The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-23 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS--LAsr EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 25 minutes past 12.
NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Mr. BRAND a writ was issued for the
election of a member for North Devon in the room of Mr.
Buller, deceased.

SMALL BENEFICES (IRELAND) ACT 1860
AMENDMENT BILL.

This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.

CRIMINAL CASES (EVIDENCE) BILL.
The. second reading of this bill was postponed until
Monday next.

MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY (IRELAND)

BILL.

Mr. LONGFIELD moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to protect the property of
married women in Ireland, in cases of divorce and judicial
separation, in like manner as under the Divorce Court in
this country.
The motion was agreed to.
RAILWAY TRAVELLING (IRELAND) BILL.
Sir C. O'LOGHLEN moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to increase the facilities for
travelling in Ireland on Sundays, and to run at least one
train on that day. The bill also proposed to place third
class passengers in that country on the same footing as
those of a like class in England. Thera were various trains,
it was true, run on some of the lines, but then they were
despatched at such inconvenient hours as actually to amount
to a disregard to the orders of the Board of Trade. The
bill, it was true, was opposed by some gentlemen opposite,
who contended that it was a great hardship to run trains
on Sunday, because the Sunday traffic did not pay, but he
contended the act of Parliament laid it down that trains
should be run each day, and it was, he believed, for the
Board of Trade to say whether the directors of railways
were to cease
,to run trains whenever they felt disposed.
He was one of those who did not see why the comfort of a
few railway officials should stand in the way of a great
public convenience. He hoped the house would accept the
present measure, and thus serve a great public necessity.
Mr. BLAKE opposed the bill, on the ground that it was
a piece of ex post facto legislation, imposing on railway
companies new conditions which were contrary to the act
of Parliament by which they were governed. Many of the
great railways in Ireland when trains were run on Sunday
were very badly attended—in one instance the number of
passengers on one just amounted to three, whilst another,
a railway 74 miles long, run their trains without any pas-
sengers at all. (A laugh.) If the bill passed at least 800
officials would be engaged on Sundays, and all for the
purpose of accommodating not a twentieth part of that
number of passengers. He moved that it be read a second
that day six months.

Mr. LEFROY seconded the amendment, and contended
that the hon. and learned gentleman had not shown the
slightest necessity for this bill. He had yet to learn that
800 persons, at a cost of £5,000 a year, were to be employed
on the Sabbath to accommodate some ten or a dozen people.
He hoped the hon. and learned gentleman who had brought
in the bill would not put the house to the trouble of divid-
ing, but withdraw the motion for the second reading of the
bill.

Col. DICKSON condemned the manner in which the
opposition to this bill had been got up. Circulars had
been addressed to every member as late as eight o'clock
last night, whilst those who were opposed to the bill were
not favoured with a copy of the document. On behalf of
his constituents he should give his hearty support to the
bill.

Sir H. CAIRNS observed that the bill raised an impor-
tant public question, altough it was not a Sunday ques-
tion. It was a question of interfering with the mode in
which trading companies carried on their business. If the
principle of the bill was sound, why did he confine its
operation to Ireland, why diet he not embody the provi-
sions of the measure in a bill for the United Kingdom. He
counselled the hon. gentleman to withdraw the bill, and
introduce another of the nature he had mentioned.

Lord J. BROWNE said he was of opinion that the
people in Ireland were generally in favour of this bill, and
therefore he should support it.
Mr. ROEBUCK pointed out that railway companies were
not like persons carrying on ordinary trading, but were
possessed of peculiar powers granted by Parliament. It
was the duty of the Legislature in such cases to protect
the interest of the public against such companies. The
question here was whether the Board of Trade should be
intrusted with functions for the protection of the public.
Railway companies were not common carriers ; they were
very uncommon carriers— (laughter)—being in fact the
monopolists of the carriage of certain districts. He could
not believe that the interests of the railways affected by
this bill were in such a desperate state as to be utterly
ruined if they were compelled to run one train every day.
(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Major GAVIN supported the bill. Railway companies
must not expect impossibilities. Owners of race horses
did not win every stake they entered for, and if the neces-
sity of the case required that a train should be run on Sun-
days, the railway proprietors must be content with the pro-
ceeds it produced. He believed a great number of people
would be greatly benefited by such an arrangement, and
therefore he should vote for the second reading.
Mr. LONGFIELD thought the "public" which the bill
proposed to accommodate consisted mainly of three or four
members of that house. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He
would not touch upon the religious element introduced
into the discussion both as regarded Scotland as well
as Ireland. He thought a man might as well
go to Dumbarton on a Sunday and dine there, or stop at
home and get drunk. (Laughter.) He thought a man
might as well go to Limerick on a Sunday—although it
was one of the most melancholy places he was ever in—
(laughter)—and have his dinner there, or stay at home
and get drunk (loud laughter) which was the alternative.
(Loud laughter.) Seriously speaking, he did not think
that it had been shown the accommodation asked for was
required, and therefore he should vote against it.
Lord DUNKELLIN expressed his intention of voting
for the second reading.
After a few words from Major Hamilton, Captain Stack-
poole, and Mr. Robertson,
The house divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading
Against it 42
Majority —3
The bill was accordingly lost.
WAYS AND MEANS.

