Scholastic
At a recent examination of the Associated Board of the R.A.M. and Royal College of Music, the following pupils of Miss L.M. Baker passed, as stated:
Elementary - Rachel Prime, with distinctions. Joan Roberson and Mary Fell, honourable mention.
Lower class - Mary Feasey, Jean Weir and Miriam Brand, honourable mention.
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.
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.
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.
Buntingford Rural District Council
Monthly Meeting
The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held at the Board Room on Thursday in last week.
Present: Capt. H.H. Williams (in the chair), Messrs. C. Hummerstone, F.B. Cannon, 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 Medical Officer of Health (Dr R.A. Dunn), and the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody).
Surveyor's Report
The Surveyor reported that the Isolation Hospital remained closed.
The consumption of water for the past month has been 1,075,000 gallons.
The Surveyor also reported that Mr C. Reed, of Cottered, had submitted plans for a proposed bungalow to be erected by him at Cottered. The plans were in order.
There was also a report on the water supply at Wakeley cottages, the Surveyor reporting that they reservoir needed repairing and adequate means taken to ensure protection of the water from pollution.
Cottered Drainage
The Surveyor reported that he had again inspected the site adjoining the Cottered cesspool, and he suggested that a small Sub-Committee be appointed to view it.
The Chairman, Mr H.E. Dudley and Mr T.J. Stick arranged to meet on the site on Saturday.
The Clerk stated that the Anstey Parish Meeting had submitted the name of Mr Herbert S. Ward, of Bandons, Anstey, as a candidate to fill the vacancy on the Board caused through the death of Mr James C. Pigg.
Bye-Laws
Copies of the proposed Bye-laws which had been drafted by a Sub-Committee of the Council were submitted to the members.
The Chairman said that two of the members of that Sub-Committee were strongly in favour of the adoption of bye-laws, but one wished to reserve his judgment. If, however, the Council decided to adopt hte bue-laws, that member was of the opinion that those drafted would be most suitable.
In commenting on the drafts submitted, Captain Williams said the intention of the Council was not to draft anything in the way of interfering laws, but he thought that it was a mark of progress that they should have something that would be a guide to the people.
Mr G.C. Wilson moved a vote of thanks to the Sub-Committee for the way in which they had gone into the matter.
It was decided to adjourn the matter for a period of four months.
A further letter was read from Mr Chapman, of London Road, Buntingford, with reference to his application for a subsidy in respect of the bungalow recently erected by him. The Clerk stated that the letter had been sent to the Council by the Ministry of Health, and he had replied to the Ministry, and furnished them with all particulars of the case. The matter was left over until the Ministry has dealth with the Clerk's letter.
Dr R.A. Dunn submitted his annual report of vital and general statistics, an observation of which appears in another column. In answer to a question by the Chairman, Dr Dunn said that cancer is distinctly a disease of old age.
The Council confirmed the appointment of the 2 rating officers to carry out the work in connection with the Registration of Electors' Lists and the preparationg of the Juror Lists.
Mr F.B. Cannon urged that the Council draw the attention of the County Council to the dangerous corner near the Sandon turning at Chipping Bridge. Several accidents had occurred there, and there had been a smash up on the corner that morning.
It was resolved to write the County Council on the matter.
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At the meeting of the Guardians, Mr H.C. Marshall suggested that the Board approach the North Metropolitan Electric Light Co. with a view to obtaining an estimate for wiring the Poor Law Institution.