Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 10 October 1902
Conisborough Parish Council
Blasting at the Cemetery
The Fire Brigades Uniform Muddle
A Question of Epaulettes
The Rate Collector’s Salary
Several important items were discussed at an ordinary meeting of the Conisborough Parish Council held on Monday night.
There were present Mr Charles Holmes, presiding, with Mrs D Robinson, Smithson, Walker, W Revill, J Brocklesby (Vice chairman), Henry Baker, with the officials Mr J Hawkesworth (clerk) and Mr Hodgson (cemetery caretaker.)
A discussion arose on the question of purchasing a quantity of gelatine for blasting purposes in the cemetery.
Mr Baker asked whether this expenditure was necessary, for at present they at Conisborough were in a deplorable state, and he was trying if he could say the ratepayer’s money as much as he could. He was referring to the present strike which was in progress, and it might continue for another three months. There was now £5000 weekly going out of the parish, and not coming in, as was formerly the case.
The Chairman said undoubtedly it was a very serious affair.
Mr Hodgson said that the gelatine would not be very dear.
The Chairman said that they would have to have some.
Mr Robinson was still of the same opinion as he was at the previous meeting; that was he thought that section of the cemetery ought to be closed to the public. When they going to give the caretaker anything extra for the blasting work?
The Chairman said that question had already been settled; the vote had been against it.
On the motion of Mr Walker, seconded by Mr Smithson, it was resolved that the caretaker be instructed to purchase 5 pounds of gelatine, the necessary caps for exploding the same.
The Additional Lamps
The clerk stated that he had written to the Rural District Council with regard to the additional lamps required for Sheffield Road and Doncaster Road. He had received an acknowledgement from the clerk Mr F.E. Nicholson.
The Chairman said that he could supplement that statement. The Rural Council had written the proper parties, and, owing to some oversight, the matter had not been attended to.
The matter then dropped.
The Fire Brigade Uniform Muddle
The Clerk read a letter from Mr F Fisher, the secretary to the Conisborough Working men’s Co-operative Society, in which he stated that they were very sorry that any misunderstanding had arisen over the matter. They fully understood their position, and were now prepared if the Council would not accept the suits to have them returned, and they would take the epaulettes off. It was stated that the society’s tender was for £2 17s per suit.
A long discussion followed on this question. Ultimately Mr Baker moved that the suits be sent back, and the Society be ordered to remove the epaulettes, or return the suits complete. It was stated that in order to have the epaulettes on it had been necessary to punch holes in the shoulders of the jacket, and several of the members thought that if their jackets were not sent back with the holes in they ought to send them back as damaged. They thought that the Society would have to provide new suits or accept the contract price per suit with the epaulettes on.
Mr Baker moves this, and Mr Revill seconded, and the motion was unanimously carried.
The Special Sanitary Rate
The Chairman said that the auditor at the last audit had stated that he would not allow the salary of the sanitary rate collector, unless a fresh appointment was made for each rate; that would mean twice a year. There was £1,200 to collect for half year this time, and it was a large increase on the whole. It was a great deal more now than it was 12 years ago. It had grown year by year, and in making the appointment they would have to consider the question of extra remuneration.
Up to the present Mr Hawksworth, their clerk, who collected the rate, was paid £5 for each half year, or £10 per year for collecting £2000. Mr Hirst had given notice that he would move in the matter, but he was not present that night, and he would have had something to say on the matter.
Mr Baker moved that Mr Hawksworth be appointed to collect the special sanitary rate, and that he be paid as hitherto. He thought and they must also think, that the time was most in in inopportune for the raising of salaries when they knew that it was all have to come out of the rates. Trading district was as he had said before, in a most deplorable condition, owing to the strike. Therefore he thought they could not see their way clear to grant a raise at present to Mr Hawksworth. All the money had come out of the ratepayers, and every farthing that Mr Hawksworth was collecting really came from the ratepayers, and Mr Hawksworth being a ratepayer and a ratepayers servant, would see that his present salary was really a proper one for the work that he was doing, and he (the speaker) for one, when they got into more prosperous circumstances, if he saw that Mr Hawksworth has had more work to do, will be very pleased to move that he salary be raised according to his merit. So far as he was concerned the present time he did not see that Mr Hawksworth could do any more extra work than that which he was already doing.
Mr Brocklesby seconded the motion, stating that there was some weight to what Mr Baker had said. The matter would come again in six months time, and he hopes they would be in better circumstances, and perhaps then they will be able to give more money. He did not think Mr Hawksworth was sufficiently well paid for collecting the money. It seemed a small sum for collecting such a large amount of money. Under present circumstances he thought that they should go on at the old figure, and then, at the end of the six months, as they found themselves in better financial circumstances they might then consider the advisability of giving a larger sum.
Mr Robinson said that it appeared that they were paying a man for doing something body else’s work, as the money went to the Rural District Council.
Mr Brocklesby said he would not when they obtain urban powers. (Laughter.)
Miss Robinson then moved an amendment to the effect that they pay Mr Hawksworth £15 per year, or £7 10s for the half-year, for collecting the money.
Mr Smithson seconded. He thought he ought to be paid more.
Mr Brocklesby sought it would be far better if they could agree unanimously on the matter, and he thought Mr Hawksworth will be better satisfied if a unanimous vote was given. As it said before there was weight in the remarks of Mr Baker. They were suffering as a consequence of the strike, and trading district was very bad. He actually heard one tradesman in the town had only taken £1 in a whole week, and also only taken 7s 6d in three days. Trade was in a deplorable condition. He has admitted he had never known trade to be in such a condition at Conisborough and he thought as Mr Baker said, that the time was inopportune for increases.
Mr Smith: it is not a large amount.
Mr Brocklesby: Perhaps not, but little things add up.
The Chairman said that the rate began about 12 years ago, and if it was worth £10 then what must be worth now? He had no desire to do anything to hurt anyone’s feelings. They all recognise the state they were in, but he did old that they would be fair, taking into consideration what it was 12 years ago, and what it was now. They were bound to make an appointment.
The Clerk said that the other parishes who had not such a large rate paid their collector a great deal more than he was receiving.
Mr Robinson said he was a Labour man, and came onto the council as a Labour man, and he was going to see that their employees got a fair wage. The amount Miss Otis was at present receiving was not enough, and they must admit it.
The Chairman: Oh, we all admit that.
Mr Robertson: then why not give him a salary; he’s not getting a fraction part of a farthing of what he ought to get.
After asking Mr Robinson to withdraw his amendment to allow a unanimous vote, the Chairman intimated that he should be forced to put the amendment.
The memo the temple, and only two voted for it, the mover and seconded, and the resolution was declared carried.
The Gas Metre at the Fire Brigade Station
Mr Robertson inquired if the clerk can add any correspondence with regard to the gas metre at the Fire Brigade Station.
The Clerk stated that he had seen the manager, and he said that they had tested a metre, and they were going to make deductions from the charges ever since the metre had been in use, so he (the Clerk) thought there would not be a very big bill.
The matter then dropped.
A Bridge at Castle Hills
Mr Robinson drew the council’s attention to a Bridge that want to repairing, or rather a new one putting up at the Castle Hills.
The Chairman also stated that he wanted replacing, as it was very dangerous.
After some discussion, we decided that the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman.