GUARDIANS at Bromsgrove workhouse had been forced to re-advertise in the Messenger for a cook after having no applicants for the job when an advert had previously appeared. However, they were more hopeful after increasing the salary by £4 to £24 per year. But this did not include the successful candidate's washing, lodging, uniform or any entitlement to free beer.

THE sleepy village of Belbroughton would never be the same again. It was announced that on February 7, a motor omnibus service was to open between Stourbridge town station and Belbroughton. Passengers could alight or mount the bus at four or five stops along the way.

DROITWICH had 42 licensed premises to cater for a population of 4,168 residents, or one for every 90 persons, the Spa's annual licensing sessions heard. Superintendent Beale reported that last year there had only been 26 cases of drunkenness, far less than usual. This, it was said, was not due to the present depressed state of trade in the borough, but rather to the fact that morals were improving.

JOHN Wilcox, 45, a labourer from Rubery, appeared at Bromsgrove Police Court charged with being drunk and disorderly in New Road, and was fined 3/6 (17.5p) plus costs. Without leaving the dock he was immediately charged with failing to maintain his wife. Magistrates heard he now owed the staggering sum of £15/10/0 (£15.50) and had gone back on his promise to pay it off at 4/- (20p) a week. Magistrates considered this a more serious offence as the wife was a liability on the parish and sentenced him to two months' jail.