Unemployment and Shortness of Trade
Friendly Societies’ Council Asks For Relief Fund
The Free Library – What Books Are Being Read
Infringements of Byelaws

  Wednesday, present Councillors J. Claridge, J.P., C.C. (chairman), W. Bazeley, J.P. (vice-chairman), F. Knight, J.P., C. Bates, J. Hornsby, T. Swindall, L. Perkins, B.Sc., C. W. Horrell, C. E. Bayes, T. Wilmott, and J. Tomlin, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. Piper).

  The minutes of the Committees were first taken, as follows:-

Free Library Committee

  A meeting of the Free Library Committee was held at the Library on Friday, October 29^th, 1920, when there were present: Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), J. T. Colson, J. S. Clipson, S. Saddler, and J. Spencer, and Miss C. Clark and the Revs. P. Robson and C. J. Keeler.

Minutes

  The minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee, held on September 9^th, 1919, were read and confirmed.

Management Committee

  It was resolved that the Management Committee for the ensuing year consist of the whole of the members of this Committee.

Books Issued

  The Secretary reported that the number of books issued for the twelve months ended August 31^st last was 34,842, made up as follows:-

Addition to Library

  The Secretary also reported that 318 books had been added to the Library during the past year as follows:-

  Two of the non-fiction were presentation copies, and the thanks of the Committee had been accorded the donors therefor.

New Books

  It was resolved to request the Council to authorise the Committee to expend a sum of £15 in the purchase of new books.

Papers and Periodicals

  It was agreed to continue the present arrangements with Mr. Charles Robinson for the supply of papers and periodicals for the year 1921/2.

  It was also resolved that the annual sale of the papers, etc., be held in December as usual.

Magazine Room

  The Chairman reported that the Management Committee had requested Mr. Madin, the Surveyor to the Council, to obtain a price from Mr. A. T. Nichols for renovating the magazine room.  Mr. Madin attended the meeting and submitted the estimate, which amounted to £14  12s.  0d.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accept the tender, and to instruct Mr. Nichols to carry out the work.

Caretaker

  A letter was received from the National Amalgamated Workers’ Union requesting that Mr. Hazeldine be dealt with similar to other workmen under the non-trading Council, and that the increase date from August 1^st last.  The letter also suggested that he be paid a reasonable sum for any hours in excess of 47 per week.

  The matter was referred to the Finance Committee of the Council.

  The report was adopted.

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, October 27^th, 1920, when there were present: Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), W. Bazeley, C. E. Bayes, C. W. Horrell, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented for:-

  Motor-house on the Higham-road for Mr. L. Tysoe, and passed.

  Stable, coach-house, and shed in Rectory-road, for Messrs. Seckington and Son, and no exception taken.

  W.C. to Manor Farm house on the Bedford-road, for Messrs. Willmott Brothers, and passed.

  Verandah at the rear of No. 139, High-street, for Mr. H. Bates, and passed.

  Petrol store for Messrs. Lawrence and Richardson at the rear of their garage in Washbrook-road, and passed.

  Bungalow on the Newton-road, for Mr. A. Wakefield, and passed.

  Leather shed near their factory in Portland-road for Messrs. A. Sargent and Sons, Ltd., and passed subject to the written consent of the adjoining owner being supplied to the Surveyor.

Infringement of Bye-Laws

  With reference to the last-mentioned plan, and also to the case of a small wooden building erected at the rear of No. 64, Moor-road, both of which buildings had been constructed without plans in the first place being submitted, the Committee wish to draw the Council’s attention to the matter and ask them to intimate to the public that plans must be insisted upon in all cases before buildings are commenced.

Dangerous Corners

  The Surveyor submitted a further letter from the County Surveyor asking for revised estimates in respect of the two corners at the top of Hayway and the corner of Higham-road at its junction with Kimbolton-road, with a view to the works being taken in hand.  It was understood that the Ministry of Transport would now be prepared to contribute two-thirds of the present cost.  The Surveyor’s revised estimates were as follows:-

  Hayway Corner (Mr. Green’s side), £50

  Hayway (opposite side), £8.

  Higham-road Corner, £120.

  The Committee could not recommend that the work of the two latter corners should be proceeded with, but recommended that, subject to Mr. Green’s consent being obtained the work at his corner of the Hayway be carried out, provided the revised estimate be approved.

Higham-Road Hoarding

  The Surveyor reported that he had inspected this boarding near the Higham Ferrers boundary, and found it firmly fixed and in order.  He thought that if the hedge between the hoarding and Mr. Thompson’s butcher’s shop were cut down to a height of five feet a great deal of the present danger would be avoided.  He was instructed to give notice to the owner accordingly.

Lighting Sub-Committee

  In consequence of the lighting restrictions, owing to the coal strike, the Lighting Sub-Committee postponed their report as to the provision of additional lamps.

Upper Queen-Street

  The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. Green asking what progress the owners were making with regard to the repair of this street.

  The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, November 3^rd, 1920, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), W. Bazeley, J. Hornsby, F. Knight, T. Swindall, 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:-

Collector’s Accounts

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

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts, from which it appeared that he had received the following sums during the past month:-

And that the balances were as follows:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £2,190  19s.  0d. were examined and passed for payment.

Library Caretaker

  The letter from the Amalgamated Workers’ Union with reference to the Caretaker’s salary was considered.  It was understood that he was anxious to resume the work of lighting and heating on Saturday evenings, and it was resolved on his doing so that his wages be increased 2s.  6d. per week, the amount at present paid for this work.

Sunday Duty Rate

  A further letter from the Secretary of the Amalgamated Workers’ Union with regard to Sunday duty rate was received, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to abandon all Sunday duty for cleaning up the streets forthwith.

