The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-01-10 00:00:00

I
!-,oft aith- •

PROPOSED DIVISION OF S rOCRBRIDGE

ITNION.

IMPOR CA :r ENQUIRY.

Mr. Longe, Local Governtnent Inspector, at-
tended at the Bonrd Room of the -tourbridge
Unien, at Kingswinford, on Tuesday, to hold an
enquiry touching the proposal for a division of the
Uni: n. Tile resolutions passed by the Guardians
were in favour of the severance of the Stafford-
sfiire ar d Worcestershire portions of the Union,
and their cce.stitntion as separate Unions. There
was a large attendance at the court of enquiry.
The Commissioner read the resolutions passed ty
the Guardians regarding the division of the Union,
and said it was for those ~entlemen who wished
the alterations to explain their reasons for it.
Mr, P. Pargeter said the resolutions were based
upon returns presented to the Bo ird, showing the
vast increase of population and rateable value since
the formation of the Union, and upon the fact that
such largely-increased duties were thrown on the
Guardians by the Sanitary and Education Acts.
In 1836 the population of the Staffordshire portion
of the Union was 16 399. and ntivr it was 38,575,
and the rateable %alit • had increa,.ed from £1,061.
to £iio.3s. Tie W..rcestershire district of the
Union had a mutation of 19,519 in 1836, and no
of 41,018, while the rateable value had increased
from ..t4,27S to £107,400 The increaftt of pauper-
ism had been heavy during the period, and also the
increase of expenditure.
The Commissioner said it was still a moderate-
sized union compared with many other unions
around. There was Dudley, fur instanne.
Mr. Pargeter snid !hero w.s the que-tion of the I
size of the workhouse. If there was fl) division of I
the union there would have to be a new workhouse,
hnt if the division to place the present workhouse
would be sufficient for Staffordshire, and a smaller
workhouse would suffice for Worcestershire. Time
sanitliry work of the Bard was very great, and re-
quired great attention.
The commi,eioner said in unions where Guardians
had fortnightiy meetings, they hadan intermediate
meeting in do the sanitary and educational work of
the district, lie did not think there was sufficient
alleged to give ground for acCon, though there
was for enquiry. The grounds Mr. Pargeter alleged
seemed to apply to every union in the kingdom.
The question of economy eame in.
Mr. Pargeter sit d the increased cost brought
about by having two separate staffs would be C inn-
pensated by greater efficiency.
The Commissioner said it they compared the
general expenditure of different unions, could they
find any more economical than that was already?
Mr. Pargeter said he had not figures on the point,
but he took it from the Commissioner's obse•va-
tions that there was not any union where the ex-
penditure was proportionately less. He regarded
that as complimentary to the Stourbridge Board
of Guardians, and it showed they had endeavoured
to do the work economically. Mr. Raybould
(chairman of the Board) : I believe we are one of
the moat econonical unions in the country.
The Commissioner : I believe the figures will
bear you out. That does not affect the point of
administration.
Mr. 31. Rollinson said the Commissioner had
spoken of Dudley as a larger union, but the
Guardians there had no solitary matters to look
after, while in Stourbridge Union there were only
three places with urban sanitary authorities, and all
the rest of the union had to be looked after by the
Guardians as regarded sanitary matters. He aug-
gestA would be better to divide the union, and
have two sets of officers to attend to sanitary
mattelS.
The Commissioner asked if Mr. Rollinson
, thought sinitary matters ground for having a new
workhouse and a new staff?
Rollinson said they should have to build a
new w•ekhouse or divide the union. It would be
an injustice to Staffordshire ratepayers to force
them to build a costly work bonse when they had
, one-already, while it would he no injustice to
Worcestershire to divide the union, as in' that ease
_ _

thy would only have to provide about the same
for a workhouse for themselves as they would have
to pay for half the cost of a workhouse for the
whole union. . _ .

