Board of Guardians
Monthly meeting
Poor law reform
The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room yesterday.
Present - Mr W.J. May (in the chair), Capt E.T. Morris, Capt H.H. Williams, the Rev L.W. Wright, Messrs A.W. Page, H.C. Marshall, Claud Fraser, E. Bygrave, J.C. Pigg, F.B. Cannon, H.E. Dudley, A.J. Hayes, W.H. Kittow, C. Hummerstone, G. Graves, and G.C. Wilson with the Master (Mr F.W. Butler), the Reliving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin), and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
Master's Report
The Master reported as follows:
Number of inmates - men 23, women 15, children 2. Total 40.
Corresponding period for last year 45.
During the month 2 males have been admitted and 1 has died.
The following gifts have been received: Hormead Mothers' Union, cakes, tobacco and cigarettes; Mr C Hummerstone, books; Mr E.G. Thody, apples.
Relief
The Relieving Officer presented his report and several cases were dealt with.
House Committee
The House Committee report that they had inspect the Institution and found everything satisfactory.
Poor Law Reform
Mr H.C. Marshall said the question of the reform of Poor Law Administration had been fully discussed by the County Council, and it might be interesting to the Board if he explained what the County Council thought of the scheme. The County Council did not like the scheme and they felt that they have as much work at present as they were able to cope with. They also felt that if the proposed reform came in to force the administration would not be done any better, but would cost more money. (Hear hear).
The County Council realise that in the County the work of the Board of Guardians had been exceedingly wel done. There was also the danger of a flat rate of relief, and the Chairman of the County Council thought that what would be a sufficient scale for Buntingford and Sawbridgeworth would not be fair for Watford or St Albans (Hear, hear).
The County Council say that if the reform is passed they will do their best, and they hope that who have done such good work in the past will come forward and help (Hear, hear).
The Chairman said they were very grateful to Mr Marshall for his remarks. They had a book on the proposed reform, and he thought it would be best to adjourn the matter until the next meeting. It might be suggested that a letter be sent to the Ministry, stating that the Board did not agree with the scheme.
Mr H.C. Marshall: I think it would be advisable to wait a bit; meanwhile we might formulate a resolution to send to other Boards of Guardians in the county.
Mr C. Fraser: I am sure we all agree with what Mr Marshall has said, and we are very grateful to him. A delay of a month might be beneficial.
Captain Morris: Is there any necessity to adjourn the matter? The County Council have said that they do not agree with the reform and we have endorsed their views. Why then discuss the matter further?
Mr C. Hummerstone said he had spent some time reading a book on the subject, and he thought there was nothing in it of any use.
Capt Williams said he did not think the Board wished to turn the matter down at this stage. They might say that they would discuss it at the next meeting, and then put forward any reasonable argumenents.
A general discussion then followed, in which Mr W.H. Kittow, the Rev L.W. Wright, and Mr H.E. Dudley took part. It was finally agreed to discuss the matter fully at the next meeting.
Rates
The Clerk reported that the County Council had asked for payment of one of the County Rates, and that a cheque had been drawn for three rates.
The Clark also reported that the average cost of upkeep for each inmate for the ending 25th March 1925, was 10/1 and quarter penny, against 9/7 and halfpence for 1924, and 10/4 for 1923.
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