The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-10 00:00:00

MEETING OF GAS CONSUMERS AT

CRADLEY HEATH.
04Thursday night a meeting of gas consu-
mers was held at Mr. W. IL Nock's, the Four
Ways Inn, to consider the proposed advance of
Bd per I,oooft. of gas made by the Cradley
Heath Gas Company.
Mr. W. 11. Nock was voted to the chair, and
said that during the put week a handbill to the
following effect was issued in the neighbour-
hood, which caused some little surprise to the
consumers. He then read the following notice :
" Cradley Heath Gas Works.

" In consequence of the great increase of coal,
lime, and wages, the gas consumers of the above
company are respectfully informed that the price
of gas will be advanced from the 14th day of
February next 3d per 1,000. This additional
charge will be taken off when the coal, Lim., is
reduced in price.
" By order of the Board of Directors,
_ _ „__

" flls(Jan. 1872.
" After the above date the state of the meters
will be taken."

That notice had roused the indignation of the
consumers. He did not like the way in which
the dire hors had called upon the gas consumers
for the increase. It was a question of great
importance to the consumers in the district. As
they had called him to the chair, he would endea.
veer to do all he could whilst in that position.
He would try to shorten the ineeiing by calling
on any one to get up and address the meeting
on the subject.
Mr. T. Homer said he was taken very much
by surprise when he received the notice they
had just heard read in reference to the advanced
price of gas in Cradley Heath. He was sur-
prised from two or three ways. In the first place
he was surprised that the Cradley Heath Gas
Company should be the first to move in this
question. No other company had given notice
that they shonld advance their price. Another
thing that surprised him was that they should
want to take the state of the meters in the mid-
dle of the month. They had taken the state of
the meters before, and why not let it remain till
the end of the quarter. He thought they were
justified in meeting together as consumers to
try to convince the directors that they could
move in the right direction. They were paying
the company a great deal more than other com-
panies were getting. It was true they could not
compare Cradley Heath with such places as Bir-
mingham, where they supply gas at 2s 7d per
1,000 whilst they were paying 3s 9d, and they
want to raise them 3d per 1,000. In reference
to the large consumers of the place, 3d per
1,000 was all the reduction they had at the last
agitation, and consequently the large consumers
will not be any better off. The small consumers
would have some slight benefit. He could not
himself see why the directors took these
steps. It was perfectly true that the coal was
advanced, and also wages were increased, but in
respect to the wages of the men at the gas works,
he was informed there were only four men em-
ployed. Their wages were advanced 2s a bead,
making Sc per week increase. He could not see
why a company like the Cradle}, Heath Gas
Company, making the money they did, should
want to further increase the price of gas. The
directors did not know how long the price of
coal would keep no. He considered the com-
pany had taken an unfair advantage of the eon.
smilers, and he was of opinion that they ought
not to submit to the proposed ad} once. He was
extremely sorry to see so small an attendance.
He had called upon at least 20, and they apolo-
gised for not being able to attend; but they
manifested their disapprobation as to the steps
the directors were taking, and they said they
would be with them in whatever resolution they
may come to. The notice had been very short,
or else he knew there would have been more
present.

Mr. G. Green said it was about 15 months
ago since they agitated about the gas before,
and then the gas company let them have it at 3s
fid per thousand as a maximum. He did not re-
collect that the gas company undertook that it
should not be higher. There was nothing un-
fortunately said about it at their last meeting.
They all understood that it should be so. Ile
did not think that there was any definite arrange-
ment that they should never raise the price
again.. When they got the Act of Parliament
the consumers thought they had niissedu point,
for as soon as they had got the Act of Psi-ha.
ment they could raise the price to 5s per thou-
sand, and they could not be prevented from
doing so. It was useless for him to attempt to
deny that there was a certain reason for the in-
crease. because wages and coal had gone up.
He confessed that he was as much surprised as
Mr. Homer was when he received the notice that
had been read by the chairman. He thought
that they had shown a want of generosity after
capitalising a profit of £l,OOO at four per cent.
interest. •

Mr. Homer again expressed his disapprobation
as to the step the company had taken, and said
if he had to sell a paper he got Id by it, he
could not increase the price of it, but simply
because the gas company had to pay a little more
for wages and coal they must put on 31 per
1,000 on the gas. They the company) stem
now in a position to reduce the price, but they
would not do so, and he considered it was an..
thing but fair to the consumers.
The Chairman urged them to come to some
determination.

Mr. Grainger said he coult not see anything
better than to go and inset the directors, and.
ask them to let it stand over until the quarter
was up. He considered the gas company ouslit
to have let it stand over until the end of the
quarter.
. . .

Nr. Green said it would take them about six
weeks to get at the secretary, and the price
would be charged and the arrangements made
before that time expired.
Mr. Grainger did not think the gas company
ought to go and look at the ine:ers at that time
in the middle of a quarter.
Mr. Green: They can come when they like. •
He then moved the following resolution: " That
considering that the consumers have bit for so
short a time the benefit of the reduced price of
gas, and the extraordinary profits which the Gas
Company previously made, and which, by ar-
rangentea, has been admitted by the compad)
in their Act of Parliament; slat also that no
other gas company in the district has advanced
the price, we feel that in the future, if no other
company follow their example, and the price of
gas to us is not reduced, we must take such steps
as will prevent any advance in the price of gas."
Mr. Harris seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. Woodhouse urged them to stop using the
gas after the 14th.
Mr. Grainger said he should try to do without
the gas at once, and if he found he could do
without it he should stop his gas at once.
Several speakers said they should pursue a
similar course.

Mr. Hower proposed that the Chairman
should write to the directors of the Oas Com-
pany requesting them to postpone their decision
to advance tho price of gas for the present.
Seconded by Mr. Humphreys, and carried
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the
meeting.

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