The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-05 00:00:00

The Birkenhead Workmen's Hall and Clubhouse
was opened on Thursday evening. Mr. B. J.
Chandler presided, and among those present were
the Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M.P., Earl Grosve-
nor, M.P., Lord Richard Grosvenor, Mr. J. Laird,
M.P., and other gentlemen. Aftet some remarks
by the Chairman,
The Right Hon. Lord STANLEY, who was received
with prolonged applause, said—Ladies and gentle-
men, friends and neighbours, I thank you most sin-
cerely for the kindness of this reception,but,al. though
I feel it very deeply, yet I cannot help feeling also
that I have not much right to stand upon this plat-
form. It is hardly the part of those who have taken
no share in the battle to come forward most promi-
nently in celebrating the victory. But, however
that may be, I have come here with great pleasure
to be present at the opening of this hall, to take
part in the successful conclusion of an undertaking
of which the plans, as I believe, have been formed
for several years, although the actual laying of the
first stone did not take place until little more than
a twelvemonth ago. Gentlemen, I am sure youwill
agree with me that it is quite time that some under-
taking of this kind was set on foot in Birkenhead.
Wherever a new city grows up rapidly, wherever a
vast population gathers itself in a few years round
some new industrial centre, then it will inevitably
happen that many social wants will, for a time, re-
main unprovided for. Men feel about a place of
this kind as if it were to them rather an inn, or an
encampment, than a home. Employers look forward
to the time when they shall be able to leave off
business. Working men have not the leisure, and
in many cases have not the means,to provide in as-
sisting what is required. Now, that is a case more
or less in all such towns as this, and it is peculiarly
likely to be the case here, because I don't flatter you
in saying that there is nothing in England—and
there is hardly anything in America, or in the colo-
nies—more remarkable than the progress of this
community of Birkenhead. (Applause.) When I
hear that the rateable property of this township has
doubled in the last ten years, still more when I
learn that only 44 years ago—in the year 1821-,-
Birkenhead contained a population of no more than
200 ; that between 1821 and 1841 that population
multiplied itself just forty-fold—from 200 to 8,000 ;
and when I learn, further, that in less than the
quarter of a century that has elapsed between the
year 1841 and the present time these numbers have
again multiplied five-fold, and that for 8,000 then
you have nearly 40,000 now,—when I hear all these
things (and I have my figures -upon what I believe
to be good and undoubted authority), I am re-
minded, not so much of anything which we are ac-
customed to see in Europe, as of those new cities
which grow up on the edge of the Western prairie,
where, with the traffic, with the browded streets, and
along with every luxury and convenience of life, you
see here and there, in corners and byways, the
stumps still sticking out of the ground to mark the
remains of that old primeval forest that has hardly
yet been cleared away. And, gentlemen, I think
your progress is, upon the whole, more extraor-
dinary than that to which I allude ; because these
things to which I have referred take place in
the new country, where, as you have grown up in
a country which is very old, nobody is astonished
if the schoolboy whom you have not seen for a
year or two has grown a couple of inches in
height since you parted, but it is a very remarkable
phenomenon if he has become a grown man. Yet,
after all, when one comes to think of it, that growth
is not so extraordinary as it appears at first sight.
We are in the habit of talking about Old England,
and no doubt as far as our laws, as our customs, as
our institutions, and our history are concerned, we
are a very old country. But when one comes to
look at those things which are the characteristic fea-
tures of England at the present day, when one comes
to look at our Indian empire, it is almost startling,
to see the rapid growth of these things, and how
much of what has made England what she is among
the nations of the world is really the work of only
three or four generations. (Applause.) That must
be a digression, but it is one to which both the place
in which I am speaking and the subject naturally
lead us. Now, to come to what is more immediately
before us. I understand the primary object of this
building in which we are meeting to-night to be a
club—a place of meeting, that is, either for busi-
ness, refreshment, or for society, for the use
of all those who choose to avail themselves of it
among that vast population of mechanics and
artisans who inhabit this shore of the Mersey.
