The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-02 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.

MEETING OF PRESTON MANUFACTURERS.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PRESTON, DEC. 1. —This morning, a meeting of the Asso-
ciated Masters of Preston and the neighbourhood, was held
at the Bull Hotel, in this town ; Mr. T. MILLER, in the
chair. After a brief debate, the annexed resolutions were
unanimously adopted :-
1. "That neither the prospects of trade, nor the position
taken by the work-people, enable us to recede from or to
modify the resolutions of the 4th November, 1853. -

2. It having been alleged that persons willing to accept
work, do not know where to apply for the same. —Resolved,
in conformity with the resolution of the 4th November,
1853, that public notice be given, that applications for em-
ployment will be received at the mills now closed, every
working day, from ten o'clock, a.m., till four o'clock, p.m.,
and that when a sufficient number of hands to enable us to
open our mills, shall have applied for work, the com-
mittee do forthwith convene a general meeting of the asso-
ciation.

3. " That this meeting do now adjourn till Thursday, the
29th instant."

Copies of the foregoing resolutions have been pla-
carded throughout the town, with the following notice ap-
pended :

"PUBLIC NOTICE,

"Notice is hereby given, that in conformity with the
above resolutions, applications for employment will be re-
ceived at the mills now closed, on and after Monday, the sth
of December, 1853, from ten o'clock in the forenoon, till
four o'clock in the afternoon.

"By order of the Associ9.Von."
Rumours were rife in the town, yesterday, that a breach
of the peace was to '); apprehended on the occasion of the
masters' meeting to- lay ; but as yet nothing has occurred to
indicate any disposition on the part of the operatives to com-
mit any outrage upon persons or property ; on the contrary,
their conduct has been uniformly such as to elicit the com-
mendation of high authorities.
After an open air meeting of spinners and others, held in
the Orchard this morning, resolutions were passed, pledging
those present not to resume labour without an unconditional
advance of ten per cent and to support the union ; similar
resolutions were agreed to at a meeting of weavers yesterday
afternoon.

CORPORATION OF LONDON.-CHAMBERLAIN.

At the examination on Wednesday by the commissioners at
present inquiring into the condition of the London corporation,
Mr. Thomas Plant Rose, who acted at the last election for
city chamberlain as " confidential agent" of Mr. Scott,
who contested the office with Sir John Key, the successful
candidate, gave this evidence :
Do you mean that generally there is a considerable ex-
penditure incurred in elections for the office of C hamber-
lain ?—Very generally.
Are there not many persons employed as colourmen,
canvassers, and so op ?—A great number.
What do they receive ?—Their average is pay is about
7s. 6d. or 10s. a-day.
Do you mean to say that no sums higher than that are
paid to persons who are voters who act in that capacity ?
—Some are paid as much as £1 a-day who are employed in
that way.
Mr. LEvvis.—Do you know the total amount that was
expended by Mr. Scott in his election ?—I think about
£3,400.
Was no payment made directly to voters ?—I never saw
any.
Do you believe that there was ?—I have heard that there
was, but I saw none of it. _ _

Do you know what Sir J. Key's expenses were ?—I have
been told about £7,000. __ _ . _

Do you believe that such a sum could have been spent
bona fide for agency ?—lt could not.
Do you believe that any part of that money expended on
behalf of Sir John Key was directly expended in bribing
voters ?—I believe it was.

Any considerable part ?—I believe a considerable part.
Do you believe that the election was gained by Sir John
Key by such means ?—I have no doubt of it.

A meeting to sympathise with the Preston " strike" was
held in London on Wednesday night. The proceedings were
not interesting.