Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 13th 1932
Conisboro’ U.D.C.
High Birth Rate And Infant Mortality
Birth Control The Remedy
Dr. J. McArthur, Medical Officer to the Conisboro’ Urban Council, presenting his annual report at the monthly meeting of the Council on Wednesday, commented on the high birth-rate of the district, which was 25.24 while that for England and Wales was 15.8. Their birth-rate was practically 60 per cent higher than that for the rest of the country. The rate of infantile mortality for the district was 98 per thousand, and for England and Wales 66. Out of total of 45 infantile deaths 15 were due to congenital debility and premature birth. “One cannot expect the human organs to be exhausted by this over-production and still keep producing healthy children,” he said. “The remedy is a system of birth control.”
The Medical Officer also referred to the danger of contagion in connection with diseases like measles and mentioned the case of a woman coming into the district who had been in contact with a case of measles. Ten deaths could, he thought, be traced to this contagious case.
The Chairman said birth control was a very debatable subject, which he would not pretend to deal with but he would like to emphasise the Medical Officer’s warning in connection with the spreading of contagious diseases.
Mr J. T. E. Collins said he took it that the Medical Officer would agree that the removal of the 553 privy middens in the district would materially assist in preventing the spread of disease.
Dr. J. Arthur agreed.
Mr. J. I. Webster asked if they could not investigate the possibility of setting up a clinic for proper instruction in methods of birth control.
Mr. Collins said there was no reason why the matter should not be considered, but it was a controversial matter, and it was advisable it should be discussed in committee. He moved the matter be referred to the next meeting of the Sanitary and Highways Committee, and this was carried.
The Conanby Licence
There was further discussion about the Council’s opposition to the grant of a licence for a public house at the corner of Old Road and Garden Lane and Mr. J. I. Webster objected to the payment of certain witnesses’ expenses at Leeds. He wanted to know who gave authority for these people to charge them £12.
The Clerk, (Mr. Spencer Baker) said the Council would only have to pay £8 and Mr. Webster moved that the sum be not paid.
Mr. B. Roberts said the people referred to had lost two days’ work and had canvassed the district and got 900 signatures protesting against the grant of the licence. The Council had instructed the Clerk to oppose, and he had got people he thought would help the Council’s case.
Mr. H. H. Wray said he did not see how they could get out of paying these people if they had witnesses. Authority was given the Clerk to oppose the licence.
Mr. T. Morgan said the names should have been submitted to the Council before every “Tom, Dick and Harry” was taken to giving evidence.
The account was passed.
Rossington Street School
The Clerk said he had received a reply from the County Education Committee to a communication from the Council pointing out the inadequacy of the old Rossington Street School, recently destroyed by fire, and asking the County to consider the provision of supplementary accommodation when the school was replaced or rebuilt. The County Education Committee stated that they were unable to take any steps until the intention of the owners of the school with regard to rebuilding had been ascertained.
Requests From Unemployed
The Council received a deputation from the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, consisting of Messrs. L. Barlow, F. Thomas and J. Gough. The deputation asked the Council to consider adopting the rota scheme for the Denaby Main surface water drainage scheme and to give special consideration to single men, as married men had special consideration on the last scheme.
With reference to the erection of a hall for the use of the unemployed, the Council was asked to consider the provision of temporary accommodation, as there seemed no possibility of the economic situation improving sufficiently in the near future to permit of the erection of a public hall.
The third point put forward by the deputation concerned the feeding of school children, and the Council were asked to make representations to the County Council with a view to some system of supplying the children of unemployed people with free meals. The Council were also requested to make similar representation to the local Education Sub-Committee.
On the proposal of Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr. Roberts, it was decided to comply with the last-mentioned request forthwith. The other matters will receive the consideration of the Council.
Conference Expenses
Mr. J. I. Webster speaking to a notice of motion that the minute referring to the payment of councillors’ expenses when attending conferences be rescinded, said an allowance of 35s. a day was excessive. He was astonished to find they had Trade Union leaders agreeing to pay themselves 35s. when the trade unions only allowed 22/6. Mr. Morgan seconded.
Mr. Wray said he raised his protest about this at the last meeting. He did not feel differently on the matter, but could not vote for the resolution. He moved that the matter be referred back for consideration, and that the Clerk ascertain the amount paid by other authorities in the neighbourhood.
Mr. H. W. Gillott suggested that each conference should be dealt with on its merits. Mr. G. A. Chadfield seconded Mr. Wray’s amendment.
Mr. J. I. Webster: What the dickens have Mexboro’, Swinton, Wath and Bolton to do with what we do?
The Clerk said he thought Mr. Webster could accept the amendment without any surrender of principle.
Mr Wray’s amendment was carried 7-5.
Public Houses And Proverty
Mr. Roberts opposed the confirmation of a minute of the Housing and Town Planning Committee approving the plans for the public-house on Old Road. He disagreed with public-houses being built when there was so much poverty about.
The Clerk pointed out that the committee which had approved the plan had full power to do so, and it was not necessary for that particular minute to be confirmed.
Mr. Gillott said there was no relation between poverty and public-houses. Public houses were not responsible for poverty.
Mr. Collins: Capitalism is responsible.
Mr J. I. Webster: If we are going to trace the causes of poverty in this district, I should take it back to the misleading of miners during several years which involved them in strikes.
The minutes were confirmed
An Appointment Challenged
Mr. J. I Webster protested against the manner in which the new librarian had been appointed. Mr. Roberts said they had appointed a married man in preference to a single man. Mr. Morgan alleged that the appointment had been irregular from the beginning. The man who was appointed did not make a written application. He was notified by the Employment Exchange to attend for interview but did not put in an appearance. It had been proposed to appoint an unemployed man, but the man appointed was not unemployed.
It was pointed out that the man was in receipt of relief from the Public Assistance Committee, and the appointment was confirmed.