The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-13 00:00:00

THE 'STOU3RIDGE OIAggRVER.

realising the rates which hitherto have been THE PROPOSED • " REu-TTLATION "
obtained for list iron. In [some instances as OF CLENT HILLS.
much as £8 lOs has been realised for un-
Throughout the Midlands there is perhaps no marked bars, being lOs above marked bar
place of popular resort" better entiVed to the
quotations. Nail rods were in great demand, •
name than that part of the watershed of Central
both for home and export, and prices have
England known as Clent Hills. Situated just
risen nearly fifty per cent. within the past where the boundaries of Staffordshire, Worcester-
three mcnths, lOs per ton net cash, short ' shire, and Shropshire meet, overlooking the now
weight, being obtained at the works. West classic" groves" of Hagley Park, and within con-
ven. ient access by road or rail of some of the most
Coast hematites were quoted about lOs
th ckly populated and grimy of the Black Country
declining than last week, makers declinin to
towns, it is not surprising that year after year
sell under ,E 5 per ton. Manufacturers of should see the shadows of its thousands of visitors
cut nails are so pressed with orders that they growing
have closed their books, and will only supply tug that "still they come?' It boasts nothing of
gigantic mountains rough with crags," of b-Oete
where to refuse would give offence to 0 ling precipices, peaks of splintered granite or the
ers. Ordinary cut nails are fetching £ll 'other glories which go to make up the most ap-
' per ton, being an advance of £2 upon last proved Alpine scenery ; but in place of such savage
grandeur it offers to those black-visaged and horny
qnarter-day rates. The Cannock Chase col- ,
• handed sons of toil who ply their picks and shingles
Hers have broken the Birmingham agree-
within sight of its rounded crest a free common
ment which has reemlated the wages in the
0 ground whei e they may inhale an occasional
coal trade for several years past by giving draught of pure air, and a coign of vantage whence
notice on Saturday last at two or three pits I they may obtiiin the amplest rango of such unob-
in that district for an advance of 20 per structecl prospect as is afforded by some of the most
picturesque of English scenery, with their own
cent. in wages. A conference of colliery
smoky chimneys and hideous coal-mounds far in
as mters and deleffates of the men was held the
dim perspective. In such a month as the pre-
this afternoon in Birmingham, under the sent, when a mantle of frozen snow veils what
little of the earth is not hidden by the mists, there
presidency of Mr. G. H. Bolam, to discuss
is not much of the romantic in Clentine views; but
the terms of the men. It was pointed out
on a clear day in summer a glass will bring within
on behalf of the employers that the rate of
range the hills of Warwickshire, Leicestershire,
; wages was governed by the price of coal, and I Shropshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and even
! that the men were departing from the Bir- of North and South Wales. These are the attrao-
mingham agreement by giving notice for an tions which, combined with nearly 200 acres of
mossy turf sprinkled with foxglove and yellow
advance in wages before coal had been raised.
gorse, bring every week to the hills crowds of
The men were advised that their proper rollicking people from all parts of the surrounding
course to pursue was to give the requisite
,Contrary o efashion o
undulatory country. t the f
six months notice for a revision of the ar- insignificant watering places, Clent has no "season;"
rangemen.t. On their part the employers its flood of visitors is in no particular month, but is
expressed their intention to maintain the ex- regulated by the occarence of such periods as
Sundays, highdays, and holidays, indiscriminately.
isting arrangement. Within the last week or -two a great cry has
arisen amongst the psople within visiting radius of
the hills against what is loudly declared to be their
contemplated enclosure by the landholders who
possess the commonable rights. No sooner was it
known that application was about to be made to the
Inclosure Commissioners for England and Wales,
ur der the provisions of the Inclosure Acts, 1845 to
1878, for a" Provisional Order for the Regulations
of Clent Hill Common," than people's representa-
tives everywhere in the neighbouthood immediately
posed as defenders of the people's rights, denuncia-
tions ad fib, were hurled upon the heads of those
who should dare to attempt their curtailment by so
Innen as an iota. The protests were no doubt all
very satisfactory, and there is certainly no doubt
that in those days of encroachment the undisputed
rights of the populace in respect to any common
whatever cannot be two jealously guarded. In the
present instance, however, the denunciations seem
to have been a little premAure, taking into account
the fact that the scheme was the spontaneous act
of the peoele directly interested in the land pro-
posed to be " regulated,"lthat the necessary legal
provisions as to giving notice to all public authori-
ties within six miles radius had been observed, and
that the proper time for urging objections or support
is when an inquiry for that purpose shall be held
by the Commissioner under elovernment. The
general apprehension seems to be that " regulatio"
and " incic sure" are convertible terms, or that
though the first may be the thin end of the wedge
the other will come behind. Tnis, however, is
asserted to be an entire fallacy. What is sought
vin, if obtained, be the most effectual means of
pre erring the privileges of the people. At present
the common is practically a "No Man's Land,"
where disorder may run riot unchecked. The police
are apparently in doubt whether they can interfere
in th 3 name of. the law when offenc.s are being
committed under their eyes, upon the privileged
ground of the common. It is also a fact that this
ground itself is being gradually lessened by the en-
croachments of persons whose title rests in the
maxim that possession is nine point's of the law.
Under these circumstances it was thought by
some of the landowners—who wished that
instead of being confined to the antics of law-
less roughs, the privileges of the common
should be available to people of order and re-
spectability. and that these privileges should be
increased in value—that it would be advi-able to
apply for power to "regulate" the land under the
provisions of the Commons Act of 1876, by which
a Board of Conservators should be appointed to
keep it in order according to salutary bye-laws, and
to improve and beautify it for the benefit and free
use of the public. The bye-laws will be nothing
more harmful than rules whereby penalties wil be
made to attach to such acts as the cutting of turf,
injury of trees, fighting (now frequent) and other
like offences against the public weal. On parts of
the land trees would be planted, walks laid out,
seats provided, and such other improvements
effected as would conduce to the beauty and enjoy-
ableness of the common as a place of resert. A
functionary of the character of a "park ranger"
would be employed to act as a care-taker or police-
man upon the hill; and the laud would, in brief,
be made amenable to regulation such as no respect-
able or orderly-loving member of the community
could object to. Of course all these works could
not be done without funds. To provide them it is
proposed that twelve acres of land shall be sold, and
the proceeds invested to defray the expense of im-
provement.? or of acts of preservation, and of the
maintenance of a care-taker. Much astute criticism
has been bestowed upon the last proposal, and
various wise suggestions have been made as to !ts
impoit; but on examination it turns out to be a
very innocent matter after all. Twelve acres out
of 171 will surely not enormously curtail the peoples'
advantages in the land; and seeing. that all the
money realised would be spent for the public good,
in beautifying or taking care of the public's own
property, there does net seem to be anything
peculiarly flagitious in such a trivial encroachment.
_Further encroachments by individuals would of
course be strictly guarded against, for it would re-
. quire a special Act of Parliament to dispose of any
of the land devoted in the first instance to the
public use.
The resolve to apply to the Inclosure Commis-
sioners was made at a meeting of the landholders
of Clent, held about a month ago, under the pre-
sidency of the vicar, and convened by circular and
notice. At this meeting there was no opposition
to the proposal. The application having been sent
to the Commissioners; they had put to the applicants
a series of questions as to designs, the replies to
which embody what is stated above in regard to
proposals. Should the Inclosuse Commissioners
consider the CAN so far satisfactory, they will send
down an Assboant Commissioner to hold two
inquiries, at which evidence for or aga'irst the
scheme will be taken. The Dudley Town Council,
Rowley Local Board, Stourbridge Conamissieners,
and other public bodies within six mile, of the
common have been ooannttnicated with, and will be
competent ti send representatives to either of the
meetings. The Assistant Commissioner having
n ade his report, the luclosure Commissioners will
then issue a draft order, which draft will be sent
down t eClent and inspected by all the people whe
have any interest in the matter, and who may raise
any objection; but the order is not made by the
Inclosure Commissioners, or sanc'ioned by Parlia-
ment, until it has been approved by two-thirds in
value of the landowncrs in the parish. It is ex-
pected that the inquiries will be held in the latter
part of January next.

