NBWTA Report 1904-060
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116 TAY November, which is doing splendidly; the expenses week by week. Whitehaven reports rooms, which have proved a _ great benefit Burslem Buxton which has a stall _ Branch is large have also started a van navvies are at work. In the breakfast for have enough the “wakes,” opened a to hold on the new which income covering very good cocoa- to the people is coffee-room meetings in Water helpful. where 300 the it has a counter across, cupboards, shelves, and canisters all round, except the door, which leads into a little kitchen fitted with gas stove The in the weekly. Works, the Sunday services, literature distributed, and pledges taken. Cardiff has started a van on a novel idea. A gentleman gave an almost new horse tram-car (when the electric cars were started) which had recently cost £200 to build. Then they begged and had concerts to furnish the van. The town council gave them a position, but the shop-keepers objected so they had to ‘‘ move on,” and got a site on Lord Bute’s Iron Works. Ten men can be seated inside the van, and town They some This was opened and a service held at 8.30 a.m. half-hour, tea, coffee, and buns were given to navvies. A most interesting account of this Opening has been received. Having opposed the Urban District Council’s suggestion of a canteen by a memorial signed by 250 residents of a small Prohibition village the committee of the B.W.T.A. felt they ought to try in some measure to cater for the men by providing them with non-intoxicants at low prices. This van had also done splendid service during the erection of the Empire Hotel. It is under the management of a reformed drunkard known as “ praying Billy ”—formerly it was “drunken Bill.” East Ham and Upton Park Branch have a coffee stall for men going to work ; also a stand on Wanstead Flats at fair times. South Woodford and Woodford Green opened a refreshment tent in Epping Forest on Easter Monday. Crewe is so well supplied with stands (stationary) and also a coffee van goes regularly round the town, that for the B.W.T.A. to set up a stall would be to deprive needy workers of a means of help. They are, however, hoping to establish a Temperance Institute, where men can read, &c., without temptation. Abingdon has held a refreshment tent at the oil fair, which has been a great success and kept many from the public house. Idle Branch was invited to provide refreshments in the cricket field during the summer of 1903, after several years of agitation on the part of the Temperance members of the club. Two years before the offer of the B.W.T.A. was refused—but the club was almost compelled to ask them to renew it because public opinion was against them. A drink tent had done much mischief for many years—so an attempt was made which resulted in over £2 profit after all expenses were paid. This was handed over to the club, and at the close of the season a very hearty vote of thanks was received, and the former feeling of antagonism towards the B.W.T.A. has piven place to a cordial admission of their self-denying efforts and thorough business- like methods. The West London Mission started a van last year. which did well, but the residents (publicans and others) petitioned the authorities and they refused to allow it to continue. Weymouth sends an Interesting account of a coffee “hut” which two ladies of the com- mittee worked for the benefit of the men engaged all night in the docks unloading the potato boats from Jersey to London. Holbeck Branch provided a refreshment tent at the local feast or fair and had a good variety of wholesome and substantial foods at reasonable prices ve were thoroughly appreciated ee ae s. 7d.—small by the ‘feast folk.” In four days 32 18s. 2}d. for sales, and left a balance in hand indeed—but who shall measure the good done by and sink. This was built on the driver’s platform. This report ought to help others to go and do likewise. Another interesting account is from Berwick-on-Tweed. At the hiring fair the Association had the Girls’ National School open from ro a.m, to 7 p.m. with refreshments, and had good fires, tea, coffee, pies, and cakes, which were well patronised. Canning Town has a coffee and dining-room for the Victoria Dock men, started by the BW.T.A. Oldham has arranged to provide hot coffee for the workpeople in the early morning. _The North Wales Union has several in the agricultural shows each year. At Retford they have had a coffee cart at work since 1889, which they hire out to a respectable widow who pays a weekly rent,~ which gives them a small margin of profit. Eltham has a small coffee stall at the monthly cattle sale, which, by request, has provided luncheon for the farmers. This was generously given by Mrs. Henry Kingsley. It has paid its way, and has a balance in hand. Hastings has a coffee cart, and the man who draws it has £1 a week and a bonus at the end of the year, according to profits. Barnet has a record of several years’ service at the now historical Barnet Fair, brisk trade being done at the two tents provided under the auspices of the Asso- ciation Open-air, children’s, and other meetings are conducted in their field by the Open Air Mission. Ealing has a refreshment tent on the common. Twenty-six Branches have written sympathetically of the need of such practical work, and asking information as to cost, etc. Fifteen Branches do not see their way to start. Toxteth (Liver- pool) has had a cart working a little over twelve months on a site in Toxteth Dock. Morally, they feel it has helped the men ; financially, their balance sheet is on the right side ; and they are able to write the word “success” to theirscheme. The Liverpool Centre write that their cart has been at work four years, used very largely by electric carmen, and it is opposite one of the largest public-houses in the town. Wallasey Branch owns three carts which have been at work over nine years, and many are the testimonials to the good received from them. Lastly, the Fairfield Branch is the most interesting of all, a full report of which appeared in the January number of the Wiite Aibbon. The year has been an exceptionally interesting one as regards the two coffee carts working one at the Old Swan and one at Walton, both doing a very useful work and meeting a much felt want. The Old Swan cart, from the first, has paid its way and left a small balance. The Walton cart was always worked at a loss, but, seeing it was doing such good work, the Committee drew on the balance from the Old |