The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-10 00:00:00

'‘,.-,

workmen having desired that it`thrtird be at once. The
deputation offered to meet Mr. Platt half way, by
fixing a time at Christmas instead of immediately.
Mr. Platt's resolutions were submitted to the workmen
by the deputation, and their suggestion as to time was
agreed to. They were then returned to Mr. Platt. who
in the presence of his managers agreed to them, adding
one more, namely, that in the event of other large firms
in the district not carrying out the system, the question
should be reconsidered at the end of three years. After
that addition had been made, his own clerks wrote two
fair copies of the set, dividing them, however, into six
parts; Mr. Platt signed ono of these copies on behalf of
the firm. and one copy was signed by the deputation on
the part of the men. The copy which Mr. Platt signed
they received, and it was now is the possession of the
men at Oldham. Mr. Plea, however, did not carry out
immediately the resolution with reference to the dis-
charge of Bernard, the men, thezefore, called another
meeting, and again requested the attendance of Mr.
Newton (paying his expenses as before), to consider
what steps should be taken. • This was iu July. A full
statement of the whole circumstances having been laid
before the aseereibly, it was decided, as Mr.
Platt had failed to carry out a portion of the
series of resolutions which he had pledged his word
should be carried out, and not having stripped Bernard
of the obnoxious authority ho bad, as he had promised
to do, that the men should not go to work again
until Mr. Platt had fulfilled his promise in respect to
Bernard. They struck, and Mr. Platt then removed
Bernard from Oldham to the charge of his machines in
the Great Exhibition, and they resumed work. In con-
sequence of the time which was lost through the dispute,
Mr. Platt requested that they would work overtime
for a month, and as he had carried out their desires
the men willingly acceded to the request, and worked
the overtime fixed. At the expiration of the month he
repeated the request, which was again acceded to. At
the conclusion of the second month, however, the request
was repeated, and the men then felt dissatisfied, as they
retherefore, consulted
could not tell when they would be relieved from the ne-
cessityconsulted
the r local
advice of
the ,t of the Manchester branch of the Amalga-
of working
eomittoevee,m
andti
e. v e
nTthueayi
1, y
k
themr
at once said that they had better
- by the expiration of the nionth, -
a general regulation would be made for the diseontinu-
anee of overtime throughout the country. While, how-
ever, the men were thus working overtimust the request .„
of far: Platt,'he-Was forming a masters' association- to-
CO -own workmen;-and ultimately it -possible, to. -
-the,trades'-union. An association- of employer
was formed, and from their resolutions the men learnt
its object. They were as follow.—
" I beg to inclose you a copy of the resolutions passed
at a general meeting of engineers, machinists, &c., at
the Clarence Hotel, Manchester, December 9th, and to
inform you that the next meeting will be held at the
same place on Tuesday next, the 16th December, at
four P.M., which you are requested to attend, and to
bring with you a statement of the number of persons
employed by you of all descriptions, together with your
contributions to this fund, as is expressed in the resolu-
tions below,—l am, yours very respectfully,
"HENRY BIGGINS, Secretary.

" 1. That this meeting having heard the statement of
Messrs. llibbert, Platt, and Sons, that their workpeople
intend to turn out on the 31st December, 1851, unless all
the men now working at planing machines, or tools of a
similar character are discharged, and their places sup-
plied by mechanics belonging to a trades' union, the un-
dersigned have taken this statement into consideration
and pledge themselves, should such turn-out take place
on this plea, either at tho works of Messrs. Ilibbert,
Platt, and Sons, or at those of the undersigned, to close
their establishments, and not to re-open them until
agreed upon by the vote of a general meeting, and then
only with workpeople who have no connexion with such
trades' unions.