THE WROUGHT NAIL TRADE.

PROPOSED BOARD OF CONCILIATION.

On Thurt sday afternoon a meeting of the wrought
nail makers was held at the Grand Hotel, Birming-
ham, to cotsider the advisability of establishing a
Board of Conciliation for the'settlement of disputes
in the trade. The meeting was of a thoroughly re•
presentative character. Mr. Joseph Russell presided
and there were present Messrs. Williams (Halesowen)
C. Homes (Halesowf.n), Laughton (Bromsgrove),
Thoma, Perry (B:omsgrove, Coley (Halesowen) R.
and G. Green (Messrs. Eliza Tinsley and Co), Lloyd,
(Messrs. Jones and Lloyd, of Cradley and Birming-
ham), Perry (Messrs. Perry and Brooks, of Lye),
Parish (Halesowen), &e,
i After some discussion,t was proposed by Mr.
' Laughton, seconded by Mr. Perry. and unanimously
resolved :—" That we hereby resolve that in future
we will try to setlle our wages disputes with our
workpeople through a Board of Conciliation and
Arbitration."
It was next resolved, r.n the proposition of Mr.
Lloyd, seconded by Mr. Green, "That twelve of the
nail trade be elected by this meeting to bring our
resolution before the leaders of the workpeople, and,
if possible; to establish such a Board."
The Committee were elected as follows :—Messrs.
Ball, Russell, Lloyd, Perry, Homes, Holt, Bloomer,
G. Green, Laughton, Hadley-, Perry, and Sceoxton.
Letter-, containing apologies for non-attendance
and expressions approving of the object of the meet-
iog, were received from Messrs. S. Lewis and Co.
(Dudley), T. Pittaway (Blackheath), Enoch Hadley
and Co. (Bromsgrove), and Guest and Co. (hales.
Owen).

ANOT HER DISPUTE IN THE RIVET TRADE.

During the late dispute rn the rivet trade the
operatives supplied the masters with a list showing
their demands by way of an adva4tee. They asked
for about 15 per cent. upon the then existing prices
of all work. Owing to some misunderstanding, how-
ever, it is stated, the price asked for gasometer
rivets is not being paid—that instead of 9s per cwt.
being paid for the work the men are ouly receiving

8s per cwt. This difficulty has arisen by Ow operative
section of the trade not being sufficiently precise in
the form of their demands made during the strike.
It is intended that a deputation shall be appointed
to confer with the masters in reference to the matte!,
and it is believed that the dispute will be satisfac-
torily settled without a strike. The ques ion affects
Halesswen, Old Hill, and Blackheath.