Mexborough and Swinton Times January 10, 1936

Conisbrough Urban District Council
Promising Start
Happy Financial Position
Workmen’s Wages
Decision on Increase Deferred

Best wishes for 1936 were extended to members an official of Conisbrough Urban Council on Wednesday by the Chairman, Mr R.a short Shepard, and the Clerk, Mr Spencer Baker, and a happy shall position was revealed by Mr D Sheldon, who reported that the Council were £476 underspent on the current year’s estimates.

The Clerk said in response to request you wrote the ministry of Health last month asking sanction to a grant by the Council for the feeding of unemployed at Christmas. The reply you see pointed out that in view of the confidence of the statutory bodies empowered to give assistance, the Minister was unable to sanction the grant. This communication had been forwarded to the Chairman of the Council since the last meeting of the Council.

Mr B Roberts advocated further communication with the ministry, pointed out that there was no winter allows for call a suggestion that there recommendation for such allowances be also forwarded to the local Unemployment Assistance Board.

“Moving Heaven and Earth”

Mr H Gomersall said in view of the temperament” of the present Government he wondered if they were not taking the cart before the horse. It was all very well making “pious resolutions.”

The Labour Party were “practically moving heaven and earth” to accomplish their land, and he believes they themselves should create more fuss than they had in the past. The immediate district was strongly represented by Labour MPs and he suggested they should be petitioned. At present they were simply flogging a dead horse. Their resolutions should be backed up.

Mr Roberts said he was willing to incorporate that suggestion in his resolution. They were not the only authority interested in the question.

Mr J Leatherland said while Mineworkers reply for an increase in wages you believe there should also be an increase in unemployment benefits and transitional benefit payments.

The resolution was adopted.

The Council supported a resolution submitted for consideration by the Mexborough Urban councils that applicants for Public Assistance benefits be allowed to consult their own medical practitioners, instead of having to consult the doctor appointed by the Assistance Committee.

Distressed Area Plea

Referring to the Council request that the Conisbrough area be classified as distressed, the Clerk said a communication recently received pointed out that the question of selected areas and been discussed at length, and they would be aware that treatment by the special area officer could be limited only to those areas surveyed in 1934 by investigators appointed by the government. It was the view of the government but the areas chosen will most suitable for the purpose in view, while the scheme was intended to be mainly experimental if it provided of value it might subsequently be applied if thought fit to other affected areas.

A member: More red tape!

Mr RJ Troughton said in view of the last remarks in the communication he moved that the time be now considered opportune for the Conisbrough area to be included.

Mr Gomersall said he could do with these resolutions if they were doing any God. In spite of the pressure brought to bear on the Government on the subject of distressed areas throughout the country, they seem to be doing nothing in the matter. He wanted the Government to recognise its obligations.

Mr Troughton said if they, and other authorities were to reiterate until the Government were tired of hearing from them, probably something would be done.

Mr Roberts said since that initial meeting at the Denaby Bath’s Hall the number on Public Assistance arisen from 1760 to 1964.

The Clerk: That means more than 10% of the insurable population.

Mr D Sheldon said he was inclined to think that one fact and been overlooked. The ministry and never been informed that in this area majority of the colliery company decided to share out their work, with the result that practically all of the work people were only partially employed. It was not a matter of sharing work but of sharing wages.

Mr Troughton’s resolution was carried, and it was decided also to forward a copy of it to the Prime Minister, local Members of Parliament and the Ministry of Labour.

Question of Increase Pay

the question of increasing rates of pay to all council employees by 1/2d per hour, in accordance with the decision of the Provincial Joint Industrial Council, was referred to Council in committee.

The minutes of the Sanitary and Highways Committee recommended that consideration be deferred to the next meeting of the Council. Mr J.T.E. Colins said it had been felt that an increase in wages should be provisional upon their employees being members of a trade union, but it might be pointed out that this was an illegal procedure the Council to adopt. Fortunately, practically all their employees were members of a trade union and the understood that the few who were not had promised to join. He moved that the increase be adopted as from that meeting.

Miss Robert said he wanted more information and Mr J.C.MacFarlane said as he moved the resolution be referred to the next meeting he was quite willing to state the reason. It appeared that publicity been given to the fact that a rise in wages might be given and he understood that one man adjoined a trade union as late as January 4. They wanted to be able to glean all that information during the month.

Mr J.I.Webster said there had been talking for 30 minutes about the area being distressed and now they were talking of people as if they were living in Harrogate. No one had pointed out that the council already paid 1/2d per hour more than trade union rates. Such a proposal got the ratepayers £500 and they could not afford it.

The matter was referred to Council in committee.