The house then went into committee of ways and means.
Mr. BRAND moved that, towards making good the
supply granted to her Majesty, the sum of £15,000,000 be
granted out of the Consolidated Fund of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The vote was agreed to.

The house resumed.
RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES ACT.

The second reading of this bill was postponed until to-
morrow.

The house then adjourned.

THE yIRE AT STANGATE•

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six,—Referring to the accounts published in the papers
of this morning of the fire which occurred on my works
last night, I beg to say that the damage done is by no
means so extensive as is represented.

I have every hope of being able in the course of a few
days to be in a position fully to resume business.
As the reports published might induce customers to
withhold orders, I trust you will give insertion to this, and
oblige your most obedient servant,

GEORGE JENNINGS.

London, March 22, 1865.

. -
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES KEAN.—On Monday,
the 20th ult., these artists gave a, "reading" at the ancient
city of Panama, the pieces selected being a portion of
Shakspere's "King John," dsworth's "We are Seven,"
Aytoun's "Execution of Montrose," and Macaulay's
" Horatius- Codes." The audience, many of whom had
never in their lives seen a historic performance, seem
to have been delighted. On the 21st Mr. and Mrs. Kean
quitted Panama, for Jamaica,
Admirers of Tennyson will read with interest
the following extract from the register of deaths at Hamp-
stead :—" Mrs. Elizabeth Tennyson, died 21st February,
1865, aged 84 years ; her sister, Miss Mary Anne Fytche,
died March 10th, 1865, aged 83 years. These ladies were
the mother and aunt of Alfred Tennyson. They both resided
for many years in one house near Well-walk, at Hamp-
stead, and they were both buried in one grave at Highgate
Cemetery, and thoPoet-Laureate attended as chief mourner
on each occasion.—Guardian. _ _

A further sum of £3,000 in gold was taken into
the Bank yesterday.
The Ripon has arrived from Alexandria with
£129,000.
The failure has been announced of Messrs. Andrew
Fachiri and Son, merchants, of Cullum-street, with
liabilities estimated at about £BO,OOO. The house
has been established about 12 years, and has carried
on a considerable business in cotton. Messrs. Quil-
ter, Ball, and Co. are the accountants engaged to
prepare a statement for the creditors.
The directors of the Home and Colonial Assur-
ance Company have published their report for pre-
sentation at the next meeting of shareholders, and
recommend a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per
annum, free of income-tax, from the Ist May last.
The Australian Mortgage Land and Finance
Company have issued their report, and the accounts
show an available balance for dividend of £3,631
195., which, after deducting the interim dividend of
sthe proprietors in August last,
and
5 per cent. from the preliminary
p writing
it nitn.gpaid
off to
expenses, will allow of a further payment, making
up a dividend of 6 per cent, for the year ending
December last.

The Lock-out in the Iron Trade.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday, March 21.

