The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-16 00:00:00

THE TRADE OF BIRNILNGHAIIL

A meeting of the iron and coal masters of the
Wolverhampton district was held at the Swan
Hotel, in that town, on Wednesday afternoon, the
purpose being to consider the propriety of reducing
the wages of the thin coal and stonemen in that
part of the country 3d. per day. A lengthened
discussion took place, but no decision was come to,
it being resolved to postpone any definite reduction
on the subject for a fortnight. It is very likely,
however, that the reduction as proposed will be car-
ried out, although the high price of provisions makes
the trade reluctant to adopt a proceeding of that
character, especially at this period of the year. But
the scale of wages is so thoroughly disproportionate
to the price of pig-iron, that it is scarcely possible
for the contemplated reduction to be any longer
postponed, having in view, too, the measure of a
like character which is about to take place in Wales,
as referred to under this head last week. At pre-
sent the contemplated reduction is confined to the
district specified, so that the thick coal men in the
Oldbury and Stourbridge district will not be af-
fected
by it. The demand for pig iron is said to'
exhibit increased animation, and mine pigs are
quoted at 41. per ton, hut the instances are excep•
tonal, anclfor a very superior make where that
price is obtained, the average being about 3/. 15s.
per ton, which, considering the labour scale,. and
the price of material, is too low to be remunerative.
As regards manufactured iron there has been no
change this week ' • some of the works continue t{,
be better off for orders than they were a few weeks
since ; but, notwithstanding this improvement, the
trade is fiat. It is true that there is a fair demand
for finished iron generally for home use, and that.
the shipping orders are upon the whole good ; hut
a stimulant is wanted to impart to it as much ani -
tn.aztion as is desirable. The only prospect of ob-
t 'ling this at present is by reducing prices to the
extent of
1/. per ton. This would, no doubt, be
followed, b
The
high'Amoota
price here has very much checked the
eric
or
trade for the last eight or nine months ;
com etc not
p suY does it enable the ironmasters there to
try, but it iaelZfil•lP'Y with the trade in this coon-
that quarter, whiZ ta the extension of works.. :,r,
upon
vmust ultimately have a v.try serious effect
lel trade here. A reduc`,/0n cf
, . prices will go far to it a stop to this. A declara-
tradetie,n of this natns,!s at the next meet;sg
wed las orders f
would be folio of the
for z amount
sufficient to secure a greet- -ro'ai the States
of animation
than has prevailed
prices taking so wide a ran" tilr'e) and prevent
cturing the last four months.
%a s. they have dosse
admitted that 8/. per ton e: is pretty gene .all
price for all parties ; the
raa.,,aebt at'e is the best
nerally do better with a, .nled,,_ll.ritig ts-saes ges
kiad, whereas high pricks have a treantee treice of that
various branches, and. iromnastes. lenoy to check
not in the long rnn benefit t,s4,:themselves do
prices; such as have occasional:i‘ 'ipt,""rnporary high
. . j (mailed d • the last few yearn,,' hut which have, inva. using
succeeded by whore than '.s
correspoodinigatly been
of depressions The yseliminary ineetinsr omfonnt
ironinastera will take. place on the 24th hletant"
Wolverhampton. A. strong feeling exists as tettba:
desirability of a reduction to the extent of 1/. ',er-
ten ; several of the first-class makers are said to iss-
full of orders, and consequently, opposed to any
alteration. In these circumstances, any opinion
as to winat their resolve is likely to be must he mare
speculation. In. Scotch pigs there has not been any
activity for same time past,. but present . rates are
reported firm. All the Russian iron is sold, and
ria'more is 'expected this season beyond- what is on
Its way for Sheffield houses.
The
.
The rise in the -
ice of coer announced last
meek has been followed badvance in the price
y an
of brass r 3.
0 :O. per lb. The metal-rollers have also
held a mee •
meeting, at- which measures were agreed
hen for
.Or securing
• more complete uniformity' as to
iunimum nri f brass wire androlled metal,
genFimi3thitai.: e9,S)
bieThiEherto prevailed. .lost .of
the brass's -
branches affected
and the Manufacturers in ()thee
• town __
0.7 td by the rise in copper, both in the
this
w4enelktblen district, have issued fresh circulars
discounts. Tahossueouiug further reductions of their
: ferent trades ; ha ofth course, vary with the dif
the two advanceß is about.'
average reduction, upon
it is as high as 10 per 2; in some instances
the former rate is cent. net ; for gas Lubins
the part of the bout the mark. Ou
factors there is mueli
complaint of the amount of inconvenience
and labour which fluctuations of this kind entail
upon them. With respect to the future of
per trade, the most reliable authorities o'it,h of thq,
smelters' circle incline to the opinion X
be no furthei: adVa:llo4 in the psiee at p,..tes, eire 7:1
purpose, that of checking speculation, -I
-"6
--)having teen