The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-07 00:00:00

The South Staffordshire Colliers' Strike

BIRMINGHAM, Oct. 6.
To-day a conference took place in this town be-
tween Lord Leigh, the Lord-Lieutenant of the
county and some 25 to 30 of thecoalmasters on the sub-

ject of the colliers' strike. This took place at the Hen
and Chickens Hotel, at noon, and lasted more than
an hour. Lord Leigh was accompanied by Colonel
Mason, of the Volunteers, and among the principal
coalmasters present were Mr William Mathews,
Mr John Hartley, Mr William Barrows, &c. Lord
Leigh's attention has been in various ways directed
to the strike ; among others from the circumstance
of the district effected being so closely contiguous
to this town, and from the fact of it having been
deemed necessary to guard the stores deposited at
Bingley-hall belonging to the Volunteer corps.
Impressed with the desirability of putting an end
to
if possible, Lord Leigh went to Dud-
ley n Tuesday,
and had an interview with some of
theo strike,
the delegates of the men, also with Mr Frederick
Smith, of the Priory, Earl Dudley's manager, and
yesterday (Wednesday) his Lordship had a further
interview in this town with the men, at which the
circumstances connected with the strike were fully
discussed. At 12 o'clock to-day his Lordship mot
the coalmasters, as above stated, a dozen of the col-

Hers' delegates being in attendance. Lord Leigh
addressed the meeting at soma length and with
much earnestness. He urged strongly the priva-
tions which so many thousands of the men and their
families are enduring, besought the employers to
have regard to the station of the men as well as the
nature of their employment, and begged that a
point might be conceded which would be the means
of putting a stop to the calamitous state of things
now existing in South Staffordshire. Finally, his
Lordship proposed that the men should have the
opportunity of returning to their work for a fort•
night at 4s 6d per day, on the understanding
that at the expiration of that time the 6d
per day extra, making ss, be granted. A long die.
cussion followed; the result of it was that, although
all present admitted the desirability of the strike
being brought to a termination, there was an unani-
mous feeling against the proposition made by Lord
Leigh. It was declared to be impossible to accept
it with due regard to the interests of the trade; or,
in fact, to make any concession whatever, it being
held that to yield to the men in this matter would
be to open the door to fresh demands on their part,
the end of which could not be foreseen. The result
was that Lord Leigh's well intentioned mediation
failed; indeed, in the attitude in which the masters
have placed themselves, nothing else could have been
expected. It was stated in the course of the meeting
that the strike will soon be over. This morning
many of the men have signified their willingness to
return to work in various parts of the district ; it is
only the well paid delegates who advocate any other
course.

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