Abergavenny Chronicle

Abergavenny Town Council. I • MAYOR REPLIES TO CRITICISMS. lIUESTlONOF A VIGILANCE COMFAJTTEE. I The monthly meeting of the Abergavenny Town Council was held on Monday night, the I Mayor (Aid. Z. Wheatley) presiding. There were also present Councillors P. Telford, T. A. Delafield, W. Horsington, G. R. Plowman, F. J. Mansfield, Alt. Graham, W. J. Meale, W. J. Tong and P. Sadler. Fallen Heroes. The Mayor gave a list of local men who had laid down their lives for their country since the last meeting, as follows :—Clarence T. S. Higgs, Signaller, R.N. V.R. (Richmond-road), Sergt. W. H. Day, Mouinouthshire Regt. (Park-street) Pte. Frank Balsdon, Welsh Regt. (Flannel-street) who died of wounds and gas poisoning at Salonica Sergt.-Major R. Wall, K.S.LJ. (son of Mr. T. R. Wall, Blorenge View, Mardyj Pte. J. W. Watkins (Ross-road) Sergt. S. T. Light, who was formerly a teacher at Aberga- venny Pte. Gill (late manager for Messrs. Morton) Pte. Gwyther (rollk-street), who died of sickness. In addition, Pte. Jones (Nevill- street) had oeen wounded and had had his leg taken off just below the thigh, while others had suffered wounds. He proposed that they con- vey to the families their deepest sympathy and that they place the same on their minutes. Councillor Meale seconded and it was carried Local Distinctions. The Mayor also proposed congratulations to the following who had had distinctions conferred I 0:1 them since their last meeting :-Sergt. Sou tar, Black Watch Regt., Military Medal Pte Norton. Tank Corps, D.C.M. Pte. Bayes (Mill-street), Monmouthshire Regt., Military I Medal Sergt.-Major R. Wall (whose death he had already mentioned), Military Medal. He 1 :ho:11d also like to include Corpl. Barry (Flannel .slio--t l d alsc) like to i n ?' u street), who gave a pint and a half of his blood to save a wounded comrade in hospital. Councillor Telford seconded, and it was carried. Dependants' Allowances. Councillor Meale, referring to the resolution sent from the recent meeting 01 soldiers' and sailors' dependants to the last Council meeting, asked whether anything had been done to support the resolution. The Mayor The Council decided that they would render every assistance they possibly could in this matter. Councillor Meale Has it been done ? The Mayor They asked for assistance, and the Council promised to'give all the assisttyice that they required. The Control at War Relief Funds. Councillor Telford said that at the meeting of soldiers' and sailors' dependants referred to references were made to certain local funds. He should like to know whether there was any fund which that Council controlled and from which grants had been made from time to time to soldiers' dependants. The Mayor said that the committee who were in control had been set up by the County Council. Councillor Telford This Council has been called overthe coals, and I should like to know whether there is any local fund which this Council controls. The Mayor: I/have given you the answer. Thefe is a War Pensions Committee which con- trols the Mayor's Local War Fund. Councillor Telford Have we as a Council any control over the War Pensions Committee ? The Mayor I don't think you have. The County Council appoint that committee. Councillor Telford -So that really, as.. br as the Town Council are concerned, they have absolutely nothing to do with grants to soldiers dependants. The Mayor No, I don't think they have. Councillor Tong We have no voice in. the election of the committee. ine Mayor said that tne committee was set up originally at a public meeting at the Town Hail, at the outbreak of war, and then later on when the local associations were taken over by the County Council the latter formed a general association for Monmouthshire, and they co- opted or took into consideration the names of those who were members of the committee, and they .had since added the names of two in- dividuals who represented- the Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers and Sailors Association They administered the fund. Councillor Telford How often does that committee meet ? The Mayor said that they met pretty fre- quently at first until there was no business to do. No one attended the meetings for two or three -years, until about two months ago, when it was decided to have a meeting every week. Councillor Telford said that there was a case reported in the local papers as having been mentioned at the meeting referred to of a woman who was advanced 10s. from the local fund and was told to pay it back. The Mayor Will you give the name of that per.