" e. That a guarantee fund, arising from a contribu-
tion of ten shillings for every person employed by each
member of this association, be formed, to carry out the
views and to defray the expenses of the society, and
deposited in the names of the committee or treasurer in
Sir Benjamin Heywood's bank, Manchester, as a gua-
rantee for the good faith of each member. And the
committee are hereby empowered, in case any member
fails to comply with these resolutions, to forfeit his de-
posit, or such as they think fit, and their decision shall
be final. The committee are farther empowered to re-
turn the deposits, or any portion thereof, as soon as they
may consider it expedient.
"3. That if any member of this association considers
himself aggrieved by any encroachments of his work-
people, he is requested to communicate a statement of
them to the secretary, who shall call the committee
together within a week from the receipt of such applica-
tion, to receive the report, and to decide whether it is a
case calling for the interference of the associating.
" 4. That each member he requested to communicate to
the secretary, on Tuesday the 16th December, the num-
ber of persons in his employment, and to pay his pro-
portion to the guarantee fund."
Noathese resolutions having distinctly stated that it was
the intention of the workpeople to turn out, he (the
speaker) begged to say that it was not their intention to
do so. The speaker then referred to the subject of over-
time, but he spent very little space in speaking on that
point of the dispute, because there had been ample dis-
cussion respecting it at a meeting held recently in the*
room they then occupied, when it was decided to do
away with it. As, however, they had not had as aggre-
gate meeting on piece-work, he begged to say that they
did cot object to it when conducted on just principles,
but that it was in consequence of the foul practices
connected with it that they raised objections to its con-
tinuance. With regard to one large firm not far from
Canal-street, the men having worked eighteen months
without a settling, had been told by one of the junior
partners in the firm that they might think themselves
well off if they got their wages, without even getting a
settling. In that instance, therefore, what was called
piecework was merely taskwork.
111 r. T. SOUTER seconded the resolution, which was
carried without a dissenting voice.
Dlr. THOS. NOBBURY proposed the second resolution—
" That inasmuch as our Executive Council does not
agree with strikes, nor the removal of labourers from
planing, slotting, shaping, and drilling machines, this
m seriously consider the course of our employers
in this
htinspresent dispute unwarrantably opposed to just
principles, inconsistent with truth and humanity."
His speech had relation mainly to the resolution which
had gone before. He said that one firm (the head of
which he believed to be the " Araicue" of the papers)
had put it forward iu print that they had a contract to
send a locomotive engine out, and the men refused to
work two hours, all that was required to finish it. Now,
the fact was that that engine had taken 300 hours to
destination
tatehma:t
leer of a large firm took a piece of
(fiTnilosuhrsidta,ya)nndighwt." Aonsleycosne
to one of his
workdntintsotanictsew
workmen, and asked bim what he would do it for. The
man said 15s. The manager then took it to another
man, and putting the same question, was told 12s. 6d.
He next took it to a man in another room, and was told
12s. Upon that the manager laid the work on the
theman9s. that the employers would
9 and it he would
nheontehgired
more told
than
not do it for that ho might leave. :Again,
the manner in which piecework was managed in
many large establishments was the following:—The em-
ployer chose one of his most ingenieus end best work-
men
ingenuity and skill was not paid for in a
to do work and then ha sot the price, thus showing
r
manner, ,
thatproper
for if the price fixed was low, less skilful men
could scarcely got a living. If piecework were con-
ducted on just principles, he, as a member of the so-
ciety, was not opposed to it. As an evidence that the
frogs the maeatnes
did not agree with t
. ho removal of labourers
mentioned in the resolutions, he stated
that in 1848.9 they had paid 36;0001. to their unem-
ployed members, rather than bring them in competition
with the unskilled labourers.
had paid 90,000/, fora similarourers. Also, in 1842 the society
beers
that their members purpose, thus showingy
were desirous of being independent,
for if they had not subscribed that sum they would have
compelled to resort for assistance to the union
rates. The society therefore had saved a considerable
sum to the country in the shape of poor's-rates, and they
were continually effecting the same end by
supporting
their unemployed men.
Mr. F. WHITELEY seconded the motion, with the mea-
sures of which he full agreed. It was
put and carried
unanimously.
The next speaker was Mr. SWINDLE/10E3T, who pro-
posed—
" That in consequence of calumnious accusations
having been made against the officer,, of the vat ions
trade societies, relative to their being paid demagogues,
communists, idlers, &c., we repudiate such as wholly
untrue and uncalled for." _ _ _

--- -----
DANIEL JONES seconded the motion, which was unani-
mously agreed to.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman,
who, on responding, said that he was much obliged to
them for it, but he should be far more thankful if nest
week, at the moeting they then proposed to have, the
masters would appoint a dozen men to meet a similar
ausobn. of workmen to discuss the-matter fairly, Dud to
see if they could not come to some agreement.

TUE DISPATCH EXHIBITION CHAILT.—it will be
seen by referring to an advertisement elsewhere, that the
issue of the Coloured Exhibition Chart, showing, by dia-
grams and at one view, the number of persons that entered
the Crystal Palace during a period of four months, the
amount of money taken at the doors, and other statistics
of an interesting character, derived from various sources;
and which was promised to be given away by the proprietors
of the lireekly Dispatch on the 11th inst. has been postponed
till Sunday, the Ist of February. We understand that this
delay has been rendered necessary in consequence of the
enormous and unforeseen demand for the Dispatch and
Chart, on Sunday last (the 4th inst.), and the tedious pro-
cess of producing the latter by means of ordinary surface
steam-printing. The Chart has come under our own view,
and we unhesitatingly pronounce it a work of great useful-
nesq, attended with no inconsiderable amount of labour and
n man of
skill in its accomplishment. There are five colours in the
Chart, each of whicice h hasampulation ty be introducedhcnce the difficulty by a parate
plead a sufficient
perioeceeusust,eiggolying
a great and sudden demand. These' various
X andWe hay . .
circumstances,c Ho doubt will secure the for-
tchirec upjustification for
bearance and indulgence of the public.

- LECTURES Br MR. WALTER, 11. P.—We are
pleased to learn that our much respected and talented repre-
antatirs, Mr. Walter, following several illustrious examples,
tas kindly. consented to deliver a lecture at the Mechanics'
Hall, Nottingham, on Tuesday, the 27th inst. Subject, The
Life and Death of Socrates." An intellectual treat of no or-
dinary character is anticipated, and no doubt the attendance
of members of the institution and others will be numerous.—
Nottingham Journal.

ti.
~yr A-.~.. ;
r,.

Alderman Byrne has been inaugurated Mayor .of
the borough of Clonmel for the present year, in succession
to Alderman Kenny, whose uprightness and activity during
his period of office, in 1851, have deservedly commandedthe warm and unanimous approbation of his fellow"
tolTasmen.

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