The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-10-13 00:00:00

T LIE PROPOSED INCORPORATION OF
STOURBRIDGE.

A meeting, attended by a number of the prioci-
pil residents at Pedmore, was held in the School
11 )m1 in that parish, on Monday night, to consider
the proposal to incorporate Stourbiidp;e, and to in-
Pedmore in the municipal area. The Rev.
W. A. Jones (the rector) presided.
Mr. W. 11. Foley moved, "That the owners of
p operty and ratepayers at Pedmore were opposed
to the proposal to include Pedcaore in the charter
of incorporation promoted by the Stourbridge Com-
missioners, believing their rates would be increased
without any corresponding benefit to them, and
that it would be generally injurious to their inter-
ests." Mr. Foley said he had not heard any argu-
ments in favour of the scheme, but, as the Com-
missioners sat with closed doors, he was not likely
to do so. He believed the feeling of the surround-
ing parishes generally was averse to incorporation,
and the proposal to take in the outlying places was
impertinent, not to use a stronger expression. He
did not wish to throw any blame on the Commis-
sioners f.u: desiring incorporation for the township,
and peihaps there was no gentleman in Stourbridge
who did not hope he might some day be mayor.
(laughter.) It was an honour he did not covet, but
some might think it would compensate them for
the trebling or quadrupling of their rates. He
hoped that if the Commissioners were strong, they
would yet be merciful, and would leave Pedmore
in its rural felicity.
Mr. Charles L. Swindell seconded the motion, and
said he could not see any benefit which would arise
to Pedmore from incorporation. They had no
connection with Stourbridge. and for Darochial
purposes were united with the Bromsgrove Union.
Mr. B. L. Freer supported the resolution, and asked
why the Commissioners had secret meetings with
their lawyer about incorporation and did not come
to confer with the inhabitants of the district and
hear what they had to say. Was little Stourbridge,
with 10,00) people, to dictate to Amblecote,
Wordsley, Lye, Pedmore, and other places? It
was the most impudent attempt he had heard of.
The Commissioners wo uldnot unmask their batteries
at present, neither would they (the opposition) un-
mask, but they had batteries which would blow the
Commissioners to atoms. (Laughter and applause.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. W. Roberts moved the appointment of a
committee to watch the proceedings with regard to
incorporation, and take such steps as they deemed
right to protect the interests of the owners and
ratepayers ot Pedmore. Mr. Roberts stated that
the total rates at Pedmore were 2s 3d in the pound
as compared with 5s Bcl at Stourbridge, and it their
rates were increased to the latter figure by incor-
poration, there would be £l,OOO. a year more to be
paid in that parish.—Mr. J. B. Coch-ane seconded
the motion, and said in the district where the works
in which he was interested stood, the rates, exclusive
of poor rates, had been increased from 8d to 3s
owing to incorporation, The resolution was
carried.

Mr. G. Petry moved a resolution empowering the
committee to act with the committees in other
parishes in opposing the scheme. He thought that
when it came to be gone into there would be found
to be such legal difficulties in the way that the
promoters would have to abandon tee proposal
or part of it, It was quirotic to suppose that the
promoters were actuated by any benevolent motives
to outside parishes by their proposals,—Mr. W.
Bloomer seconded the motion, and questioned the
way in which the Commissioners managed the
business under such existing circumstances, urging
it at a reas n against incorporation.
A. committee was afterwards appointed, and Mr.
NV. RoloPrts suggested they should have power to
call for a voluntary rate of 2d or 3d, in the pound
to oppose incorporation.