-on ? Councillor Telford I cannot f it is not given in the paper. The Mayor If I give a report and it does not refer to that individual, what will be the result ? Councillor Meale said that there was a large sum of money collected in the town in the early days of the war, and the Prince of Wales Fund claimed the biggest part of it, but there was some part of it which was contributed to go to the Mayor's Local War Fund. The Mayor collected the money for the town, and here they were handing over the control of it to other people. Why was that done ? The Mayor said that with regard to the money collected for the War Fund at the outbreak of war, it was decided by a majority that it should be handed over to the Prince of Wales Fund, of which they had no control at all. He opposed it at the time. At the request of individuals a local fund wa3 formed to render assistances individual cases of people who were waiting for their separation monies. That had been done from time to time and was still being done. Councillor Meale said that the control of the Mayor's Local War Fund should be in the hands of the Council, and they had never been called to a meeting for that purpose. The Mayor's Reply to Complaints. I Councillor Telford called attention to the various cases mentioned at the recent meeting and reported in the Chronicle." Personally he thought it seemed to reflect a good deal on the Council, and it was a question which ought to be cleared up. If the Mayor could clear it up it would be more to the credit of everybody con- cerned, and it would show that the Council had no hand in the ordering of these things. The Mayor Is it to be a reflection on the Mayor, or the committee ? Councillor Telford said that all ,he was asking for was an explanation, and he did not wish to reflect on anybody. The Mayor then dealt with the cases referred to seriatim, as follows No. i.I think that the whole town is in sym- pathy with this applicant, but the fault does not rest with the committee, but the Government, who propose to increase the allowance by 6s, 6d. from January. It is quite true that she only receives 12s. 6d. as a childless wife, but we have no authority to give her any money. No. 2.-This dependant has received financial assistance since May 1915 up to date, and has mot been asked to refund any money. She com- plains that applicants are asked to state the earnings of their husbands before the war. This regulation is laid down by the general com- mittee and has to be filled in when any applica- tion is made. No. 3 —This dependant applied for help to take her child to Newport, upon instructions .from the School authorities, and was lent 103. and agreed to repay it back at the rate of is. per -week, but up to the present ghe has only repaid -2S. She has called upon me since the meeting and stated that she had no cause to complain of the treatment given her by either the officials at the Town Hall or myself, but very much pressed herself as being kindly dealt witb. I have given her au order upon the doctor since the meeting, and she also personally thanked me I for sending to France and getting her husband home, on the occasion of her child's death, and for financial help given her. I Addressed from "Aberglvenny Workhouse." No. 4 I will leave. A letter was written :ich the heading Atergaveiuiy Workhouse," and sent to the War Pensions Committee in London, whereas the man was not an inmate of the Workhouse. Therefore I think you may take the complaint for what it is worth No. 5.-This dependant stated that her! husband's wages were £ 2 per week, and seeing that she was receiving [zper week separation money and is. per week towards her rent, no further advances could be made. But she asked to have ir lent her to buy boots, and promised 011 her own word of honour to repay is. per week she allowed of her own free will the is. allowed for the rent to accumulate at the bank to repay this sum. No. 6.—This dependant informed me, in the presence of, others, that her husband never gave her wiere,than 5s. per week, and expressed her- self a very rich woman to have 25s. per week to spend. She borrowed money whilst in the Cottage Hospital and promised to repay when she had her money from the Post Office, which she has had, but up to the present has not repaid back. She also stated voluntarily that she was asked in the Post Office to come to the meeting and if she would speak she would get more money. This statement was made in the presence of her own friends.. I could say a number of other things about this dependant. When I pointed them out to her and asked her if she would like them to be made public she asked me not to do so. If pressure is brought to bear I can only make this statement that th". whole circumstances will be brought out, and this woman and others will be sorry for the statements they have made. 1';0. 9.—This dependant called upon me and asked It I was a subscriber to The Rest at Porthcawl, and I informed her that I was not. j She stated that her child had been given up by three doctors, and I expressed my regret that I could not do anything for her, as I did not think they would take a consumptive child into the Rest at Porthcawl; and with that she dragged the child away, saying You can die in the street. Last Saturday wetk a dependant called upon me and asked for assistance to send to her husband in the hospital, and also asked me if I would help her to get some boots. I promised to buy her a pair it. she would pay is. per week back, but up to the present I have not seen her. I should like to make this public statement, that during the four years no dependant has asked me for assistance and been refused, if the case could ba helped- in any way. If anyone else would like to take up this wotk I will willing- ly hand it over to them, even at the eleventh hour, for it was only by the extreme pressure of the Local Committee that I consented to hold the office after their last meeting. I should like to make this statement that no moneys are paid away other than through the bank, and that non of the officials are paid for their services. The only money paid has been /8 for preparing all the cases. Neither the Town Clerk or the Treasurer have received one penny for their services during the four years. In fact the Treasurer often has to ad vance money out of his own pocket until the money comes from head- quarters. 