Messrs. Lloyds', Fosters', and Co., of Wednes-
bury, are now reopening their works, on the basis
of an undertaking to be signed by their workpeople,
whereby the latter bind themselves to refrain from
supporting, either directly or indirectly, the men on
strike in North Staffordshire. Two of Messrs.
Lloyds', Fosters', and Co.'s workmen—at the re-
quest, they said, of their employers—waited upon
the Executive at Brierley-hill yesterday afternoon,
to obtain the sanction of that council to their agree-
ing to such an undertaking as a conditian to their
being allowed to resume work. The undertaking
which Messrs. Lloyds', Fosters', and Co. required
to be signed was conveyed to the council, who for-
mally approved the document and signified that
approval in a written reply addressed to the firm
who had sent to them. At the request of the depu-
tation they wrote a second letter to Messrs. Lloyds',
Fosters', and Co., in which they stated that they
had not sent any money to North. Staffordshire
since the 4th of March, and that they still discoun-
tenanced, and should continue to discountenance,
and do their utmost to prevent any assistance what-
ever being sent by any members of the association
over which they presided to the•men on strike there.
Of Messrs. Lloyds', Fosters', and Co.'s requirement
they could not, therefore, but approve ; for it was
founded upon the views and sentiments which the
Executive entertained, and, as far as they were able,
enforced. Both documents were couched by the
Executive in most respectful terms. So great an
antipathy have the men of South Staffordshire to
the signing of any document, that the deputation
from Wednesbury representing their order hoped the
reassurance of the Executive, as conveyed in the
second note described, to the effect that they had
made no alteration in their practice since the 4th
instant, of sending no money to North Stafford-
shire, would be sufficient for their employers,
and so prevent the men from being called upon to
sign ; but the undertaking to which Messrs. Lloyds',
Fosters', and Co. require them to/attach their sig-
natures is so simple, and one which so thoroughly
expresses the views of the men, that it is not thought
that upon reflection they will object to it. From the
commencement of the lock-out the firm mentioned
have been engaged in the manufacture and working
up of Bessemer steel, andthe fact of the Patent Shaft
and Axletree Company having kept their works on
led to the expectation that Messrs. Lloyds', Fosters',
and Co., who are also producers of similarly wrought
metal, would not long keep their works closed. Then
it was known that the firm had large contracts under
hand for supplying iron forbridge building and other
purposes, which they could not break without en-
tailing serious losses upon themselves and greatly in-
conveniencing others. The great body of the iron-
masters therefore regard Messrs. Lloyds', Fosters',
and Co.'s works as coming under the designation of
a " special case."

The emigration scheme is being taken up very
warmly by the districts, and money on that account
in considerable sums is being sent in to the Execu-
tive, the districts acting uppn the suggestion of the
Ekecutive, and moving in this matter with all promp-
titude. It is intended to obtain grants of land in
Queensland, and to send out 50 or 100 families in
every company, by whom separate settlements, it is
proposed, shall be formed. With the assistance that
the union is able to afford it is thought the emi-
grants will be able to hold their own till their first
crop comes in.

The Brierely-hill Executive have just sent out sub-
scription ships, headed with an appeal, in which they
say :

" Contributions are urgently solicited for the support of
the members now thrown idle by the compact of the
ironmasters of England to lock out all their workmen until
a comparatively few men in North Staffordshire accept the
employers' terms. There aro now upwards of 4,000 mem-
bers thrown upon the funds of our association, and the
northern council have 4,000 men in the same situation, also
there are 1,800 millmen cast upon their funds, making a
total of 9,800 persons who will require support, and for
whom we appeal to the members of the other trade societies
and the public. Wo give the number only of our own mem-
bers, but an immensely largo number of our neighbours are
thrown idle, to whom and to whose families we must give
such assistance as now is or may be placed in our power.
The efficiency and existence of trade societies are acknow-
ledged by all parties to be dependent on the issue of this
struggle in the iron trade."

Committees have been appointed in all the dis-
tricts to conduct the operations for raising contri-
butions. Books of printed checks having a counter-
foil have been prepared for circulation among those
members who may be able for a time to do without
relief. The checks will be given instead of money.
and they will be cashed by the executive when the
holder finds it necessary to present them. The same
class of checkswill be distributed as money to other
classes of members, who will be able to negotiate
them at the business places of those tradesmen with
whom the executive have been able to make the
necessary provisional arrangements.
The usual weekly meeting of the ironmasters was
held to-day in front of the Swan Hotel, in Wolver-
hampton. There the masters were confronted by a
larger number of their operatives than assembled last
week.

