The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-22 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

. • r
WOLVEalialfrroN, Wednesday.
The market this aftetnoon was quiet and
transactions which took place were even 'below e
average of the last few weeks, this undesirable
state of business being accounted for in statue
measure by the smell quantities of iron which local
consumers are buying and the unsatisfactory
ch»nseter of the foreign mai:s which have arrived
duriag the current month. Ptices altogether were
very weak, and the action of the employers in giv-
ing notise to terminate existing engagements for
the purpose of claiming a reduction of wages isnot
calculated to add firmness to present quotations.
Complaints generally were made of the unprofi able
character of the businEss which is being done.
many of the manufacturers being reported to be
barely getting the prime to of the iron they are
turning out. In the oar trade most of the sales
related to unmarked qualities, which cl.anged
hands at from £6 to .26 10s. Sheet makers are
moderately employed, and most of them are en-
deavouring to keep down their make, with a view
to stiffening the existiug unsatisfactory pric.-s. In
almo.t every trans.,ction buy ems seek to make con-
trac s for less money than has been paid for pre-
viou* orders. '1 he cheaper qualithe or common
sheets vary from .27 5s for singles to £9 lOs for
trebles, while stamping sheets, which are a little
more saleable, run from £6 51 upwards. Hoops
appeared to be in better i •quiry, and girder plates
mowed off in tolerably A. od parcels, tho:lgn in no
instance were qu -Wiwi,: wronger Age,ts for pLe
could only di-pose of pi,. e a to Supply immediate
Wan s, and the prices thy obtain lave lut the
barest margin of profit. In minerals th.rm isa
fairly active trade, but for coal the dem.ind is ir-
regular, and prices have a dirclitting tendency.

BIRMINGHAM ThUriid iy

The iron =Act was somewhat unsettled this
afteru on Fy the proposed reduction of Don workers'
wage. Until tli,; Wages Board bore met and the

decision of th 3 arbitrator has b3en given the wages
question will have an unfiivurable effect upon
buiiness. A rednitioa in Wag3S would be regarded
by m3rchants s ialicative of lower prices for iron,
an I Vol will natimilty !told b .ck their orders in
the ex;ie tation of beiag able to secure concessi
rh, annonnec-ne:it on 'Ctiange that the Coal
Masters' As ocia.tion had d.-chled dur:ng the after-
noon t,) cull the Coal Trade Wages Board trigether
with a view to a reduction in colliers' wages had
also a depressing ctLet i)u the market this afternoon.
Consequently there was 110 business done except for
argent reqoire:Ocrl?, the orders being almoit
entirely of a real character. Manufa3turers and
ni,lters were eager to find customers, and though
prices were nominally maintained, there were
isol,tod instances in w ich less . than the current
rate was accepted. o%Ning to the contraction of
demand both sualters and manufacturers are cur-
tailing production as far as passible, and in ti:e
sheet branch many of the miils are not started till
the middle of the week. Thtt3 wHs a rather better
inquiry to-day for nail sheets, nnd also for small
sections of bar iron, but ordivarr merchant iroa was
to meagre request.