1 Councillor Telford said that he was quite satisfied with the Mayor's explanation, and he thought it was a picy that, as far as Aberga- venny was concerned, these statements should get about in the paper without due consideration. It was a pity that people should make these statements without thinking. what they were doing, and they were bringing discredit upon themselves and the town. He thanked the Mayor for his statement. ¡ Abergaveany Sergeant's Honour. I At this juncture the Mayor introduced Arinourer-Sergt.-Major Spillane, son of the late Mr. Thos. Spillane, who was included in the last list of King's Birthday Honours, and had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, which he (the Mayor) had much pleasure in presenting to hitil. Sergt.-Major Spillane returned thanks and said-tirat it gave him much pleasure to receive a letter of congratulation from the Council, through the Mayor, when he was in France, and I lie appreciated it as much as he did the medal. The Mayor's Telegrams. I The Town Clerk reported that in response to a telegram sent by the Mayor congratulating Admiral Sir Roger Keyes on the capture of Ostend, a reply had been received as follows Many thanks for kind telegram, which is much appreciated by all." L Subsequently Councillor Graham asked Have you. sent telegrams to all the generals and admirals ?. You will ce wanting a priority certificate. The Mayor said that they sent every time there was anything worth sending for. Councillor Telfor l Is it necessary that we should send telegrams like this broadcast throughout the country ? Do other Town Councils do it, or is it only Abergavenny ? The Mayor I don't think we have to wait to see what other towns do, if Abergavenny is patriotic. Councillor Graham I quite appreciate your attitude, but is it worth while ? The Mayor It is for you to decide that. If you think it is not worth while we can let the matter drop. The Mayor added that they had only sent to two generals. They had sent a telegram with regard to. Austria that day, and it was only right that they should show that they were alive to the situation. Councillor Telford Should not we send it to the King ? He is the head of the whole thing. The Mayor We shall be sending next Satur- day to him. The matter then dropped. T Municipal Employees' Wages. Letters were read from Mr. Rees Llewellyn (general secretary) and Mr. Russell (local sec.) of the Municipal Employees' Association, calling attention to the recent award of increases granted by the Committee on Production to municipal employees of 33 separate local authori- ties in South Wales and Monmouthshire, and asking the Council to fall into line. The letters were referred to the Gas Com- mittee and the Streets Committee. Councillor Tong asked for information to be given as to the number of local authorities in South Wales and Monmouthshire, so that they would know whether 33 was a fair proportion. Municipal Housing. I Letters were- read from the Municipal Cor- porations Associations calling attention to the Housing Bill and the amendments which had been put down giving powers to the Local Government Board and the County Councils with regard to local housing, and pro- viding that local authorities which did not take steps by February 1St might be declared de- faulters, and powers might be exercised by the County Councils or the Local Government Board at the expense of the local authority. The Association suggested that local authorities should appeal to the M.P's to see that when the Bill was considered the interests of munici- palities were protected. Councillor Telford suggested that they should inform Mr. McKenna of their local housing proposals, and ask him to use his influence to get the powers of the smaller corporations enlarged instead of enlarging the powers of County Councils. They had quite enough to do at the present time to fight the County Council on other things, without having to fight them on the housing question. In reply to Councillor Horsington, the Town Clerk said thatvii return had been sent in to the Local Government Board as to their housing proposals. It was decided to write to Mr. McKenna on the matter. Lighten Our Darkness. I I Councillor long asked whether the Gas Com- I mittee had considered the question of applying I to the authorities with a view to getting per- I mission to clean the shading off the public gas I lamps. He did not want any additional lights he only wanted the present ones to be effective. Councillor Plowman asked for a light to be placed at the entrance to the passage between Victoria-street and Trinity-street. It