Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 March 1932
Conisborough U.D.C.
The Fixed Stewardship Meeting
The Memorial Park
Employment of Ex-Service Men
There was some difference of opinion at the monthly meeting of the Conisborough Urban Council on Wednesday, Mr G.A. Chadfield presided, as to the propriety of the council in holding a public meeting on Sunday morning.
The Council had previously decided to hold the meeting to “give an account of their stewardship,” following an invitation by the newly formed Ratepayers Association that they were ruled by their officials, and at the beginning of the council meeting Mr J.I. Webster recalled this decision and asked why the meeting had not been called before.
The Chairman said the meeting had been fixed for Sunday Morning at the Denaby Miners Welfare Institute at 10.30.
Mr Webster: If it is to be called in Denaby on Sunday morning, I think that one should be called in Conisborough and not on a Sunday. I am not a Sabbatarian, but I do not think the time has yet arrived for public business to be discussed on a Sunday. People ought to have the opportunity to go to church.
Mr Ben Roberts said people had time to go to church before the meeting started. They had also time to go in the evening, and there were services during the week. They were going to have a number of meetings, and if they promised people a chance of voicing their opinions.
The Clerk (Mr Spencer Baker) said no expense in connection with the meeting could be imposed on the ratepayers, so the hire of the hall would have to come out of the pockets of the councillors or their supporters.
Mr T. Morgan: I move the councillors pay it out of their own pockets.
The Clerk: It is not the meeting to transact any public business, but to give the Council a chance to give an account of their stewardship. This meeting is, in a sense, if I may say so, a sort of electioneering meeting. Obviously every member of the Council is anxious to satisfy electors he has done his duty. You can have any number of meetings and if any counsellor requires any help from the officials they will be glad to give it.
Denary Memorial Park.
A letter from the Denaby Main Property Owners’ Association suggested the provision of gates for the new memorial park. so that the lights could be turned off at sunset and the park closed. It was suggested this might the less expensive than keeping the lights burning.
Mr J.T.E. Collins said there appeared to be something in what the Association had put forward. If it could be arranged the memorial park to be closed after sunset by having proper gates that would mean people being kept out after dark. Another point to be considered was that the lights in the park showed people that there was such a thing as a park in Denaby, though they cost about a shilling an hour. The lights were switched on automatically, and it would cost a certain amount to cut the number down, while as the summer months were coming the cost was bound to be negligible.
The Surveyor (Mr.H. Thirllwall) said it would be quite possible to put out the lights when daylight saving came into force. As for the erection of gates, the fences were only four feet high, and gates would not deter people from climbing ‘over. Under the present system the lights and the people walking in the park protected it to a certain extent. It would certainly mean additional cost if they provided gates, and they would have to pay a man to lock them. When these costs were compared with the cost of belting there was not much difference. When the flowers were in bloom many people would probably go there at nights who had no other opportunity, and if the park were closed they would not be able to do that. The matter was left.
Price of Tar Spray.
A minute of the Sanitary and Highways Committee that the Connell pay 6 ¼. d per gallon for tar spray, brought a comment rem Mr. J. I. Webster, who said he had made enquiries which had convinced him they could purchase a road spray cheaper than this which would be as efficient. He was told this road spray could be had at 5 ¾. d per gallon. He thought they ought to defer their decision until they had considered the matter again.
The Surveyor said the tar spray was for the Denaby Main streets, and was a very heavy grade material far sealing. In order to cut down the cost of maintenance in future it was necessary to have this heavy grade. It was different using ordinary road spray on a surface which had already been tarred. The whole object of purchasing this particular spray was to reduce maintenance costs in the future.
Mr. Webster said he had been told the spray to which he referred was being used by the County Council on roads which were taking 7,000 tons of traffic a day.
Mr. C. L. Webster supported the reference back of the minute.
Mr. H. Gomersall said it had been stated that the spray they were about to purchase might rise to 7d. or 8d. per gallon, and the question was if the material was satisfactory whether it would not be better to use it on the understanding they could have up to 20,000 at 6 ¼. a gallon irrespective of a rise in price. But if they could get adequate material cheaper they ought to do so. “We have to be guided by the officials who are dealing with the matter.”
Mr. Collins asked if enquiries could not be made as to whether they could get this material at a cheaper rate.
