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Mr. Woriunan and the " Able…

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Mr. Woriunan and the Able Reporters." I DOES NOT WANT "POLISHING UP." I Tiie fortnightly trttethig of the Abergavenny Board of Guardians ,,><, held 011 Friday, C01. Williams presiding. There were also greesiu a,Lher NN'ray, J. Mrs. Hiley, Revs. rather Wray, J. F. W. Trutape-, 1), R. Hughes, and E. J. Lloyd, Messrs. George Davies, John Pirchard, Morgan W. David, Beajam, p,-ice, joli-, Lewis, David Edwards, John Baynam, Nathaniel Pullin, J. W. Williams, Charles Thomas, E. V- Lewis, Alfred Edwards, Robert Workman, Joseph Howells, John Watkins, Daniel Watkins. The Grandfather of the Board. du I I I Tae Clerk read a letter troui-Mr. w in. H illl,UU;-< (Cwmvov) stating that it was with great regret that he felt compelled to resign his membership of tie Board of Guardians and the Rural District Council, as, owing to advancing years and failing health, he could not fnihi his duties. He wished to thank every member of the Board and the Council, as well as the Clerk. for the courtesy shown to him during the number of years he had been a member of those bodies. He had re- frained from writing t >eiore, as he thought some- one else would have been appointed, but found this had not been done. The Clerk said they must obtain the sanction of the Local Government Board to the resign- ation, or else let Mr. Williams's six months' absence be completed. This period would expire this month, and Mr. VI illiains would then become disqualified. Rev. Mr. Trumper How many years has lie been a Guardian The Cletk I don't know, but it is a great f many years. Rev. Mr. Trumper I think he is the oldest member. Father Wray Yes, he is the oldest. The Vice-Chairman Seeing he was appointed for three years, is there any obligation on his part- to accept a fourth year's service r He has a perfect right to retire. The Clerk I don't think he can retire on that ground. Father Wray If that was the case we might all retire. The Chairman He is the grandfather of this Board, and I am the father. (Laughter). Mr. Morgan David And both of you are William Williams. (Laughter). Mr. D. Watkins Two crochetty old men at that. (Laughter). Well Done, Blaenavon. I The Clerk reported that, compared with last I year, there was an increase in out-relief pay- ments during the fortnight of ?5 125. 8d. in the Abergavenny district, and a decrease in the Blaenavon district of fr6 16s. id. Father Wray That is an enormous decrease. Rev. Mr. Trumper said work was much better in the Blaenavon district now than it had been. The Vice-Chairman Is there any reason why Abergavenny should not come down ? Work is quite as good in the agricultural districts as it was t2 months ago. There is no scarcity of work. i Mr. D. Watkins Perhaps it is slackness on the part of the Abergavenny Guardians. (Laughter). The Chairman Xo, we have the Asylum to keep. Father Wray Wrhat lie means to say is The Clerk was proceeding with the next business, and Father Wray did not finish his sentence. Master's Report. I The Master reported that there were in the house 77 men, 31 women and 12 children, a total -of 120, compared with 127 for the corresponding period last year, a decrease of seven. The num- ber of vagrants relieved was 85, compared with 142 last year, a decrease of 57. Miss Paul, Frogmore-street, sent magazines and papers for the inmates. Payment to Mr. Green. The Clerk reported that the question of the payment to Mr. Green, who had joined the forces, came before the Finance Committee, and it was decided that he should obtain an authentic statement from headquarters as to the precise amount that Mr. Greer, was receiving and the amount of the separation allowance. He had written to the paymaster at Canterbury, but had not yet received a reply. Workhouse Master and Relieving Officer I Called Up. .3. t ?', I r. NX-illianis, work- The Clerk reported that Mr. \v illiams, work- house master, and ltc. Edwards, relieving officer for the Blaeaavon district, had been called up in their groups. -The Board had given him no directions to apply for exemption, but he had given notice in order to be in time. That day would have been too late, and it was for the Board to ratify what he had done or otherwise. He supposed they wanted some period of ex- emotion. The Chairman Certainly. The Clerk You nave done nothing towards making preparations. You have let the time drift. The Chairman said he would move that Mr. Scanlon get the best terms he could. Mr. Howells seconded. The Clerk asked whether one of the Blaenavon Guardians could attend at the Blaenavon Tri- bunal to represent the Board. The Chairman The Vice-Chairman can do that. Father Wray I take it we are all agreed to get them exempted, if we can. The Chairman then put the motion that application for exemption be made, and this was carried. Mr. H. J, Gwillim was asked to attend before the Blaenavor. TribnuaL The New Workhouse. I The Local Government Board wrote in reply to the Guardians' letter as to the erection of the proposed new workhouse that the department was still of opinion that the preparation of the plans might properly be deferred until at any rate January, 1917. The Chairman What does that mean ? 