Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

THE COLLIERS' STRIKE. I MASS MEETING AT WREXHAM. I SPEECHES BY MR J. CROSS AND MR T. I CHILTON. On Monday afternoon a mass meeting of colliers was held on the Racecourse for the purpose of ap- pointing a deputation to wait on the coal owners in reference to their notice of 5 per cent. reduction in the men's wages. Mr Moses Williams, Rhosddu, presided, and the speakers addressed the meeting from the grand stand. There were between 2,000 and 3,000 people present on the course and stand, and delegates represented the various collieries in the district, including Plas- kynaston, Wynnstay, Afongoch, Vauxhall, Hafody- bwch, Moss, Rhosddu, Brynkinalt, Gatewen, Plas- power, Vron, Caepenty, Brvmbo, Grosvenor, Black Park, Brynmally, and Ffrwd. At the outset, the Chairman announced that there were two gentlemen present prepared to ad vocate the cause of the workmen, viz., MrJ. Cross, representing the Lancashire and Cheshire colliers, and Mr Chilton. J.P., of the Elms. Gresford. He asked for a show of hands as to whether they should address the meeting, when leave was unanimously given. The first speaker was Mr J. Cross, of St. Helens, who said he had come there that day on behalf of the Lancashire miners, to inform them of the feeling they entertained and the abhorence they felt at the masters of North Wales attempting to reduce their wages. (Hear, hear.) They knew very well that if their wages were re- duced in North Wales what the consequence would be in South-West Lancashire, where last September they had got 10 per cent. advance on their wages. They might depend upon it that if they in North Wales got reduced Lancashire would get reduced the same. They sent their coal to Garston Docks and North Wales sent their coals to Birkenhead, and de- pend upon it if they were reduced the whole of South- West Lancashire would be reduced also. Now, he would ask, was it a time to reduce wages ? They re- membered in the year 1881 they struggled hard for eight weeks against the Employers' Liability Bill, and he knew very well what it was, and the miners of Lancashire could feel for their friends in North Wales because there were a great many who had not yet got out of debt what they ran in debt over that strike, (Hear, hear.) Therefore they could sympa- thise with the men of North Wales, and the Executive had met on the previous Friday night and had asked him (the speaker) to comedown to Wrexham and con- vey to them the sympathy and good feeling which existed in Lancashire. (Applause.) They had formed a federation, and there was not a town or village in that county which was not federated together, and now they were going to form a national association. They met in Birmingham at the beginning of this year, and about December last they had a conference meeting to form, and arrange, and organise, and by the end of next August they expected to be in a position to lay down their tools throughout the United Kingdom and say to the masters, no more coercion No threat to reduce our wages when you think proper, without our having a voice, without our having a word to say in the matter." (Applause.) They were determined to improve the position of the miners because they had been going on something like forty years, to his knowledge—he had been a miner forty years—and he never knew the coal trade so prosperous, and never knew the miners' wages so low, as at the present time. (Hear, hear.) Well, people said how was it that he could say such words? How did he account for their having so little trade that they could not work full time ? Why, he would tell them how it was. In the ear 1880 they got 13 £ million tons more coal than ever was raised in this country. In 1881 (he was quoting from Mr Hall's figures) he found there was 7,400,000 tons more raised in that year than ever before. They had now got to the enormous figures of 154 million tons, and they had got it with 28,000 men less, and they had been paid ten millions of money less; so that they (the miners) had been doing so much more work—getting so much more coal—and had been paid so much less in wages (Applause.) He said it publicly—and he hoped the reporters would take note of it—that they had got seven million tons more coal in the last year, with 3000 men less in the mines, than they had the year before, and had been paid over five millions less in wages—(hear, hear)—so that they could see how the men got screwed down wherever they could take a little odd work. [A voice Yes, and keeping the money, too !] Now he main- tained that they must resist these wholesale robberies. When a man had actually been working perhaps half or three quarters of a day, and then he must go and start coaling, and have nothing for the labor he has done As long as they were in this state they should never be able to improve their position or the position of this great nation. They were the wheel of the nation, and the miners of Great Britain were the brightest jewels in her Majesty's crown! (Cheers.) The Prime Minister, lived with slaves and serfs so near his own door, but never was there raised a voice in their behalf, and never was there heard a word in the House of Com- mons relating to the poverty and misery around them, such as he (the speaker) saw in the town of Wrexham. They could go to Bulgaria and foreign nations and make a great noise, but at home they must take care of themselves so let them organise themselves into an association and go in with the county of Lancashire, for what Lancashire said to-day, England said to- morrow (Applause.) They would lay down their tools and perish before they would submit and be starved to death They had no comforts at home— (" No, none !")