TOO MUCH DRUNKENESS IN GRAYS-CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS’ SERIOUS INDICTMENT.
The following appears in the Grays Congregational Church monthly magazine for October 1915:-
TEMPERANCE in these days is just about the most essential thing for which to work. There is so much drunkenness in Grays that the Minister has arranged to close all the week evening meetings in time for the young people to get home before the public houses turn out their crowds of half-tipsy customers. The men and women of Grays will regret this prodigal and bestial waste of money. Our temperance guild opened its winter session with eighty children. The Minister gave a short address and the remainder of the evening was given to games. Several new members, including a number of scouts, joined the guild. This year greater emphasis it to be put on signing the pledge. Addresses have been given by Mr Potter and Mr Savage, and the children have been responsible for a musical evening. The attendance is well over 50, and the discipline good.
PURFLEET SCHOLARS SUCCESS-SCHOOL GARDEN WINS R.H.S. SILVER MEDAL.
The school garden attached to Purfleet School has obtained another success at the Royal Horticultural Society’s show in London. A collection of produce this week procured the award of a silver Banksian medal, this being the fourth year in succession that the distinction has been obtained.
The success was announced at the meeting of the Orsett D.S.C., ON Tuesday evening (28 September,1915) by a telegram from Mr Stapleton, the headmaster , whom the Chairman (Mr A Brookes J.P.) and the other members heartily congratulated.
GRAYS AND DISTRICT TRADES COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 1915.
PROTEST AGAINST CONSCRIPTION. CONSCRIPTION ABATED.
Mr Thompson here raised the question of conscription, saying that he considered the present was the time when the workers should assert their rights to be heard on the matter. If they were not careful they would have conscription forced upon them. Although the bulk of the workers felt they did not want to hinder the Government, they knew very well that from an industrial point of view the bringing in of conscription would be the undoing of the workers. The latter could do with National Service if it was National Service all round, but any form of conscription meant the breaking up of trades “union” and the destruction of the liberties which their forefathers fought for.
He was willing to be conscripted when the Government did the same with capitalists and not till then – Mr Goodger said he hoped conscription would not be necessary, though he believed it would be required before the war was over – if he thought it was necessary he was not disposed to oppose it, so long as the workers organised bodies were allowed to have a voice in shaping the form conscription would take. National Service should be drawn up by the working classes of the country, because they formed the greater part of the nation. – Mr Thompson, while agreeing to some extent, contended that even if they were given some voice in the drawing up the scheme of conscription they would have none in the management. –
Mr Goodger replied that he was opposed to the Continental form of conscription at any time. – Mr Thompson went on to say that he would view with suspicion any scheme which the governing classes drew up and which was left to officials to carry out and the judges to interpret. – Mr Pugh expressed the opinion that the only share the workers would be given would be a small representation to make up the number. – Mr Day pointed out that what they should fight for was industrial conscription rather than military conscription. –
Mr Thompson then moved a resolution that the Council should resist any effort to force conscription upon them, being totally opposed to it. – Mr Saward seconded and this was agreed to.