And I will tell you why I, who am not very
fond of making speeches without any practical
object, and who think that in this part of the world
we are perhaps rather too much given to make a great
display about inaugurations and openings of build-
ings, and laying of the first stones, and ceremonies of
that kind—why I, holding that opinion, nevertheless
think that the opening of this building is an event
which deserves to be celebrated in a public and for-
mal manner. It is because buildings of this kind are
at present very rare, and because they ought to be
very common. (Applause.) Now, I am not going
to say one word on the old hackneyed subject
of keeping men away from the publichouse. Arti-
sans are not children, and if they, working hard and
earning largely; choose to spend their money in that
way, they have as much right to do it as anybody
else has to do a thing which is simply foolish. (Ap-
plause.) It is a question between their families and
themselves, and I think we may leave them to the
conjugal eloquence which is very likely to be exerted
on such occasions. (Laughter and applause.) I have
always thought that it was ,not for those who live
more luxuriously to speak of them harshly in that
matter. It is their business more than ours. But
what we have a right to say is this, that no man
ought to be driven to the publichouse for want of
any other place to go to. (Applause.) He ought not
to be forced to go there because his club meets there
and he does not like to miss a club meeting, or be-
cause there is no other convenient place where he
can enjoy friendly talk and a fire on a cold wintry
night, or simply because he has nowhere else to go.
Of course it_may be asked, why cannot people stay
at home ? Well, my answer to that is, that men in
the higher classes, having a great deal more time at
their disposal, and having materials for making far
more comfortable homes, do not make it a universal
rule to pass their evenings with their wives and
children. (Laughter.) I say nothing of that class—
I am bound to speak of themas an unfortunate class
—whose home is a lodging, and who shelter their
families whenever they put on their hats (laughter),
but I say this, that social intercourse—free, friendly
easy talk—is as necessary to men as food, or sleep,
or fresh air. (Cheers.) A man does not live a healthy
life without it, and therefore whatever enables him
to enjoy that kind of intercourse in a comfortable
and civilised manner, is not only a pleasure to him,
- but it is a benefit to him intellectually and morally.
(Loud cheers.) And I think, therefore, that places
of meeting like this, whichare meantto be real clubs,
or places where clubs may meet—not schools in dis-
guise not institutes, although institutes are very
goods in their way not lecture-rooms, although
this room will no doubt serve that purpose
admirably well if it be required ; but places
where talk, and newspapers, and refreshments may
be had with a security against disturbance from
drunken or rough and disorderly persons,—l say
that places of this kind ought to exist, and I believe
they shortly will exist in every great town in Eng-
land, and in many of the little towns also. (Ap-
plause.) At present there are only a few here and
there, but fashions spread fast—it is only the first
step that gives trouble, and I think there are several
good reasons why we, on the banks of the Mersey,
should be among the first to set the example. In
the first place, it is not our Lancashire habit—l
really beg pardon, I had forgotten I was in Cheshire,
but living on the other side of the Mersey I can
assure you that we Liverpool people believe that we
annexed Birkenhead long ago. (Laughter and
cheers.) At any rate, it is not our habit in these
districts to lay behind when anything useful is
doing. (Cheers.) That is one reason. Well, then,
I believe that we have in these parts more money—
especially in the artisan and working classes—than
is to be found anywhere else, except, perhaps, in
Manchester and in London. That is another reason;
and there is a third, which is least flattering to our-

selves. I am afraid we must admit that there are
very few parts of the country where the outdoor
aspects of nature are less agreeable than they are
here in the neighbourhood of Liverpa )1. We are
not favoured in that way, and that is all the
more reason why we should en Lay our to make
compensation as far as we can by providing indoor
comforts for the absence of that which we cannot
have, however pleasant it might be in the summer
weather—for the absence of the green fields, and
the shady lanes, and the pleasant open commons of
the south. Well, then, the question is asked,
" What security have you that an erection of this
kind will be supported ?" My answer is that we
hope, and we confidently believe, that it will be
not only managed, but also to a great extent owned
by those for whose benefit it is established. (Hear.)
