The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18 00:00:00

THE STOTJBERIDGE OBFilti- VEIL

_
better position than they were there. If they
looked at Wolverhampton, where the maximum
price was 2s 7d, with its popplation of more
than 137,000, and the consumption of more than
170 millions of cubic feet per annum, the coal
. was less in price, and he therefore thought that
their own town was not fairly compared to it.
At Droitwich, with a population of 7,000, the
maximum price was Gs per 1,000 feet, whilst they
paid 14s Gd per ton for coal, which was only 61
less than was paid by the Stourbridge Gas Corn-
pant. lle considered that the statement pre-
sented to the Board was not complete, and It
was conclusive to his mind that the gas sold in
Stourbridge was at a reasonable price, when
compared with other towns in the district. Un-
til a full statement of the company's statistics
had been given, he considered that the state-
ment of the committee could not be relied on.
Mr. Hughes said that Mr. Collis had been
arguing upon a wrong basis. He had based his
arguments upon the population of various towns.
The committee had not taken the population
into consideration, which it appeared it had been
convenient to Mr. Collis to select. They had
no doubt that the consumption of gas was 30
millions, although they had put it down at 23
millions. As regards getting information from
the Oas Company, lie had had something to do
with them before in asking for information, but
had been refused; and he did not think it worth
while to apply to them again and get a rebuff.
Mr. Newman said Mr. Collis had taken his
basis in a very unfair way. The committee had
taken the average of the whole of the Itowns in
mining districts.
_

Mr.-Collis : Dudley is much the same place as
Stourbridge.
Mr. McEwen : Yee; managed by nearly the
same directors.

Mr. Collis said that in the list of towns pre-
sented in the report of the committee, there was
only one town where gas was supplied at a
cheaper rate, which was Middlesb'ro.
Mr. McEwen : You have not noticed Walsall
or Manchester, whose works are under the man-
agement of the Corporation. In Manchester,
where gas is made from Cannel coal, it is sold
for 3s 2d per thousand feet. According to the
Gas Joototal, in towns where the common coal
is used, gas can be sold at the rate of Is od per
1,000 feet cheaper than the former. Therefore,
if Manchester was to use the common coal they
might supply gas at the rate of Is 81 per 1,000
feet.

Mr. Collis: You do not give the consumption
Manchester.

Mr. McEwen : The consumption last year was
something like 1,159,868,000.
Mr. Collis: I should like to have the gas as
cheap as anyone...
..

M. Huglies said the committee did not quote
Manchester iii favour of their statement. It did
appear to him that Mr. Collis had come there
as an interested party for a certain purpose, and
for the sake of picking something out. He bad
not sat at the Board for a long time, and had
only that day qualified—(cries of "Chair, chair")
—and had come to suit a purpose.
Mr. Newnam said it would be better if the
Board, in considering the subject, would take
Walsall, which was very near the same popula-
tion as their own, taking half of the town. One
part is supplied by the Corporation, and the
other by the South Staffordshire Company. The
town is supplied with gas at the rate of from
2s 21 to 2s lid per 1,000 feet. Ho thought, if
compared with IS-distill, the price of gas might
be reduced in Stourbridge, and a good allowance
left, besides the required 10 and 7i per cent.
Mr. Edwards said he understood. the public
lamps were much cheaper in this town than
others.

part

Mr. Newnan' said the lamps were nothing to
do with the question.
Mr. Collis said he did not think that the Com-
missioners should take the matter up. It was a
gas consumers' question, and he did not think it
proper for the Commissioners to take it up.
Mr. Thorne said they were there to protect
the public.
Mr. Newnan' said : Certainly, to protect the
town.

Mr. Edwards asked if the Commissioners
bought the gaa works could they supply it out of
the town? They could not go to iditgley and
the
•Lye... _ _

The Clerk said if Amblecote and the Lye
adopt the Town Act, they could.
Mr. Collie said it appeared to him that the
accounts of the Gas Company were not kept
correctly, and there was a clause in the last Gas
Act which was passed in 1866, sec. 15, which
stated that the accounts ought to be kept in a
systemAtical manner. They should be called
upon to keep the accounts properly by the Board
of Trade.

Mr. MeEwen said they knew, as men of busi-
ness, that the accounts were not kept as they
ought to be. They knew that balances of pre-
vious years had taut been brought forward, anal
it was their duty to see that the gas consumers
had the benefit of the returns—(hear, hear). But
they were not met to consider that matter; the
committee had directed the attention of the
Board to three points which were embodied in
the report.-1. The advisability in the interests
I of the consumers of erecting new works to sup-
ply the town with gas.-2. The advisability of
treating with the Gas Company for the purchase
of their %mks and plant.--3. Whether or not
the Gas Company should be called upon to re-
duce the price of gas, and to what extent. He
was iudebted to the newspapers for the report
,411aat had Leon published, and perhaps the clerk
would refer to the last ye,ar's accounts, and as
he read them over seriatim they were check,
oil' by the cheek. He found that in several is •
ticulars they had undir-estiwated several am-
ounts, bat he supposed the cost would be
charged to the capital account. 'I. he calenlations
he inn! made, after defraying all expenses during
the past year, and allowing the dividends at 1.)
and 7 per emit., left a balance of £1,726 1.6 s 71
due to the consuwers—(applause). With respect
to the item of labour in the Use Company's
statement no pro), ision was made for either la-
bour or materials, and he therefore thought that
both were charged in the revenue accounts.
His opinion was that the sooner the Commis-
sioners have gas works of their own the better.
They were sent there to look eftsr the interests
of the ratepayers. They had sworn to do their
duty to those they represent.
Mr. Stringer said it seemed to him that the
better mode would have been for the committee
of the Gas Company to be invited to meet a
committee of Commissioners and have the mat-
ter thoroughly explained.
The Chairman asked Mr. Stringer if he in-
tended putting that as a motion?
Mr. Stringer said he did.
Mr. Collis quite agreed with Mr. Stringer, and
should be happy to second a motion if Mr.
Stringer would move one to that effect, because
it would be unwise on the part of the Commis-
sioners to proceed either in the erection of new
works or the purchase of the existing' works be-
fore the matter was well ventilated. He agreed
with Mr. McEwen that it was a duty incumbent
upon them to see that the Gas Company should
make out their statement of accounts in a proper
manner—ahear, hear). He thought they did not
charge more than they were legally entitled to,
but he thought if the matter was considered by
a conference a compromise might be effected.
Although Mr. Hughes said he had come there
with interested motives, he was sorry to find him
making such an attack, as he had hoped that the
older he grew he would have got wiser—("Chair,
chair.") He had no interest whatever in the
matter before them, because he took an active
part some years ago with another commission in
reference to the price of gas, when a reduction
was brought about. If it committee was appoin-
ted he should suggest that Mr. Hughes be left
out.