The committee of the Ironmasters' Association,
who held a meeting in the hotel, after a lengthened
sitting announced that they had every reason to feel
confidence in the Millmen's Union, and in their in-
tentions being honest as far as regarded their desire
to go to work, and the advice they gave to the work-
men out on strike in North Staffordshire. The action
of the Brierely-hill Executive proved the committee
felt that their professed advice to the men to
return to work was insincere, and rendered any
statement of theirs utterly unworthy of credence,
judging alone from their remarks at the meeting of
the trades' unions in London on Wednesday last ;
nor could the masters allow that they had any con-
fidence in the Gateshead Union. The committee
considered it advisable that the masters in North
Staffordshire should see the men in their district and
hear what their difficulty is, and why they do not
go to work.
The masters of Staffordshire wish it to be known
that they are as ready to meet their men as are the
masters of Gateshead to meet the men of their dis-
trict. Hitherto, however, there has been a disposi-
tion on the part of the masters to meet their own
men only; but even these have lately remained alto-
gether away from the works, and therefore there
has been no means of communicating with
them. It is nowproposed that a few masters should
meet a number of men .selected from the general
body of the men on strike. At such a meeting the
masters will show themselves prepared to come to
reasonable terms with the men, but there is no rea-
son to conclude that if the men should demand as a
necessity to their returning to work that they should
receive the wages for which they struck the masters
will concede their demands. If such should be the
conditions of a settlement which the North Staf-
fordshire men impose, then the masters see no
means of bringing about a cessation of the lock-out
before the men are compelled to return to work,
other than that involved in the introduction of non-
union men in North Staffordshire ; and the commit-
tee are taking steps to bring about such a conclu-
sion. They had before them a proposition from aper-
sonwho professed himself fully competent to carry it
out, whereby it is hoped this result maybe attained.
The offer made to the committee was, that if he should
be guaranteed protection he would open an office at
Dudley Port, in South Staffordshire, for the purpose of
collecting together 500 non-unionis? t puddlers ready
to go to work in North Staffordshire at the furnace
which the men on strike there decline to work. rt
is guaranteed that the required protection having
been obtained for all parties,
both in South and
North Staffordshire, the required u
n mber of pud-
diem shall be ready to leave the south and com-
mence work in the north of the county. After ample
consideration the committee determined to accept
the offer, and a member of the committee, who is a
deputy-lieutenant of Staffordshire, at once, on behalf
of the committee, put himself into communication
with the Earl of Lichfield, Lord-Lieutenant of the
county, to obtain the needed protection.
The crowd of workmen in front of the Swan
Hotel lingered about some time after the ironmas-
ters generally had left, in the expectation that Mr.
Samuel Griffiths would address them from the bal-
cony ; but Mr. Griffiths did not comply with their

wishes, and they were dispersed by the police, as
soon as there was no further excuse for their remain-
ing together. _

Mr. Daniel Rose, of Bull's-bridge Works is an-
nounced as having set on one of his mills this
morning.
The three blast furnaces of Messrs. Bagnal, on
the other hand, have been " blown down."
HANLEY, Wednesday.

The Earl of LICHFIELD, the Lord-Lieutenant of
Staffordshire, presided at a public meeting held to
inaugurate a working men's club at Hanley yester-
day evening, and in the course of his opening speech
referred at some length to the question of the lock-
out in the iron trade. He believed the greatest
difficulty in all these disputes arose from a want of
a free, open, and frank understanding between the
parties, and he was persuaded that there was not
a sufficient knowledge of all the attendant circum-
stances in the possession of the public to enable
them to form an opinion upon the matter. They were
told that the origin of the strike in North Stafford-
shire—for the strike, if there was one, was there—
was owing to special circumstances which did not
exist in other parts of the country. He did not ex-
press any opinion as to whether that was right or
wrong, but he must say that he, for one, had not
been satisfied of what those special circumstances
were. He should like to see established in this coun-
try a system of arbitration by which these disputes
between employer and employed could be governed,
and he believed that and a good understanding be-
tween the parties were the only solutions of the dif-
ficulty. Another question on which the public were
in the dark was—How did it come about that the
men in North Staffordshire were acting. in opposi-
tion to the wishes of the rest of the Union ? This
was apparent to all who read the history of this dis-
pute in the papers, and he must own that this matter
had not been made sufficiently clear to him. Again,
it appeared difficult to understand how it was that
persons peculiarly circumstanced, as they said they
were, should have influence brought to bear upon
them from a distance? One naturally asked were
theseimen, who belonged to unions in other districts,
sufficiently informed to be able to form an opinion On
these special circumstances, and to govern the action
of the men who were under those peculiar circum-
stances? The public did not clearly see how this
dispute originated, nor how it was being carried on.
What to him as a Staffordshire man was especially
deplorable was that, somehow or other, Staffordshire
as a county had obtained a most unenviable noto-
riety in this dispute. He feared, from what he saw
and heard, that the working classes as a body were
too much disposed to trust to two or three men, who
in many cases constituted themselves their leaders,
and did not judge for themselves as much as they
were capable of doing if they set to work.
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, Wednesday Afternoon.

