The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-12 00:00:00

211 A DES' U/V lONS.

We have so frequently heard of the refusal of
masters in trade to submit questions on which they
and their employe's disagree to arbitration that it
may not be uninteresting to specify a case in which
the operatives have manifestly acted in opposition
to the principle which they so emphatically profess
to adopt. It is known probably to many of our
readers that the Birmingham stonemasons are at
present on strike. Some short time ago Mr.
A. J. Mundella, of Nottingham, who is now
well known as the promoter of courts of
conciliation as a remedy for strikes and
lock-outs, wrote to Mr. S. S. Lloyd, intimating,
as his letter, which is subjoined, will indicate, his
willingness to bring the agitation to a prompt and
satisfactory conclusion. The course of action
adopted by the men will be amply understood from
the following correspondence My dear Sir,—
I duly received your letter and telegram, informing
me that the masons refuse to settle their differences
by a court of arbitration in which the operatives
should be equal in number to the employers. This
is the first time I have ever experienced any reluct-
ance on the part of the workmen to adopt a course
which is so obviously just and honourable. One of
two things is certain.—either they are under some
misconception as to the nature of the proposed
method of adjusting the rates of wages, or they are
resolved to force their own terms upon their masters
irrespective of all considerations of justice. I hope
the former is the true state of the case, but should
it be the latter, whether they succeed or fail in the
present struggle, they will inevitably be the suf-
ferers in the long run. Their masters will avail
themselves of the first opportunity to be freed from
a bargain to which they were not consenting par-
ties, and strikes, suffering, and humiliation will fall
upon them in turn. I still cherish the hope that
there is sufficient intelligence among the masons of
Birmingham to discrn that bargains for wages are
more likely to be permanent when they have the
consent and sanction of both parties, and that they
will
se
ncizoeuePilthe present opportunity to put an
end at and for ever to the war between capital
and labour which is proving so disastrous to the in-
terests of both.--I rLeaa. in, s
my dear sir, yours faith-
fully, A. J. MUN
DEis willing to meet me in Birming-
ham, S. Lloyd, Esq. P.S.
Mr. Applegarth, of the Amalgamated Carpenters
haanmd
,Joainnders,assist
in
an
amicable settlement."
This letter having been forwarded to the Operatives
Society, the following communication was addressed
to Mr. S. S. Lloyd by the secretary of that body :
—I duly laid the matter of Mr. Mun-
della's the 2d inst. before the committee,
and I am requested to state that the misconception
" Dear
letters air, —I
must rest with Mr. Mundella himself, and not with
the masons. He speaks of adjusting rates of wages,
which is irrelevant to the question. As in this case
we are neither asking for an advance of wages nor
seeking to lessen the hours of labour, but to resist the
introduction of piece-work, sub-contracting, and,
with a few exceptions, worked stone from the
quarries coming into the town, which I fully ex-
plained to you at a previous interview ; and with
respect to the postscript, I am directed to state that
as the masons do not make it their practice to in-
terfere with any other branches of the building
trade, they most respectfully decline any proffered
services on the part of Mr. Applegarth, and they
still adhere to their former de&sion respecting arbi-
tration in this instance. On behalf of the com-
mittee, I remain, honoured sir, your obedient ser-
vant, HENRY HARDING, secretary."—Times.

CORNISH TlCKETlNO.—Thursday.—At Redruth,
to-day, 2,231 tons of copper ore realised £8,432 18s.—au
average of £3 15s. Gd. per ton. Average standard, £ll3
12s.—no alteration. Average produce, si-128 tons 5
cwt. fine copper.