Librarian Dispute: Committee’s Report Sent Back By Rushden Council
Lady “The Best Candidate,” But Members Demand A Man
“Women Find Jobs, But Men Cannot”
“Caught” On The Court Estate: Cables Sanctioned In 1927

 By a majority vote on Wednesday the Rushden Urban District Council declined to accept the Library Committee’s report, in which the appointment of a lady librarian was recommended.

  Out of 95 applicants the committee had selected the daughter of a Council member (Mr. L. Perkins, M.B.E.), but some who joined in Wednesday’s debate held that although the choice was a good one, present circumstances in the town demanded that a man should be appointed.

  Another surprise came with the latest report on the Court Estate electricity question.  It transpired that the Council, who last month decided to oppose the erection of overhead cables on the estate, had already sanctioned them (in 1927) and were now powerless to intervene.

  The report of a special Library Committee meeting on September 7 stated that 95 applications had been received for the vacant post of librarian.  The committee gave these very careful consideration and ultimately reduced the number to four, also resolving that the successful candidate be required to undergo a medical examination as to fitness before taking up the appointment.

  The four candidates were interviewed at another meeting on September 14, and it was decided to recommend the appointment of Miss M. Perkins, of 77, Newton-road, Rushden, at a salary of £135 per annum, the duties to commence on November 1.

  Mr. Spencer mentioned that the applicants were reduced to twelve, then to eight, and then to four.  He moved that the report be accepted.

The Councillor’s Penalty

  “With regard to the appointment of a librarian,” said Mr. Dilks, “it puts one in a very funny position, and it is rather unfortunate that it is one of our councillors’ daughters who has been the successful candidate for this position.  Of course this is the penalty of being a councillor – a public servant.

  “I don’t want to cast any reflection on the Library Committee, and I have nothing to say against the selection, only I was wondering whether, being the daughter of a councillor, this lady should have taken precedence over every other applicant.

  “I don’t want to cast aspersions on the Library Committee – I know they must have considered it carefully, but I certainly think this is very unfortunate.  It is leaving a nasty twang in the public’s mouth.”

  Mr. Sawford enquired as to the number of male and female applicants.

  The Clerk:  They were not treated as males and females – they were treated as applicants together.

  “This kind of thing is getting almost a scandal,” said Mr. Wilmott.  “It is a pity the committee could not see their way to select a male instead of a female, because females can get a position almost anywhere to-day.  It doesn’t want a schoolmaster; and so long as he is an ordinary scholar and can do the work I think the committee would have been more wise to keep to a male.  There has been a tremendous lot of talk about it, and a lot of unpleasantness.  Perhaps our chairman can enlighten us.”

“The Best Applicant”

  The Chairman said the Committee were instructed to advertise the post, and the Clerk and Committee went very carefully through the applications.  The committee, in their opinion, had selected the best applicant, and that was their business; that was the work they had to do.

  “Unless a reference back is moved,” added Mr. Allen, “or an amendment to the resolution, I shall feel I ought to put the resolution straightaway.”

  Mr. Spencer: Has it been seconded?

  The Chairman:  The resolution has been moved and seconded; otherwise I should have allowed no discussion.

  Mr. Dilks:  I will move an amendment that this be referred back for further consideration.

  Mr. Sawford seconded.

  The Chairman:  I hope you realise what you are doing.  The committee has given hours of consideration to this matter, and it is not very often, when you have a unanimous decision of a committee before you, that you refer it back.  They gave it very careful consideration and, putting all personalities to one side, they considered this lady the most likely applicant.  That is what you asked them to do.

  Mr. Allebone:  I seconded it because it is usual, and I think it is only fair, that when you have a committee to represent the town, and they give a decision, you should accept their report.

“A Vote of Censure”

  “What do you hope if it is referred back?” Mr. Allebone asked.  “Do you hope for the committee to make another selection?  If you do, it appears to me that it is a vote of censure on the committee.  It appears from the remarks that you haven’t the confidence in the committee who made the selection.

  “I have heard possibly as much as anyone else.  I am nothing to do with it, but I can understand the feeling of many of the townspeople, and I think I said myself in this chamber that the committee would consider the appointment of a male because it was an opportunity for a man to do the job.  But we have a committee who have come forward with a unanimous recommendation.  Are we going to say ‘You failed in your duty; we have no confidence in you,’ or are you going to say that on account of the position taken up to-night we want them to make another selection?  Our duty is to back up the committee or find another one.”

