Councillor’s Eligibility – Local elections

April 1927

Mexborough and Swinton Times April 8, 1927

Councillor’s Eligibility – Local elections

There was much more interest than usual taken in the election this year. The Labour Party made a determined “push” to obtain all the seats and had “full steam ahead” all day on Saturday.

Those who had thought that the Citizens party had underestimated the new factor in the elections, the new colony at North Cliff, were justified when the figures were known.

The three-cornered contest in the East Ward evidently was attractive, and there Mr J.I.Webster (Independent) took the seat which has been a Citizen’s “nursery” ever since urban powers were obtained, though there were also “citizen” and Labour candidates.

The successful candidate had no committee rooms and no checkers, and did little canvassing. He was probably returned on the strength of his election address. The Council would do well to note the opinion of the electors of the East Ward.

On the whole there will be no change on the Council, which will again have a Labour majority, that party having eight members out of 15.

The elections are over, but the rumours which were circulated prior to last Saturday are still with us.

It was stated that Mr J.I.Webster was ineligible as he had accepted a loan and subsidy for housing purposes from the Council. His name appeared on the ballot paper and that was good enough for the East Ward. Now we have been returned I hear rumours that he is to be unseated. After that the only answer at present is “wait and see.”

The position briefly is as follows. During the acute housing shortage facilities were offered by the Council for individuals to erect houses. Mr Webster took the risk of putting up the first of its kind in Conisborough, and his example has since been followed by several others. He took his corner in a practical way to help in the solution of the housing problem, and it is over two years since he entered into occupation. After doing his bit he is now being abused in certain quarters. One can never do anything right for some persons. It would appear that his election have put the cat amongst the pigeons in some places. Is was a direct warning to those who delight in squandering the money of other people for needless expenditure was a strong point of his address, and in return shows that the electors agreed with the policy.