—their bellies were not filled as they ought to be—(hear, hear)—and yet what did the masters say ? We cannot make a profit-we are not realising the money it is costing us!" He was informed that their wages were only at the rate of 2s 6d per day. (True enough !) Well a man worked at that say five days a week, and he had four or five children. Was there a workhouse in the United Kingdom that kept its paupers upon that They cost 2s 7 d per head per week. They (the miners) risked their lives in the prisons of the earth, day after day and week after week—not knowing when they left home in the morning whether they would go home alive again—(hear, hear)—and it was enough to make the weakest hearts rebel against the tyrannies of those who put upon them in this manner (Applause.) They were asked to do work that they were never paid for. He was told they had to set their brattice cloth for nothing. Well, he could only say that if a miner came to him he would throw the cloth at him! (Applause and laughter.) He would see, also, that they did not set the brattices He would write to Mr Hall and insist upon his carrying out the Mines Regulation Act. Here they made them ventilate the master's mine—spending perhaps an hour and a half in clearing out the place from gas, and not get a farthing for it He was sure if those he was addressing were working on the sur- face instead of underground, and the public could see the work they were doing for nothing, they would not allow it to be done for a moment! (Hear, hear ) How was it that in the last forty years all other trades had improved besides theirs? Many had advanced 50 per cent.«in wages, while the main pro- ducers in this country had stood still. Coal was the main spring of all locomotive power and all manu- factures, and all the intelligence and science of the country had been brought to bear, and thousands of pounds had been spent in tryine, to find out and form a substitute for coal. in vain—no man had ever found a substitute for coal—(applause)—and no foreign com- petition could possibly injure them. Coal from America was five dollars a ton at New York and Belgium coal could not be brought into this country under 14s a ton. If they would only join the Associa- tion of all the Counties of England and prepare them- selves again next August, he would warn all the masters and tell them that the day was coming when they should no longer take men's wages without their having a voice in the matter. (Cheers.) When this question had hitherto been broached and the masters had been asked to receive a. deputation, they were told that it "did not come within the province of the masters but they would make it "come within their province Let them want the coal, and then say to them, We'll work at our own price, or else you shall have no coal!" (Hear, hear.) In the St. Helens or Wigan district the average was 4s 9d per day whilst their wages in North Wales was from 2s 6d to 2s 8d. He didn't know how they subsisted at all. They must be tremendously in debt. The bum-bailiffs must be knocking about. (Laughter.) The County Courts were very busy, but many colliers had not as much as would pay the bailiffs for coming. (Renewed laughter.) That was their position now— a class of men that ought to stand A. I." in the nation. Their trade was the wealth of the nation. (Hear, hear.) What did the masters do in this matter? Some twenty years ago he could not count, in the county of Lancaster, twenty masters worth £ 5,000—new he could find twenty masters worth as many millions, and yet they said they were losing money. (Applause, and a voice Ah !") He (the speaker) called the masters Coal Kings." They must have their pair of horses, their butlers and foot- men, their colliery managers at JB500 a year—(ap- plause)—and awholelot of subordinates under him again —even the dogey fireman must have his under-looker. (Laughter.) It was one of the greatest crimes ever committed for the masters to attempt to reduce the mens' wages in this way and under the present cir- cumstances. Steam coal was now selling at 7s 9d per ton, and house coal at Birkenhead at Us 6d and if the masters could not afford to pay them more, it was time they shut their collieries up. (Hear, hear.) Until they insisted upon having a day's wage for a day's work, the masters would go on grinding them down. Let them, therefore, put a stop to this coercion. (Applause.) He was informed that the masters took off per day for oil. He would under- take to supply them with oil at a halfpenny per day, and the Truck Act said that no master shan make a profit out of anything that he sells. It was against the Act of Parliament, and if he had only time to come to Wrexham he would sue everyone of them in the County Court for the illegal way in which they were attempting to rob the men when they couldn't help themselves. (Cheers.) In conclusion, he hoped, as he said before, that they would form themselves into an association all through the United Kingdom, and let them try, once for all, to raise the position of the miner to the level of all others of her Majesty's subjects. (Loud cheers.) The Chairman said he had a letter to read from Mr Henry Dennis. A voice He canna come, I know (Laughter.) The letter, which was a flat denial of certain state- ments circulated to the effect that Mr Dennis had been going about and trying to influence other managers to do as he was doing, was read by Mr R