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DENBIGH.

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DENBIGH. DENBIGHSHIRE STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE. THE SUPERVISION OF CLUB AND PUBLIC HOUSES. The quarterly meeting of the above com- mittee was held at the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Denbigh, on Friday, when there were present Captain Griffith Boscawen (presiding), Col. Mesham, Col. Wynne Ed- wards, Sir W. Grenville Williams Col. Saxon Gregson Ellis, Messrs. Christmas Jones, Gomer Roberts, John Roberts, A. 0 Evans, W. D. W. Griffith, O. Isgoed Jones, Jamfs Darlington, J. Watkin Lumley, Joseph Jones and J. Duncan Miller, with the Clerk (Mr. W. R. Evans), the De- puty Clerk (Mr. John Roberts), the County Accountant (Mr. R. Humphreys Roberts), the Chief Constable (Major Leadbetter), and the Superintendents of Divisions. Apologies for absence were received from Sir R. Egerton, Messrs. E. Hooson, Simon Jones, and J. T. Jones-Parry. ABERGELE POLICE COURT. The County Surveyor reported having received a letter from the Clerk of the Aber- gele Justices complaining of the want of accommodation for solicitors and advocates in the Court. On the motion of the Chairman, the mat- ter was referred to the Abergele Sub-Com- mittee. THE COLWYN BAY BUILDINGS. The County Surveyor also reported that a portion of the Colwyn Bay Public Buildings, which are leased to the County, were being turned into a shop, and that the alterations carried out had developed a crack in the building. He did not know to what extent this affected the stability of the building generally. Mr. Lumley thought this would be a pro- per cpportunity of considering whether it would not be well to discontinue the lease. The building was a most inconvenient one to hold meetings in, as one could scarcely hear one word that was said there. If it were possible to terminate the lease, and look out for buildings elsewhere, he thought they should avail themselves of the oppor- tunity. The County Surveyor, replying to a ques- tion, said that the lease had still eleven years to run. On the motion of Mr. Lumley, seconded by Mr. Joseph Jones, it was decided to refer the matter to a special committee to con- sider and report. BILLS OF QUANTITIES. The next item on the agenda was a sug- gestion made by the Government auditor that Bills of Quantities be prepared, in other than small contracts,before a contract is entered into. The Chairman said he failed to see what the auditor had to do with a matter of this kind. His business was to audit the ac- counts. The County Surveyor said the Auditor asked him whether Bills of Quantities bad been prepared in connection with the altera- tion of the Llanrwst Court House, and he had to answer in the negative. He had pre- pared bills of quantities on two occasions, and when he presented his account, the com- mittee refused to pay it. Fe therefore de- clined to prepare bills of quantities. A motion having been made to proceed to the next business, Mr. Lumley pointed out that the Main Roads Committee of the Denbigh District had this matter under their consideration the previous day, and passed a resolution which would be submitted to the next County Council meeting. The Chairman At Wrexham they passed it over. Mr. Lumley said that owing to the action of the Denbigh Main Roads Committee, the question was bound to come up for consid- eration at the next Council meeting,-and if the resolution passed by the committee were adopted by the Council, the County Surveyor as the officer most interested would have to comply. Although it might be thought that it was not the business of the Government Auditor to make this sug- gestion, still he thought the suggestion a very reasonable one, and one that would, if adopted, protect the county against unfair claims. He thought it would be much more satisfactory not only to the contractor, but the other party concerned, if bills of quanti- ties were prepared, so that the questions of extras might be more easily dealt with. In the matter of re-laying the parapet opposite the Ruthin County Hall, some little things were omitted, or supposed to be omitted by the contractor which called for extras, but if a bill of quantities had been prepared they would know exactly what the contractor was expected to do. He moved that in all the work required to be done by that com- mittee under the direction of the Surveyor or Architect, bills of quantities be prepared for all work over £20. I Col. Wynne Edwards whilst seconding, said Mr. Lumley ought to know that archi- tects were not supposed to prepare bills of quantities, and that if this resolution were passed, they ought to pay their Surveyor for the work. Mr. Lumley I don t oppose that. The motion was then agreed to. