The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-27 00:00:00

DECEMBER 271 1850.

THE PROJECTED STRIKE UPON
THE NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
Last night an aggregate meeting of the engine-
drivers and firemen engaged upon the southern di-
vision of the London and North-Western Railway
took place at the Railway Tavern, Hampstead-road.
The especial. object of the meeting was to receive dele-
gates from the northern division, in order to hear from
themselves their grounds of complaint, and to adopt
measures thereupon.
In the course of Wednesday communications were
sent to the engine-drivers upon many of the other
great trunk lines of railway, and there were conse-
quently present last night, in addition to the deputa-
tion from the northern division of the line, delegates
from the Great Western, the Great Northern, the
Eastern Counties, and other lines.
On the motion of MELBONNE, Nathaniel Hunt, of
Rugby, one of the deputation from the northern di-
vision, took the chair shortly before ten o'clock.
On opening the proceedings, he said he trusted
that they now spoke in the presence of an impartial
press, for it could not be denied that while publicity
had been given to the statements of the directors, the
answers of the men had been unnoticed. It was ne-
cessary, in order to place the matter fairly before
them, that he should first read the memorial which
bad been presented by the men upon the northern
division to Mr. Trevethick, at Crewe. It was in the
following terms :
TO FRANCIS TREVETHICK, ESQ , LOCOMOTIVE SUPER-
INTENDENT, LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY,
NORTHERN DIVISIiN, AT CREWE.
" The humble memorial from your enginemen and
firemen employed in your locomotive department,
" Showeth, That your memorialists have lately
viewed with extreme regret that they have again to ap-
proach you on a subject in which they feel the most in-
tense interest, because they plainly can foresee their
future welfare will be compromised if you do not retract
the order you have given out.
" What your memorialists would especially call your
attention to is this—that it is your wish to introduce a
system that every engineman and fireman under your
charge shall on some future day be called upon to sign
an agreement that they must give three months' notice
before they can leave the service of the company.
" This alarm proceeds from your having got some un-
registered men to do so. Therefore what else can be
expected but that on a future day you would request
your memorialists to do so likewise?
" Besides, you have subjected your memorialists to be
fined from the breaking down of the machinery of the
engines, under the impression that these breakages occur
from the want of oil, while it is a well known fact by all
who have anything to do with a locomotive engine that
the majority of breakdowns arise from causes over which
the tngitieman can have no possible control; conse-
quently can it be reasonable and just in such cases to
attribute them to want of oil? Again, there is an order
given by you that as little oil as possible might be used.
By this there are two orders quite in opposition to one
another, namely—
" 1. Use plenty of oil to save the machinery from
breaking down. If this is not complied with and
a breakage takes piece the engineman is fined.
" 2. On the other hand, if what you consider an over
quantity to have been used the engineman is docked a
portion of his premium; which is a fine by another
name. It is impossible at all times to prescribe the same
quantity. If that is done the first order cannot be
complied with, because an engine may run many days
without heating, at other times it is impossible to pre-
vent it.
" Again, there is another description of fines which
we consider over severe; for example, suppose an en-
gineman commits, or may have been caused to commit,
a small fault, this engineman is immediately suspended
for six, eight, or ten days until a committee- meeting.
It he is exonerated,:still he loses his time, which, of course,
fines him for that of which he is not guilty. Should he
be guilty, besides the loss of his time he is in general
fined 1/. This makes a double fine, which becomes very
severe.

Your memorislists are led to understand that you
are under an impres:ion that they have not acted t)-
wards you in such a manner us to render them deserving
of your sympathy and patronage. Surely a servitude
of ten, eleven, twelve, or thirteen years is sufficient
to convince you to the contrary. The experience of
such long and faithful service is guarantee enough
for steadiness without binding them to a three mouths'
notice.
" Referring again to the three months' notice system,
your memorialists, after much consideration and grave
attention to the watching ever their future 'interests,
most respectfully beg leave to inform you the unanimous
resolution they ,have come to is this—' That your me-
morialists cannot think or agree to give a three months'
notice at any future time. There is another point
which your memorialists view with alarm. It is re-
ported currently over the whole length of the London
and North-Western Railway that oa a future occasion,
when it suits you, you will do all the injury you can to
your memorialists. If this report be true, they consider
it is not treating them justly, for they do not deserve it.
" Your memorialists always were cf opinion and be-
lieved that you entertained a gcod feeling towards them,
and they were always led to understand that you would
promote their interests by every means in your power,
as well as the safety of the public and the interests of
this great company. You are aware that we have al-
ways been satisfi,d with the presnt rate of wages.
" Under these circumstances, surely your memorialists
cannot be blamed for respectfully requesting you to re-
consider your present determination, and once more to
restore the harmony and good feeling which is so es-
sential to the efficient working of the railway, the in-
terests of the shareholders, and the comfort of the work-

