Mexborough & Swinton Times, Saturday, July 19
CONISBORO’ URBAN COUNCIL
Bold Scheme of Fire Brigade Equipment.
Mr. Brocklesby Calls for Financial Speed-limit
The newly-appointed Clerk to the Conisborough Urban Council, Mr. Spencer Baker was introduced to the members and welcomed to his new office, by the Chairman, Mr. A. E. Berry, at the monthly meeting on Wednesday. The Chairman said Mr. Baker had accepted the position at a particularly difficult time, when delicate questions, needing skilful and careful handling, were being considered. Mr. Berry asked that the members would co-operate with the Clerk to make it easy for him to familiarise himself with the various problems which were coming forward.
Mr. Arthur Roberts, J.P., C.C., associated himself with the Chairman. He had every confidence in Mr. Baker, and was certain he would acquit himself well. He referred to the part which Mr. Baker had played in the application for the urban powers.
Mr. Baker heartily thanked the councillors and said he was aware that in following a man of the ability experience and natural aptitude of Mr, H. M. Marshall he was placed in a difficult position. Mr. Baker referred to the circumstances of his appointment, and said how pleased he was when a representative of the ‘Mexborough and Swinton Times’ gave him the information. He hoped the confidence shown in him would be justified.
MINING EDUCATION CONFERENCE.
A letter was read from the West Riding County Council, stating that it was proposed to hold a conference for the purpose of extending the provisions for mining education in the Doncaster area. Representatives of the West Riding Education Sub-committee and of the local authorities in the area will meet at a time and place to be fixed. Mr. G. A. Chadfield and Mr. J. Brooklesby were appointed the representatives of the Council at the Conference.
HEALTH WEEK.
A letter was read from the Central Health Committee, requesting the Council to organise a Health Week in October , ‘to focus public attention for one week of the year on matters of health and to arouse a sense of personal responsibility in the promotion of healthy living.’ It was suggested that the local Councils from a committee, on which could be co-opted those likely to be interested in the movement.
Mr. J. Brocklesby regretted that, in previous years, the efforts that had been made had met with indifference and apathy. He agreed that it would be an excellent thing if public interest and intelligence could be aroused.
The Chairman thought that interest could be stimulated if they set about the organisation with a will.
It was thought that the best plan would be to leave the details of the scheme to the Sanitary and Highways Committee, and the Surveyor asked for the whole of the Council to co-operate in devising some attractive scheme of propaganda to capture the interest of the people.
Mr. Roberts said he was in the sub-committee of the County Council which was dealing with this question, and he would be happy to report its discussions and conclusions to the Council at Conisborough. ‘ I am rather sorry,’ he said. ‘that Coun. Brocklesby has mentioned the indifference of the public, for that indifference in second only to the indifference of the public representatives, and were the people to have profited by a lead from its public representatives, the health campaign would never have been a failure.’ Mr. Roberts, referring to the lectures given by the local doctors, said these would be attended with more interest if the doctors were allowed to give them in towns away from their own districts. He hoped the health campaign would not be left to voluntary organisations. Voluntary organisations had failed. If the Council would act as a driving force, and elect a committee to devise the best means of propaganda and appeal, the Health Week would be a very pronounced success.
Mrs. Kaye said she was vitally interested in the subject, and thought that the whole of the Council should form the committee for the purpose of encouraging an interest in public health. She, for her part, would promise to bring some women if they would arrange a meeting to which the people should be invited.
It was agreed to call a special meeting of the Council to discuss ways and means of promoting a Health Week in the district. At the same meeting the Council will discuss the terms of the Superannuation Act, 1922.
SCAVENGING CONTRACTS.
A good deal of discussion was aroused by the fact that the lowest tender for scavenging had not been accepted . The lowest tender for carrying out the work in the No. 1 district at Old Conisborough was £705, and, on the motion of Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Hill, it had been resolved that this tender be not considered, as it was impracticable to carry out the work at fair wages. A tender of £750 was accepted. A tender of £600 was accepted for the work in the No. 3 district (Denaby), one tender being £503, and the other £800. The contractor who submitted the last tender has been requested to try to reduce the amount. The tender has been reduced by £100 and accepted.
MR. BROCKLESBY’S PROTEST.
Mr. Brocklesby strongly objected to the method employed by the Sanitary and Housing Committee in accepting these tenders. He pointed out that the tender for £800 was excessively high, seeming to indicate that the contractor did not want the work. Referring to the lower tender, Mr. Brocklesby said: ‘I submit that this Council are not the people to discuss whether the work can be done for the money or not. If the man considers it can be done, he is quite justified in submitting the tender. If the tender is too low and he is out of pocket , well, that is his affair. The Council is fully protected by the terms of the contract. If the work is not satisfactory, then the Council can make deductions on the contract price.
