The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-11-07 00:00:00

MR. SMITH CHILD AT KINGSWINFORD.

At seven o'clock, on Monday night last, Ur. Smith
Child addressed a crowded meeting in the Kingswinford
Market Hall. The hon. candidate was accompanied on
the platform by the Rev. H. I). Lsmbert (Longmore),
Major Thorncycroft, Captain Manby, Lieutenant ILIL
Mr. II Smith. J.P., Mr. H. SnarroN, Mr. Brooke Robin-
son, Mr. H. Underhil!, Dr. Walker, Mr. Joseph Aston,
Mr. E. Turner, Mr. W. Jones, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Haynes,
Mr. Rowland Price, Mi. Walter Williams, Mr. 1). Freer,
Mr. Bird, Mr. J. Longs il:e. Mr. Hal. erton. Mr. Itiehard-
son, Mr. Benjamin Wool, Ur. Waldron, Mr. George
Skidmore, Mr. W. Meredith, Mr. Porteous, Mr. Robert
Dec, jun., Mr. T. Wilson, Mr. H. P. Price, Mr. H. P.
Chappell, Sze.
On the ni.dion of Captin Manby, Mr. H. Smith was
called to the chair, who, in opening the proceedings. re•
gretted the cause of the absence of Mr. Ingram. who was
well fitted to contest the division witU Mr. Child. The
latter gentleman came before them as no mere novice,
but as one who had shown great political experience
whilst representing the northern division of the county

Mr. Chill was loudly cheered on rising. Re spoke in
feeling terms of the cause of the absence of his colle.igue.
He then referred to the Reform Bill hiving given
are iced representation to the county, and again referred
to his reason for coming forward as a matter of duty.
He advocated the establishment of county financial
boards, on the principle that thereabout,' be no taxition
without representation, and they who paid the money
should have some voice in its disposal—(cheers). He
again expressed his opinions as t,/ the legal disposal of
the funds of trades unions, and followed by alluding to
the question of education. He thought that religious
education ahenld be the leading feature, whilst reading,
writing, and arithmetic should be considered as the A H
C of education, with religion as required to inculcate
principle, without which tudueation was so frequently in-
jurious rather than useful. He was not in favour of
compulsory education, as he considered that the present
system further developed and carried out would meet the
question. He express/ d views similar to those given
previously on the question of expenditure. He felt as
much interest as any mauls the country in keeping down
expenditnre. Whilst admitting the large amount of the
army and navy expenditare, they could not fix the res.
ponsibiiity on the present or the last Government. It
arose from a system which haul been growing for some
time, and wanted speedy alteration. Again, referring to
the speeches of Lord Stanley and the Hon. Remedy
Johnson at Liverpool, be thought if all the Continental
nations would bold the same opinions, and reduce their
armaments, it would speedily cause an immense ream-
lion in the expendittire—(cheers). After expressing his
previonsly-re,orrled opinions on the Irish Church, which
be considered at this crisis to be a truly Constitutional
question of the highest imnartance, he on tel a speech
of Sir Roundsll Pei,/ r us Iluclonumul or a blush that
eraint at Whig lawyer luad reel irk-ul that it war not a
mere question of combating clauses, but one of actual
confiscation of a Church s hich had for 300 years held
its position, attl no definite proposal had been made for