Expressly for that purpose the shares have been
made of very small amount. It is the anxious
desire of the promoters that they should be so held,
and they are so at present to some extent ; they
will be so, I believe, to a much greater extent when
the thing is fairly in operation, and if they are
not so held, it.will not be for want of encourage-
ment, because, by a stretch of liberality which ap-
pears to me even -extreme, if I understand the ar-
rangements rightly, preferential advantages have
been granted to those who are holders of not more
than two or three shares over those who hold a larger
number, so that the former class are sure of their
return. I should have thought that stimulus was
unnecessary, but Mr. Laird has been the most active
and prominent manager of the concern, and I think
his name will be to you a sufficient guarantee that
the arrangements are sound and satisfactory in a
business point of view. (Cheers.) One thing more I
must say. If this club does not receive the support
—or rather if this hall intended for the reception of
a club does not receive the support which is expected
that may arise from mismanagement—everything is
possible—or it may arise from indifference, but of one
thing I am sure, it is perfectly idle to contend that
that may arise from the want of power in the work-
ing men who keep it going. (Hear, hear.) There is
a curious fallacy., there is a kind of mental confusion
that arises in the minds of newspaper readers from
the use of that very vague, and indefinite, and un-
sz.tisfactory term• " the working classes." People
think, when that name is mentioned, of labourers in
rural districts, and immediately-picture to themselves
a family whose weekly earnings barely suffice to meet
their weekly wants. I need not tell the audience I
am now addressing that a skilled artisan in these
parts is not only above the reach of distress, except
in such extraordinary circumstances as the breaking
out of a war, a cotton famine, or the like ; but that
he is better off, so far as moneygoes, than very many
of those educated men who embark upon the hon-
ourable perils of professional life. (Hear.) I have
lately seen—it was drawn up for me—a statement of
the rate of wages hereabouts, and I find that they
range (I am speaking, of course, of skilled labourers)
from 30s. to two guineas weekly, that is allowing for
those occasional holidays which we are all of us the
better for having, and which I suppose none of us can
do without. Allowing for those, it is an income of
from £7O-to £lOO a-year—that is, for working in the
usual way, forl am told that if a skilful artisan is em-
ployed by piece-work he may generally command a
higher rate. Now, I do not thinly I shall be told
that men living upon these wages are unable to
support a club, and I think they might do much
more than support a club. I see no reason why a
large proportion of them should not, if they think
fit, and supposing that the proper agency of sup-
plying the demand is provided, as I am told it is
here—l see no reason why a large proportion of
them should not, if they choose it, live in their own
freehold houses. (Cheers.) Now, I have always
looked upon five things as going together—cheap
schools and institutes, which are only the schools
continued ; cheap books and newspapers ; the
savings bank and the insurance office, which is
another form of savings banks ; the club ; and the
freehold house. Three of these you have already ;
the two others you may have if you choose to pro-
vide them for yourselves. (Cheers.) And I am not
in the least afraid, speaking in the interest of the
employer, that a man will work one bit the worse
for feeling himself in a higher and more, satisfac-
tory social position. I don't talk here about inde-
penee—independenee is a word which is sadly
abused—nobody is independent except the savage.
(Cheers.) We are all dependent upon one another
--the rich upon the poor, the poor upon the rich,
and the rich just as much as the poor. (Cheers.)
Civilised society cannot exist otherwise, but I be-
lieve every thinking and feeling employer would
desire those who work under him to feel themselves
independent in one sense, in the true sense of the
word—that is, to feel that they are above the
pressure of immediate distress, that they are not
living from hand to mouth, and that they are not
liable to the caprice or the dictation of any single
individual. (Cheers.) My belief is that the more
you cultivate the feeling of self-respect, the more
you cultivate independence in that sense among
working men the better, the pleasanter, and not
more difficult you make the relations between them
and their employers. (Cheers.) I cannot speak
from any practical knowledge myself, but no man
has more of that than my friend Mr. Laird—(hear,
hear)—and I hope he will say a word to you. Now,
gentlemen, it only remains for me to wish success
and prosperity to this undertaking, and to express a
hope which I am confident will be realised, that
those who have given their money and—more than
money —who have given their time and their trouble
to its promotion, will be, as they deserve to be, long
and honourably among you. (Loud cheers, during
which his lordship resumed his seat.)
After short speeches by several working men,
Mr. JOHN LAIRD, M.P., who was loudly applauded,
said-11r. Chairman, my lords, ladies, and gentle-
men, after the full discussion which you have had
upon the merits and demerits of this hall, and upon
the merits and demerits of public-houses, I shall not
occupy your time more than five minutes with what
I am about to say. The resolution confided to me
is that a vote of thanks be accorded to Lord Stanley,
Earl Grosvenor, and Lord Richard Grosvenor, and
other gentlemen who have honoured us with their
presence to-night. (Applause.) I know it would
be distasteful to those noblemen if I were to say
anything at all flattering in their presence ; but I
think I may remind the working men, a number of
whom are here, that those noblemen have not
been content with the high position in which they
were born, but they have been determined to show
by their attention to their Parliamentary duties, and
by the interest they have taken in the various
measures which have been brought forward, not
only for the general benefit of the country, but
especially for the welfare of the working men, that
they did not win their present position by birth, but
they had attained it, and would maintain it, by the
force of example and the force of ability. (Hear,
hear, and renewed applause.) We have provided a
workmen's hall, and it is now for the working men
of this place to promote its success, for it rests en-
tirely upon the working men themselves. (Hear, hear.)
