The Wolverhampton and Midland Counties Advertiser. — 1876-03-18 (Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England)

IRONWORKERS' MEETING AT BLOOMFIELD. On Monday, a meeting of the finished iron rollers of South Staffordshire was held at the Star Hotel,. Bloomfield, Tipton. Mr. Andrew Adams presided, and he said thpy had met to consider their present position and the extra heavy wages they had to pay " for strength in boys." Mr. Hughes said he expected they Would have had a representative on the new Beard of Conciliation, but matters had been 84, hastily arranged that they were thrown out altogether. .4:e did not think that any class of men were more in,nood of a.representatire than the iron-rollers. The Factory Act, was a. great cbrsovhack to them, and it affected no other branch of trade as it did ironworkers who employed boys, ,He was not oppoeod to education being imparted to boys in their business, bet a high-class education was unnecessary. A regadarly-statod age for boys to go to work wee desirable, and it would afford considerable relief to rollers if this was tinst at twelve. It would throw thousands more into the labour market than were now to be had. They could not get boys at any price, and under the circumstances they had a right to laiin sympathy. Mr. Thomas Adams said the first duty of the mw board wobld no doubt be to consider the question of wages, will a view to reduction. Iron-rollers ought to have a representative on that Board to point out where the relief ta the masters should come from. It must be admitted that there was need for relief, as the works were for the most part standing for want of orders : but they wore seeking it in. the wrong quarter. It should rot be sought from the men's wages, bet from the pit's mouth. Let them put as many hours on to the collier as the ironworkers had, mid coal would be so brought down in price as to render a reduction in ironworkers' wages unnecessary. As to the Fa:dory Act he would adipit that there ought to be some restriction in boys' Labour, but, he thought 13,s the time a lad, was twelve he would be scholar (sough for tne position he I held in life. In dealing with that subject, it was however wavrise to fly in the facc of the inspector, who simply carried cat his duty. They should rather Er/ fault withthe Act itself, and he would advise rollers who could not carry on without breaking the law to stop, and let the other ironworkers see tho evil of the liactory Act. They could not afforctto pay the lads, and he eontended that every roller who employsd nine lads should have so much out of the office to assist him in. paying, He suggested that if they submitted to a Mduction ot, wages they would not hesitate to make a claim, apon the mitstets to enable them to pay for strength in boys. - A roller urged upon the motting to pass a reeelntion declaring that whatever the new Board might 'do, the rollers did not intend to work for less  wages. ither speakers recommended this course, tuto The Chairman mid it would not be prasticable unless a fell meeting of the association was eallcd, for the absent members might not considur themselves committed to the resolution, After further discussion it was decichc, adjourn the meeting till Saturday.  John Lopez has been—commit:awl for trial at Liverpool charged with aLemptuig to murder La wife by throwing her out of the bedroom window of the home in which they lived in Frederic West.  13  • WOLVERHAMPTOV TO** COLtCri.. On Monday afternoon, an ordinary monthly meeting of the Town Council was held in the Council Chamber, North.street. The Mayor (J. C. Major, It sq.) px'eaided, an I the other members present were the Ex Mayor (Alderman Edwards). and Aldermen Bantoek, Dickinson, Fowler. Hawksford, Jenks, Jones, Underhill, aid liValkor ; Councillors Bagaley,larker, Birch, Brothexton, C. Burkitt, R. L Burkitt, Bishton, Caswell; Cooke. Gibbons. Gough, Graham, Hill, HugheiLA Hunter, Illidge. Ingram, Kendrick, Lee. Lees. Lilley, Lowe. Newman, Sollom. Spink. Stirk, Thomas. Walsh, Weir, Willcock. and Williams.  POLICE CLOTHING  'Lhe tender of Mee". Dowland and Co. were accepted for the enpply- of uniform for the borough police force for the next twelve month e that of Mr. Oldacre for helmets.; and that of Meeers. Perry apd Son for hate.