The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-18 00:00:00

THE YORK MEETING.

Yesterday a meeting of the ironmongers of the
North of England and representatives of . the men
was held at the Station Hotel, York, for the purpose,
if possible, of coming to an amicable arrangement
with regard to the present lock-out in Staffordshire.
Mr. C. M. PALMER, chairman of the Masters'
Committee, first addressed the meeting. He said
that at the meeting on Tuesday last it was stated
that they should call a meeting of the trade gene-
rally of North and South Staffordshire and the North
of England, and that they could not come to
any settlement until the workmen had arranged
with the executives in Staffordshire to meet the de-
legates there that day. It appeared, however, that
the executives in Staffordshire had not taken any
notice of their communication. He feared from this
that, although they were instrumental in bringing
about the present state of things, they were not dis-
posed to come forward in a proper manner to meet
the masters, and endeavour to settle the dispute.
This had placed the committee, of which he was
chairman, in a most difficult position, because the
masters in Staffordshire very properly said there was
no one present from that district, and they wished
to know whether what transpired on Tuesday had
been forwarded on the part of the men. The reso-
lution that was.then thought of was to send puddled
bars into Staffordshire, the men withdrawing all
support. He feared that on the last point they were
as far off as they were at the previous meeting. He
deeply regretted this. He had endeavoured to con-
ciliate, but he feared from what had transpired that
they were not approaching the solution of the ques-
tion. He had before him a paper containing reso-
lutions passed at his own place the day after their
own meeting. Those present positively refused to
send puddled bars to Staffordshire, and they ignored
the question of sending puddlers there to work the
furnaces. It had been positively declared that they
would not withhold their subscriptions to the Staf-
fordshire men. He had seen a resolution showing
the animus towards himself. It was that they would
not allow his works to be opened until all the men
had joined the union. Such a system of tyranny
was intolerable, and he regretted exceedingly they
did not appear to improve their position.
Mr. DUFFIELD, from the Jarrow Ironworks, said
the delegates were perfectly willing to withdraw
their support from Staffordshire, and it was the
opinion of the majority that as they had withdrawn
their support the masters might meet them half way
by withdrawing their support to the North Stafford-
shire masters.

Mr. KANE said the delegates had sent letters and
telegrams to Brierly-hill, and the telegram he
had that day received in reply was this :—" The de-
putation having just arrived from London, the
Council state that it is too late to entertain the
question of sanding delegates." It would be seen
that the delegates had done all they could to induce
the attendance of delegates from Staffordshire.
There was one thing he should regret very much,
and that was the longer the struggle continued the
more would the existing .feelings be strengthened,
and the wish of the delegates was to secure a settle-
ment of the dispute.
Mr. PALMER alleged that the executive of the
north of England had called out the men, and if
they could find any way of getting them to work,
and putting an end to the dispute, the masters of
the north would be very glad.
Some of the delegates denied that the northern
executive had called out the men of North Stafford-
shire, and stated that they could not compel the
men there to go to work. A suggestion was made
for settling disputes by arbitration and on one or
two other points ; after which,
Mr. DictE, one of the masters, said this move-
ment had no connection whatever with any wish on
the part of the ironmasters to limit the union among
the men for all legitimate purposes. They had no
desire to prevent union among the men. On the
contrary, they believed that a body representing a
large proportion of the ironworkers was a conve-
venient machinery for frequent communication.
Mr. DUFFIELD said he was very happy to find the
masters had no ulterior designs against the unions.
The men had no design to do any harm to the em-
ployers. _ _

After some further conversation the delegates re-
tired, and the masters had a private consultation.
They ultimately passed the following resolution :
" The Brierly-hill Union not haring responded to the
invitation of the Gateshead executive to attend here to-
day, it appears impossible to carry out any of the plans for
a general solution of the difliCulty which it was the object
of this conference to consider,"