Odd Vote Settles Library Storm
Strong Words in Second Council Debate
Committee Holds Fast
Mr. Dilks Disgusted: Remarkable Attack

  Some unpleasant remarks were hurled across the tables at the Rushden Urban Council’s meeting on Wednesday, but the librarian problem was settled.    The Library Committee, whose report last month recommending the appointment of a Councillor’s daughter was sent back to them, stuck to their guns and returned the original selection.  Mr. Dilks – with very acrimonious words – and other members renewed their hostility, but the principle held up by them failed to defeat the principle by which the Library Committee claimed to have been guided.

  By eight votes to seven the Council accepted the committee’s report.

  The Library Committee had under consideration the question of the appointment of a librarian referred back to them by the Council at their last meeting, and reported as follows:-

  “The applications, in reply to the advertisement, numbered 95 and were from persons of both sexes.  Thirty-five of the applicants resided outside the district and 60 inside.  It was agreed that only the latter be considered.

  “A very careful consideration was given to each of these 60 applications, irrespective of sex, present occupation, or standing, the only object being to appoint the person best qualified to carry out the duties pertaining to the post.

  “Ten candidates were at first selected and these reduced to six and then to four.  The latter, which comprised three males and one female, were interviewed by the Committee on the 14^th September, when it was agreed that Miss Perkins, having regard to her many qualifications, was the most suitable for the position.

  “The Committee feel that if the Library is to be maintained so as to be of real service and benefit to the inhabitants generally, it is essential that the best available person be appointed as librarian, and it is believed that in the candidate selected the Council will have an officer eminently fitted for the position, and they therefore have no alternative but to confirm their previous recommendation that Miss M. Perkins be appointed at a salary of £185 per annum, the appointment now to date from the 1^st December next.”

Vote Demanded

  Mr. Spencer formally presented the report.  “This matter was referred back,” he said.  “The point which was raised by the Council was put before the committee and you will find a considered report which was voted for by every member of the committee with one exception.”

  The Chairman (Mr. Allen) then put the report and asked for “Ayes” and “Noes.”

  “The “Ayes” have it,” he announced.

  Mr. Coles: With all respect to your decision, Mr. Chairman, I ask for a show of hands, and that the names be taken.

  The Chairman: We will have the show of hands first, because Standing Orders state that you must have a majority before the names can be recorded on the minutes.

  Dr. Greenfield: Before the vote is taken, is any discussion allowed now?

  The Chairman replied that discussion was in order.    Dr. Greenfield then observed that he was not present at the last Council meeting but he felt that the Council seemed to have got into the unfortunate habit of referring things back when they had been agreed to by committees.

  “When committees are undecided,” he continued, “it is possibly a good thing to refer matters back, but so far as I can judge at the previous meeting of this committee they were quite unanimous.  If you refer a question back on which they are unanimous the only possible answer is for them to resign.

“More Said Than Necessary”

  “A great deal has been said about this, and perhaps more has been said than was necessary.  For myself I am always prepared to accept a committee’s decision when it is unanimous – but I must say the idea abroad that anyone can fulfil the position of a librarian is a very wrong one.  A librarian should be a person who can advise you on books.

  “When this office was to be advertised those who considered that it should be filled by an unemployed man, whatever his qualifications were, should have said so and not allowed the Library Committee to adopt a wrong position.”

  When Dr. Greenfield added that undoubtedly the best candidate was selected, Mr. Coles interposed with “Doubtful!”

  Dr. Greenfield concluded: “If this is referred back, is the Council prepared to appoint a new librarian – because the only alternative is for the Library Committee to resign, which I think will be very unfortunate?  I don’t think we should fly in the face of their decision unless we have the best of grounds.

  “I understand that we are defeated...” began Mr. Dilks.

  The Chairman: No, sir!

  Mr. Dilks: Oh, I am wrong.  I apologise!

