Archived Extracts

A GOOD-SIZED audience in the Lecture Room of the Huthwaite Free Library on Monday was addressed by Mr. C. Brown, M.P., the meeting being held under the auspices of the local branch of the Labour Party.
  Councillor J. Davies, J.P., presided, and said the unemployment question was foremost in the minds of all present. Unemployment seemed to be a prominent feature of the present system of the world, and the more the Government tried to solve it the deeper they got in the mire. Something would have to be done to solve the problem, and in his opinion the machines would have to be used to case the burdens of workers instead of displacing them, as at present.

  Dealing with political events of the last 12 months, Mr. Brown said the Government of the day must accept some responsibility for the condition of the mass of the people, and whatever test was applied showed that conditions to-day were worse than 12 months ago. We had been living through a fiscal revolution without experiencing any great benefits. To-day there were 187,000 more unemployed than a year ago.
  The establishment of a protectionist system had made no appreciable difference to the problem of unemployment, but had rather aggravated it in some industries. The coal industry was an instance. In the first nine months this year customs duties had yielded £22,000,000 more than in the same period last year, and by the end of the year it was estimated that from £35,000,000 to £40,000,000 would be received from the import duties. And the Government, except in one way, were attempting to bolster up private enterprise in every conceivable direction on the admission that private enterprise, without assistance from the state, could not continue as in the past.
  " Some might argue that prices have not risen through tariffs," observed Mr. Brown, "but the explanation is very simple. During the last 12 months world prices have continued to fall, and immediately world prices begin to rise we shall have a rapid jump in prices in this country, which will be aggravated by our tariff system. Tariffs wise would have been, and I am not exaggerating in saying that by the end of the year the consumer will be paying somewhere in the region of £50,000,000 more for food stuffs than 12 months ago."

  Referring to unemployment insurance, the speaker said whilst he welcomed the concessions made with regard to the administration of the means test, he contended that these concessions did not touch the real problems, which arose from the fact that the burden of unemployment was not now a burden for the state but had become a burden for the family of the unemployed person.
  Referring to the £10,000,000 that was being asked for in the supplementary estimates to be transferred to national voluntary associations for the provision of cheap seeds, etc., for the unemployed, the speaker said whilst not wishing to decry the work of these organisations, he was astonished why people should be proud of this.
  "I cannot understand those who say the dole is demoralising," he added. "If one thing is more demoralising than state charity it is private charity, to obtain which it is necessary to curry favour with those who distribute it. To me it is one of the most pitiable things that any Government in modern times has attempted to do."
  Passing on to the educational policy of the Government, Mr. Brown deplored the establishment of a means test with regard to secondary education, which meant that there would be less opportunity in the future for the children in the children in the working classes to have free secondary education. He contended that the educational abilities of children of the working classes were as great as those of any other children, and that given the opportunity they were able to climb the educational ladder as ably as the children of any other class.

  Mr. Brown went on to deal with the Government's attitude towards housing. Although private enterprise had failed in the housing of the lower paid section of the working classes, and in spite of the fact that the Government had found it necessary to bolster up practically every other hind of private enterprise, they were turning over the housing of the working classes to its tender mercies. Municipalities were allowed to bear the burden of housing in the post-war years, but as soon as it became profitable - in the Government's view - it was being turned over to private enterprise. Local authorities in the future could only proceed with housing under the Slum Clearance Act of 1930.
  Referring to the war debts question Mr. Brown contended that the attitude of the Labour Party on war debts immediately after the war had at last been proved to be the right attitude. In conclusion, the speaker said the only way out of the present difficulties for the workers, remained with the workers themselves. Several questions were answered by the speaker.

Extracts of Committee minutes presented at the monthly meeting of the Huthwaite Urban District Council are appended.
  Gas, Lighting and Water Committee:- The question of extending the gas main on Chesterfield Road was again considered, and it was resolved that the work be proceeded with.
  The attention of the Committee was drawn to properties in Factory Yard and Blackwell Road being supplied with water through one service, and the Water Manager was instructed to make an inspection and report at the next Committee meeting.

  Roads and Buildings Committee.- A letter was read from the District Valuer reporting upon the result of his negotiations with the solicitors to the executors of the late Mr. W.H. Cooke for the purchase of an additional area of 4,248 yards required for the purpose of the Chesterfield Road improvement.
  The terms submitted were approved, and the Clerk was instructed to proceed for completion of the matter.
  The Clerk read correspondence with the District Valuer, together with a letter from the Ministry of Health, stating that the Ministry now offered no further objection to the Council proceeding with the purchase of the housing site on the Chesterfield Road, and authorised the Council to obtain tenders for the erection of 40 houses of the three bedrooms and non-parlour type.
  It was resolved that the purchase of the site be proceeded with; that tenders for the erection of houses be invited by advertisement; and that the construction of the roads and sewers be carried out by direct labour, if practicable.
  The necessary renovation of the Council Room was discussed, and it was resolved that the work be deferred until next spring.
  Cemetery, Pleasure Grounds and Allotments Committee.- The Sub-Committee reported that complaint had ben received of damage to headstones in the Burial Ground from the destruction of refuse near the Lyric Picture House, and the Surveyor was instructed to take action to secure an abatement of the alleged nuisance.

  In connection with Huthwaite Park, a reply was read from the Co-operative Wholesale Society saying that the question of the joint proposals for the supply of conservancy of water for boiler feeding purposes and also in the event of fire at their factory was receiving attention.
  The Clerk reported upon the renewed application to the District Miners' Welfare Committee for a grant towards the Park scheme, and read a reply to the effect that the Committee were not in a position to entertain the application. It was resolved that the Clerk approach the local Committee upon this matter.
  Health and Hospital Committee.- The Medical Officer of Health reported that no deaths had been notified during the month. Three births - one male and two females - were registered, and no cases of infectious disease were notified.
  The conversion of existing pail closets to the water carriage system was discussed, and the health officials were directed to investigate and report upon the matter to the next meeting.
  A letter was read from the Clerk to the Worksop Urban and Rural District Isolation Hospital Committee intimating a reduction of the charge of £5 5s. per patient per week to £4 4s., with no extra charge for ambulance, which was approved.
  Finance and General Purposes Committee.- The Clerk was instructed to obtain the sanction of the Minister of Health to the payment of an increased annual subscription of £5 5s. to the Orthopaedic Guild, and a Sub-Committee, comprising the Chairman and Messrs. Goodall, Lowe and Sowter, was appointed to consider a scheme of local assistance to the Guild and report early in the New Year.