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10th March, 1944
COUNCIL DEALS WITH CONCERT PROBLEM
OLD VOLUNTEER FIREMEN ARE HONOURED
Steps to put concerts and dances under magisterial control and thus place Sunday entertainments, if permitted by the Justices, under the protection of a licence, were taken by Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday evening.
On the recommendation of the Finance Committee the Council decided to adopt Part IV of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1891.
The Clerk (Mr. T. L. Watts) has explained that when the statutory procedure for adoption of the clause has been completed it will be necessary to obtain a licence from the Justices to enable musical entertainment to be given in public in specified premises. Where such a licence is granted and permits musical entertainment on Sundays, the promoter of the entertainment and the person in charge of the building is not liable to incur penalties under the various Sunday Observance Acts.
DANCING TOO
The clause also applies to public dancing in any “house, room, garden or other place, whether licensed or not for the sale of wine, etc.” In every case the licensing condition operates after six months from the adoption of the clause.
Coun. Allen explained that the process of adoption involved certain detailed procedure which would take some little time to complete. The question of Sunday musical entertainments was one reason for the committee’s action, and after the adoption of the clause public musical concerts such as that which was recently to have been held by the B.B.C., but which was cancelled, would become possible without the danger of incurring penalties.
Adoption of the clause would not in itself make public Sunday concerts certain, but would merely provide the facility, hitherto lacking, for Justices’ licences to be applied for. It would be for the Justices to decide whether, in granting an application, they permitted the use of the premises on Sundays.
FAITHFUL SERVANTS
A pleasing feature of the meeting was the presentation of long service awards to nine members of the old Rushden Volunteer Fire brigade, which has been supplanted by the N.F.S. with the result that most of the members have ceased to be firemen.
The Chairman (Coun. A. F. Weale) said that Rushden had had a very high regard for the late volunteer brigade, and it was by no means an easy matter to part company with so many faithful servants of the town. They were always ready for a call, and he was very glad to have the opportunity of presenting the medals and bars in appreciation of their long and faithful service.
Ald. Allebone said the Fire Brigade Sub-Committee used to be told that the brigade was the dearest one in the locality, but they always replied that they assessed the value of the brigade on its efficiency. It was one of the best in the country, and everybody in Rushden was proud of it. The men did not look for compensation or payment. They richly deserved their medals, and he was only sorry to see Anno Domini creeping upon some of them: Particularly their old friend Claude Green, “who was a fireman, I think, before I was born.”
BEHIND THE HORSES
Coun. Capon said he could picture Mr. Green in the old days behind two of Mr. Sargent’s horses, holding on for grim death while they made a gentle trot. The professional service of to-day was a sign of the times, but he did not know whether it made for more efficiency.
Coun. Sawford said the old brigade laid good foundations, and, with all respect to the present brigade, he did not think they could surpass or equal them.
The awards were as follows: A. P. Timpson (now Senior Company Officer, N.F.S.), 23 years’ service, silver medal; J. H. Sparrow, 42 years, bar to silver medal; J. Whiting, 38 years, bar to silver medal; W. F. Bayes, 22 years, silver medal; T. H. Smith 22 years, silver medal; F. W. Tear, 21 years, silver medal; F. J. Underwood, 21 years, silver medal; L. A. Bailey (now Leading Fireman, N.F.S.), 16 years, bar to bronze medal; F. W. C. Tassell, 13 years, bronze medal.
Mr. W. L. Beetenson, ex-Clerk to the Council, attended in order to witness this ceremony.
The Chairman congratulated Coun. Allebone on his election as an alderman of the County Council and said the work he had been doing well merited him that position.
“TANTALISING”
A report on British Restaurant prospects stated that several items of equipment, including some of the heavier equipment, had not been received, despite the fact that the indent was sent to the Ministry of Food even before they approved the restaurant scheme. This was making it difficult to complete the internal arrangements.
Mrs. B. M. Headland, of Wellingborough-road, has been appointed supervisor, having previously been supervisor of the Market Harborough British Restaurant. She has been on half pay since February 1st.
Supply arrangements have been made as follows: Groceries, Messrs. Millers and the R.I.C.S.; green-groceries, Mr. A. E. Hill; liquid milk, Messrs. A. E. Abbott and Son; meat, R.I.C.S.
