The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-26 00:00:00

THE RATING OF COAL MINES IN

KING SWINFORD.

In compliance with a numerously-signed requisition
front the ratepayers of the various wards of the pariah
of Kingswinford, a meeting convened by the Overseers
WAS held on Monday last, in the Vestry of the parish
church, at Wordsley, •' to consider the small number of
representatives on the Board of Guardians, as compared
with the other half of the Union • and to take such pro-
ceedings as ahould be considered advisable in order to
enable them to send Guardians to the Board at the next
election in number equal to the extent, population, and
rateable value of the parish, as compared with the other
half of the Union." There was a good attendance. Mr.
It. Plant (a Guardian) waa called to the chair, and
stated that it was clear from the notice convening the
meeting that the parish did not send a sufficient number
of Guardians as compared with the extent and rateable
value of the other parts of the Union. Ile only intended
to refer to the rateable value, and would leave the matter
of population to be dealt with by the Pout-law Board.
Mr. Raybould inquired whether it was not the popula-
tion that ruled the number of Guardians?

the Chairman said he would explain it all. The rate-
able value of the pariah of Amblecote waa £10,381, and
sent only one Guardian; Cakemoro, rateable value,
.C 1,778 with one Guardian; Cradley, one Guardian, rate-
able value, £11,949; Halesowen, two Guardians, £4,817;
Ilasbury, one Guardian, rateable value £3,597; Hawne,
one Guardian, rateable value £3,070; Hill, one Guardian,
rateable value £3,529; Illy, one Guardian, rateable value
£604; Lapel, one Guardian, rateable value £1,792; Lat.
ley, one Guardian, rateable value, £857; Lye, two Guar-
dians, rateable value £7,502; Itidgacre, one liumdian,
rateable value, £1,664; Stourbridge, three Guardians,
rateable value £21,288; Upper Swinford, one Guardian,
rateable value £8,339; Wollaaton, one Guardian, rate-
able value £4,693; Wollescote, one Guardian, rateable
value £3,213; Kingswinford, eleven Guardian, rateable
valuo £94,028; total rateable value, £183,121. The
Chairman further remarked that it would be nem that
the pariah of Kingswinford wen rated £4,938 per annum
more than all the other parishes together. Ile thought
that they were entitled to more than eleven Guardians.
It no more Guardians could be granted to the Union,
they might group some of the small varieties together.
The Pour-law Amendment Act, 1868, are. 6, gave power
to the Poor-law Board to group unaller pariah., together
where the population does not exceed 300, and the rate.
able value of other placeg in the Unions. Several weeks
ago his attention was called to bowed of the insignificant
pariaties in the neighbourhood of Haleaowan, and upon
inquiring of the Chairman of the Board of Guardians
he found there we, a number of mall pariehem with no
clergymen, and was told that Halesowen Church wins the
parish church. It would be to the interest of the rate.
pavers of Kingswinford for several of the small parishes
to be grouped together, and • larger number given to
Kingswiuford. The gentlemen representing their own
pariah had lately had no voice on matter, before the
Board, becauae he (Mr. Plant) had asked for information
upon several subjects, but could not get it, lie WU out
voted by the other patty, who was all-powerful, and when
any of it asked for anything it was granted at once.
Ile, therefore, hoped that the matter would be fully
eunwidered,

Mr. Dudley then proposed "That we, the ratepayers
of the pariah of Kingswinford, in vestry assembled, are
of opinion that our interests have suffered by our not
being sufficiently represented in the number of Guardi-
ans, elected by us to the board of our Union, and that
the pariah leas sustained serious loam in consequence."
Mr. E. Fereday seconded the motion.
Mr. Raybould (a Guardian) said before it was put to
the meeting he wanted to know in what way the pariah
had suffered?

Mr Plant said if he wanted an instance he would give
the case of Messrs. John Bradley and Co.'s appeal. lit
had told the Board that it would end .• ingloriously " for
the ratepayers, and he predicted that it would be disas•
trous to their interests.

Mr. ltaybould : It w.as most strenuously supported by
you. 11 it had not been for you there would not have
been any ' Order ").
Mr. William Targeter remarked that he considered the
representation of the parish quite sufficient. Ile thought
instead of them having an increase, they wanted better
men, who would uot take sides, but look after the welfare
of the parish, and discharge their duties towards the
poor. The repreaentativee of Kingawinford were always
able to carry whatever was right. If the rateable value
was larger than the other parishes together the popnla-
Bon was not. If the Poor-law Board took the matter
into consideration it would be as the Stourbridge Union
and not as Kingswinford parish, lie remembered when
Kingswinford was divided into wards, they had to beg
hard for throe Guardians for Brierley Hill. Ile should
therefore propose that they remain as they are.
Mr. Tawkin (a Guardian), said that it was immate-
rial how they voted at the Board if they were over.
wheltued.

Mr. Pearson observed that if they asked for an in-
crease, it would be considered that it wan for the purpose
of swamping the other parishes, and he thought that
Kingewinford was more largely represented than any
parish of the Union.
.

Mr. F. Cookson (agent to Mr. W. 0. Foster) said he
considered the work would be done better by 30 °mud'.
ins than by 300. He said he must ask the Chairman to
reconcile the statement he made at the Board a week ago,
when he asked why the Board did not engage a counsel
or mining engineer in the appeal of Messrs. J. Bradley
and Co. What he said on that occasion was equal to
censuring the Board.

A discussion of a somewhat personal character here
took place. It ended in the Chairman putting the
amendment of Mr. Pearson, tn the effect that there be
no alteration in the number of iluarilians.

Some confusion was canard at this stage of the pro-
ceedings by • crowded meeting, when it was adjourned to
the school-room close by.
The Chairman then put the amendment and the re-
solution to the meeting, and the latter was declared ear-
ried by • majority.
Mr. P. Pargeter then proposed 'That this parish being
equal in population with, and greater in population than
all the other parishes combined in the Union, and elect-
ing only eleven Guardians to • Board of thirty-one, it is
desirable to apply to the Poor-law Board to take the
matter into their consideration with the view to equalise
the Board of Guardians, by reducing the number sent
by the smaller parishes and adding more to the number
sent by this parish of Kingswinford, so as to apportion
the Board of Guardians to the rateable value of the
several parishes in the Union."
Mr. Hall seconded this.

Mr. Cookson said, in reference to the alteration of
the assessment rd coal-mines by the Assessment Com-
mittee, invitations were sent to the members of the
coal trade through the Clerk of the Guardians, who
invited them to discuss the matter with the Board.
rho coalmastera were under the Impression at the time
that they should be met by the whole of the committee.
Ito very much regretted that a compromise was made
last February.
. .

_
Mr. Raybould said that an idea was prevalent that the
coalmastern were the most " rascally " fellows in the
country, and they had been blamed very much tor deal-
ing honourably.
Mr. Wm. Jeffries (agent to the Earl of Dudley) said
that in reference to the compromise effected between the
Assessment Committee and the coalmasters, the latter
felt that they had a good cause to deal with, and they
telt mire, if the appeal had been carried to the Court of
Queen's Bench, they would have got more than they now
havi. He regretted that the Cf •mpromi. Was made, and
had been blamed by his principals ever since. The coal-
masters did not receive any kind of favour from the As-
sessment Committee, for lie thought if ever mortal man
fought for principle, it MU the three Plumbers of the
Aesesament Committee with whom the compromise was
made.

/dr. Rayboula said that he was mainly instrumental in
bringing about the compromise, hut he how very much
regretted that
.he had interfered, iu the matter.

The resolution we then earried.