imply following the example of the men ; and though he
admitted that the combination of the mambo's bad been ear
vied to a cruel sad ouvrarrentable exteot, yet on the goer
ties of legality he believed that the masters had as muck
right to combine se they had.
The amendineet, not being eecoeded, fell to the ground.
Mr. UTSHALL mid he should have spoken whist the
amendment ; for though he admitted that the masters, like
the men, had a right to combine to protect their Maas
laterals, yet they bad no right to embus*, as it was patent
they had none, for the purpose of crushing a combination
saMorieed by the legialature—namely, the combination of
see ender t • Combination Act.
The resolution was carried with three dissentients.
The CHAIRMAN then annouoced that the next question
lead reference to the collection and apportionment of the
eabseripti cos, and that the subscription sheets of tbe Merle-
bill executive council were in the room, and 000tained all
the information with reference to the disposal of the sub-

seri_ ptioo.
Xr. Lotion said that before they proceeded they most
by down a deficits principle as to the disposal of the sob.
eariptioo. sod as to whether the North Staffordshire men
ware to have it seat direct, which was hie motion. (Loud

amen. )
Mr. BIDDLIEBTONI wished to give one word of warning.
Beth the Gatestrmd and Brierly-bill executives, with the
Mmen's Association. had distinctly stated they would not
support the men on strike ; sod if, as it w.a pretty certain
would be the result, a reeolutios was carried by the London
trades to support the North Staffordshire men, the leek-out
would be costionsd, and the question would be, not between '
the men and the masters, but the London trades and the
'asters.
Some farther discussion took place on the point, sad the
feeling was very evidently in favour of sending their money
to the moo on strike.
The CliAllllllllll suggested that the best way of misting
the difficulty would be that the mosey should in all 0111•111
be mat so Uwe* districts sad bodies specified by the domes. I
Mr. HOR.IDAT thought that the only way to prevent I
unequal disteibetiee 1/114 to appoint a committee in Loados
ter that purpose.
A DZIAGATII complained that the North Staffordshire
inns bad bees bravely deceived, and should support a motion
Is, giving the subscriptions to the men on strike. woman if
the men oa lockout were supported, the 900 mime on strike
now succumb, which would not be an honourable terroina.
Owe of the dispute.
The meeting wee then adjoureed to this day week. and a
vote of thanks was proposed to the chairman, which was
tarried oneninsoesly. The prosodies, throughout were
of the most orderly description.
It appears by the statement of the Brierly.bill executive
that there are upwards of 4,000 members upon the funds of
that reociatior, sod an equal number upon those of the
withers corns]. while 1,800 millings are east lapse their
hale, asakhif a total of 9,800 mss, with their families, re-
velries support, besides as immense somber of other per
dined! sad isdireelly eosseeted with she iron trade
who ere reduced to Osseo is consequence of this deplor-
able sissugle.

OXON out WOLVOXAXPTOX CORIESPOIDIXT.
As the period over which the lock-ont extends
leactbmw iudicetious of the difficulties which arise from
it to certain of the masters become imereasimtly appuset.
The snowiest -occupied Arm of Yemen. Lloyds, Fester,
cad Oa, of W , ire Dow rw:s2 their works oa
Ile lea of ea usdertaidatt to be ' by their work-
less* wberetaille latter bind the ves to rein* frees
dismay or Judi:may, the emu as rinks
lionror ebifordeadre. Directed, they asamarat, by *sir
two el Yams. Lloyd sad Fortoes mamma
=tru;ine es aosatin at Drierly-bill at Tuesday after-
nom **Wm Os malice of that *Rua to *air spar*
at osilortokin as a eseditioa to *sir loin