LLANELLY and COUNTY GUARDIAN FEBRUARY 25th 1897.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Sir …. a few lines out of sympathy with the poor Kidwellyites in their present distress. This, I think, is a time when we football enthusiasts, can certainly show a little charity towards them, were it only for the assistance given our team in the past in supplying forwards of the calibre of Steve Thomas, Henry Evans and Dan Davies, not without hopes of others in the future …. it would not be asking too much for the Llanelly Football Club to give them a benefit match or failing that, to see a return match between the Press and Police, which would give the Press a chance of retrieving their good name before the public of Llanelly.

I am, Yours, …………… Sympathy

 

LLANELLI and COUNTY GUARDIAN March 4th 1897.

THE DISTRESS AT KIDWELLY

There is not the slightest sign of a restart at the Gwendraeth Tinplate Works at Kidwelly and they have now been closed for 14 months. The distress prevalent in town is very great. The Works during the past 6 to 7 years have only been going in a spasmodic manner - working during that period considerably less than half time.

Efforts have been made locally to alleviate the great distress and suffering felt and with no little success, thanks to the kind-hearted subscribers. The Mayor, Mr. E. V. Davies through the Public Relief Fund was till recently able to relieve some 150 families weekly but his funds are now exhausted. The Vicar has been able by means of his Soup Kitchen Funds to distribute quantities of soup and bread once a week to applicants but this also will not last much longer and a quart of soup and a loaf of bread is not much for a large family for a week. Scores of men have gone elsewhere for employment of a kind at low wages and the wives and children are left at home to suffer terribly - some families have been for days without anything.

A letter in the Guardian last week suggested a football match be played in aid of relief of Kidwelly distressed. Mr. Totten, manager of the Royal Theatre, offered to place the Theatre at the disposal of the Mayor's Relief Committee for a Concert - but this could not be arranged. In the meantime help is urgently needed.

We should also have stated that Mr. Thomas Wild, grocer, has also been making and distributing quantities of soup weekly lately.

The secretary of the Mayor's Public Fund, Mr. J. Morgan, desires to thank Mr. Lloyd of Llanelly, for the 5s. 6d. received by the Fund. More contributions are urgently required.

 

LLANELLI and COUNTY GUARDIAN MARCH 11th 1897

DESTITUTION AT KIDWELLY OVER 100 FAMILIES STARVING

There is terrible destitution at Kidwelly. The Gwendraeth works were closed in January of last year-14 months ago ....and a large number of men have been idle ever since. There must, therefore, be the direst poverty in the place. As stated in our last issue, over a 100 families are in absolute want and unfortunately, there is no prospect of a re-start of the works for the present. The shareholders met on Friday at Llanelly and decided to dispose of the property but this will necessarily take some time, even supposing that a purchaser will be found. The "Western Mail" granted a sum of £15 on Saturday, part of which was distributed that evening. More help, however, is urgently needed and we have no hesitation in appealing to our readers in behalf of the distressed men. The secretary of the local relief committee, Mr. John Morgan, will be glad to receive any donations, however small.

A number of distressed Kidwelly people are going to Llanelly asking for help. While we have nothing to say against this we believe the best course of action to be adopted by the charitably inclined would be to send their offerings direct to the relief committee.

Click to go: Home: Contents