A question being raised as to the outlay on the
existing workliou-e:the Clerk lead a memorandum
showing the churchwardens and overseers of
Kit.gsNinford would drive the exclusive advantage
from th-! additions and improvements made to the
wurkhouse since the construction of the union.
The Commissioners said the sanitary question

was undoubtedly an important one, but he could
not think that anyone would suppose the poor law
question was to follow the sanitary one.
Mr. Haskew said the sanitary work of the union
was an important and growing work, but he failed
to see why the Sanitary Committee should not de
wee more time to the work. It did not appear an
argument for the division of the union, Be could
not support a division of the union till; he saw a
better case made out for it than there was at present.
He could not for a moment believe two unions
could be carried on as economically as one, or more
efficiently than the present one had been.
Mr. Raybould said he oppoeed the resolutions
for a division of the union, and he still believed
there was no case made out for it. lie was waiting
to sec what the County Government Bill would
propose, and it was desirable to wait till that
measure was before them before they took any step
of the kind now proposed. As for now building
for the in-door paupers, they had six or seven acres
on which they could build anything they needed.
Mr. Thompson said the present house only ought
'ta contain 410 inmates, but: there was 560 in it at
pr. sent. They nad had plans made Loin time to
time which the Local Government Boird wauld
not sanction, and if it was inevitable that there
should be a new house it would be better to divide
the union.
Mr. 11.11 said he thought the great grievance on
the Worcestershire side was that the more they
built the more they put on other people's laud.
The Commissioner said by having two unions
and two workhouses they might be getting out of
the frying-pan into the fire.
Mr. H. Billitigham urged that it was desirable to
wait for the County Government Bill before they
took any step.
Mr. W. Matthews, as representing Lord Lyttel-
ton. called attention to the inconvenient arrange-
ments of the Helesowen district in being situate
within three separate un o s. Stourbridge. Broma-
grove, and West Bromwich. He suggested there
rnioht be a separate union for the Halesowen
district, and said there had been a preposition made
th t Rowley (now in Dudley union) should be
united with it, All he advocated was that Hales-
owen should form the centre of a new union.
Mr. Jeston Homfray said he represented the
New British Iron Company, who had the largest
works in Staffordshire, and who paid as much as
.tBOO in a single rate. He was there to advocate
that Rowley should be joined to Halesowen, and
made a separate union.
The Commissioner said they would h \re to pay
much more rates then. If there was another union,
it meant more officers, more clerks, more workhouse
offici ils.

Mr. F. D. Lea-Smith suggested that liunnington
and Rowley should be put into whatever
lialesoweu might fore part of. At present they
were in Bromsgrove Union, and this was an in-
convenience to the residents. He agreed, however,
that it was desirable no step should be taken till
•he County Government Bill was brought for -
ward. _ _

_
Mr. W. B. Collis depreciated any hasty action,
and also thought they should await the County
Government Bid.

The Commisoioner incidentally remarked that if
they asked him for his opinion on the point, it
appeared quite contrary to the principles upon
which the Local Government Board acted and
Parliament acted to join Rowley to Halesowen.
He thought it extremely likely that the Local
Government Board might propose to them to build
schools for the children, and by removing them
from where they now were to find increased room
for the other inmates. There was no doubt more
money wculd be spent and that more pert/men,
officers would be required if t'Jejs• divi,ied the unioni.
If more attention wah required to be given to
sanitary matters it might be secured by forming
local boirds

The enquiry terminated with a vote or thanks to
the Comtmilsioner, who said his report would be
sent in to the Local Government 130 .r,l in due
course.

COUNTY COURT.

ADIIIYISTRATION oft DERS.—It the County Court
on Monday, before Sir Rupert Kettle, judge, Mc.
Waldron appli-d on behalf of Thomas Brett,
butcher, of 13311broughton, for an administration
order. The applmant offered lOs in the pound.
—Mr. Collis objected on behalf of the creditors.
Ile said 108 in the pound W%3 not en.mgh. His
Honour said that no caie had been made 04t.—An
order was made for 103 in the pound, at the rate
of £2 per montb.—Mr. Holberton also applied on
behalf of Charles Hid, market gardener, of atrnett
Lane, for an administration order. He offered 5s
in th pound, but this was not accepted. An order
for 103 in the pound, at the rate of .e 2 per mouth,
was made.

The Stourbridge Stock Sale on Tuesday last corn •
prised about 30 head of fat cittle, and 250 sheep.
Highest figure for sheep 765, anti for fat bout.
£27 12i 6d ; Cows and calves £24 There wai a
pod attioudenc4 ol bu,yeth and prices ruled Argon