The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-02 00:00:00

MANUFACTURERS' 3f FETING.
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From the /lotion Express of Saturday.]
The Meeting of the Manufacturers of Great and Littbs Bolton
took place yesterriar, at the Queen Ann Inn. Wm. Garnett Tay-
lor, Esq. was called to the Chair; but we were unfortunately too
late to hear the Meeting opened. We understood, however, that
Mr.sTaylor, in a short and able speech, maspitulated the olijects
of the Meeting, and described, in a manly end feeling manner, the
state of suffering and mis. ry to which the weavers in this neigh.
browband were now reduced, by the low prices paid for their labour,
He exhorted the manufacturers to co-operate. and at least endea-
vour to ameliorate the condition of the working classes and if they
could not detail that they would, he advised them to SO 'Bin their
I poem under the circumstances of the case. Ile further said, that
the Magistrates. end other leading men of the town and neighbour-
Iwo t, viewed with unfeigned pleasure the order, regulante. nod
strict subordination which had been maintained here, notwithstand-
ing that the neighbouring towns were in a state little short' of
anarchy and confusioo. This circumstance was a matter of en-
couragement to the manufacturers and others of this town, to exert
themselves to relieve the poignant distresses of the poor, and kr
Isis part he thought not a moment should be Inst in adopting
meesores to attain that desirable end. lie then proceeded to
read the resolntions which had been prepared. After the flth
resolution was read, 31r. Giff ird, on behalf of the wearers,
io
a speech which was creditable to himself, and which would not
hive disgraced a man of MOM regulse educstion, said, that he
objected to the resolution, on the ground, that the micas fixed as
the minimum of wages were insufficient, and would not support
a man and his family ; Ile advised that the minimum should he
rated after the tale of prices paid for weaving six years ago. He
argurd that it is necessary to protect the parish, and for that pur-
pose the weavers ought to receive such a remuneration for their
labours as would enable them to pay their quota towards the pariah
rates, and he their mite towards the r-liel of the unemployed poor.
Eight shillings for a 54Lreed was as low as it was possible for a
weaver to weave that species of work, and support himself and his
family; he recommended that this price should be proposed aia
minimum, and if the advance became general—if all the manufac-
turers would come up to that scale, &further advance might be
attempted as the demand inerensed. Mr. Itrodbelt rose, and said,
that he wished it to go forth to the world, that on the part of
()meal and Hardeastie, he deeply regretted the low sum at which
the minimum was fixed ; he knew, nay all the manufacturers
present were satisfied, that a weaver could not be sufficiently sup.
ported if he received the prices stated in the list just read. The
manufacturers met on Wednesday last, and had come to a reso-
lution to do all they could, to ease the condition of the suffering
weavers; but what could he done without the co.operation of
the neighbouring manufacturing districts? Ile keew at the pre-
sent moment many houses who were actually making goods
at from 20 to MI per cent. below the prices paid for the same
I work by others ; he thought it best to fix a reasonable minimum
—a minimum that would make others ashamed not to come up
to it at once. Let us, said he, in a strain of animated elo.
quence, bring them up to this scale, and they will no longer
be able to prey upon the industry of the helpless weaver.
Let us get them to this point, and another opportunity will
soon offer of making a further advance. He thought a higher
rate being stated would prove a banter to any thing being done.
Omsrod and Hardcastle would rejoice to give 9s. did. for 50-reed,
but unless a co-operation took place between all the manufacturers
in the district, it would be impossible to do any tiling effectually.
He deeply regretted that the weavers should be treated more like
dogs than human beings ; and he thought that their patience
under their sufferings, the frienily feeling that they had all along
manifested, merited all the attention of that meeting, and
peratively called upon the matters to use their utmost ability
to afford them a permanent relief. I can fancy myself, he con-
tinued, in the situation of a weaver; • house guiltless of pos.
seining a single article of enmfort—a wife and children crying out
for bee-cd—distress .stunning my ears all the day long—what
should I do—what could I do, under such circumstances ? When
I think of these things, Gentlemen. I cannot but admire the
patience which the weavers have shown io the midst of all their
privations, and I repeat again, that we are bound to do all we
can, and that too immediately, to improve their situation.—
A Gentleman now rose, and after some able observations, ad-
vised that an application be made to Parliament to his the
minimum of wages. lie recollected that something like the present
resolution was entered Into by some of tire bleachers; they resolved
not to take less than a certain price for bleaching—what was the
consequence? Why, the very next week other house' solicited to
have goods again, at the old price ; this was for want of a cordial
co-operation; and he (the speaker) thought nothing effectual could
be done without the interferenceof the Legislature. Mr. Giffortiagain
rose,and said he highly approved of the observatioes which had fallen
from the last speaker. It was true that the Parliament had refused
in 101 l to listen to the weavers' application for a minimum being
fixed, but then the manufacturers did not co-operate with the
weavers. He thought that the present eae • favourable time to
make the experiment. lie advised that an intelligent manufac-
turer, and a weaver, should be deputed to his Majesty's Ministers
on the subject; and If they agreed to try the experiment, all the
expense of framing • Bill, and of carrying the same through the
omen, would be saved.
Several other Gentlemen addrened the Meeting in au able and
animated strain ; and we exceedingly regret that we are compelled,
from the great pressure of local news, to curtail the report of the
Meeting. One thing we beg to say, in conclusion, that we felt
highly gratified with the good understanding whirla seemed to pre-
vail betwixt the manufacturers and the weavers--it was very
creditable to both pasties.