The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-18 00:00:00

iiiE STOURBEIDGE OBSERVER.

fair inquiry at late rams. A meeting of the Con.
Trade Committee was held at tho Queen's Het4
to—day, when the accounts in regatl to the subsid-
iary fund of the cllliere were wound up, It Iv,:
stated that the demand for coal continues slack,
and that there is not employment at the pits for the •
whole of the men. .

THE LOttbEi AND THE IT'
MEETING AT BRitatLEY HILL.

On Monday night a largely-attended -public
moo ing iii supiort of the agitation for the passing
oF the Feanchiee Bid was held in the Town Hall,
Brierley Hill, Dr. Beddington presided, and he
was supported by Alderman Powell Williams
(B rmingham), Mr. j. W. Clulow, Mr. Thomas
Billing, Mr. John Addison, Mr. G. Green, Mr.
Shepherd, Btc. In opening the meeting Dr. Bod-
dingten pointed out the inconsistency of irresponsibl
legislators. Mr. John Addison read a letter which
had been r ceived from Mr. H. B. Sheridan, M.P.,
reerst`i-g his absence, ovieg to an 'accident he had
m4with-on the railway. He [reminded his con-
sti uents that-he supported the Government, last
Si ation in t% eir great and patriotic effort to pass the
bill, and he regretted with them that the House of
Lords bad rejected the measure. ("Hear, hear,"
and applause.) He should feel it his duty to stand
by and support Mr. Gladst..ne—(applause)—in the
coning session, to give expressi n to the clearly ex-
pr ssed wishes of the people. Further, he should
he prepared to support the Gevernment in any
curse they might think expedient to curb and
control 143' constitutional means the power now
held by some 200 members of the House of Lords.
( tpplause.) The-House of Lords was against the
franchise, as it I ad been opposed to every measure
of social and religions reform. ("Hear, hear;" it.nd
applause.) Mr. Sheridan in the latter part of his
lengthy letter, said they might fairiy try to obtain
two mombere fur the borough, which was close upon
the 100,000 limit suggetted. The Government
must secure the Franchise Bill before dealing with
redistributh n, and a disso'ution on the question
was not necessary; but if the Government had to
go to the country it should be on the question that
tte power of the L ,rds to veto bills which had
passed the House of Commons by overwhelming
majorities was mischievous and dangerous to the
best interests of the nation. (Applause).
Mr. J. W. Clulow moved a resohrion Affirming
that the Government had exercised awise discretion
in dealing with the extension of the franchise alone,
and calling upon Parliament to pass it, and follow
up the same with such a measure of redistribution
as shall ensure the full and equal representation of
the people. (Applause). The speaker said the
question of reform had been three times defeated
by the House of Lords on the question of redist ibu-
tion, and they had brought the nation to the verge
of revolution. They would do so again if Lord
Salisbury continued to dictate to the House of
Commons. (Applause.) .
Mr. G. Green seconded the resolution, and ex-
pressed his belieflhat household suffrage in the
counties would give the. labourers the same poe r
over their members as artisans had in towns.
(Applause.)
Ald, iman Williams, who was received with loud
applau-e supported the resolution. He said the
present measure was the greatest effort of reform
offered to the people since 1832, and in a humourous
manner he enquired who was to blame for its non
reeep ion. The Turks" said it was not thtir fault for
they loved the franchise. (Laughter.) The House
of Commons was elected to do the work of reform
and the House of Lords declined to allow it tr;
carry out the will of the people. ("Shame.") The
speaker then referred to some of the inconsistencies
in the speeches of Lord Rando:ph Churchill pow
aret four or five years ago, and his comments were
greatly applauded. Be held that the House of
Lords was already frightened at the aspect of the
contest into which Lord Salisbury had dragged
them. ("Down with them.") The suggrstion for
a fair Redistribution Bill with the Franahise Bill
was simply a manoeuvre to enable the Tory party
to wear out time until they had some faint chance
of being returned to power. (Oh, oh, and shame,)
On the other hand, the Liberal Government desired
a fair, just, and equitable opportunity for men to
exercise their electoral privileges. (Applause.)
And it was because the Tories wanted something
different that they stopped the bill by a fal,e pre-
tence. Compromise had been spoken of, but he
hoped with a House of Lords compromise would
not be thougEt of. Their great and irresponsible
power must be broken, and must fall. (Loud and
continued applause.) The resolution was then
cairied unanimously, with much cheering.
Mr. Billing moved a resolution to the effect that,
considering the systematics opposition of the House
of Lords to all progressive and ameliorative legis-
lotion its power ought to be curtailed.
Mr. John Addison seconded this proposition, and
It was carried applause.
The Rev. W. B. Bliss proposedavote of confidence
in her Majesty's Government for having, in the
midst of difficulties inherited from their predecessors
and created by an obstructive opposition, consistently
carried out at home and abroad a policy based on
wise, progrf salve, and patricide principles:
Mr. G. Husselbee seconded the resolution, which
was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded an
enthusiastio meeting.