Board of Guardians
Monthly Meeting
The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held on Thursday (yesterday).
Present: Mr C. Hummerstone (in the chair), Mrs Dimsdale, Capt. E.T. Morris, Capt. H.H. Williams, The Rev. L.W. Wright, Messrs G. Graves, A.J. Hayes, G.C. Wilson, H.E. Dudley, T.J. Stick, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke), the Master (Mr F.W. Butler) and the Relieving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin).
House Committee
The following report was submitted.
The House Committee visited the House today, the work of distempering the male casual ward has been completed, and the condition of the building is very satisfactory.
The committee have no suggests to make involving further expenditure.
Katherine J. Dimsdale, Harold H. Williams, G.C. Wilson.
Master's Report
The Master reported as follows:
Number of inmates - men 15, women 15, children 2. Total 32.
Number admitted to casual wards 16.
Corresponding figures for last year - men 20, women 16, children 2. Total 38.
Tramps 2.
Two females, aged 70 and 92 respectively, have been admitted during the month.
A committee of the Hertford Guardians paid a visit on September 5th, and left a report in the visitors book.
Gifts
The following gifts have been received and much appreciated by the inmates.
Cheque £2 - Hertford Guardians.
Eggs - Salvation Army.
Papers - Mrs Dixon
Fruit and vegetables - Westmill Harvest Thanksgiving per Rev. A.G. King.
Fruit, vegetables and eggs - Meesden Harvest Thanksgiving per Rev. W. McKerr
Grapes and fruit - Layston Harvest Thanksgiving, per Mrs Howard
Daily Mail for past year - Mrs Anderson
Weekly Mail for Blind - Mr H.C. Marshall
Books and magazines - British Red Cross Library
Mrs L.M. Baker brought her pupils and sang Harvest Hymns in the sick wards and distributed tea, eggs, fruit &c.
Casuals
During the past month 78 have been relieved, against 13 last year.
Labour Master
Mr R. Budd, the labour master, has been appointed porter at Luton. Would the Board kindly give Mr Budd a testimonial.
The Chairman said it was pleasing to note the number of gifts received during the month. The Board were very grateful to the donors and especially to Miss Baker and her pupils for giving the aged inmates a share in the thanksgiving of Harvest.
It was decided to give Mr Budd a testimonial and the Chairman was authorised to sign it.
Fire Protection
The Minimax Co. reported that the fire extinguishers at the Institution had been recently inspected and found to be in order.
Books
Mrs Dimsdale stated that the Hormead School Library Committee had several books which they would be pleased to hand over to the Guardians for the use of the inmates of the Institution.
The Chairman said he thought the books would be very acceptable, and no doubt the Master could put up some shelves.
Captain Williams and the Rev. Wright expressed their thanks to Mrs Dimsdale for the offer.
The Late Mr E. Pigg
The Clerk read a letter from the family of the late Mr Edward Pigg expressing their thanks for the expression of sympathy passed at the last Board meeting and for the wreath sent.
Hertford Boarders
A letter was read from the Hetford Union authorising the continuance of relief to persons resident in the Buntingford Union and relieved on behalf of the Hertford Union, for a further period of 14 weeks.
Visitors
The following remarks were entered in the House Committee register by visitors from the Hertford House Committee:
"We visited the Institution and found the inmates most comfortable and happy.
The Master and Matron are particularly patient and kind to all. The Box girls are greatly improved. With regard to the Dimsdale Charity, any surplus money might be used on 'bus rides or little outings in any way the Matron and Master think best."