Jones, secretary to the colliers' union, the writer stating that he had just been told that a base and shameful falsehood was being circulated among the colliers of the district, viz., that shortly before the termination of the notice of five per cent. reduction, he went to the Bersham Colliery office to request their co-operation with the Coal Owners' Association in the reduction; that the official or manager there asked him how was it that they wanted to reduce wages now; and that he had replied that trade was so bad and prices so low that it could not be avoided. The statement further alleged that the official had said, We maintain our prices in Birkenhead. and there is no reason to reduce the wages." Mr Dennis said there was not one word of truth in the statement. The reading of the letter was greeted with cries of Why does he not come here himself ?" and Let us not waste time in talking about false statements," Go on with the meeting." &c. The Chairman thought it only right on their part to wait upon the masters to hear what they had to say. A collier from Ruabon (whose name did not tran- spire), thought that no one should meet the masters unless they (the masters) sent for them to the bank. (Cheers.) He objected to meeting any masters. (Re- newed cheers.) Another collier (speaking in Welsh): Who broke £ he last committee? Who turned Wm. Hughes away? (Hear, hear.) I don't know what we want to go to their meeting for. (Hear, hear.) Mr Venables (of Pentre, Moss) said the reference to Mr William Hughes was quite correct. The managers' association met seven years ago in the Queen's Hotei. Chester, and boycotted nine of the men. Those men had to travel round the country, and they had not seen them since. (Hear, hear.) Even since that time the masters had kept up the system. If a man said anything against a manager he was sent away about his business, and not only that, but they prevented him from getting work anywhere else. ("Shame.") He remembered the time when they revenged upon him (the speaker) by going to his landlord and pre- vailing upon him to double his rent. (Cries of Shame.") He ridiculed the idea of masters being unable to afford a continuance of the present rate of wages, and quoted instances where men received wages upon which it was impossible for them to subsist. He thought there could be no harm in meeting the masters and reasoning with them. If the masters proved unreasonable, then they could turn their backs upon them. (Hear, hear.) They could not expect the masters to come there to them. They would not think of coming to a meeting like that without a lot of soldiers to guard them. (Laughter.) A Voice: Reasoning is out of the question. We want no reasoning. Let us send a man to tell them what our feeling is, and nothing more. (Cheers.) A collier from Rhosymedre strongly opposed the proposal to send delegates to the masters. If the masters wanted to come to terms let them send a messenger to them, the men. He did not know what they wanted delegates for, unless it was for underhanded work. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman ad vised the men to carefully consider what they were doing. The masters were masters after all, and were stronger than the men to hold out. If they were willing to come to terms so much the better and, if not, they (the men) would be no worse for having approached them. (Hear, hear.) A Voice I propose that we send our terms to the masters by letter, and that they send their answer by letter. (Cheers.) Another Voice I propose that they be asked to state their terms from the balcony of the Wynnstay. The first of the two proposals was duly seconded, and was carried unanimously, there being but one dissentient. The amendment was not seconded. At this juncture whilst two or three colliers were endeavouring to express their opinions at one and the same time. the militia marched on to the Racecourse (their annual training ground), and the assembled multitude, mechanica.ly dividing, formed a living wall on either side of the regiment, the men being greeted during their march past" with cries of "Here's the militia coming!" Never mind the militia!" The corporals will come first!" (Laughter.) Duw anwyl, if we couldn't kill all the militia in the place!" and so forth, accompanied by some little hooting on the part of a number of lads. The chairman and several others insisted upon quietness while the militia marched past. David Jones (Rhosymedre): Look here—I don't care for any master in this world. (Hear, hear.) A I master can't have a master's job where he likes—I don't take the master's pocket one bit, but the master will steal twopence out of my one three half-pence (Loud laughter.) The Chairman (refering to a previous speaker) Let's first have what we now fight for-the five per cent.