Mexborough and Swinton Times December 9, 1939

Wath Urban Council on Tuesday appointed Mr. Frank Bailey to the seat made vacant by the recent death of Coun. J. T. Mills.

There were two nominees, Mr. Bailey and Mr. W. Cutts (who was defeated at the last elections by Coun. C. Smith). Mr. Bailey got the verdict a majority of one.

An ex-Councillor, he will return to the Council Chamber after an absence of nearly two years. He was the first member to be defeated by a White Ribbon Party candidate, Coun. E. W. Evers in the only contest of the 1938 elections. Mr. Bailey has been actively connected with the Labour movement for well over forty years. His early life was spent in Derbyshire. After working in the pit at Staveley, he joined the railway, and in 1900 became a goods guard, and saw service at Worksop. Lincoln and Penistone.

At Penistone he was a co-opted member of the District Education Sub-Committee for three years. He was transferred to Wath in 1909. Here he has maintained a keen interest in trade unionism. For nine years he represented Wath on the Rotherham Guardians, and was vicechairman in 1930.

It was revealed on Tuesday that the Labour Party had considered four nominees and that Coun. Bailey and Mr. Cutts were among those names considered. Actually, as the Deputy Clerk. Mr. W. H. Roberts, pointed out, no party is entitled to nominate. The question does not arise, as it is for the Council to decide. It was a sporting gesture on the part of Coun. Smith (a White Ribbon member) to nominate the candidate he defeated such a short time ago.