The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-08-11 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Council was h?ld on
Wednesday, the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Grosvenor) in
the chair.

The Mayor read a letter from Mr. Brinton,
stating that, in accordance with tl,e request of the
Council, he had put a question in the House of
Commons relating to the disinfecting of wools, rugs,
carpets, and other textile fabrics arriving from the
Ent, and be referred to the newspaper report for
the reply. Sir Charles Duke in this stated that
orders had;been issued with respect to di iinfectioa of
rags from the East, b:!causa experience had shown
they conveyed infection, though they had not been
known to omvey cholera. The medical officer of
the Local Government Board did not think it neces-
sal), to disinfect carpets, rugs, and wools; it would
be difficult to make regulatic,ns for such a purpose,
and it would iuterfere in a very great degree with
trade.

Alderman Willis said the resolution of the Coun-
cil did not ask for anything to be done with the dis-
infection of rage, and orders were in force, 't ap-
peared, with regard to them. He thought it was a
perfect burlesque of free trade t) do as was being
done. They looked after diseased meat and fish,
and if the milkman put even pure water into his
milk he was fined; but they were told it would be a
hindrance to trade to have these things from the
East disinfected. In the same paper from which
Sir Charles Dilke's reply had been read—the Daily
News—there were the deaths of several ladies of
good poition reported, and disease .was throwing
out its octopus folds, and attacking not on:y the
poor but other classes. They knew how these
wretched carpets from the East—rags, Sir Charles
Dilke called them—which lay about people's housss
were csllected, and sent over to this country to be
distributed to the public; and yet they were told
there was no necessity for their being disinfected.
He saw that orders had been given in one of the
German States to have even rice-bags coming from
the East disinfected as
.a measure of precaution.
then in Switzerland, too, there were precautions
against the introduction of clothing from Italy, and
the introduction of Eeyptiau cotton was prohibited_
l'hey eat there es a Council to try and do their
duty, and wished to poet the Government up as to
matters within their own knowledee ; and then
they were told th kt the G)vermalent had shill)),
given orders for the disinfection of rags from the
East. If Sir Charles Palle meant that these car-
pets came under ',he denomination of rags, well and
good; but if he did ty,t 'crow the sort of stuff
which was being sent to this country no one 'could
tell him better than Mr. Brinton could. If Mr.
Brinton took him to the docks he would see what
was meant. He. thought it was a most unsatisfac-
to y answer which had been given by Sir Charles
Diike. There was no resolution moved on the
question, and the subject dropped.—The Drainage
reid Waters. orks CO!nt!;ictee presented their monthly
report, and thsy also reported specially with refer-
ence to a complaint ti cm the Dreitv,dch Rural
Sanittiry Aettlio.dty as to an alleged nui-anse from
the sewe.ee farm of the Corporation. It was stated
thas t:ke oseupants of a cottage aear the farm had
been ill through the effluvia from it. The commit-
tee had investigated the matter, and were of opinion
that the report fGrwarded from the DroiCwich
Author ty, 50 far as it related to the sewage farm
, wa:; entirely unwarranted, and they reported the ,
farm in a most satisfactory condition. A copy of
e rep e t f.Dr. Stvete to the Droitwich Authority
and of the Town Clerk's reply were appended t )
the reper . It appeared from the latter, and from
the statements made during the discussi,on on the
report, Oa-, the house rsferred to was overcrowded,
it had no been limewashed since the pre...sent occu-
pants went there four years ago, and the cell for
water supply was within three yards of a dumb
well. This, the committee thought, would account
fir any sickness theme was at the house. Mr. E
Dixon said that some members of the Draestere
Committee who visited the swage farm were so
satisfied with the purity of the effluent water that
they drank some of it. The Mayor among oth wrs
tes.ified to the. sstisfactery condition in which Ike
sewage foam was.
The Ituproveuent Committee recommended the
purchase of a piece of land in Green Street, and
contaiming seven acres, one rood, and twelve perahrs
for £1,300. the same affording an eligible site for
the proposed new swimmins, and other baths, and
eventually for a depot, and for increased stabling,
warehouse, and yard-room, which would at no long
data be required. The report was adopted..
In reply to a question; Mr. Comber stated that
he had received s, letter from the Post Office .
authorities, asking for an early appointment for
staking-out the ground where the new office was
to Use:acted. .
The Medical Officer's report showed the death- ,
rate was 13.76 per 1,000, against 10.1 in the corre• •
spending monts last year. The health of the ,
borough was remarkably good, and would compare .
with that of any other town in the couutry. (Hear, •
hear.)
Other business followyl.