Many New Houses:

Why Not New Industries?

Council Reminded Of Rushden’s Need

Library Improvements

Comment On Kings-Road Rent Anomalies

    The town is growing, but the boot trade is not, was the point made at Wednesday’s meeting of Rushden Urban District Council by Mr. Arthur Wilmott, who urged that an attempt should be made to attract new industries.  Plans of 42 private houses and tenders for 22 Council houses emphasized the growth of which Mr. Wilmott spoke.

  Other business included the reception of a report which showed progress at the Public Library, and discussion of the Kings-road rents.

  The building plans were of two houses in Prospect-avenue for Messrs. T. Swindall and Sons; two houses, Birchall-road, Messrs. T. Swindall and Sons; house, Birchall-road, Messrs. T. Swindall and Sons; two houses, Park-avenue, Messrs. A. Sanders, Ltd.; house, Park-avenue, Messrs. A. Sanders, Ltd.; house, Washbrook-road allotments, Mr. F. J. Wright; 32 houses, St. Peter’s-avenue, Mr. R. Marriott; bungalow, Birchall-road, Messrs. T. Swindall and Sons; greenhouse, Adnitt-road, Mr. W. W. James.

  Mr. Wilmott commented on the fact that there were plans for 42 new houses.  “I think the time is quite ripe,” he continued, “when we ought to try and get a new industry in the town.  We could offer every facility and the town is growing, but I am afraid the boot trade isn’t.”

  Mr. Wilmott added that he would like to see the Chairman, who travelled about a good deal, make some effort to get a new industry into the town.

Library Progress

   A report on the annual meeting of the Library Committee stated that Mr. W. C. Tarry was appointed chairman and Mr. John Spencer vice-chairman, Mr. L. Perkins resigned his membership.

  Messrs. T. W. Cox, E. Freeman, H. H. Reed and W. A. E. Sherwood, Miss W. M. Clipson and the Revs. C. J. Keeler and T. S. Stoney were appointed as the Book Selection Committee.

  The librarian (Miss M. Perkins) reported that the number of books issued for the year ended March 31, 1935, was 37,201, made up of 29,444 fiction, 1,050 non-fiction and 6,707 juvenile volumes.  She added that 1,321 borrowers’ tickets were issued during the year, but it was not possible to say how many represented new members.

  To check the practice of borrowers rejoining instead of renewing their own tickets it was agreed to charge one penny for new tickets as well as for renewals.

  Thanks to the increased revenue received from the sale of the old periodicals, the Ladies’ Room had been better stocked and was now used more frequently.

  At the suggestion of the librarian it was agreed to adopt the scheme of the East Midlands Regional Bureau.  The fee payable is £3 annually, and works of non-fiction can be borrowed from any other library in the scheme on payment of postage by the borrower.

Hours Extended

  Another decision was to open the lending library at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, this having been found by experiment to meet the wishes of the public.

  A sum of £100 had been included in the estimates of the Council for the purchase of books for the library.

 The committee agreed in future to hold meetings in June, September, October, November, December, January, February and March.

  In presenting the report Mr. Spencer remarked that the librarian had done her work in a very efficient manner.

  Mr. Coles asked why there were to be no meetings of the committee in April, May, July and August.

  Mr. Spencer replied that after the annual meeting there would not be much to do for the next few months, and meetings would be more essential in the winter than in the summer.  At one time, he added, the committee met only once or twice a year.

  Messrs. J. E. Dilks and J. White were appointed to the committee in place of Mr. L. Perkins (resigned) and Mr. W. W. Rial, who has left the town.

Kings Road Rents

  A letter from nine Kings-road tenants, objecting to the differential rents in operation on this estate, was deferred until a later meeting of the Housing Committee, when the rents of the whole of the Council Houses will be under consideration.

  Mr. Hornsby referred to this matter and recalled that a month ago he gave notice to move that controlled and de-controlled houses in Kings-road be treated on the same basis.

  “I am given to understand,” he said, “that legislation is pending which will regulate Council house rents.  I am still of the opinion that the position is very unfair, but if there is legislation coming along to regulate it I think it is as well, under the circumstances, to defer the matter.  I therefore withdraw the motion which I had given to move at this meeting.”

