Rushden To Mend Its Own Footpaths?
Severe Criticism of County Council “Patching” Operations
Guardian Surprise: Liberal Elected
Urban Council Views On Librarian’s Duties And Salary

  Footpath patching as carried out in Rushden by the County Council was roundly condemned at the Rushden Urban District Council’s meeting on Wednesday evening, and Mr. Arthur Allebone, C.C., was the chief critic of the work, which he described as “disgusting.”  It was suggested that Rushden should be empowered to carry out all minor footpath repairs, and the Highways Committee is to consider the whole question.

  A surprise was sprung by the announcement that Mr. J. S. Denton would accept election to the District Guardians Committee, and the Council made haste to remove the reproach of three previous failures to find a representative.

  There was much discussion about the appointment of a librarian, with particular reference to the salary question, and the matter had to be referred to a committee.

  Mr. Spencer opened the first debate by referring to “the vast number of complaints about the way the repairs have been done to the footpaths by the County” and suggesting that the Highways Committee should go into the matter so that they could make some formal protest.  “I know our County Councillors have done the best they could,” he added, “but what has been done has not been sufficient to get them up to the standard we had prior to them taking the footpaths over.”

  In suggesting that Mr. Allebone might make a statement, Mr. Coles assured Mr. Spencer that the Highways Committee had not lost sight of that sort of thing.  At their last meeting, for instance, they discussed a quantity of tar that had escaped from a barrel.

  Mr. Allebone, who is a member of the County Council, readily admitted the justice of the complaints.

  “Those who live at the ‘Oakley’ end of the town,” he said, “have seen in the last few days some patching of the footpaths which to my mind is the most disgusting work I have ever seen in my life.”

Not Satisfied

  Only that day, Mr. Allebone continued, he had been to see the County Surveyor and told him they were far from satisfied in regard to the smaller items of work done in Rushden.  As a result of this conversation the County Surveyor had evidently got in touch with Mr. Cordon, the District Surveyor, who had given him (Mr. Allebone) a full explanation.

  After further statements Mr. Allebone said he agreed that the state of affairs in regard to the footpaths was deplorable, but he had gone purposely to Northampton to deal with the question, and so far he had been successful.  He suggested that the County Council should be asked to empower the Rushden Council to spend a limited amount of money in carrying out the minor repairs that were needed from time to time, because in the case of minor repairs he thought this would be the most efficient method.

  “It is unfortunate, but that is the position,” he concluded.

  Mr. Spencer:  I am not blaming you.

  Mr. Allebone:  Oh, no!

  The Chairman said that Mr. Coles would probably see that the matter was dealt with at the next meeting of the Highways Committee.

  The reappearance of the District Guardian item came as a surprise.

Mr. Denton Elected

  “I beg to move,” said Mr. Wilmott, “that we appoint my honourable friend on the right – Mr. Denton.  He bears an honoured name, not only in Rushden but the whole county, and I feel sure that if he is appointed – and he is the right age – he will carry out the work as his father did for many years.  He needn’t be frightened of being young; I think his father was 17 when he was appointed.”

  Mr. Spencer seconded.  “I am exceedingly pleased,” he said, “to hear that Mr. Denton is quite willing to make the sacrifice of time to attend to it.”

  The proposition was carried.

New Librarian
Increase of Salary Opposed

  The Library Committee received the resignation of Miss Mantle, the librarian, owing to ill-health, and expressed their sympathy with her.  It was decided to appoint Mrs. F. Stringer as temporary librarian from August 1, and the committee recommended that the post be advertised at a salary of £120 per annum, the appointment to be subject to the Local Government and Other Officers’ Superannuation Act.  Owing to the increased work on Friday and Saturday evenings the Council was asked to sanction additional help on those evenings at a cost of £15 per annum.

  Mr. Coles said he hoped the temporary appointment would not prejudice the case when it came to be dealt with permanently, because he was of the opinion that a married woman whose husband was in employment should not be appointed to a public post.