Mr. Stringer then begged to move that the
Board invite the Gas Company to meet the Board
to enable them to arrive at a clear understand.
ing on the matter.
Mr. Edwards said the third suggestion of the
committee's report was whether or not the Gas
Company should be called upon to reduce the
price of gas, and to what extent. •
The Chairman declined giving his opinion on
the indtter ; but would suggest that whatever
was done might be done unanimously.
Mr. Woolley said he thought the fairest way
would be that the Board should consult the con-
sumers before they called upon the directors to
, reduce the price.
' Mr. Hughes said he should not have arisen
again had it not been for a personal attack upon
him, made by a member of the Board. He
should adhere to what he had said before about
a gengeman at that -Board who had not attended
fpr'noarly the months, and was only there to
'qualify. He should be very sorry to take his
opinion on that or any other flubjett.
Mr. Maginnis said he was there as a member
I of the Board, and as a representative of his

c,mstituents. He rocld not sit there and hear,
anything of a personal nature, which ought to
be avoided. The business of the meeting should
be done in a gentlemanly manner, and if perso-
nalities were indulged in he should ask his con-
stituents to allow him to withdraw.
Mr. Collis said he had been prevented from
attending for the last five months by business
engagements.
Mr. Maginnis observed that he thought the
matter affected the interests of the ratepayers
at large; and he therefore thought it was a
question for the consideration of the Commis-
sioners. He moved " That it appears to this
Board, from the report upon the gas question,
that the Gas Compait) la- in a position to make
a reduction of is per Loon feet; and that ap-
plication be made by this Board for such reduc.
tion to be made to the consumers in the town-
ship." He should not like to move it as an
amendment to Mr. Stringer's motion.
Mr. Stringer said if Mr. Maginnis desired his
motion to he put to the meeting, he (Mr. Strin-
ger) would withdraw in its favour, as probably it
would lead to a conference hereafter between the
Gas Company and the Commissioners—(hear,
hear).

Mr. Newnam said he bad great pleasure in
seconding the resolution, which had been pro-
posed by Mr. Maginnis.
Mr. Emery said he was in favour of Mr.
Stringer's original motion. He thought it would
be premature at present to ask for a reduction.
He should therefore move the original motion
as an amendment.

Mr. McEwen fmggested that a public meeting
be called to consider the question—as to whether
they will ask the company to reduce the price of
gas, purchase the works, or build gas works of
their own.

Mr. Stringer thought if the Commissioners
and the Gas Directors met together, the ques-
tion might be settled amicably.
Mr. Hughes thought it would be better to have
a public meeting, as things would come out there
that would not come out at a private meeting.
The Chairman expressed a desire that they
would be unanimous.
Mr. McEwen said he could not withdraw what
he had said, but he was willing for the matter to
go before the constituents he represented, as he
considered he bad done his duty.
Mr. Collis said he did not think they were
bound to take the figures produced as they were
merely supposition.
Mr. Met; wen said they were not supposition.
If the accounts were not true the Gas Company
have had an opportunity of refuting them if they
could.

Mr. Stringer said he should like to go back to
his original motion, It was first suggested that
a conference be held between the Gas Directors
and the Gas Connnittee ; but that resolution was
altered, and the Company were to be asked for
a Is reduction.
Mr. Newnam said he should not like to with-
draw as seconder to Mr. Maginuis's resolution.
After some discussion, the resolution was al-
tered, and the Rev. D. Magiunis moved the fol-
lowing : " That it appears to this Board that the
Gas Company arc in a position to make a reduc-
tion in the price of gas, and that an application
be made by this Board to the Gas Ccinpaug for
a reduction to the consumers."

This was seconded by Mr. Newnam.
Mr. McEwen moved as an amendment the
following: " That a public meeting of ratepay•
ers be called, and their opinion taker. on the
suggestion contained iii the Gas Committee's
report—as to the advisability or otherwise of
erecting new works, and treating nit!' the tias
Company for the purchase of their works and
plant."
This was seconded by Mr. Hughes.
The Chairman put the amendment, when three
voted for it.

The resolution was put, and declared carried.
The Clerk was directed to send the resolution
to the Gas Directors.

The Chairman then called upon Mr. Eastlake, the sec. I
x..tary, to read the report of the Working Men's Insti-
tute for the past year, which was as follows :