Meeting of the hand-loom weavers - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Meeting of the hand-loom weavers

PUBLIC MEETING OF THE HAND-LOOM WEAVERS, HELD ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, BY PERMISSION OF THE MAYOR.

    In consequence of a statement which appeared in the Carlisle Patriot of December 22d, 1843, from a correspondent, as to the average earnings of the hand-loom weavers in Carlisle and neighbourhood; a public meeting of the body took place on Monday, January 1st, at three o'clock, for the purpose of contradicting the statement alluded to.

    On the motion of Mr. J. B. HANSON, Mr. James M'KENZIE, was called to the chair. After having stated the object of the meeting, he called upon Mr. Joseph BROWN, who moved the following resolution.

    "This meeting have observed with feelings of surprise and disgust, a statement of the earnings of the hand-loom weavers of Carlisle, as put forth by a correspondent of the Carlisle Patriot, of December 22d, 1843; and purporting to be taken from the master manufacturers' books to the following effect: -- 'That twelve weavers working on an average of sixty eight hours per week, (being twelve hours each for five days and eight hours on Saturday,) can earn, after all necessary deductions are made, the sum of eight shillings and ten-pence halfpenny per week.' -- a statement which is wholly untrue, and calculated to make a very erroneous impression on the public mind, respecting the real condition of the hand-loom weaver. This meeting therefore strongly repudiate the foregoing statement as altogether incorrect, as to their real earnings, which will not average more than from five to six shillings per week; and which this meeting are prepared to prove before any committee of inquiry that may be instituted for that purpose."

    The resolution being seconded, was about to be put, when a person of the name of John LEECH, came forward, and said that he and others had been induced to sign a paper, to the effect, that they could do a certain quantity of work; but he found it could only be done for a week or two, and that working at the rate of fourteen hours a day; but that it was quite impossible to keep it up for a longer period together. When he and two others (SANDERSON and ROUTLEDGE) who had also signed the paper, got to know the use that was made of it, they went to the masters and wished to have their names scored out. A person called John McMICKEN now came forward and said, he had kept an exact amount of his earnings for the last seventeen weeks, all of which time he had worked very hard and averaged fourteen hours per day; and he found, after paying all necessary deductions, he had not more to himself than four shillings and ten pence per week! and he also defied anyone to make more on the same fabric of work, which he must say was three shillings better in Glasgow than in Carlisle.

    The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.

    Mr. J. B. HANSON, in a long speech, moved the following resolution, which was duly seconded and carried.

    "That it is highly important that the immediate attention of government, should be drawn to the miserable and wretched condition of the hand-loom weavers of this district; and that government be respectfully memorialised to take their case into their serious consideration, with a view to afford them a speedy and permanent remedy, for their present degraded condition."

    A committee of five persons were then appointed to draw up the said memorial, and lay the same before a public meeting at the earliest opportunity.

    A vote of thanks was then given to the Mayor for granting the use of the Town Hall, and another to the Chairman, when the meeting quietly dispersed.