Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

ABERYSTWYTH. BY-ELECTION. — This election took place on Saturday. The candidates were Robert Doughton (L), T Doughton (L), R P Fear (C), and C Meehan (I). The result was declared the same evening by the Mayor (Councillor R J Jones) as follows :—R Doughton, 517; R P Fear, 258; T Doaghton, 248; C Meehan, 189. There were 14 spoilt papers. Mr R Doughton was therefore declared elected, and both be and Mr Fear returned thanks for the way they had been supported. A vote of thanks was passed to the mayor, town clerk, and other officials on the motion of Councillor R Doughton, seconded by Mr Fear.-The Mayor haying acknowledged the vote of thanks the meeting closed. TOWN COUNCIL.—TUESDAY. Present: Councillor R J Jones (mayor), Alder- men E P Wynne (ex-mayar), Peter Jones, and W H Palmer, Councillors C M Williams, J P Thomas, J T Davies, T J Samuel, W Thomas, R Doughton, G F Roberts, E H James, T E Salmon, with Mr A J Hughes (town clerk), Mr Massey (deputy clerk), Mr H L Evans (accountant), Mr Rees Jones (sur- veyor), Dr Thomas (medical officer), and Mr Phelix (rate collector). LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD ACTIVITY. After repeated applications the Town Clerk said that two letters had been received from the Local Government Board. The first, dated November 25, said the Board had received the report made by Inspector Bard with reference to the application of the Council for leave to sell certain lands in Smithfield road to the Light Rail. way Company. The Board understood from the report that the question of area was not decided, but when that was settled a fresh memorial under the seal of the Guardians will be necessary. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee.—A second letter, dated November 28, was also read. The Board had received the report of Inspector North in reference to the application of the Corporation for leave to borrow R6,000, linca increased to £7,500, for alterations and additions to the Town Hall. In this case also the Board asked for a supplemental application in a memorial. The Board also advised the Council to adopt Sec. 33 of the Local Government Act so that they might be invested with powers of Pariah Councils to enable them to carry out the proposal. embraced in the application. There was also a difficulty in making provision for an art room in the new building under the Municipal Corporation Act, and the Board suggested that the loan should be applied for under the Public Libraries Act, and a balance sheet showing the receipts and expendi. ture of the Public Library should be sent to them. -Councillor W Thomas suggested that the Town Clerk should at once deal with the latter part of the second letter.—The Mayor: I take it that the Town Clerk will reply at once.—The Town Clerk promised to do so. THE BYE-LAWS. Alderman Palmer asked when were they likely to call together a meeting of the Committee appointed to revise the bye-laws.—The Mayor said that copies of the bye-laws were being handed round to certain members to reportupon them. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT. Alderman Jones presented the report of this Committee. The Committee recommended that. Snwavor £ shonld the new entrance to ot Michael s Churchyard. The Surveyor was also instructed to report on any barbed wire fencing adjoining footpaths in and outside the Borough. The tender of Mr Richard Morgan was accepted for the supply of horse pro- render. The Committee instructed the Surveyor to obtain an estimate of the cost of repairing the road at the back of the Hostel. Then followed a list of plans approved by the Committee.—Coun- cillor Doughton seconded the report.—In reply to Aldarman Palmer who asked what had been done in reference to the extension of the Borough, the Town Clerk said the matter was in the hands of the Finance Committee.-—Councillor Roberts drew attention to the report of the Committee which however did not contain a record of the medical officer's report which he understood was presented to the Committee.—The Mayor said that it was the custom to publish them once a year but not quarterly.—Councillor Roberts said that they heard so much as to the sanitation of the town that some record that the report of the doctor had been sub- mitted should be placed in the report of the Committee.—Councillor Salmon Is the Medical Officer to lead his report here to-day ? — The Mayor: It is not usual.— Councillor W Thomas supported the proposal that a record of the re- port should appear on the minutes.—Councillor Samuel: I propose as an amendment that the re- port be read.—Councillor C M Williams said that it was surely an oversight that the report did not appear in the report.—Alderman Jones said this was the reason.-The report was then adopted. PENPARKE. In reply to Councillor Samuel, the Town Clerk said that he would report at the next meeting upon the question of macadamising the back streets of the Penparke village. GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. Councillor J P Thomas presented the report of this committee which stated that the several matters had been deferred. Several advertising agents had been written to respecting advertising the town during the winter months, and they hoped to have a full report by the next meeting.—The report was adopted. R FINANCE. Alderman E P Wynne presented the report of the Finance Committee, which recommended pay. ment of bills and wage sheets amounting to LBOO 16s lOd. The committee recommended that a general district rate of Is 2d and a water rate of Is should be made for the ensuing six months.- Councillor W Thomas was of opinion that if the general district had been recouped to the full extent of the money received to help the water works accounts, then they should take into con- sideration the question of reducing the water rate. --Alderman Wynn said that that time had not arrived when they could reduce the water rate. The committee found that they were actually pay- ing out of the general district rate sums which ought to be charged to the water rate, and in future more would be charged to the water rate than had been done in the past.