THE MASTER ENGINEERS AND THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY. [From the Ipswich Express, January 6.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 722, 3 July 1852, Page 4

THE MASTER ENGINEERS AND THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY. [From the Ipswich Express, January 6.]

On Saturday, in pursuance of the resolution arrived at and made public by the' large employers of Manchester and London, notices were almost universally posted at the respective engine factories, that in consequence of the recent pro* ceedings on the part of' the men, their works would be closed on Saturday next, the 10th inst. This is the only step all present taken by the masters, only a few men having as yet been discharged for refusing to work over-time. But the effect of this determination on the part of theye v masters will be to throw out of employ about 4500 members of the Amalgamated Society. Consequent npon this, however, and assuming that other machinists cannot be secured,, a much larger number of other persons must be deprived of their means of subsistence. Taking into the cajculation moulders, boilermakers, carpenters, brass moulders, t coppersmiths, painters, trimmers, unskilled labourers, and. apprentices, not less than 20,000 men will be dependant on this coup Wetat. In Lancashire, it is estimated by the mastets that 10,000 hands will be thrown out of employ, in addition to the members of the Amalgamated Society, in that county alone ; and it is not unreasonable to double that number when London is included. The boilermakers throughout the country number from 3000 to 4000, and the moulders nearly '5000. The moulders have hitherto taken no part whatever in the proceedings of the Amalgamated Society, nor were any of. their 'body "TOem^' bers of it. However, they convened a meeting on Saturday night in London, at which a pro- ■ position' was thrown out and adopted, subject to the approval of their brethren, not to return to their labour - after- the 10th* if then discharged, without being compensated for their loss of time from that period until their reengagement. On Saturday a proposition was made to the executive council, to the effect that if the Amalgamated Society would invest £10,000 of its funds in tools, any amount .of capital would be j forthcoming, if necessary, to enable the men when formed into a new society, to undertake any amount of work which might be desired. In consequence of this proposition, coming, as the reporter was informed, from a responsible capitalist, a raseting of jhe executive council was* held on Saturday last in Little~Alie-street, at which a resolution was passed to the following effect :— u That inasmuch as the employers have refused to do the work for the public, the members of the Amalgamated Society determine to undertake it themselves, and to advertise to the same effect in the -public newspapers." At the same meeting' it was intimated that the masters bad thrown out hints that they were desirous of receiving a deputation from the men, and it was resolved, that should the masters' association acquaint them" with their desire to re-

ceive . a deputation, such a deputation would be immediately appointed. By tbe 23r'd rule of (be Amalgamated Society, all tbe members of tbe society who may be thrown out of employmeut by this move are entitled to receive 15s. a week. It is not intended, however, to draw upon tbe deposited fund of £25,000 to support the 3500 members -of that society, who will be thrown out, but to levy a special rate upon those members who remain in employ.