VETERAN FARMER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 727, 30 December 1933, Page 3

VETERAN FARMER

DEATH GF MAN Y/HO ABOLISHED WiORD "PAUPER" London, Nov. 25. The man whose action led to the disuse of the terms "workhouse" and "pa.uper," and the .substitution of "Guardians5 Institution" and "inmate," died at - Ewe'll yesterday. He was Mr. E. W. Martin, formerly one of the largest farmers in the South of England- He was 97 last A/pril. A memiber of the Epsom Bcard of Guardians, some years ago he •induced them to make thds change in their terminology. The example set by them was f ol'lowed by other boaras of 'guardians throughout the country. 'At one time Mr. Martin; was the bigigest grower of peppermint and lavender in England, and until the war he had his own distilleries for these h'enbs. He had farmed over 3000 acres at Ewell, Banstead, Cudding'ton and Woodmansterne, and for eighty years lived at Nonsuch Farm, Cuddington. Oldest Yolunteer He was the oldest living memher of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, having been a life mernber since 1857, and he was the oldest survivor of the original Volunteers. He was present wThen Queen Victoria field a great review of volunteers in Hyde Park in 1860. Active pfiysically, as well as ment.ally, until almost tfie last, a fortnight ago he had presided at the meeting of the Sutton District Water Company, of which he had been chair man for many years. He had been a poor law g.^ardian ifor six'fcy-tw(o years, and memher of highway boards for sixty-Jfive. Duiiing a period of several years he was a memher of both these authorities for both Epsom and CroydonFor some time from 1860 Mr. Martin was the unpaid parochial highway surveyor for Woodmansterne and Cuddington. It w.as largely owing to his influence that the Shipstead Valley Railway was constructed. The illness, Which was fatal, was the first one he ever had, though eight years agio he was knocked down in the strebt by a bicycle a.nd had his collar-bone broken. From the effects of this he fully recovered. Until November 15, when he had to take to iis bed, Mr. Martin was still goinig out for short walks.