We may start an institution of this kind, but if the
working men will not avail themselves of it the in-
stitution will be a failure. I believe the working men
of Birkenhead have the means of making this hall
prosperous, and the more they attend here and avail
themselves of its advantages the more they will pro-
ligretshseiynarsoecinaoltpnoosiwtioednuacnadted, and areinteliectualdaettetarmin
inmeed tntso.
become educated, and to educate their children, and
to lay by their money until, as one of the speakers has
suggested, they are able to obtain a house for them-
selves, they will become the most independent class
in the country. (Hear.) As an employer of
labour I can fully confirm what was stated by Mr.
Hodge—namely, that a good workman, if he is not
satisfied with his wages or his master, can leave his
employment in a day ; but the employer of 2,000
or 3,000 men cannot do so ; he cannot move his
establishment ; therefore, in that respect, the work-
ing man has the advantage. (Hear.) Bmutlyamof
sorry to say that working men
them, at any rate, do not take advantage of the
opportunities for improvement which are offered to
them. If they attended more closely to their work,
and, instead of spending their money foolishly,
invested it in building societies and other institu-
tions established in this neighbourhood they would
become thoroughly independent of landlords, they
would themselves be the owners of houses ; and

when they had experienced the benefit of having a
house of their own, they would persevere in habits
of industry and economy. (Hear.) I believe if
they did so the working clbsses of this country would
raise themselves much higher than they are likely to
do by their present careless way of spending their
money. (Applause.) I think we have bad rather
too much teetotalism to-night. (Laughter.) I quite
agree with my noble friend, Lord Stanley, that we
have no right to dictate to a man how he shall spend
his money, and whether he shall go to a publichouse
or not. But what we have a right to do is to estab-
lish institutions orthis kind, and say to the working
men, "We hope you will share and avail yourself
of them." The noble lord gave me and some friends
of mine rather too much credit with regard to the
origin of this institution. I would thoroughly dis-
claim that, and state that the origin of the institution
is due to Mr. Hodge, Mr. Chandler, and other gen-
tlemen now present ; that having got into such a
position that it could not go further, myself and a
number of other gentlemen thought, as employers
of labour in this place, we should do what we could
to establish a workmen's hall which would be second
to none in this kingdom. (Loud applause.) We
have now got into a very good position. The ball
is established ; and, as I said before, it remains
for the working men to make it successful or not. I
will not occupy your timelonger, but:will now move
a vote of thanks to Lord Stanley, Lord Grosvenor,
and Lord Richard Grosvenor for their attendance
here to-night ; and I may state in doing so that I
know that Earl Grosvenor has taken a great interest
in societies of this kind in Chester. They have not
their hall there yet, but I hope before long that his
friends will enable him to afford the same accom-
modation to the working men of Chester that we
do to the working men of Birkenhead. (Applause.)
Lord STANLEY, in reply, said—l have made you
one speeeh to-night, and you will excuse me if I do
not make another. I thank you very sincerely for
the kindness with which you have received me, and
I am very glad to have been able to take part in an
undertaking which is so successful, so practi-
cal, and likely to be so useful. (Hear, hear.) I
only hope you will never allow this institution to
get into the hands of any sect, or any party, or—in
an invidious and exclusive sense—of any class.
(Great applause.) And now, ladies and gentlemen,
I shall retire from the scene and leave the matter in
the hands of my noble friend Lord Grosvenor, who
is—l was going to say on his own dunghill—
(laughter)—l mean in his own county—and who, I
have no doubt, will address you at great length and
with great eloquence.
Earl GROSVENOR, M.P., for whom three hearty
cheers were called and given on his rising, said—
Mr. Ch-airman, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
—After the very forcible appeal which has been
made by my noble friend Lord Stanley, who used a
rather poetical expression in making it, I can only
say I am unable to crow here as he is able to crow
not only here, but everywhere. I have neither the
power nor the eloquence which he says I have ; and
I envyhim the power which he possesses. But, ladies
and gentlemen, if you will allow me to say one
word about the subject upon which we have met to-
night, I will express the pleasure which I have felt
in accepting the invitation of my friend Mr. Laird
to be present on this occasion. (Loud applause.) I
am only sorry that I have not been able to take part
in the goodworks which he and other gentlemen have
promoted in this town. Ladies and gentlemen, you
are all accustomed here to launches of great vessels,
and I am sure, if this may be called a vessel which
you are launching to-night, it is certainly not one
of the least worthy of those vessels which have been
built on the shores of the Mersey. (Applause.) We
celebrate a launch here to-night. I am fully con-
vinced the ship is well found in every particular.