Mr. Gomersall said the question of a local firm supplying them had been considered. He would rather they had the order than anyone else if they could supply the right kind of material, but they were assured the material they could get from this firm was not suitable for their purpose. Mr. J. I. Webster said if the mutter was not very urgent it should be referred back, with a view to getting other quotations for supplying the material, and this course was taken.
Rent Restriction and Decontrol.
‘the Clerk stated that at the last meeting of the Council Mr. Collins had asked for information concerning the Rain Restrictions Act and what action was being taken by the Urban District Council’s Association with reference to the Act. He understood that a resolution of the executive council of the Urban District Councils Association should take action with a view to getting the Act amended had been lost. If a Bill to amend the Act were introduced he was informed it would be on the lines of the recommendation of a Parliamentary Inter-Departmental Committee. The committee had divided houses ‘ into three classes:
A, those with ratable value of £35 or over;
B , those with ratable value of between £13 and £35:
C, those with ratable value. of £13 and under.
The Committee’s proposals were that class A should be decontrolled entirely, that B should continue to be subject to the decontrolling provisions of the Act, and that C should cease to be subject to the decontrolling provisions of the 1913 Act. The Government’s intention therefore was that a house of £13 ratable value, in which he (the Clerk) took it Mr. Collins was principally interested, would not be decontrolled. It was also proposed that local authorities should be empowered to set up committees for the purpose of giving information and advice on questions arising under the Act. There was no recommendation of redaction of the permitted increase of 40 per cent, but it was recommended that in regard to this increase the landlord must satisfy the court that he was entitled to the 25 per cent, given to him on account of repairs.
Exorbitant Rents.
Mr. Collins said it was not very satisfactory. He understood houses with a ratable value of £13 or less would continue to be controlled. Wages bad come down in most cases to the 1914 level, but rents in most mining areas, particularly in this area, were exorbitant. In Conanby rents were from 13s. to 14s. They were beyond what an ordinary working man could possibly pay, and if anything could be done towards reducing rents for these people it should be done. It was essential some pressure should be brought to bear by having a resolution forwarded to the Urban District Council’s Association and the proper Government department. He moved that a subcommittee be appointed to draft the necessary resolution land Messrs. Morgan, Roberts, Collins, Gomcrud! and J. I. Webster were appointed.
Jobs for “Civilians.”
The Surveyor reported on a deputation which recently interviewed the manager of the Mexborough Employment Exchange for the purpose of securing continued collaboration between the Council and the unemployed workers’ movements in connection with the recruiting of men for the work on the Denaby streets.
Mr. Thirlwall said it was not generally known that on schemes receiving assistance from the Unemployment Grants Committee it was necessary that 75 per cent, of the men employed should be cx- Service men and as there was a high percentage of ex-service men among the unemployed of Conisborough only 80 civilians would be employed the Denaby Main streets scheme.
“It is difficult,” he said. “because the high proportion of ex-Service men throws a scheme like this of gear. Further work will be available shortly for the surface water drainage, and in that case the Council might stipulate, as there is no grant in bond, that the men engaged on that work must be entirely civilians, but that is for the Council to say. Those who have a sense of injustice will feel this will balance things.”
Mr. Gomersall moved that representations be made to the Unemployed Grants Committee for a reduction in the percentage of ex-Service men employed on the work. He did not move that with any disrespect to ex-service men.- but many of them did not agree with the idea themselves and they were out to serve the unemployed generally.
Mr. J.I. Webster seconded but Mr. C. E. Webster said that, as an ex-service man he was very much opposed to it. Some ex-service men were at a disadvantage because they could not do certain kinds of work. It was only fair the country should look after ex-service men and he thought the percentage should stay as it was.
Mr. Roberts pointed out that the recommendation referred to that area only, and it was carried.
The Library.
The Clerk informed the Council that the county librarian had recommended that they should have a separate committee to govern the library. It was decided that the committee should consist of six members of the Council and three co-opted member.: Councillors Gomermall. Collins , J.I. Webster, Shelton, Roberts and Mrs. Kaye. and Messrs. C. Bashforth, Proctor and Pearsall were elected.
The Council are to rent a room in the Castle Club for £43 per annum for the purposes of the library..