As regards the lock-out the situation appears to
be unaltered to-day. Another mediator, however,
Mr. James Morrison, who is largely interested in the
pig iron trade, and an owner of considerable blast
furnaces and other ironworks, has come forward to
recommend mediation.

The emigration scheme seems to have thoroughly
taken possession of the minds of the men. About 50
applications have been made to the lodge at Jarrow
to arrange for passages to America, and about 20
puddlers from Walker have intimated their readi-
ness to proceed to the same destination. A commu-
nication from Witton-park says :

" After the failure of the York conference the men here
had decided to take no further steps in the present state of
affairs, but to wait patiently until the masters do something
of themselves. The notice received from the' Gateshead
Executive regarding the offers of emigration to America
has been laid before the men, and many of them intend to
avail themselves of its advantages. Thirty men, consisting
of puddlers and heaters,' have already given in their
names to the secretary (Mr. Gibbon) as being desirous to
emigrate. Among those men are most of the best workers
at Witton-park."

From do.rsett the news is that all continues per-
fectly quiet, the only point now under discussion
being emigration. A great number of respectable
and provident men are making preparations to take
their departure. The men in the Darlington district
appear to be the only body of the unemployed work-
people who are making any movement to appeal to
the masters again with a view to arrange a settle-
, ment. A joint meeting of the two lodges—viz., the
Albert Hill and the Skerne Ironworks—was held
yesterday forenoon, when they came to the unani-
mous resolution of holding their meetings for the
future conjointly, and that so far as the object they
have in view—the settlement of the present unhappy
dispute—they shall act as one society. Following up
the resolution, they further came to the determina-
tion at the same meeting of having one more inter-
view with their masters, so that they may do all in
their power to bring about a settlement of affairs,
and, should they be unsuccessful in this effort, then
it is their intention to throw themselves entirely
upon the public for sympathy and support.
With this view it is intended to hold a public
meeting of the inhabitants generally at the
Mechanics'-hall, to devise some means by which
they can better the condition of those who
are locked out through circumstances over which
they have no control. The American emigration
agents have sent a notice for the names of as many
persons belonging to the different lodges as wish to
emigrate, and this has been promptly replied to, no
less than 80 persons having signified their desire to
leave the country by the means thus offered them..
A resolution was also passed at the same meeting to
the effect that as many as could conveniently afford
it should abstain from drawing upon the funds of
the association, so that the Executive might have it
more in their power to assist their less fortunate
brethren, and to this .appeal nearly 100 persons
signed their names.
A special meeting of the Labourers' Association
was held yesterday at the Lodge-room, Crown Inn,
Skinnergate, Darlington, at which the executive
body took into consideration the present state of
affairs, and after a long and deliberate consultation

they came to the conclusion that there was nothing
left them but to appeal to the public for counte-
nance and support in their present struggle. One
of the rolling mills was reopened on Messrs. Pal-
mer's works at Jarrow yesterday. As the Union
millmen absolutely refused to go to work unless the
puddlers were set on, the mill is kept going princi-
pally through the agency of Mr. Bladen, the mana-
ger, and his foremen. Some of the Trades Unions
of the north are holding meetings of their members
to raise funds to assist the locked-out puddlers ;
but a general movement in that direction has not
commenced yet. The masters are making no sign;
but it is believed that there is a council meeting of
the trade in London to-day, when- something may
be done to remove the dead-lock into which rela-
tions between masters and men have drifted. Of
course, unless there is a re-approachment on one
side or the other, or mediation is offered and ac-
cepted, the lock-out may continue for weeks or
months. At present, to all appearances, there is a
strong determination of both masters and men to
hold out.

