Archived Extracts

At a gathering of members of the Parish Church Ladies' Working Party held at the home of Mrs. Allsop (Main Street) a musical programme was provided and greatly appreciated by the party. Mr. T. Allsop and Miss Joan Allsop (son and daughter of the hostess) contributed items on the piano and violin, and Miss M. Goodall was the vocalist. Miss Ida Brown also took part.

The New Hucknall Colliery Welfare Lawn Tennis Club held a very pleasant function in the Drill Hall on Saturday evening in the form of a supper dance, which was a very successful event. The M.C.'s were Messrs. S. Marshall and H. Rogers, and the orchestra consisted of Mr. E. Hill (piano), and Mr. T. Burton (violin). The catering was efficiently carried out by Mrs. Slack and assistants.

As a help to the congregation stall at the Parish Church bazaar, the Ladies' Working Party held a jumble sale in the Common Road Schools on Friday. The goods were sold by Mesdames Grierson, Alexander, Gascoyne, G. Bailey, and Miss E. Goodall. The president of the Party, Mrs. A. Gunby, sen., was unfortunately prevented by indisposition, from attending. The financial result was over £2 and other members of the Working Party assisted by contributions or gifts in kind.

  That the time has arrived for the abolition of trams was the unanimous view expressed at the monthly meeting of the Huthwaite Urban District Council held in the Council Offices on Tuesday evening, when a good deal of interesting discussion took place. Councillor J. Davies presided over the following members:- Councillors T. Goodall, E.H. Lowe, H.A. Simpson, J. Potter, J. Iball, S. Allcock, A. Wilson, M. Betts, J. Peters, F.C. Sowter, W. Clarke, D.D. Bonser and W.E. Hancock.
  Arising out of the Gas and Water Committee minutes the Clerk reported that he had written to the Unemployment Grants Committee giving fresh reasons, and amplifying the old reasons, in support of a grant for the new pumping main scheme, and he was awaiting a reply.

  The Clerk also reported that the agreement with the Joint Water Committee for a water supply was not progressing so satisfactorily as he had hoped. The Committee desired certain amendments to the agreement, and were awaiting the drafting of new clauses dealing with how the cost price of the water was to be arrived at. The Clerk asked for the authority of the Council to call a special meeting as soon as the clauses were received. On the proposition of Mr. Sowter, seconded by Mr. Betts, the Clerk was authorised to call a special meeting.
  Referring to an application for permission to obtain two loads of ashes per week from a tip which the Council had refused, Mr. Sowter said he wanted it made clear that the whole of the Council were in agreement with the refusal, which was because of the prevalence of scarlet fever.
  When the Roads and Buildings Committee minutes went before the Council, Mr. Clarke asked if it was right to eject a man from a Council House after he had paid rent. ...
  Mr. Sowter: If we had considered the man had been tenant we should not have taken steps to get him away from the house...

  Referring to a minute of the Cemetery Committee Mr. Betts said he still maintained that too much had been thrown into the lane in connection with the Cemetery improvement scheme. The land was very valuable and he thought the Council had made a mistake in throwing so much into the lane. They could not afford to use it.
  Mr. Clarke: I am not complaining of the land being taken up but I am sorry to see the wall creeping up. We have had fine weather and the job ought to have been completed by now.
  It was stated that there were only two men on the job, and the Surveyor said it would have made a very sharpe angle in the lane if less land had been taken.
  Mr. Wilson: I think it will be a good job.
 Mr. Sowter: I have heard of some people buying land in that direction so if they had any intention of building we shall not have to widen the road in the future. I believe in looking ahead. I am in favour of the scheme and I think we have done the right thing.
  Before the Finance and General Purpose Committee minutes were confirmed, Mr. Goodall moved that the Rating Officer be re-instated and that the minute relating his salaries be deleted. There had been no reason given for the dismissal of the Rating Officer, and the speaker moved strongly that he be re-instated.
  in seconding the motion, Mr. Betts said he still held that the man had done no wrong and it was a malicious thing to deal with him in this way. The man had only carried out the Council's instructions and in doing so his health become impaired, and he had to go away and stay away longer than he wished. The egg had been laid out the Council room and had been sitting now for some time. People not only in Huthwaite, but in Mansfield, Sutton and Kirkby, were asking what the man had done. The speaker would say in a minute, if the man had done anything wrong, "Out him."

