The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-20 00:00:00


THE DECREASE OF PAUPERISM.

The information recently afforded us that the
pauperism of this country is rapidly decreasing
cannot fail to be a subject for congratulation
by all classes of the community. The states-
man having seen the ill effects to the common-
wealth of a vast body of individuals lying idle
and supported by others, feels that any reduc-
tion in their number must confer crest benefit
on the whole nation, and rejoices not lees
heartily than the philanthropist, who, touched
by the plaintive misery of the helpless, feels glad
that even a swell measure of alleviation has
taken place. The political economist, who for
a long time has occupied himself by carefully
and minutely examining the difficult problem of
pauperism, is glad that his theories for its
amelioration have proved to be right, but the
ratepayer rejoices from far different reasons. It
is he who has to pay the cost of the mainten-
ance of those who receive benefit from the poor
rates, and every pauper who is taken off the
raies confers a direct benefit on the ratepayer.
Fur the causes of this decrease in pauperism
we do not think that we have far to seek, and
we attribute to the increased vigilance of local
authorities and the unprecedented prosperity of
the country this better state of things. When
it became known that oat of every twenty-out
persons in this kingdom, one was a pauper, the
Boards of Guardians in every district suddenly
awoke from a passive, and passed into an active
staie. The effects of a quickening policy we
now see. With a diminution in tho number of
paupers, we have a decrease in the rites, and
an increase of wealth to the country, fur while
paupers COII,UIUe much they produce iittle or
nothing. the largo amount or pauperism in
teas country has always been a reproach to the
nation, awl we fully sympathise with, and
heartily support any legitimato and fair means
wiacli Lave for their object the di creaso of the
nuoiber of those wno are at ',learnt dependent
on the rates for their living. From the publialie..
statistics it is obvious that while there is no
, necessity for interfering in the slightest degree
, with the reasonable amount of relief granted to
the deeerviug poor, and to those who have come
to poverty through unavoidable misfortune, it
, is quite possible to diminish the paupers' roll,
oy removing from it those who, with work to be
• done will not exert themselves to do it, if by
applying to the Board of Guardians they can
obtain an equal or even a larger amount out of
the rates through representations that never
, ought to be trade.

THE IRON TRADE.
THE WAGES QUESTION,
WOLVERHAMPTON, IVednesday.
The iron trade maintains a firm aspect, and
there is no probability of a reduction in quota-
Bone for some time to come. Indeed the chances
of a further advance are deemed so likely that
not only are buyers anxious to place orders, but
speculative purchases tire being stimulated. A
private meeting of ironuiasters was held to-day
in Wolverhampton to consider the wages ques-
tion. It appears that a preliminary meeting of
ironnitieters (also private), and at which both the
North and South Staffordshire districts were
repretented, was held in London last Friday, at ,
which it was unanimously resolved that the
wages of ironworkers should be reduced utter
October 4th. 'lbis resolution was Communicated
to the meeting today by the South Staffordshire
representatives, who attended the LOllfloll con-
ference; and after some dismission, it was decided
to send a copy of the resolution to the iron- ,
workers' Association, and to call a meeting of
the Board of Conciiiation for the '2oth inst. , to
take the subject into consideration. Until this
tue..ting has been held, and the question dis-
posed of, it is feared that the business will be
more or loss unsettled. There was no change in
prices to-day, but last week's quotations were
firmly sustained. Not a little interest has been
produced in this district by the recent authenti
catch report from the Hiited S'ates, to the
effect that the consigment of Ainerlmn made iron
to this country is likely to be a
.fiit, accompii
within the next few wteks. The faci may be of
Vilna by stimulating eff irts in toe way of counter-
acting the increasing rivalry of American pro•
&leers. Shropshire ironmasters on Change here
to-day were asking £lO for best rods, and £l4 ss.
to £1.4 103. for common. There is no immediate
prospect of any alteration in the price of fuel,
but in the event of any change it will certainly
not De in IS downward tlireetion. Ironstone re-
mains firm at 255. to 265. per ton for boat native
sample. The ironfouudtrs of tbe district con-
tinue to be fairly supplied with orders for mill
and forge machinery and other heavy castings of
an engineering description. In light iron cast-
ings there is a steady but not remarkable buoy-
ant business doing.

II THERE ARC Mr LADIIW 0011, WO.. not yet used the
°W.NVIELD they ..re reltectfu.ly nolieited to
give it a tsial awl carefully follow out the directions
printe.l tti every package, and it this in dose, they will
say. ilae the Queeu's Laundreas, it is the thirst Starch
they 1.,,c used. When you ask for °WINFIELD STARDN
see tti tt pal get it, as inferior k.ndd axe oltoi sobstitutcd
for the duke of extra' profit. Beware therefore of spur-
outs Imitations.