Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 15 October 1921
An Embassy from Mexborough.
To Talk About Amalgamation.
Courtesy with Caution.
The monthly meeting of the Conisborough Urban District Council was held on Wednesday, Mr. H. C. Harrison presiding.
Differences Settled.
The Ministry of health wrote confirming the appointment of Dr. J. MacArthur of Denaby Main, as Medical Officer for the district, conditionally upon Dr. MacArthur undertaking to resign at three months’ notice, in the event of the Conisborough Council deciding to join with neighbouring authorities in the appointment of full-time officer.
The Clerk (Mr. H. M. Marshall) said that Dr. MacArthur had given this undertaking. The Chairman said there had been differences over this question, but if all their differences could be settled so smoothly they would be no worse for them.
Dr. A. R. Dunne, of Doncaster. acting medical officer, submitted a report covering the period during which the Conisborough Urban Council had been in existence (nearly six months), there had been 316 births and 93 deaths, giving respective rates of 41.2 and 12.1 per thousand per annum. There were 27 deaths of infants under one year, giving an infant mortality of 85.4.
Housing Scheme Cut Down.
The Housing Commissioner wrote that the Ministry of Health had approved the erection of 30 houses at Conisborough, subject to tenders being satisfactory. It was pointed out by the Commissioner that the site selected by the Conisborough Council was 32 acres in extent and he suggested that this should he reduced in accordance with the modified scale of operations.
The Council decided to purchase from the Rev. W. C. Wigfall 15.48 acres of land in Park Road for housing and allotments, at a cost of £1,100.
The Chairman said this was the best bargain the Council could make. The land could easily and cheaply drained, and until it wanted for housing it could he put to profitable use. It was agreed that fees amounting to £243 be paid to the Surveyor, Mr H. Thirlwall, for work already done in connection with the housing scheme since April, 1920, and that he should continue to be paid the fees incurred, these payments to be charged to the capital cost of the scheme. It was also agreed, in view of the increased work entailed by housing and town planning, that Mr. A. W. R. Taylor should be engaged as full-time assistant to the Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector, at a salary of £230 and that the Surveyor be empowered to obtain a junior assistant at £50.
Gas and Electricity.
The Surveyor was instructed to complain to the Conisborough Gas Company of the quality of the gas. The Clerk was instructed at the same time to ask the Yorkshire Electric Power Company for particulars of their proposal with regard to the supply of electricity in the Conisborough area.
Dirty Main Roads.
The Surveyor was instructed to take up with the County Surveyor the question of the sweeping of main roads in the Conisborough district, although the Clerk stated that the County Council would not undertake the scavenging of roads.
Workmen’s Holiday.
The Council’s workmen applied for an annual holiday of six consecutive days, and it was decided to allow this to all workmen who have been in the service of the Council and its predecessor for over twelve months.
Fire Brigade Retaining Fees.
The Fire Brigade asked for the scale of retaining fees formerly paid by the Parish Council, and the Council decided to put into force the following scale: Captain, £4 10s, sergeants. £2 10s., firemen £2.
The Surveyor reported that he had rented a fire station at Denaby Main and purchased the fittings.
Amalgamation: Overtures from Mexborough
A letter was received from the Mexborough Urban District Council, asking the Conisborough Council to receive a deputation for the purpose of discussing the amalgamation of two districts for municipal purposes.
The Chairman: Here is somebody wanting to join us.
Mr. Norwood: Is that Mr. Cliff’s resolution?
The Chairman: Of course, everybody is impressed with the way this place is managed now.
Mr. Norwood: Is it worthwhile entertaining this at the present? We are only in our young days.
The Chairman: There is no harm in listening to what they have to say. We can at least meet the deputation.
Mr. Brockelsby’s Misgivings
Mr. J. Brocklesby: I hope we shall not go so far as to receive the deputation. I don’t think it is desirable that we should entertain the proposal for moment.
The Chairman: They have not made a proposal yet.
