7th January 1927 - Board of Guardians Monthly Meeting

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Board of Guardians

Monthly Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room yesterday.

Present: Mr C. Hummerstone (in the chair), Mr F.B. Cannon (Vice-Chairman), Mrs Dimsdale, Captain H.H. Williams, Messrs. C. Fraser, G. Graves, E. Bygrave, W.H. Kittow, W.J. May, A.H. Hayes, A.W. Page, G.C. Wilson, with the Master (Mr F.W. Butler), the Relieving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin) and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).

House Committee

The House Committee reported as follows:

"The House Committee visited the House today and found everything in a satisfactory condition.

"The inmates expressed their pleasure in having spent a very Happy Christmas.

"The work required to be done in renewing kitchen floor has not been commenced, and we suggest that the contractor should be written to to put this work in hand immediately."

Master's Report

The Master reported as follows:

Number of inmates - men 20, women 15, children 3. Total 38.

Corresponding period last year - 41.

During the month 1 male and 1 female have been admitted.

The Christmas Festivities passed off well and all had a happy time. The inmates wish me to thank the Board for the liberal fare provided.

Through the kindness of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, I do not ask for a collection from the Board, as there is no deficit to meet on the Christmas party. Of the £2 sent by Hertford, I handed 10 of their inmates 2/6 each.

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The Chairman expressed the thanks of the Board to all those who had sent gifts, &c., to the Institution.

Mr W.J. May, in associating himself with the Chairman's remarks said that the as there was no necessity for a collection amongst the Guardians towards the Christmas festivities, he would like to say that there was an old lady, an inmate of the Institution, who would attain the age of 93 years next Monday, and he thought that if any of the members chose to give a small donation it would be handed to her for the purpose of holding a birthday party in the Sick Ward.

This was agreed.

Several cases of relief were dealt with, and instructions given to the Relieving Officer.

A letter was received from the Rev. L.W. Wright, stating that he was unable to attend the meeting owing to illness.

The Chairman expressed a hope that the Rev. Wright would soon be better.

important letters regarding the payment of National Health Insurance benefits to persons while inames of a Poor Law Institution were read, and these will appear in our next issue.

The remaining business was of a formal nature.

4th February 1927 - Board of Guardians

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Board of Guardians

Monthly Meeting

Big Increase in Tramps

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room on Thursday (yesterday).

Present - Mr C. Hummerstone (in the chair), Mr F.B. Cannon (Vice-Chairman), Mrs Dimsdale, The Rev. L.W. Wright, Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. G. Graves, W.J. May, A.J. Hayes, G.C. Wilson, E.J. Marshall, H.C. Marshall, Claud Fraser, A.W. Page, and T.J. Stick, with the Master (Mr F.W. Butler), the Relieving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin) and Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).

The Late Mrs F. Prime

On the proposition of the Chairman, it was unanimously resolved to send a letter of condolence to Mr Frank Prime, of Meesden Bury, on the recent loss of his wife.

Master's Report

The Master reported as follows:

Number of inmates - men 22, women 17, children 2. Total 41. Corresponding period last year - 40.

Number of casuals during month - 174. Corresponding period last year - 21.

During the month two females have died.

Gifts

The following gifts have been received and much appreciated:

Mrs Dimsdale (cake), Mrs Dixon, Mrs Veasey, Mrs J. Smith, Capt. Green (Salvation Army), and Mrs C.H. Poulton - (books).

Casuals

During the past month 174 casuals were admitted, against 21 for the corresponding period last year. Of those admitted this year over 100 are men under 50 years of age, who state they are looking for work on farms.

The present accommodation is sufficient, if the men are discharged the first day after admission.

The Chairman asked if the men were genuinely looking for work on farms, and the Master said that some of them did not appear suitable for farm work.

Relief Cases

Several relief cases were dealt with by the board.

Resolution From Derby

A circular was read from the Derby Union asking for the support of the Board with reference to the following resolution passed by the Derby Guardians:

"This is Board is very concerned and distressed to find so many male applicants for relief who have fought and been maimed and disabled in the great war, and the Country after all promises made on its behalf, has failed to stand by these men and prevent their becoming chargeable to the Poor Law."

It was decided to leave the resolution on the table.

There was little other business and the meeting was followed by the monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council, a report of which will appear next week.

18th March 1927 - Correspondence - Increase of Vagrants and Tramps to the Buntingford District

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Correspondence

To the Editor, Buntingford Gazette.

Increase of Vagrants and Tramps to the Buntingford District.

