The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-04-18 00:00:00

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FIRST mEEnNa OF THE NEW BOARD
OF GUARDIANS.

LIVELY SCENE WITH MR. PRESCOTT.

The first meeting of the New Board was held
yesterday when there were present :—Messrs.
G. Granger, B. Brooks, I. Rollinson, H.
Oliver, Holmes, Phillips, Parkes,
Thompson, Wood, Ray bould, Homer, J. Bil-
linghatn, Williams, Giles, Baker, Hall, Wright,
Rhodes, Fiddian, Foley, liaskew, Guest, Pear-
sall, and T. Weston. On the motion of Mr.
Wood, Mr. Brooks WRS elected chairman, pro
tem. Mr. Brooks, in opening the business, said
he thanked them most sincerely for the honour
they had doue Lim in electing him chairman,
inn tem., anti for the way in which the gentle.
urn who had spoken before him referred to the
manner in which he (Mr. Brooks) ' performed
the share of the work which, as a guardian, de-
volved upon him. He was a great invalid, and
nothing but the peculiar interest which he felt
in the ratepayers and the poor would have
brought him there that day. The late chair-
man had served them faithfully for a great
number of years, aud he (the speaker) only
wished the ratepayers knew how well he had
worked for .he poor. lie was happy that they
had worked together so well during the last
year. They had never had a division, and they
had always been of one mind to serve the rate-
papers and the poor. There were frequent at-
tempts to practice deception upon the Board,
and it required great care to deal with such
oases. He would only refer to one case, where
a man was caught of late, who, had come there
and applied to the chairman for relief, stating
that he had nothing coining in, when the fact
was that he was allowed 1.69 per week by Mr. and
Mrs Robinson. He only mentioned this case as an
instance of what they had frequently to contend
with, and to show that if they were sometimes
taken in, it was not for the want of exercising
due precaution on their part. They had how-
ever, a Local Boaxd in London, which professed
to know more than they did, but, notwithatand-
ing this (the Board) thought they did a little
good. They did all they could to save the rate-
payers unnecessary expense and to serve the
poor. He had great pleasure in proposing Mr.
Granger as uhairman for the Board for the en-
seeing year.

e seconded and carried unanimously.
Mr. Granger then took his seat as chairman,
and said it was a great pleasure to him to be
permitted to meet them there that morning, and
to hear the kind remarks which Mr. Brooks had
made in reference to himself. Re had endea.
veiled to perform the duties devolving upon him
to the best of his ability and if he had given
them satisfaction he was amply repaid for any
trouble ho Lid taken. It had (teen their unan-
imous pleasure that he should occupy the po-
sition of chairman for the ensuing year, and lie

accepted the position. He was sure the work-
ing members of that Board had always rendered
him the greatest service in conducting the
business, as also, had the clerk, and the other
officers of the Board, ; and he wished to thank
them for having done so. He would not occupy
the time by making a long speech, but would at
once proceed to business. The first thing they
would have to do would be to appoint a Vice-
chairman. He had great pleasure in seeing
both the Vice-chairmen present that. day.
The hand of affliction had been laid very hui‘i.y
upon both of them; but wore especially upon
one of them, whom illness had kept away
from the Board for months. He had very great
pleasure in proposing that Mr. Benjamin Brooks
be the first Vice-chairman for the ensuing year.
Mr. H. Billinghani said as Mr. Brooks was
one of his colleagues representing Stourbridge.
he should have very great pleasure in seconding
the proposition that that gentleman be first Vice-
chairman. It required a good man of business
. to fill that post, and also one who was well ac-
painted with the poor people. Mr. Brooks
fulfilled all those requirements. He had been a
member of that Board for a number of years,
and he was thoroughly competent to preside at
meetings of that Board, and he was thoroughly
qualified to represent the feelings of that por-
tion of the town which he was elected for. He
made these few remarks to show the public that
they had not elected Mr. Brooks simply because
he (the speakerl knew him, but because he was
the best they could have chosen for the position.
It was therefore, with great pleasure that he
seconded the nomination of Mr. Brooks for
chairman. Vic-

