Huddersfield Daily Chronicle (11/Jun/1880) – Correspondence: Beaumont Park and the Friendly Socities

This letter was in response to an article published on 1 June 1880, which was critical of certain aspects of the Beaumont Park sod cutting ceremony.


CORRESPONDENCE.

BEAUMONT-PARK AND THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

To the editor of the Huddersfield Daily Chronicle.

Sir,

In looking over your “Scraps and Hints” in last Saturday’s Chronicle, on the occasion of cutting the first sod in Beaumont Park, I find you make mention of the “friendly societies having made a miserable exhibition in the demonstration. Was it that having made provision for sickness they did not care to show their appreciation of a movement for preserving the public health?” Such expressions as the above call forth an explanation from some individual member of that philanthropic body. Firstly. Had there been sufficient notice given the members would have come forward in large numbers. Instead of only seven days’ notice, there ought to have been five weeks at the very least ; they cannot be called together in less time than that, as a majority of the lodges only meet every four weeks, and some of them on the first, second, third, and last Saturday in the month ; therefore it is very clear why there was such a miserable show of members of the friendly societies, and the charge lies at the very doors of those who have had command of the demonstration. Secondly. As to providing for sickness, and not caring to appreciate a movement for preserving the public health, I beg to say that there is not a class of men that is more willing to appreciate all kinds of movements that has a tendency of improving and preserving the public health at large than the members of the various friendly societies, providing that they have ample time given them to take up the matter. Trusting that some other member will have taken up this subject, who is better able to deal with it than I have done.

Yours truly,

AN ODDFELLOW AND FREE GARDENER.
June 10th, 1880.

Huddersfield Chronicle (23/Dec/1871) – Correspondence: Where Are the Police?

WHERE ARE THE POLICE?

To the editor of the Huddersfield Daily Chronicle.

Sir,

Being one of those individuals located on the outskirts of the Corporation boundary on Crosland Moor, I sometimes wonder how it is we are so good to find, when the money is wanted for Corporation and other expenses, as the police don’t know there is such a locality, or if they do, they don’t think it their duty to visit it. No doubt the policeman’s duty and beats are properly defined, and perhaps rigidly carried out in the more thickly populated portion of the borough. But the west part of Crosland Moor is greatly neglected by the officials, as will be seen from the following.

On Sunday last the road at Dungeon Wood end was thronged from eleven o’clock in the morning until dusk at night, with a class of men — young and old — who are a disgrace to the age in which we live. There was dog racing, men racing, and gambling, well-seasoned with the most disgusting language, ultimately closing the day with one of the most brutalising “up and down” fights, beating and kicking each other in the most savage manner. The combatants went into one of Messrs. Bentleys’ fields alone, and as one struck or kicked the other he was loudly cheered by the lookers on, who remained on the highway to enjoy the scene. During the whole day no police put in an appearance, and the roughs held quiet possession. We, who reside in the locality, are anxious to know if we are under the protection of the law? If so, who are our protectors?

This road is much frequented by teachers and scholars on Sunday afternoons, at the close of the services, and ought to be as well protected as any other portion of the corporate borough, and if not better attended to by the police must be reported in higher quarters.

Trusting for the insertion of this in your next paper, I remain,

ONE OF THE ANNOYED.
Crosland Moor, 21st December, 1871.

[ Our correspondent is a most respectable gentleman, whose complaint, we are sorry to say, from a personal acquaintance with the district, is not overdrawn. We have no knowledge of the special “up and down” scene he refers to, which appears to have been diversified with dog-racing, gambling, &c. ; but this particular locality has long been the resort of a rough class of society, who find enjoyment in the most brutalising pursuits. To this class of men the Saturday half-holiday is a curse rather than a blessing. — Ed. H.D.C. ]