men.
"Your memorialists feel assured that hitherto, as a
body, they have maintained a high character for workino,
the line with perfect safety so tar as they are concerned,'
and it is their desire to increase their reputation and
prove themselves worthy of your consideration.
"A portion of your memorialists consider their case
a grievous one, because they are not treated under the
terms laid down by the directors, that when they run
regularly on the line they were to be paid 7s. per day,
and turnovers ss. per day. This stipulation is not ad-
hered to.
"The memorialists express a hope that no advantage
will be taken of individuals on account of the foregoing
statements, and humbly beg, with a view to allay fur-
ther irritation among the men, that attention to the me.
morial may be as speedy as possible."
The Chairman continued—That memorial had been
presented to Mr. Trevethick, but not meeting with an
immediate answer, another letter was forwarded to
him in a few days, wishing to know why they had
received no reply. That letter also met with no
answer, and a deputation was then appointed to wait
upon the chairman of the locomotive steam committee
at Crewe, at his own residence. That gentleman
received them in a very abrupt manner, and asked
them what they wanted there. Ile stated at the some
time that he would give them a meeting on Tuesday
next, and that it was not his intention to reduce the
young hands. In the printed answer a different
statement had been made. " Why did the directors
wish to introduce a three months' notice among a set
of men that had been upon the line since its very com-
mencement? What the motive could be God knew,
unless it was to reduce wages.
THOMAS STocxTorr, of Birmingham, said, many
men had been a great number of years upon the
northern division. They had never asked for an ad-
vance of wages, and if there had been any little matter
of dispute they had always arranged it comfortably;
and he asked whether 11 or 12 years of faithful ser-
vitude was not a sufficient guarantee for the direc-
tors, without wanting to insist upon the three months'
notice ? They considered that the system proposed
was calculated to do a serious amount of evil to the
general body, and they had therefore made a serious
appeal against it. At last, when they did get a de-
cided answer, he fancied that it was in the press
before the men received it. Ile asked, was that
justice to the men ? They had not the slightest incli-
nation to enter into a paper war with their superiors.
That was far from their intention. They on their
part wanted to settle the thing amicably and quietly,
while on the other hand the enginemen had been re-
presented most unjustly. He had noticed a para-
graph in the Morniflg Herald, which for the honour
of Birmingham he was bound to contradict. The
managing committee of the locomotive enginemen
and firemen met in Birmingham, and in the para-
graph he referred to it was stated that there were
a few dictating spirits in Birmingham who had the
sole control of the matter. It was added that they
had sustained a 'ery heavy blow in the recent strug-
gles on the North British and the Eastern Coun-
ties, and it went on to say that, in order to retrieve
their lost laurels, they had determined to carry out
a general strike upon the first line that would not
submit to their dictation. Now, he denied that the
managing committee of Birmingham had anything to
do with the strike upon those two lines. In fact, they
had never been communicated with or consulted upon
the matter.
IlAnnfs, one of the late employes of the Eastern
Counties, observed that when they spoke of combina
lions they existed as much among the masters as
among the men, for wherever he had gone to seek
employment he had been met with the charge that he
had struck against Mr. Gooch. He maintained that
all the men that were out on the Eastern Counties
were " still stanch."
MELISONNE, of Wolverton station—l want to know,
Mr. Chairman, before I say anything, whether it was
your intention to make a strike ?
The CHAIRMAN—DO you mean a sudden one, or
sending in a 1(.0 notice ?
MELBONNE—Is it a threatened strikc•
The CHAIRMAN said he did nut know what autho-
rity either the directors or the press had to say that
they wanted to make a sudden strike.
MELBONNE—I want to know from you, as repre•
sentative of the men on the northern division, what
it is your determination to do ? Then we shall be
able to know how to proceed.
The CHAIRMAN—aII case the thing be not settled
amicably between the masters and the men, I believe
they will be ready to resign their situations, but if
this meeting can suggest a better plan for working
the line, or meeting the directors in, any way, I am
no advocate fur strikes or anything of the sort; but
it is very hard to be tampered with.
MELBONNE—That's not a final answer.
The CHAIRMAN—WeII, in case it be not arranged,

they are waiting for the decision of this meeting.
They ore fully bent on not standing to the three
months' notice.
MELBONNE—DO your fellow-workmen i❑ the
northern division expect that the men in the southern
division will turn out along with you in case of a
turn out?
The CHAIRMAN—I really believe that they are la-
bouring under that idea.
hiELBONNE—Then now we know how to work. I
can say, as one individual sent up this evening as a
delegate from Wolverton, that I am instructed to tell
you that they would not " turn out" at the present
time along with the men of the northern division ;
but whenever a three months' notice is issued out on
the southern division they will make an objection to
it. That is the opinion of the men at Wolverton ; so
it is at Banbury. It behoves you men of Camden to
come to some understanding whether you will stand
out or go on. I should like to know whether there
are delegates from Birmingham, Rugby, Peterbo •
rough, and Northampton ? I have looked round, but
can see none.