Housing Scheme, Clerk Of The Works

  Upon the application of the Clerk of Works to the Housing Scheme, his salary was increased to £4 per week.

Inspector of Nuisances

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to increase the salary of the Inspector of Nuisances from £260 to £270 per annum, dating from the 1^st inst.

Assisted Housing Scheme

  The Clerk reported that for the purpose of the Local Government audit, it was necessary to obtain a complete set of new books for the accounts in connection with this scheme and was instructed to obtain what was necessary.

  The report was adopted.

  With regard to the Sunday duty rate of wages the Chairman said that the Amalgamated Workers’ Union had asked that further wages be paid for Sunday work.  The committee felt strongly on this matter.  They felt they were not justified in spending the ratepayers’ money in paying the wages the Union asked for, and so they recommended that the Sunday work of “clearing up” the streets be discontinued.

  With reference to the Sanitary Inspector’s salary the Chairman, in answer to Mr. Perkins, said that the Inspector had to live away as he could not get a house in Rushden, and that was one of the reasons for the increase granted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, November, 3^rd, 1920, when there were present: Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), J. Hornsby, F. Knight, L. Perkins, and J. Tomlin.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The report of the Medical Officer for the month of October was received.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that two sets of ox lungs, weighing 8-lbs., one pig’s head weighing 13-lbs., a quantity of tinned fish, fruit, and vegetables, weighing 43-lbs., all of which had been voluntarily surrendered since the last meeting, had been destroyed in the usual way as being unfit for human consumption.

  During the month 13 preliminary and two statutory notices had been issued in respect of nuisances and other matters.

  One room had been disinfected after a fatal case of consumption, and a quantity of bedding, etc., in connection therewith disinfected at the Depot.

  Various properties had been inspected under the Housing Town Planning, etc., Acts.

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

Petroleum Acts

  An application was received from Messrs. Lawrence and Richardson for a licence to store 1,000 gallons of petrol in a store at the back of their premises in Washbrook-road.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application subject to the store being to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

  The Inspector reported that Mr. F. W. Clark was storing petrol in his premises on the Higham-road contrary to the Regulations.  He was instructed to inform Mr. Clark that a proper store must be provided.

Use of Milk

  A circular together with a pamphlet from the Ministry of Health, pointing out the special value of milk as a food, was received.

Electric Vehicle

  The question of the electric vehicle and the tips was again considered and referred to a special meeting of the whole Council in Committee, to be held after the Council meeting on Wednesday evening next.

Rent, Etc., Restriction Act, 1920

  A letter was received from the Secretary to the Tenants’ League, requesting the Council to instruct the Sanitary Inspector to inspect the cottage property in the town with a view to the necessary repairs being put in hand as early as possible, and also asking that arrangements be made for the Sanitary Inspector or other officer to represent the tenant at the County Court where necessary.

  The Clerk reported that in acknowledging the letter he had informed the League that they might take it for granted that the Council would give all necessary instructions to their officers to carry out the provisions of the Act.

  The Committee approved.

Co-Operative-Row

  The Surveyor reported that the abutting owners had now all agreed to pay their apportionments in respect of the repair of this road, and he was instructed to proceed with the work as early as possible.

Sewage Farm

  The Surveyor also reported that the sale of the crops at the farm was duly held on October 11^th, and realised £225  3s.  6d.

Cemetery

  The Cemetery Sub-Committee reported that they had met at the Cemetery with regard to the memorial received at the last meeting, and decided to recommend that the trees at the rear of the houses in Winchester-road be topped.

  They also decided to recommend that the fence and gates at present dividing the new part of the Cemetery from the old be removed from their present position and placed on the boundary adjoining Harborough-road.

  The Committee approved and resolved to recommend the Council accordingly.

  The report was adopted.

Rats

  In answer to Mr. Bates, the Chairman said that only two men brought in any dead rats in the “rat week campaign.”  One man, named Bailey, brought in 63 rats, and J. F. Clarke captured 39, a total of 102.  The number of competitors was not at all satisfactory, as they offered three prizes.  The two men named had done well.

  It was decided to award the first prize to Bailey and second to Clarke.

Wooden Buildings

  The Chairman called attention to the fact that wooden buildings had been erected without plans being first submitted to the Council.  He hoped that such infringements of the bye-laws would cease.

Distress

  A letter was read by the Clerk from Mr. C. J. Giles, secretary of the Rushden and Higham District Friendly Societies’ Council, as follows:-  “At a meeting of the above Council, held on October 28^th, attention was drawn to the unemployment in the town and the distress now prevailing, with a likelihood of its being more acute in the near future.  I am directed to ask through you if the Urban Council will call a town’s meeting to consider this grave problem; failing this, whether they will open a fund to alleviate the distress not only amongst the unemployed but amongst those who are only working a few hours weekly?”

  The Chairman:  There is no doubt some distress in the town, but it is news to me that it exists to the extent the letter suggests.

  Mr. Horrell:  Are there any figures presented?

  The Clerk:  No.

  Mr. Horrell:  It is very vague information, isn’t it?

  Mr. Spencer said the matter should be referred back to the Friendly Societies’ Council for further information.  Undoubtedly, he said, there must be distress in the town, considering the number of people who were out of work and the many who had been on short time.  It was a matter for inquiry, and if there was distress it must be dealt with.  The Urban Council were the proper body to deal with it.  The matter ought not to be shelved.

  The Chairman:  We do not want to shelve it if there is real distress in the town.

  Mr. Spencer moved that the Friendly Societies’ Council be asked for further information, as then the Urban Council would be in a better position to see what should be done.

  Mr. Bates seconded, and it was carried nem. con.