—and then put a notice out about having the ten per cent. back if you like. (" Yes," and cheers, and a voice, If they don't, let's go out on strike ") Mr T. Chilton, J.P., who was next introduced by the Chairman as a gentleman taking great interest in the affairs of the workmen, addressed the meeting, and was received with cheers. He said Gentleman, I will in the first place explain how it is that I come here to-day, and, indeed, after I have so explained, I I shall have very little more to say, because, as you have already finished your business, it woull be very little use of me to give you any advice upon it. I was invited to come here to-day by a deputation who at. tended at my house at Gresford this morning, repre- senting a meeting which had been held at the West- minster Colliery, or at all events at the M ws Valley —(hear, hear)—and the reason why they extended to me that invitation, which I looked upon as an honor-I (hear, hear)—was, I conceive, and as they told me, because I had addressed some words to them last Thursday, when I happened to be at the West- minster in an official capacity, viz., as a magistrate of this county in charge of some troops. Well, they were pleased to say that the words I than addressed to them were words that they thought of some value, and therefore thought that I might be of use in assisting in some slight degree to try to settle this un- fortunate dispute. (Hear, hear, and right, right.") And I would venture to remind you before you send that letter to the masters that they are at the Wynn- stay Arms Hotel this afternoon upon a distinct invitation. The meeting at the Mots ventured, after I addressed it, to invite the masters to attend at the Wynnstay Arms to-day to receive a deputation from this meeting, and therefore if you will allow me to utter one word of advice, I would say to you, doa't make any unnecessary bitterness. (Hear, hear.) It can matter very little to you whether you send a deputation or a letter, because the deputation may go to say exactly the same as the letter, and they can say it in a more courteous way, and as you have asked the masters to attend there to receive a deputa- tion, it appears to me that it would be better, however firm they may be, that there should be as little bitterness as possible between you. (Hear, hear, and That's very good !") It is a very unfortunate thing that there has been any amount of rioting over this quarrel. I am sure the men I see before me regret that rioting as much as possible. I know it comes only from some of the ardent spirits which are very easily excited, but I must remind you that such rioting greatly prejudices your case and it prevents the masters meeting you as they otherwise might do. It turns public opinion against you, and therefore I would strongly remind everyone here to determine that so far as he can assist he will restrain those ardent spirits, which are for the most part the younger spirits, and prevent as far as possible any bitterness, rioting, injury, or intimidation I being introduced into this quarrel. (Applause.) One word as to the quarrel itself. I have no right to say one word as to who is right or who is wrong as to this I 5 per cent. I would remind you that it impossible at all times for either master or men to say what wages shall be. That depends upon the trade of the country. The only thing you ha/e to do is to see that whatever the trade of the country has fixed as the right price of coal, as the only price that can be quoted, that you get your fair proportion of that price as wages. (Ap- plause.) That is what you are entitled to get. (Hear, hear.) I must point out this. I have no doubt you all can say you have a right to the five per cent. I have no doubt whatever your wages are very low and the number of days you have worked have greatly aggravated the small wages you have earned, and that when the five per cent. is taken from you, you feel it a great and bitter hardship. But if you could feel that it was a proper thing to be reduced, you would not feel that amount of bitterness you do to-day. (No!) If there is to be any future agreement of a pleasant character going over a series of years between masters and men, it must be by the men taking steps amongst themselves to have such a council and such an associ- ation as they shall know exactly the price of coal in every colliery in the country, and know from that exactly the wages they ought to get—(hear, hear)— and then I conceive that whatever those wages may be, if they are small, they will be received with a feeling that they must bear it until better times came, and if they are larger, they will readily obtain the increase. (Cheers.) In the North of England they have a council which gives to the mineL. a knowledge of the exact price which every colliery in Durham receives for its coal. They have an association of such a character, for its secretary, Mr Crawford, is able to fight the battle and make a representation of the miners before the masters as ably as any master can answer him and I do conceive that amongst so great a number of people you can have a similar council, similarly represented, which would place you in pos- session of the same kind of knowledge which would save you from the bitterness of these quarrels. (Ap. plause.) In the North of England we have had first of all a sliding scale, which was established at the time coals were very high—(hear, hear)—and the scale had for its minimum a very high minimum of very high rate. Coal fell to a degree which none of us anticipated, and the payment of the high rate re- mained upon the masters long after the coal had fallen to a price which made it exceedingly onerous. The masters paid the high price of wages until the end of the scale. Then the masters insisted upon a reduction. We then had a strike in the North of England, which I said at the time was entirely the fault of the masters. The masters insisted upon a re- duction, the men came forward and said the price of coal was known, and wages were known, and they said "refer it to arbitration." The masters refused and the men stood out and compelled the masters to agree to arbitration and Lord Derby decided against them. That was a strike which he considered the men were justified in. They were fighting for a principle. (Hear, hear.) They were not fighting in the