The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-02-24 00:00:00

fizarbribge eberVer,

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24th, 1883.
PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT.

One of the most prominent characteristics of
an old country like England is that it is
essentially conservative—taking the word it its
literal and not its political sense. Institutions
which have grown and flourished with the march
of centuries, but which may be little in accord
with the mere pushing energy of our own times
are retained more for their own historical asso-
ciations, than from any deeply-set conviction
that they are fas much value as they formerly
were. They have lasted so many centuries;
why disturb them now? The shadows of many
an epoch and many a c 3 cle cluster round them;
the wisdom of our forefathers called them into
existenee ; let things therefore remain as they
are. This sentiment to a great extent accounted
for the very strong opposition to any change in
our representative system which was manifested
at the time of the first Reform agitation.
Boroughs which were flourishing communities
in the reign of Edward 111. when they were en-
franchised, continued to send members to Par-
liament although they had actually ceased to
exist. A green mound might indicate the spot
where they once stood ; but they were still
powers in the British Legislature. Tnere had
been a displacement of the population, without
any change in the apportionment of members.
Yet the alterations suggested, and ultimately
carried out, were not effected without very con-
siderable opposition, and so it mast of necessity
be in an old country with the traditions of a
thousand years behind it. In a new had like
the United States there is no such sentimental
feeling ; but that it exists on this side of the
Atlantic there can be no doubt ; and it has to be
reckoned with at all times arid under any cir-
cumstances.

There can be little doubt that something of
this sort was at the bottom of the opposition to
any change being made in the Rules of Pro-
cedure of the High Court of Parliament. These
new rules are now coming into operation, and
their working will be watched with the deepest
interest. Some of the propositions were of such
a tentative character that they have not even
been made standing orders, thole application
being confined merely to the present session. ,
But in many respects there can be no doubt
that Parliament finds it impossible to keep pace
with the growing requirements of an increasiag
population. Business firms adapt their working
to the demands made upon their capacities, and
the Legislature should do tne sawe. A dozen
new rules were made last year ; but some equaily
important questions remain open for consider-
ation in some future session. For instance,
under the system which has always obtained
thus far, all Bills not passe I at the end of a
session, but which have reached various stages
of progress, are destroyed by the Prorogation.
and every bit of the work has to be done over
again in the ensuing session. The Parliamen:.
is the same, so is the Ministry, so is the Oppo-
sition, all sides have had their say ; yet because
the sittings of the Legislature are temporarily
suspended, the measures for which time cannot
be found are dropped, and are solemnly intro-
duced in the following year and redebated as
though the subject was entirely new to all
parties. A striking example of this was fur-
nished last year in the case of a Sunday Closing
Bill for the county of Cornwall. It ha i got
beyond its second reading, so that its priacip,
had been approved by the ii.mse, and had ac-
tually arrived at the stage of Comm. lice, leavioe
only a third reading to be faced. Time, how-
ever, pressed, and the Bill had to be abaedoned.
Now, to an ordinary mind it would appear that
nothing has happened daring the past six
months to prevent the Bill being now taken up
at the stage at which it was drocped in August
and an ultimate decision speedily come to up o n
it. 'DAB, however, cannot be. Every stage
has to be gone through again, as though the
topic were entirely new, and had not been heard
of ii Parliament before.
In our judicial system also there is a great
deal of conservatism still existing. The ar-
rangement of the country into circuits by
Alfred the Great was an immense improvement
upon the plan previously in operation, but that
was a thousand years ago; and as applied to
the large centres of population the circuit prin-
ciple has broken down. Only a few days ago a
deputation from the important commercial com-
munity of Liverpool and another from Man-
chester waited upon the Lord Chancellor and
pointed out the necessity of establishing a per-
manent superior tribunal in South Lancashire.
The judges still go circuit just as they have done
for centuries ; but in many oases they find it
possible to get through the iuora isua4 oa-iodz ,
on the cause ,ist in tue time silo. ed ttran
the untried causes have either to
next assizes, when precisely the ia al LI
things will be presented, or thry ;.ave
brought to London to be he ,rd at an euormeas..,
augmented expense to the suitors. lint the
principles of the ad:einistration of tne lam in
Eagiand is that a man shall not have to seek
justice in the capital of toe empire, hundreds of
miles away and at a heavy cost, but. that it
should be easily accessible to him without a
serious pecuniary sacrifice. Manchester and
Liverpool have streak a note which other great
towns will doubtless follow, and must end in a
very material ameudoaent of the circuit system

