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L.G.B. INSPECTOR AND PONTARDAWE…

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L.G.B. INSPECTOR AND PONTARDAWE GUARDIANS A HEART TO HEART TALK. Mr. Hugh R. Williams, Local Gov- ernment Board Inspector, visited Pon- tardawe on Thursday and alter confer- ring with the members of the three relief committees, was present at the usual fortnightly meeting of the Guardians, over which Mr. Hopkin J. Powell presided. Mr. Williams congratulated the Guardians upon being housed in such a very nice room. He hoped that by coming to that room to hold their meetings would not cause them to neglect the workhouse as there was that danger when they removed their meetings from the Poor Law institu-I tion. The object of the Guardians vigiting the workhouse waa not so much to find fault with the Matron and Master as to give the inmates an op- portunity of having a chat with them. THE NEED FOR WOMEN GUARDIANS. Although they were moving forward in proviumg themselves with comfort- able rooms in which to hold their meetings there was one thing still lacking. "I do not know whether you anticipate what I am going to say, but it seems to be unsatisfactory when I have to address you as Mr. Chairman and gentlemen,' instead of being able to address myself to Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen.' (Hear, hear). There is oertain work we, as men, cannot do as well as the women, such as the ,1.tration of the female wards and of the care of children. Women know more than men about that eort of thing, and if the electorate does not replace some of you bl sending women here would it mot be possible to carry out the sug- gestion of the Local Government Board that there should be a Women's Committee. I certainly do find that where there are women serving as Guardians they are of great assistance in tl|e administration of the import- ant work you are entrusted with. THE TREATMENT OF PHTHISIS. The Guardians have been doing very good work in dealing with cases of consumption. They have sent these cases to sanatoria and have been giv- ing exceptionally good relief iø. order to get them .good nourishment, as re- commended by the medical offioers, in their own homes, and they have been doing all sorts of things to try and cure and give proper treatment to consumptive cases. Throughout Eng- land and Wales it is now the duty of the Health Authority to provide treatment for the cure and treatment of all consumptives whether the}} are insured persons or not. If insured persons, they are assisted by the funds of the National Insurance. Recently you had a circular sent to you from the Welsh National Memorial in which they stated they will make provision for all vour eases. I do not doubt for a moment that it is the desire of the Welsh National Memorial to under- take to provide the necessary accom- modation, but I am quite sure of this that they cannot do it for two or three years. At the present time they are taking what are called the inci- pient cases—cases in the early stages, but this morning, I am stirp-ised to find that one of the Guardian's cases sent from iour Union to some sana- torium belonging to the Welsh Memorial because, I hope I have been correctly informed, of want of room there, was returned to you before lie was cured. That is hardly fair to you because if a married man with a family is returned before he is cured there is the probability that he will infect his family. This man came back improved but not cured And not able to follow his occupation with the result that he is at home with his wife and several children,, And your own doctor recommends that he should be sent back to the sana- torium. In a few years' time all con- sumptive oases will be taken off your hands, but not for two or three years' time. In the meantime and pending the removal to sanatoria provided by the Welsh National Memorial, it seems you have a strong claim to go to the Local Government Board and ask them to allow you to proceed with what you propose (to fit out a phthisis ward at the workhouse) because when the cases are removed to the Welsh National Memorial sanatoria the room could he used for other cases. I be- lieve you will have a sufficient num- ber of eases which will require isola- tion from the other wards, and I strongly urge you to appeal to the Local Government Board stating that this is an auxiliary to the other wards. NEED FOR INSTITUTIONAL I TREATMENT. Connected with this matter, I should like to point out that you have in every Poor Law institution in the country a skilled nurse. Now, you must have a, thoroughly trained and skilled nurse. I have seen in your books to-day a number of cases of people who are sick and are being treated at home. I wonder whether the district medical offioers are doing their duty bX such oases that would benefit by institutional treatment. I am quite sure that, in visiting the homes of the poor a good Uti m her of these cases would be cured if they could be persuaded to enter a Poor Law institution. If' they could be told and could understand the differ- ence between the institutions then and now and that proper arrangements are made for their treatment. They would not refuse to be so treated. Your medical officers might try and persuade men and women to take ad- vantage of these proper sick wards. INCREASE IN OUTDOOR RELIEF. In respect of outdoor relief I am sorry to find that it is on the increase. Dulling the past three years there has been an increase of two points in your district. The number of inmates has considerably- increased during the past. 5 years. On the 31st March, 1909, there were 55 inmates, on the 31st March, 1913, there were 77 in- mates, an increase of 22. The number of outdoor poor from 1909 has gone down from 690 to 629, but there has been an increase in the number of outdoor poor between 31st March, 1913, and 31st March last, an increase of 64, Another !letn of increase is the cost. The cost of maintenance in the house has increased from L665 to £ 1,320. Outdoor relief has decreased f rom E5,333 in 1910 to £4,593 in 1914, but I am sorry to see that it has gradually been going up for the last three years. Last year it went up by £80, and sihee last year it has gone up JE411. I have been accus- tomed to expect, in the Pontardawe Union, a reduction always. You had a reduction for a good number of years but there is now a tendency to an increase. I A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY. I do not want to do more than to ask you to remember the very serious responsibility devolving upon you as guardians and to confine assistance to those who are really in,need of it, and those deserving of it. It is very easy to give relief and to be generous but in doing so it is not only a burden to the ratepayers but very demoralizing to the poor themselves. It is very demoraliziing to create a pauper if you can possibly avoid it, although I do give you credit for trying to do your very best. I do hope you will try and confine to outdoor relief all those per- sons who are rtvi'ly in need of it. A vote of thanka to Mr. Williams was proposed by the Chairman, and seconded by Mr. F. R. Phillips. Mr. J. W. Morgan (Ystradgynlais) suggested that by, gra,nt,ing £25 to the Welsh National Memorial the Ystradgynlais Council had shown more common sense than had the Pontar- dawe Council who had refused to sub- scribe to the Memorial. The Chairman: You are mistaking the Welsh National Memorial for the Welsh National Library, Mr. Morgan. (Laughter).

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MINERS' SECRETARY HONOURED.

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BATHS AT THE PITS.

I500 COTTAGES.I

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HISTORY OF THE AMMAN V ALLEY.…

TRAGEDY OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

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I A SPELLING BEE. I

PUNCTILIOUS JOHNNIE.