The adjourned meeting of the London Trades'
Delegates was held last evening at the Sussex Hotel,
Bouverie-street, Fleet-street, Mr. George Potter in
the chair. There were present delegates from South
and North Staffordshire and from the Millmen's
Association.
The CHAIRMAN said that since their last meeting
much had been said and done in regard to the lock-
out in the iron trade, which might be briefly sum-
marised. At the former meeting they passed a re-
solution expressing their belief that the course which
the masters had adopted was wrong, cruel, and un-
warrantable ; at the same time the meeting seemed
desirous to keep the strike and the lock-out distinctly
apart, and he wished it to be understood that the
delegates who attended the meeting from the two
Executives at Brierley-hill and Gateshead had no-
thing whatever to do with the latter part of the re-
solution, which expressed a desire to raise a sub-
scription for the support of the puddlers of North
Staffordshire who were locked out. He the more
earnestly desired this to be understood, because he
ere
in
Br
had seen it stated in the press that those parties
w
theirsomei erlYleegree responsible for that resolution.
Now,the Executive had someweeks ago
declared opinion that the North Staffordshire
men should resume work,
ceasea nd ,
to if they
subscribe refusedtowards
aordd
Bo
so, the Executive world

their support. The North Staffordshire men did
refuse, and the Brierley-hill Executive abided by
their decision. The Gateshead Executive had also
assured the masters that they would not support the
North Staffordshire men, and the Millmen's Asso-
ciation, who had never sanctioned the strike, would
not now support them. Therefore, with what the
trades of London did last week the two Executives
of the Puddlers and the Millmen's Association had
nothing whatever to (10. Such having been the
course pursued by those bodies the masters had no
excuse whatever for continuing the lock-out. The
Brierley-hill Executive had been blamed for not
attending at a meeting of the masters where the
Gateshead Executive were present, but they said that
they had done all they could in the matter. If the
masters would give them some idea of what proposi-
tion would be received by them, then the Executive
of Brierley-hill would take it into consideration.
But the masters would make no proposition or con-
cession. They took their stand upon the demand
that the North Staffordshire men should resume
work. The Brierley-hill Executive therefore de-
clared that they could do no more. Mr. Potter then
said that two important resolutions would be sub-
mitted to the meeting. The workmen of London
did not wish the prolongation of the lock-out ; they
would do anything that was honourable to bring it
to a termination. They felt that the masters had
shut out of employment many men, and had de-
prived their families of bread in order to punish the
North Staffordshire men. In this the men of Lon-
don believed the masters were wrong, and they were
confirmed in that belief by many eminent counsel,
and if the question were tried there was no doubt
the masters would be proved to have been guilty of
an illegal combination in the present lock-out.
There was no question of wages at issue. The men
had accepted their masters' conditions, and were
willing to work on those conditions, but they were
not permitted to do so by this illegal conspiracy on
the part of the masters. The question would be
raised in the House of Commons, and an important
debate would no doubt take place on the subject.
The resolutions, therefore, to be proposed that even-
ing, if adopted, would greatly strengthen the posi-
tion of those hon. members who take part in the
debate. There had been a great deal said on the
subject of emigration. Now, it was not patriotic to
advise men to emigrate. They took no part in that
scheme. Let those who compelled the necessity of
such a step bear the responsibility of it.
Mr. ALLKnis, president of the Brierley-hill Exe-
cutive, then addressed the meeting. After describ-
ing the steps taken both by the masters and men to
organise themselves into unions, he said that the
Association of the Masters had become too strong for
resistance. The men in North Staffordshire repre-
sented that in consequences of the dearness of living in
-their part of the country they required higher wages
than in South Staffordshire, and it was then proposed
that the North Staffordshire men should resist the
proposed reduction of wages by the masters, and
that their fellow-worknien elsewhere should assist
them in doing so. In consequence of this the North
Staffordshire masters appealed to the South Stafford-
shire masters to close their works. There happened
to appear a letter in the papers signed by Mr. Kane,
the treasurer of the Gateshead Executive, pressing
the trade to come forward with their levies to assist
the north in their struggle ; and yet since then the
Gateshead Executive had endeavoured to throw the
whole blame of the strike upon the Brierley-hill
Executive. The masters had extended the lock-out
to the men of South Staffordshire, although they
were willing to work at the reduced wages ; but it
was required of them that they should get the North
Staffordshire men to resume work. This, however,
it was impossible for them to do. They had passed a
resolution calling upon those men to go to work, but
when that resolution was submitted to the masters
they doubted its sincerity. If it were possible to
bring this unhappy struggle to a close by means of
arbitration the men of South Staffordshire were quite
willing to use whatever influence they possessed,
which he feared was very little, to accomplish that
end.

