Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 06 February 1904
Conisboro’ Parish Council
A Fireman’s Testimonial
Unseemly Discussion
Not a Question of Trades’ Unionism
Firemen’s Wages
Increase Granted
An ordinary monthly meeting of the above authority was held on Monday evening, in the Infants’ Department of the Station Road Schools. Mr. J. Brockleby, the chairman, presided, and he was supported by Messrs. Smithson, J. Robinson, Wilson, Walker, and Henry Baker, with the clerk, Mr. J. Haworth, and Mr. Hodgson, cemetery caretaker.
A discussion took place on the price paid for certain poor people for graves in the cemetery. Mr. Baker said £2 6s. 6d. was a lot of money to pay for an infant’s grave.
Mr. Hodgson said the parties chose the graves themselves.
Mr. Baker contended that Mr. Hodgson ought to inform the poor people the different prices of graves. There was a lot of difference between 3s. 6d. and £2 6s. 6d., especially to poor people. The matter dropped, the chairman remarking that they had nothing to do with it if the people chose the plots.
The Chairman read a letter he had received from G. B. Gabbittas, of Doncaster, but formerly a member of the Conisboro Fire Brigade, applying for a testimonial from the Council. He had been in the Brigade five years and would have still been a member if it had not been for the strike. He intended taking up the work in Doncaster as soon as there was a vacancy. He was one of the team that won the silver cup for the quickest time in the one-man drill, whilst he held other prizes.
Mr. Baker moved he be granted a character seeing that Captain Jones agreed.
Mr. Wilson seconded.
The Chairman said that Captain Jones had given Gabbittas the following testimonial:
Conisboro’ Fire Station
January 6th, 1904.
It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity of speaking with regard to the character of Brandon Gabbittas. As a fireman he is a very steady and obliging young man, and very quick and smart on duty. He was one of the team that won the Yorkshire Challenge Shield and also other prizes which my brigade has won; and I can with the greatest confidence recommend him to any other brigade. — Wm. Jones, Chief Officer.
The Chairman said a testimonial from the Council would look better.
Mr. Robinson: It is not. I cannot give a man like Gabbittas a character. I am speaking as a trades unionist. No doubt if Mr. Hirst had been here he would have opposed it.
The Chairman: It is not a question of trades unionism.
Mr. Robinson: If a man would do another man an injury, maintain he is not worth a testimonial, and also I maintain the Council have no right to give him one.
The Chairman: I disagree with you altogether.
Mr. Robinson: I oppose it altogether.
The Chairman: If he has done his duty he is worthy of one.
Mr. Robinson: He has not done his duty to his fellow-men.
Mr. Wilson: So far as my idea goes we have no right to give Gabbittas a general character. We know him as a fire brigade man, and as a member of our brigade he has done his duty, leaving his character to himself; we have nothing to do with it.
Mr. Baker said if Mr. Gabbittas was asking for a character surely they could not give him a character for anything else than as a fire brigade man. Mr. Robinson was complaining as a trades unionist, but he thought it was monstrous that that should be brought into the question; if that was trades unionism, the sooner they put their names up the better.
Mr. Robinson: Because he goes to these pits to work as a blackleg.
Mr. Smithson: He went as a blackleg.
Mr. Robinson: He is not worth a testimonial as a working man.
Mr. Baker: I say all honour to Gabbittas, seeing that the district here was in such a state of starvation. I say all honour to Gabbittas if he will go to work to provide for his wife and family. I think you had better stop.
Mr. Robinson: When a man will go to work and try to rob another man and his family of his daily bread, then I say he is not worth a character from this Council. I move we do not give him one.
Mr. Smithson: I second it.
Mr. Baker: Trying to rob another man and his family of their daily bread. Why, it was the strike that caused him to become bankrupt.
Mr. Robinson: Is that true? Can you prove it?
Mr. Baker: Because a man, when he has no food for his wife and family, goes to work to obtain money to buy food, do you mean to say you would prevent him from doing so?
Mr. Robinson said he did not believe it was a man going to work when the miners were on strike. Could Mr. Baker prove that it was the strike that caused him to become bankrupt?
The Chairman: He says that in his letter. This is what he says: “I have been five years in your brigade, and I should have been in it now if it had not been for the strike.”
Mr. Baker: Now, Mr. Robinson.
Captain Jones (who was now present) said the written character he had given to Gabbittas had been submitted to the members of the brigade, and they approved of it.
Mr. Smithson: Have all the members signed it?
Captain Jones: No, but they all heard it read.
Sergeant Downing: All the members of the brigade were present, and they all agreed to the testimonial being given.
The resolution was put, and there voted for it three, and two against.
Mr. Baker presented a report of the committee who were appointed to go round the township to examine the lighting. They recommended several alterations, and it was decided to have them done.
The Chairman read the following letter he had received:—“To the Chairman and members of the Council.—Gentlemen, I make this application to your Council for increase on salaries, which we think we are underpaid, and to ask your Council to increase our salaries as follows: Captain, £5 per annum; sergeants, 2s. 10d., and firemen 2s. 6d.; and that we are paid half-yearly; and also the pumpers be paid 8d. per hour. Hoping this will meet with your approval. I remain, yours obediently, ‘William Jones (Captain).’”
The Chairman said the Council had been anticipating something like that, when they decided not to pay the men 7s. in order to attend the annual demonstration. He noticed that the advances asked for were the captain received £5, the sergeants 2s. 10d., and the firemen 2s. 6d., whilst pumpers were paid 8d. per hour.
Mr. Baker: They are certainly asking too much.
The Chairman said it was a very inopportune time to ask for increases. The trade were very high at the present time; there were very bad in the district, and no doubt many people found it difficult to get on.
Mr. Baker hoped the firemen would take the remarks in the spirit in which they were made. They all knew they had got a very good brigade. Captain Jones worked hard and well, as did the sergeants and men. At present he was sorry to say they were not in a position to raise their salaries to the amount they asked for. He would suggest that the captain be raised 5s., and the others 10s.
Mr. Robinson: I would suggest 10s.
Mr. Baker: You must raise the captain more.
Mr. Wilson: I think there is the question of the water supply to be considered before we deal with this. (Laughter).
The Chairman: You think their duties will be lighter, consequent upon the introduction of water. (Laughter).
Mr. Baker: It will be one way of reducing the rates.
Mr. Wilson: I must say it looks very much like it.
The Chairman: I think we ought to grant the men some increase. Last year I believe they suffered losses. I will favour Mr. Robinson’s suggestion of 10s. all round.
Mr. Baker said they all knew very well that he always kept a strict eye on the finance. When the captain took his men about, he had to do a good deal of work which they knew nothing of.
Mr. Robinson: Are you aware that the captain receives 20 per cent. more than the—
Mr. Baker: He has been elected the captain, and he holds a responsible position.
After further discussion, it was agreed to raise the wages 10s. all round, whilst the pumpers were to be paid 7d. per hour.