“Arguing Morality”

  “In rising,” Mr. Dilks proceeded, “I want to make this statement, and I want to make it definite and clear.  Don’t think I have come to oppose this measure with any pleasure.  It is a most disagreeable thing from my point of view, but the dignity of this Council is at stake.  I know you may argue with me the legality of the appointment, but I am not arguing that; I am arguing the morality of this matter.

  “Here we have a man who has served for a number of years on this Council, and not only on the Council, but he sits on the Library Committee.  The committee were perfectly justified in sending this recommendation back because you, Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of this Council, failed to uphold the dignity of the Council in going there and giving them a lead.

  “I am very sorry that I should be the man to raise the matter on this Council with one of our fellow Councillors concerned, but my point is – Are we going to have two codes to govern this Council?  Most of the gentlemen serve the Council and are pleased to serve the town, but other gentlemen – I will reduce it to the singular – another gentleman comes, and his motive is ‘Can I be served?’  I resent that.  I maintain that the dignity of this Council is at stake.

  “I am absolutely disgusted to think that one of our Councillors should be in this position.  I am sorry Mr. Perkins is not here, because it would give me greater satisfaction to speak in his presence.  It is absolutely disgusting, and it is an immoral practice.

  “Even our daily papers,” said Mr. Dilks, “come along now and instruct the councillors of this country.  They term it graft.  I don’t call it that, but I don’t approve of it.”

Chairman Hits Back

  The Chairman: With regard to myself I throw the insinuation back absolutely as unjustified.  I don’t think it applies to me at all.

  Mr. Dilks: I accept that from that standpoint.  Am I in order…?

  The Chairman: No, you are not!

  Mr. Hornsby: A member has said that when a committee submits a proposal we as a Council must accept it.  Well, I claim to have an opinion of my own, and if I don’t approve a proposal, even if unanimous, I am not prepared to accept it.

  “This is a very elaborate report.  They say there were 95 applicants, 35 from out of town and 60 within the district, and that these 60 have been given very careful consideration.  Well, I am satisfied about this – that if they have considered 60 applications very carefully they have spent a lot of time on them.

  “It does seem bad, looking at it one way, that we cannot accept their recommendation, but there are so many unemployed, and we are asked time and again to assist them.  I don’t know who applied, but I understand there was a number of unemployed persons.

  “What would have happened if this lady had not applied?  Would they have said they could not go forward with it because there was not a suitable application?  I think myself that some of the unemployed who have applied would be quite capable of fulfilling the duties if they had been recommended for the position.  I shall be obliged to vote against the recommendation.”

Expected A Man

  Mr. Wilmott: I didn’t think of saying anything, but this is the chief point.  I don’t believe out of the 18 Council members there were three who did not think we were going to have a male.  A man told me there were 20 young men just suitable for the job.  I have no personal feeling in the matter in the world – I can say that without fear of contradiction – but I thought it was going to be a male.  Where we were lacking was in not saying it should be a male, and that is what we ought to do now – put it back again.  I shall stick to my guns and vote as I voted before; I have no other course.

  Mr. Coles: I want first of all to say that there is no man in this town who is more sorry at this position than myself, particularly for the young lady.  She is placed in a nasty, unfortunate position through no fault of her own, and I feel very sorry for her.

  “But,” Mr. Coles added, “a month ago the Library Committee knew the feeling of the Council that a man should be appointed, yet they have returned the same recommendation, and I hope we shall throw it out.

  “There is one principle we have always stood for – that so long as we are members of this Council we shall not vote for sons or daughters of members of the Council to have a place of profit under the Council.  It is a principle that should be applied throughout public life. 

“Are We Hypocrites?”

  “When this was discussed by the Finance Committee we decided to increase the amount of salary on the condition that it would give an opportunity for a man to apply and to have a living.  That was expressed on all sides of the table – not one side.  Although later the words ‘and women’ were added I never had it in my mind that a man would not be appointed; otherwise I should have opposed it.

  “We have got some men who are ex-Service men and unemployed, and who are fit and capable of carrying out the duties pertaining to the office of librarian.  Are we a lot of hypocrites to go to Legion meetings and tell them that we will look after the unemployed, and when we have the opportunity turn them down?  It is wrong.  Let us be straight in this matter.  Here you have the opportunity of making one man happy.  It is not a highly paid job, but it will make him happy.”