Air. BIDDESTON, a delegate from the Millmen's
Association, said he did not think that the strike and
the lock-out could be regarded as two distinct things.
They stood in the relation of cause and effect. The
lock-out was simply the effect of the strike in North
Staffordshire. Remove the strike, and the lock-out
would cease. It seemed to him that the North Staf-
fordshire men had not been treated with justice by
the two executives by whom they were originally
called out. The men were called out on certain con-
ditions, and which conditions had not been fulfilled
by the two executives. The men had been promised,
he believed, 10s. a head, but he understood they had
only received 2s. 6d. per head. He considered that
in justice the two executives were bound to pay the
men on strike the whole of the money they had been
promised from the time they were locked out up to
the present day. This would induce the North
Staffordshire men to return to work, and thus an
end would be put to the lock-out. But that not being
done, the men felt that they had been made the cats-
paw of other parishes, and had resolved not to go to
work, let the consequence be what it would. But if,
after all, the men still refused to work, then he would
say, let them perish. It was far better that 1,000
men should perish than that 150,000 or 160,000 who
were to all intents and purposes innocent should be
utterly ruined. He saw no other way by which the
lock-out could be terminated. As to the question of
the illegality of the conduct of the masters, he thought
it would be well to say nothing about that. Who
could tell but that the action taken by the work-
men might be
quite as illegal as anything done by
the masters 2

Mr. BAKER, a North Staffordshire delegate, com-
plained of the conduct of the Biierley and Gateshead
Executives in having cut off all allowance to the
North Staffordshire men after having caused them
to strike for wages. If the two executives had, in
the first instance, advised the North Staffordshire
men to accept the reduction of wages he had no
doubt they would have done so,. and there never
would have been any lock out. But the executives
had turned against them, and the North Stafford-
shire men had to fight their own cause. He, how-
ever, could assure the meeting that the men of North
Staffordshire, rather than give up the union, would
suffer death one by one. Those men last Saturday
only received 2s. 9d. each. If, however, the masters
would consent to open their works to the men of
South Staffordshire, then the men of North Stafford:-
shire were willing to resume their work and leave
the question of wages to be settled by arbitration.
Mr. STRAHAN, from Gateshead, would say nothing
about the origin of this dispute, or as to who was to
blame for it ; that was a matter between the three
parties—the Brierley-hill and Gateshead Executives
and the North Staffordshire men. What the public
were anxious about was, how could the dispute be
closed in a satisfactory manner to all parties.
The parties on strike said that they had a state-
ment of grievances to make. Let them furnish that
statement. Let the men of North Staffordshire set
forth in writing what were the circumstances which
they believed justified them in not going to work.
Let that statement be submitted to their masters,
and let the masters answer it, and then let thematter
be left to the decision of four gentlemen to say who
was right and who was wrong. Let the decision be
made by Lord Stanley and Lord Elcho on behalf
of the men, and by any two other men whom the
masters might think fit to appoint. As to the ques-
tion of legality or illegality, he thought the masters
were quite as justifiable in the course they had pur-
sued as the men. He did not mean in a moral or
humane sense, but as far as the combination laws
were concerned. He thought there was prima facie
evidence that the masters were justified in proposing
a reduction of wages, so far as the price of iron
was concerned—it was therefore a very fair question
to be left to the consideration of some neutral per-
sons to say whether that was the fact or not. He
denied that the Executive of Gateshead took any
pact in the resolution adopted for calling the men
out. That resolution was adopted at a meeting at
Bilston on the 2d of January, at which no delegates
from the Gateshead Executive attended.
A DELEGATE asked whether Lord Stanley or Lord
Elcho were known to possess any knowledge of iron
or of ironworks ?
Mr. MACDONALD, President of the Miners' Na-
tional Association, explained how it happened that