SIMPSON, engine-driver on the Great Western—
Fell() w workmen, I can see no inconvenience arising
from the three months' notice—not particularly so—if
it should be signed by the parties, and the masters
willkgly agree, if the men get bonifide employ mew-,
to quit them at a week or a fortnight if they wish.
As I am informed, if the men will propose for a
month's notice on each side, it would be splitting the
difference, meeting them half way, and I think actu-
ally they would agree to it. To come to the conclusion
to advocate strikes is only to advocate a rod for our
own backs, and must prove a great disadvantage to
the whole body of enginemen. We have had evidence
of this throughout, and I believe the Eastern Coun-
ties strike might have been prevented if they had ad-
hered to wise and good counsel. The more strikes
there are the worse, for ourselves, for we always find a
certain set of men who have no character while things
are straight, but who are taken on to supply the places
of honest men if a strike occurs. A strike, therefore,
throws respectable men out of situations, and I know
many men who, though insufficient, are depending on
what they think our over-sufficiency. Had it not
been for a few men on the Eastern Counties whom I
know to be as good men as any in England, I would
not have given a farthing to their support ; and I
know that they were dictated to and led away by bad
counsel and by the advice of men who ought not to be
relied upon. If you take bad counsel here I fear you
will fall into the same dilemma. You will throw men
on our benevolence again, and we can't afford to support
them out of our pockets. I believe strikes can always be
avoided if proper precautions are used. Whenever we
have had a grievance on the Great Western we have
made our appeal to Mr. Stephen Gooch, and we have
either had it redressed, or partly so. Then, again,
look at this—Last May 12 months we had certain
men out of employment; we solicited all the lines in
England ; little was contributed but what we gave
ourselves, and we had to keep them upwards of 12
months out of our own pockets. I for one will never
advocate a strike, because I think things can be ami-
cably settled without it. I am sure if a month's notice
were proposed to the directors, that they would sym-
pathise with you and agree to it. I don't believe there
is a man on the Great Western who would advocate a
strike if he possibly could get out of it.
Halms, after vindicating the course taken by the
men of the Eastern Counties, stated that as regarded
meeting the directors half way, as proposed by Simpson,
he should be happy to see the thing effected if it could
be carried out.

SIMPSON said, he had been 11 or 12 years on the
Great Western. A month's notice had always been
the rule there. It bad worked uncommonly well, and
there was never any fault found with it as far as he
knew.

HALL, of Camden-town station, and others, having
stated that they also should be happy to meet the di-
rectors half-way, so as to mend the differences be-
tween the directors and the men,
SIMPSON caked if there was not a letter expressive
of the opinion of the men on the North-Western line
at Bedford.
The CHAIRMAN said there was such a letter in the
room. It was as follows :
" Fellow• workman,—We received your letter this
morning, requiring the attendance of one of the men
from Btoiford at your meeting this evening, but it will
be impossible for any one of us to attend, as we are all at
work together. With your permission, we will give you
our opinion upon this very serious and important matter.
In the first place, it will require all the care, wisdom,
and forethought which it is possible to bring to bear
upon the matter before you take any decisive steps.
Look well at your position—know whether you are
weakest or strongest; do not' run hastily into trouble
without first knowing the power you have to meet. Look
at the consequence of losing, and the ruinous result of a
defeat to so many families; and we think you will see
how desirable it is that the matter should bo amicably
arranged without such a desperate struggle as we had
before. We know well how determined men in the po-
sition of directors are not to be beaten by those under
them; and they can better afford to lose than we can.
Mr. Carr Glyn has always been favourably disposed
towards nP, and we think that with mild measures
we shall best support and assist our fellow-men
ou the northern diviion. Let the men on the southern
division act as mediators on behalf of the northern
men. You must take into consideration the great number
of new firemen that have been put on lately, and upon
whom you cannot depend. Remember the power the
directors have to stop a great number of the trains, the
assistance they can get from the guards, and the most
important fact, that the press and public opinion are on
their side. Take all these things into your considera-
tion before coming to a decision. Tho men must not be
deserted; but let us endeavour to support them in such
a way as to secure the interests of all.
" We remain, yours faithfully,
" TIM ENGINZMEN ♦ND FIREMEN ♦T BEDFORD
" Dec 26." STATION.
HALL moved, and STOCKTON, of Birmingham,
seconded the following resolution:—
.

