The workingman's advocate., 1875-02-20
FOREIGN.



A large meeting Of the masters Of the
Monmouth shire and South Wales Colliery
Owners Association was held at Cardiff on
Friday, under the presidency of Mr. Foth-
ergill, NJ p, when it wss decided that
there should be general lockout. This
decision affects 100, 900 men. The resolu
ton of the masters to enforce lock out on
February ! has given rise to serious appre-
tensions amongst people in the iron trade
Of the district that the wlthdraw val Of the
men from the pits may lead to the total
| stoppage OF every ironwork in the two
counties. From the defiant attitude Of the
steam and house coal men, it is feared they
will persist in their resistance to the length
OF bringing the lronmasters into the same
predlcailent as themselves. The Central
News is Informed that several hundred
workmen IN the employ of the Butte agents
at the Cardiff Docks have received notice
to leave in consequence Of the coalmasters'
decision for a general lockout Another
telegram from Cardiff says that no arbitra-
tion has yet been decided on. Lord Aber-
dare has been waited upon by deputation
desirous OF re ferring the dispute to him,
but he was away from home, and the pro
ceedings consequently fell through.
Great gloom has been spread over the
South Wales coal and iron districts by the
dlscision Of the colliery propertors to lock
out the entire body of colliers in their EN-
ploy, unless an arrangement is made in
course Of next week by these who have
struck against The reduction. Nothing
more cslamitous could be imagined than
this step. 1t will involve the withdrawal
of all the men who have gone to work at
the reduction, and by thus stopping the
coal supplies rom the ironworks will bring
them to complete stoppage, thereby
throwing out thousands Of ironw0rkers in
addition to the colliers. Altogether some
l2O,OOO men will be affected by the lock
out. Severe distress is already felt in the
district, and will be of course considerably
aggravated by the threatened ultimatum,
and it will be something approaching a
marvel should no breach Of the peace at
tend the carrying out Of the extreme meas
ures in view. In the Aberdare and Rhon-
dda districts, however, the coIliers appear
to regard The resolution Of the masters
with perfect indifference, and this attitude
lends weight to an extremity out Of spite
against the iron workers. Though the
masters have not said anything on the
point. it Is pretty generally understood
that after the lockout commences there
will be no return to work upon the 10 per
cent. reduction-it will be far heavier.
From the length of time many Of the col
liers have been idle, it is probable they will
soon be brought to the verge of pauperism.
Trade throughout the district Is complete
ly paralysed.
There il now no doubt whatever that
the lockout IN the South Wales coal trade
will be enforced next Monday. Both
masters and menSeem to be preparing for
a long and bitter struggle.
NoRTHUMBRRLAND MINERS.
On Saturday, = meebing Of delegates from
the various colliefies in the county was
held ut the hall of tie Mechanics Institute,
Newcastle, to con&der the course TO be ad-
opted concerning the proposed reduction
OF 16 per csnt- and the notices received
on the previous day. In the course of the
proceedings various motions were made,
but eventually these were reduced to two
proposals, the first that the matter be sub
mitted to arbit ration, and the second that
they resist the reduction. On vote being
taken, 1877 delegates pronounced in favor
of arbitration, and 126 were for the latter
motion. Several delegates remained neu-
tral in the division, not having instructions
upon the motions submitted. The collier
les viii propose . committee, and suggest
arbitration.
LOCKOUT OF NORTHUMBERLAND MINERS.
Notices of lockout on the 9th February
were given on Friday to the Northumber-
land miners. The men at present repudi-
ate arbitration. 1t ia expected that notice
win be given to-day Of closing the Tyne
Chemical Works.