  Mr. Dilks:  Don’t run away with the idea that I have come here to criticise the committee.  I know it is a difficult position, but I have come here as a councillor to express the public view on the matter.  The people want enlightening.  I am not here to support any committee, but we must as citizens and members of this Council come here and express personal opinions and views, whatever the subject is and whenever it arises.  My reason for bringing this forward is that it is unfortunate that Mr. Perkins is a councillor and a nasty twang is going about the town that it is favouritism.  I don’t think it is favouritism at all, and I have every confidence in Miss Perkins as being suitable for the position.

Committee Defended
“Tried To Pick From Ex-Service Men”

  Mr. Cox agreed that the choice placed the Library Committee in a rather unfortunate position.  “We went very carefully into the matter,” he said, “and without favouring Miss Perkins in view of her father being a councillor.  I believe honestly the committee were justified in selecting Miss Perkins because of her suitability generally.  I believe honestly if the full Council had interviewed those last four candidates they would have had no compunction in coming to the same conclusion.”

  “I do feel,” continued Mr. Cox, “that if the Library Committee are to take this matter in hand again they must have some definite instructions from the Council as to whom and what they want to choose for.

  “We made a point of trying to pick from ex-Service men, and that kind of thing, qualified to take the position.  I don’t think we could have done any more.  There you have a candidate fit and fully qualified to take the position.  I think it would have been nicer to choose a man, but we were not sympathetically choosing anybody.  We had to choose for the whole of the town and not only consider unemployment.  As a matter of fact, I think Miss Perkins was practically unemployed, she was just a student waiting for a post, and I see no reason why she should not have been chosen.”

“Expected A Man”

  Mr. Coles said that when he came to the meeting he did not propose to take any part in the matter.  The position was rather delicate, especially in public discussion, but in view of the way it had been put before the Council he felt he must add his views.

  There were numerous unemployed men in Rushden who would be glad of a job of that description – men who had every capability for carrying out the job in every way.  It had been said that ladies could find other jobs – but men could not.  Some of the applicants were ratepayers, but this one was not.

  “When I moved the resolution on the Finance Committee that we should advertise the post, I had in mind wholly that a man should be appointed.  We increased the salary especially for that reason.  Then in a library we must have discipline, and sometimes a man can preserve it better than a young woman.”

  Mr. Coles said he would support the reference back with a view to a male being appointed.

  The amendment to refer the report back to the Library Committee was then carried by six votes to four.

Court Estate Cables
Council Reminded Of Earlier Consent

  The Clerk (Mr. W. L. Beetenson) reported that as instructed at the last meeting of the Council he had lodged formal objection to the local Electricity Company’s proposals to erect overhead cables along and across Court Avenue-road and Newton-road.

  A letter was now received from the Company stating that permission to erect overhead cables in Court Avenue-road was given by the Council in July 1927, and that they were prepared not to proceed with the proposal as regards Newton-road.  An amended notice and plan accompanied the letter.

  As these facts were correct it was resolved that no further action be taken.

  Mr. Coles said it appeared that the Council committed themselves in 1927, and of course they could not do anything in the matter.

  “I think it is rather unfortunate,” retorted Mr. Roe.  “Of course I can quite understand the Council giving permission seven years ago to have these overhead wires, but the estate has improved very considerably since that time.  I daresay 50 years ago you would give permission to have them put in High-street, Rushden, but you would not give permission to-day.”

  Mr. Roe wanted to know if what was done seven years ago held good to-day.  If the wires were not put underground he thought the Council would some day regret it.

  Mr. Richardson said he was glad to see that the people along Avenue-road would not be debarred of the light they had long been striving for, and thought it would be well for the Council to ask the Company to extend the service along the Newton-road as well as in Avenue-road.

  “I was surprised,” added Mr. Richardson, “that they did not carry it with our consent or otherwise, that generally appears to be their method of working.  Since it has gone as far as it has, I think it would be well for the residents of the estate to have electricity.”

  Mr. Roe:  I don’t think anyone wants to debar them from having electricity, but I do think it should be carried underground instead of overhead.

  The Clerk said that any application the Council might make for review would not be considered at all.

