The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-27 00:00:00

THE NAVVIE'S STRIKE AT BIRKENHEAD

DOCKS.

This strike appears to be likely to assume rather a serious
aspect, as niay be gathered from the following particulars :
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-Yesterday an application was made to the magistrates
have
on the bench were the Rev. R M. Fielden,n
magistrates
son,
t o assembled
h
J. D. Case , Esq., S. R. Shaw, Esq., the Rev. M.
Colon, Richard Barton, Esqo and 3. B. Clegg, jun., Esq.
On the magistrates taking their seats, Mr. Brethertot,
solicitor, said he had an application to make to the bench
on behalf of the Messrs. Thompson and Co., contractors
under the Liverpool corporation, for the alterations now
going on at the docks in this town. In consequence of
some misunderstanding between Messrs. Thompson and
their workmen, a large number of the latter had
left their work—he believed the number was between
five and eight hundred. Now, it was quite clear
that every man had a right to barter his labour
in the best market, he received and obtained the highest
wages be could, but he had no right by acts of intimidation
to prevent others, who were disposed, from working. These
mea who bad turned out were its the habit of assembling at
the works in large bodies, and stopping the waggons as
they were drawn along, and the platelayers and others when
going to work were prevented from doing anything by the
men trampling over the ground, and so covering it and de-
stroying the work as to render it totally impossible for
the men to proseed with their dotty, using at the same
time the most violent threats. lie (Mr. Bretherton) had
always seen a disposition on the part of the bench to afford
the utmost protection to the working man, and he had no
doubt whatever but the same protection would be afforded
to the masters. Now, it was quite clear that the
police force in the town, which did not number more
than thirty, was totally inadequate for the enier- •
gency, and therefore he had to apply to the
the Bench to sweer a riumb,-,i- of special constables for
the protection of the works. The Rev. Mr Feilden asked
if there had been any individual acts of intimidation ? Mr.
Brotlierton replied ,:that there had, but the men assembled
in such large bodies that it was impossible to identify the
parties. Mr. Barton said he understood from what had
taken place in the private office, that there were
one or two individual eases, but the parties were
afraid to tense forward to identify the patties.
Brethertot said that was so, and if any proceedings
were taken the parties accused would be immediately sent
away. The Rev. Mr. Fielden asked whether any application
had b3en made by the men to the Messrs. Thompson.
Mr. Brothel ton said there had, and they had offered
to pay off all that were dissatisfied ; but this was re-
fused, and the mea were acting like the dog in
the manger—they would neither eat the hay themselves
nor permit others. Mr. Birnie, superintendent of the
police, and Mr. Dransfield, agent to Messrs. Thompson,
were then examined as to the state of matters, the latter
of whom stated that about 800 men had turned out. The men
turned out on Monday morning, and notice was then put
up stating that all who were dissatisfied would be paid off,
but this was refused, and the men collected in large crowds,
and would not allow those who were willing, to work.
They covered the ground upon which the men should work,
and used the most violent language. 'the Rev. Mr, Feilden
the head
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negative,mad e trbientesrae7l wages
ganger had been spoken to on the subject, and then notice
was put up, stating that all who were dissatisfied would be
paid off at once. The Rev. Mr: Feilden : Then, what you
want is a sufficient force for to protect these who are
disposed to work. Mr. Dransfield slid that it was so.
The Rev. Mr. soil it was desirable it should be
known that it was a sad mistake to suppose that
such proceedings quid be allowed, and if any of the
men were present, and he supposed some were, they would
find eventually that the law would prove toe strong for
them. It any acts of intimidati ,ta were proved, they must
bear in mind that they would be taken up and committed
to prison for three Months to hard labour. It was to the
interest of parties having large eiorks to complete to give
adequate wagee, and no doubt the Messrs. Thompson would
do so; but these who were dissatisfied with the terms
might refuse to work. They had no right, however,
to prevent others, and would not be permitted to do
so, for if the police force was insufficient to protect
them further force would be obtained, and, if necessary,
the military would be called upon. Ete entreated them to
go and consider the matter for the sake of themselves and
their families, foi if they continued such a combination they
would find the masters also combining and, as it had
been proved in Preston and other places, the latter would
eventually prove the strongest. A number of special
constables were then swoon in, but in the course of the
afternoon, the aspect of affairs on the works did not assume
any more peaceable appearance, and apprehensions were
entertained that a disturbance might take place. It is
said that the Messrs. Thompson have plant on the works
to the value of £30,000. Yesterday afternoon, shortly
after four o'clock, upwards of 600 of the turn-outs,
together with about 300 women, assembled at
the works, drove all the workpeople off the ground, and
threw all their tools into the great float. Information was
at once conveyed to the police office, when the whole force,
under charge of Mr. Birnie, were speedily on the spot, but
the mob, having completed their object, had dispersed.