8th April 1927 - Rural District Council

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Rural District Council

Captain H.H. Williams presided over the meeting of the Rural District Council which followed, other officers present being - Dr R.A. Dunn (M.O.H.), and the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody).

Surveyor's Report

The Surveyor reported that the Isolation Hospital was closed. The town's consumption of water during the month had been 935,000 gallons, and the water level had risen slightly.

A further supply of disinfectants was required - estimated cost £10 3s.

Drainage

Drainage work had now been completed at the Little Hormead site, and difficulty was now being experienced with the drainage at Cottered; it would be advisable, if possible, to secure a piece of the land adjoining the Council's cottages, for use as a dump.

The Surveyor also asked for instructions as to the cropping of the Buntingford Sewage farm, and stated that sugar beet had been grown there with success during the past year.

After discussing the matter, the Council decided to grow two acres of sugar beet on the farm. It was also agreed to purchase the disinfectants required. The question of the purchase of a piece of ground at Cottered for the disposal of drainage matter from the Council's cottages was left over until the Surveyor had seen Mr Sanders, of Cottered.

A letter was read from Mr Chapman, who has recently erected a bungalow on the London Road, to the effect that, although he had complied with the Surveyor's instructions, as to certain parts of the buolding, he had received a letter from the Clerk to the effect that he was not entitled to the subsidy.

The matter was fully discussed by the Council, and it was unanimously agreed that the Council were in order in not recommending a subsidy.

The Surveyor reported on the rent arrears, and the Chairman said he was very pleased to see that there was an improvement, and that some of the tenants had made an effort to get the arrears down.

The question of adopting bye-laws was again discussed, and the Surveyor presented a draft of the bye-laws which the Council proposed adopting before the war. Mr H.C. Marshall proposed that the Surveyor look through them and report on the matter to a sub-committee consisting of Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. C. Hummerstone and W.J. May.

Mr W.J. May reported on his visit to a conference in London on the Rating and Valuation Act, and was thanked by the Chairman for his interesting and instructive report.

The Clerk read a letter for Sir Charles Longmore to the effect that the work of preparing the Jurors Lists, and registers of electors would now be carried out by two of the Council's rating officers.

Mr C. Hummerstone said the matter required consideration. If the work was being taken out of the hands of the Assistant Overseers, there would be compensation to pay. Some of the Assistant Overseers had been collecting rates, and had been paid no salary for the work, buy they had been receiving certain sums for the preparation of the lists of voters; it was now proposed to take this work from them and give it to the Council's rating officers.

The Clerk said that the amount paid for the preparation of the whole of the lists was approx. £100. He (the Clerk) did not want the job.

Mr G.C. Wilson said he believed thre was a lot of feeling over the matter, and he was anxious, if possible, or giving the Assistant Overseers a chance to carry on.

Mr H.E. Dudley also spoke in a similar way, and after further discussion the Clerk was instructed to write to the County Council for a ruling on the matter.

The North Metropolitan Electric Company submitted plans showing the route of their overhead cable, and these were passed.

The half-yearly estimates were presented by the Clerk. The total required - £3763 - was an increase of £81. There would be a General Rate of 5/- for the district.

Tenders

The following tenders were accepted - Scavenging - Mr C.H. Poulton. Team labour for highways - Mr E.J. Crane.

27th May 1927 - Buntingford Board of Guardians

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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 (yesterday).

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

House Committee

The House Committee submitted the following report:

"The House Committee visited the House this morning, and found everything satisfactory. They think that six dozen tramp rugs will be required before the winter months, and recommend that the Master obtain tenders for them."

Tenders

The following tenders were received for repairs to the laundry ceiling and for the erection of new lavatories:

Laundry:

Mr C.E. Harradence - £11 11s. 0d.

Mr J. Aylott - £15 10s. 0d.

Mr C.H. Poulton - £17 19s. 0d.

Lavatories:

Mr C.E. Harradence - £70 15s. 0d.

J Hamilton & Co. - £72 15s. 2d.

Mr C.H. Poulton - £76 5s. 0d.

Mr Claud Fraser proposed that Mr C.E. Harradence's tenders be accepted. This was agreed by the Board.

Master's Report

The Master reported as follows:

Number of inmates for the week ending May 21st - men 17, women 16, total 33.

Corresponding period last year - 33.

Casuals - men 80, women 4, children 2.

During the month three persons have been discharged and two admitted.

Casuals

During the month the following casuals have been admitted - Men 279, women 18, children 10.

The figures for the corresponding period last year were - Men 67, women 3, children 0.

Of the men, 200 were ex-soldiers and genuine workers. Eight were unable to work, and 71 were tasked. Only five were on the books of the Labour Exchange; the majority of the others call themselves farm labourers.

Unless there is a big drop in the number of unemployed I doubt if our accommodation will be sufficient for the winter months. On some nights now our accommodation is taxed to its limits.

Gifts

The following gifts have been received and much appreciated: Mrs Veasey, books; Mrs B.E. Thody, books.

