The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-08 00:00:00

MINERS AND THEIR GRIEVANCES.

Notwithstanding their extensive organisation and
their frequent efforts to procure redress for their
grievances, the Amalgamated Association of Miners
have, like other bodies, to lament over Parliamen-

tary promises which have not resulted in perform-
ance. Mr. Bruce, indeed, who intends to do so many
wonderful things for the public good on some future
day, got so far as to amend the Mines Regulation Bill,
but as the measure joined the long procession of victims

in the general massacre at the end of the session, the
miners were not much the better for his trouble. It
seems, however, from the conference held by the
Miners' Association at Hanley, that the men do not
consider the bill a great loss, as it failed to satisfy
their requirements. There is one remarkable omis-
sion which the miners to their honour have especially
noticed. The education of the boys employed in
mines is altogether ignored. As the president, in
going over the additions he thought neces-
sary, mentioned the periodical inspection of
mines by sub-inspectors, the abolition of the
truck system, and the weekly payment of miners'
wages, it must be acknowledged that the new bill is
anything but a complete or satisfactory measure.
'W hen the miners' president calls for the personal
responsibility of mine owners for accidents in pits
through breaches of the law, he should tell us at the
same time how many risks have been run during the
past year by the incurable recklessness and indiffe-
rence of the men, whose lighted pipes, unclosed
lamps, and other careless acts sound like wilful
murder and suicide in the ears of denizens of the
upper world.

PAUPER EMIGRATION.

A communication from the Poor Law Buard to

the guardians of St. Pancras has removed a great
deal of the mispprehension and legal mystification
which surrounded the subject of pauper emigration.
Some months ago the Poor Law Board issued an
order impressing upon guardians that, in conse-
quence of objections raised by the United States
Government, the Board could not give its sanction
to the emigration of paupers except to British colo-
nies. The direct and immediate result of this

restrictive order was to throw a large number
of persons on the local rates who, could
the guardians have assisted them, would have
emigrated to America. In reply to an earnest ap-
peal the Guardians of St. Pancras had made to the
Poor Law Board sanction the payment of £5 to
assist a woman to join her husband in America,
that body state, in the communication above refer-
red to, that the guardians are mistaken in supposing
that it is positively illegal to help persons in the way
described. For many years past, however, the Board
have uniformly declined to sanction the payment
out of the poor rates, of the passage-money of emi-
grants to the United States, the Government of
which had made strong representations against assist-
ing persons to reach America if they were in such
circumstances as to render them likely to become a
burden to that country. The Board were willing to
sanction, as in the present instance, the payment of
money where it could be shown that the husband
was able to maintain his family on arrival in
America.

MISS RYB AND HER PROTEGEES.

In spite of the many kind and charitable efforts

now made on behalf of our homeless and neglected
children, there is still so large an army of juvenile
street Arabs amongst us that it is gratifying to know
that Miss Rye's Canadian emigration scheme for
girls is working well. This indefatigable lady
has just returned from Canada, and gives a most
favourable report of her undertakings. The demand
in the colony far exceeds the supply, great numbers
I of respectable families being willing to take charge
of the children for the value of their services, and
train them for domestic life. Miss Rye
had an interview at Liverpool with the Mayor and
with several supporters of her scheme in that town,
and explained the working of the experiment. The
girls whom she takes are orphans, drafted from the
various towns of England. She suggests that a
female collector should be appointed to take poor
and neglected children out of the streets, and
lodge them for a time in the existing ragged
and industrial schools. Here they could receive
some training and education, after which she could
take them to Canada and place them at once in
families. Remembering the hardships and privations
which these homeless orphans are likely to endure
in the winter months we may hope Miss Rye's