The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-20 00:00:00

THE STOCKPORT STRIKE.

'The hands in the following► establishments haye already
struck :—The.mills of Messrs. Kerslaw, Lees, and Co.,
upwards of 2,000 persons ; James Marshall and Co.,
4,400 ; Robert M.'Clure, 1,200 ; Cephas Howard, 850 ;
T. 'Fernely, 560'; Robinson, 540 ; Whiletegge, 600 ;
Stewart, 450 ; Eskrigge and Carver, 270 ; Barlow, 100 ;
Thorniley. 250 ; Barrett., 235 ; Read, 170 ; S. Wilkin-
son, 218 ; T; Walmsls, 150 ; NVaterhouse and Hampson,
450 ; and Asbe, 160. The firm of Major Marsland and
some others have given notices which expire tdwards
the end of this week, and the operatives are expected in
those mills. also to leave their work. The few mills
which will'continne mining are mostly spinning only,
and as three-fourth nearly of the wages given in pro-
ducing a piece of cloth are paid on the weaving,
the spinners do not feel the high prices so much as those
who are spinners and weavers, or, as ,they are called,
in the district, spinners and "manufacturers." ' There
appears to have been some difference of opinion among
the delegates of the various towns as to the propriety of
the Stockport people striking while the Preston' opera-
tives are out ; and one of the delegates, in addressingA.
meeting at Darwen, is reported to have described
Stockport workmen us "hot-headed and 'impatient ;"'
and to have augured ruin 'to the cause of the Preston
operatives if tho.se of , Stockport persisted in striking.
The receipts at Preston from Stockport have been about
2001. per week. The firm of Kershaw and Co., at
Stockport, is one of the largest in the district, and it is
estimated that they turn out upwards of 12,000 pieces
of cloth, chiefly far India; of about 43 yards per- piece.
They are, in addition, extensive merchants and calico
printers, and probably purchase three-fourths as much
dab, to print as they manufacture themselves.

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AND NORTH-WESTERN Ra-
Viresinesday.—Ever since Tuesday
afternoon all business has been suspended at the goods
department of the London and North-Western Railway
Company in this town, in consequence of the strike of
the bookers, deliverers of goods, cranemen, and foremen.
The interruption caused to the trade of the town and
the manufacturing districts generally was very great,
from the suddenness of the strike, of which no previous
intimation had been given. A few months back the
same men struck for an advance of wages, when the
dispute was settled by a compromise. This morning
15 delegates from the men waited upon Mr. Braithwaite
Poole, the manager of the goods department, titi
tat lay
ea
statement of their grievances before him. They. s
that since the last strike the price of provisionihad con-
siderably increased, and they therefore asked fer_n.
for
general rise in their wages, averaging 2s. per week
each man. They also asked permission to leave o—
they
- work at 5 o'clock on Saturdays, in order that
might make their marketings at an earlier hour, and.
that their wages should be paid, weekly instead of fort-
nightly, With reference to thefiresvtequd neistitoervn,ieaews with
otihthe
rate of wages, Mr. Poole, after sr,
the delegates and the chief local officials of the cote-
pany, agreed to it, subject, however, to the approval
of the directors. The other questions, he said, must ba
left open for consideration.; for instance, the company
could not undertake to close at an earlier hour on Satur-
days than their rivals did. To prevent a recurrence of •
such sudden stoppages to the company's business in
future, Mr. Poole insisted on the delegates signing an•
agreement that in future no man should leave tke com-
pany's service without giving a month's notice. This
the delegates did cheerfully, and said they would be
answerable that all the .other men would do the same.
The men on strike (about 400 in number) then returned
to their work at four o'clock.
him:DENT ROBBERY AT APAWNBROKER'S.—Last night"
a young girl, while the shoptnau of Mr. Holmes, pawn-
broker of Broad-street, St. Giles's,
was engaged -in
serving a euePoPer, daringly seized a small parcel con. •
taming handkerchiefs an
The thief, thinking the much e
some other articles of value.
s opraan was too en ;aged.
to notice her exit, left very leisurely ; but , she had
scarcely reached the outside of thsshep, -when anything
but an affectionate embrace from the shopman secured,
her till she was handed over to the police for the statiefr.
house. •