Mr. Brocklesby: it is a preliminary meeting, and it may lead to proposals being made. I can quite understand sally Mexborough why should be anxious to take in Conisborough. I should like Mexborough to understand that as soon as their district is as well-managed as this district is and as soon as their rates are as low as ours are, we shall probably consider the advisability of taking them in. (Laughter). But the idea of Mexborough, under present I conditions, seeking to take in this town’ is unreasonable. I do not see that there any advantage to be gained from such an arrangement, except to Mexborough, for we should he helping them to pay their way. I could say a good deal about the way Mexborough have bungled their affairs, but I will refrain. I will move that we reply, stating that in our opinion it is undesirable to receive a deputation at present for the purpose mentioned.
Mr. Hulley moved that the Council receive the deputation and discuss whatever they had to put forward.
Mr. Robinson seconded.
Why Take Them In?
Mr. Norwood seconded Mr. Brockleshy’s resolution. He said he thought it a waste of time to meet the Mexborough Council on this matter. Instead of talking of amalgamation with Mexborough, they should be busy putting their house in order. Conversations with Mexborough amounted to no more than an explosion of gas, and though that would be useful to Conisborough at present—(laughter)— he did not think any meeting of this nature would produce anything of advantage to the Conisborough district. They had a bigger population and bigger ratable value than Mexborough and their rates were lower. “so why trouble to hike them in? We don’t want to give advice to anybody. We want to act on our own legs and go our own way. In the course of n few years, when we see our Chairman as Mayor of Conisborough, we might invite Mexborough, and perhaps Edlington and Warmsworth, to come and enjoy the spectacle. (Laughter.) Of course, this is gas-bag talk. I don’t think it would be profitable to receive the deputation. It would come to nothing at the finish.
Mr. E. Dutton: I think as a matter of courtesy that we ought to receive the deputation. If we refuse a meeting it will look as if we were afraid of discussing the thing. They may be able to give us advice.
The Tendency to Centralise.
Mr. S. C. Urch said that this was no new thing. The Conisborough Parish Council entered into discussions with the Wath, Mexborough and Swinton authorities on the same question a few years ago. Conisborough turned down the idea at the time because they were intent on obtaining urban powers. He did not like the prejudice that had been set up and he did not like the criticisms of Mexborough. Mexborough no doubt had its faults. , but also had difficulties which Conisborough had not encountered. They need do no more than receive the deputation and hear what they had to say . They had no reason to commit themselves. The whole municipal tendency to-day was in the direction of centralisation, in order to secure the economical administration, and perhaps Mexborough might have something to offer. There were many people in Conisborough for instance, who would like to have electricity from Mexborough’.
Cautious
Mr. Brocklesby: You are quite sure that if we receive the deputation we are not acquiescing in the idea, and are not committing ourselves to a favourable attitude to it? I don’t think we ought to commit ourselves in the slightest degree.
Mr. Urch: I am not prepared to acquiesce in anything they may suggest.
The Chairman: May I suggest that we write to Mexboro, saying we will receive a deputation, but are not prepared to acquiesce in their proposal?
Mr. Smith said he could not see how anything could be prejudiced by a meeting with the representatives of the Mexborough Council.
Mr Brocklesby said Mexborough would take it as a decision in favour of amalgamation.
The Chairmansaid he could not accept that view. He raw no harm in agreeing to see the deputation. He himself saw many deputations, but he did not thereby commit himself to acceptance of what they came to propose.
The Clark: Suppose I write and tell them that this Council is not at present in sympathy with the proposal for amalgamation, but is prepared to receive a deputation from the Mexborough Council and hear what they have to say?
Mr Hulley No, I don’t agree to that.
Mr Brocklesby: Mr Polly wants to commit us to the principle of the thing.
Mr. Hulley’s Sturdy View.
Mr Hulley: No, I don’t, but neither do I want Cold War to be thrown on it until it had been examined and discussed. I am definitely for amalgamation if it can be sure that amalgamation is for the betterment of the district and in the interest of progress.
Mr Urch said he had quite an open mind on the question.
“At Home.”
Eventually, at the suggestion of the Chairman, Mr Brocklesby’s resolution was withdrawn, and Mr Smith moved that the Mexborough Council be informed that the Conisborough Council would receive the deputation, on the understanding that the Conisborough Council were in no way committed to any attitude on the question.
This resolution was put against Mr Hulley’s, and was carried by seven votes to 4. The successful resolution was then carried unanimously.