The Bee-Hive. — 1874-11-07 (London, England)

GENERAL UNION OF OPERATIVE CARPENTERS AND JOINERS.—On Saturday evening the members and friends of the Norwood lodge held their second anniversary at their lodge house, the Two Towers, Gipsy-road. Brother T. Davis, of the London Bee Hive Lodge, was called to the chair. The chairman gave "Success to the General Union" as she first toast, which was responded to by Brother C. Matkin, who said the past year had been one of exceptional prosperity for the General Union. Strikes bad heeu lees prevalent, owing chiefly to the wisdom of the members in submitting their differences to arbitration. Only two towns of importance in connection with the society had to resort to a strike, namely, Barrow-in-Fumeas and Preston, and in both cases their claims were so just that, after a short struggle, ended in a victory to the men. The society had added upwards of 1,000 members to its ranks, and has had less out of work than in any previous year, not averaging more than 22 out of nearly 1,000 members, which, he said, waa mainly owing  to the redurtiun in th.i honTR of 14boltr. " &Innen to the Norwood Ludgt, " wa4 responriei to by BrothAr Rix, the secretary, who said that they bad nearly doubled their numbers since their last anniversary ; they bad now 47 financial members, and over £5O in hand; they had not paid more than in out-ofwork donation; they had also taken an active part in opening a lodge at Croydon, which was progressing satisfactorily. The health of the host and hostess and visiting friends having been drunk were responded to by Mr. Bull, modeller, and Mr. 111cDonuald, plumber, and others. The remainder of the evening was devoted to harmony; same excellent songs were given by Brothers Rix, Hardy, Pearson, Buss, Davis, Hunt, and others, the company separating at a late hour.  SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE TRONWORKEIIK AND Cco&rios.—O n Tuesday morning, a well-attended meeting of ironworkers was held at Brierley Hill ; Mr. Aucett presiding. In opening the meetiny, the chairman referred to a " secessional meeting " recently held at Darlaston by a small section cf malcontents, at which a Mr. Vaughan presided. Mr. Capper and himself were not permitted to t o present at the meeting; but it appeared Mr. Vaughan was of opinion that a local ironworkere association would be managed cheaper. The speaker (Hr. Aucott) then went on to refer to tl"e advantages of conciliation as a means of securing arbitration. The malcontents had declared thut with a Board of Conciliation there need be no union; but he (the chairman) could tell them that they would never have obtained the wages and privileges they had but for their grand organisatior. The reason the executive wished the ironwotl 8 to pay an increased sum was that the cooperatave principle might be introduced amorg them. They had been reminded by Mr. Rupert Kettle that when they had a good balance in hand, they could take contracts from iron-masters to convert the pig-iron to finished articles. If they made a profit, as was likely— for it would be to the interests of every man to turn out the best work with the least fuel—if men would have their wages) and a handsome bonus to boot. Then co-operation would follcw, and the best of the ironworkers would be raised in the social scale. Under the limited Bahl it y principle this would not happen, for it would ri.i, e • a few workmen to be masters, and they were nct the best class to work under. He counselled tte men to pledge themselves to co-operation, *by increasing their subscriptions. The chairman tt, n complained that at the Brockmoor and 'Brit! le • Ironworks a certain sum was deducted fortnightly from the men's wages to pay for the services of a surgeon. If the ironworkers preferred that,' Mr. Capper should take the matter up. A resoluti4 in favour of co-operation was passed without a dissentient voice.  IRMIWORIEBES AT WB ST BROM:WIC u.—The annual meeting of the Ironworkers' Association ,ef 'West Bromwich was held on Monday in St. George's Hall. Mr. ..kricott, chairman of the South Stafford. shire Operatives' Council, presided; and there were also present Mr. Kane, of Darlington (secretary of the National Ironworkers' Association) ; Mr. Capper, secretary of the Operatives' Council of the South Staffordshire Consultation Board; Mr. Walker, a member of the council, &c. The chair. man said that some ironworkers had become dicsatisfied with the association because they had been obliged to submit to reductions during tie last year. Yet the organization had been tl o means of upholding, through a period of great depression a higher rate of wages than they had received previous to 1872: In former times, when trade was at its beat, and employers had their books full of orders, 10s. and 10s. 6d. per ton for puddling was the highest rate of wages they received, while during the past year, in spite ti all the bad trade, wages had not fallen below 10s. 9d. per ton. The best sign ef the times, however, was the fact that the ironworkers had accepted three reductions without one day'r%stlike, and without any violent action. (Applause.) Mr. Kane, of -Darlington, stated that during 'the-past year prices of manufactured iron had fallen in the market, and it was, -consequently, necessary for labour to be reduced in a proportionate ratio. During the past twelve months one beneficial principle bad been adopted, and that was the fixing of a maximum and a minimum scale of wages in the North of England and South Staffordshire. The ironworkers throughout the country would shortly be informed of the exact state of affairs in South Wales, and they would then be called upon to aid them. A deputation from the executive council would seek an interview with the employers, and endeavour to bring about a joint meeting between them and their workpeople, with the view to settle the difficulty. It was a foolish thing to force a strike when trade was receding; it was, in fact, to commit social suicide. The council would endeavour to maintain the peace between employers and employes in the Principality, and to get the highest price for the labour of the ironworkers. Mr. Capper alluded to the strike in Wales, and said the price paid in South Wales at the present time was only 6s. 6d. per ton, and the employers had given a month's notice for a reduction of ten per cent. upon that price, which would bring wages down to ss. 10d. He asked. was ss. 10d. the value of a puddler's labour. He held that at no time, under any circumstances, 'should the rate of wages be less than 10s. per toii. Notice for the reduction would affect about 5,000 men connected with the union. He urged the ironworkers of Staffordshire to assist the men in Wales. to resist the propored reduction, and pointed out. that the only way in which the operatives could maintain their position was by united action. The meeting was also addressed by other gentlemen.