Miners' Meeting Harriseahead 1874

Researched by John Lumsdon

On Monday evening the 18th May 1874 an open-air meeting was held at Harriseahead.
Mr. A. Pointon, president, opened the meeting with a few appropriate remarks and introduced Mr. Brown, who addressed the meeting on the question of union. He advised the four lodges which were well represented, to pay their levies promptly for the support of the men who were out on strike in South Staffordshire. The strike had been protracted over a period of eight weeks and everyone present must know, especially the heads of families that the men had to suffer great hardships. But it would make it harder still and their burden almost unbearable if there was any falling off in the support.
Mr. Brown explained the cause of the strike in a very able and proficient manner and he was listened to with profound attention. Several miners present remarked that they did not consider that the miners in North Staffordshire, or any other district were supporting the men really. They considered that the support was principally on the other side. The miners in South Staffordshire were fighting the battle for the whole community, and every miner in Great Britain should support them.
A resolution was passed to the following effect: That the miners of Mow Cop, Mount Pleasant, Harriseahead and Packmoor lodges agree to contribute the levies with the greatest regularity no matter what they may be,
til the end of the present strike. And congratulate the miners of Canock Chase and other districts for their valour and determination to resist the action of the employers who were seeking to take undue advantage of them.
Mr. Brown advised them to elect a few men to go round the neighbourhood and try to collect money, in-order to commence a bread fund, which is expected to be established forthwith.