The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-06 00:00:00

THE NINE lIOURS MOVEMENT.

This movement, which has suddenly assumed
such colossal proportions, and which now engrosses
a large amount of public attention, is by no means
of recent growth. In one shape or another the
reduction of hours has for years been agitated for
at intervals, and the Confederation of the Building'
Trades as now estlblisbed for the special purpose of
gaining the nine hours has been in existence 20
months. In this league there are said to be up-
wards of 20,000 skilled artisans, and by a resolution
arrived at three weeks ago the labourers are now
admitted as members. The business of the society
is conducted by a committee of 42, consisting of
seven delegates contributed by eech of the five
trades, and seven from the labourers. Its opera-
tions embrace a circle of a few miles only round
the metropolis, such towns as Croydon not being
included within its scope. The trade societies,
however, extend their ramifications all over the
country. Many of them are in a comparatively
flourishing condition, and it is understood that they
will support their metropolitan brethren both with
their money and their sympathy.
As the labourers have united with the tradesmen
in this movement, and as their work is dependant
upon and subsidiary to that of the artisans, it fol-
lows that the hours of labour, if reduced at all, must
be reduced concurrently to both branches. It is
presumed that a league offensive and defensive has
been entered into between the artisans and
the labourers, and that, if the former carry their
point, they will assist the latter in achieving the
same object. The masters are particularly anxious
that it should be understood that they do not re-
quire a signature to any document ; but the propo-
sition which they have put forth in their notice of
the 3d inst. is unfortunately more distasteful to the
men even than signing the obnoxious " document."
By this proposition a check, or file engagement
book, with duplicate successive numbers, is to be
kept by the foreman or person by whom the work-
men of establishments are engaged, and the men are
to pledge their words not to belong to any society
which interferes with individual trade arrangements.
The men regard this proposed system of ticketing
and numbering as insulting and degrading. They
state that with the organization possessed by the
masters they will know the history and antecedents
of every man, why he left his last employment and
all about him. If a man is dismissed by a crochetty
or tyrannical foreman, they apprehend that a black
mark will be set against his name ; that when he
applies for a situation he will be asked for his
ticket and number; that the master will then write
to the Central Association to ascertain what is
known about number so and so, and if he has
quitted his last employer for alleged impertinence,
inattention or anything of that description—" for
demanding his rights," as the men say—it will be
impossible for him to obtain work again in the
yard of any metropolitan builder. The answer to
this ingenious argument is that the number which
any man receives will not pertain to him for ever,
but that it only lasts while he remains in the same
employment It is not anticipated that men will
keep these numbers for a day—they may light their
pipes with them, and no objection will be made.
To suppose, therefore, that upon a man seeking a
new engagement he will be asked for his number,
or that he can be identified under any number by
the Central Association, is a chimera of the wildest
description.
As regards the question of interfering with the
free will of men in taking any work they please,
the workmen admit that when there is a turn-out
at any particular job, that job is " picketed." The
masters say that the pickets resort to all manner of
unjustifiable practices to effect their object of pre-
venting men going to work for an establishment
where a strike is on. Intimidation, they allege, is
sometimes had recourse to, while the device of mak-
ing the unsuspecting workman drunk is frequently
practised. The Society men, on the other hand,
define the duty of the pickets to be to explain the
circumstances of the strike, to reason with him who
is about to offer his services to the tabooed em-
ployer, and to use moral suasion only. After this,
say they, if the man likes to go to work he is at,
liberty to do so, and thenceforward he is never in-:
terfered with. Which of these statements is the
more correct those who have had to deal with
pickets will have little difficulty in determining.
Possibly there is a certain amount of truth about
both of them, the conduct of the pickets varying no
. doubt according to the circumstances of each par-
titular case.

Yesterday a meeting of the Committee of the
Central Association of Employers was held at th.,
Freemasons' Tavern, when a great deal of corres-
pondence was read by the secretary. The most
perfect unanimity marked the proceedings ; the
necessity of firmness in the present juncture was
insisted on, and all joined in expressing their
ireadiness and ability to hold out for a considerable
time. Several letters also were read from large
masters in the North, stating that work was scarce
in certain districts, and offering to send up men to
the assistance of the London firms. The difference
of wages between town and country-ss. 6d. a day
in the former land 4s. in the latter—is said to be
sufficient inducement to bring a strong force of
men from the provinces if they should be required.
The London men, however, regard this as a san-
guine view which will not be realised.
Among the large and important works in Lon-.
don and the vicinity, the progress of which will be
retarded more or le=s by the present movement,
may be mentioned the Patriotic Asylum at Wands-
worth, the new wing to the House of Correction at
Wandsworth, the Church in Baldwin's-gardens,
the Artillery Barracks, and numerous Govern-
mental works at Deptford and Woolwich, on which
at present between 3,000 and 4,000 men are em-
ployed, the Grenadier Guards Barracks in Roches-
ter-row, considerable alterations to the Bank of
England, still heavy works at the Houses of Par-
liament, the Westminster Palace Hotel, the Middle
Temple Library, and large warehouses in New
Cannon-street, and houses in different parts of the
metropolis. It is believed that in all these cases,
with the exception of the Guards'
Barracks in
Rochester-row, an extension of
in Mr. H
time has been con-
ceded to the builders ; whileAloatyele,r'sabcoount-
tract for the Westminster Palace
which a good deal of anxiety was felt by the
public, there is what is called a " strike" clause,
which is specially intended to provide against any
emergency of this description.
The determination of the master builders, as
expressed in their resolutions of the Ist inst., isto
re-open their works upon the new agreement with
the men, "as soon as Messrs. TTO llope and Sons
have resumed their works." They do not speak of
waiting till Messrs. Trollope's yard is full, as has