The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-28 00:00:00

THE STRIKE.

At a time of almost unexampled depression in
the building trade and labour market generally,
though just at a juncture when brighter prospects
seemed opening up, the trades unions have thought
fit to recommence the old struggle against the mas-
ters in favour of the nine hours' movement. At pre-
sent only the men at Messrs. Lucas's, Messrs. Kelk's,
Sir M. Peto's, and Messrs. Smith's are out. But if
in the course of another week or so the delegates
from the trades unions are still obstinate in refus-
ing to listen to the liberal terms now offered them,
all the great contractors will close their yards again
as in 1859, and some 45,000 men will at once be out
of employment. There is literally no other course
but this extreme step left the masters. All the men
now in their employ are supporting those on strike
at the four firms we have named. If they quietly
look on until these are coerced into submission, four
other firms, with large contracts on hand, will im-
mediately be chosen, the labourers of which will in
turn go out, and so on, till all are broken in detail.
It is necessary, therefore, if the masters intend to
act effectually, as self preservation compels them to
do, to act at once with firmness and in concert.
The question at issue now is, whether or not the
men will take increased pay, the payment being
by the hour, with liberty to make those hours
nine or ten at their own option ; or whether the
masters will yield and give ten hours' wages for
nine hours' work. It is difficult to believe that
the labourers and artisans of London, who, taken
as a body, are the best workmen in the world, can
be so far misled as to enter into a contest on this
question in opposition to the entire voice of public
opinion and to the utter destruction of their own
interests. If in the present instance the strike be-
come general, there is no disguising the fact that
it will be the ruin, not only for the time, but for
ever, of the present rate of bricklayers and masons
in the metropolis. During the last strike it is
computed that on contracts and in other ways the
masters lost nearly £300,000 sterling. Against
such a gigantic waste of capital as this they are
now determined to guard at once and for ever, and
we believe arrangements are being made, if the
strike becomes general, to introduce Belgian work-
men, who are equally skilled with the English, and
who will gladly work at 25 per cent. less than the
wages paid here. This is an extreme step, but the
masters cannot allow themselves to be ruined by the
perpetual recurrence of these combinations among

- 7
their men. At the same time the men themselves
were never in a worse condition for going on strike
than they are at present. The strike of 1859 and
the extreme severity of the winter has compelled
most of them to part with whatever little store of
clothes or furniture they possessed. The coffers
of the Trades. Unions are at their lowest ebb, and
it is not too much to say that in a fortnight or
three weeks after the closing of the yards half
the men with their families would be dependent on
the parish for relief. The great body of the men
themselves are not acquainted with these facts, or
that preparations are being made for importing
workmen from Belgium. Their trade union dele-
gates, however, are well aware of them, and, being
equally well aware that the men would not persist in
their demands in the face of such fatal risks, are
careful to keep them from their knowledge. The
first symptom of the strike was conveyed to the
firms for which the men have ceased working in
the following letter :
Gentlemen —We, the operative stonemasons, once
more respectfully solicit you to concede to us the
privilege of working nine hours a day instead of ten.
This question has been so fully laid before you, and
is so well comprehended by both employers and em-
ploysd, that it is unnecessary to enter into it at any
length on this occasion. The reduction of the hours
of labour is so deeply rooted in the minds of the
working classes of the community that they will
never discontinue the agitation thereof until the
object be attained. Believing as we do that it is the
only effectual way of improving our position, and
giving ns opportunities of obtaining those advan-
tages of mental improvement so extensively offered
by the numerous and increasing institutions now in
existence—and, gentlemen, you are doubtless aware
that the employers in many of our provincial towns
have already granted the nine hours per day to their
workmen—we therefore trust that you, the em-
ployers in this the first metropolis in the world, will
no longer withhold from us that which we have been
so long striving to obtain—viz., the reduction of
labour from ten to nine hours per day, thereby pro-
moting that good feeling which should subsist
between employers and employed ; and that in 28
days from the date hereof we may receive an answer
in the affirmative.—l am, &c., R. W. GREY.
On behalf of the Operative Stonemasons.
March 7.