Mr. Maxfield seconded the propositions that the question be referred back. He said: ‘ I was surprised at the light-hearted manner in which some of the councillors accepted this resolution.
ENSURING A LIVING WAGE.
Mr. Roberts: We were told we should have to fight out this question in Council. If I could have chosen a subject to fight in the open. I could not have chosen better. So far as the legal side of our action is concerned. I am not very much perturbed. I believe that a bad law is more honoured in the breach than the observance. I do not know whether we ought to accept the principle that the lowest tender should always be accepted. (Hear, hear.) I think the Council would be very wrong to commit themselves to much a principle.
Mr. Roberts outlined the reasons for his action. There were men in local industries being paid much more generously that the workmen engaged in this particular work. He wished to safeguard the wages of the men and to assure himself that the men would be paid a living wage. He claimed that they had a right to ascertain if the contractor could possibly carry out the work for the price tendered. His experience was that the people at the lower end suffered by such agreements. He appealed in the interests of the workmen and their families. If any wrong was done , the women and the children were the greatest sufferers.
Mr. Hill and Mr. Worsley both agreed with Mr. Roberts, Mr. Worsley observing that he had received many complaints in the past of the way in which the work was carried out.
Mr. Brocklesby’s proposition that the matter be referred back was defeated by 8 votes to 4.
Mr. Maxfield asked if he would be in order if he moved that the contractor whose tender was accepted be requested to reduce the price by another £100.
Mr. Brocklesby: I protest very strongly against this procedure, I shall draw the attention of the auditor to the fact and object to the account.
FIRE BRIGADE EQUIPMENT: A BOLD SCHEME.
Mr. Brocklesby moved that the Surveyor’s report be referred back. He noticed that the Surveyor’s report included a recommended expenditure of £6550 on the full equipment of fire brigade. The Sanitary and Highways Committee suggested that the store and yard attached to the Council Offices be purchased for the purpose of housing the fire engine. Mr. Brocklesby thought that the expenditure involved was quite unnecessary. There seemed to be some violent hurry, the cause if which he was at a loss to understand. It was many years since they had such a disastrous fire as that which had occurred in Doncaster Road, and they were quite adequately equipped for the time being. They proposed to build six houses for the firemen. What were they to do if they discovered that some of the men were living in their own houses? They were to pay the permanent motor man £5 weekly. ‘Why, bless my life,’ said Mr. Brocklesby, ‘we might be millionaires. It is time some protest was made. This is a time of hardship for everybody, and especially for ratepayers. We seem to be spending money ad lib. It is the time we pulled up, for where it is going to land us I cannot tell, but certainly into financial difficulties.’
THIN END OF THE WEDGE.
The Chairman pointed out that the whole question was only at the report stage, an no expenditure was involved until the subject had been thoroughly discussed by the Council.
The Surveyor also assured Mr. Brocklesby that his report was given simply as an answer to a request for more information.
Mr. Brocklesby: It is the thin end of the wedge.
The Surveyor: The adoption of my report is a mere formality. You may approve it and then go no further into the proposals outlined in it.
It was suggested that the question be deferred until 1926, when the stores and yard will be offered for sale.
Mr. Roberts: Will fires be deferred until 1926?
Mr. Webster: I question whether Doncaster will be so well equipped as we shall be.
The Surveyor’s estimates were £700 for the fire station, £2000 for the motor fire engine, £550 for the attendant’s hours, and £3,300 for the 6 firemen’s houses.
Housing Committee
At the meeting of the housing Committee the Surveyor produced plans showing the proposed alternations to the course of the ring road through, Mexborough, and Conisborough, to Warmsworth and Doncaster. The plans were approved.
Leaflets are to be supplied to tubereculous patients, informing them that in necessitous cases, and on the report of the Medical Officer, grants from a special district fund will be made for the assistance of people transferred to sanatoria.
Te Sanitary Committee have approved 55 sanitary conversions in Conisborough and 80 in Denaby Main.
The Council, subject to approval of the Ministry of Health, have accepted the offer of the Denaby and Cadeby Main Colliery Company to pay £45 for the coal under the old quarry on Old Road.
A letter has been received from the Board of Trade Surveyor’s Office, at Hull, asking that steps be taken to stop the towing of pleasure boats e motor launches. A reply has been sent to the Hull office and to the local police.
Six swings are to be provided for the recreation grounds at Denaby Main, at a cost of £40.