The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-28 00:00:00

MISDIRECTED (JHARIIY.

It is a noble ambition and a proud title for
England to be considcred the most generous
country in the World, always provided that the
charity be accowpanied by judicious discretion
and so as not to aap the springs of self reliance
and which after all, constitute the secret of a

nation's happiness and prosperity. There have
been many instances, however, in which the dis-
position to make a ready response to appeals on
the slightest foundation has given rise to serious
evils. The quality of charity no less than judicial
mercy should not be strained when there is a
proper occasion for its execise; but the op.n.
handed recklessness in which the English are
prone to iadulge when their hearts are touched
by a tale of woo is sure to give rise to abuses,
often to dissatisfaction, and not unfrequently t)
an unnecessary repetition of the demand for as-
sistance. The great mistake is made in suppos-
ing that an open purse is a cure for all the ills to
which flesh is heir. A little help is said to be
worth a great deal of pity, but sympathy may be
shown when help is not needed, and the sympa-
thy be none the less sincere or sJlacing. The
reproach has often been unjustly levelled at us
that the greater the distance of a calamity from
these shores the more ready is the response to
an appeal, notwithstanding the increased diffi.
culties in ascertaining the true facts of the case
and of execising a proper control over the dis-
triuution of funds. Recent instances have shown
that the great heart of England is as readily
touched by calamities at home as by devastating
storms in the far-off Pacific, the ravages of dis-
uase on the Continent, or the horrors of distress
in India. No more general sympathy was ever
revoked than that by the terrible catastrophe in
Sunderland; and it seemed in accordance with
the national instinct that a relief fund should be
started. "He giveth twice who giveth quickly"
might be amended by saying they give the best
who giveth not hastily but wisely. In the case in
poi-it a little reflection would have shown that
there was no occasion for lavish gifts or more de-
wands than the locality could comfortably meet,
terribly painful and sad as the bereavements
:ere, the bread winners of the several families
had not heed removed; and allthough in a few
cases where two or more deaths had occurred in
one household the immediate expense was heavy,
the cost to each family was in most cases not
greater than if the deaths had resulted from
disease and the whole had spread over a series
of years. It is to be regretted that these matters
should have to be considered in a purely commer-
el l light, but as a matter of fact the expenses of
the various households were reduced by the loss
of one or more of the members. These reflections
are called forth by the circumstance that a meet-
iug has this week beev held in Sunderland to
pr ,test against the manner of distributing the
relief fund. The subscriptions of a sympath-
izing public may or may not have been judic-
iously applied, and it is obviously impossible for
any Committee to bec ,nae accurately acquainted
with the proportionate claims of over a hundred
fimalies, but it is not a pleasing spectacle to see
bereaved parents holding an indignation meeting
on such a subject. It is stated that nearly six
hundred pounds have been expended in meeting
pressingneeds, and such a sum ought to be
sufficient to meet the necessities of the case, es-
pecially, as it has been pointed out, when the
families under ordinary circumstances would
look for no assistance whatever. The whole affair
however is an illustration of the difficulties at-
tending the institution and disbursement of
public charity, and the very great care which
should be execised in starting funds and suscrib-
ing to them. It is difficult to say anything which
may seem to savour of checking generous im-
pulses, and no doubt that difficulty was experi-
enced by the Lord Mayor of London when he
declined to es'ablish a Mansion House fend in
connection with the disaster. But it is neccessary
occasionally to administer a caution against the
promiscuous giving of relief. This has been
found to be the case in connection with every
days mendicancy, and in towns and counties
where an organised system has been instituted a
considerable diminution in the number of appeals
has been the result. Often in public subscriptions
there are other considerations to be taken into
account. Sometimes it is the case that the Gov-
eminent or local authorities should be made
primarily responsible. In other cases the legis-
tura may already have made provisions. But
whatever the occasion demanding extraneous
succor and whatever be the means adopted for
supplying relief the funds supplied by a generous
public should be administered with a wise dis-
crimination. It is therfore necessary to repeat
tha injunction not to give hasily, and at the same
time not to stay the hand when after due iaquiy
and proper arrangement a genuine case has been
made out for the bestowal of help.

THE IRON TRADE
WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.

There was a some what improv d iMainess tone
at to.d ty's market. Inquiries for rolled iron were
more numerous. hut as there are larger supplies to be
obtained from the restarting uf the mills and forges
prices were no firmer than those ruling previous
to the strike. The bar and common-sheet manu-
facturers art. doing the busiest tr.:de, and early de-
Iveries under old orders are askf,d for. floops are
chiefly iugnired for by export buyers, though sims
of th 3 home customers are offering very moderate
specitizatious. Girder plAtos and piddled bars are
in steady request. Boiler plates are being bought
in very limited parcels, but the tin plate manufac-
turers report a growth of fo-..eign business. The de-
mand for pig iron is still restricted to small qur,n-
lilies, but makers are not anxious to sell, beemse
they are yet in po:session of sone 1 age contra ts.
High-class metals continue firm at from £3 53. to
£3 103. for hot air quality. tip ing Vale, Wellingi.
worth, and several other local brands are in fair
inquiry, while Derbyshire and Northampton metals
command steady notice. Hematites move off very
quietly, In minerals there is a lirger tra.le recorded
Forge coal is more saleable, but at no better prices.
To-day some good sales of puddlei bars, inade ill
Lanrmshire and Yorkshire, were reported, and man u-
in k e diLtect, who have their mi Is goilg,
intimate that they shall buy heavy quantities of
foreign puddled bars if their puddiers do not re-
turn to work at the reduction. It was stated that
the mills of Messrs. John.on. Ridgeacre Works,
West Bromwich, have been re-started at the reduc-
tion of wages, and not at the old rate, as rated at
meeting of.ir .nworkers at Smethwiek, en ruesday

BrrodiNoliAm, THURSDAY.
The depression on Chaog.this afternoon was v ry
great, due to the prolongata,bn of the strike in the
Smethwiek, Oldbury, and West Bromwich district
It was considered that the ironworkers were trying
to break through the masters combination by iso:at-
lug different districts, and' it was fe,lt that unless
these tateics were met by a general lock out tilt),
would ultimately prevail. Consequently the em-
ployers held a meeting on Change, aud decided that
unless the men who are on str,l:c returned to v.-Grk
at the reduction forthwith they w cad a veu-ral
meeting of the trade, v‘ith tue object of decl-triug
a general lock-out of the whole di tr'et. The,•e,
was only a small amount of business t..ansactol it
arty departtnen- the demand of all ela3 es of i o t
being very quiet. Sheets were not is, so go. d request
as last week, and the prices were lower having
fallen to the low limit existing before the strike.