THE IRON TRADE.
WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.
The iron market was very quiet this •af torn ion,
and sales were f a restricted oharaoter. Finished
iron changed hands in nearly ever instance fer
early consumption, and manufacturers were ugv d
to cleaver as early as poBsibie. nuin,er ot m-
chants were inquiring for large parcels wita a view
of stocking, as they have not much iron in their
warehouses, and the probability of iron goLng nu
'ewer gives them the idea that it they can secure
considerable quantities at the current tates they
will in the course of the spring be able ti rea ie
good profits. The articles cttiefly asked for by mer-
chants are bars, coopers' hoops, and stamping
sheets. The marked bar houses were reported to
be engaged on orders that will not carry them on
very long. Commoner makes of bars realised from
£6 ss. up to .2,6 15s„ though transaction w,ro
mentioned at less money, but where this is the case
the iron is undoubtedly of a very inferior character
Black sheet makers are rather quieter, owing to
there being a less demand for galvanised iron, but
prim, for the moment are equal t) what they have
been for the last few weeks. A. few parcels of
doubles changed hands at £8 los., and one large
maker was reported to have sold a similar gauge at
Manufacturers of girders and angle sections
centinue tolerably well employed, as considerable
qnintities of sectional iron are required both for
bridge and railway carriage contracts. For the
latter several houses will be busy for some time in
rolling angles. Stamping sheet makers were a
little more active, but were unable to secure better
terms. The sales of pigs related almost wholly to
those of the medium quility, and at some of the
furnaces—notably at Mr. A. Hickman's Sprig
Vale, iron is wanted immediately it has cooled;
c.-meequently none is going into stook Taken elto-
gether, however, the prospect of this department of
the trade is not very encouraging, and prices con-
tinue to afford little profit to the smelters. Outside
brands were somewhat kept out of the mark “t by
reason of the lower values of district iron. In the
coal trade busi • ness was confined principally to manu-
facturing fuel, which does not secure enclien.!ecl
rates.

BIRMINGHAM Thursday.
On 'Change to.day there was a somewhat more
animated and cheerful tone, caused mainly by the
favourable weather which is stimulating the home
demand. The chief feature of the market was the
fact though prices did not show any appreciable
recovery, the declining movement has been arrested,
and increased steadiness has resulted. Marked bars
were firm at £7 10s, aud manufacturers reported
that orders are coming in more freely, especial,y for
Vic best brands of rivet, horse shoe, and shipbuild-
ing iron. Theidemand for !sheets, though compara '
tively small, as compared with the ordinary average
for the past twelve months, an improvement on the
average for January. Manufacturers of unmarked
iron still have a fair number 91 contracts in hand,
but specifications are comiag in very slowly, neces-
sitating a diminution of working time at some of the
es V4blisnments. The pig-iron department was
quit. but prices wera tolerably firm. All mine pig
rt alised £3 5s fir hot air, and £4 to £4 54 for cold
blast, but the inquiry was very small. Partnime
and cinder pig and Northampton pig, however, were
lin good request at late rates.

Jaunt k 4'PERFECT,Eu' OD LIVIBIL OIL I
"Is as nearly tasrles, as Cod Ltver OI csa 'wet I
"No nauseous ero lain as follow." Medic:3 Press :
cld every xhere in csuled bittles only
Tongs k' isiv.iiiab•• in 1 aCi4i /,ca
Zr, sof soceft4 is pawl roJis Vi ell %Indio