  Mr. Spencer replied that it was not the intention of the committee to appoint a married woman.  The temporary appointment was simply to assist the Library Committee.  The committee were very anxious to get good and efficient service and wanted to get the library into an efficient and satisfactory condition.

Underpaid?

  Mr. Roe was critical of the higher salary now proposed for the office.  Did the committee suggest that the librarian had been underpaid in the past?

  In his reply to this Mr. Spencer referred to the growth of the work.

  Mr. Roe:  Personally, I think they can get a well-qualified and satisfactory lady for less than £120 per annum.  Another thing – it has not been passed by the Finance Committee.

  Mr. Spencer:  Every proposition from the Library Committee has always been brought direct to the Council.  I don’t know why, but we have never had one sent to the Finance Committee yet.

  Mr. Roe:  Well, that is what you have a Finance Committee for.

  Mr. Wilmott proposed that the question be referred to the Finance Committee.

  Mr. Cox thought it would be far better for the Council if they would take a glance round the library.  There was no doubt that it had been carried on under difficult conditions for a number of years, and a glance round the shelves would show that it was in a deplorable condition.

Better Methods

  “I honestly think,” added Mr. Cox, “it is time that some better method was adopted in running a library for a town of this size.  A number of the committee were in favour of having a fully qualified librarian, but it was thought hardly necessary.  I would suggest that you try to find a student of natural history or geology of some kind who would be able to search for relics in the town and have them placed in the museum at the Hall.”

  Mr. Cox recalled that this was done in his younger days at Northampton, and some priceless relics were collected.

  “But you are not going to get that,” he said, “unless you are prepared to pay for it.  I think £120 for a good young man is not too much.”

  Mr. Coles suggested that a deputation from the Library Committee should meet the Finance Committee.

  Mr. Allebone said they would be justified in employing a man if they could get one.

  Mr. Dilks: In view of the qualifications required, what in the name of common-sense do you expect for less than £120 a year?

  With regard to the Finance Committee, Mr. Dilks thought it was the duty of the Council to get the same sort of opinion as they did in the case of an increase that was asked for a week or two back.

  Mr. Coles’s suggestion was the adopted. 

Fete

  The Chairman said he thought he should make mention of the very successful fete that was held in the Hall grounds.  “I am sure as a Council,” he continued, “we are extremely delighted that the wonderful organisation of that fete resulted in such a magnificent sum for the various health services.  I understand that the Hall grounds were not damaged in the slightest – that there was not a trace of any injury to anything; I think that speaks well for the general public who were there in their thousands.”

  Mr. Green thought it was a great credit to the organisers that the grounds were cleared up so early.

  Mr. Capon, on behalf of the organisers, expressed thanks to members and officers of the Council who assisted.

  Mr. Coles said he did not think the Council would like to separate without expressing sincere sympathy with Mr. Dilks in the great loss he had suffered during last week in the death of his father.  The late Mr. Dilks had given a great deal of time to public work in Kettering.

  A vote of sympathy was duly accorded.

Splendid Centre

  The Chairman then drew attention to the honours won by the Rushden Infant Welfare Centre.

  During the last week, he said, the Centre had succeeded in getting two first in the United Kingdom.  It was a very great honour to the town and a very great credit to the Centre, and the Council ought to extend congratulations to them, as they were part of the health service of the town and doing a tremendous good among the mothers.  He moved that a message of congratulation be sent.

  Mr. Allebone seconded, Mr. Perkins supported, and the resolution was carried.

  The attention of the Housing Committee was called to the erection by some of the tenants of unsightly huts, hen places, etc., at the rear of their houses.  The Inspector (Mr. H. C. Allen) was instructed to inform the tenants that these could not be allowed, and that all such buildings must be constructed in accordance with details prepared by the Surveyor.

