The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-05 00:00:00

MEETING OF GAS CONSUMERS AT
CRADLEY HEATH.

A meeting of the gee consumers of Cradle; Heath,
Cradley. and Old Hilt, took place at Mr. Benjamin Bil-
lingbam's, the Bell Inn, Five Ways, Cradle). Heath, on
Tuesday evening ; Dr. Standish in the chair. There
were also present Messrs. Gould, sem, J. B. Nock, R.
Green, J. Green, Brazio, Forrest, Tibbetts, Gould,
jun., Woodhouse, Hiuxipton, Hickton. Barley, Harris,
Grainger, Kendrick, Beavan, Newhall, Griffiths, Homer,
Wesley, Pugh, Humphries, Yardley. Cartwright, lee.,
etc.
The Chairman, on rising, said before going into basi•
ness that evening he would state teat the Directors ol
no present Gas Company had asked their committee to
grout them an interview to try to settle the matter fairly
and amicably, and it was for them that night to enter into
business, or to wait and bear from them. The meeting
of the Directors would take place within the nest fort-
night, and then they could ace how mach they would
reduce the gas: if not, see what they would sell their
gun works for, and then if they were not satiatied they
could build one of their own; and as chairman he should
suggest that the meeting be adjourned for two or three
weeks, and then wait and hear what they intended to du.
Mr. J. B. Nock said, as one of the parties who met the
Directors on Saturday evening last, he could corroborate
worthy Chairnian'e statement. He thought it would
be better to meet the Directors, and endeavour to prevent
a coalition between the two companies, and he cousid, red
it wonld be better for them to stop and Ithe what they
would do. The preeent company would not stop them
from marrying on their afaies. Be thought they would
come to an amicable settlement, and he should certainly
second the chairman's proposition. It would not prevent
them carrying out their arrangements.
Mr. Brazier said he should net like to be in the way of
settling metters, but he should like to know grit how
much reduction they would give them, end he thought
the meeting should elate what reduction would satisfy
them—(heer, hear). If they waited two or three weelm,
and they then made a reduction of 6d, he, for one, should
not he setistied, and he considered they ought to give
their opinions on the matter that evening, as to what re-
duction would satisfy them.
Mr. Standish said, in answer to Mr. Brazier, there were
to., Directors present at the interview, and they could
only answer for theineelves. They would calls special
meeting of Director. this weer, in order to meet their
Committee.

Mr. Brasier : Was there anything said at that interview
as to how much they would seduce the gas:
Mr. Standish: No, no.
Mr. Brazier said he haii no doubt that those two Dir-
ectors the Committee had wet were masters.

