Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 07 April 1933

Wath U.D.C.

Newhill Awakes

Demand for Electricity & ‘Buses

Rate Unchanged

Mr. Braithwaite Goes Back

At the monthly meeting of the Wath-on- Dearne Urban District Council on Tuesday appeals were made on behalf of Newhill for installation of electricity and the inauguration of a ‘bus service.

Mr. M. R. Swift. chairman of the Finance Committee, announced that there would be no change in the rate for the half-year, 9s. From this rate of 9s. and a Government grant amounting to a further 2/6. they had to pay 7/9 in precepts and loan charges, which left only 3/9 for the current local services. “We have worked hard during the past half-year to keep our spending down. Some of our residents expected a lower rate, but that is not possible.

The Chairman (Mr. W. Popplewell) said the finances of the Council were better today than for several years. If it had not been for certain essential work having to be done, such as that caused by flooding , they would have had a slight decrease in the rate.

Newhill Wants Electricity.

The question of the illumination of Newhill was raised by Mr. G. Cook, who said that during his tour of the district last week the residents of Newhill appealed for electric lighting.

Mr. I. Bramham said he had raised this matter previously and was informed that the revenue would not justify the cost of the cable and services. In his opinion, however, now was the time for that work to be done. Money was cheap and it would provide work for the unemployed.

Mr. D. Burgin said he would raise the matter at the next meeting of the Electricity Board.

Mr. J. T. Shaw (another member of the Electricity Board) said the question was raised eighteen months ago, when a number of Newhill residents petitioned. At that time the laying of the cable and services entailed considerable expense. It was possible that circumstances had changed and there was a greater demand for electricity in the village.

Mr. Bramham said he had been informed that 60 houses required electricity. Mr. Cook, answering Mr.O. Varney, said the villagers had prepared a list of those requiring it.

Effect On Gas.

Mr. P. B. Nicholson said he was not against Newhill having electricity, but before this was done he thought the Council should go into the question of gas versus electricity. During the last ten years, since electricity came into the district, subsidies had had to be given to bolster up the gas undertaking. The ratepayers should know what they were doing by changing over from gas to electricity. If, within the next ten years, half the present gas consumers changed over, the gas undertaking would be a very serious burden.

Mr. Bramham: You are putting it wrongly. The extra rate for the gas undertaking is not on present working but for the loss incurred during the 1916 dispute. If Newhill wants electricity Newhill has a right to it.

Mr. Bramham moved that the Council ask the Electricity Board to consider the matter.

Mr. Nicholson: If you lose half your consumers in the next ten years you will either have to increase the price of gas or have a subsidy from the rates. I should like our officials or the officials of the Gas Board to provide us with figures and information.

Mr. Swift: During the 1928 dispute the Gas Board suffered a loss of over £10,000, and it has not been in a position to recuperate except by levying a precept, under the instruction of the Ministry. And it is not much. It will only be threepence for the next year. That is proof that the Gas Board is pulling round steadily. I assure you also that the Gas Board is fully alive to the desirability of cheaper gas. We have both electricity and gas undertakings. Some say there is room for both, but I wonder if that is so. One is bound to have an advantage and the other a disadvantage.

Winterwell’s Claim.

Mr. J. T. Mills agreed with Mr. Nicholson and also informed the members that there was a big demand for electricity in the Winterwell ward. He hoped the Board would “think of it.” “But I want people to understand the position created by going from gas to electricity. I am afraid there is too much competition between the two undertakings.”

Mr. J. A .Braithwaite said the people of Winterwell had been asking for electricity for a long time. They had had a vote on the subject, but had not been successful with the Electricity Board. “Our business men would willingly pay the first cost.” It was a compact area, and in his opinion the Board would find it a paying proposition.

Mr. F. Bailey: It seems that the time has arrived when closer co-operation should exist between the two undertakings.

Newhill Wants ‘Buses.

It was decided to ask the Electricity Board to consider installing electricity in both Newhill and Winterwell.

Mr. Bailey then announced that Newhill also desired a “method of transport.”

Mr. Swift: Send the trams up there. (Laughter.)

Mr. Bailey: There is a possibility of the trams becoming extinct and Newhill could therefore be served by the Yorkshire Traction Company.

Mr. Cook: I should like to discuss this, but it is absolutely out of order.

A “Come-Back.”

Mr. Braithwaite said that three months ago he decided to resign from local Public Assistance administration because of the means test. “Unfortunately things have not turned out as I should like, but by resigning and keeping away I am afraid I am doing what is detrimental to certain people in this area. I do not like to give way, but under the circumstances I find no alternative but to advise this Council that we should take hold again and administer even this bad scale as best we can. I am prepared to take my gruelling.”

The Chairman said the Council welcomed Mr. Braithwaite’s decision.

Mr. Braithwaite: it was by the wish of this Council that I resigned.

Dir. Nicholson: I congratulate Mr. Braithwaite on going back.

Mr. Nicholson added that Mrs. Nicholson at the Public Assistance Committee meeting voted against the scale.

Mr. Braithwaite: You mean she voted Labour.

Mr. Nictolson: Well, it amounts to that, because of the wish of this Council. Mr. Shaw said he was pleased Mr. Braithwaite was to return. There had been several amendments to the scale, which made it “a little better.”

Mr. Braithwaite: Every decision I arrive at will ho under protest. It is a bad scale; rotten from beginning to end. Our people are suffering to-day, and I have found that while I have been away they are not getting justice even under this bad scale.

Mr. Nicholson: I object to that. It casts reflections on our other members.

Mr. Braithwaite: Well, you know what I mean.

Early Doors.

Mr. Bramham pointed out that considerable publicity had been given to the fact that Doncaster had opened their swimming baths a month prior to the usual date, owing to the great demand. “I should like to point out to Doncaster that we opened ten days before them, and therefore our demand must be much greater.” (Rear, bear.) Mr. Bramham added that facilities similar to those of last season had been extended to the unemployed.

Medical Report.

The Medical Officer. Dr. T. Crowley, reported that during March there were 17 births and deaths, giving respective rates of 14.5 and 8.5, and that there were eight notifications of infectious diseases, five being of scarlet fever. The rainfall was 2.713 ins., against an average of 1.65.