  Mr. Cox: It is unfortunate that the knowledge that Mr. Coles seems to have had and says other members of the Finance Committee had was not passed on to the Library Committee before, because until the last Council meeting it was not known that it was the desire of the Council or Finance Committee that men should be employed only.  The advertisement was put in the paper for men or women, and the Library Committee must allow women’s names to come forward for that reason alone.

No Instructions

  “The committee,” said Mr. Cox, “were not asked to take an unemployed man, but to choose the best applicant.  They had no alternative but to choose the best applicant.  Unfortunately it happened to be a lady, but had the view been passed on to the Library Committee at the time it would have received sympathetic consideration.”

  The Chairman: No instructions were given to the Library Committee to appoint a man only.

  On a show of hands the Library Committee’s report was adopted by eight votes to seven.

  Messrs. Allen, Allebone, Roe, Cox, Green, Greenfield, Capon and Denton voted for the report, Messrs. Wilmott, Sugars, Hornsby, Sawford, Coles, Dilks and Richardson against.  Mr. Spencer did not vote, and Mr. White was not present at that stage of the meeting.

  Mr. Coles moved and Mr. Sugars seconded that the names of those voting should be recorded on the minutes, and this was done.

  Mr. Coles: Will you accept a notice of motion from me now?

  The Clerk: Will you give it at the end of the meeting?

  In due course Mr. Coles gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting that in future no son or daughter of a Councillor might be eligible for a place of profit under the Council.

  “There will be no names before us,” he said, “and we shall be able to consider the question on its merits.  We shall be able to settle the matter once and for all.”

Six Rushden Pedestrian Crossings
Council’s £850 Scheme For Church Street
Sewer Demands On Three Estates
Mr. Spencer Questions The Water Board

  The Library debate was only one of many interesting items at the Rushden Urban District Council’s meeting on Wednesday.  Pedestrian crossings, an important improvement in Church-street, St. Crispin and Kimbolton-road sewerage claims, the Washbrook-road Triangle, housing developments and the water supply all claimed attention.

  The Council also remembered to send Rushden’s loyal wedding greetings to H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, and a fund was opened by which the Rushden Georges can contribute to a very worthy wedding present.

  The Clerk (Mr. W. L. Beetenson) reported that the whole of the abutting owners of the land involved in the proposed improvement of the north side of Church-street (from High-street to Alfred-street) and the setting back of the pavement on the south side at a point opposite Alfred-street had now agreed to surrender the land.

  Details of the scheme were considered in committee at the close of the Council’s meeting and it was decided to proceed with the improvement at an estimated cost of £850.

  The sub-committee appointed at the last meeting to consider a scheme containing proposals for the establishment of foot passenger crossings in Rushden, reported that they had consulted with the Superintendent of Police with regard thereto and had agreed to recommend the following scheme:-

  High-street – One crossing at a point between Mr. E. Warren’s and Messrs. Horsley’s shops, one crossing at a point between the Midland Bank and Messrs. Tomalin’s shop, and one crossing at a point between Station-road and the railway bridge.

  Higham-road – One crossing on the south side of the Hayway opposite Mr. Lacey’s shop.

  Wellingborough-road – One crossing at a point immediately on the west side of Purvis-road.

  High-street South – One crossing opposite the Council’s right of way to the Hall Grounds, near the bottom of Crabb-street.

  The scheme was adopted without comment.

Sewer Problems

  A deputation of three, representing the owners and occupiers on the St. Crispin Estate, attended the Health and Sanitary Committee meeting and submitted a scheme which would, in their opinion, satisfactorily drain their properties.  Letters were also received from Messrs. Talbot Brown and Fisher, architects, with plans for the proposed development of two estates near Grange Farm, and requesting re-consideration of the Council’s decision not to extend the sewer to those estates.

  The committee considered both applications, but in view of the recent decision of the Council it was agreed to defer the question for the present.

