The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-19 00:00:00

THE STOVRI3RIPOE OBSERVER.

-f:Tin Mr. Green to read th-i followind letter, vilich kid
been received from Dr. St ire, of HAlesowen, the I
man of the present Gas Compnny :
"Townahend House, Halesowen,
"11th November, 1870.
: "Deer Sir,—l beg to report to you, for the informa-
tion of the Gas Consumers' Committee, that the Direr.
tore of the Cradley Heath Gas Company, at their meet-
ing, on Tuesday last, passed the following resolution
"That the Gas Consumers' Committee be informed that
the Directors are willing to reduce the price of gas after
the 31st day of December next, to the following scale,
namely, under 10,000 feet, 4s per 1,000 feet; from 10,000
to 50,000, 3,6 per 1,000; above 10,000, 3;- per 1,000,
provided the Gas Consumers' Committee signify their
acceptance of this offer, on or before the first thiy of
December next.
" You will perceive that the Directors have not only
reduced the price of gas, but likewise the number of
scales, which I trust will be satisfactiry.
" I am, dear sir,
" Yours truly,
" EDWARD MOORE,
"Chairman.

" To Mr. W. H. Nock, Secretary to the
teas Consumers Committee.
The Chairman said they had heard • letter read. Ile
was one of the largest shareholders in their own coup
pany, and it did not satisfy him as it may some of the
smaller consumers; but he did not care so much for bin.
Kell as he did for the smaller consumers. He did not
consider it right that it should rest like that. Mr.
Oreen had • proposition to make to the meeting. He
did not know any one in the place who consumed more
than 20,000 feet.
Mr. Homer said there was one firm that took mince
than 20,000 feet, and that was the British Iron Com-
pany.
Mr. G. Omen said the Committee would not like to
do anything, before they heard what the gas eoustuners
thought of the matter.
nr. Burley said the Directors had done just what he
told them they would do. He said they would Aer fid
reduction, and they bad done so.
Mr. Homer said he thought it would be better for those
present to discuss the thing, and try to do something.
The Chairman called the attention of the meeting to
the sth clause ..f the Act, which is to empower the com-
pany to manufacture, purchase, or hire gas meters, tit.
tinge, and other gas apparatus. Rents and charges for
tile sale and supply of gas and gm meters, and fittings,
and other apparatus, and if need be to alter the existing
rates, rents, and charges. From that ho thought they
would be able to charge what they
Mr. Homer said it was not the first meeting they lviii
had in reference to the price of gins, and the C.1101111111•rel
were well aware of tine project of their previous Duet-
tugs ; with wlmt they proposed doing in reference to
forming a new compaily ; and he was very well aware
that a committee appointed by the meeting had had en
interview with the directors. The latter had acted in a
very unjust manner. Advertisement had appeared in
papers. He thought if they had bested them in ono
move, they ought to endeavour to check them, and not
take any further notice of them. He did not like to my
anything about anybody at all. He could not say mei-
Oleg about what those gentlemen would promise in fu-
ture. If a man promised him one thing and did another,
he could not believe him any more. They knew that the
directors had taken a very unjust and undue advantage
over them. They thought they could not move inure
than they hail done for another year. He hoped those
present would look well into the matter and discuss it,
before they heard what their own committee had done
on the previous night. He did not like to be laughed at
if he had not got any money. ifs man is a little trades.
man and pays but little for his gas, Inc thought he had •
perfect right to speak on the subject. They were all dis-
satisfied with the price of gas, and had shown their di.
satisfaction by holding meetings. The Gins Company
had told them they could not reduce the price of gas, but
they had asked them to wait some time. They had pro-
mised to reduce the gas from 4s 6d to 44 per thousand
feet. From 1,000 to 10,000 feet they reduced it 6d, and
from 10,000 to 20,000 lid, and above 20,000 they do not
reduce it anything. According to that the large consu•
mers would not get any reduction. He did not believe
there was a consumer in the district who would feel sat-
isfied with it. He was not satisfied, and ahould object to
it to the very last. It was not fair or respectful ..f them
to expect it. They ought to do everything they could to
prevent the company obtaining any undue or unjust ad-
vantage over them—(hear, hear).
Mr. Brazier said what be was about to say he should
say as a private consumer, and not as a member of the
committee. He was dissatisfied with the reduction, and
he would my as he had mid before he should not be sat-
billed unless they had Is. The tins Company say they
cannot tanks the gas at that price. There are no shares
to be sold, and the last that were sold fetched £3O.
That being the case, he did not believe they could not
afford to make tLe gas at ls reduction. He thought it
would be belt* for them to stick to it than expect any-
thing else in a year or two. Me concluded by saying it
would be best thing they could do to stick to it until they
got the Is reduction.
Mr. Burley: It ought to be la 6d. He told them it
would be 6d, and it was au. If they had asked for a re•
duction if Is lid they might have given them la—ilaugh•

