150th Anniversary
THE KENT AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS’ UNION 1872
Meetings for the formation of branches of the above Union have been held during the past week at Hoath, Burham, Aylesford, and Frittenden. It is stated authority that the Union now numbers 4,000 members.
DELEGATE MEETING.
On Saturday week a general delegate meeting of the Kent Labourers’ Union was held at the Sun Inn, Maidstone. There were present, Mr. G. Roots, chairman ; Mr. P. Masters, treasurer; Mr. A. Simmons, honorary secretary; Mr. C. Stevens; and also delegates from the following branches : —
Farningham, Dartford, Sidcup Yalding, Bearsted Southfleet, Erith, Tudely and Capel, Coxheath, Brenchley, and Penshurst, Hawkhurst, Birchwood, Headcorn, Cranbrook, Otham, Little Chart and Pluckley, East Peckham, Seal, Kemsing, Leeds, Staplehurst, Goudhurst, Langley, Lamberhurst, Swanscombe, Higham, Chartham and Chilham, Wrotham, Waltham and Hastingleigh, Petham, Burham and Aylesford, Loose, Hoo, Maidstone, Stelling and Upper Hardres, Meopham, East Wickham, and Sutton Valence, Chart Sutton, East Sutton, and Ulcombe.
The delegates from the following branches were, for various causes, not present at the meeting :
Rodmersham, Littlebourne, Orpington, Blean and Harbledown, Tunbridge Wells, Starry and St. Stephen’s, Bexley, Lenham, Biverhead, Plaxtol, Halsted, Mailing and Wateringbury, Hoath and Chislett, and Ightham.
Mr. Simmons, hon. sec., reported that up to the previous delegate meeting, held on the 22nd June, there had been 33 branches of the Kent Union formed. He now had to report that up to this evening there had been 53 branches established.
The meeting then proceeded to elect an Executive Committee, of nine members, for the ensuing twelve months. Thirteen names were proposed, and ultimately representatives (labourers) from the following nine branches were unanimously chosen :
West Kent—Sonthfleet, Dartford, and Kemsing. East Kent—Chartham and Chilham, Little Chart and Pluckley, and Petham. Mid Kent—Bearsted, Brenchley, and Headcorn.
The Temporary Executive Committee reported that the hon. secretary had placed before them a statement of the accounts to that evening, which were very satisfactory, and they desired that their thanks given to the public for the generous support accorded to the labourers in carrying on their movement. Some general business was then transacted, and the meeting adjourned with votes of thanks to the officers.
Kent had 4,000 members
Kentish Gazette - Tuesday 06 August 1872
This is Joseph Arch's
National Agricultural Labourers' Union established February 1872.