Mr. Brooks thanked them for the compliment
they had paid him. He had made mistakes,
doubtless, but no one desired more sincerely
than himself to do what was right. He refered
to the heavy charges for the support of the Wor-
cestershire and Staff mdshire Police which came
regularly upon their Board,aud which went forth
to the public as poor-rates, when in reality
they had nothing to do with the poor as they
were devoted to the support of the police. He
also spoke of the nunecessary expense to which
the ratepayers were put through persons being
nominated who had not the remotest chance of
being elected; thereby putting the ratepayers
to useless and unnecessary expense. He again
thanked them for all the kindness he had re-
ceived at their hands, at that Board. He
could 'assure them that nothing but illness would
keep him away from the meetings, and that no
private business of his own should ever stop
him from attending. He then proposed that
Mr. I. Rollins be the second vice-chairman,
and in doing so expressed the pleasure he felt
at seeing him there, recovered from his recent
illness.

Mr. Rhodes seconded Mr. Brooks's proposition, and, on
being put to the meeting it was earated unanimously.—
Mr. RoHinson briefly returned thanks.—The bye-lows
were then read and adopted.---The following gentlemen
were elected as the Assessment Committee :—Messrs
Granger, Robinson, Hall, Rhodes, B. Homer, H. Billing-
ham, and Guest. Ex-officiu : Messrs. H. Foley, J. Hob.
c-oft, E. Gem, and H. eimith.