Sir, Many of the townspeople of Buntingford view with concern the report in your last issue of the large number of casuals admitted to the Buntingford Poor Law Institution.

Not content with two meals and a comfortable night's rest at our expense, some of these "Gentlemen of the Road" make a habit of begging at several doors before they leave us in the morning. Recently I have had two tramps call at my house for food or clothing, and I learn that many householders living on the outskirts of the town are troubled every day by tramps.

It is perhaps not realised that good and bad news spread amongest tramps very quickly, and tramps meeting each other on the road will exchange information of the town each are making for, with the result that a household who gives a pair of old boots to a tramp today is almost sure to receive a call from another tramp tomorrow.

I have taken the trouble to ascertain what food the casuals receive on admission to the Buntingford Union, and the following dietary is of interest:

On admission - 8 oz. bread, half an ounce butter, 1 pint tea.

Breakfast - 8 oz bread, half an ounce butter, 1 pint tea, coffee or cocoa.

On leaving - 8 oz bread, 2 oz cheese.

Dinner (for those who are retained) - 8 oz bread, 2 oz cheese, half an ounce butter, 4 oz. potatoes.

In addition to this, each casual is provided with a warm bed, an unlimited supply of hot water for washing and, if the weather is wet, facilities for drying his clothes and boots.

All casuals who are in possession of an army paper or insurance card or anything to show that they are endeavouring to obtain work are allowed to leave the Union without being given any task whatever.

It will be seen by the above that the Buntingford Guardians are dealing with the casuals in a humane manner, and that it is quite unnecessary for any casual to beg for food on leaving the Institution. None of us like to see a fellow countryman down and out, and in these times, when unemployment is so rife, it is a difficult matter to know whether the tramp to whom we gave an old coat is really grateful, or whether he will sell it at the next town.

Since 1st January 1927, nearly 500 casuals have been admitted to the Buntingford Union; the total for the same period last year was less than 60, and while many of the householders continue to encourage tramps the numbers will increase until there is insufficient accommodation at the Union, and the Ministry of Health compel the Guardians to provide additional wards at the ratepayers' expense.

With apologies for taking up so much of your space,

Yours faithfully,

Ratepayer.

Buntingford, Herts, 16th March, 1927.

11th March 1927 - Buntingford Board of Guardians Monthly Meeting

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Buntingford Board of Guardians

Monthly Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room on Thursday in last week.

Present: Mr C. Hummerstone (in the chair), Mr F.B. Cannon (Vice-Chairman), Mrs Dimsdale, The Rev. L.W. Wright, Captain H.H. Williams, Messrs. G. Graves, E. Bygrave, A.W. Page, E.J. Marchal, A.J. Hayes, W.J. May, F. Prime, G.C. Wilson and H.E. Dudley, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke), the Relieving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin) and the Master (Mr F.W. Butler).

Master's Report

The Master reported that there were 39 inmates in the Institution. During the month five had been admitted and four discharged; one had died. There was again an increase in casuals, 189 being admitted during the past month, again 19 for the corresponding period last year.

The Master also reported that on Wednesday, 1st March, two casuals - Albert Smith and J. Brown - were set a task of woodchipping in one of the cells. When the Master entered at 11.30 a.m., Smith picked up a chopper and threatened him; Brown also became abusive, and the Master entered the cell and tried to eject Brown; in doing so Smith picked up a log of wood and again threatened the Master, who overpowered both men, and later had Smith locked up in another cell for the night.

The man again became abusive, and smashed all the panes of glass in the window. The following morning he was set to pick oakum, and was visited by members of the House Committee.

Mr Butler stated that he had engaged the services of an ex-Police Sergt. to watch the man until his discharge from the casual ward.

The Chairman said he was glad the Master came through his experience unhurt. The question has been raised as to whether the Master should engaged additional assistance when cases such as this arose.

Mr G.C. Wilson said the event was quite a serious matter, and he was of the opinion that the matter of engaging extra help with the casuals should be left to the Master.

This was agreed, the rate of pay per hour or day being fixed.

House Committee

The House Committee reported that they had visited the Institution and had found everything in a satisfactory condition.

It was reported that the night nurse at the Institution had secured another appointment, and the matter of filling the post left to the Matron.

Estimates

The Clerk submitted the estimates for the half-year. The net amount required for common fund charges was £1323 against £1385 for the corresponding period last year.

The produce of a penny rate was £85 10s. - the amount required would therefore mean a rate of approximately 1/4 in the £.

Relief

Several relief cases were dealt with, and instructions given to the Relieving Officer.