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT. THE SUPERVISION OF CLUBS." The Chief Constable submitted his quar- terly report which was as follows Crime and offences as compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, show a decrease of 13 in indictable offences, 86 in non-indictable offences, and an increase of £ 18 15s. 6d. in the value of property stolen. Twenty-nine indictable offences were pro- ceeded against, 9 of whom were discharged, 23 summarily convicted, and 5 committed for trial for the following offences :—Inde- cent assaults on females 2, malicious wound- ing 1, burglary 1, horse stealing 1, total 5 586 Persons were proceeded against for non- indictable offences, 472 of whom were fined, 6 sent to industrial schools, 2 handed to the army, 12 other punishments, 59 discharged, and 35 committed to prison for the following offences :-Assaults on constables 2, cruelty to children 2, indecent exposure 1, drunk and disorderly 6, wilful damage 2, neglec ting family 1. misbehaviour by pauper 5, prostitution 4, begging 2, sleeping out 10, total 35. 225 Persons were proceeded against for drunkenness, 51 of whom were for being drunk on Sundays, as against 235 and 28 in the corresponding quarter of last year. Five publicans were proceeded against as fol- lows:—Permitting drunkenness 4, opening during prohibited hours 1, 3 convicted and 2 discharged, no license being endorsed, as against 8 in the corresponding quarter last year, 6 convicted, 2 discharged, and 1 license endorsed. A case of sbebeening on Sunday was detected at Ponkey, near Ruabon, the occupier of the premises and his wife being fined £ 5 and costs, each, at the Ruabon Petty.Sessions on June 4th. The new police cells which I applied for at the Quarterly Meeting held here on the 13th July las; year,have been erected at the Police Station, Holt, and fouad very useful, several persons having been locked up there this strawberry season. I have to inform you that the force has been strengthened by one man according to the resolution passed at our last committee, and I have stationed him at Southsea, in the Broughton District. (Signed) T. J. LEADBETTER, Major, Chief Constable. Replying to a question as to the increase of Sunday drinking, the Chief Constable said that the number of clubs in the county with which the police had nothing to do,had somewhat increased during the last two years, and he was afraid that these were the great cause of the increase of drunkenness on Sunday. Mr. Christmas Jones asked how many clubs there were in the county. The Chief Constable I can't say, but we have 13 I think in the neighbourhood of Wrexham. The number has steadily in- creased during the last two years. Mr. Isgoed Jones said this matter of clubs bad been occupying his attention for some time last. No doubt, the police were powerless to deal with them to a certain ex tent, but he thought they were entitled at least to a list of the members of the clubs, so that when a man went in, and came out again drunk, that the police might be satis- fied whether the drunken man was a mem- ber of the club or not. The Chairman said he failed to see what power the police had to demand a list of the members of a club; more than they bad to interfere with pol,tical clubs. Mr. Isgoed Jones pointed out that the amendment of the Sunday Closing Act was now under the consideration of the legisla- ture, and he would be very glad indeed if something could be done to call the atten- tion of the legislature to this matter. The Chairman said that people had found out that it was much more convenient to go to a club than to walk three or four miles into the country for the sake of a drink. Mr. Isgoed Jones then moved that the attention of His Majesty's Government be called to the difficulty of supervising drink- ing clubs and shebeens, and to the neces sity of introducing such legislation as will bring them under effective police control. Captain Barker seconded. The Chairman I question whether a special motion of this kind can be passed without notice. Mr. Isgoed Jones But it arises out of the Chief Constable's report. The Chairman It does to a certain ex- tent, and I will not take upon myself te rule it out of order. Mr. Lumley suggested that the word 'drinking' should be taken out of there- solution in order to make it a general one. Mr. Wynne Edwards also thought that Sunday Clubs should be introduced into the motion. The Chief Constable however advised that the resolution should be left opan, as the clubs existed on other days as well