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THE BOARD AND DR. BONSALL.

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THE BOARD AND DR. BONSALL. Present, the Rev J. Davies (chairman), Mr J. Bunce Morgan (vice-chairman), Mrs E. H. James, Mrs Evan Evans, Mrs Colby, the Rev T. A. Penry, Messrs Hugh Hughes, B. E. Morgan, Wm Thomas, Edwin Morris, R. J. Jones, E. J. Williams, Edward Jones, M. D. Williams, W. Mason, Evan Jones, D. Morgan, David Davies, Daniel Jones, Daniel Morris, Evan Lewis, David Jones, Richard Thomas, David James, Thomas James, John Roberts, R. Thomas, J. Lewis, R. Lewie, with Mr Hngh Hughes, clerk Mr Llewellin, assistant clerk. THE HOUSB. The Master (Mr W. Jones) reported that the number in the House was 36 against 47 in the corresponding period last year vagrants relieved 62 against 57. Periodicals &c. had been received from Mrs Richards, Hearts of Oak; Mrs Morgan, Terrace road Miss Davies, Greenfield, Penglaise roado-On the proposition of the Rev T. A. Penry, seconded by Mr J. B. Morgan a vote of thanks was accorded the donors. EXTRA CHRISTMAS RELIEF. Communications agreeing to extra relief being given to the paupers chargeable to those Unions were received from Dolgelley, Carmarthen, Llan- elley, Newport. Pontypridd, and St. Mary's, Isling- ton. DETENTION OF TRAMPS ON SUNDAYS. A communication was received from the Mach- ynlleth Union as to the undesirability of discharg- ing tramps on Sundays, and asking the Union to co-operate with them in detaining them on Sun- days.—Rev T. A. Penry said the matter was before the House Committee on Friday, and they were prepared to co-operate with the Machynlleth Union if the neighbouring Unions would so act. He pro- posed that the Clerk be instructed to write the Machynlleth Guardians stating they would co- operate with them, and informing them that they would write the other neighbouring Unions on the subject.—This was agreed to. THE WORKHOUSE ALTERATIONS. The Lccal Government Board wrote asking when they were going to receive the plans and detailed estimate of the proposed alterations at the Work- beuae.-Alr B. E. Morgan stated that the architect was unable at present to attend to his duties owing to defective eyesight for which he was beng treated.—It was agreed that that explanation should be supplied to the Local Government Board. THE BATHING OF TRAMPS. The House Committee reported that a vagrant had been admitted in a filthy condition, his ex- planation being that be had not been bathed at other Unions. Similar statements had been made by tramps coming from North and South. Mr William Thomas said he felt strongly on that point. He did not eee why they should wash the tramps of the country. He thought the best thing would be for the Cierk to write to the neighbouring Unions asking them whether all tramps were bathed by them.-The Chairman asked if it would not be better to report the matter to Mr Bircham, the Local Government Board inspector. Mr Thomas said they only bad the statement of the tramps, and the Board had better ascertain if that Statement were true.-Mr Hugh Haghes proposed that the matter be reported to the Local Govern- ment Board inspector, and Mr Thomas proposed that the Clerk should communicate with the neighbouring Boards of Guardians, and this pro. position was carried by a majority of one. DR. gONSALIi BEFORE THE BOARD. The Rev. T. A. Penry on behalf of the House Committee reported that Dr Bonsall was sent for on December 4th to examine a pauper who had been admitted into the House, but he did not call until December 7th. He had asked the doctor to be present to give an explanation of the delay. Dr Bonsall: May I ask how this question was brought before the Committee ?-The Rev. T. A. Penry: The books were asked for.-Dr. Bonsall: Was there any complaint made P-The Rev. T. A, Penry replied no. The question was asked, as at every Committee meeting, was there regular at- tendance by the medical officer, and the Master pro- duced his books.—Dr Bonsall explained that the case was an ordinary admission case of a well. known character, and be did not consider it neces- sary to visit the case at once as there was no report that the woman was ill. The following day was Sunday, and he postponed his visit until the Mon- day, when be usually visited the House, He had served under the Local Government Board for twenty years, and he bad received no complaint of neglect of duty in any case. Had the woman been ill he wonld have attended as early as possible. He thought cases like that should not be ad- mitted into the House at all, but should be sent into the casual ward, and those cases were ad- mitted into the body of the House in any- thing but a clean condition and mixed up with the clean respectable poor of the House. There was no receiving ward and there was no classification for them.-It having been stated that a doctor ordered the pauper's diet, the Ker T. A. Penry said unless the doctor came up the master was thrown on his own responsibility as to the nature of the diet to be given.—Dr Bonsall said that in the case of paupers who were not ill the master had discretion to order the diet.-Mr Evan Jones pointed out that the orders stated that the doctor was to attend in a reasonable time, but three days was an unreasonable time.—Mr David Davies asked what was considered to be a reasonable time, and the Clerk replied that the circumstances of each case would determine that point.—The Chair- man said they had had the doctor's explanation.