dark. Unless you are fighting for a principle you are fight- ing for that which will crop up over and over again. You ought to have some council or system by which the wages rise and fall with coal, so that you should know exactly what wages you ought to have. There would then be far less bitterness. There is at the present time a great deal of jealousy. I heard Mr Darby ask if coal was not raised here as there? but if you had a council, you would know all this for them- selves. If you would each contribute a small sum you would be able to have a council independently, and although I have been told that the men would be marked who formed the council I can scarcely con- ceive it to be the case. Speaking with the masters of the North of England I have found that there are no men thought better of than the men in the pits who form a portion of that council. (Hear, hear.) If you considered this quarrel in a less bitter spirit, and formed such a council, you would find that the masters would not meet you in such a bitter and hostile spirit as you say you will do. After what I have heard to-day I must decline to go with the deputation to the masters. You are going to say that you will have the five per cent., and will decide for yourselves—say it, then, with as little bitterness as you can. (Hear, hear.) I don't think the masters will agree with you. You ought rather to say, I think we are entitled to the five per cent. and then leave it to someone else. You may go there and after all have a long strike and a great deal of suffering. I take it that an Association would have a great moral effect upon yourselves. Life is not all work, labor, eating, and drinking—there is 'something higher- there is the self-respect that men would have as they rise in the scale, not only for their own rights, but for the rights of others. (Hear, hear.) They would have judges of fairness and impartiality between them, rather than be judges in their own case, but as long as they knew the men they would rather abide by a decision given and with the full knowledge of the future they would take steps to have 3uch a know- ledge of the trade of the countrv, and have a sliding scale established, and it would put an end to the un- fortunate strikes, which I am convinced will come over and over again until you have such an Associa- tion. The prices will happily be fixed by the scale, and a feeling would exist between the masters and the men which I am sure will in the long run add to the prosperity of both. (Applause.) The knowledge that strikes are likely to take place takes away the trade of a place, and prevents the masters giving you the wages they otherwise would do. I have spoken to you frankly and honestly. I tell you I think you are making a mistake. I am here at the invitation of the men, and I tell you you are making a mistake at all events, if you won't go to the length of arbitration send at least a small number of delegates to meet the masters in a courteous spirit, and and they will have added no bitterness to this strike which at present exists, such as a letter and a curt answer to it will do. I think you might have gone to work pending the settlement of this wages question by those who would have made the settlement fairly. At all events, go back home to-night with the determina- tion that you all as respectable citizens endeavour to restrain those who would intimidate and riot, and I wish you all from the bottom of my heart every happiness and prosperity. (Cheers, and cries of "Send that letter.") At this stage of the proceedings, and just before the secretary, Mr Richard Jones, read the letter proposed to be sent to the masters, the boarding in front of the grand stand suddenly gave way and many persons were precipitated into the crowd below. Fortunately no one was seriously injured, though a number, in- cluding several reporters, had very narrow escapes. The e' Secretary then read the letter which ran as follows Monday, April 21th, 18S2, Racecourse, Wrexham. SIR,I am directed by the meeting held at the Race- course this day to inform you of the terms on which the North Wales Miners in this district are willing to resume work, which are that you will unconditionally withdraw your notice as to the five per cent. reduction. I :Im also to respectfully solicit an answer from your meeting to the meeting now being held on the Racecourse. -I am, sir, yours, very respectfully, RICHARD JONES, Secretary. The Chairman, Coal Miners' Association, Committee Room, Wynnstay Arms, Wrexham. [The reading of this letter was received with cries of Hear, hear," cheers, and That's enough."] About half-past five, the following reply was received from the masters' meeting: rcopv.l I Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Wrexham, 24th April, 1S82. SIR,—At the special request of the miners, ex- pressed at a meeting held at the Mos3 on Friday last, a large number of coal owners have come here to-day to meet a deputation of the miners, to hear what reasons they have to allege why the reduction of five per cent, in wages should not take place. and to their great surprise instead of a deputation coming to meet them. a letter only was received, of which the following is a copy: Monday, April 24th. 182, Racecourse, Wrexham. SIR,—I am directed by the meeting held at the Race- course this day to inform you of the terms on which the North Wales Miners in this district are willing to resume work, which are that you will unconditionally withdraw your not ce as to the live per cent. reduction. I am also to respectfully solicit an answer from your meeting to the meeting now being held on the Racecourse.