Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 13 February 1931
Conisboro’ U.D.C.
Unemployed’s One Subject.
When the minutes of the Sanitary and Highways Committee were up for confirmation Mr Collins mentioned a letter from the Unemployed Worker’ Movement which had been discussed at the committee meeting, asking the Council to meet a deputation.
He said the committee had decided that seven days notice should be given if the unemployed wished to meet the Council, and that the matters which they wished to raise should be stated specifically, and under these circumstances they would not meet the deputation. There had been an amendment which was defeated that the Council should meet the deputation and that was his view.
Mr. J. I. Webster said they had spent an hour discussing this letter in committee and had come to a certain conclusion which they considered to be the best for both parties.
The Clerk said the view of the committee was that the letter should have stated specifically the character of the business on which the unemployed wished to meet the Council. The letter only spoke of “various questions.”
Mrs. E. Levers moved they hear the deputation. The unemployed had only one thing to talk about and that was unemployment
Mr. A. Roberta: It is very easy to meet them like this and swim with the tide. If I want to send in anything to this Council I must give seven days’ notice to the Clerk and if the position is considered from this standpoint there is nothing unreasonable in asking the unemployed to put what they want to discuss in black and white. Why should any outsider have an opportunity that member of this Council, cannot have? There seems to be an opinion that some members of the Council are against the unemployed, but I give place to no one in my interest on their behalf. The unemployed should realise there must be some form of procedure, and all we ask is that what applies to councillors should apply to outsiders.
Mr. J. L Webster: As soon as there is anything for the unemployed they will get it without having to come to the Council. At present there is nothing.
Mr. H. Gomersall pointed out that if these men wanted to bring anything before their trade union they would have to state definitely what they wanted. “They have sent in a vague letter,” he went on, “and we are entitled to know the particular items they want to bring up. It is not fair to send in a letter of that character and expect us to discuss it without knowing what we are going to discuss.”
The minutes of the Sanitary and Highways Committee were confirmed.
It was resolved on the proposal of Mr. Roberts that if a letter containing suggestions from the Unemployed Workers’ Movement were received not later than Friday morning at the Council offices these suggestions should be discussed at a special meeting.
More Allotments.
The Chairman, as chairman of the Allotments Committees reported that the Council had decided to purchase a piece of land near Scott’s farm for allotments for the unemployed.
Humane Society Parchment.
Mr. Gomersall asked what had happened to the parchment certificate of the Royal Humane Society which was to have been presented to John Joseph Brook for rescuing a boy from drowning. He had been in communication with the boy’s parents and they had no knowledge of the parchment being awarded. He thought it had been decided to make the award at the Middle School.
The Surveyor said he had been in conversation with the headmaster of the Middle School, who told him there would be another public function at the school this month and it was hoped to make the presentation then
The Clerk said the parchment was in his possession.
Visitor Shocked.
At the close of the meeting Mr. Bashforth thanked the Council for hearing him and added, “It is the first time I have been to an Urban Council meeting and I am disgusted to hear language like that which has been used to-night.”
The reference to bad language was provoked by the expressions “Liar” and “D—– liar, which had been used during a rather heated discussion over the letting of Council houses by a subcommittee appointed for that purpose.