Prices of the courses have also been fixed – soup (with bread) 2d., main dish 9d., sweet 3d., tea 1d. In accordance with Ministry of Food policy, children will pay the full rate.
Coun. Capon described the report as “tantalising.” “I need say no more,” he added, “except that we are still in the hands of the Ministry.”
Coun. Roe: I don’t suppose they can be hurried in any way, can they?
Coun. Capon: Our telephone has been nearly worn out!
BANDSTAND NUISANCE
Mr. Waring said he was glad that the bandsmen had again made public their genuine complaint about the irritating habit of children climbing almost on to the back of the bandsmen’s seats while they were playing at the Hall. Appeals to the public themselves to prevent the children doing this had been completely ignored, and the committee had long been considering what really effective method to adopt to stop this annoyance.
Then again, there was danger of disfigurement of the structure. It would be inexcusable if that beautiful bandstand, generously provided by Mr. John White as a cultural amenity, were to be damaged by young vandals who were incapable of appreciation of artistry, whether of music or architecture. However, the committee felt that some remedies might be worse than the trouble itself.
Mr. Waring added that when he saw Mr. White he asked if he had any suggestions, and Mr. White agreed that they could easily destroy the artistic effect of the bandstand and its setting if something not in harmony with it were to be erected near it. Mr. White said that Professor Richardson would be able to meet the Parks Sub-Committee and make recommendations which would be very welcome to the Council.
A BAD ROAD
Drawing attention to the condition of Newton-road, Coun. Allen asked if the Highways Committee had received complaints and if there was a possibility of the road being repaired. It was definitely dangerous, he said, to cyclists and pedestrians, and possibly to all traffic at night.
Mrs. Muxlow spoke in support, and the surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd) replied that he had taken the matter up with the Ministry of Transport, whose engineer would make an inspection shortly.
Coun. Green: I daresay there are complaints all over the town about the footpaths at any rate, but we are doing the best we can.
Though there is now a special need for a maximum salvage of bones, the quantity collected in Rushden has declined. The W.V.S. have been asked to make a general canvass for salvage and to make a special appeal for bones when urging householders to search out accumulations of salvage material, particularly from lofts and attics.
Coun. Paragreen said the need for all forms of salvage continued. There was no room for complacency, and he urged all householders to keep on saving bones and place them separate from the ordinary household rubbish, ready for the collectors.
HOUSING AND LAND
A sum of £3,250 standing to the credit of the Housing Fund is available for investment, but in view of the prospective purchase of land for housing a decision on the investment has been deferred.
Coun. George assured Ald. Allebone that the Housing Committee would not think of purchasing land without the consent of the Council.
The Housing Committee are not making any provision for decorations during the coming year. During the last 12 months the maintenance cost has averaged 15s. per house.
Land has been inspected with a view to housing developments after the first post-war year, and the Ministry of Health have been asked whether they would agree to its purchase at an early date.
Disease cases during February included the following: Tuberculosis 5, scarlet fever 4, pneumonia 11, erysipelas 1, whooping cough 1, measles 36. There were seven births (5 males, 2 females) and 15 deaths (6 males, 9 females). Of those who died, 11 were aged 65 or over.
The cemetery chapel is to be redecorated internally.
In reply to Messrs. C. Thurston and Sons, who requested the use of a pitch in Spencer Park for a fair between April 28th and May 6th, the Parks Committee have declined the offer of £25, as it was not felt desirable to allow the use of the park for such a purpose more than once a year.
Note:The last column of this article is on the fold of the paper and most of it is unreadable.
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24th March, 1944
RUSHDEN RATES LEAP UP BY TENPENCE
WAR BONUSES, CROPS AND SALVAGE ARE BLAMED
Note: The first column of this article is on the fold, half of each line being unreadable, so I have gone to the second column.
THREE CAUSES
The Council’s own increased requirement was due mainly to the increased bonuses and the reduction in income from crops and salvage. Salvage income would be down by about £300 and income from crops also by £300. The bonus increase would be about £650.
Wages, Mr. Allen pointed out, accounted for £11,173 – nearly half of the Council’s net expenditure. Loan charges totalled £1,657, there being a total loan debt of £356,237, including £338,943 for housing. This worked out at £21 9s. 9d. per head of the population.
