The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-10 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE 013SE1VEB•
LABOUR AND WAGES QUESTION.

G. F. GREEN

PIANOFORTE. TUNER,
260, Castle-street, Dadley,
LS 22222 PLEASURE DI.II7III4SBING PRI FOLLOWING

TESTIMON lALS.

From Mr C. Potter, Professor of Music, from the
Institution for the Blind, St. John's Wood, London:—
" I can confidently recommend Mr. Green sue Piano-
forte Tuner. He tunes by equal temperament and ob-
tains an exact scale. (Signed) C. POTTER."
From Mr. J. F. Patterson, Organist, St. Patrick'.
Church, Huddersfield :—" I have much pleasure in tes-
tifying to the abilities of Mr. Green as a Pianoforte
Tuner. He lays the bearings with exactness and perfec.
blow. (Signed) JAMS F. Parricssox."
Prom Mrs. Sanderson, Solo Pianist., of the London
Elld Liverpool Concerto:—" Mr. Green is one of the few
who can Tune my Piano to the nicety I require previous
to giving my Public Recitals. (Sigurd) K. K. SANDER
-
SON."
- •

Prom Mi. Butterworth, Organist, Dobcross, near
Manchester Mr. Green's equal sea Pianoforte Tuner
mug randy be mat with. (Signed) DAVID BCTTAILWORIH."

WII ACCORDING TO DISTANCIE

WANTED, a Strong YOUTH, about 18 or
T 20, se GENERAL PORTER.—AppIy, Obser rt o ,er y
.bre OP set b.
Office, Stoorbridge. gDge ur g tr.
WANTED, a Small Second-hand SHOP
WINDOW, with Sbutters.—Apply to Mr Roby,
40, Kidderminsterutreet, Stourbridge. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1872.
WANTED, a HOUSE, with 4 or 5 Bed-
rooms, on the Oldswinford side of Stourbridge ; HAPPY HOMES.
or good FURNISHED APARTMENTS, comprising a
Sitting and two Bedroomu—Apply to Oates, Ferro.,
woo Wooldridge.
stone
• best
qtive
on a
-mist
"me'.
'tV.

Lord Shaftesbury a day or two ago laid a first
stone on which was inscribed "Happy homes
the best condition of social progress." These
suggestive words shall serve as a text for a few
remarks on a subject which is one of the most
important social problems of the day—how to
improve the homes of the great mass of the
working community. The occasion on which
this first stone was laid was a deeply interesting
one, and, if we mistake not, the grand work
which was then inaugurated will be found to be
the best solution of the problem to which we
have referred. The Artisans', Labourers', and
General Dwellings Company has purchased an
estate of forty acres at Wandsworth, a south
western suburb of the metropolis, and here it is
intended to erect 1,200 dwellings, with schools,
lecture-rooni, library, club, co-operative store,
wash-houses, and baths, while 'three acres are to
be reserved for garden and recreation ground.
No better man could have been found to lay the
first stone than the Earl of Shaftesbury, who
mentioned that he has for more than 30 years
been engaged in endeavouring to improve the
domiciliary condition of the people. This phil-
anthropic nobleman is known to entertain very
strong opinions on this subject, and he has at
times made some remarks upon it which have
given rise to much discussion. He has said—we
quote simply from memory —that unless the
homes of the poor are improved the next gene-
ration will probably witness a social revolution
more serious than any our history has ever yet
told us of, and that the moral degradation of the
class that is now crowded into dens and holes,
instead of decent dwellings,will be so great that
society will not be able to cope with it. We are
certain that we are not putting this statement
stronger than his lordship has more than once
put it, though we cannot recall the exact words;
and if any of our readers may be inclined to call
these remarks into question, it must be remem-
bered that Lord Shaftesbury has studied the
condition of the poor, and has devoted himself
to practical works of benevolence, as much as
any living man. His sentiments therefore, as
enunciated on the occasion referred to, are
worthy of deep consideration. He reminded
the assembly that they had that day founded a
workman's city en the very best principles, those
of self-help and independence ; that they had
excluded public-houses and the tap-room; that
the working man was to be maintained as the
head of a moral and industrious family; that the
projects for mental and bodily recreation would
be a vast improvement on the pot-house and
the penny gaff," and that it was not by charity
that the homes of the people could be improved,
but by self-help and co-operation.
The inauguration of this great work is a mat-
ter of greater national importance than may at
first sight be apparent. So far as the operations
of the company are commercial, we have not the
slightest wish to pull them ; but we cannot forget
that more than one effort to improve the homes
of the poorer sections of the community, from
which effort the idea of charity has been care-
fully eliminated, has proved successful on purely
commercial grounds. This fact ought to be of
more powerful influence than it is, and the work-
ing classes as well as their employers should
avail themselves of it. The improvement of the
homes of the working classes is never likely to
pay a high per-centage, and from those close-
fisted capitalists and investors who will touch
nothing which does not promise to bring a good
return for their money, nothing can be hoped.
But for a considerable time past one company
which has devoted itself to erecting improved
dwellings for workmen and their families has
paid 5 per cent, per annum, and this fact ought
to lead to similar efforts elsewhere. If even 3
or 4 per cent, could be obtained, this would quite
satisfy many who would also have the sweet
satisfaction of promoting those "happy homes
which are truly said to be "the best condition of
social progress." It is not only in the metropo-
lis that this good work is required. Is there a
town, is there a village in the United Kingdom
where all the homes of the poor—looking at
them merely as buildings—are what they ought
to be? There need be no doubt as to the answer.
Many a picturesque village, adorned with all the
charms of Nature, is characterised by hovels and
huts, rather than dwellings, which are quite un-
fitted for the demands that are made upon them,
and where the decencies of social life are rend-
ered painfully difficult; while in towns the evil
is worse just because it exists to a greater degree.
We all agree as to the evil results of dirty, over-
crowded dwellings ; it has been a much•discussed
topic for many years; but comparatively little
has been done to remove this potent cause of
many of the ills which afflict society. If the
public can once be brought to see that much can
be effected towards the removal of these evils
without any charity, but on the wholesome priu•
ciple of set-help and co-operation, we may fairly
expect much good to be achieved in this direc-
tion.