-The report was adopted.- Councillor Davies asked if they paid income tax on the water rate. The Town Clerk: Yes.— The Mayor said that this was the point in favour of Councillor W Thomas, but at present they were not in a position to make any alteration. PRINTING. Councillor Salmon sa.id that certain paragraphs were appearing in the local papers to the effect that printing was sent out of the town which could be done cheaper in the town. Was this true ?-The Mayor: Better place it upon the agenda for next meeting. THE MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT. Councillor Samuel asked was he in order in ask- ing that the report of the medical officer should be read that day.—The Mayor I understood that it was not to be read.—Councillor Samuel: Shall I be in order to propose it.-Alderman Palmer snggested that the report should be printed.- Alderman Jones said there was no objection to the report being read. Councillor Samuel said that there were cer- tain suspicions about the town and if the remarks applied to him by Councillor C M Williams were true, why should they be afraid of the report?- Councillor C M Williams What were the reports P -Councillor Samuel: That Aberystwyth can com- pare with any other place, and if so, then it will be an advertisement to print the fact.—Councillor C M Williams You must take an average.—Councillor Samuel objected to these interruptions. There were rumours around the town that things were worse than they really were. Let them face the facts whatever they were.—Councillor Roberts said that it was merely a farce for the doctor to come there, put his report on the table, and go away without a question being asked him; why couldn't the report be sent out quarterly with the agenda ?-The Mayor said that the report I was read at the Finance Committee which all the mem- bers bad a right to attend. He had proposed on one occasion to have the report printed quarterly, but he was out-voted.—Councillor Roberts said he was laid up and could not attend the meeting of the committee.- Councillor Salmon proposed that the report be placed on the agenda for the next meet- ing.—Councillor Davies seconded.—The proposal was at once agreed to.—Councillor Williams got up to say that there was nothing to hide. The report was printed annually and the quarterly reports were embodied in it, but he heartily supported printing it quarterly. More damage was done by insinuations and innuendos, and he said again that Aberystwyth-The Mayor; I must ask you to desist. The question has been decided; you can discuss it at the next meeting if you like. You are entirely out of order.- Councillor W Thomas What is our position with respect to the future?—The Mayor It is open for any member to give notice. The Council then went into committee, BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—MONDAY. Mr W Morris presided and there was a large attendance of members. APPLICATION. Dr Bonsall wrote applying for an increase of salary as medical officer for the house and the Aberystwyth parish. Hispresentsalaryaftoi twelve years' service was X25 per annum, and this as they would know did not cover working expenses. -The letter was referred to the House Committee. THE STATE OF THE HOUSE. The Clerk read the following report received from Dr Bonsall.-Having repeatedly drawn the attention of the House Committee to the serious defects in this workhouse without satisfactory res a res, x now report to the Hoard with the Fope that immediate steps will be taken to remedy the present injurious state of sanitation and other defects in the construction of the House. The ventilation of the sick ward and dormitories is so defective that the proper renewal of the air in them does not take place. As the Board is BO fortunate in having the co-operation of lady members I desire to point out to them the absence of efficient ventilation and proper arrange- ments in the lying-in ward, and I would suggest that this ward be contained in a semi-detached wing of the house. Baths adjoining the sick wards are required: The patients in the sick wards have no means within the wards of summoning the nurse in the event of her attendance being urgently needed. At my request the Master of the House has supplied me with the attached table showing the death rate during the past 12 years to have been on an average 8 5-12ths per annum—64 of the deaths occurred over the age of 60 years and several of these were in a moribund state when admitted to the House. An improvement in the comfort and sanitary arrangements of the House might tend to prolong the lives of the inmates. The want of receiving wards renders the inmates aLd officials of the House liable to the risk of contract- ing infectious and contagious diseases. It will be within the recollection of some members of the Board that a case of smallpox was admitted to the casual wards and detained in the fever ward for nearly two months. A similar danger might occur with disastrous results through the want of receiving wards as under the present arrangements "admission cases" pass without any medical examination into the body of the house.—The Chairman This must go to the House Committee.-Mr Edwin Morris said that the com- mittee were considering it.—Mr Salmon said that it would be much wiser on the part of the Board to do away with the old premises and get a new house built on the latest principle. The old site would fetch more than enough money to carry this out.- The Rer John Davis reminded the Board that the house could accommodate many more paupers than there were in the house and he would like a report from the committee showing how all the rooms were used at present. People in the country con- sidered it a good house, but of course he did not doubt the report of the doctor.—The Vice-Chair- man (Mr Hughes) said it would be better if all the guardians visited the house instead of a committee having to report.—The Chairman They won't do it.—The Vice-Chairman It is the duty of the guardians to do so.