A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

Evening Star, Issue 21090, 30 April 1932, Page 18

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE The old oak chest was lying hidden in a dark corner of the church tower. It had not been opened for many years, until at last a curious newcomer to the parish came across it and began to go through the papers it contained. They were roughly sorted in accordance witli the subjects they dealt with, and each heap was tied with old brown tape and labelled in a crabbed and fade handwriting. One such heap bore the label “ Papers Relative to the Cotton Manufacturers’ Distress in 1826 ” (writes “ R.B.L ” in an exchange). When the tape was untied an extraordinary jumble of papers fell out. There were pages and pages of accounts showing the charity which had been, dispensed, drafts of many letters from the vicar at that time, setting forth, for the benefit of the London Relief Committee, the true state of affairs in the township, copies of the committee’s regulations, and also a collection of handbills and pamphlets on all kinds of subjects connected with the distress. They were all jumbled together higgledypiggledy, but an hour’s sorting was enough to extract from them a fairly graphic account of the distress and the methods taken to relieve it. The story starts with an anonymous pamphlet, undated, printed in Blackburn and entitled ‘ Remarks on Weaving, with Reflections on the Recent Events in Lancashire.’ The remarks on weaving were obvious and heavyhanded. They were to the effect that the hated machinery had come to stay, and that in breaking them to pieces the weavers were merely injuring themselves and benefiting other townships and foreign rivals, But the statement of the recent events is worth quoting. The mob had attacked the Wensley Fold Mill, near Blackburn, and destroyed the new machinery. The rioters were spinners who had persuaded themselves to believe that the recent inventions would deprive them and their families of employment. They therefore assembled in a body and, armed with destructive weapons. marched to the scene of action. When the work of demolition was accomplished, as it was speedily, they, doubtles, flattered themselves that they had achieved an extremely wise and clever thing. Of these misguided persons, some were brought to condign punishment, and others, to avoid it, fled from their native country, and were never more heard of. Of all this folly , Blackburn became the victim. Perhaps no place in the county of Lancaster was so admirably adapted for cotton spinning as was Blackburn. But the outrages of the Wensley Fold mob banished cotton spinning from Blackburn. After this it is surprising to read that the author was not a cotton spinner, and, in the light of Blackburn today, more difficult still to believe that cotton spinning was banished from the town and that the trade departed to Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth, Stockport, and Matlock, as the author declares. CHARITY FROM LONDON. But the distress in Lancashire was terrible, and while the events at Wensley Fold and elsewhere were taking place a large committee was sitting in London to gather and distribute charity for the “ distressed manufacturers,” as the operatives are always called.- They began witli a manifesto; “They commence their anxious task by addressing to you a few words of advice and comfort.” They then went on to say that they would do all they could and to express the pious hope that better days were coming. “ But whether they be or no, remember that impatience and disorder on your part will bo sure to delay the happy change by lessening the resources to which you must look for permanent support. A few years ago the working classes in the agricultural districts were severely tried with distress; at that time you were in the enjoyment of plenty. You are now called upon to suffer for a season, but it will bo only for a season, and the more quietly and patiently you bear it the shorter will that season be.”

The proclamation goes on to detail the goodness of all citizens of the metropolis, from “ your gracious Sovereign, who by his munificent donations lias given fresh proofs _of his being the Friend of his people,” the " King’s Minister, who pleaded for you as a friend whoso heart felt for your sufferings,” to “ the servant and the mechanic who have contributed a portion of their hard-earned wages to this work of charity.” ft then winds up by saying that relief will only be given to the orderly, and with an exhortationWe entreat you to secure yourselves in the benevolence and respect of those who are able and willing to alleviate your distress, and, which is of far greater importance, to approve yourselves obedient and contented servants of Him who both appoints this hour of trial of your patience and will in His own good time remove it from you.” This remarkable manifesto is signed by the then Lord Mayor of London and fifteen substantial citizens. There must have been anger in Laucashore when that London proclamation was read. But the committee was more competent than tic insufferable patronage of its remarks might suggest. For among this bundle of papers there is receipt after receipt sent by the incumbent to the comirittco acknowledging grants of £SO, £6O, and £IOO, all of which was to spent in one little lownship whose population was 2,000, though of those, according to the vicar s note, only 150 were in fill work, and 0s ■ld per week was the aveiage wage. The relief was made in kind, costly in crude oatmeal and sheets of 'Jhnnel, and the

regulations of the London committee required that “ work shall be required in return for relief from all able-bodied men.'’ Over this regulation there was a certain amount of trouble. For the local committee, with the vicar at its head, would persist in giving relief to those who most needed it without making it dependent upon any condition of performing work. A good deal of the correspondence deals with this point. The vicar is indignant, but the commit-

tee is firm, and in the end it wins its point by the simple expedient of holding up the next grant until its is assured that its demands will be fulfilled.

The papers, however, are tantalisingly fragmentary. At this point they come to an end. In the same township today there are more than 50 per cent, of the people unemployed. But at least they get more than 3s 4d per week, their relief is made in money and not in crude oatmeal, and they do not have to suffer pious exhortations from distant and wealthy committees.