The Cotton Factory Times. — 1901-06-28 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

DRIVING IN COTTON MILLS.  WEAVERS' MEETING AT EARBY.  There was a good attendance of weavers at westing held on Monday evening at Earby to digthe question of driving in weaving sheds. Mr. Doeherey presided, and was supported by Mr. Ogden, secretary of the Heywood Weavers' Association, ana Mr. Newell, secretary of the Colne and District Weavers' Association. The CrIAIRMAN explained the objects of the meeting And said he had known the system for many years, ued even his own wiN had cried at home because slle thought she would not be able to get her pieces eff before the making-tip day. MT. OGDEN then moved" That this meeting pledges itself to render all necessary support in getting the slate system abolished and the payment of tacklers' wages by poundage, and strongly condemns driving in weaving sheds." He was pleased to inform them them that the Executive had taken their coats off to the matter, and would do all in their power to abolish the evils, but in order to do this it was absolately necessary that they should have the full support of the weavers themselves. He was afraid that outsiders did not know what was meant by driving, and, further, that they might think it was a new thing which was sprung upon them. The fact was that it was nothing of the sort. It had been with them for years, but it had taken the Darwen tragedy to bring the weavers to their senses. The driving to which they object was at certain places where it was the custom to put up the weavers' wages on a slate or on paper, and the lowest wages were marked, in some cases by red ink, which, of course, meant that if the weaver in question did not get more work off the looms he would have to give way for somebody that could. It was the custom in seine other places for the tacklers to go round and see what the weavers were making, and to instruct them to have certain pieces off for the making up day. It was that kind of work which had driven the poor girl at Darwen to commit suicide, and they little knew what aching hearts it was making in the whole of Lancashire. They were not met there to condemn any particular employer or overlooker, but they condemned the system as a whole, and it was high time it was abolished. The employers and overlookers were the victims of circumstances. He honestly believed that the good employer was driven to the system by the other employers around him—it was practically competition. It was a physical impossibility to get all persons alike, and they could not expect them all to earn the same wages. It was no use the employers trying to drive the weavers. All they had to do was to find them some good warps and- weft, and they would make all the money it was possible for them to make. They would need DO posting of wages, or supervision of tacklers. There was the quality of the work to take into consideration, and it was idiotic for an employer to say that the warp when it came in would be guaranteed a good one, or that the weaver would have no smashes. That was something over which they had no control. The tacklers in many instances were paid by the amount the weaver earned, and it was to their interest that they should get all the work out of the weaver possible. He did not think they would get all they wanted on this occasion, but they would have made a start, and it was becoming a question as to whether they were prepared to stop the looms in order to bring about this change. There was no pleasure for the weaver when this state of things existed, and in many cases the weavers were so nervous and frightened that they actually missed their pieces, not through incapacity, but from fear of having their places taken by other workpeople. He hoped that the weavers would show their appreciation of the attempt to abolish one of the most cruel systems that ever existed in any workshop.—(Applause.) Mr. NEWALL, the secretary of the Colne and District Weavers' Association, supported the resolution, and urged the weavers who were not members of the association to join at once, as there were other matters to which they would have to direct their attention affecting the Earby district, and it might be necessary are long to call shop meetings. They had, however, no desire to show their hands to the employers, and more would be heard of these matters iu due coarse. They were mostly inclined to approach the driving system with a spirit of indignation, but he thought it high time it was abolished.—(Applause.) The resolution was carried unanimously.