It will be seen that the claim for the nine

hours is cleverly based on the plea for mental im-
provement, while the last sentence clearly threatens
a strike if the demand is not complied with.
With this document came an almost similar
one from the bricklayers and ohe from the painters,
while the interminable George Potter, on behalf of
the carpenters and joiners of London, wroto as
follows : •

Gentlemen,—ln the spring of last year we ap-
proached you respectfully, in the hope that you
would favour with assent our request that our hours
of labour should be reduced without decreasing our
daily earnings.
We would submit to you that the manner in
which this was presented should not have done less
than have favourably recommended it to your no-
tice, inasmuch as it might have demonstrated to
you that our desire was entirely in accord with the
efforts of the wise and good who are seeking by
every legitimate means to bring the working classes
under the influence of educational enlightenment,
for which it must be admitted that the time we
seek for that purpose is an inevitable condition.
cent.
quitet. in
You, gentlemen, however, considered oar request as
only a demand for atnhiisnvcireewas,ewoef lO
per
consider
our wages. Taking
unnecessary that any apology should be offered in
our character of sellers for endeavouring to enhance
the value of the article we have to offer, finding as
we do one justification in the first principles of
political economy:
Upon the occasion referred to you did not deem it
consistent with your interests to accede to cur pro-
position, and we were ultimately obliged
timebliged hasto
now
accept
your own terms for our labour.
arrived at which we feel it necessary to renew the
request then made for nine hours as a day's work,
and we desire to do so no less respectfully than
before, assuring you that in our belief by acceding
to our wishes the health and intelligence of the
workmen will be improved, and a more friaidly
feeling between employers and employed will be
established.
An answer to this memorial by the sth of April,
1861, is solicited.—Yours very respectfully,
The Carpenters and Joiners of London.
March 7, 1861. GEO. POTTER, Secretary.
On the receipt of these documents Messrs. Kelk,
of Pimlico, and Lucas Brothers, at once met to
consider the question, and they determined to put
an end for ever to the dispute by raising the rate
of wages and paying by the hour, leaving the men
to work nine or ten hours, as suited their wishes or

their wants;. They accordingly posted the follow-
ing notice' in their yards :
To THE. WORKMEN IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT.
On and ;after Saturday, March the 23d, it is pr -
posed to nt ake the following alterations in the rate
of wages iaid to skilled mechanics and labourers.
The prey tent rate of wages in London for a skilled
mechanics s 335. per week of 68i- hours, or about
6/d. per ht ; and for a labourer 20s. per week of
584 hours, or about 4d. per hour. We now propose
paying skiLlled mechanics in London 7d. per hour
being an imerease of wages at the rate of is. lid.,
per week, and labourers 41d. per hour, being an
increase of wages at the rate of 81d. per week.
This arrangement of payment by the hour will
enable every man employed by us to work any
number of hours he may think proper, being paid
for the time he actually works in accordance with
the above increased rates. It is hoped that this
arrangement will secure that hearty co-operation
and good feeling we have at all times been desirous
to establish between ourselves and those engaged
with us.
March 15.

LUCAS BROTHERS.

To the general public unacquainted with the loss
on contracts by a rise in the price of wages the
above may not appear to be a very great increase, ,
yet, on the contracts which Messrs. Lucas and
Kelk have now on hand it entails a loss of nearly
£14,000. The terms, in fact, were at first opposed
by some masters as being more than they can afford.
Ultimately, however, thinking that by se doing
they would amply satisfy their men and put an
end to all further differences, they consented,
The notice was accordingly issued, and if the
matter had been in the hands of the men there
is no doubt the terms would have been closed
with gladly. Unfortunately, however, it was the
delegates the firms had to deal with, and they
at once rejected the offers, insisted on the ten
hours' pay and nine hours' work, and on its
refusal, the men were ordered out on strike.
There is no doubt but that knowing Messrs. Kelk
and Lucas had the contract for the Exhibition
building in 1862 the delegates made sure that they
would easily compel them to submit f;o any terms
they might offer. They were not aware that since
the last strike every contractor has introduced into