Mr. Standish : One of them waa Mr. Moore and the
other Mr. Hinglev.
Mr. Brazier sail he thought the preseut company were
Stopping to get an Act of Parliameet. It was the opinion
of many people in the place that that was what they
were going to de.
Mr. H. Green said im the Directors had aisked for an
interview, and had said they would call a meeting of
Directors to tell them what reduction they would give
thew, it would be beet to postpone the meeting for a
f..rtnight, and hi the meantime they could go on taking
down the names of all the gas consumers who wished to
become shareholders. He thooglit it would be best for
Chew to wait. He lead no doubt but that the two Direc-
tors who met their deputation would do all they could to
arrange matters, an a* to try to Kettle the affsir amicably.
it they got two thirds of the gas consumers as share.
holders, the present company would have to atop, and
not themselves. He should propose that the next meet.
leg be held at Mr. Nock's, at the lour Way.. He had
some names of shareholders from old Hill, anti he was
gotta sure the Old Hill people would back them up.
Mr. Burley said they Mid already paid the Gam Com-
pany more than half it was worth.
Mr. Homer said be did not agree with having the
meeting adjourned for a fortnight. He thought if they
did it would ruin them. They might as well Lase not
done airytemg iu the matter, as eceept bears proposition
us that. The Directors were well aware that they had
now taken a Mee iu the right direction. He thought the
Dirt:Mots had some sinister motive in asking them to
adjourn the meeting for a fortnight. The Directors
were aware of what they had done, sad they would try to
beet them with their own weapons, if they did not mind.
He thought they would endeavour to frustrate their me•
tires, and if they did not do something that evening their
hands would be tied behind them. If the Directors were
going to apply for an Act of Parliament, they would have
to give notice of it in the local paper, and if so he
thought they must do the same. If it was adjourned for
• fortnight the Gas Company would get an Act of Perlis.
ment, they could Dot do anything for another 12 months.
The tidy thing they would be able to do would be Coop.
pose them in getting an Act of Parliament. 'flyers is a
large amount of motley promised. and they would soon
get more. If they did not mind they would be outdone,
and he did not like for them to be handled about like
they were. They ought to decide that night what they
should do. He had is his hand • letter from au now.
ueering firm in London, who say that they would under-
take to put up a new gas works, lay down mains. and do
all that was necessary for them. It would coat there
end the engirmers had promised to take Z 2,000
in shares, if they had the job. He concluded by bay lag
if they did not take some decisive move they would be
laughed at before another fortnight.
Mr. J. Green maid he thought Mr. Homer must have
been entirely misled with regard to the Act of Perlin-
meet. Mr. Homer had said they could charge anything
they liked for the gas alter they had an Act of Paella-
meet. They could only charge them the same as they
were being charged. He did not think they should have
to oppose them in getting an Act of Parliament.
Mr. Woodhouse Paid Mr. Nock had said that the Dir-
ectors were willing to receive their Committee in an
agreeable manner. He elionld like to know how it was
they had become so agreeable in &fortnight. At the last
uicetrug it was stated that the Gat Company had refused
to reduce the price of ges until they got their ten per
emit. If they could not reduce the price of gas a fort.
night ago, they cannot now.
Mr. Nock said when they waited on the Directors sail
deeetation from the Cradley Heath teas Company, in the
,murve of convereation he asked them if they could re.
duce the gas Is, and they said no. Ninepence ? No.
Sixpence? No. Threepeuce ? No. They could not
make any reductiou themselves until they had siren the
other Directors. The speaker, in the course of some
further remarks, said if the price they offered was not
mtisfactory, they should ask the price of the Gas Works;
and coaeluded by stating that he thought it would he
better to wait a fortnight.
Mr. Brazier said lie ehould like them to treat the Dir.
eMors ailh every courtesy, although they did not treat
them very courteously at first. He should like the Dir-
ectors to make a reduction that would satiety them, end
oe thought they might state schat they would accept MIA
reducdou, and if that did not satiety them they would
then ask the price of the winks, and if that was reason.
eble, prirchiwe them—ffieur, hear).
Mr. Homer again said if Vier did not mind they would
.ee the advertisement of the Directors in the local
papers, and if the meeting was adjourned for a fortnight
the only course open ill three woald be to oppose them
.11 obtaining an Act of Parliament.
. . . .

Mr Brasier did not think it necessary to go to London
for engineers. They had men quite as clever in their
iwo place. He did not thinks reduction of less than Is
per thousand would be worth their trouble, and he, for
one, should not he satisfied with anything les..
Mr. Burley I ehould think Is lid would be much
i•etter.

- - .
Mr. Bremer then moved thp following resolution—
That we ask tbe Directors to iillaw Os a reduction of
to per thousand, and if they cannot do that, state to his
wluit they will sell us their works for."
Mr. Woodhouse seconded the resolution.
Mr. Burley proposed as an ainendinent—" That we
have a reduction of is lid per thousand."
Mr. Homer seconded the amendment, and mid he
should like it to be that they should have no rcnt
charges, and five per cent, oil the cash. He only paid
di per thousand at Tipton.
Mr. Woodhouse mid they could ask them for a redac-
tion of Is per thow.and now, and et the end of twelve
months ask them for • further reduction of id per thou-
sand.

The rciolution was carried.
It we. proposed and seconded that the next meeting
will be held at Mr. Nock's, the Four Ways, Cradley
Heath, on the 16th inst.

A rote of thanks to the Chairman, which was respon•
dad to, closed the procerthngs.
rpwsrds of f 3,000 has been given In to be taken as in
£1 shares.