Mexborough and Swinton Times November 6 1902
Conisbrough Parish Council
New Footpath’s
The Question of Expenditure
Mr Baker and Mr Singleton
An ordinary meeting was held on Monday evening in the Council room, when Mr C Holmes presided.
The other members present were Mr Singleton, Walker, Smithson, Wilson, D Robinson, E Ravenscroft, F Ogley, Revill and Baker with the officers Mr J Hawkesworth (clerk), Mr Hodgson (cemetery caretaker).
Mr Robertson inquired what the ex-Labour in connection with the blasting of the Rocky part of the cemetery, exposed, and the general work was going to cost.
The Clerk said there was an account he will present later for 5s for explosives.
A discussion arose on the cemetery question.
Mr Baker said, with all due deference to Mr Singleton’s management, he thought they have become more extravagant in regard to things bought and used at the cemetery. It seemed only the other day that new shovels were bought, and only a few weeks ago that new shovels were bought again. He should like to move that Mr Hawksworth prepare them a statement of all the accounts chargeable in connection with the cemetery for the past six months.
This was seconded and carried.
Mr Robinson again raised the question of the reappointment of the sanitary rate collector. It was decided at the last meeting that the collector, Mr Hawksworth, be granted an increase of £10 per annum.
Mr Robinson said the extraordinary increase meant a fraction of a penny for every pound collected. He did not think any gentleman in the room would do the work for such a sum. He moved that the minute be rescinded.
Mr Smithson seconded.
The Chairman: I am inclined to think you’re not in order: Mr Robinson; you will have to give due notice. Even then you will not be able to do anything until it is time to appoint another collector.
The matter then dropped.
The Clerk said he received the amended bill from the Gas company in regard to the gas consumed at the Fire Brigade Station. The first bill sent in for £2, but they now sent in a bill for £4 9s 3d.
The Chairman: The longer we wait, the bigger it gets. (Laughter.)
It was decided that the Clerk interview the secretary to the gas company in reference to the matter.
A discussion arose in regard to an improvement that Mr Singleton advocated, in reference to erecting a fence at the side of the footpath near the Brook, adjoining Mr Brocklesby’s property, Mr Singleton thought they could spend under £127 in connection with the coronation he thought they ought to spend a little in their own village.
Mr Baker: Are we to have His Majesty brought in this way. We are all loyal members here.
The Chairman: Has any Imperial question arisen? (Laughter.)
Mr Singleton: We want to spend a little for the public benefit. It will cost about 5 pounds to do the fencing. The place was dangerous, and people might easily be drowned in very bad weather.
Mr Baker: Is there a foot of water in the brook?
The Chairman said probably not at ordinary times, but if a man fell in, and was rendered helpless there was a possibility that he would drown, and if that can be saved for £8 or £10 he thought it ought to be spent.
Mr Smithson thought he wanted fencing.
Mr Baker moved as the amendment that they do nothing in the matter.
Mr Singleton proposed spent £10 and fencing of this little bit of a footpath. He could say that the present was not the time to be spending money. They were in a deplorable state, they must remember that something like £7,000 was going out of the that district in wages, have been going out for 18 weeks now, and unfortunately looked as if this was going to continue. He was sorry that one of the strikers, who was a member of the Council, should have moved that they go to any further expenditure in the way of spending more money to make the rates and their position worse than it was at present.
Mr Baker said that Mr Singleton was the last man to bring such a matter forward and he said he ought to have said: “Well, I am one of the strikers, and it shall not be said that I am bringing forward certain things at the poor ratepayers will have to pay four.” He (the speaker) was surprised, nay disgusted, and Mr Singleton, that he should bring forward such a matter. They could not afford it. They ought to save as much as they could. He begged to move that they do not expend any money in regard to that particular footpath.
Mr Oxley asked how they intended to erect the fence.
Mr Singleton said similar to the one erected at the Castle side. Mr Baker had advocated the improvement at Cliff side, and now the County Council were going to spend £46 there. It seemed marvellous that while they advocated the spending of money by the County Council they would not spend any themselves for the improvement in the village.
Mr Baker: I never removed it.
Mr Singleton: I said advocated.
Mr Baker: Why, you silly fellow, Mr Baker was not on the council then.
Mr Singleton: Withdraw those remarks, Mr Baker.
Mr Baker: I know nothing of the matter; I was not on the council then.
Mr Singleton Withdraw those remarks.
The Chairman then explained to Mr Baker that the County Council had been approached respecting the dangerous state of Cliffside, and they consented to repair it and the cost for 6 pounds. He believed Mr Baker was a member of the Council then.
Mr Baker: But Mr Baker had nothing to do with it. Mr Baker was six months ill and away from the Council.
The Chairman: You had better withdraw your remarks in reference to Mr Singleton.
Mr Baker: All right; I’ll withdraw them, but it is ridiculous to bring forward these things.
Mr Wilson: The sum of £40 seems to be exorbitant to spend on the job.
Mr Singleton: I think there’s six of one an afternoon of the other. While we want people to do their work we ought to do our own.
Mr Robertson: I heartily support the resolution. Mr Baker does not want to spend one copper in the parish. He talks about bad trade, but he’s not the one to lift it up by spending money in the parish. This £10 spent in making a good job with this footpath is simply nothing.
The resolution was carried by five votes to 2, and a small committee, consisting of the chairman Mr Singleton and Wilson, and the Clerk was instructed to write for tenders and submit them to the committee.