Archived Extracts

  At their monthly meeting on Tuesday evening Huthwaite Councillors decided to adopt the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, whereby the Council are enabled to loan money to tenants in the urban district who are desirous of purchasing their own houses. Councillor J. Davies presided over the meeting, at which were present Councillors T. Goodall, E.H. Lowe, H.A. Simpson, J. Potter, J. Iball, S. Allcock, A. Wilson, F.C. Sowter, D.D. Bonser and M. Betts.

  The matter was raised by the reading of the following letter from Mr. A. Farnsworth.
During the time I was a member of your Council you will no doubt recollect my bringing up the question of the Council adopting the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, and I believe the advisability of such a course was agreed upon.
I should now be glad to be informed if your Council are still in favour of the adoption of the above Act in the event of my building in your district?
  The Clerk explained that the Act referred to enabled people in the district to buy their own houses by obtaining a loan through the Council. At the time Mr. Farnsworth brought up the matter previously invitations asking for likely purchasers were issued, but the response was so disappointing that it was decided not to go on with the matter. Whether the demand was greater to-day remained to be seen.
  Mr. Sowter: Well, money is cheaper to-day.
  The Chairman thought that when the scheme was on foot previously people were under the impression that it applied only to Council houses. However, it applied to any houses and inhabitants could take advantage of the scheme to buy houses, no matter where these were.

  Mr. Sowter asked what was the difference between the rate of interest on borrowing money then and now.
  The Clerk said the rate was certainly higher when the matter was first raised. It was then five per cent. and now it was from 3½ per cent.
  The Chairman: It enables people to buy much cheaper than through a building society. They can borrow up to 90 per cent., whereas a building society allows only 75 per cent.
  Mr. Bates: It is a good thing; let us get at it.
  The Chairman: The Council were quite willing some time ago, but there were no applicants.
  The Clerk said the Ministry of Health had tried to push the scheme, and issued a circular in 1931 in which it stated that a loan up to 90 per cent. could be advanced by the Council at their discretion.
  The Chairman: I take it that people who wished to buy a house would make application to the Council? I think we should be doing a good service to the people of the parish by adopting this Act.
  Mr. Betts referred to the good work Mr. Farnsworth had done with regard to the provision of houses, and thought that if they could get him interested in the scheme it would be for the good of the people in the district. The speaker thought the scheme ought to be more widely known.

  Mr. Sowter said he did not think any one round that table desired to cramp Mr. Farnsworth so far as building is concerned. They wanted to see development take place, but at that particular time there were certain restrictions by the Ministry - which stipulated that eight houses should be built per acre - with which the Council were not in favour with regard to the site then in view. It did not matter who built the houses, the Council would get the money for the persons concerned. He moved that Mr. Farnsworth be informed that the Council were willing to adopt the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act.
  Mr. Betts seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
  A letter was read from the Ministry of Labour asking the Council to arrange, as far as possible, for painting and decorating of Council property to be done during the winter months. It was agreed that this request be observed.
  The Clerk reported that he had hooked up the charge for the Public Assistance Committee for the use of the Library Lecture Hall, as requested, and that it was 12s. 6d. per quarter. ....
  Mr. Wilson referred to the death of an employee of the Council, Mr. Frank Flowers. The speaker said deceased had been a conscientious and obedient servant of the Council in connection with the Surveyor's Department, and he moved that the Council's deepest sympathy by sent to the widow and family. In seconding the motion, which was unanimously agreed to, Mr. Betts endorsed Mr. Wilson's remarks.
  Mr. Sowter said he had an important matter to report upon in connection with the administration of poor relief in the area by the County Public Assistance Committee. This was a very serious matter in the view of the Area Committee, and in all probability would result in the whole of the Area Committee resigning if the County Council persisted in its attitude towards the unemployed able bodied man. In the area they had the case of a man who was on relief and whose wife was on relief, and the ridiculous part about the business was that the wife was still being allowed relief, but the man was being compelled to work three six-hour shifts for 10s. for the three shifts. It was a gross insult to the man and appeared as though the labourer was not worthy of his hire, especially as he worked at the side of a man who was being paid 11½d per hour. This was 7s. 6d. per shift, as compared with the other man's 3s. 4d. per shift.

  "I could understand the attitude of the Public Assistance Committee if they paid the man the full rate of wages for the three shifts and thereby took the man and his wife off relief altogether," observed Mr. Sowter. "I think we are going backwards instead of forward in compelling a man to work for such a wage, and I think we should be lacking as a Council if we tolerate such procedure. I move that a letter be sent to the County Authority, to the local Member of Parliament, and also to the Premier protesting against the action of the County Council in compelling a man to work three shifts at 3s. 4d. per shift. To me it is an absolute scandal and a ridiculous state of affairs."
  Mr. Wilson seconded.
  The Chairman said the matter was strongly opposed by certain members of the Labour section on the County Council on practically the same grounds as Mr. Sowter had outlined. It was going back to the days of years ago when able-bodied men had to break stones on the road. The speaker thought it was quite right that they should do something for their relief, but they should be given a fair day's wage. Mr. Sowter's motion was carried unanimously.

A meeting under the auspices of the R.S.P.C.C. was held in the Lecture Hall of the Free Library on Wednesday evening, and addressed by Mr. Griffiths, of the headquarters staff of the Society. The chair was taken by Councillor T. Goodall, and a large audience listened to an inspiring address on the aims, objects and activities of the Society. Afterwards questions were invited, and replied to by Mr. Griffiths. A vote of thanks to the speaker was proposed by Councillor Davies, and carried with acclamation. Councillor Betts proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, seconded by Mrs. Hill, and supported by Mr. Bonsall, for the able manner in which he had conducted the meeting, and for the splendid work for all humanitarian causes generally. A collection at the close taken by Nurse Adkin to help the work of the society, realised £1 6s. 10d., which was considered excellent.