—I am, sir, yours very respectfully, RICHARD JoF., The Chairman, Secretary. Coal Miners Association, Committee-room, Wynnstay Arms, Wrexham. In reply to this letter I am directed to say that the notice having already expired there cmi be no notice to withdraw. The-masters are sorry that no deputation has been sent to meet them to-day, as they always willing to discus with the men any questions of difference upon wages or other matters, and under the circum stances they can only say with great regret, that in the present state of coal trade the reduction in wages is an absolute necessity as they are prepared to prove. -Yours faithfully, (Signed) W. D. HASWKLI., Secretary, North Wales Coal Owners Association. To the Chairman, meeting of Miners on Wrexham Itacecour-e. The Chairman Well, we must take a reduction of wages or stand out. We've passed that once, so the next question is when shall we have another mass meeting ? Cries of Next Monday," and H 0, earlier Mr Venables, Pentre (who, in answer to sundry hints" from the crowd, said he wasn't afraid) said Now gentlemen, look here. We have had the most trouble in the Moss, and not you. Now there came a gentleman here—a coal owner—who was able to prove tu you and to your masters that he was giving 2s a day more than you get, and you refused him. Now we made an agreement on our part that we wouid't take the reduction, leave the deputation be who they would—that they would never go in at the reduction—but we have lost a thing to-day that we shall not regain again. Mr Chilton has got one of the largest collieries in Durham and we have been comparing your pay sheets and his, one with the other, and his pay sheets show that the wages there are a lot higher than they are here, and I'm sorry that we asked him to come with us to the masters to show them these things and that you have rejected him. You will regret it afterwards You could have refused all the same. You have lost that now, and as Mr Dennis once said, Spilt milk can't be got up." We know we have hard masters. We know what they have done with people who stand up on the plat- form and speak against them. I'm sorry we didn't take that gentleman before our masters to show them their failings. He brought the pay sheets of his own men to show the difference, and the pay there is at least 40 per cent. higher than you get here. Would it not have been a grand thing for the gentleman to have come with us and have said to our masters, "See, I am paying so much." I tell you you have lost that! The Chairman Well, we've lost it, then. and we can't make it up now. All I want to know is when we're to have another mass meeting? An individual on the platform here attempted to say something in Welsh, and on the Chairman inter- rupting he bawled out silence at which the crowd laughed and cheered alternately, shouts of go on, Moses," being interspersed with cries of pull him down send him off Shove him down &c., and amidst loud cheers and roars of laughter, the would-be orator was actually pitched bodily off the grand stand into the middle of the crowd. This little episode over, the Chairman reiterated his question as to when they should have another mass meeting ? Someone suggested Oó three weeks time," and another a week to-day," it being ultimately agreed to hold the next meeting on Monday, at 2 p.m., on the same ground, delegates to meet at the Fleece, Hope-street, at 12 noon. We have received the following communication from" a working collier," giving their side of the question, which we consider it our duty to insert:— Sir,—On the part of the colliers of the North Wales district, I beg to thank you for your full and temperate report of the proceedings connected with the strike last week, and your editorial comments thereon. No doubt the peace was broken to an ex- tent, but only by a few of those turbulent spirits who are to be found among youths of all classes. The bulk of the colliers stood aloof from such pro- ceedings, and did all they could to prevent them. As a consequence, wise counsels have prevailed durin" the present week, and no disturbance has occurred throughout the entire district. Many people outside consider that because the masters are not making a profit by the sale of coal that therefore the collier must be pulled down to starvation wages. We know what it is to work in a vitiated atmosphere, surrounded by all the perils to lue and limb, consequent upon working hundreds of yards below the surface of the earth. Falls of roof, explosions of gas, the deadlv choke-damp, and the "dim religious light" of the safety lamp, are not enviable conditions calculated to induce men to labor daily unless something like reasonable compensation is attached to that labor. The men say that the average wage of the district is 2s 8d per day, which would be reduced to 2s 6d if the five percent, is accepted. Surely this is not sufficient Payment for work done under the conditions I have now named The masters say that it is a mere technical price, and that the real price is considerably more. It is more I admit, at some few collieries, but in the majority of the collieries in the district it is not more, and this is attributable in a great measure to the different systems of work. Two prominent masters in the district who are individual proprietors adhere mainlv to the old style of working, which is known as the long wall system, and in these collieries the men can still obtain a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. In other