  Tenders for the internal decoration of houses on the Irchester-road estate were accepted as follows: 101 houses, Mr. A. E. Sumpter, £410  6s.; 16 houses, Messrs. Prickett and Dunkley, £68  13s.  9d.; 61 houses, Mr. A. T. Nichols, £306  4s.

  Mr. A. T. Nichols also tendered successfully at £84  5s. for the external decoration of 38 houses in Oval-road and Trafford-road.

Street Re-Named

  It was decided that Tennyson-place should become part of Highfield-road and have nameplates fixed accordingly.

  Mr. A. Downing agreed to pay £3 for one year’s grazing rights over three acres of spare land on the Irchester-road housing estate.

  Building plans were as follows:- Eight houses, Park-avenue, Messrs. A. Sanders, Ltd.; two houses, Park-avenue, Messrs. A. Sanders, Ltd.; house and shop, Wellingborough-road, Messrs. T. Swindall and Sons; shops, High-street, Mr. J. Hill (referred back for further consideration); 20 houses in new road off Wellingborough-road, Mr. M. M. Drabble; addition to No. 4, Duck-street, Mr. A. Sanders; extension to No. 9, Bedford-road, Mr. G. Bayes (passed conditionally); stable etc., Station-road, Mrs. Davison; bay window, 93, High-street South, Mr. J. Eagle; additions to 49, Roberts-street, Mr. C. J. Sears; coal barn, 56, Grove-road, Mr. W. E. Capon; additions to factory, High-street, Messrs. J. White, Ltd.; additions to garage, Washbrook-road, Spencer Park Garage (subject to consent of the County Council); covered way, Hove-road, Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society, Ltd.; garage, Avenue-road, Mr. Harold Knight.

  The Highways Committee again considered the application for an increase in wages from various employees, but deferred the matter to the next meeting pending the receipt of certain recommendations from the Area Provincial Council.

Ready To Sit

  Mr. Spencer said he should like to know when the new public seats were going to be put down.  The old people in Wellingborough-road and Irchester-road, like those in Wymington-road, were very anxious to know when they were going to appear.

  Mr. Coles replied that the order had been placed, but the seats had not yet arrived.  He could assure Mr. Spencer that the day they arrived they would be placed out.

  The Surveyor submitted a report on the suggested improvement to the High-street and Church-street corner.  He was instructed to make enquiries as to the probable cost of purchasing the necessary land and also of the suggested widening of a portion of Church-street.

  Notices were received from the Rushden and District Electric Supply Co., Ltd., of their intention to lay low tension underground cables (alternating current) in Essex-road, Griffith-street, Pightles-terrace, Denmark-road, Roberts-street, Newton-road, Oswald-road, Winchester-road, Pratt-road, and Cromwell-road.

  The Veterinary Inspector reported on the examination of 181 cows.  They were clinically normal, and with few exceptions in good condition.

  The Cemetery Registrar reported 98 interments during the half-year ended June 30.  The receipts were £206.

Wider Powers

  The Finance Committee had under consideration the question of the adoption of parts of the Public Health Act, 1925.  By such adoption the powers of the Council would be extended in connection with streets and buildings, sanitary provisions, etc.

  It was resolved to instruct the Clerk to prepare and submit the statutory resolutions with a view to the adoption of these clauses.

  Mr. Capon drew attention to a new apportionment of salaries in the Collector’s Department as being “a very happy and wise” step on the part of the Accountant (Mr. A. Maclean) that would result in a saving to the Council of £140 per annum.

  Members in attendance were Messrs. J. Allen, J.P. (Chairman), A. Allebone, C.C. (Vice-chairman), J. White, J. Roe, T. W. Cox, F. Green, L. Perkins, M.B.E., W. E. Capon, J. S. Denton, A Wilmott, J. Spencer, J.P., W. J. Sawford, J. Hornsby, E. A. Sugars, and J. T. Richardson.  Four members of the general public also attended.