was badly needed. Councillor Dclafiekl said that this would Le I attended to as well as any other lamps which were thought to be necessary. Councillor Mansfield sai4 that he recommended at the last Gas Committee that they obtain the authority of the police to remove the shading, and he was sorry that it had not been taken up. Councillor Delafield (chairman of the com- mittee) said that he would be very pleased to have the benefit of the lights. Chapel Mill Fields as Small Holding. The Sanitary and Water Committee reported that Mr. Holly attended at the last meeting with reference to the notice to quite in respect of Chapel Mill, and he offered to pay £ 90 per annum for the Chapel Mill and the six fields immediately adjoining containing 24 acres. The committee, considering that Mr. Holly had been in possession of Chapel Mill for over six years, decided to accept his offer to take effect from 23rd February next, when Mr. W. G. Harris gives up possessfon of the fields adjoining Chapel Mill. Councillor Plowman said that Mr. Holly was given notice 12 months ago, and the object was stated to be that the land was to be let as a small holding. He wanted to know why they pre- ferred Mr. Holly to a tenant of 26 years' standing, and why the committee did not do the same as other committees; and let the land by tender. Councillor Graham said he did not think he had ever seen a more high-handed action taken by any committee. They had an opportunity of doing something which shorld have been dor.e years ago. There were many small people who could not get a bit of land, while the land grabber was offering a high price for it. There was a certain element that wanted it all. Here was an opportunity of putting a smallholder in p6ssession, and they were suggesting to let it to a man who held a good number of acres. There were many applicants for this land. They wanted to let it to a smallholder who would use it f6r a dairy farm which would be for the benefit of the people. Councillor Telford said that he thought that Mr. Holly who held Chapel Mill was being con- fused with another Mr. Holly. They were quite distinct families. The Mr. Holly they Were dealing with had a fairly large family, -and he did not think they would get a better offer for the land anywhere. £ 90 for 24 acres was a good offer, and he recommended that it be accepted. If the Council thought otherwise it did not matter to him. The committee had taken no high-handed action. Councillor Horsington said they would not be justified in giving Mr. Holly notice without giving him the option of taking the land. He thought the committee were doing the right thing in letting the whole lot in one holding. Personally he should like to see the fields below the feservoir converted into a separate holding, so that they would have two holdings of 12 acres, but this was not the time for that. A resolution to refer the matter back to the committee was lost. I Pension for a Workman. The Streets Committee reported "that they had considered the question of the weekly pay- ment to Mr. Griffiths, late roller driver, the matter having been referred back by the Council, aird it was resolved that 6s. a week be.paid to him. Councillor Meale said that they were giving late officials pensions of £ 3 per week, and here they were offering a poor workman 6s. per week. It was ridiculous. Perhaps the committee could tell them the reason why they voted such a grand sum. Councillor Graham (chairman of the com- mittee) said that his view was that they ought to pay nothing. He had nothing against this man, but he was against penalising one section of thg. ratepayers to benefit another. if he had his wfvy lie would abolish the existing pensions, as he thought they were unjust. This man had been in their employ 28 yeais, and for 24 or 25 years he was in receipt of is. per week for the loan of tools, which the committee had recently bought for £9. If that is. per week had been invested in a thrift society Griffiths would have been independent of the committee. They had placed him in the same position as if he had been a member of such a society. While they had to summon people for the payment of rates he thought it was not fair to throw money away like this. He thought the present pensions were unjust and iniquitous, placed, as thev were, on the backs of people who could not pay their way. An amendment proposed by Councillor Tong and seconded by Councillor Horsington that the amount be increased to 8s. per week was lost. Religious Bodies and a Vigilance Committee. I The Streets Committee Considered the question of appointing a Watch or "Vigilance Committee to deal with the moral welfare of the young people, and it was resolved that a lecturer be engaged and the free use of the Town Hall be recommended for the occasion, in order to educate the public as to the necessity of taking action in the matter, and the subsequent forma- tion of a committee to further the object. .Councillors Graham and Mansfield hoped that the Town Council would support this movement. Councillor Tong said that it they wanted a Vigilance Committee in the town let the religious bodies take it up. He did not think that anyone had