Mexborough and Swinton Times October 11, 1935

Conisborough Urban District Council

Air Raids
Conflicting Views on Precautions Problem
Miners Wages
Vacant Houses: Appeal to Colliery Company

The levy of the rate, discussions on air disarmament and protection against air raids, support for the minor’s wage campaign, and a housing problem, occupied most of the Conisborough Urban Council monthly meeting on Wednesday, Mr R.A. Shephard residing.

Underspent

Submitting the supplementary recommendation of the Finance Committee, the Clerk (Mr Spencer Baker) said it was proposed to levy a rate for the half year ending March 31 of 8s 9d, the same as for the previous half-year.

Mr RJ.Troughton, moving confirmation, mention six months ago they reduce their rate by 6d after serious discussion. Their desire had been to bring the rates to the minimum with the result that the estimates had to be cut, but all the same they were in the position of having underspent to the extent of £615.

The recommendations were confirmed.

Air Disarmament

A letter was received from the Air Disarmament Committee stating that at this time all municipalities were being asked to give consideration to the best means of protecting the civilian population from air attack, but only in the total abolition of military and naval aircraft could any real security be found. Many governments were in favour of the British proposal for air disarmament, and it would be helpful if local authorities would record their support of the proposal.

Mr J.T.E. Collins said there was nothing to be lost by the Chairman pending his signature on behalf of the Council to the list of those authorities which supported the proposal. It was a step in the right direction.

Mr Roberts did not agree. He was in favour of protecting their people against air attack Italy had already struck, and while they were aware that Britain did not favour air armament they were taking advantage of the fact.

The Clerk reminded the Council that at the July meeting they resolved to support a disarmament proposal of Mr Sheldon, seconded by Mr T Shephard.

Mr Sheldon said this was to be an international agreement second Mr Colin motion that they should give their support.

Mr Troughton said that if every urban district and borough give support this proposal the Government would have a mass of public opinion in favour of air disarmament which might move them to take the lead in this matter, and that was dangerous stop that taken the lead in the parts as soon as a crisis had arisen been compelled to throw over their intention. Realising that in their lifetime there was no possibility of reaching the millennium they ought to move cautiously in this matter.

Mr Webster said that if the League of Nations abolished aerial warfare all well and good. But if they went in for air disarmament they would some day be wanting to fit up civil planes for warfare. If there were not careful Britain’s again be left “holding the pup.”

Mr Collins said that by supporting the proposal they were pressing that all nation should disarm in the air. He thought the fear that Britain would be left “holding the pup” would prove groundless stop

Mr Sheldon said that as the ideal could not be realising their time they ought to show the people who followed them that they tried to do something towards its achievement

It was decided to support the proposal.

Private Slaughter

Moving confirmation of the minutes of the Sanitary and Highways Committee, Mr Troughton made a reference to the killing of a pig on one of the Councils allotments without notification by the owner.

On this occasion the person concerned had been written to with respect to the matter and notices were to be posted in the allotment warning people of the necessity for giving notification before slaughtering. The matter had been made public for the information of those affected and if the notices were ignored prosecutions would follow.

Air Raid Precautions

Mr Collins move reference back of a minute referring to air raid precautions, which recommended that the council be represented at the conference to be held on this subject at the County Hall, Wakefield, on November 19. He understood that most of local Councils with Labour majorities had turned this down. It might be asked that they should take certain steps in the case of air raids but he thought the experts had made it clear that there was no real defence. The best thing to do was to press for disarmament for they had very little chance if there were air raids.

Mr J Leatherland seconded the reference back.

Mr Oldfield thought that much might be said about defence against air raids. He thought it was time their Council and other councils took precautions. There was no district more favourable placed than others for taking precautions, it might be possible to tunnel under the crags to provide protection for the civilian population. They could talk air disarmament until Doomsday but it did not alter the fact that some countries were determined upon destruction.

