4th June 1926 - School Attendance

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School Attendance

A meeting of the Buntingford Education Sub-Committee was held at the Board Room on Monday last. Present - The Rev. F.R. Williams (Chairman), The Revd. John Cole, Mrs Dimsdale, Messrs. C. Hummerstone, E.E. Dennis and W.J. May. Mr C. Hummerstone was appointed Vice-Chairman.

The School Attendance Officer presented his report which showed that there were 728 children on the books. Cases of irregular attendances were reported, and dealt with by the Committee.

The Clerk read a communication from the County Council respecting the attendances made by the Nuthampstead children, and this was fully discussed.

Mr W.J. May referred to the evening class syllabus for 1926-1927, and said he hoped that such subjects as Agriculture and Horticulture would be included in the programme. The committee were in favour of this, and the Clerk was instructed to write to the County Council on the matter.

4th June 1926 - Rural District Council

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Rural District Council

A meeting of the Rural District Council followed, Captain H.H. Williams presiding.

The Emergency Committee

The Chairman said he thought the members would like to express their thanks to the volunteer workers who assisted during the recent emergency.

The following resolution was then moved by the Chairman and seconded by Mr C. Hummerstone:

"The R.D.C. wishes to express its sincere appreciation of the assistance afforded it by voluntary workers during the recent emergency.

In particular the thanks of the Council are due to Mr Scarborough Taylor for the time and trouble he gave to the compilation of data relative to the food supplies of the district. The invaluable clerical assistance of Mrs Scarborough Taylor and Mr Frank Fraser is greatfully acknowledged.

The Council is also greatly indebted to a Committee of Traders for advice and suggestions. Messrs. F.W. Butler, S.G. Lees, B. Kennedy and H. Feasey were most helpful in carrying messages and communications by cycle and motor-cycle; and Mr B.E. Thody was of constant assistance in many ways.

Mr Bayman, of Forrest Stores, very kindly obtained food supplies from Bishop Stortford on behalf of the district in general.

Further the Council desires to thanks its officers, Mr E.G. Thody and Mr E.C. Clarke for the generous and untiring manner in which they performed the additional duties which fell to them.

Surveyor's Report

The Surveyor reported as follows:

Isolation Hospital

One patient was admitted on May 5th suffering from scarlet fever. There are no other cases under treatment.

Waterworks

The consumption of water during the past month has been:

1st week - 250,000 gallons.

2nd week - 204,000 gallons.

3rd week - 190,000 gallons.

4th week - 255,000 gallons.

The water level remains at 42ft., being the same as at May last. During the past three weeks the men have been engaged in overhauling the pumps and fitting new couplings. We hope to complete the work this week.

Coal Emergency

The merchants' stocks of coal are getting low, and in view of the circumstances I have communicated with the representative of the Mines Department respecting an offer of foreign coal.

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Speed of Motor Vehicles

The Clerk stated that he had received a communication from the County Council stating that the warning boards for motorists could be erected subject to the sites being approved by the County Council.

Tenders

Tenders were received for painting, &c., the exterior of the Sunny Hill houses.

The following tenders were received, that of Messrs. Attwood & Son being accepted  Mr G. Handy, £192; Messrs. Attwood & Son, £58 16s.

4th June 1926 - Buntingford Board of Guardians

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Buntingford Board of Guardians

The Tramp Question

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

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.J. May, A.J. Hayes, G.C. Wilson and H.E. Dudley, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke), and the Master (Mr F.W. Butler).

Master's Report

The Master reported as follows:

Number of inmates - men 16, women 16, children 2. Total 33.

Corresponding period last year - 36.

During the past month 67 tramps have been relieved, against 1- for the corresponding period of last year.

The Master stated that he viewed the position in the coming winter with alarm, having 25 tramps a week now in the middle of the summer, and with scanty accommodation.

Gifts

Gifts have been received from the following and were greatly appreciated: Mrs Greg, rhubarb and books; Miss Bower, Mrs Camp, Mrs H. May, Rev. L.W. Wright, books.

The Chairman said the Guardians were very grateful to the donors of the gifts.

The question of the large increase in the number of tramps was fully discussed, and it was resolved to invite tenders for more hammocks in the tramp wards. The following resolution, proposed by Mrs Dimsdale, was also passed:

"That this Board views with alarm the continued increase in the number of vagrants seeking admission to the casual wards, and are of opinion that such increase is attributable to the action of the Minister of Health in abolishing the task of oakum picking, and the inability of various Boards of Guardians to prescribe an alternative task, where, in consequence of abnormal numbers and inadequate accommodation, the tasks set out in the Fourth Schedule to the Casual Poor (Relief Order) 1925 cannot in all cases be imposed.

"That representation has been made to the Minister of Health with a view to his authorising the task of oakum picking, in certain cases, more especially in cases of habitual tramps.

"That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Health and all Boards of Guradians in the county."

Amongst the correspondence was a letter from the Gaumont Company asking whether they could quote the Board for a cinema installation. The matter was left over.

19th Nov 1926 - Board of Guardians and Rural District Council

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Board of Guardians and Rural District Council

Monthly Meeting

Mr C. Hummerstone presided at the monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians held on November 11th.

The Master of the Institution (Mr F.W. Butler), reported that the number of inmates was 38. During the month 80 casuals had been admitted.

Gifts had been received from the following: Mrs Greg (books), Mrs H. May (books), Mrs Scarborough Taylor (books), Mrs A. Dixon (cakes), Great Hormead - pre Rev. W.L. Shepherd (vegetables, jam and eggs).

Several relief cases were dealt with, and the Board decided to grant 1/- per week extra coal to persons, for a period of one month, in certain relief cases where the recipients were living solely by themselves.

The Clerk submitted the basis for County Rates for 1927, which showed an increase of £200 on the assessable value for the current year; this increase, however, compared very favourably in proportion to the increases made in other unions in the County.

COUNCIL MEETING

Capt. H.H. Williams presided at the meeting of the Rural District Council which followed.

The Surveyor reported that the Isolation Hospital remained closed. The consumption of water during the past month was 1,060,000 gallons. The work of leathering the pumps has been completed.

Complaints had been made respecting the condition in which the pavements have been left by the contractors who recently opened up the paths for the purpose of laying a telephone cable.

The Clerk was instructed to write to the County Instructor on the matter.

The other business was of a formal nature.