The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-10-13 00:00:00

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS.

The approach of the First of November is
alreaelNe throwing the inhabitants of a large
nninber of the municipal beroughs of England
into a state of strong excitement, and questions
of considerable local interest are being debated
with the usual vigour. But although much su-
perfluous energy is expended in connection with
these annual elections, the evidence which is
afforded of the interest taken in local self-gov-
ernment more than compensates for any eccen
tricities arising from an ex iggerated opinion
of the privilege. It is this interest in local .
matters which is the most promising feature of
the present time, for it tends to give strength
an I solidity to municipal institutions, the func-
tions of which are yearly becoming of more im-
portance. It was in this perennial interest and
this annual infusion of new blood that Macaulay
saw the true sources of strength i when he said:
"The more I contemplate our municipal institu-
tions the more I a.n convinced that they aro
sound at heart. They have nothing of age, but
its dignity and their strength is still the strength
of youth." And there is little doubt that the
desire for municipal govern neat j giowing. At
no time, probably, were there so many appli-
cations fer incerporation before the Privy
Council as at present. From popular Ramsgate
in the south to forgotten Cemelford, which once
had the honour of being represented by Lord
Brougham, in the west, there has come a request
for extended and more direct self-governing
powers. But notwithstanding that this betokens,
a healthy state of public feeling this desire for
direct representation and control may be carried
too far and be a eatiae of weakness rather than
of strength. Indeed, there is reason to fear
that this may be the case at no distant dee.
Already the rate') tyer is confused as to the
dutiea required of town councils, local boards,
poor law guardians, urban and rural sanitary au-
thorities, school boards, burial boards, vestries
highway boards, and all other complications of
modern civilization. But it is now serious.' pro-
posed to further embarrass the ratepayer by
calling upon him to elect a country government
board and to appoint a licensing authoriey. If
matters progress in this direction 'ouch further
the local government systemwill riv ii the Central
American Army, every man in wnich was an
officer with 0n..: exception, ani th t 0118 was
daily expecting.promotion. So many authorities
will have to be elected that every citizen will be
one or more. In all seriousness, however, this
constant increase in the number of representa-
tive boards, with overla2ping boundaries a:al
often with conflicting interests and opinions,
will attenuate the system until it has scarcely
strength enough to exist. Apart from which a
serious cost is involved, for the duplication of
authorities means the duplication of officers aed
the usual staff expenses. But even more serious
than that is the fact that so many authorities

must tend to exhaust the number of suitable
men in small communities to be placed in position
of trust and authority ; the result of which will
be that indifferent seleeiens will be made, the
duties will be so narrowed that men of influence
and ability will not care to have their names
dragged through the nrad in order to occupy the
positions, and the whole representative system
will be weakened and discredited. The metro-
polis is probably the greatest sufferer in this
respect. That city of great distances is con-
trolled by some two hundred different bodies,
great and small. It is scarcely surprising, there-
fore, that chaos occasionaly reigns supr4me, and
that on questions of lighting, paving, and sani-
tation the most diverse opinions are held with
very -inconvenient consequences. Wdere
etreet happens to be the boundary of two au-
thorities, one half may be in a primitive state
of mud whilst the other is carefully covered
with asphalte or paved with wood. Until recently
the much-derided Temple Bar memorial was
illuminated by two lamps on the city side,
whilst darkness, necessitating the presence of
two policemen obscured theedifice on the Strand
side. These are but idustrations of the minor
difficulties which are constantly arising all over
the country. More serious is the degredation to
which the system, or rather want of system has
sunk With the exception of the Corporation Of the
City,and Metroplireau Boarn of Works, the other
authorities are pr,tc-ically unknown and un-
honoured • the public take no interest in their
doings, an there is virtually no control. Another
danger to Nhich local government has given rice
is the facility for get:ing in debt which has been
offered in recent years. Money for public purpose
can no.-v be borrowdd on such easy terms that
many districts are involved in debts which will
be a heavy iocuhus for at least a generation. It
has recently been pointed out that the Metro-
politan Board of Works has indebtedness of
nineteen millions sterling, involving an annual
charge for interest of nearly one million. The
remedy for these difficulties and dangers lies not
in a scheme of centralisation which Nrluld be
fatal to the public spirit engenderA by local
se:f-governtnent, but by a more carefal arrange-
ment and combination of authorities so as to
avoid unnecessary cost and complication. These
are some of the questions which may well be
borne in mind at all municipal elections and
whenever proposa!s a e made to increase the
embarrassment
_and burden of the already too-
much-governed ratepayer.

