Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 11 January 1941
More Parties than Pumps
Wath Fire Watching Discussion
Measles Danger Warning
Statements made by Councillor, Alwyne Fairhurst at a meeting of Wath Urban Council at the Town Hall on Tuesday night, revealed that Wath already has 16 fire parties undergoing instruction from the regular Fire Brigade, but he urged that stirrup hand pumps at present being held for sale to the public should be released for those fire watchers who had only eight pumps at present.
Coun. Fairhurst asked what was being done with regard to fire watchers. The Council need not wait for compulsion. He thought squads should be formed throughout the Council’s area in the district, and that stirrup pumps should be issued to them.
The air raid wardens had been asked Ito get together supplementary lists” ‘of volunteers willing to undertake fire watching duties, and they had done so only to find there were no’ stirrup hand pumps available for, them. He understood that some pumps were on sale to the public. Would it not be better for these pumps to be made free to the watchers to encourage the volunteers and make things safe for them in Wath should incendiaries be showered upon their district?
In Training.
The Superintendent of their Fire’ Brigade had sixteen teams of fire watchers being trained at present, but there were only eight stirrup hand pumps, which were hardly sufficient, available for them. He urged that action be taken to supply the parties with pumps and that their district be formed into sections, each with its own fire watcher party.
Coun. P. R. Baker suggested that a scheme for the training of boys from 14-16 years to do this work should be organised by the Council. He knew numerous boys between these ages who would be only too pleased to do the job.
Coun. D. O. Shaw said the A.R.P. Services could take no one under 16, years of age and added in his opinion this was a job for the public and the public must be forced to realise it was their duty.
Spread of Measles.
The Medical Officer (Dr. T. Crowley), giving his report for the month made a complaint that parents of children who had been in the hospital with measles were allowing them to run about the streets before the expiration of the period of three weeks during which they were supposed to be kept at home. This, of course, was causing the epidemic to spread. The doctor also asked that as they might have a murderous attack from the air at any time, the Council should have handbills printed urging the public to boil all water after an air raid.
Couns Cutts and Shaw expressed the view that this was a necessity and Coun. Fairhurst, after stating that he thought it was a good suggestion, mentioned that chlorination of water supply which would take place shortly would do away with a lot of contamination, which might result from an air raid. The doctor said he referred to all water, whether used for domestic or drinking purposes.
Coun. Fairhurst refuted a suggestion that such an action would be “crying wolf.” and said it would be better to tell the public the facts rather than tell them too little.
Sand Buckets.
Coun. D. O. Shaw, making reference to a minute of the A.R.P. Committee which dealt with a supply of sand for householders, said these buckets of sand should be placed near the gateways of houses and not near the front door, so that if a fire was being dealt with buckets of sand would be available whether the householders were in or out. He hoped that when the wardens had explained the use of the sand to the public the system would be worked amicably.
Coun. Fairhurst pointed out that instruction was available in the Wath area this week through the medium of A.R.P. films.
War Weapons Week.
A letter from Mr. W. C. L. Pratt, secretary of Wath National Saving Committee, informed the Council that it was suggested that a war, weapons week should be held from February 22nd to March 1st inclusive, in conjunction with Mexborough. Swinton, Conisborough and Denaby and urging that the Council should give their support to this effort.
It was decided to give every possible assistance to the function.
The Clerk read a letter from Mr. H. I. Turner, Assistant Commander of the Rotherham County Battalion of the Home Guard, urging co-operation between the Council and the Home Guard in case of severe enemy action and suggesting that some joint emergency programme should be drawn up and it was decided that the Chairman and the local Home Guard officer should meet Mr. Turner to make necessary arrangements.
A deputation consisting of the Surveyor, Chairman and Clerk are to attend a special meeting of the County Council Emergency Committee with regard to the salvage of property and removal of debris. A conference is being held in the near future for this purpose.