— Mr R. A. Thomas said he wished to bring forward » matter now Dr Bonsall was there. A boarded- out child at Commins Coch was taken ill about three weeks ago and it was necessary to call in a doctor. The foster father called upon Dr Bonsall but he was cut and he left a message with the xervant. Later he again called upon Dr Bonsall and saw him, but Dr Bonsall told him that he must have an order from the relieving order, and he would have to go to Talybont for that. He went home, and the child becoming worse he called in Dr Thomas. The question he wished to put to the Board was whether they would have to pay Dr Thomas,—Dr Bonsall said it was usual to give notice when a cemplainfc was to be made. With regard to that case he would like to make a statement. A messenger came from CommiDS Coch, and he asked him if he had an order, and he said.No." The man told him he was paid fordoing the work, whereupon he (the doctor) told him he was not paid to attend, and he declined to go. Then, continued the doctor, he found that he was misrepresented in the newspaper reports. The doctor then produced a cutting from a local paper, in which he said it was reported that the Relieving Officer had asked him to attend, but the Relieving Officer did not ask him at all. He did not see why be should be asked to pay for Dr. Thomas's services when it was admitted, according to the newspaper reports of the last meeting, that he had acted within his rights. He thought the Board had no right to discuss the matter. There was no claim upon him to attend the case. He asked the messenger if he had a note from a guardian even, but he had not.—The Chairman You know Talybont is a long way to go for an order and then come back here.—Dr. Bonsall said that was not the question. The man said he was paid fcr it, and when he had no order he thought he could use his own discretion about it and he de- clined to go. To his surprise, the matter had been discussed behind his back and brought before the public in that way.—The Chairman ataied that at the last meeting he explained that the doctor was within his rights in not attending, as long as he had no order from the Relieving Officer.-Dr. Bonsall said he did not think that matter should have been brought forward. There was no claim upon him to attend the case.—The Chairman said the Board had an explauatiod, and asked were they going to deal with the matter then or in Committee at the end of the meeting.—Dr Bonsall said the matter had noth. ing to do with him. There was no claim on him.- Mrs Colby said the child was a pauper child and as such was entitled to medical relief.-The Chairman said that was so.-Mr R. J. Jones asked who wou d have paid the doctor if he had an order and attended the child. The inference he drew from the doctor's remarks was that the Board made no payment for the attendance on boarded out children. He would like to know what provision the Board made.—Dr Bonsall stated that if he had received an order from the relieving officer or a Mote from a guardian he would have attended the case. He should not expect payment in that case, became it would be part of his general district work.-Mrs Evans stated that formerly the sum of 2s 6d was paid to the doctors in respect of each boarded out child visited quarterly, but that arrangements had been discontinued.—Mr B. E. Morgan said the committee thought it was sufficient if the doctor visited the children [when they were ill. Therefore, the doctor would go only when he was called in.—Mr R. J. Jones thaught the matter was at an end. They bad had an explanation from the doctor and it seemed he was quite within his rights.—The Chairmau said there was no doubt Dr Bensall had acted within his rights according to the Local Governments Board's orders, but whether the Board should have an officer who stuck to the y-ry letter was another thing. He admitted and he bad stated that Dr Bonsall was within his rights. They must drop the discussion now. Any member could give notice of motion if be wanted to call attention to that or any other case.—Mr Hugh Hughes thought instructions should be given to foster parents that they must in case of illness of the children send the doctor an order from the relieving efficer or a note from the guardain of the parish.—The Clerk said an order from one of the overseers would do equally as well — Mrs Colby read a portion of the agreement which fester par- ents signed and under that agreement they under. took to report the illness of a child to the Board- iqg-out Committee aad the relieving officer.—Mr B. E. Morgan said the doetor had made it clear to them that in the case where a relieving officer lived some distance away the doctor would attend a case on receiving a note from the guardian of the parish. He thought they should be grateful to the doctor for giving that undertaking.—Dr Bonsall said he would attend a case upon receiving a note from any member of the Boarding-out Committee. —With reference to paying Dr Thomas for attend. ing the child, it was understood that the Guardians would pay the bill out of their own pockets. INCREASE OF VAGRANCY. On the motion of Mr William Thomas seconded by Mr D. Davies it was resolved that the attention of the Local Government be called to the serious increase of vagrancy throughout the country and that they be urged to establish a more effective system for dealing with tramps.

MERIONETHSHIRE AGRICULTURAL…

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! THE EDUCATION ACT.

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