The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-14 00:00:00

Meeting of Colliers.

An open air meeting of colliers was held yesterday on a
hill, called the Wren's Nest, in the Dudley district. The
number present was computed at about 7,000, and it was
the largest meeting of the kind that has ever been held in

South Staffordshire. A procession of about 3,000 persons
marched from Dudley to the pldco of meeting, accompanied
by ten bands.

Mr W. H. Miller, of Dudley, presided, and there were
delegates present who represented Scotland and the northern
counties.

The following resolution was passed :—" That the miners
of this district approve of the objects of the Dliners' National
Association, and pledge themselves to support its operations
and contribute towards its funds." _

Mr J, Honmus, of Methfey,treasurer to the National
Association, then spoke, and after some remarks upon the
in 1853 to 3,088 in 1862. Employed in
appearance of those present, gave the following statistics :
—The number of collieries at work has increased from 2,397
these collieries
there were, in 1861, no less than 235,590 colliers, who pro-
duced for sale in that year the enormous quantity of
83,635,214 tons of coal, the value of which is estimated at
£21,009,000 per annum. Up to 1850 the number of fatal
deaths in coal mines averaged 1,015
yearly, or four to the
thousand, more than eight times above the general average
of deaths by violence from dangerous occupations; while the
returns for 1861-2 show the average to have risen to 1,061
2-3, while 1863 is still higher than the preceding years. The
Registrar- General's report shows that the average of the
lives of the whole population of Great Britain reaches 33.34
years, agriculturists being 42'3, the miner's life averages only
27 years. Ihe speaker then maintained that the enormous
amount of work done by the colliers was not properly paid
for; that they were not participating, so to speak, largely
enough in the profits of their masters ; while the risk they
encountered in exposing themselves to the breathing of the
foul air in a pit, which shortened their lives, was another
reason why they should he well paid for their work. The
income tax returns, continued he, for the past year showed
that the masters were getting more wealthy every year;
and he thought that the labourers of the country should get
richer too, so that by and by they
might have a few hun-
dred pounds to fall back upon at a period when they were
not fit for work.

The Rev. J. R. STEVENS, chaplain to the National As-
sociation, then spoke, and was followed by the delegates;
after which the meeting dispersed.

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