The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-27 00:00:00

MEETING OF ENOINE-DRIVERS AND FIREMEN

LAST NIGHT.

.Last night a meeting of engine-drivers and firemen
in the employ of the London and North Western Railway,
on the southern division of that line, took place at the Rail-
way Tavern, Hampetead.road, for the purpose of receiving a
deputation ron% the drivers of the northern division, to en•
plain the grievances of which they complain, and to adopt
such resolutions as might be deemed advisable therein.
The proceedings of the men on the North Western Rail-
wry appear to have attracted the deep interest of those em-
ployed on other railways, as last evening, in addition to the
deputation from the northern division of the North Western,
deputations also attended from the Great Western, Eastern
Countiee, Great Northern, South Western, South Eastern,
Brighton, awl other Important lines.
NATHANIEL HUNT, engine-driver on the northern
division of the line, stationed at Rugby, was at 9 o'clock
called to the chair. He observed, that he hoped and trusted
they had an impartial press before them. Let them have
fair play In having their statement hid before the public,
as well as the directors of the companies. They were only
desirous to have every portion of tbwr grievances laid before
the public, through the medium of ihe press ; and, in order
that the public might fairly judge of the question, he would
read the first memorial which was prewotad to Mr. Tray.
thick, the locomotive superintendent at Crewe. He then
read the following memorial:
• • - -

"To Francis frovethick, Req., loeornotive superintend's..
London and North Western Railway, northern division, at
Crewe. The bumble memorial from your engine men and
firemen, employed in your locomotive department:
"Showeth,—That your memorialists have lately viewed
with extreme regret that they have again to approach yeu
on a subject in which they feel the most intense interest,
because they plainly can foresee their Intlim welfare will be
compromised if you do not retract the order you hare glv. n
our. What your memorialists would specially call
your attention to is this, that it is your wish
to introduce a elites that every engineman aid
fireman under your charge, shall on some future day be
called upon to sign an agreement that they must give these
months' notice before they can leave the service et the com-
pany. This alarm proceeds from your having got some un-
registered men to do to. Therefore what else can be
expected but that on a tenure day you would request your
memonalista to do so likewise. Besides, you hare 'objected
your memorialists to be fined from the breaking down of um
machinery of the engine., under the impression that these
breakages occur from the want of oil, while it is a well-known
face, by all who hare anything to do with a locomotive
engine, that the majority of breakdowns arise from comas
over which the enginsom can have no pmsible control;
consequently, can it be reasonable and just in sorb Man to
attribute them to want of oil ? Again, there is an order given
by you that as little oil as possible must be used. By this
there are two orders quite in opposition to one another,
namely: —lst. "Use plenty of oil to save the machinery from
breaking down." II this is not complied with, and a breaksge
takes place, the engineman in ti .ed. 2nd. "Oa the other
hand, it what you consider an over-quality to have been
used the engineman is docked a portion of his premium,
which is • fine by another name. It is impossible at all
times to prescribe the same quantity. If that is done the
first order cannot be complied with, because an engine may
run many days without heating, at other times it is impos-
sible to prevent it."
"Again, thee. is another description of fines which we
consider over severe; for 'temple, suppose an engineman
commits, or may have been caused to commit, a small fault,
this engineman is immediately suspended for slit, eight, or
tea days, until a oommittee meeting. If he is exonerated,
still he loses his time, which of COOT'S fines him for that of
which he is not guilty. Should he be guilty, besides the
Toes of his time, he is in general lined one pound. This
makes a double fine, which becomes very severe.
"Your memorialists are led to understand that you an
under an impression that they have not acted towards you
in such • manner as to render them deserving of your sym-
pathy and pateonage. Surely a fateitude of 10, 11, 12, or 1$
years is suill lent to costive* you to the contrary. The
experience of such loop and faithful service is guarantee
enough for steadiness, without binding them to a three
months' notice.
" Referring again to the three months' notice system,
your atemorielists, after much consideration and grave atten.
don to the watching over their future interests, most respeete
fully beg leave to LOOM you of the unanimous resolution
they have come to. It is this:—' That your memorialises
imam think of ageseieg to glee a three menthe natio, at
soy future time. Then is soother point which your so.
morialista view with gam. It is reported ourreaUv oval
the whole length of the London and North Western Rail-
way that on a future occasion, when It mita you, you
will do all the injury you can to your memorialists. If this
report be true, they consider it is ant treating them just',
for they do sot deserve it.
" Your memorialists always were of opinion, and believed,
that you entertained • good keeling towards them, and they
were always led to understand that you would promote their
interests by every lamas in your power, ea well as the safety
of the pablic, and the interests of this least company. You
are aware that we have always been &studied with the present
rata of wages.
"Under tree einuntstanees, surely, your memorielists
cannot be blamed for reopectfully reqsesting you to rem"-
eider your present determination, and ones more restore that
harmony and good feeling which is so essential to the efficieat
working of the railway, the haunts of the shareholder',
and the comfort of the workmen.
" Your memorialists feel easurid that hitherto, so a body,
they have maintained a high reenter for working the line
with perfect safety, n far as they are eoneerned, and it ie
drat desire to inerera their tieritatioo,ml prove themeless
emery dyer ensideration.
" p
• proem of pre memerialiets emaidar their ore a
grievous or, bemuse they are set treated brier re terms
laid dews by re Wesson-4Ln wises they nu regularly on
the line they were to be paid 75. pee day, sad turnovers be.
per day. This stroller" is sot earned te."
The memertallets express a hope that no advantage will be
taken of the MittfdilY ea amount of the fesegg state.
meals, sad humbly beg, with a view to allay further Win.
tier anemias the ear, that attention to the memorial might
be r needy se
The ORATElrriblig egatinued—That maillerial had been
presinted to Mr. Trevaililek; but not meeting with of in-
Mediate answer, another letter was fomented to him In a
few days whitetail to know why they had received no reply.
That letter elm met with no answer, and a deputation wag
the. appointed to wait upon the chairman of the loecznotive
steam -iroomittee at Crews, at hie own residence. That
gentleman rewind them to a very abrupt manner, and
asked them what they wanted there. Re stated, at the same
'time, that be would give then a menting on Tuesday next,
aced that it worst hie latentioa to reduce the young hands.
la theristed answer a Mart statement had been made.
Why did the directors wish to ietreduse a three mouths'
Wine rasa, a as of seen that had been upon she Ilse pace