  Mr. Spencer: Was there any time stated? - because I think that part of the town needs attention.  I hope they did not defer it indefinitely.

  Mr. Richardson: No time was fixed.

  Mr. Allebone wanted to know if the postponement was because the scheme of Messrs. Brown and Fisher was not to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.  Was it for a more comprehensive scheme to be submitted before they decided?

  Mr. Richardson: A more comprehensive scheme was in the committee’s mind.

  With regard to the St. Crispin Estate, Mr. Richardson said the connection of the sewer would be a comparatively small matter if the other schemes came about.  They were obliged to defer it until they saw the “lay of the land” in the district.

No Change At Triangle

  The Washbrook-road Triangle was the subject of a Highways Committee report which stated that Mr. Coles and the Surveyor had met the County Surveyor on the spot and discussed with him what alterations, if any, could be effected for the greater safety of the public.

  Mr. Black was of opinion that it was unnecessary for any alterations to be made, but if the Council were determined that the Triangle should be reduced in size he would recommend that the fences on all sides be set back about three feet.

  In view of this opinion the committee recommended that no action be taken, and the Council agreed.

  “Major Road Ahead” signs were agreed to for erection in the Hayway (at each end), Wymington-road, Newton-road and the Bedford-road end of Court-avenue, it being understood that the Ministry of Transport would contribute 60 per cent. of the cost.

  A Council tenant in Irchester-road is to be summoned to attend the next meeting of the Housing Committee and show cause why he should not be called upon to remove a large wooden building he has erected “without the consent of the Council and also in contravention of the Building Bye-laws.”

  Dr. Greenfield commented on this.  “We have, I take it” he said, “some sort of conditions under which the houses are let.  Is it clearly set forth on these conditions that people cannot erect these buildings?  If it is not, it ought to be.  We have had some of this trouble before.”

  Mr. Roe: I don’t know about the past, but when the 66 new houses are let the tenants will be asked to sign an agreement.

  The Surveyor: All the tenants have been circularised as to what they should do in the way of sheds.

  The Chairman: The whole of the tenants were circularised a year ago.  I think it has been generally known for years that no garage or shed should be put up without the consent of the Council.

Plans And Lighting

  Building plans were as follows: House, Wymington-road, Mr. W. C. Tarry; house, Park-avenue, Mrs. A. White; 50 semi-detached bungalows, St. Margaret’s-avenue, Messrs. M. M. Drabble; barns, etc., at 52 and 54, Duck-street, Mr. A. E. Higgins; cycle shed, Newton-road, Mr. E. Warren; wooden garage, Washbrook-road allotments, Mr. H. Waring.

  The Lighting sub-Committee announced that they had given instructions for the lighting of St. Margaret’s-avenue and the extension to Park-avenue.  They also recommended three additional lamps for Bedford-road, extending the lighting as far as Sartoris-cottages.    The report was confirmed, and Mr. Richardson congratulated the committee, saying that the Bedford-road lights would add greatly to the convenience of the people residing there.  “I shall be glad,” he said, “when the footpath also comes, so that people can walk in comfort as well as be lighted.”

  The Housing Manager reported that the 1934-5 programme of house renovation was progressing satisfactorily and would be completed by the end of November.

  The Letting sub-Committee were requested to prepare a list of about 100 applicants with a view to selecting tenants for the 66 houses in course of erection on Highfield-road.

  Having considered a special report from the Housing Manager, the Housing Committee decided that time and money would be saved if all minor house repairs were carried out by a man wholly employed by the Council and under direct supervision.  They recommended that the Surveyor should engage a suitable man at a wage of £3  5s. Per week. - This was agreed to.

Scheme For 26 Houses

  The Surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd) produced a plan showing a proposed lay-out of the vacant land abutting Irchester-road.  It provided for 10 parlour three-bedroom houses on the frontage and 16 non-parlour three-bedroom houses (similar to those now being constructed in Highfield-road) at the rear.    The Council approved the scheme and instructed the Surveyor to prepare details.