THE IRON TIUDE.
WoLvennAmpraY, Wednesday.
QUARTERLY MI ETI NG.

The varterly meeting of the iron trade held here
this afte noon Nv az well attendel, both by local
makers and buyers, and by merchants from dis—
tant trade centr:s, and soma gt,.od inquiries were
made by persons who purchase for export. Prices
genera; ly showed no iniprovem: nt, and those manu
lecturers who have plenty ot work on their books
were not dispo,e'l to sell fn. ahead. Quotations
remaiaed unchanged at .c. 7 19s the minimani for
marked bars, and there noes riot appear to be any
oso et,' of' an al'eration taking place yet awhile.
The outlook for the coining quarter was regard( d
as cheerful and as numerous merclonts have a grat
deal of work to give our, hopes are entertained that
there will be Ls s attempts to purchase below current
rat: s. In unmarked bars a considerable business
was recorded for home consumption, the largesL
purchasers being merchants who re.sell to manu-
fa,cturers engaged in subsi iiary trades. Specifica-
tions were agreed en this afternooa for cmituonee
marked bars at £6 5s to £6 lOs but beyond the
latter figure very few purchasets went. Sheets
were in fairly active demand by the galvanisers,
and s one of the working-up people were anxious to
conclude larger contracts, but this did not seem to
' influence prices in the least. Several girder and,
boiler plate firms are better off for orders conse-
quent on large supplies being required for railway
and river bridges, one or two good ordefs Laving
been given out by railway companies in tads district
Hoops were in less inquiry, and prices were not so
firm as they were a short time back. Oa the other
hand tin-plats c:marnanded more nstic,, owing in
a great me,:sure to large p ircels ha; ing claatred
hands lately in the Colonies and to merchants be-
ing desirous of replenishing stocks. Pig maker 3
were well represeeted to day, but their sales in the
Aggregate were ra'her limited. Several good
parcels were ?,greed upoa for medium qualities,
ruling at about 50,1. The best metal makera still
adhered to their £3 5s quotation for hot-blas p
and they are selling only small parcels raeging from
100 to 200 tons each, the delieery of which is not
waned very early. Other br r.de were som.:what
neglected, the brokers not being aLa:lous to sell, as
their books te•ntain considenble quantities of un-
executed work. The coal rain -etes brisker than
it has been for months pa-t, and. an active trade i,
being done in house coal nail dack. The ouiput of
manufacturing fuel (lees, no:; reecra to increase.
Pric€.B are irregular.

EPP'S COCOA.—GRATEFUL AND C0:..-I2orrrnvo.--‘• By a
thor.-;ngh knowledge of he natural 1F4A,3 wh;ch govern
the operations of dig-2sti,n and nutrition, and by a care-
ful :ioi liettion of the fl•ie prope:tiee, ei well solec ed
Ce,e-,a, Mr. Epos has pro,i Ia 1 oir ileakfast tables w.th
ade .cateiv 11,voured beverage which may i•avo us
many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the j'idieious noo
of such anielGs of diet that a coaatitution may be
gra.-:ually built up natil strong cac.4;:-.: to resist every
tendency to dine ,se. Hundreds el slez..tla maladies
are limiting arousd us ready to attack wherever there
is a weak poist. We may esetue rstany a fatal sh•ft by
kee iu urtelves well fort:iled with pare blood end
pro,,erly nourtab d Gazetre.
3,lJde simply with tioiliug water ca 3il. Sold only in
Packets, labelled—" JAmts Epps ig Hamceopathic
Chemists. Loaflou."—Also =,:skors of ja Chocolate
Itsseialo.