Postby dognose » Thu Jun 03, 2021 10:42 am
The plate manufacturers have at last spoken in their corporate capacity. A meeting convened by circulars, and in which every firm in town was represented, has been held in the Cutlers' Hall, to consider the proposed abolition of the plate duties and the abolition of compulsory hall-marking. Mr. Ebenezer Hall, of the firm of Martin and Hall, presided over the meeting, which was not open to the press. Everyone was thus able to speak his mind freely, a privilege which was fully taken advantage of. Mr. Charles Belk produced a draft memorandum of a proposed memorial to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject. The meeting unanimously decided to make a strong representation to Mr. Goschen against the abolition of compulsory hallmarking. With regard to the duties, however, a more protracted discussion took place, the whole matter evidently hinging upon the possibility of dealing in a satisfactory manner with the question of the drawback. Ultimately, upon this part of the subject the meeting was found to be nearly equally divided, a slight majority being in favour of maintaining the status quo. This is a result which I have endeavoured to set forth in these notes for months past, being gathered from the expressed opinions of individual manufacturers. Now, however, that they have spoken as a body, the question may be considered settled, for it is inconceivable that any Chancellor of the Exchequer will oppose the strongly-expressed views of such a meeting as that held at the Cutlers' Hall.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st March 1889
Trev.