Wednesday, present Councillors T. Swindall, J.P. (chairman), John Spencer (vice-chairman), F. Knight, J.P., J. Claridge, J.P., C.C., J. S. Clipson, W. Bazeley, J.P., C. Bates, T. Wilmott, J. Hyde, and G. H. Skinner, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor, (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. J. Allen).

Recent Prosecutions

The Chairman: With regard to the meat prosecution cases heard last Friday I think it is due to this Council that they should have a brief statement made to them. The cases against the Rushden Co-operative Society and Mr. Smart were heard at Wellingborough on Friday last. The Society pleaded guilty with respect to the pluck exposed for sale in the shop at High-street South and were fined £3. Mr. Smart also pleaded guilty and was fined a similar sum. With regard to the six carcases of pigs in the Co-operative Society’s slaughter-house, this case was withdrawn. The Society admitted the meat was diseased, but proposed calling their journeyman butcher to say that he had been sent by the Society to ask the Inspector to come and examine the meat before it was sent out. In view of this evidence, the Urban Council’s solicitor did not think he could successfully proceed with the prosecution. It is true the Society’s butcher did give information to the Inspector, who understood, however, that such information was not given by the instructions or with the knowledge of the Society, but in the interests of the public. The information on this point was conveyed by the Inspector to the Sanitary Committee, and therefore the remark of the Chairman of the Bench censuring the Inspector for not placing full information before the Council was uncalled for.

Mr. Bazeley and others warmly objected to the remarks of the Chairman of the Bench and stated that the Sanitary Inspector throughout had acted in a perfectly right and satisfactory manner.

The Clerk said the Sanitary Inspector had given the fullest information to the Council.

Plans, etc., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 19th May, 1915, when there were present:- Messrs. T. Swindall (chairman), J. Claridge, J. S. Clipson, J. Hyde, F. Knight, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented by:-

Messrs. Denton and Son Ltd., for alterations to a workshop at the rear of their factory in High-street and passed.

Mr. John Clark for six houses in Carnegie-street and passed subject to the usual agreement being entered into with regard to the combined drain.

Mr. C. W. Horrell for a motor shed in Moor-road of corrugated iron adjoining his factory and no exception taken.

Ealing Terrace

A memorial was received from the occupiers of Ealing-terrace, asking that the footpath in front of their houses might be asphalted.

The Surveyor was instructed to tar and gravel the path.

The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, the 1st June, 1915, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. T. Swindall (chairman), J. Claridge, F. Knight and T. Wilmott.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

The Committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:-

	£	s	d
Week ending 6th May, 1915	40	5	1
Week ending 13th May, 1915	41	4	5
Week ending 20th May, 1915	38	6	1
Week ending 27th May, 1915	38	6	9

Collector’s Accounts

The Committee examined the Collector’s accounts, from which it appeared that the following sums had been collected since the last meeting:-

	£	s	d
General district rate	734	16	2
Fittings	9	0	0
Green Tolls		11	0
Burial fees, etc.	9	6	6

Treasurer’s Accounts

The Treasurer’s accounts were also examined from which it appeared that he had received the following sums since the last meeting:-

	£	s	d
Collector, District Rate	734	16	2
Collector, Fittings	9	0	0
Collector, Green Tolls		11	0
Cemetery Registrar, Burial fees	9	6	6
From Library, Fees, fines, etc.	1	5	3
G. Chettle, Knacker’s yard licence		2	0
County Council, Dangerous corners	39	0	0
County Council, Main roads	255	0	0
Collector, Cottages	25	13	3
Collector, Cottages	7	4	3
Total	1081	7	5

And that the balances were as follows:-

	£	s	d
General Account o/d	99	17	9
Loan Account No. 16	144	15	10
Loan Account No. 19	387	17	6
Loan Account No. 26	12	17	0
Loan Account No. 27	3097	12	8
Loan Account No. 28	254	12	6

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts amounting to £675/2/7 were examined and passed for payment.

Clerk’s Salary

The Committee had under consideration an application from the Clerk for a contribution towards his office expenses in consequence of the large amount of clerical work now involved, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to increase the salary from £175 to £200 per annum dating from the 24th instant.

