Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 August 1893
Conisborough Poor Law Guardian Election.
On Wednesday evening a large open-air meeting was held at New Conisborough, in support of the candidature of Mr. T. Gravill, the secretary of the Mexborough and District Trades’ Council.
Mr. Fred Croft, the president of the Miners’ Lodge, took the chair. He referred to the necessity of workingmen being appointed on parochial boards, and the good that workingmen had done on these boards when they had been returned.
Mr. J. Dixon said that the Council had resolved to give Mr. Gravill their support, they had only recently had that privilege conferred upon the working classes. In the past the property qualification had prevented them as workingmen returning one of their fellows to dole out the parochial relief.
He said he had been informed that the Poor Law Guardians of the present day compelled loyal inhabitants, when unforeseen instances overtook them, to quit the place of their birth, and to end their remaining days as exile prisoners. The law makers of this country had made laws that when man and woman got married that they should not forsake each other while life doth last. But it had been acknowledged that on many occasions the poor law guardians rather than grant an aged couple a few shillings per week during their remaining years would entail upon the ratepayers double that amount of expense by forcing such persons into the house, and thus break the bonds which Almighty God had made by separating them, and not allowing them to converse with each other during their remaining years.
Mr. T. Gravill stated that a great many reforms were needed respecting the present system of the poor law authorities, and inasmuch as he had been requested by the working men of Conisborough to become a candidate he had, after careful consideration, consented to stand. He should try to carry out their wishes if elected, and to urge those reforms which were so essential to the working classes.
Mr. J. Marriott moved, “That we, the inhabitants of New Conisborough, after hearing Mr. Gravill’s views, pledge ourselves to give him our whole support.”
He said that the voting papers had been distributed, and would be collected yesterday, and he hoped they would all plump for “Gravill.”
Mr. Rodgers seconded, and it was unanimously carried.
The papers will be counted to-day (Friday).
The candidates are Messrs. Gillott, Ogley, and Gravill.