The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-05-29 00:00:00

THE QUEEN:

On Monday her Majesty the Queen, who was born
at Kensington Palace on May 24th, 1819, completed
her 67th year. Only sevei of the sovereigns of
England, dating from the Norman Conquest, have
exceeded the present age of her Majesty—namely,
Edward 1., ' who lived 68 years; Queen Elizabeth,
who died in her 70th year; James It., who nearly
completed his 68th year; George IT., who nearly
reached his 77th year; George 111., who died
at the age of 81; George IV., who nearly a`tained
the age of 68; and William IV., who was nearly 72
when be died. Queen Victoria is the 35th occupant
of the throne since the time of William the Conqueror,
the oldest of the line having been George 111. and
the youngest Edward VI., who only lived to be 16.
On June 20 her Majesty will have reigned over
the United Kingdom 49 years, there being only
three instances of longer reigns among previous
Sovereigns—namely, Henry 111., who reigned 56
years; Edward 111., whose reign extended to 50
years; and George 111., whose reign reached almost
to 60 years. Only three of the reigning monarchs of
Europe are older than her Majeity—namely, the
Emperor of Germany, who is in his 90+11 year; the
King of the Netherlands, who in his 70th year; and
the King of Denmark, who is in his 69th year. The
Queen has living at the present time seven children,
30 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Her
Majesty has been a widow over 24 years, the Prince
Consort having died on Dec. 14, 1861. She is the
only child of the late Prince Edward. Duke of Kent
and Strathearn (fourth son of George III.), by his
marriage with the Princess Victoria Mary Louisa,
daughter of Francis Frederick, reigning Duke of
Saxe Coburg-Saalfeld, sister of the late Leopold 1.,
King of the Belgians, and widow of Emich Charles,
Prince of Leiningen.

SERVICE FRANCHISE AMENDMENT
ASSOCIATION. .
The first annual general meeting of the Service
Franchise Amendment Association was held at St.
James's Hall, under the presidency of Sir R. N.
Fowler, M.P. The first annual report submitted to
the meeting gave an account of the establishment of
the association. At a meeting held last September it
was decided that the exclusion of the general body of
business employes from recently extended franchise
was a grievance calling for notice at the hands of
those interested in their welfare. It was resolved
also to ictrm an.association to secure such an extension
th,e,proviiions of the Rore'sentation of the People
Act'as the justice of the case demanded. A second
meeting was held on Oct. 3 for the purpose of calling
attention to the objects of the society, and was com-
pletely successful. The committee have had a form
of petition to the House of Commons drawn up and
extensively signed praying that the grievances
complained of might be redressed at an early
date. At several meetings called by house com-
mittees the following resolution had been unani-
mously passed " That this meeting of assist-
ants in the firm of Messrs.
phatic protest against the exclusion of resident
employes in houses of business from the provisions Of
the Franchise Bill. This meeting being of opinion
that such exclusion constitutes a grievous and unjust
anomaly, hails with satisfaction the formation of the
Service Franchise Amendment Association, and deter-
mines to do all in its power, by the election of a
house committee and other means, to further the in-
terests of the association in this establishment." The
committee had availed themselves of numerous other
, means of drawing attention to their work, and pro-
moting the objects of the association during the un-
usually exciting political events which marked the
close of the last and the opening of the present year.
They owed their warmest thanks to Sir R. N. Fowler
who had introduced the measure into the House of
Commons which deserved the fullest support of the
association, inasmuch as it embodies the provisions
which the association sought to carry into law. Sir
Robert's measure, known as the Representation of the
People Act, 1884, Extension Bill, had been read a first
time, and would have been read a second time on
April 21, had not the House risen two days earlier for
the Easter holidays. The subscriptions and donations
since the starting of the organisation have been £207
9s. 6d., and there is a balance in the treasurer's hands,
after paying expenses, of £53 ss.
The chairman, in opening the proceedings, in allu-
ding to the bill which he had introduced into the House
of Commons, said that he wished he had introduced
it earlier in the session. It was no party question, he
was glad to remark, for it benefited both Conserva-
tives and Liberals, and would be supported by both
sides of the House. Mr. Childers last session had
promised to bring in a bill next session to deal with
the whole question of amending the Representation
of the People Act, and under these circumstances he
had not pressed a division on the second reading in a
thin House, and it was postponed to July, which was
Practically the Greek Ralends. However, Mr. Chil-
aers was now going to introduce his bill, and it would
no doubt be of a wide character. The best thing
which he thought could be done was to organise a
deputation to Mr. Childers during the next month,
and put the matter fully before him, for he believed
the Home Secretary was altogether favourable to their
object.
Mr. Debenham, in moving the adoption of the re-
port, observed that he was exceedingly disappointed in
reading it, and with the movement generally, as far
as it had gone. They all ought to feel greatly in-
debted to Sir Robert Fowler, who had taken their
matter up in so active a manner. (Cheers.) He
thought they would have been more satisfied as
members of the association if something more real
and more substantial had been done. If the young
men of London did not feel interested in obtaining
their rights, or rather their privileges, he told them
plainly they did not deserve to have them. (Cheers.)
The employes who were struggling, or ought to be
struggling to be enfranchised might be numbered by
thousands, and he felt that they had a right to be
disappointed at the size of the meeting. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. Gardiner seconded the resolution, which was
put and carried unanimously.
Mr. Howard Vincent, M.P., moved: "That this
meeting heartily approves of the aims and objects of
the SerVice Franchise Amendment Association, and
I cordially commends them to public support. This
I meeting also expresses its warm approval of the mea-
sure designed to secure these objects, as introduced in
' the House of Commons by Sir R. N. Fowler, under
the title of The Representation of the People Act,
1884;Extension Act, 1886, and appeals that this measure
may be speedily passed into law." He thoeght he
was fully. justified in saying that the mere fact of this
bill having been introduced by one who was so re-
Fleeted throughout the country as Sir Robert Fowler
was in itself a guarantee that it was worthy of the
warmest support. He was sure there was not a more
estimable body of men than those who were connected
with the commerce of this great capital. But it was
not only for the benefit of the metropolis that this
bill was introduced for it concerned the whole
country. (Cheers.)
Mr. Marshall seconded the resolution. It was not
the fault of the committee, he said, elm the question
had not been threshed out, and it iva. a matter of sur-
prise to him that the association lind not obteine'd
more support from those whom it lay_ st concerned than
it had, and he asked them one all ko do their very
utmost to attain the objects of the association.
(Cheers.)
The resolution having been suprsarted, was carried.
The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the
Chairman. ,