10th June 1927 - Education Committee

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Education Committee

School Attendance

Fewer Exemptions from School to be granted

A meeting of the Buntingford Education Committee was held at the Board Room on Tuesday morning. Mr C. Hummerstone occupied the chair and others present being The Rev. F.R. Williams, the Rev. John Cole and Mr E.E. Dennis, with the clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).

The most important business down for discussion related to exemptions from school in respect of children attaining the age of 14 years. In ordinary cases a child attaining the age of 14 years has to remain at school until the end of the term, but the Committee have power to grant exemptions to such scholars for the remainder of the term where cases of suitable employment has been offered the child.

The County Council have now issued instructions that in cases where exemption is granted the name of the scholar must remain on the register until the end of the term, a procedure which seriously affects the attendance average.

In view of this the Committee at their meeting on Tuesday decided that in future applications for exemption in respect of scholars attaining the age of 14 years during the currency of a term will, in future, only be granted in exceptional cases.

The Committee also decided that where applications for exemption have been made the scholars must continue to attend school until notice has been received to the effect that the applications have been granted.

The meeting expressed thanks to Mr E.E. Dennis for the way in which the evening classes had been conducted during the past session, and the chairman said they viewed with satisfaction the report of the success attained by two students in the shorthand classes, and it was decided to proceed with the arrangements for the classes to be held during the 1927-28 session, which would consist of Junior and Senior Woodwork, Shorthand and Office Routine, Book-keeping and English and Cookery.

10th June 1927 - Fatal Holiday Accident

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Fatal Holiday Accident

Motor-Cyclist Collides with Cart

Whilst motor cycling for [from?] Chatham, where he was stationed, to West Riding, on Friday last, Flagman Ernest A. Shoobridge collided with a farm cart at a dangerous corner in Cottered and was killed instantly.

There is a sign post on the corner and it is thought that the deceased, who had lost his correct route, looked up at the sign post and failed to notice the approach of a farm cart.

The district coroner, Mr H.F. J. Banham, conducted the inquest, which was held at the Cottered Rectory on Saturday evening last, when the following were sworn on the jury: Messrs. W.N. Sanders (foreman), J. Smith, J. Darton, W. Hills, C. Smith, W. Deards, W. Hummerstone, B.A. Edwards, T. Kingsley, J. Warner, H. Sheppard, G. Fenner, and F. Hummerstone.

Eric Sellers, a leading seaman in the Royal Navy, who was accompanying the deceased on another motor-cycle, said "We left Chatham on Friday morning at 6.30 for Nessborough, Yorks. The deceased was riding a 3 and a half h.p. Norton motorcycle. I was riding in front of my friend, and as I passed the corner I noticed a cart on the right side of the road, but I had no difficulty in getting by.

I happened to glance round and saw the deceased looking at the sign post; he turned his head back, and as he did so I saw a surprised look on his face as though he had noticed the cart and did not know what to do. I then heard a crash, and on going back found my friend lying across the road. He appeared to be dead. His speed at the time of the accident would be about 12-15 miles per hour."

Sidney Andrews, a carter, of Moor Green, Ardeley, said "On Friday, 3rd June, I was in charge of a horse and cart on the road from Cottered to Buntingford. As the horse approached the corner a motor-cycle passed, and immediately afterwards came another in the same direction. The second cyclist crashed into the hose, which was only moving at walking pace.

Part of the horse's harness was broken, and when I went to deceased he was lying in the road by the wheel. When the accident occurred I was about one yard from the near side of the road."

James Fuller, a roadman employed by the H.C.C., said "I was working near the corner in question on Friday, June 3rd, when I noticed two motor-cycles coming from the direction of Buntingford. The first one passed me all right, but the second one, which came on about 15-20 yards behind, took a big sweep; the rider shut off the engine and put out his right foot as if to save himself.

The cycle swayed, and I saw the rider strike the horse and then fall into the road. I went round the cart, but the deceased appeared to be dead."

Frederick James Savage, of High Street, Walkern, a labourer, also working on the corner, gave similar evidence.

Alfred James Ives, a police constable, stationed at Cottered, said "On Friday, 3rd June, about 10.15 a.m., I received a report that a motor-cycle accident had occurred on the Buntingford road. I went to the scene of the accident and saw a Norton motor-cycle lying close to the wheel of a cart which was standing on the north side of the road and facing north-east.

I found that the rider of the motor-cycle was lying with his right leg over his machine. His skull was crushed, and he was quite dead. The machine was slightly damaged. The width of the road at the particular point was 18ft. 6ins. There was 9ft. 6 ins. between the offside wheel of the cart and the other side of the road."

Dr R.W. Fell, of Buntingford, said "On arriving at the scene of the accident I saw the deceased lying on his back across the road. There was a lot of blood in the road and the deceased was dead. On examining the body I came to the conclusion that he must have struck his head on the shaft of the cart, and have died instantly."

The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death," the foreman requested the coroner to repot on the dangerous corner to the Herts. County Council.