Every one who knows the handiwork of Birkenhead
workmen knows the work they turn out is first-rate
of the kind. (Renewed applause.) There is no fear
of the success of the voyage, but it must be remem-
bered that, after all, though the start may be fair,
the working of the ship must depend mainly and
almost entirely upon the crew themselves. When it
it is committed to your hands, you, the working
classes, will have to take charge of the ship and
navigate her wherever she is bound. I was glad to
hear Mr. Hodge say, and I have heard it before, and
I believe it is the general feeling of the working
classes, to have the co-operation of the gentlemen
who are about them in that position of life which
enables them to give assistance in managing insti-
tutions like this. He knows practically how the
matter stands in this respect, and I am glad to hear
him say this, which shows there is a feeling that
these things are best conducted when all classes—
the higher classes, the working classes, and others—
are working together harmoniously. Mr. Laird re-
ferred to the working men's institution at Chester.
I am sorry to say we are behind this town in that
matter, because our ship is not yet built ; but we
hope to build it in the course of the autumn, and,
though we cannot expect to have such a large and
spacious building as that in which we are met to-
night, still I hope it will be one which, for the pre-
sent at all events, will be useful to the town, and
accomplish the object for which it is intended. I
shall be glad on the occasion of its opening to see
any of the friends now present—(applause)—and I
hope we may both run together in the race of pro-
gress which these institutions are established to pro-
mote, and so far as the rivalry between us is the
rivalry of doing good, we shall do all the good in
this practical manner which it is in our power to
do. (Applause.)

Lord RICHARD GROSVENOR, who was received
with applause, said—Ladies and Gentlemen, when
I accepted Mr. Laird's very kind invitation to be
present on this occasion I had not the least idea that
I should be called upon to make a speech ; and as I
am requested to make one I can assure you it will
be of the shortest possible description, as it is quite
time those of us have to get up at 4 o'clock in the
morning should be in bed. (Laughter and ap-
plause.) I can say truly that I came here, as you
did, to learn, and I trust that the lessons which we
have all learnt this evening will not be forgotten by
us. The best possible advice has been given to us,
and I hope to carry it away with me, and to use it
on any other occasion that may arise. I shall not
trouble you any more, ladies and gentlemen, but
simply return my thanks for the compliment that
has been paid to me. (Applause.)
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks
to the chairman.

The Committee of Council on Education.

4

Yesterday a report was issued from the Select
Committee of the House of Commons " appointed
to inquire into the constitution of the Committee of
Council on Education, and the system under which
the business of the office is conducted, and also into
the best mode of extending the benefits of Govern-
ment inspection and the Parliamentary grants to
schools at present unassisted by the State." The
minutes of evidence are appended. The report
is as follows Your committee have received
much evidence upon the questions referred to them.
With respect to the constitution of the Education
Department, and the system under which the annual
grants for the promotion of popular education are
administered, they have examined present and
former presidents and vice-presidents and the secre-
tary of the Committee of Council, and several of,
her Majesty's inspectors. They have also taken
evidence from various parts of England with respect
to the policy of making a certificated teacher an in-
dispensable condition of State assistance to a school,
and with respect to the existing practice of the exist-
ing practice of the Education Department on the
important subject of religious teaching and the
adoption of the Conscience Clause. Your committee
are obliged to state, with much regret,.that, consi-
deringcomplete
alreadyt h the
et
their
rperiodtiazieu of the year and the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the present session, they are unableto
ry ;n
to thbeuht
utheyc with
present the
convictionevi-
dence
that, although on some
one-sided, it will be found pointt bof great imperfect,
atseryeestt
and value. The question raised in the second part
of the order of reference—viz., how best to extend
the benefits of Government inspection and the Par-
liamentary grant to schools at present unassisted by
the State, is one so wide, and of such extreme im-
portance to thepromotion of popular education, that
your committee think it desirable thatfurther inquiry