§ Mr. Humepresented a petition from the seamen of North Shields, complaining of certain statements which had been made prejudicial to them, and justifying a combination into which they had formed themselves, on the ground of self-defence against the masters. They stated, that the masters were in the habit of meeting occasionally, and settling the wages between them, and these wages were so low, that the seamen were obliged to unite in their own defence. The objects of their union were of a charitable nature; as it was intended to provide for destitute children of seamen.
§ Mr. Lambtonsaid, that the union was 1352 not designed for charitable purposes only: if charity had any thing to do with it, it was a charity which began at home, and never travelled further. One of the regulations of the union, forbad any mariner to serve in a ship with any other mariner who was not a member of the union. A late instance would explain the effect of this rule. A ship arrived at Shields from the west of England, and the union required the owners to dismiss all the men serving on board, because they were not of the union. These poor fellows were to be left, according to the regulations of the union, to beg their way on foot back again into the west of England, to make way for mariners of the union. Another vessel arrived from Whitby; and it was with some difficulty that the lives of the men could be secured for a night or two, from the violence with which they were threatened. This was a state in which parliament would not readily consent to place the property of any man.
§ Mr. Humesaid, that the magistrates had power to suppress any violence; that being clearly contrary to law. The petitioners stated, that their regulations were adopted in self-defence, to prevent the owners from reducing them to comparative starvation. He moved, that the petition be referred to the committee on the Combination laws.
§ The petition, was referred to the said committee; together with a petition from the shipwrights on the river Thames.