Mexborough & Swinton Times, April 26, 1919
New Chairma
William Hallatt.
Wath-on-Dearne Urban District Council
Mr. Hallatt, who is elected, for the second time in his career, chairman of the Wath upon-Dearne Urban Council, is one of the most experienced public men in the district, having served on the Wath public authority almost continuously for thirty years.
He is a builder and contractor, and has contributed much to the making of modern Wath. He is a shrewd far-sighted man, with progressive views of public administration; and a happy turn of eloquence which he has employed from time ‘to time in keeping his constituents abreast of affairs.
He was elected to the Wath Local Board in 1889, and in 1894 the ratepayers transferred him to the Urban District Council, formed by the Act of that year. He served continuously until 1903, and was re-elected in 1906. In all his career he was never given a “walk-over,” and he succeeded in every election he contested save one.
He is the Nestor of the present Wath authority, and has no rival in the matter of length of service: He and Dr. Burman (now medical officer) are the only survivors of the old Local Board. In 1910 he was appointed chairman of the Council, the position being vacated in mid-year by the resignation of Mr. J. H. Kelley. Mr. Hallatt was re-elected in 1911. Disregarding Mr. Kelley’s few months’ service, before Mr. Hallatt was appointed, Wath have had only three chairmen, Mr. Spedding Whitworth, Mr. Blackburn, and Mr. J. H. Hollings. With the advent of Mr. Hallatt to the chairmanship, the custom of “passing the chair round” was established on the Council, and it is still in force, Mr. Hallatt having become entitled by a new term of seniority to the position.
Mr. Hallatt has for many years been a leader of public opinion in the Wath district upon municipal questions. He has ardently advocated a healthy understanding between the various authorities of the neighbourhood, and has promoted a number of schemes of joint administration. He has been chairman of the Wath and District Gas Board since its formation in 1908 to the present day. He is a housing expert, and has laboured to promote both public and private efforts for the solution of the housing problem. His own personal contribution of houses to the district has been very considerable.
He is a man of strong personality, amiable by disposition, but firm and even pugnacious in controversy. He is easily the most suitable choice that the Wath Council could make at the present time. Mr Hallatt, has also served for a term on the West Riding County Council.