1 The Clerk I believe it points to some measure being passed t. meet contracts of this kind. Father Wray It is only fair to say that the Government are practically obliged to bring in a Bill to exclude the period of the war from these contracts. Mr. Workman Asks For More." I 1 The business being completed, Mr. Workman rose to his feet and said I am very sorry to see in the report of the last meeting the character of which this Board has received at the hands of our able reporters—I call them able, be- cause they are gentlemen that seem able to act in self-defence in a most able way. It appears to me that the Chronicle requires copy," for the comments which they made in the Aber- gavenny Chronicle I think it was very much uncalled for m the remarks of which he made in reply to me. It sets forth in that paragraph of theirs that it is very great disorder arising in I this Board when I am speaking. The aural defects of these gentlemen must be very de- fective, I should think, when they speak of not being able to hear what I say. I am sure I ,speak Loud enough, and I am very pleased to say-and I hope they will record this-that you gentlemen while I do speak give me every con- sideration as a labour representative in appear- ing and speaking before this Board. I think the t character of which has been given to this Board is not called for in the least. Rev. Mr. Trumper Have you got the words ? I have not seen the Chronicle." The Chairman I am sorry you don t buy it, because they want customers. (Laughter). Mr. Workman I have not read it much of late. (Laughter). I am sorry to say, Mr. Chairman, that some may think our Clerk has had something to do with this, but, for the in- formation of those who don't know, our Clerk he has had nothing to do with the Abergavenny Chronicle" since the jist of last March. I am sorry indeed that he has relinquished his interest in the Abergavenny Chronicle," because in Mr. fTcanlon I must say that I have received every consideration and kindness from him and I have been added to the list of correspondents to the Abergavenny Chronicle for upwards of over 30 years, and I have received every kind consideration from Mr. Seanlon on behalf of the working classes, more especially the Aberga- venny Workmen's Hospital Saturday Fund. Father Wrav That is for the benefit of those who don't know. What is for the benefit of tiiose who do ? Mr. Workman then commenced to read the comments in a loud voice, and in the course of his doing so there were several interjections from members, as will be seen :—" In reply to this public comment we have to say that the ■ Abergavenny Board of Guardians' meetings are about the most difficult to report of all public meetings, owing to the fat that several members are often talking at the same time, and they do aot aU speak up distinctly and so lessen the aural strain on the reporter—(hear, hear)- in I ■ trying to catch all that is said. The accurate recording 01 every word would even baffle a gramophone receiver. (Father ray Quite true and laughter"). Mr. Workman I wish you to be quiet, Father Wray, because every word is going in. I don't see how Father IN-ray should construe a different meaning to what I am trying to say of the ineffectiveness of the reporters in trying to baffle me in my remarks. Therefore I trust you will keep quiet. (Laughter). t. Father Wray I hope your trust is on a solid foundation. Mr. Workman It is a solid foundation. Mr. Morgan David There are more than one talking at the same time now. (Laughter). Mr. Workman continued to read in a more subdued voice As to the word pauper, of which Mr. Workman seems to have such a horror, the dictionary definition of the word is a poor person,' and they remain the same and are entitled to the same regard by whatever name they are called." I have known that when I was a schoolboy," was Mr. Workman's comment on this sentence. Mr. Workman continued to read in a still more subdued voice With regard to the expression about Pontypool being the truest friend, we actually understood Mr. Workman to say the dearest friend." I hope, commented Mr. Workman, that I am dear enough, and, as I have already said before, you gentlemen give me a kind and patient hearing and I think it is