  A finance Committee report, recommending a salary increase of £25 for the Housing Inspector, was confirmed by the Housing Committee, to whom it had been referred by the full Council.

  Mr. Spencer explained that there was a fund set aside for the management of the houses and that the increase would mean no charge upon the rates.

  Mr. Dilks was about to speak when the Chairman called his attention to Rule 57 of Standing Orders, which provided that questions of salary, etc., should not be discussed in open Council.

  Discussion then took place in private, and the Acting Clerk (Mr. A. Maclean) afterwards stated that the fund referred to consisted of 5 per cent of the net rents, amounted to £600, and amply covered the management expenses.

  The minute recommending the increase was then adopted.

Housing Contracts

  Messrs. W. Thompson and Sons, Ltd., Irthlingborough, tendered successfully for the erection of 22 houses on the Irchester-road estate.  The first contract, at £4,694 (the lowest) was for nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom houses, all non-parlour, and the second, at £1,788 for six three-bedroom houses, also non-parlour.

  Mr. G. H. Greasley, of Leicester, tendering at £766, secured the contract for road and sewer works.

  Application was made for permission to raise loans of £7,630 and £2,905 in connection with the scheme.

  On the proposition of Mr. Roe, seconded by Mr. Sugars, it was agreed to advertise a scale of rents chargeable on the basis of the recent rate increase.

  “St. Peter’s-avenue” was agreed to as the name of the new street off Wellingborough-road.

  It was agreed to discontinue general street lighting on May 25, the lighting of the High-street and the all-night lamps to continue as last year.

  It was decided to place a seat in the triangle at the foot of Highfield-road.

  Sanction to the raising of a loan of £783 for the central lighting of the main road through Rushden was received from the Ministry of Health.

  In a special report on immunisation against diphtheria the Medical Officer (Dr. Muriset) stated that he was unable to recommend the Finance Committee to proceed with the proposal, as it was a question upon which there was still a considerable amount of controversy.  Having regard to the small number of cases reported annually it did not appear justifiable for the Council to embark on such a scheme.    It was agreed to take no further action in the matter.

  Six milk samples examined under the County Council Clean Milk Production Scheme were found satisfactory.

Civic Parades

  The Council accepted an invitation from the Vicar of St. Peter’s to attend a Hospital Sunday service and take part in a civic parade.

  “I think myself,” said Mr. Cox, “it would be a good thing to revive this custom annually, when the whole of the Council could accompany the Chairman to his own particular place of worship on the first convenient occasion after his accession to the chair, especially when it was for some worthy object.”

  Mr. Coles said he had always taken the view that every year they should have a civic Sunday, and that the Council should pay the Chairman the honour and tribute of accompanying him to his own place of worship.  It was done by corporations, and he could not understand why it should not be done by urban councils.  This idea appealed to him very much.

  Mr. Coles complimented his colleagues on their Jubilee Day parade.

  Having been absent, through indisposition, at the April meeting, when his election took place, Mr. Arthur Allebone said he would like to thank the members for electing him as Chairman of the Council.

  “I am only sorry I was not here the night it was done,” he continued.  “I naturally feel proud as a Rushden-born man to hold this office, and I can only say that I hope that with your co-operation and the assistance of the staff we shall have a very happy and successful year.”

Committee Leaders

  Committee minutes revealed the appointment of the following chairmen.  Housing, Mr. Spencer; Health and Sanitary, Mr. Perkins; Plans, Highways and Lighting, Mr. Wilmott; Finance, Mr. Coles.

  Members in attendance were Messrs. A. Allebone, J.P., C.C. (Chairman), J. T. Richardson (Vice-Chairman), J. White, J. Roe, T. W. Cox, F. Green, D. G. Greenfield, M.D., L. Perkins, M.B.E., W. E. Capon, J. S. Denton, A. Wilmott, J. Spencer, J.P., J. E. Dilks, G. W. Coles, J.P., J. Hornsby and E. A. Sugars.

  Apologies for absence were received from Mr. J. Allen and Mr. W. J. Sawford.