collieries the system of working is more in accordance with what is called the pillar and stall system, but as worked in this district so much dirt has to be worked in connection with the coal, and this dirt has to be removed by the collier and sent up to bank separate from the coal, the coal bein" kept perfectly clean, that it destroys all the ad vantages the other system possesses, and the colliers under the latter system do not make more than the wages stated. I have worked three months under the last system in succession and did not average more than half a crown a day, real earnings, for every day I worked, and I am an able-bodied collier in my prime I have since worked six weeks under the old system, under one of the proprietors already alluded to, where I have been able to earn 43 3d per day If these discrepancies occur in different collieries with regard to myself and with regard to others, as I know they do, there must be something radically wrong in the management somewhere, because the master who pays 4s 3d a day sells his coal in the same market as the company that paid me the half-crown a day Then there are other things that tend to minimise the colbers wages. There are stoppages foro? &c.. and those stoppages are well-known to be greatly in excess of the cost. We know that the competition at Birkenhead is keen, and that in con- equence of or only having one system of railway fnto the district our masters have to compete under disadvantages with Lancashire; still, they doi?tsell all theIr coal at Btrlcenhead. and they sell coal • Wrexham and the district at very much higLrprices than at Birkenhead. I ask you and your readers as reasonable men, why bould our wa^°es be calculted pure and sImple on Birkenhead prices and Birkenhead coowm?peli! ?<? ? ? to pay individually for our ZSt Sth 3aine rates ? the local consumers and t?he \W? rexham traders, which is very nearly dooSSe Bi!k2L 5e ^sters8ay they are able to gS at Blrkenhead ? hCile c Ao» that the reasln and thA APcynTn.Qftf. _11 -.b""u,-u" AlUb MLL on the side of the masters the 7L ^i^v ers generally in this district are aabb!le e to answer the question how it is that share- holders in companies in the district get no dividends. There are systems of colliery management which are economical and under which the master reaps the profit and the workman gets fair pay, but there are also other systems ot management in the district, unfortunately, under which the shareholders get no dividend and the workman is reduced to Se verge of starvation. What becomes of the JS?or?& unl? there i.4 an intermediate power which absor it in its progress, or the system of management wrong and wants reforming. This I th:? r? be safely left to your readers, who will see ?rom ?ha? have written that, as I have said before, aS theT? ment is not on the side of th^t^i are Sow tryin0 to reduce us, and who, if they succeed will onlv ?owerthe position of ^e collier and his ability to pay foHL necessaries of hfe.— Yours, &c., A \VORKLlER IN THE NORTH W VLEHDISTKICT » '111- BKYMBO AND BROUtrHTON. TIL- J -11 «  t: ISlinKe ot the col1ir continues with more I ? determm. ??. oa th? h? been evinc. t hy the men for over five years, the majority of the men being unwilling to resume work at the reduction. The neighbourhood has gradually assumed a peace ful character, and the greatest order prevails. A m»f.^jril, of colliers for this district was helll on Tuesday last in the field adjoining the Cross Foxes, Pentre but nothing definite was arrived at. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Chilton, Gresford, for the prominent part he had taken on behalf of the work, men and the meeting terminated. A large number of colliers have left the district for the North of England and Lancashire during the week. COEDFOETH AND MINERA. r<ll <• ine majority or tne men in this neighbourhood were of opinion that the masters would giv.. in on Monday, and let the men go to work at the 01, I rttp of wages, but as it turned out otherwise there has been great disappointment. During the early part of the week great numbers of the men have left the lid h. bourhood to look for employment elsewhere, and if the strike continue-i-for a few weeks a larger number still will be obliged to leave. Anothet corresponded writes :—Many of the collier-; of this neighbourhood are very reluctant strike hands, though they appear to be unanimous in condemning the policy of the masters in reducing their wages. Many of the youn" hands have wisely taken time by the forelock and have left the district to seek work elsewhere, while others from the Rhos side have descended to the character of itinerant singers, begging along the s across Bwlchgwyn on to Llanlogia, thence to Uutiiin and Llangollen. This somewhat ignominious p vrt of their programme appears to have been foreseen, for the publicans have been cautioned not to enc jurage them by gifts of beer, &c. HAWARDEN COLLIERIES. At a meeting held on the pit bank on Tuesday by the colliers connected with these works, it was unani- mously agreed not to resume work unless they W'!r allowed to use what is termed the box and rake with the main coal. We understand that everything has been amicably arranged between the manager. Mr T. B. Gregory, and the men, and on the following da, (Wednesday) the box and rake was put in operation in No. 4 pit. This will be equal to 3d per ton more tor getting the coal by the box and rake. RHOSLLANERCHRtTGOG. Considerable disappointment is felt in this neigh- bourhood with regard to the mass meeting at Wrexham on Monday, and it is