been sent there to look after the morals to that extent. They were there representing the ratepayers to look after their property and to see that they were assessed and paid their rates and taxes. He quite agreed with the idea, and he took Councillor Graham's word as to the necessity of it, as he had more observation than he had 6n the matter, but they were not the authority to do it. Councillor Graham said that local authorities were going to be compelled to take more drastic action in this matter. They had passed a resolution in relation to a Ministry of Health, and the question of a Vigilance Committee had something to do with the health of the com- munity and had certainly to do with the question of housing. It was jiot right to shelve these things. The religious bodies would no doubt do something, but a lead from the Council would help considerably. Councillor Mansfield said they had had work thrust upon them which they had never thought of before. When demobilisation was brought about there would be great need and urgency of what Councillor Graham suggested. He quite agreed that the religious bodies should take an active part, and they probably would if they got a lead from the Council. Councillor Graham proposed that a public meeting be held with the object of setting up a committee, and that the use of the Town Hall be granted for the purpose. Councillor Tong, in seconding, said that he agreed with it, if it meant that they were to attend individually and not as Councillors. The proposition was carried. Reception Committee's Request. I The Markets Committee reported that they had reconsidered the application of the Re- ception Committee asking the Council to forego the charge of id. per head for admissions to the Castle. The committee considered that they had no alternative but-to adhere to their previous decision not to accede to the application. Councillor Meale pressed that the amount should be allowed, and Councillor Graham pro- posed and Councillor Sadler seconded that this be done. 1 Councillor Mansfield said that this was rate- payers' money. The committee had the oppor- tunity of holding their meetings at a place where no rent would be charged, but they preferred to go to the Castle, and now they asked for the charge to be remitted. He did not think that they were justified in granting the request. The proposition was carried. Weighbridge in the Market. I The Markets Committee reported that the weighing machine for the Cattle Market had been invoiced and the account amounted to £170, plus £ 4 for case. It was stated that the machine had now arrived. Councillor Horsington asked if the committee were still of opinion that the best place for it I was by the round house. Councillor Plowman said that he had had a letter from the local secretary of the Farmers' Union asking the committee to meet some of their representatives to view the proposed site. He had made inquiries and he was rather afraid that the letter emanated from a member of I that Council. He did not think it was right that after the matter had been thorbughly thrashed out by the Council at least half a dozen times that a member should go behind the back of the Council to approach these people and get the scheme upset. He referred to Councillor Horsington. Councillor Horsington said he should always strongly express the opinion that the site fixed on for the weighing machine was absolutely wrong. It should be fixed adjacent to the collecting pen or pens so that the animals could ba easily djiven on to it. Councillor Telford asked whether the site had been fixed on in accordance with the views of farmers using the market. Councillor Plowman said that the matter had. been discussed with the auctioneers and theV agreed that it was the best place in the market. Messrs. Avery's man also approved of the site, as well as the Area Supervisor of the Live Stock Commission, and their Surveyor strongly ap- proved of it. The Town Clock. The Markets Committee reported that Mr. F.' R. Rowe had written pointing out the extra work involved in attending to the town clock twice daily in order to prevent the clock, chiming during the night, and asking for some remunera- tion for the work. The conimittee recommended the salary to be increased from £ 8 to £ 12 per annum. Councillor Telford asked when they were going to stop this man running up and down stairs killing himself for no purpose ? It was the most ridiculous thing imaginable to have a man going up there daily to stop the clock from striking. They should put an end to it. Councillor Plowman/said that they had asked the Town Clerk to write to the Chief Constable to see if it could not be done away with, but it was not recorded on the minutes. Increase in. the Rate. In moving that a rate of 2S. in the £ or an increase of 2d., be levied for the ensuing half- year, the Mayor said that Abergavenny could i congratulate itself on having bee:i able to carry on during the last four years without increasmg its rate, but owing to the increases in bonuses and wages and in other ways they were now compelled to increase their rate in order to meet their liabilities. Councillor Plowman seconded, and the rate was adopted.