The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-03-07 00:00:00

OBSERVER.

RAILWAY RATES AND CHARGES.

MEETING AT KIDDERMINSTER.

i.
A meeting, convened by the Mayor, w 's hciti
he Town Hall, Kidderminster, on Monday eight
.or the purpose of taking into consideration ths
Railway Rates and Charges Bills proposed sliorti
to be introduced in Parliament, and to organise
:fleasures for opposing the same, as being highly
njurious to the interests of the trade of the
Affough : and for that purpose to pass such resolu-
tions as may be deemed necessary. The Mayor
(Alderman W. Green) presided. The attendance
was small. Mr. J. Donald Kemp‘on, Chairman
and Mr. Impey, secretary of the Birmingham and
District Rsilwsy Rates Association, were also pre.
sent.
The Mayor said he thought they should have
had a inui,h larger attendance to discuss a question
of that character, as it was one affecing persons
all positions. The Corporation and Chamber of
Commerce had already petitioned against the rail-
way companies' bills. The rates for all go, ds sent
from Kidderminster were much too high, an()
should be reduced instead of raised, and the desire
for adopting excessive terminal eh ,rges sht uld not
( xist at al'. He sleeved that in the one article of
jute alon. the rates for carriage had in the last
few year., been raised tros 35s to 45s rer ton, and
also pointed out other matters in weich railway
charges pree,sed peculiarly heavily on Kiddeiminster
. manufacturers.
Mr. Tomkinson moved 'That this meeting
learns with alarm that the Railway Rates and
Charges Bills, which aim at advanced transport
rates and legislation resardirg terminal elarges,
may be read a second time in the COU1:83 of a few
days ; that the meeting is of opinion that these
bills are unjust, and opposed to the interest of
traders and the public." He said that if those
bills were allowed to become law the railway com-
pany would have power to increase the rates for
carriage in Kidderminster 50 pe- cent., as well as
to charge whatever they liked for terminal charges.
Ile pointed out several anomalies in the present
I system, and showed that Kidderminster was very
I unfavourably situated in regard to the charges for
the carriage of goods at the pre •ent time.
Mr. T. S. Bucknall seconded the resolution,
which was supported by Mr. Ketnpson, who pointed
out that in the matter of terminal charges alone
the railway compaaies would have power to im-
pose rates of am indefinite character, such as must
.act most prejudicially to the interests of the trad-
ing community of this country.
• The resolution was carried.
Mr. J. H. Pearse moved, "That this mee'ing
desires to record its opinion that the trade in this
town and district has long and most seriously
suffered from exorbitant rates, and declares that
their contiauance, and especially their increase by
highest maximums and added 'terminals, will
operate most disastrously upon all classes, but
especially upon the trade sf the town and district."
This was also seconded and carried, as was also
farther resolution pledging the meting to organise
the most determined opposition t ) the further pro-
gress of those bills.
Amongst the other speakers were Mr. Bytheway
and Mr. Herring.

Votes of thanks to Messrs. Kompson aid Impey
and to the Mayor terininated the proceedings.

11,\LP]OWEN.

IMPORraNT SANITARY PROSECUTION.—At the
Public Office on Tuesday, before Messrs. F. D.
Lea Sadth, E 'ward Gem and ii. T. Hickman (rang.
strates), the iiev. C. C. Nation and Dr. H. R. Ker,
the managers of the Parish Church National School
were etriamoned at the instance of the Scourbridge
Urban Sanitary Authority for allawing a nuisance
te exist on the school promises.—Mr. Wall, who
ippeare Ito prosecut,, stated that it had been
ottrid nicessary to in-titute proceedings in con-
sequence of sewage matter having been allowed to
leave t, e water closets at the schools and to pass
on to thr contriburories of the river Stour, thus
causing the stream to be policed—Mr. Henry
Eveson. the inspector of nuisances, and Dr
Turner, the m-AiLal officer, said the closets were
in a clean state, but the nightsoil was allowed
to go into the contributories ti the river.— The de-
fendants coatended that as the evidence for the
ptoseeutien showed that there was no nuisance on
the sc.,tmol premises the magistrates could not con-
viet.—The Brneh held, after a loog argument, that
cle objection ravel by the defendants was a valid
tm-, and disidssed the cast". - On the application of
Ur, Wall th, Bench granted a case to enable him
to appeal if necessitry.
ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.--john Smith (29),
described as it plualbox, residing at Cardiff, was
,hared with obtaining wrought nails by nieana of
false pretences from Charles Hodgkins and Messrs
Hackett Brothers, nail and chain manufacturers,
Elaleaawen.—On the application of Mr. Wall, of
Stourbridge, who defended, the prisoner was re.
tnanded until Saturday..
THE CYCLISTS AND THE STATE OF THS ROADS.—
Cares Vincent and Horace Foley McDonald, sur-
veyars of kVarley and Ridgacre respectively, were
summoned at the instance of the National Cyclists'
Association and the Cyclists' Touring Club, for fail-
ing to ke -p the highways in proptr repair —Mr.
Jenkyne Br pwa (Birrainghatn), who appoarad for
the prosecution,said tha• as &ace the ease was last
~,fore the Bench, the surveyors had shown a will-

ingness to do what was roquired by spen.iing a sum
ot ,2170 oil the roads, to piosecutio were willing
Lo low the easy to be further adjourned 0.1 cud-
iition that the surveyors paid to c )sts and entere I
into an arrangement to carry_ out the necessary
work as quickly as they could. The defen,lants gave
the required promises and the case was adjourned
sinetlie Oil Rtyrnmt of ZI ss. costs.