" Tnat this meeting, knowing the desire the engine-
men and firemen engaged on the London and North-
Western Railway hare to keep on friendly terms with
their emplo)ors, and to avoid the inconvenience to the
company and the public from sudden strikes, do recom-
mend to their fellow-workmen throughout the line to
consent to the establishment of a month's notice instead
of a fortnight, as hitherto. That if the directors, in ac-
cordance with their expressed intention of not interfering
with the present rate of wages, will be pleased to pass a
minute of the board guaranteeing the men now em-
ployed, or to be employed, during three years from this
time, from any reduction of wages. or increase of their
daily labour, it would be very thankfully received; and
that this meeting be adjourned to obtain the opinion of
the men of the various districts on this proposition."
The resohition was carried unanimously, and the
proceedings terminated at a late hour.

SHIP NEWS.
QUARANTINE NOTICE.
Messina, Dec. 12.
We have now free pratique both from Malta and
England.
LONDON, DEC. 26,—The Fenn& Jeorina sailed from Em-
ben on the Ist of October, for London, and has not since
been heard of. The Mary sailed from Nantes on the 26th of
October, for Limerick, and has not since been heard of.
The steamer Liverpool, from this port to Bremen, struck
on the banks off Texel, and sunk in five fathoms water;
crew saved. The ship Florence, of Liverpool, was aban-
doned on the 21st instant, in lat. 44 N., long. 9 W. ;
crew saved, taken to Vigo by the steamer Montrose, and
transferred to the steamer Madrid, which fell in with
the Florence next day with loss of rudder, and the smack
Rising Sua, of Portsmouth, hove to off her, and put the
mate and seven hands again on board, at their own re-
quest, to take the. vessel into Corunna.
YARMOUTH, DEC. 24 —The Helen, from Newcastle
for Bahis, struck on the Scroby Sand yesterday, but
Caine: cff; and was assisted clear. She has since been
towed into the harbour, and wig discharge.
CHARLOTTE TOWN (PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND), NOY.
26.—A brig, of Miramichi, bound for Britain, timber-
laden, has been cast away at Savage Harbour; a man
and boy drowned. The Gentleman, loading at Orwell
for Halifax, went on shore at the same place.
ST. JOLIN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND, Nov. 23.—The Mar-
tin, belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, was
wrecked on or about the 25th of October, near Tub
Harbour; crew (except one) drowned.
GLASGOW, DEC 21.—A British ship, of about 300
tons, with printed ports, on fire, was passed on the Bth
inst. in lat. 45 N., long. 33 W., and not long abandoned.
24.—The Lady of the Lake, which arrived here Dec. 21,
from Quebec, had been on her beam-ends, thrown over-
board part of cargo, and had her decks swept, with other
damage, in a hurricane from S.W., Dec. 4, which con-
tinued for three days.
Viso, DEC. 20.—The Rebecca, from Cardiff for
Oporto, arrived here on the 19th, with damage to hull
and rigging, and part of cargo thrown overboard.
Lxsaow, DEC IB.—The Vorwaerts, from Cardiff for
Cuba, put into port, Dec. 16, leaky, and must discharge
part of cargo.
GIBRALTAR, DEC. I9.—The Trafalgar, from Alex-
andria for Mayagan, put in here, Dec. 5, with damage to
hull, spars, &c., and is discharging to repair. The Clyde,
of Bathurst, River Gambia, from London for the Gam-
bia, was abandoned, with loss of foremast and in a sink-
ing state, in lat. 47, long. 7 W.; crew picked up and
landed here by the Louisa, from Newcastle far Malsga.
PORT PHILIP, Au.. 23.—The Victory arrived here
en the 17th inst., after being on shore on Lansdale
Reef, when she threw overboard upwards of 50 tons of
cargo.

STRALSUND, DEC. 21.-00ant1S, of and from Stettin
for Calais, Which was on shore at Jasmund, island of
Dec. 12, was got off, Dec. 14, efer throwing
her deck load overboard, and has put into Swindemunde.
ELEINORE, DEC. 20.—Flore, of and from Stcttin to
London, got on shore between Ystad and Falmbo, during
thick weather, Dec. 13, but assisted off after discharg-
ing part of cargo, and brought iu here; she is light, and
will pr)cetd.
FLEEI WOOD, DEC. 25.—The smack Brinder, of Bel-
fasow t, which sailedder el yesterday for that port, has boen
ted in a ict.
linsust, DEC. 18.— Zufriedenheit and Aurora are on
shore on the shoals oft' Bever; the torrucr is very leaky,
and has lost her rudder and sails; the latter has suffered
but slight, damage.
MESSINA, DEC. 12.—.Archime0e, from the Black Sea
for England, pat in here, Drc. 5, leaky, and with a mast
cut away; it is supposed she will have to discharge.