Colliery Disaster

  The Chairman said he would like to make reference to the terrible colliery disaster which had occurred at Gresford, near Wrexham.  He thought it would be the wish of the members that a fund should be opened in the town, and he therefore arranged for donations to be banked and passed on direct to the Wrexham fund.  If people and organisations wished to forward sums he hoped they would do so through the town fund, which amounted at present to £21.

Re-Housing

  A special meeting of the Housing Committee received tenders for the construction of roads and the erection of houses on the Irchester-road Estate, for the rehousing of tenants displaced under the Housing Act, 1930.  The committee recommended the acceptance of the following tenders, which were the lowest:

  Construction of roads: Messrs. Smith, Wright and Co., Ltd., of Asfordby, Leicestershire, £792  15s.  3d.

  Erection of 18 houses: Messrs. Hacksley Bros., Ltd., Wellingborough, £5,258.

  Application for permission to raise loans for £800 and £5,290 was also advised.

  The report was adopted.

Erection of Huts

  A report from the Housing Manager mentioned that all tenants had been circularised, with good effect, in regard to the erection of huts, etc.

  The Housing Committee were considering whether to employ a suitable man for the execution of all minor repairs.

  The Surveyor was instructed to prepare a plan for the layout of the vacant land on the Irchester-road with a view to the erection of further houses there.

New Avenue

  “St. Margaret’s-avenue” was selected as the name of the new road near the Masonic Hall, Mr. M. M. Drabble, the contractor, having submitted a number of suggestions to the Highways Committee.

Building Plans

  Building plans were as follows: Two houses in St. Margaret’s-avenue, Messrs. M. M. Drabble; four bungalows, Bedford-road, Mr. J. W. Smith, rebuilding of No. 45, High-street, Mr. A. Cleaver; office and store off Newton-road, Messrs. W. Packwood and Son; bungalow on allotments near the Town Football Ground; wooden garage, “Woodcroft,” Irchester-road, Mr. C. Freeman; wooden garage, Prospect-avenue, Mr. S. R. Fox; wooden garage, 122, Newton-road, Mr. J. B. Larman; wooden garage, St. Margaret’s-avenue, Mr. C. F. Burt.

Church-street Corner

  The Highways Committee again considered the proposed improvement of the High-street and Church-street corner, but were “not yet in a position to report.”

  An order prohibiting the driving of certain classes of mechanically propelled vehicles in Little-street, Mannings-street and the narrow portions of Duck-street was renewed for an indefinite period.

Car Park Suggestions

  A letter was received from Mr. L. G. Roberts suggesting that it would be a great convenience to the users of the car park in Rectory-road if lines were arranged so that cars would be left on the slant instead of end to end as at present.

  It was pointed out that owing to the size of many of the vehicles habitually parking there, obstruction would be caused if the proposal were put into effect.

  The Highways Committee agreed that having regard to the width of the road and the traffic thereon, they were unable to recommend the Council to carry out the suggestion.

  The Veterinary Inspector reported that he had examined 151 cows and found them clinically normal and with few exceptions in good condition.

St. Crispin Sewers

  Following a letter from Mr. Arthur Robinson, the Health and Sanitary Committee agreed to meet a deputation of St. Crispin Estate owners with regard to the continuation of the sewer to their properties.

  In view of the large amount of flowers and plants now required in connection with the upkeep of the graves, it was decided to build a greenhouse at the Cemetery at a cost of £55.

  The Finance Committee reported that with the exception of £2  4s. the whole of the recoverable rate arrears for the half-year ended March 31 had been paid.

Assessments Reduced

  The Clerk reported that on appeal the assessment of the small-pox hospital had been reduced from £72 to £10, while the cases of the store-yard and Library stood adjourned with a view to a uniform basis being arrived at for the whole of the similar properties in the area.

  Messrs. T. W. Cox and Fred Corby were reappointed to represent the Council on the managing body of the Intermediate School, and Mr. Allebone was nominated for membership of the area panel under the Road Traffic Act, 1930.

Members Present

  Members in attendance were Messrs. J. Allen (Chairman), A. Allebone, J.P., C.C. (vice-chairman), J. Roe, T. W. Cox, F. Green, W. E. Capon, J. S. Denton, A. Wilmott, J. Spencer, J.P., J. E. Dilks, G. W. Coles, J.P., W. J. Sawford, J. Hornsby, J. T. Richardson and E. A. Sugars.  -  An apology for absence was received from Mr. John White.