Ffynh 3I

I [the Times reporter] had the question put to the meeting [of about 100 farmers at Conwil Elfed, Carms., on 16 August, 1843] – ‘If the poor generally were satisfied with their treatment in the workhouse?’

The answer was, ‘No; when they are sent to the workhouse the poor think they are going to be incarcerated there, the same as if any one of us were to be sent to prison.’

A farmer said, ‘Under the old system we relieved and maintained our poor among ourselves. The former system [of outdoor relief as distinct from sending the able-bodied poor to the workhouse] was not nearly so costly ...’

I had the question put, ‘Is the New Poor Law as unpopular amongst the farmers and ratepayers generally as it is amongst the poor?’ The answer was, ‘Everyone is against it.’

I then had the question put to the meeting in Welch [sic] – ‘If you had the power, would you wish to return to the old system of relieving the poor, in preference to the present?’

The answer was an immediate and unanimous shout, ‘Yes, tomorrow, if we could.’

(The Times, 19 August 1843, ‘From our own reporter’, Conwil, 16 August [Tip: daliwch Ctrl a chliciwch dolen i'w agor mewn tab newydd. (Cuddio tip)] )