The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-18 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EXPRESS.

of it, —The present slackness in the ship-building
trade on the Thames, and the consequent extreme distress
amongst the thousands of unemployed workmen, Las been
the subject of much correspondence and frequent notice in
your paper. As one of the largest firms of this descrip-
tion, employing even in the present slackness two thou-
sand hands, although that is considerably has than half
of our usual number, we think it right to make public the
following facts.
We see just finishing some large contracts which would
necessitate the discharge of some hundreds more of our
bands, and, being anxious to avoid this aggravation of the
present distress, we bad opened negotiations for building
sonic steamers for a foreign company which we could only
obtain at a greatly reduced pnce ; profit was altogether
out of the question, and we could only hope to escape loss
by some reduction in the cost of labour. We asked our
workmen to accept for this especial job, without affect-
big any others, a reduction of 6d. per day on
the duly wages paid on account of their contract
work, giving them still whatever balance might re-
main due on its completion from the amounts settled
by mutual agreement ; this involved a reduction of the
daily wages of the shipwrights from is. to 6s. fid. per day,
and other claws in proportion.
We annex a copy of their reply, received this day, abso-
lutely refusing our proposal. We make no comment on
this refusal, except that we have good reason for believing
that most of our men would willingly have accepted our
offer, but they are forbidden by their trades' unions.-1
am, itc., JOHN FORD, Managing Director,
The Thames Iron Works Ship-building Co.,
Orchard-yard, Blackwall, Jan. 16.

"TO THE DIRECTORS or THE THAMES IRON WORKS, SHIP-
BUILDING, ENGINEERING, AND DRY DOCK COMPANY

(4111ITZIJ.

" Gentlemen,—After carefully considering the high rate
of house rents, taxes, food, and all other necessaries of
life, as well as the loss of time caused by bad weather,
stock taking, holidays, &c., we find that by accepting •
reduction from the present rate of day's wages we shall be
doing an act of injustice to ourselves, families, and all
•hose with whom we have dealings, for the present small
sum it is scarcely possible to keep clear from debt, and so
beg respectfully to decline your offer of en. lid. per day,
but ftra willing to take any work by contract, and draw
the money for the same as the said work progreases.—We
remain, yours respectfully,
" THE SHIPWRIGHTS OP THE PORT OF LONDON."

TNI: COLLIERS' STRIKE IN THE AAWION-UNDER-
LYNE DinTKlCT.—Another great meeting of the colliers of
Ashton-under-Lyne and district was held on Wednesday,
under the presidency of Mr. Joseph Tomlinson. The
chairman in opening the meeting announced that at
Voynton the miners had obtained an advance of Id. in the
shilling on all work. The men stipulated that if they, the
sainera of Ashton and district,won their battle, the miners
of Poynton would require another penny, and the em-
ployers
di did not say they should not have it. The list of
was then called over and each delegate announced
tho position of the members. No. 1 lodge was out, and
would so remain until the advance asked was given. No.
3 lodge was also out, but the masters had said they would
give the advance when others gave it. Nos. 4 and 5
were out, and would so remain until the advance asked was
given. No. 6 (representingthree pits) hsdobtained the ad-
vance of 2d. in the shilling on all work done. Nos. 7, 8,9,
10, and 11 were all out. No. 12 had met on Tuesday and
decided to remain out ; but the delegate was instructed to
ask the meeting if it would not be better to ascertain
whether the public were willing to pay the advanced price
of coal, provided the men's wages were raised. No. 13 was
cut. No. 14 had seen the master, and had been told by
him that 110 would send for them when he wanted them—
perhaps in a week or two.' Nos. 15, 16, and 17 were all
out. No. 18 had obtained the advance. Nos. 19 and 20
were both oat on strike. The chairman said it thee ap-
peared that eight pits in the district were working at the
advance of 2d. in the ls.—namely, two at Broom-lane,
two at Hyde, three at Ashton, and one at Whittaker's.
The meeting again determined that day-men must not
work ; one delegate saying if the master wanted to work
his engine he must pay for the coal, i.e., give the advance.
It was also unanimously resolved to continue on strike
until the advance asked was given, and to abstain from
signing any contracts of service on resuming work.