the terms of his contract a " strike clause," by
which he is not bound for any delay in completion
caused by the men turning out. Such a clause
actually exists in the present contract for the in-
tended building. It is needless to say, however,
that the progress of the building will not be delayed
on account of the turn-out, and if the men will not

take the terms offered arrangements are making to
provide others who will.
The demands of the men are so utterly unreason-
able that it is difficult to believe they really intend
turning out on them generally. Most of the wives
of these men work from 12 to 14 and 16 hours
daily, at washing or as charwomen, and the children,
as errand boys or in factories, work from 10 to 12
hours ; yet the delegates claim for the men them-
selves the right to leave off after nine hours' labour,
having ten hours' pay. They now leave off work
at half-past 5; they claim to be allowed to leave at
half-past 4. In the summer months, when all the
building is going on, the day is still in its prime at
4 o'clock, and the idea of stopping all work, stop-
ping all machinery, and putting back horses in the
stables at that hour—at what may almost be called
the middle of the day—seems monstrous. It was
stated during the last strike that had the men struck
for a Saturday half-holyday there would have been
many of the public on their side. Under the terms
now proposed, the men working, as now, ten hours
a day, can actually leave off work at 1 o'clock on
Saturday afternoon, and take the rest of the day to
themselves, receiving the same amount of weekly
wAges as heretofore. What other workpeople
have a Saturday half-holyday without paying for
it ; or what class of tradesmen or workpeople can
finish their day's labour by half-past four in the
afternoon ? Omnibus drivers are only paid 355.
a-week for 16 hours' work every day, ~undays in-
cluded. If the masters could meet the men and tell
them these facts there would soon be an end of
the turn-out. But now the masters can only see the
delegates, who, perhaps not unnaturally, tell the
workmen only their own side of the question, and
garble over whatever is stated by the employers.
It is confidently believed that the men would
gladly join the works to-morrow, if allowed, but,
of course, the Unions resort to every means in their
power to prevent this. Round the works of Messrs.
Lucas and Messrs. Kelk also, pickets of men are
posted, who intercept, prevail, cajole, or intimidate
every one willing to return. If a poor man should
persist in earning his bread, his name, address, and
occupation are put down in the black list, which is
sent round to all the Trades Unions in the country,
and after the strike is over the men are ordered to
refuse to work at any yard where these poor fellows
are employed. They are thus driven from town to
town, and either compelled to seek a new eccupa•.
tion altogether or to compound for the forgiveness
of the Union by the payment of a heavy fine and
enrolling themselves as members. There is no
doubt but that the present struggle will be a sharp
and serious one, for as the system of payment by
the hour will put an end to the mischievous in-
fluence of the Union at once they are likely tofight
to the last against it. They must, however, beware
of prolonging the contest, for, as we have said,
the masters are determined to put an end to the
present state of things by organising a regular
system for the introduction of workmen from abroad.
It is just to state in conclusion that the masters
bind themselves to keep open their works for the
10 hours if only half a dozen men choose to work
that time, and they pledge themselves not to allow
overtime-work unless a majority of the men wish
for it. In fact, the masters have gone out of their
way to make concessions and to anticipate every
reasonable cause of complaint.

MR. SPURGEON'S METROPOLITAZv

IABERNACLE.