The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 2nd June, 1915, when there were present:- Messrs. J. Spencer (chairman), T. Swindall, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, J. Claridge and G. H. Skinner.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Medical Officer reported that six cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., two of scarlet fever, one of diphtheria (a soldier), one of erysipelas, and two of consumption with one re-notification.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the past month 28 written and verbal notices had been issued calling attention to nuisances, etc., which were for the most part receiving attention.

Two lots of bedding had been destroyed after deaths from consumption and the premises sprayed, fumigated and cleansed. It was resolved to replace the bedding at a cost not exceeding £1/5/- in each case.

The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work during the past month.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

An application had been received from Mr. John Cooper, of the Court Estate, to be registered as a cowkeeper and purveyor of milk, and his name placed on the register.

Measles and Whooping Cough

The Medical Officer submitted a circular from the Local Government Board with regard to the compulsory notification of these diseases, and it was resolved to take the matter into consideration at the next meeting.

Scavenging

The Medical Officer also submitted a circular from the Local Government Board calling attention to the general methods of scavenging adopted throughout the country. The Committee found that the various suggestions contained in the circular with regard to the removal of house refuse were all in force with the exception in this Urban District of covered carts, and the Committee did not feel able at the present time to recommend the Council to incur the expense of providing these.

Mr. W. W. Smith attended the meeting and arrangements were made with him as to the future tipping of the refuse.

Slaughtering Cattle

The Inspector reported a case of the slaughtering of a cow by a local butcher not in a registered slaughterhouse, and the Committee resolved to consider the matter at a future meeting.

Collection of Tins, etc.

A letter was received from Mr. W. G. Wilmott making application for an increase in the rate per hour paid to him for the collection of old tins, crockery, etc., and it was resolved to recommend the Council to increase the rate from 6d. to 7½d per hour.

The report was adopted.

Attendances

The attendances of members during 1913-14 and 1914-15 were as follows:-

1913-14

	Council Meetings	Special Council Meetings	Council in Committee
Meetings held	13	4	5
Mr. Bates (chairman)	13	4	5
Mr. Clipson (vice-chairman)	13	4	4
Mr. Bazeley	12	4	5
Mr. Claridge	13	4	5
Mr. Hyde	8	4	3
Mr. Knight	13	4	5
Mr. Perkins	12	4	5
Mr. Spencer	13	4	5
Mr. Skinner	12	3	5
Mr. Swindall	13	4	5
Mr. Wilmott	13	4	5
Ven. A. Kitchin	9	1	2

1914-15

	Council Meetings	Special Council Meetings	Council in Committee
Meetings held	12	5	2
Mr. Clipson (chairman)	12	4	2
Mr. Swindall (vice-chairman)	12	5	2
Mr. Bates	11	4	2
Mr. Bazeley	12	3	2
Mr. Claridge	11	5	1
Mr. Hyde	6	2	2
Mr. Knight	11	5	2
Mr. Perkins	11	2	2
Mr. Spencer	11	5	2
Mr. Skinner	9	4	2
Mr. Wilmott	12	5	2
Ven. A. Kitchin	5	1	0

Attendances at the Committee meetings were:-

1913-14

Finance (14): Messrs. Bates 12, Clipson 11, Claridge 14, Knight 13, Swindall 11, Kitchin 6.

Plans (14): Messrs. Bates 14, Clipson 14, Claridge 12, Hyde 12, Knight 13, Spencer 14, Wilmott 13.

Health (12): Messrs. Clipson 9, Bates 12, Bazeley 12, Perkins 12, Swindall 11, Skinner 10, Kitchin 6.

Recreation Ground (10): Messrs. Bates, Clipson, Claridge, Knight, and Spencer, 10 each, Perkins 7, and Wilmott 9.

Housing (1): Messrs. Bates, Clipson, Bazeley, and Wilmott all attended.

1914-15

Finance (12): Messrs. Clipson 9, Swindall 12, Claridge 12, Bates 8, Hyde 4, Knight 11.

Plans (13): Messrs. Clipson 13, Swindall 12, Claridge 11, Hyde 6, Knight 13, Spencer 12, Wilmott 12.

Health (13): Messrs. Swindall 13, Clipson 13, Bates 13, Bazeley 12, Perkins 10, Skinner 12, Kitchin 0.

Parks (3): Messrs. Knight, Clipson, Swindall, Claridge, Spencer, Wilmott, 3 each, Perkins 1.

Housing (7): Messrs. Clipson 7, Swindall 5, Bazeley 6, Claridge 6, Wilmott 6.