as on Sunday. The word I drinking I and also the word shebeens was taken out of the motion, and it was carried. THE SUPERVISION OF PUBLIC HOUSES. THE BACK DCOR QUESTION. Mr. Lumley said there was one matter in connection with the police, to which he wished to call attention, although it did not arise on the report of the Chief Constable. Still, it was a question of police administra- tion, and one that he would like to have in- formation upon. The point was, whether the Chief Constable found any difficulty in the supervision of public houses within the county, owing to the existence of back door entrances, particularly so on Sunday. He knew of some public bouses which had more than one back door, and doors also that could not possibly be seen from the high road. Why he asked the question was, to give the Chief Constable every opportunity of knowing that he personally did not want to catch him or the police when this matter came before the Bench of Magistrates upon which he sat, viz: at Ruthin, because the Justices there had given direct instructions to the police to report as to how many pub lie houses there were within that Petty Ses- sional Division, with back doors, and doors difficult of supervision. Mr. W. D. W. Griffith said that Mr. Lum- ley had mentioned that this matter was to come befoie his Bench of Magistrates at Ruthin. Personally, he (Mr. Griffiths) thought it would be undesirable for the Chief Constable to express an opinion as to any particular case within his knowledge, because the matter was sub-judioe Mr. Lumley said he did not want any particular case mentioned, but wanted a general statement from the Chief Constable. The Chief Constable said that when a policeman could not see a back door of a public house, it did very much interfere with the discharge of his duties in regard to keep ing such a house in order. It was the uni- versal opinion of Licensing Magistrates thst if the structural construction of the house waa such that the back doors could not be seen or properly controlled by the police, the Licensing Magistrates insisted upon such alteration, as would make such super vision possible. It only remained for the police to lodge their c,)mplaint, and for the Magistrates to insist upon an improvement. Mr. Lumley said that satisfied him, but he would like to inform the Chief Constable, whether he knew it before or not, that there had been structural alterations carried out in pub- lic hou3es without any intimation of any kind having been made by the police. Structural alterations to premises had been made, and in some cases large additions, without any report whatever having been submitted by the police to the Justices. Mr. Christmas Jones Did these alterations make the police supervision more difficult. Mr. Lumley Yes, far more difficult. I will give to the Chief Constable chapter and verse, if he desires it. The Chief Constable again repeated his pre- vious statement that it was for the po!ice to report, and for the Magistrates to act. The matter then dropped. THE STRAWBERRY PICKERS AT HOLT. Mr. Christmas Jones asked what was the social condition of Holt at the present time. A large number of strawberry pickers had been impoited into the neighbourhood, and he knew that complaints had been made as to the way they were housed. He should also like to know what was the behaviour of the pickers. The Chief Constable said that the question of lodging the pickers did not concern him, al- though he knew all about it. He was at Holt the previous week, and went round the place where these people were lodged. In the rooms where they slept, straw was placed by the walls, and on this the pickers slept, and every now and again the place was disinfected, so that any I lively' animal that may be there would be killed. Outside the rooms in the yard, the cooking apparatus was placed. These cooking utensils were of a very modest charac- ter, such as Chicago meat tins, &c. (laughter). He reported the matter to the sanitary autho- rity and they instructed their inspector to go and see the piece, and report. He reported that everything was satisfactory ao regards the sanitary condition of the place. Mr. Christmas Jones Are there any grave complaints made by the police.? The Chief Constable: No, I have no com- plaint to make. There are two extra men there now. Mr. Jones expressed himself satisfied with the explanation, and the subject dropped. POLICE PAY. The County Accountant submitted his esti- mate of police ptty for the quarter ending October next, which amounted to £ 1,792 10s., the same as last year. HOLIDAY FOR THE CHIEF CONSTABLE. The Chief Constable said that he had not enjoyed a consecutive