The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-27 00:00:00

TRW DISTRESS IN THE EAST OF LONDON.

The adjourned meeting of the united executive
committee for relieving the spacial distress in the east of
London was bald at the Mansion-hour yesterday, the
LORD MAYOR presiding.
It will ho recollected that the committee adjourned
from Monday, in order that inquiries might be made as to
the alleged strike of thirty carpenters in the employment
of Mears. Nagler and Wood, at Miliwall.
Mr. Scaurror, the secretary of the East Central Relief
Cornmittse, now attended to afford explanations, and
stated that he bad bid an Interview with %see of the
men, and their saaessacins was that they went to work
about three weeks ago, upon the agreement that they
would receive Is. 61. per day, and some of them on three,
and others on two Saturdays worked up to four o'clock.
Oa the Saturday before last the work was sufficiently ad-
vanced for some brialayers to be employed, and they came
from a London arm on certain terms—namely, that they
should haveBd. an hour, and knockoff at one:on Saturdays.
Upon thia the carpenters did note.° why they should have to
work up to 4 o'clock, and they socordingly represented the
matter to Mews. Pantile: and Wood, who agreed to let
them have Is. extra for working till 4, but the man ex-
pressed a.preference for leaving off work at I, and told
Mr. PonUfex so, and he left the matter in the hands of
his foreman, who told them they could do as they liked.
On Saturday last they left at one o'clock sad returned as
usual on Monday morning, but to their surprise they
were told that their samosa would not be further re-
quired, and that they might take their back pay and leave.
The Rev. Mr. ROWSRLL remarked that their statement
was that there was no strike at all.
Mr. SAMODA said the explanation produced upon his
mind the impression that it was a distinct strike, and a
very objectionable strike.
Mr. Scaurror said the men stated that there was no
strike at all, and that they believed they bad simply for

f eited the shilling.
Mr. awtime. observed that there was a distinct and
absolute dribs by these men, and such a strike as be or
any other employer of labour would have resisted. These
men had been at work for three weeks at sa. 6d. a day,
but it appeared that their regulations required them to
leave on before 4 o'clock.
Mr. ficaurrox said they were not trade union men.
Mr. SAMODA remarked that notwithstanding this they
combined and took an objection to the employment they
were reeeiving, with the object of extorting terms from
their master. They diamond the matter and said to their
enastere, " We will hare la. for the extra work on Satur-
day," sad it was remarkable that this was done only after
the wriest of the bricklayers. He considered that these
men bad entirely failed to remove the bad imprandon from
his mind that this strike was totally uncalled for.
Mr. Scaurroit said they were led into the matter by one
man, who came from Bromley, and it came to be a question
of voting. A portion of the man who would rather have
worked till 4 aid received the extra shilling were led to
join with their comrade', not having the strength of mind
to resist •
Mr. SAXODA—If you put the matter on another footing
that is a totally different thing.
The Bev. Joinr KINNLDT—I would like to ask a ques-
tion. Did the men demand Bd. an hour 1
Mr. Scausroe—The Bd. was discussed, bat I do not think
it ever came prominently forward. They do not appear to
have demanded it.
The Rev. Mr. HANSARD said Mr. Pontifex promised
them la., and then somebody else broke that agreement
Mr. Samara—They broke it themselves, by going off
work before 4 o'clock.
In reply to Mr. Crimes,
Mr. BORWITOT and the engagement with the men was
that they were to receive ss. td. per day, and to work
till four on Saturday.
At this siege a number of the men lately in the employ-
ment of Mews. Poetess and Wood attended before the
committee, and Mr. B. Applegsrth, cemetery of the Amal-
gamated Sonny of Oaremeten and Joiners, read • E
bytate-
ment of 'Jaen" in their behalf, which was signed l4
or 16 of the mem.
It was in subsumes the same as reported above. '
Questioes were then put to the men by Menet mew
bus of the committee, and their replies were to the effete
that they agreed W work at ss. 6d. per day on the under-
standing Lit it wend be a general thing ler
and all ; that they Aid oak for Bd. an hour; thtdeakel=
wandered le was optional to leave work at one or receive
the shilling ; end that this was not • ems a resir • re-
duction of wages by a trade union ; so far from that beteg
the owe, they should be glad to work for Is. 6d. a obre
even up 1411 four en Saturday.
The zeal tisk withdrew.
Masi aro disseniss,
The Rev. Xt. !MUM'. thought some node* al the
matter was Whoa kr, wain limy had a resolution in re-
ferees* to it es the osionboo not last meeting The difficulty
4,..
. tie net by the following resolution:—" That this
as ow
_advise& toe nothing in the eireum-
the misemaersuemig- between Means. Pantile:
sod eild lei line mem mini wield prevent them ge-
=l:themjiiirewerent einmellesal:andporsevering .
Mr. adds thie set his views, and he
Ids own own in its favour, and
seconded it.
a.b. slimed es ea anseddeest, " That we now
*boom," whisk wee asseeded by Mr. ROME
• slew el heads wee Ma bailee sight voting ter the
ensaihrdskiimalshis he*, iirlSes.
. <, reoshreissi Ilan seserdbily dssiered
.
so i
sit sow were
pier nada to
"'the 1-111111, kii stbii Ida shol m9_ll
1 .oidiewa mast mods.
thus t St .be Ile relied
assesisides ; sad Pare no
lig essaittee.
irleildwurtelibie 4/111ws Millen voted te the Rev.
he ay** for the retie
et this„AidestiT "`""0111 ewe- deans. so limy
I MI I.

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