  "We are handling the matter in such a way that it will cause trouble," added Mr. Betts, "I think the Council would be wise in deleting the minute and seeing what can be done." There was sufficient work for three collectors, and all the money was not yet in. There was certainly too much work for only two men.
  The Chairman said the minute in question stated that the whole matter be deferred for further consideration at the end of the present financial year so as to give the two collectors a trial. ... On a vote being taken, five were in favour of the minute in question being deleted and eight voted for the confirmation of the minute.
  The Clerk gave a detailed report of the financial position of the Council with regard to loans, and his report was adopted as satisfactory.
  A letter was read from the Carnarvonshire County Council urging the Council to use only British slates for housing, and the Surveyor stated that only British slates and tiles were used on the Council schemes.
  The Secretary of the Ilkeston and District Hosiery Union (Mr. Brown) wrote asking for the Council's support in the Union's application for workpeople's cheap bus tickets throughout the day.
  The Chairman said he thought the Council ought to endeavour to assist the movement for cheap tickets as far as possible, certain girls and men and women could not avail themselves of obtaining cheap tickets prior to eight o'clock in the morning, and under the new regulations they had to pay ordinary fare.
  The Traffic Commissioners reply to Mr. Brown with regard to the matter was read, and said the order in question was made by the Ministry of Transport in order to protect the Mansfield Tramway Company.
  Mr. Clarke: We ought to do something. Girls want a good dinner and they cannot get home and back again in an hour if they have ot depend on the trams.
  Mr. Simpson thought the time had arrived when the trams ought to be taken off the roads altogether and sufficient 'buses provided in their stead. They seemed helpless in the matter. Everybody realised that the trams were out of date, and he thought the Council ought to move in the matter and support the workpeople.
  Mr. Betts also thought the Council ought to support the application for cheap tickets. Mr. Sowter said it was high handed action to stop 'buses picking up workpeople in certain parts after the Council had given permission.
  The Clerk said certain conditions were attached to the granting of licences, and these were expected to be carried out. The only thing the Council could do in the matter was to be represented when the application came before the Traffic Commissioners.
  The Chairman said the Traffic Commissioners were trying to get some uniformity with regard to the bus services.
  Mr. Sowter asked what power the Council had to deal with the overcrowding of trams. He had seen trams packed to such an extent that a danger to the community was created. The Clerk said the Council had bye-laws and could resort to the police.
  Mr. Sowter : May we ask the police to pay more attention to the trams and less attention to the 'buses. 'Buses are being pulled up continually while the trams are allowed to go free.
  Mr. Allcock: the law never takes any notice of the trams or the 'buses, it is only the local people who are watched. Mr. Iball said hardship was certainly being inflicted on workgirls.

  It was eventually agreed that the Clerk write the Ministry of Transport in support of the Hosiery Union's application for cheap fares.
  Mr. Simpson moved that in the opinion of the Council the time had arrived for the abolition of trams and for the substitution of 'buses. Mr. Clarke seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
  A letter from a member of the deputation representing the Derbyshire County Council at the recent conference with regard to housing rents in mining areas asked for the support of the Council to a resolution urging another interview with the Ministry on the matter, and the Council agreed unanimously to lend support to the cause.
  The Clerk read a letter soliciting a contribution to the New Hucknall Colliery Ambulance and the matter was adjourned to Council in Committee.
  Mr. Sowter referred to the high salaries being paid by the County Council to relieving officers and to the fact that their salaries had been cut by only 2.5 per cent. compared with a cut of five per cent. for the teaching profession and contended that such a state of affairs added to the burdens of the poor.
  The Chairman said he did not see what the Council could do in the matter as it was out of their jurisdiction and in the hands of another authority altogether.
  Mr. Sowter: We are having to collect the rate; and we ought to know how it is spent. The Chairman: Apparently you do.
  Mr. Clarke agreed with Mr. Sowter's views on the matter and thought the Council ought to protest to the Public Assistance Committee with regard to the high salaries being paid. The Chairman: I don't see what we can do in the matter. Mr. Sowter: I only raised the point as a protest from the poor people.