2nd July 1926 - Agricultural Show

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Agricultural Show

We hear from the Hon. Sec. of the Agricultural Show that the entries are well up to expectations, and members of the Society in this district are supporting it will by sending exhibits in spite of it being held at Hertford.

We wish them every success, and feel certain that as usual the other parts of the county will find that the horses and cattle around Buntingford are very hard to beat.

Mr S.G. Lees is again in charge of the construction of the Show Yard, and is being assisted by others from Buntingford. The cattle entries are a record, and on the entertainment side the trotting and pony races should prove a very exciting event.

All people in Buntingford regret that circumstances forced a change of venue, but we are assured that the committee are very hopeful that sufficient financial success will be obtained at Hertford, so that the Society may again hold their Annual Show at Buntingford.

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.

14th May 1926 - Correspondence

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Correspondence

We have received the following letter from Mr G. Scarborough Taylor, who has been acting as Transport Officer to the Buntingford district on behalf of the Ministry of Transport Committee for Hertfordshire:

To the Editor, Buntingford Gazette.

Dear Sir,

I trust you will permit me to thank the following for their very ready and willing assistance they gave in help me carry out duties in connection with haulage of food supplies during the recent strike:

Mr Bayman, of Forrest Stores, who obtained food supplies from Bishops Stortford on behalf of the district, and for seeing the various grocers so as to ensure no shortage;

Messrs F.W. Butler, S.G. Lees, B. Kennedy and H. Feasey, for their time and use of motor cycles and bicycles in going round the district;

Mr Frank Fraser and Mrs Scarborough Taylor for their clerical assistance and tabulating records of food supplies;

and last, but certainly not least, to Mr B.E. Thody for the almost continual and numerous ways he has readily assisted.

Yours faithfully,

G. Scarborough Taylor

Buntingford, May 13th, 1926.

14th May 1926 - The Great Strike

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The Great Strike

The General Strike was called off by the Council of The Trades' Union Congress at 1.15 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister had made it quite clear that the Strike had to be called off without conditions being entered into by the Government.

It is the view of many that the steadfastness displayed by the people as a whole really brought about the decision to abandon the General Strike. The Trade Union leaders, it is thought, must have seen that this weapon was, in the long run, bound to tell. If the Strike had not been called off by the T.U.C. there would, in a few days time, have been no strike to call off, so numerous were men returning to work.

As Mr Baldwin said, it was a victory for the common sense of the best part of the people of the United Kingdom.

BUNTINgFORD EMERGENCY COMMITTEE

During the recent crisis, the Buntingford Rural District Council formed themselves into a District Emergency Committee, and meetings were held on Thursday, Saturday, and Tuesday.

It was stated that under the Emergency Act of 1926 the Council had been vested with various powers.

Captain E.T. Morris stated that the ratepayers of the district should know that their representatives on the Council were watching matters on their behalf.

The question of food supplies was discussed at the meeting on Thursday, and returns called for from local traders.

The Chairman (Captain H.H. Williams) and Mr Scarborough Taylor undertook the work of securing returns from the Buntingford tradesmen, and these were carefully tabulated by Mrs Scarborough Taylor, Mr Claud Fraser, and helpers.

At the meeting of the Emergency Committee, held at the Board Room on Saturday, Mr Scarborough Taylor was co-opted on the Committee. He reported that with the assistance of Mr F.W. Butler, Mr B.E. Thody, and Mr B. Kennedy, he had made a survey of the whole of the Buntingford district, and that foodstuffs appeared sufficient to meet the normal demands of the public for some time.

The Council thought this was most re-assuring.

TRANSPORT

On Monday, Mr Scarborough Taylor, who was appointed Transport Officer for the Buntingford district, made a complete list of all the motor transport which could be called upon for the conveyance of foodstuffs to the district.

FREE CANTEEN

Matters became so well organised that by Wednesday morning it was found practicable to establish a free canteen for all lorry drives passing through the town. The canteen was opened at Mr Maughan's office in the High Street, and a large notice was posted up to the effect that drivers of lorries and special constables on duty could obtain free refreshments between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.

There was a general rush of volunteers to assist with the scheme, and four shifts were arranged: Mr H.C. Marshall and Mr F.W. Butler taking the first turn from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Mr G.H. Maughan and Mr G. Scarborough Taylor from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., Mr C.S. Knowles, Mr S. Lees and Mr H.A. Thody from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., and Mr H. Clarke and Mr B.E. Thody from 5 a.m to 8 a.m.

During Wednesday night, 87 drivers of lorries were entertained at the Canteen, and all were very grateful for the hospitality shown. A large number of the men were on long-distance trips, and as some were on their journey to London from the North it was decided to run the canteen on Thursday night also. Again many drivers took advantage of the opportunity for a rest and refreshment.

Thanks are due to the ladies' committee, who were responsible for the provisions. The committee were Mrs H.C. Marshall, Mrs G. Scarborough Taylor, Mrs Amstrong, Mrs G.H. Maughan and Mrs E.G. Thody.

TRAMS AND BUSES

Although there were no trains on the Buntingford Branch a service of buses was started on Monday morning, the Buntingford driver taking the 8.10 bus to Ware as usual.

THE NEWS

The welcome news that the strike was to be called off, was made known by wireless shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The announcer said further announcements would be held over for a few minutes as some important news was expected.

After a few minutes wait, he read a message from No. 10, Downing Street, to the effect that the Trades' Union Congress had decided to call off the strike. Within a few minutes flags were flying from many windows in the High Street.

NEWSPAPERS AND THE STRIKE

As was generally expected no papers reached Buntingford during the first two or three days of the strike. A British Gazette was posted up at the Police Station on Thursday, and two strike specials were issued in the district. This paper and the Hertfordshire Mercury published their usual editions on Friday.

On Sunday evening a supply of Continental Daily Mails, brought from France by aeroplane, were delivered in the town, and there was a ready sale for the paper, which contained photographs of strike scenes in London.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the British Gazette was freely sold in the district, and gave confidence.