  There is an open space at the junction of Highfield-road and Tennyson-road, and the Housing Committee recommended that it be enclosed with 4ft 6in. Iron fencing and planted with shrubs.

  Mr. Roe said it was just a small piece and was at present used as a rubbish dump.    The report was adopted.

  The Clerk reported the receipt from the Minister of health of his formal sanctions to the raising of loans for the construction of roads and sewers and the erection of 18 houses, under the Housing Acts, 1925 and 1930.

  In continuation of the Council’s annual programme of tree planting it was decided to plant 100 trees in Trafford-road and Purvis-road and to replace various trees in other parts of the town.

  Dr. Greenfield said he hoped there were not too many plane trees, and the surveyor replied that the trees were Cornish elms.

  Three samples out of six examined under the County Council Clean Milk Production Scheme proved unsatisfactory.  The Health and Sanitary Committee expressed great dissatisfaction, and the Clerk was instructed to inform the dairymen concerned of the seriousness of the situation, also warning them that unless a considerable improvement occurred the Council would take action.

  The sale of the crops at the sewage farm realised £31  16s., the oats selling at 17s.  6d. Per quarter.

Water Warning

  When the accounts were going through, Mr. Spencer saw his chance to speak on the water problem.

  “I rise on the cheque of the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board,” he said.  “I think before this is passed we should have some word from the Board to say what steps they are taking with regard to an additional supply.

  “I am one of those who have been of opinion for a long time that some attempt should be made to see if we can get an additional supply from a spring near the Sywell reservoir.  I understand that the fall of the water level has stopped at the moment, but if we don’t have some very heavy rain or snows we shall be very short of water next year.”

  Mr. Roe: This matter has not been overlooked by the Board at all.  I have had a talk myself with the Surveyor in this matter, and it will be on the report at the next meeting.

  Mr. Allebone: Is Mr. Spencer moving that this cheque be withheld, or is he simply asking for information?

  Mr. Spencer: I am only asking for information.

The Royal Wedding

  The Chairman said he had received a letter from Lord Luke of Pavenham with regard to the “Georges” wedding gift to the Duke of Kent.  The donations would form a permanent fund to provide each year a Christmas treat for the Children in the necessitous areas and to provide holidays for the sick children in those areas.

  Mr. Spencer: I don’t know whether I am in order to suggest Mr. George Coles to open the fund.

  Dr. Greenfield promptly seconded and spoke approvingly of the object.

  Mr. Coles: I was not listening.

  A Member: You should be listening.

  Mr. Hornsby: I am glad the Joes are out!

  The Chairman: Will you do that, Mr. Coles?

  Mr. Coles: No, I am afraid I haven’t the time.

  In answer to a remark, Mr. Coles added: “The object’s all right.  I got married and I am glad he is doing the same.”

  Mr. Allebone: But there was no permanent memorial when you got married!

  Mr. Spencer: Oh, there’s a good family. (Laughter.)

  The Chairman then announced that the Clerk or himself would be pleased to receive the subscriptions from those named George and send them to the proper quarters.

  “Before we meet again,” Mr. Allen added, “his Royal Highness will have been married.  I thought it would be a loyal gesture on our part to send the congratulations and hearty greetings of the Council.”

  On the proposition of Mr. Capon, seconded by Dr. Greenfield, it was decided to do so.

  The chairman announced that the local Gresford Colliery Fund, which will close on Monday next, now stood at £40  18s.  3d.  Other amounts had been sent from the town, and he was very pleased to say “Thank you” to all those people and societies who had contributed.

  Members present were Messrs. J. Allen, J.P. (Chairman), A. Allebone, J.P., C.C. (vice-chairman), J. White, J. Roe, T. Cox, D. G. Greenfield, M.D., J. S. Denton, W. E,. Capon, F. Green, A. Wilmott, J. Spencer, J.P., J. E. Dilks, G. W. Coles, J. P., J. Hornsby, E. A. Sugars, J. T. Richardson, and W. J. Sawford.