COAL-METERS OF DUBLIN. (Hansard, 5 August 1831)

§ Mr. Lefroy
presented a Petition from the Corporation of Tailors, praying for the continuation of the Coal-Meters' Establishment, or for some compensation to the persons employed, should their situations be taken from them.

Mr. O'Connell
thought the petitioners deserved no compensation, and, if the hon. Member would investigate the subject, he would be of the same opinion.

§ Mr. Lefroy
apprehended there was no legal right involved. The object of the petitioners was, to obtain compensation for the coal-meters, if their establishment was abolished.

§ Mr. Hunt
hoped the coal-meters of Dublin were not like their brethren in London; and, before any compensation was granted, he trusted the case would be thoroughly looked into.

Mr. O'Connell
said, that the Lord Mayor and Corporation of Dublin fixed their wages, under the Statute of George 2nd, which had been repealed by Mr. Hume's Act, relative to the Combination-laws. During the period when the tax on sea-borne coals prevailed, these coal-meters were employed to make returns of the cargoes which entered the port of Dublin. Upon these two circumstances, the petitioners had assumed they had a right to employment, and, therefore, to claim compensation if they were deprived of it. He trusted the House would not trouble themselves about the matter, and he should certainly oppose the coal-meters, receiving any compensation.

Mr. Lender
considered the coal-meters case a hard one. There were about forty of them, and they were mostly advanced in years, with families to support. He, therefore, thought it was cruel to deprive them of employment without some compensation.

§ Mr. Lefroy
said, as the observations of the hon. and learned member for Kerry were likely to prejudice the case of the coal-meters, he felt it incumbent to state the circumstances of the case. The coal-meters were appointed under a chartered right, claimed by the Guild of Merchants in Dublin, and had exercised their office ever since coals were imported into that place. All they now asked was, if their office were abolished, that they should receive compensation, and he had no doubt, at the proper time, from the case he had seen, that their claims could be established.