Mr. PittleCoTT applied for permission to inspect the
voting papers for Stourbridge. He asked that the Clerk
might be allowed to take them to his (the clerk's) offices
at Stourbridge, sir that the ratepayers might inspect them
at any time, without having to walk ao far as Kingswins
ford. He had two or three questions to ask the Board
First, he submitted to the Board.--Mr. Granger : We
have taken your application into consideration.—Mr.
Prescott: No one knows it; you cannot take it into con-
sideration until you have heard it.—Mr. Granger. We
have gone out of our usual course to meet your couve.
nience, and, therefore, hope you will proceed to the busi-
ness as quickly as possible.—Mr. Prescott: I thank you.
My application is that I hope to be allowed to inspect the
voting papers for Stourbridge, and also that Mr. Hollo-
way be perinittedito take them to his offices at Stour.
bridge so that any ratepayer may be able to inspect
them. lie (Mr. Prescott) went on to say that his next
was one that affected the whole of that Union. lie
wished to know if officers of that Union were permitted
to ask persons who were nominated to withdraw. This
had been done by the assistant.overseer, and Mr.
Hollowity's son, who had not contented themselves with
asking persous to do this on ordinary days, but had
even done so on the Sabbath day.--31r. Holloway said
lie denied this statement in tOOO.--A member of the
Board told Mr. Prescott that he should not make use
of such remarks, if he did not know.—Mr. Prescott af.
firmed that he did know.—The Clerk replied that the
Board did not know, and some confusion ensued, where-
upon Mr. Billingham rose to order, and said he did not
aonsi ler the Board deserved to be treated in the manner
that Mr. Prescott was treating it.—Mr. Prescott: My
application Brojks : Order him out of the
coons; don't hear him—Mr. Prescett : I have a perfect
right to be here. Looking at Mr Brooks, he went on
to say... What should you say if I was to call your head
a block ?"—There ensued general confusion, several
members of the Board declaring that such language
was disgraceful and uncalled for and that it could not be
permitted. He was told not to repeat such language,
or to leave the room. He went on to say that the mat-
ter with reference to the conduct of assistant-overseer
had been before the Poor Law Board. The assistant.
overseer went to Mr. Allchurch and threatened that if
he stood a contest he should put the town to f:11 or
£4O expense. And this was repeated on the Sunday
night in the presence of Mr. Holloway's son.—Mr.
Brooks : Will you stand ;ins, brother guardians ?—Mr
Rhodes to Mr. Present( : Go out of the room —More
confusion ensued, Mr. Prescott refusing to leave, when
Mr. Ray bouid asked them to let Mr. Prescott make his
amilis diets He hoped that Mr. Prescott wool refrain
from snaking those remarks, and that he would with.
draw those observatiow —Ur. Prescott said he could
not withdraw thern.—Mr. Rayb mid remarked thet
every body at the Board considered that the Clerk was
a gentleman, and that ho could not be guilty of what
Mr. Prescott ho I imputed to hine.-11, Pre icott went
on to any that lie hod written to the Local Board in
London dam. the conduct of the officers of the Board.
It wss all very well for the gentlemen there to say they
were the guardians, and they were returned With pipits',
but lie thought that would be called in qireetion. That
the asiismat•overseer shoal I g aid tiiroateo this ;Ilan
on Suaday night, was v .re clerk's s.ni
lived WI his father, and too• kit; •r was responsible for
his He;.. lie had no right to allow cork a proceeding 13
tike yore. Mr. Hollowly had a r Xit t ate
any lefroon he chose to do ti" work. lla thou pr
due, it a quantity of owing pa..ere, nut sit lie had 51.
of ti ,a which hail never b collect fro. the per.
sons also bad thurn.—Mr. Rh I !Os 4.21•A1l
Pre•cott : Question 'SI CALI prove that theist are 50
working men who have not been called upon for those
pap i rs.—The Chairman remarked :mat if the clerk Lad
dour anything illegal, Mr. Presc itt hod his remedy.—
The Clerk said he denied it in tote. His son hail never
been to Allchurch on that business. Mr. Prescott had
already appealed to the Local Board, and he thought
that ought to satisfy him.—Mr. Haskew said for his
own part he was not aware that he was bound to any
man, but he liked to live in harmony with all his tel.
low t swnsmen ; bathe really did not think those gentle-
men deserved the remarks that had been made to them
Mr. Prescott —Mr. Prescott said the three gentlemen
who had got up to interrupt him were the three persons
interested. That was a pretty thing.—The Chairman
called him to order.—Mr. Prescott said he wag in order.
He had been a guardian, and he knew the law. He
knew what jobbery had been carried there on former
days, and he believed something of the same kind was
gising on now.—Mr. Rhodes said they did not want any
blaeliguardisin there, arid if Mr. Prescott did not behave
hunseif he would be thrown through the door (pointing
ta door of the room).—Mr. Brooks: Let him alone.—
Mr. Prescott (derisively) : Let him alone. You have no
brains, Bro iks.—Great conf ision ensued, some of the
members wishing to have Mr. Prescott ejected, during
which Mr. Prescott left the room.—Mr. Btllingliam rose
and said since he had been a guardian they had never
heil suds a bear-garden before, nod he over wished to
see such au one again. He wished it distinctly tug, to
toe rotspayers of Stourbridge that the expense of the
election had been owing to Mr. Prescott, and ..not to Mr.
Allchurch. If the charges again. Mr. Holloway were
true, Mr. Prescott must go to the Local Board and there
he would have his remedy. (Sir. Holloway : he has done
visit With regard to Mr. Brooks's thick head, a more
ungentlemanly remark could not have been made. He
was really surprised that any one should make such re-
morks.—Mr. Brooks said Mr. Raybould had been of
oeiniou that they had better hear him through, and he
bat acquiesced—Sir. Itstybould remarked that he had
seen a great deal of the world, and if a man came there
with a •1 heighty-tity " tale, he thought the best way
was to hear Dim out and let him snake his statement in his
own way and then they could defeat him with hie own
weapons.—Oth r guardians expressed their disapproba-
tion of Mr. Prescott's conduct, and the matter then
dropped.
The following is the usual weekly return :—Admitted
into the house daring the week, 13; discharged, 16 ;
did, 4; total, 342. Corresponding week last year, 365.;
Oit-door relief, Ringswinfori district, £25 69. 4d ;
Stourliridge, £l7 4s. 110.; Halesowen, .£l9 17s. lid
re hi to nun-resident paupere, 119. 8c1; total, £62
103; corresponding week last year, £63 17e.