The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-02-01 00:00:00

RELIEF FOR THE POOR.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE TOWN HALL.

It has somewhat surprised a good many that steps
have not been taken earlier t3wards forming some
system of organised relief for the necessitous poor
during the present hard and cruel weather. Mr. T.
M. NI, rgan, we believe, took the initiative in the
matter, having already taken steps for collecting
money for the purpose of providing bread and cheese
and other relief in kind. Hearing, however, that •
requisition had been sent to the Mayor to call a public
meeting to form • Town Relief Committee, Mr.
Morgan very wisely co-operated with the larger
scheme, and we hope now tq have • system of relief
(and already it is doing its Christian work) which will
be fully competent to meet all demands; and we can
only express the hope that the labours of the com-
mittee will be of but short duration.

The Mayor, who is always to the fore in matters of
philanthropy, and in all efforts for the common good f
the town presided, and there were also present :—The
Rev. H. 'Everett, the Hon. and Rev. Spring-Rice. the
Rev. T. W. Knipe, the Rev. A. A. Leonard, the Rev.
C. F. Powys, the liev. Mr. Sanctuary, the Rev. Puget
Raikee, the Rev. T Neave, the Rev. Mr. Poole, the
Rev. W. Martin, Colonel Oldfield, Dr. Aldridge, Mr.
Alfred Pope, Mr. Alderman Curme, Mr. Alderman
Gregory, Mr. Arthur Lock, Mr. F. Lock, Mr. J. F.
Hodges, Mr. George Crocker. Mr. Henry Symonds,
Mr. A. Symonds. Mr. T. Coombs, Mr. Frost. Mr. T.
H. Morgan, Mr. Guy, Mr. Hill, Mr. T. S. Biggs.
Mr. Pearce, Mr. Lush, Mr. Tuttle, Mr. Posed.
Jibbed, Mr. H. Ling, Mr. Seaward, Mr. Davis, Mr.
Chapman, Mr. Braithwaite, and Mr. H. Bascombe.
There were also the following ladies present :—Mrs.
A. E. Manse!, Mires B. Williams, Mrs. A. Lock,
Mn. T. M. Morgan, and others.
The Mayon, having read the notice convening
the meeting, said he was happy to say that the leanings
of the notice of the desirability of establishing this
relief fond had been very liberally responded to. Since
two o'clock he had himself rei-eived about 06—
(applause)—so that they would all agree they were In
• fair way of going on and being able to afford relief to
the many poor creatures who during the present severe
weather had to endure much suffering and much
privation. (Hear, hear.) He would first read to them
• letter which he Ina received from Mr. W. Brymer,
the hon. member for the borough :

" lisington f 00.41.
"Dear Mr. Mayor,—l am sorry to see by the notice of a
public meeting for this (meninx which I him ust received,
that this very severe weather is mince very much dietaries
In Dorchester. I am afraid I shall not at so late an hour
be able to attend ; but I bac to enclose a cheque for £45
for the purpose of the relief fund.
" I am, ibc., W. Baran."
(Applause.) He had also received intimation from
Messrs. Williams and Co., that they would give £5
toward' the fund. (Applense.) Captain Harmer had
written: "I beg to enclose £2 for the soup kitchen
about to be established. (Appleuse.) Major-General
'lensing had also called on him, and put his same
down far the same amount, and if more funds are
required. to apply to him and he should be very
to give more. (Applause.) So that together L)letend-
sidered their fund was very well started. Besides the
same already mentioned they have received the follow-
ing :—Messrs. Crocker, £3; Mr. Bteele, Li; Hodges
and Boa, £2; Mr. Henry Bascombe, Li; Mr. Biggs,
£1; and others sums. As he WM not at the pre-
liminary meeting, he would call on Mr. Hodges to
kindly inform the meeting what had been done.
(Hear, bear.)
Mr. 3. F. Bowies, in acceding to the resuest of the
Mayor said be was called upon by Mr. G. Crocker
to see if he would meet him, and with a few others
talk the matter over. They really ought to do some-
thing to relieve the poor. He had not been aware of
the ameunt of distress which there was in Dorchester
end frordington. He had heard there had been a
great deal, and he was glad that this movement had
been onmmenced. They met together, and he was
=WI to take the chair at the meeting. They
the matter over, and the weather being so
severe, and the distress so great, they at once
decided, with the subscriptions then promised, to give
away soup that day and the morrow to the extent
• W gallons each day. They then asked the Mayor
to call the present meeting. It appeared to him desir-
able, se there had not been • soup kitchen established
for inch a long period--indeed, he did not remember
one at all--(a Voice "There has not been one
suggested they might go to Weymonth, where they
had one at work under a thoroughly nrzanisail system,
to enquire into its working. Accordingly Mr. Crocker
sad went to Weymouth and saw the honorary
secretary. Ile took them to the kitchens and from
the person who made the soup they hail a list of the
ingredients, and he was astonished to find how really
good the soup was. To every 50 gallons of soup there
were 251bs. of beef, besides pork, peas, and other things.
He had heard poor people did not like soup, but so far
as that soup was concerned, he was sure those present
would be only too glad to have a basin of it. He w.
perfectly astonished to find what good soup the;
sappliscL Besides this, they did not distribute it
gratuitously, but charged one penny • quart for
soup which actually cost about threepenoe. This plan
commanded itself to him very etrongly, for not oaly
did people vales very much more that which they paid
for than what was given them but it clashed the
nnplemant feeling very naturally entertained by the
recipients, that they were depeadent upon charity,
(Hear, bear.) Mr. J. Robertson, the secretary, had
explained the working to him, and he did sot think
they could do better than to follow the Weymouth
system. They distributed from 150 to 180 quarts per
Asm, and provided it four days in the week. Is con-
vivial he expressed the hope they would be able to
follow this system • certain extent, and endear
to meet the which was Increasing very mucr
cuh.
(Haw, bra.)
Mr. Owens Camera then proposed the first resole-
akesatlica fb'
ylatheoonsideratiou.,..ity aof t e present distress, ores-
the weather, it ie desk ble
regibditaid estabibit a kitchen or ldtobens foe th
eon* to the neosseitous poor. (Lear,