verv unkind of the reporter to put that in, when it is not called for-but there is something further to follow And as we knew from ex- perieuce that even he is not above making a slip—(loud laughter, in which the conclusion of the sentence we preferred the word truest' was lost). Rev. Mr. Trumper How do you interpret that f Mr. Workman I defy the reporters, if they will onlv give me the purport of my remarks in the paper that I will ever make a complaint against them or ever have done. Give me the substance and the fact. We are all liable to slip I admit the fact—and I have heard a good many slips here but still, at the same time, if vou think because I am a labour representative that I am to be denied the privilege of speech and be incorrectly reported in the paper Father Wray: You are not the labour repre- sentative here. Mr. Workman I am the labour representa- tive. Father Wrav Not here. Mr. D. Watkins One of them, perhaps. Mr. Workman gave the concluding comments in a low voice "We should not have thought, from the sense of the sentence, that Mr. Work- man's expression was nearest friend,' because that would be incorrect, seeing that Crickhowell is nearer. We confess we have polished up and corrected grammatical defects in many speeches we have published." When he got nearly to the end Mr. Workman reinark-ed I don't ask for polishing. I ask for correction. I have read enough, and I say this, that the reporters have no right in making such assertions and to remark in the paper about the Abergavenny Board of Guardians." Rev. Mr. Trumper: It may be true, sir. They are there to report the truth. I think it is a very good report. Father Wray Which word did you use- truest, nearest, or dearest < Mr. Workman I don't wish to answer the question, sir. (Laughter). Mr. D. Watkins A good deal of their report is quite correct, especially with regard to inter- ference. The Chairman If there is any fault it must be on my shoulders for not keeping you quiet. The reporter can't reply. Rev. Mr. Trumper He can make a very good replv. Father Wray He can reply in the paper. The incident then closed. [The above report which is uncensored except that we have put Mr. Workman's h's in their proper places, speaks for itself, but one or two remarks in addition are necessary. We do not deny that Mr. Workman can talk loud enough when he likes, but it is not uncommon for remarks to be made sotto voce. Even Mr. Workman does not possess perfect hearing. We would remind him of an incident which occurred at a recent meeting. The Chair- man was putting a resolution that a motion as to the enfranchising of all soldiers and sailors should be sent to Boards of Guardians through- out the country. Taking the vote against, the Chairman said, One, two, three, four-oh, lost whereupon Mr. Workman remarked I am glad, Mr. Chairman, that you mentioned the word Oh, Lord.' No doubt the men in the trenches are saying Oh, Lord to-day l" Mr. Workman's complaint was against the writer of the Chronicle report, and it was, therefore, singular that he should have used the plural by speaking of reporters." We only wish to add that we have always endeavoured, and always will endeavour, to do full justice, so far as our reports are concerned, to any public man, what- ever his views. Many public men have acknow- ledged this fact and have complimented us upon the reports we have given. Should an in- accuracy inadvertently creep in, we are always ready, when asked in the proper manner, to make the necessary correction. This is not the first time a reporter has had trivial public criticism levelled at him by public men who forget what the Press has done for them in making their remarks more presentable to the public. The only alternative for the reporter- and it is a reluctant alternative—is to report the critic exactly as he speaks. This has been proved to be an unfailing cure for swelled head in every case in which it has had to be ad- ministered ]. Chairman's 79th Birthday. I Father Wray said that the Chan-man entered upon his Soth year that week, and he thought that they, as Guardians, should offer their congratulations. Rev. Mr. Trumper I second that. The members showed their concurrence by hclding up their hands. The Chairman said it was correct that he had entered upon his Soth year, and he ought to be very thankful for the health he had got. It gave him the greatest pleasure to work with the members, and he appreciated everyone who gave his time to the public. He believed they all tried their best to do their duty, not only to the poor but also to the ratepayers. The Chairman afterwards entertained the members to an excellent lunch at the Priory, provided bv Mr. and Mrs. D. Holding. AL

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