Noting that 9s. 5½d. out of the 12s. 10d. rate was taken by precepting authorities over whose expenditure the Council had no control, Mr. Allen claimed that the Council’s rates, in spite of the increase, were below the average. He pointed out that the rateable value of the town was now stationary, a rate of 1d. producing £345.
MONEY IN HAND
Announcing that it was not proposed to draw from the balance this time (a withdrawal of £500 was allowed for last year), Mr. Allen said the balance on March 31st last year was £6,329, and £133 had been added. A balance of £6,555 was now estimated for March, 1945. The actual bank balance had risen from £2,000 last March to £5,000, and the improvement was due to most of the war emergency grant claims having been paid. A tribute was due to the Chief Financial Officer (Mr. B. W. Williams) for having obtained payment of some long overdue grants from the Government.
Mr. Allen maintained that in view of the expenditure, pending grants, on A.R.P., N.F.S., evacuation, war damage repairs, fuel control and the British Restaurant, a balance of £6,500 was not to large. Since 1930-31, when the rate stood at 13s., the average had been about 12s.
MORE TO COME
“With a return to normal after the war,” he said, “there is likely to be an increase in the rates both for the U.D.C. and the County Council, for there will be large arrears of maintenance work to be made up, in addition to very necessary capital schemes.
“Public opinion appears to be ahead of Whitehall in demanding adequate housing, better health services, better educational facilities for the children, etc. These must be adequately financed from both taxes and rates, and the general public must not grumble if the cost of more efficient services is reflected in additional taxation and higher rates.
“There appears to be one contingency not budgeted for – the contingency of some celebration when Nazi Germany is finally defeated. I am not in favour of raiding balances, but I am sure such a contingency would justify such a procedure.”
“CAN’T BE HELPED”
Ald. Allebone, in seconding, congratulated Mr. Allen on presenting a concise Budget without any sugar on the pill. They were all sorry, he said, that it was necessary for the rate to be increased, but to-day everything was going up, and it could not be helped. Wages were the primary factor, but they were only keeping in line with other sections of industry.
All the committees had made more or less generous estimates for the coming year. They were asking for £2,337 more than their actual expenditure during the last year and were still including an item which allowed for full public lighting.
“Although we didn’t spend it last year, we all hope we shall have to spend it in the coming year,” said Mr. Allebone.
Claiming that the balance estimated for was only reasonable, he added: “I could give a list of things the town needs which would swallow all that up in the first year.”
“SHOCK TO TOWN”
Coun. Roe said it would be a shock to the ratepayers to find there was an extra 10d. on the rates. It was rather alarming to find that, although twelve months ago all the committees were satisfied that they had estimated to cover their expenses, with one exception all had overspent.
The increased bonuses were taken into account twelve months ago, and it was no use putting it all down to unavoidable overspending.
“There is a large number of people in the town whose incomes have not increased, and to them it is a serious matter. People in the staple trade, or those who have been de-rated, can stand it all right, but there are others of us who have to pay full rates.”
Mr. Roe then confessed that it was almost impossible to see where they could make any reduction in the estimates. He was therefore bound to support the proposal, he said, but he hoped the committees would now keep within their estimates.
CONGRATULATIONS
Coun. Capon said they ought to congratulate themselves on the financial status of the town. They owned 797 houses on which the “mortgage” averaged only £425, this including road charges, water and sewerage. It was really remarkable that the ordinary loan debt was only £17,000, and when he looked at the parks and other attractions he thought there were few local authorities in a better position. They were exceptionally well served by their two chief officers.
Coun. Sugars said he thought the ratepayers would be quite satisfied so long as they were receiving value for what they had to pay.
The Chairman (Coun. Weale) said he had visited various committees and felt certain each one had been most careful in its spending from an economic point of view. The increase in the Council’s own demand was one that they could not have avoided.
The report was adopted unanimously, and the rate will be levied in two instalments of 6s. 5d. each.
Members in attendance were Couns. A. F. Weale, J.P. (Chairman), A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, A. Allebone, J.P., C.A., T. W. Cox, F. Green, J.P., Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, J. Allen, W. E. Capon, J. George, T. J. Swindall, J. E. Dilks, J. H. J. Paragreen, H. Waring, W. J. Sawford, E. A. Sugars, and J. T. Richardson, J.P.
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