ter).
The Chairman said if no one else had anything to Bay
he should call on Mr. G. Green, who would read to then
what transpired at the Committee meeting on the previ-
ous evening.
Mr. Woodhouse eaid he would rather hear another
speaker than speak himself. He considered, as Mr.
Homer had stated that the reduction was not fair to the
consumers. They any they cannot reduce it more than
64 per thousand. If they took into consideration the
stock and the capital, they would not believe that they
had spent £4,000 and valued the gas wotke at 1:12,000.
That being the case, the Gas Company had got a capital
out of the consumers of £B,OOO. They are now going
in for an Act of Parliament, which he believed would
cost about £6OO. Why not reduce the gas 3d more, in-
stead of spending the money in law !
The Chairman : One of the directors wiehed that.
Mr. Woodhouee said be was not eatiefied with the re.
duction of lid. Ile should be if they reduced it Is. 11
they got an dot of Parliament the consumers would have
to pay the 10 per cent, on the capital. He did not con-
sider they ought to get the 10 per cent. on the capital
they have laid out. lie considered it would be anything
but fair if they hid five per cent. He thought if • depu-
tation waited upon the direetore the affair might be set-
tled without any bother—fcheers),
Mr. Burley : If they do not give no a further reduction
in price, they might take off the meter rent.
Mr. Homer: And five per cent for cash—(laughter).
Mr. G. Green then ruse and said they load heard whet
the previous speakers had maid in reference to the dime.
tors. He did not consider they had taken any undue ad-
vantage over them. If they themselves had found it
better to apply for an Act of Parliament they could have
done no, and they could not blame them for taking the
, legal right they had to protect themselves. The Com•
unttee was called together on Monday night to consider
what was to be done. He contended that it was useless
to establish a new gits works. It would neither be of
I use to them, nor to the present company; but would be
ruinous to both. It would not look well in the House of
Parliament against a company of gentlemen, and a corn.
pony that has been established for no long a time. He
read over the following resolutions that were passed at
the committee meeting on the previous night, and which
he would submit for their consideration :—let. Proposed
by Mr. Tibbetts, and seconded, that the Gas Company
be asked to reduce the price of gas to the following scale.
Up to 10,000 38 9d per thousand; from 10,000 to 20.000
3s 6,1 per thousand; from 20,000 to 50,000 34 3d. 2nd.
That the gas committee will give up their attempt to
establish another works, hoping that the present corn.
pally will give them an opportunity to organise • Limited
Consumers Company to buy their works at a fair valua-
tion, and to save the expense of an Act of Parliament.
3rd. That the consumers of gas be reminded to increase
the money now in the hands of the treasurer, and give
power to the Committee to consult • lawyer, as to their
position.—ln the coarse of some further remarks the
speaker said if the people living in the shops had to pay
Is per thousand more for the ass, it would be deprecist•
ing the value of the property in the district, and if any
One came into the place he could not afford to pay so
much for gas and rent. They may appeal to all the con.
sealers in Gridley Heath, Cradley, and Old Hill, to come
to them and endeavour to prevent the directors from get-
ting an Act of Parliament that would be injurious to
them—(hee?, hear). If the eonsuniers backed them up
the directors could not obtain any position over them.
If they had all the consumers with them they might ask
the directors to reduce the price 34 more, or if not sell
them their works at a fair price. If they refused to re-
duce the price or sell them the works they would be in
the odious position that they retailed to sell the little
consumers then works. He thought it would be advia-
able to obtain some information in reference to the law
relating to an Act of Parliament. They hail already 35n
in hand, and if they had £5 in hand he thought that
would be sufficient to engage a lawyer, and obtain his
opinion on the subject. The question for them to con.
eider was whether a copy of the reeolutions„should be
sent to the directors: and he concluded by hoping that
if any terms were held out to them they would be satis-
factory to all.
Mr. Homer said he did not like to occupy the time of
the meeting, but Ise liked them to view the matter in the
right light. He could not agree to the statements made
by Mr. Green in reference to the conduct of the direc-
tors. They had got over them in a very underhand
manner—(hear, hear). They were as slippery as eels,
and if they did not respect the consumers they must
respect themselves. When the directors saw what steps
they were about to take they got them to stand still fir
some time. They must do all they could to prevent them
from applying for an Act of Parliament. They would
be bested by the directors in their unjuet demised. which
they were sorry to make upon them, in reference to the
advertivement of the Act of Parliament. It was a moral
impossibility for sky one to purchase a share in the One
Company until one of the directors dies. The shares
are sold at £3O instead of £lO. He wished from his
heart that the directory should know that they should
not be satisfied with the reduction they offered. He did
not think any one present was satisfied with the offer.
Mr. Burley said he should propose that every one pre.
sent put 10s down, and have the gas cut off until the
directors should accede to their requisitions, and those
who did not agree to that should lose their 10s, and those
who did pay should reap the benefit.
Mr. Brazier said, as a private consumer he was diesel-
Wed with the proposition the directors had made. He
should not ha satisfied until they got the Is reduction.
He did not think they could do better than that which
was proposed at the Committee meeting on Monday
night, and if they would not reduce the price of gas ltd
more, they should be asked the material value of the
works.
Mr. Ct. Green said he did not think it worth while do-
ing anything else. The battle would have to be fought
over again in getting the Act of Parliament. It was no
use bothering about it. If the directors did not accede
to their terms they should be asked to sell the works.
Kr. Burley said it was a one-aided affair.
Mr. Homer thought Mr. Burley was wrong. He did
not believe there was a single consumer in the place that
was not of the same opinion then, as he was • month
Mr. Woodhouse coincided with Mr. Homer, and pro.
posed that the resolutions that had been read over to the
meeting that evening be moopted.