—Mr G F Roberts understood that the guardians as a whole were agreed that ventilation and sanitation were necessary, but there was a difference of opinion as to going in for elaborate alterations. The Boaid should ask the House Committee to bring in a report upon the matter by the next meeting.—The Rev T A Penry said that Mr Bircham objected to having a convalescent room at that end of the building and the members of the committee felt that if it were placed at the other end the distance between the s;ok ward and the convalescent ward would be too great. It was a regretable thing that people who were convalescent should be left in the same room night and day as the dying and the dead They ought to be removed.-Mr B Morris said the cost of the proposed alterations was put down at £ 700.—Mr B E Morgan was of the same opinion as Mr Salmon.—The letter was referred to the House Committee. HOUSE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Rev T A Penry presented the report of the House Committee. Dr Bonsall had appeared before the committee and had given satisfactory explana. tion respecting his visits to the House. The doctor bad stated that he had visited the House but omitted to sign the book.-The Rev John Davies: What proof have you got ?-The Rev T A Penry We have only his word as a gentleman.-The Rev J Davies Did you ask the master or matron P I think you ought to have proof.—Mr Edwin Morris (a member of the committee) said that there was something further than that. The doctor screened himself behind the indulgence of the committee by obstinately refusing to answer questions put to him. He considered that Dr Bonsall was not fair.-Mr Salmon: Tell the Board what was the question.- Mr Morris I asked him what was the nature of his visits to the House. That was fair enough. Then I asked him whether he examined the imbeciles periodically or not.—Mr Roberts said the com- mittee considered his answer satisfactory. They could not complain of the attendance paid to the house by the doctor. He had been there three and four times a week. When Mr Morris asked his questions about the imbeciles the doctor replied If I did not the Commissioners of Lunacy would look after me." This report had to be sent every quarter.—Mr Edwin Morris: But there was no reason why I should go to the Commissioner for the answer when the doctor was present. The least he could do was to answer my question. One of the most intelligent women in the house met me and told me that their lives were in constant danger owing to one of the certified imbeciles threatening them with knives and forks. I asked the question entirely in the interests of the inmates, and I wanted to know if he had examined this woman.-Mr Roberts Mr Morris did not ask a straightforward question, but after the meeting the doctor answered him and grave him the neons sary information when he asked for it.-A passage of arms here took place between Mr Morris and Mr Salmon.-Dr Bonsall said that he did not see any use in writing his reports for the Commissioners unless the Board was ready to receive them. He was not aware of any dangerous lunatic in the house. If there was he ought to have been in- formed of it. He had been connected with the house for twelve years and this was the first time any complaint had been made. He did not refuse to answer the question of Mr Morris, and he did not quite see why it was not put in a proper way. He had no reason to object for there was nothing to conceal. There were some quarrelsome im- beciles in the house who were not fit subjects for an asylum, but at the same time ought to have some one to look after them.—The subject then dropped. MASTER'S REPORT. The Master reported that there were 42 paupers in the House as compared with 49 during the same period of last year. During the past two weeks 35 tramps had been relieved, compared with 27 during the same period of 1900.—On the motion of Mr Salmon, seconded by the Rev John Davies, and 1 h'^t it was decided to include roast ]|oose in tne dTristmas dmnerTor the inmates. — Mr Salmon hoped the Guardians would not object (laughter)0 sauce for the Plum pudding AN UNFOUNDED CHARGE. Mr George Fossett Roberts asked permission to refer to an attack made upon him at a public meet- ing held on Monday when he was aceused as a Guardian of distributing out-relief to drunkards. The subject was to him a very painful one, and he believed that it was also to a large majority of the ratepayers whom he had the honour of representing upon that Board. Without troubling them any further he took that first opportunity of denying absolutely the charge brought against him, and he confidently appealed to all the members of the Board to confirm what he now said. The charge was baseless. At the same time he did not blame the man who made those remarks, but those per- sons who must have supplied him with the necas- sary information, and those other persons who knowing the statement to be false did not deny it at the meeting. Instead of that the charge made against him was greeted by the audience with cries of hear, hear and laughter." He thanked the Board for having allowed him to make the statement.-Mr James Jones who bad been associ- ated with the work of the guardians for over thirty years said that no one he had ever met on the Board acted up and above board as Mr Roberts had always acted (hear, hear). Mr Roberts acted in the same fashion on the assessment committee and public houses were assessed in the same way as other property. He knew of no one more straightforward than Mr Roberts. — Rev John Davies said that the charge was against every member because Mr Roberts could not grant relief without the consent of the other members.-The Chairman and Vice-Chairman endorsed all that had been said and the Vice-Chairman moved a vote of confidence in him.—Mr Yaughan (relieving officer) said had he heard the remarks made he would have got up and denied them.—Rev T A Penry seconded the proposal of the vice-chairman which was supported by Mr Henry Jones and carried.- Mr Roberts suitably acknowledged the kindness of his fellow members. NURSING ASSOCIATION. The following were appointed to represent the Board on this Association :-Rev T A Penry and Mr B E Morgan. +