The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-18 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSER BOARD OF
GUARDIANS.

Mr. J. Kiteley presided at the meeting of the
Board held on Tuesday.
It was stated that the amount expended on out-
door relief in the borough during the past fort-
night had been £59 us id. The number of
paupers in the house was 311, as compared with
275 in the corresponding week last year.
A letter was read from the Local Government
Board sanctioning the appointment of a school-
master for the hous3 at the wages agreed upon.
A letter was received from the relatives of
Elizabeth Priddy, announcing her death. Deceased
who was eighty-fmir years of age, had been for
many years nurse at the Union, and was superannu-
ated with a pension of £2O per annum. The writer
of the letter said the deceased was exceedingly
grateful to the Board.
There were two applicants—Alfred Seal and
William James—both of Herefordshire, for the
situation of industrial trainer in the house. The
former wa; elected.
A report of the boys who were sent to service
out of the house was read from the Chairman. One
of the boys, named Andrew Pitt. who had been
placed with Mr. Drew, baker, of Stourport, com-
plained that his food and clothing Were insufficient
and that he was obliged to work improper hours.
The boy appeared before the. Beard, but Mr. Drew,
who was absent, was represented by Mr. Miller
Corbet, solicitr)r.
The Chairman said the Board could not hear the
complaints of the boy in the absence of Mr. Dr,w,
his master, and they should adjourn the matter for
a fortnight to allow him to be present. it was
important the master should be there in person to
answer the charges.
Mr. Corbett said the boy had behaved very well,
and had become valuable to his master until twelve
months ago. Since then he had 'often threatened
to run away, because he was under an impression
that he would get more money elsewhere.
The discussion was then adjourned,

BROMSGROVE.
BOARD OP GUAI,DIANS ; PERSONAL SQIJABBLE.—A t
the fortnightly meeting of this Board, held on Tues-
day, Mr, J. Russorr in the chair, the clerk read a
letter from Mr. Gilbert, of Hagley, stating that he
had been to Redditch to make inquiry ai to the
charges made by Mr. Rooker, a Guardian, against
Mr. Bladon; relieving officer, of being unkind to the
poor, and 20 people whom ho had visited had cer-
tified to the contrary. He also found the pay place
a clean comfortable cottage, where there was a good
tire ; the poor were not compelled to wait for their
money ; and the proposed uew pay place was very
inconvenient.—The Chairman stated that he had
received a similar letter from Mr. Gilbert, and had
advised him not to carry the matter further, as there
was no specific charge against the relieving officer
and the dispute between Mr. Rooker and Mr. White
at the last meeting was a personal one.—Mr. Rooker
slid he regarded the conduct of Mr. Gilbert as an
insult to the Redditch Guardians, and he must
speak about it.—The Chairman thought it was not
necessary; but Mr. Mogg said it was unnecessary
for Mr: Gilbert to move at all in the matter, and he
should like to say something about it.—Mr. Rooker
thought Mr. Gilbert should mind his own business
and leave the Redditch Guardians to mind theirs.
He repeated his charges that Bladon was very cruel
to the poor.—The Chairman asked if Mr. Hooker
had any specific charge to make. Mr. Rooker
replied that he had made specific charges.—The
Chairman said they had been disposed of. The
Board could not sit to hear mere personal charges.
Mr. Rooker said he would maintain his point, and
would not be beaten out of it. Bladon was very
cruel to the poor. —Mr. Gilbert said that ever since
he had sat at the Board the Redditch Guardians heti
been "at" Bladon, and he had made the inquiry to.
prove that Bladon wis not a "bad man."—Mr.
Rooker said Mr. Gilbert had taken Bladon with
him when he went to make hi E inqniries, and the
latter had directed him where to go.—Mr. Gilbert
denied this.—ln reply to Mr. Wright, Mr. Gilbert
said it was dark when he went to look at the pro-
posed pay place.—ln reply to an observation, Mr.
Rooker indignantly denied that it was a personal
squabble, and said he acted solely from a sense of
duty.—ln reply to the Chairman, Mr. Bladon, who
had been called into the room, said he had given
notice :to leave his present pay place after this week, as
he found it was a "weekly take." He gave a gene-
ral denial to Mr. Hooker's charges.—Mr. Gilbert
asked Mr. Rooker if it was true, as rumoured. at
Redditch, that he wanted to get Mr. Bladon out of
his place because he had a friend he wanted to get
in.—Mr. Rooker said on his oath he could deny it.
He did not wish to injure Mr. Bladon, who had a
large family he knew, but there was a strong feeling
about him at Redditch, and at a meeting held on
the previous evening serious charges were made
against him in respect to the performance of his
duties as school attendance officer:—Mr, Mogg said
he would not let the matter rest where it was if he
were Istlr. Rooker, and the latter brought a further

complaint against Bladon for not giving the whole
of his time to the performance of his duties.—The
Board, howeVor, did not entertain these general
charges, and proceeded to discuss the applications
for relief.