The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-05-12 00:00:00

GREAT MEETING OF MASTER BUILDERS AT

NEWTON._

On Thursday, at twelve o'clock, a meeting of master
builders, contractors, and others, took place at the Legh
Arms, Newton, to consider the best means of counter_
acting the proceedings of the trades' unions, which have
caused the stoppage of so much building throughout the
manufacturing and other districts.
The towns of Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham,
Macc'esfield, Ashton-under-Lyne, Leeds. Bolton, Pres-
ton, Wigan. 'Warrington, Blackburn, Stockport, Birken-
head, Sheffield, Bury, Oldham, Bradford, and oarious
other places of minor note. had appointed depu'ations
from the body of master builders in the various localities.
The following is a correct statement of the numbers pre-
sent from the various towns:—
Manchester.. .
Liverpool
Birmingham
Macclesfield
Bolton
Leeds
4 Birkenhead l4
Preston 7
being a total of NS members of deputations from the
towns named. The deputations met in the Great Hall,
and Mr. David Bellhouse. of Manchester, was unani-
mously called to the chair.
The representatives of almost all the large building
firms in the various towns enumerated, wete present, and
the utmost determina i n wai shown not to yield, to the
demands of the unto. s A declaration of the reasons
which had called so large and extraordinary an assem-
blage together was read to the meeting, and was subse-
quently signed by every person in the room.
The motion for the adoption of the declaration was
proposed by Mr. Noting, of Manchester, and seconded
by Mr. Kilpin, of Liverpool. Other resolutions were
adopted (which will be found in our advertising colrmns),
in which the masters came to the determination to with-
stand the unions, especially in the way in which, as it
appeared from many documents, which were produced,
the unions were interfering with the internal management
of the various employs, and the tyranny which they show,
especially in the manufacturing districts; and arrange-
ments were made for forming local branches in at towns,
to correspond wi•li a central association.
The various resolutions were moved and seconded by
Mr. Tomkinson, of Liverpool, and Mr. Gwycher. of
Birtnitigham ; by Mr. Marsden, of Bolton. and Mr.
tioothman of Leeds; by Mr. Wylie of Liverpool, and
Mr. Edwards, of Manchester. Mr. Holme, Mr. Johnson,
and other gentlemen, also addressed the meeting,and the
whole of the proceedings, which occupied three hours,
were characterised by the utmost unanimity and letermi-
nation.
A deputation of ten from the workmen of Liverpool.
Birkenhead, and Manchester, were at Newton. and
during the proceedings a note was handed to tie chair-
man, expressing the desire of some of their holy to be
admitted to the meeting. 'I his was declined, on the
grr and that their authority to make any proposition
could not be recognised; but it was intimatei that if
they had any terms to offer, and would put thole terms
in writing, they would be considered by the cotnaittee.
After the business had terminated, a letter, of which
the following is a copy, was sent to the chairman. "1: is
dated " Newton, Legh Hotel, May 7, 18-IG," and is in
the following terms :

" Mr. Chairman—Sir.—The operative e-rpenters end joiners
of Manchester agree to resume work upon the terns agreed
upon by the deputation of employers and employed, n the eon_
ference I,eforo the Worshipful the Mayor of Manchester. May
Ist. ieifi, provided the document be withdrawn It behalf of
the same, " JAS. LEVENS, Sec."

A similar note was also presented from the wtrkmen of
Liver pool and Birkenhead.
As the mee'ing had terminated, the chairman (Mr.
Bellhousr) could give no answer on its behalf t, either of
these applications; but he gave the Liverpool vork anen's
letter to members of the association of masters in that
town, to he reterred to their comn.i tee; and the Man-
chester workmen's letter was brought to this town, anti
hid before the proper parties here, on Fridav; when it
was resolved that the following answer shruld be re-
turned :

" I. Ducie•place, Exchange hui'dings,
Alanchester, May 8,84 i. .

" Gent'emen.—Your note stating th:,t the op ratite carpenters
and joiners were agreea. e n resume work opal the terms
agreed up n by the d potations who had a conie. nee before
the Ma • or on the Ist May. 1-44, came too late to te consi •ered
by the meeting ar Newton. yesterday; but I urn desired by the
master carper. ers and joiners to state. that they canna consent
to witbdr.w It,. deolaratioa.—fly order, •
.1 13. ROGERRON. Secretary.
" To the Committee of operat've carpenters and jdlners,
Carpenters'-hall. Manchester."

At half-past three o'clock. nearly two hnnd•ed gentle-
men dined together in the Great Hall, Mr. romkingim
in the chair The dinner did not occupy more than an
hour. and ttie gentlemen again quitted Newton for their
respective towns, at an early hour.

SUGGESTION TO WATER THE STREETS, AND
SUPPLY BATHS WITH SEA WATER.