Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 21 June 1924
Conisborough Council
Some Terrible Housing Conditions.
Mr. Roberts Loses His Appetite.
Houses by Direct Labour.
The New Clerk.
Some very important business was done by the monthly meeting of the Conisborough Urban Council, held on Wednesday evening, Mr. Berry presiding.
When the recommendations of the Sanitary Committee came up for adoption, Mr. Arthur Roberts described the conditions under which people were living in John Street, William Street, George Street, and Thornhill Street. The Sanitary Committee’s minutes recommended that an agreement with the landlord of that property, for the reconstruction of the privy middens, be signed and sealed.
Mr. Roberts’ Speech.
Mr. Roberts said that, at the request of tenants of the property, he made a tour of inspection there the previous Sunday evening. As a result, he said, “I lost my appetite, and have not regained it.” He went on to describe the state of affairs he found existing.
“The state of things there,” he said, “is a disgrace to civilisation. How the people who are responsible for such property can remain cold, without wanting to affect some alteration, I cannot imagine. I found that in several houses there were acute cases of tuberculosis. You cannot get rid of this scourge while you have such social conditions as those existing in this property. The little children play round the ashpits and middens, out of which excreta runs through holes in the wall, almost to the doorsteps. Doctors say that two things are necessary to cut down tuberculosis—fresh air and sunlight. I believe these people have had pamphlets describing the wonderful benefits of fresh air and sun—the very things they cannot get. Many of the windows will not open, and if they would the stench would come indoors and fill the house.
“There was a case of a little child who had scarlet fever and was left with a heart affection. I understand that it is quite possible that heart affection can arise as a result of scarlet fever, and it is fair to say that social conditions will tend to create such a state in the child.
“The point I am concerned about is this: What is the function of the Council—how far have we power to insist that people shall have decent conditions, and these reasonable social amenities to which people are entitled, in their homes? I found in this quarter that there was a wash-day every day during the week, because the women have to borrow one another’s coppers. They cannot even wash when they like. I found that women had to remove their boots and stockings to go into the cellar to get coal to light the fire. That is a general thing after a storm, I am informed.
“Another thing I found was that the occupants of one bedroom could shake hands with the occupants of the next bedroom through the wall. In another case it would need almost the services of a skilled engineer to put together the grate so that a kettle could be put on to boil.
“Under these conditions is the function of this Council simply to deal with conditions outside the home? I never witnessed such a state of affairs in my experience. I have travelled some districts as a member of the West Riding Public Health Committee, but must confess that the conditions under which these Denaby people are living are such as I have not seen the like throughout the West Riding.”
Property to be Inspected.
The Chairman said the report was a very interesting one, and the conditions described were deplorable. He had no doubt that now they had been brought to the serious notice of the owners of the property they would take steps to remedy the defects.
The Surveyor, referring to Mr. Roberts’ queries about the Council’s jurisdiction, said the only thing to do was to make a thorough inspection of the property.
Mr. Hill asked if the property was not inspected, and the Surveyor replied that he made inspections from time to time.
Mr. Hill thought the whole Council should see the property.
The Clerk (Mr. Marshall) said the jurisdiction of the Council did not stop outside the houses. Under the Housing and Town Planning Act they were recommended to make inspections so as to enable them to carry out the provisions of the Act.
Mr. Gregory moved that an inspection of the property referred to be made. Mr. Hill seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously.
The recommendations of the Sanitary and Highways Committee were adopted. The Surveyor was instructed to employ additional labour in the removal of refuse from the privy middens and dry ashpits in Denaby Main, in case of the contractor’s neglect to do so.
The agreement with Messrs. Kilner Bros. Ltd., with respect to the reconstruction of the privy middens at John Street, William Street, George Street, and Thornhill Street, was sealed and signed.
Sixty More Houses.
The Housing and Town Planning Committee recommended that 60 houses of three types, with layouts as submitted in the Surveyor’s plan, be proceeded with.
Moving the adoption of the minutes of this committee, Mr. Hill, its chairman, said they had decided to build by direct labour. They had had presented to them figures that showed that private enterprise had failed to deliver the goods. They could now choose their own labour, and decide how much they should pay for it. It was the committee’s intention to pay more than was laid down by trade union agreements, because they thought that in the district they had men who would work efficiently if paid well.
Mr. Maxfield seconded the motion of adoption of the recommendations, but remarked that Mr. Hill’s statement about direct labour must be qualified. They had decided to start the scheme by direct labour, and subject to that method working the more efficiently and economically.
Mr. Hill agreed with this qualification. He said they should in any case work “on an economic basis.”
The committee’s recommendations were adopted.