On Tuesday evening last a meeting of the con-
tributors to the Metropolitan Tabernacle Building
Fund was held at the chapel, to present the result
of their " last effort" during the past two months.
The chair was occupied by Sir Henry Havelock.
Some time before the meeting commenced a vast
concourse of parsons had assembled, and the appear-
ance of the building inside, now that it is complete,
was truly imposing. The chief colours being white
and gold contrasted greatly with the sombre ap-
pearance of the multitude, many of whom bore
marks of respect for the memory of the Duchess of
Kent. The chairman said he felt quite unequal to
the task of addressing such an audience, as he made
no pretensions to oratory ; but he trusted to the
indulgence of the meeting while he offered a few
words by way of sympathy with Mr. Spurgeon,
and the truly magnificent structure he had by
his indomitable perseverance been enabled to
raise. He hoped before he left the chair he
should see that the remaining sum of £3,000,
which was required to finish the chapel at the be-
ginning of this year, was all collected, and that
Mr. Spurgeon would be able to enter upon his
ministerial labours at once -within those walls
free of debt. Mr. Spurgeon then addressed the meet-
ing, expressing his gratitude to the many kind
friends who ha assisted him. He said that, with-
out reading the long list of subscriptions he held in
his hand, he was delighted to say that the aggregate
amount was £3,700; and he did not know how
better to express the joy they all must feel at that
announcement than calling upon them to stand up
and sing to the tune of the Old Hundredth the
doxology, "Praise God from whom all blessings
flow," which was heartily done twice. In thanking
Sir H. Havelock for taking the chair, he availed
himself of the opportunity of invoking the Divine
blessing upon the head of the son of one of the
bravest of England's warriors—a man whose name
will be held in reverence and esteem as long as time
lasts, and whose Christian virtues were now hon-
oured by an imperishable crown. The late Sir 11.
Havelock had left his earthly laurels-Lhravely won
—and had gone to his everlasting rest. With re 7
gard to his own position, he rejoiced to say that he
had fulfilled his pledge, which was that he would
not preach in that edifice on a Sabbath while there
was any debt. He must state, however, that beyond
the .E 30,000 which had been required for its erec-
tion, there would be about £1,200 more needed to
render the approaches complete, and to furnish ac-
commodationfo
evenrl.ispu wpnilos, and fitting up the
&c, so thatschools, he wanted between
£4OO and £590, which he had no doubt of getting
by the time the opening services were concluded.
The meeting was addressed by several ministers and
gentlemen, and after a vote of thanks to the chair-
man it separated. Mr. Spurgeon and his church
will remove from New Park-street, and permanently
commence their religious services next Sunday
evening. He will preach at Exeter Hall in the
morning of that day.

11 AMWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SCINDE.

The directors of this company state in their report
that the materials and appliances necessary for
the construction and working of the line had now
arrived at Kurrachee. The cuttings and embank-
ments were in such. a state of forwardness that they
might probably be already, completed throughout
the entire length between Kurrachee and Kotree,
leaving to be finished only the, side trenches, water
drains, and slope trimming, the progress of which
would not interfere with the traffic of the line. On
the 26th of Jan. the permanent way was laid over
the Bahrun Viaduct, and an engine with train of
materials passed over it. This viaduct consisted of
30 arches. It was built of hard white durable stone
foundon the spot, and whirl: had a very handsome
appearance when dressed. The Bahrun was 1,782
feet long, and, with the exception of the Mulleer,
the longest viaduct on the line. In the month of
October, 1859, several hundred persons were con-
veyed by the railway to witness the ceremony of
laying, by the Commissioners in Scinde, the foun-
dation stone of the Mulleer Viaduct, the most
extensive engineering work on the line. This
viaduct was composed of Warren's iron girders, of
80 feet span, resting on stone piers, and is 1,860
feet in length. The ballasting of the line was all
but completed, and was of excellent quality, and
the outlay for maintenance promised to be exceed-
ingly moderate. Telegraphic communication had
been established for several months between Kur-
rachee and Kotree and the intermediate stations of
the railway. The locomotive repairing shops were
completed, and the smiths' shops and foundry had
been at work for nearly five months. Engines, car-
riages, and trucks were ready in sufficient number
for the expected opening this month. Although the
terminal and other stations would not be finished
for the opening of the line, sufficient temporary
accommodation would be afforded for both passen-
gers and goods. The harbour improvement works,
so important to the railway, were being energeti-
cally carried on by Government. The external
and internal trade of Scinde continued to
increase in the most satisfactory manner. Since
the last report a further sum of £83,000, raised by
debentures, had been paid to the credit of the Se-
cretary of State for India in Council, making, with
£250,000 previously raised, in all £333,000, being

_ .
to the extent of the present borrowing powers of
the company for the purposes_a the Scinde Rail-
way. The financial statement showed that from
the commencement the sum of £1,329,000 had been
received, and that the sum of £1,164,000 had been
expended, leaving a balance of £160,000.