holiday for any length of time for the last 15 years, and he wished to apply now that he be allowed a holiday of six weeks. Mr. Isgoed Jones proposed that the applica. tion be granted. The Chief Constable worked hard, and deserved a little holiday. Moreover, it would do him great physical good. Mr. Christmas Jones seconded. The Chief Constable said that he intended to go on the Continent for educational purposes. He knew that during his absence the police wcutd be in good hands whilst Deputy Chief Constable Jones remained in charge. He knew that everything would he safe, and that he could feel quite comfortable (hear, hear). The motion was unanimously carried. INCREASE OF THE FORCE AND POLICE PAY. The approval of the Home Secretary of the augmentation of the County Police Force by one constable, and also of the increase of the pay as proposed at the last meeting of the com- mittee, was read. SUPERANNUATION OF A CON. STABLE. An application was made by P.C. Richard Littlehales, of Bersham, for a pension of 952 2s. 10it. under the provisions of the Police Act of 1900, he having served 26 years in the force. The application was granted. The Chief Constable announced that he had taken, to fill this vacancy, a man re cently returned from the war, viz: Robert Evans, of Ruthin, who had served in the force before going to the front. He intended to place Evans on duty at Bersham. The committee expressed their gratification that the Chief Constable had taken this course. THE WATERING OF BUTTER. Mr. Simon Jones moved that the following resolution passed by Warwickshire County Council be approved of; 1 lhat the Board of Agriculture be urged to establish a standard for the proper amount of water in butter. That a copy be forwarded to each County Council in England and Wales and to the County Council's Association, and that they be requested to support this action. Col. Mesham in seconding said it was import- ant that they should try and make home butter as pure as possible, because when butter was watery, it was extremely nasty. Mr. Gomer Roberts said it would be impos- sible to establish a proper standard in regard to the watering of butter, because the whole thing depended upon the breeding of cattle, and quality of pasture and soil, etc. He there- fore moved that the matter be not considered. The Chairman said that was a negative, and Mr. Roberts could vote against the resolution. On being put to the meeting, the resolution was carried by a majority. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF THE POLICE ACT. A circular letter was read from the Standing Joint Committee for Lancashire on the subject of several unsatisfactory provisions contained in the Police Act, together with a copy of amendments proposed by the committee. The Chairman thought that some of the sug- gestions made by the Lancashire Police Com- mittee were very good and would tend to give more latitude to police authorities in certain cases. As regards the questions of pensions and superannuations, he thought there was a general movement in favour of amending the Act of 18S0, and therefore, he thought it would be well to consider this question. The Chief Constable supported the suggestion of appointing a committee, and mentioned how the act as it at present stood seemed to be anomalous. He mentioned the case of P.C. Rigby, of Abergele, who got kicked on the knee by a prisoner, and in consequence had to retire from the force, after a service of 15 years. Rigby was disabled in the execution of his duty and crippled for life. Still, the com- mittee owing to the provision of the act could not give him his full pension. If the amend- ment suggested by the Lancashire Committee were carried out, it would give the police authorities more discretion in such cases. Mr. Lumley supported the proposal for send ing the matter to a committee, and moved that the following gentlemen should form the com- mittee:-the Chairman, Col. Mgsham, Messrs. Isgoed Jones, Simon Jones, Christmas Jones, Duncan Miller and Captain Barker, and that they should meet at the Chief Constable's office. The motion was carried in this form. JUSTICES' CLERKS' SALARIES. In the absence of Mr. W. G. Dodd, Llan- gollen, who was unable to leave the house owing to an accident, Mr. Lumley moved that the question of the general revision of the Justices' Clerks' Salaries in the county be taken into consideration by the committee already appointed to deal with the Police Act. Mr. Joseph Jones seconded, and the motion was carried. This concluded the business.

. THE LICENSING OF THE IMASONS'…

. BOROUGH POLICE COURT.

. BROOKHOUSE.

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