Mr Sheldon said that it had been stated that no absolute precautions could be taken against air attacks, but it was also true that no infallible precautions could be taken to ensure the safety of large modern Liners. This did not prevent their attempting precaution. If there should be an air raid and children were bombed through lack of protection it would be their responsibility.

Mr T Shephard: I think we ought to send this Council to Geneva.

Mr Trout remarked that Mr Collins said there was very little chance against air raids, but if there was one tomorrow everyone of them would be wanting that little chance to be suggested that their delegate should attend the conference in a “watching capacity” and report to the Council.

Mr Webster: I think this is a conference we ought to send someone to. A bit of a change for me. (Laughter) the delegates will be able to tell us the latest lighted take, though as one well been in several areas I am a bit of a faithless stop we start tunnelling under the crags I can see some, “Black Halls of Calcutta.” Gas masks seen the most useful thing, but they apparently become obsolete after a week or more. Still we ought to know what the latest precautions are.

The minute was confirmed.

A Distressed Area

Mr Roberts drew attention to a minute of the Housing and Town Planning committee that a meeting be held in the Baths Hall Thursday with respect to the district being classed as a distressed area, and that representatives of local organisations be asked to attend. He said that in this area the number of unemployed and those on public assistance had increased and other people are not adequately catered for. They ought to try to find ways of proving that this was a distressed area, and providing adequate allowances for those in distress. He suggested that representatives of the Mexborough Urban Council be invited to attend, and representatives of the local churches.

This was agreed to.

Put to Good Use

Moving confirmation of the minutes of the Allotments Committee, Mr T.J.Gregory remarked that following the disbanding of the Denaby Thrybergh Terrace Football Club the Council had made arrangements for their ground (which belonged to the Council) to be used by local school football team, and as a playfield for children, the club having consented to leave their goalposts in position. A portion of the ground was also to be marked out for allotments.

Cycling on Footpaths

Mr Gregor also remarked on a minute that the Surveyor made up an inspection of the footpath other than in the recreation ground in the district and report the County Council with respect to the necessity for bylaws prohibiting cycling on public footpaths. A child had been recently knocked down on one of these paths by a cyclist, and the Coucil thought steps ought to be taken to obviate this sort of thing.

The minutes were confirmed.

The Miners Campaign

Mr Webster remarked that there was a general movement on foot to spot the miners claimed for a two shillings per day increase in wages. He moved that the Council lend their support.

Mr Gregory suggested that even if the two should increase were secured there will be no material benefit to the miners because the cost of living would immediately be raised. Since the 1921 dispute the miners lost 123 percent in wages, but the cost of living had gone up. What he thought was wrong was the distribution of food and other things, including coal.

Mr Leatherland: The boss will not lose his profit. It will always come out the wage packets

Mr Sheldon expressed the opinion that this again was one of the things they had to work for. Had they not the right to say their wages should goalposts the cost of living went up?

Mr Roberts thanked Mr Webster for moving this resolution. At present men who worked in the pits got less money than road sweepers, and the road sweepers were not always in dread of the roof coming, or of explosion. The middlemen were getting all the profits. People away from mining areas did not realise how little the miners were getting, and the conditions under which they worked

Mr Troughton said that men with large families, worked on the pit top often got more money when they fell sick and went on public assistance than they did when they were working

The resolution was carried, and copies are to be sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Mines and the local M.P.

Company Houses to Let

Mr Oldfield moved that a deputation from the Council, including the Clerk and Surveyor (Mr H Thirlwall) interview the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company on the subject of their empty houses. The council will continue be impressed but for housing by people who said they were willing to go into a Colliery Companie’s house were debarred because they were not working at the colliery, although they were actually living in rooms in company houses. He moved that the company be asked to let these people have these houses.

Messrs Webster, Troughton, Robert, Sheldon, Collins and Macfarlane, with the Clerk and Surveyor were selected to form the deputation.