the expressed con- viction of the majority of the men that no satisfactory result can be attained by such unwilling and irrespon- sible gatherings. Of the delegates appointed to re- present Rhos at the Monday meeting not one took part, the platform being tilled with lads and a few nobodies, who are not recognised by the better class of colliers. It is also felt that the sending of the letter was injudicious, and that the masters should have been communicated with by a deputation. A number of men have left here during the last few days for South Wales and the* north of England, and if a settlement is much longer delayed, many IIllre intend trying their luck upon the" tramp." Several laughable episodes in connection with the sensational rumors have come to light. It is reported that the mansion of one of the most influential managers was guarded, on Thursday night week, by a contingent of local defenders, who were in great dread of being attacked by rioters. Advanced piquets were sent out to notify the approach of the expected attacking party, and about midnight these advanced sentries fell back upon their supports at the hall, and nervously announced the coming of the eiuiuy. Great commotion ensued, and amid great excitement the steady tramp of a large number of men was heard coming in the direction of the house, the terrified inmates of which were far from being prepared to repel the impending attack. Their terror was turned to gladness when it was found that the coiners were defenders and not assailants, anft consisted of a Glial. pany of the Royal Denbigh and Merioneth Militia. A number of boisterous lads and hobbydehoy.s paraded the streets of Rhos on Thursday night week, and enlivened their march with shouting and hurrahing. A number of the more quiet and undemonstrative colliers, imagining that a rising of the mm wa; on foot, hurried out of the village to hide in the bye- roads and nelds, and several were seen leaving their homes in a half-dressed and frightened condition, and it was near daybreak ere several found courage to ret urn to their domiciles in a shiveringand half-starved sr.ate. It was this incident that gave rise to the alarming accounts seen in the daily papers, that thousand of c dliers were rising in the Kiios." The fact wtiieh we verified from observation, that at eleven o'clock the place was in a state of normal i[ui.-tude, and most oi the inhabitants were in the arms of M orpheus. RITA BOX. l..are numoers ot the colliers from this district attended the mass meeting at Wrexham on Monday. Many of the men were dissatisfied with the results of the meeting, inasmuch as they fully anticipated that negotiations would be entered into between the miners' delegates and the coal-owners, and that terms would be arrived at, and labor at the collieries at once resumed. It has been argued by many of the miners in this district that a deputation should have been sent to meet the masters at Wrexham on Monday to express the feeling of the men as indicated at the mass meeting, and debate the question with the coalowners. It was only fair, it was that delegates should have met the employers after they had assembled for the purpose of receiving them, and listening to any arguments they had to adduce. On Monday evening a detachment of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers arrived here by the seven o'clock train from Wrexham. augmented by another detachment which came by the last train. The military were under the charge of Captain Hickley and Lieut. Horroek* The force numbers forty-six men and two sergeants. They were marshalled through the village to the Court House and the Wynnstay Arms Hotel Assembly rooms where they stayed during the night awaiting any call which might be made. Rumours had been current during the evening that tin men were determined to attack the residences of Mr Dennis and Mr Thompson, but no disturbance what- ever took place during the night. The military have been billetted at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel throughout the week. Astatf of nine extra policemen hav ea!< stationed at Ruabon, but theirservices have forturiately not been required. The district has this week preserved an outward appearance of quiet, but considerable irritation has prevailed in various parts. The action of the authorities in making precautions is generally approved by the inhabitants. A calculation has been made this week, showing that the men have already sacrificed the percentage for three-quarters of a year, even should they return to work at the beginning of next week upon the old terms. In making the calcu- lation, the earnings of the men have been averaged at 21 per week. Had they accepted the reduction of •"> per cent., for which the masters gave them fourteen days' notice, they would then have received nineteen shillings instead of a pound. They have now sacrificed 19s per week for a fortnight, which amounts to 33. or thirty-eight weeks at the rate of Is per week reduction. It is stated that fillers at the collieries in this district are receiving 3s to 3s 4d per day. and the coal cutters 3i 6a to 6s per day. Many distressing cases of families wanting bread are reported. The greater number of the steady hands have left the district for the Lancashire and Staffordshire coal fields. The military were called away on Thursday. BLACK PARK. It was currently rumoured in the district on Thurs- day that the proprietors of Black Park Colliery had withdrawn the notice of a reduction of tive per cent., and invited their men to go to work on the old terms.