The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1890-03-15 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

MEETING IN PRICE-STREET. Last night a mass meeting of labourers employed at the Birkenhead Docks was Mild on the waste ground in Price-street, opposite Wellington-terrace. Over 1,500 men assembled. The speakers and reporters were accommodated on a tarry. Mr. Emma'', a delegate from Liverpool, who first addressed the meeting, asked the assembly if they were willing to assist their brethren Larose the water to get their rights. His query was met with loud cries of "Yes, yes."—Mr. Brown, a delegate from the Flatmen'a Union, announced that the captains and men on 30 flats had struck work. Practically those flats were owned by their captains, but were contracted to the master. The men had thee made a great sacrifice, leaving their property in the hands of strangers. (Applause.) He hoped the men of Birkenhead would likewise be prepared to make sacrifices. He had not known a Liverpool man grumble even when the last bit of bread was eaten out of the house. What did unionism mean but • combination by which working men could get their share of the good things of this world. They read of some who died worth £2,502,000, and left their families every luxury. Yes such men often worked not. If a dock labourer died he was no sooner under the sod than his wife had to go and interview Mr. McNerney, the relieving officer. Was that right? ("No, no.") A working man should be in such a position that when 55 or 60 years of age he could retire and make way for younger men. (Hear, hear.) Now the men bad gone on strike they were determined, let the conseqoenoes be what they might, to see the end of it. He sympathised with the men who were out on strike at the Birkenhead tips, because they had not been receiving the wage. they should have been. At present it would not be safe, apart from other matters, for union men to work with "scabs," especially with imported "scabs," because they could not help but have bitter, almost murderona feelings in their hearts. (Applause.) They must be all unionists or all "scabs." (Applause ) Ur. Roberts, the Secretary of the Birkenhead Branch, explained the position in which affairs now were. The masters, he alleged, had deviated from the position they first took up. At first the rules of the Dock Labourers' Union were made the bone of contention, but now the main issue was whether the imported men should work alongside the Union men. Would those present be willing to so work? (Loud cries of "No, no.") Captain Anderson, who was greeted with vociferous cheering, regretted that before the strike was commenced dock labourer', carters, sailors, firemen, and Batmen, had not been able to form a federation. Could they have done so they would have been invincible, for the masters could not possibly have found "scabs " enough to fill all their Fames. If they lost this time, and formed a federation later, they would give the shipowners a lesson. (Hear, bear.) Mr McKeown hoped that no dock labourer would show the white feather. (Applause.) There was one matter which should be explained to the public. The labourers were apparently asking a large sum, but it should be remembered that if they , got 6e. a day they often worked no more than three , days a week. A man with a small wage in the country was far better off.—Mr. McHugh, the general secretary, then addressed the meeting. He said the organised forces were with the masters, the police, and the soldiers, but neither batons nor bayonets would turn the men from their purpose. (Hear, • hear.) They were determined to succeed, and the masters would have to send back the men imported. ' The speaker then went on to show how tales repreI "imitations had crept into the evening papers, 16 imported men having set down as 200, and 189 from London as 800, with a view to frighten the men.—A hearty vote of sympathy with the Liverpool U I was passed at the close of the meeting.  rnioniets  MR. BATON BATTY will sing 'The Shadow of the Cross," and It is enough" at the Sunday Concert to-morrow. AT Onicire Cracus, to-morrow, Madame Price will sing at the Sacred Concert.