Welsh Journals

The chairman then read out a petition to the central authority, pointing out the privations to which the poor were subjected through entering a distant poorhouse from which their feelings naturally recoiled." The petition ended with a desire for separation, the fears expressed in 1836 that Gower interests would suffer having been only too amply confirmed by events. Some of the more cautious ratepayers deleted the last statement, and a shorter petition, incor- porating the changes suggested, was then drafted. Cheers were raised when a seventy-year old farmer stated that he was prepared to devote a day in going round on his little pony to collect signatures. The evidence of Mr. J. H. Vivian proved conclusively that, from a financial standpoint, the Gower ratepayers had gainea from their connection with Swansea, and this, coupled with slightly better conditions, lessened the demand for immediate separation. How- ever, as soon as the expenditure rose, the demand was renewed, and by 1857 it had caused at least one Swansea guardian to declare that if the Gower guardians wish for a divorce, in heaven's name let them have it; if they wish to remain, well and good." Plans had already been made to erect a workhouse at Cefn Bryn, and the Gower guardians continued to strengthen their case by criticising the administration at the Swansea workhouse, from which, it was alleged, the males were discharged wholly unfit for industtial pursuits and the females totally depraved." in In response to this campaign the new Gower Union was formed in September, 1857. It was reported that both parties rejoice in the severance," and that the Swansea guardians by no means regretted having got rid of those who alwavs proved a clog whenever any progressive movement was attempted." The guardians of the new union were equally happy, and one of them wrote to the older union in 1858, to say that, it is so long since the separation of we from your union that I do begin to think that perhaps you and your brother guardians will be pleased to hear how we do get on." This gu.-rdian was pleased to have got rid of you Swansea people," for we don't starve the poor as ycu do." He ended his letter gleefully: 11 we guardians have it all our own way now, and we do live in what the Salms (sic)do call unity and brotherly love, and we be all of one mind, sticking to the one thing needful, viz., keeping down the rates." He hoped that the information contained in his letter would be given to the gentlemen who write to the newspapers (I don't know what you call them)," and then signed himself as a respectful, obedient, servant It lies beyond the scope of this article to trace the progress of the Gower parishes after the separation, but it may be said that, although opponents reported with satisfaction any snatches of gossip to prove that the new guardians were at loggerheads with each other, future events showed that the administration of the union was at least satisfactory. J. Emlyn Thomas.