Archived Extracts

As the result of a successful conference between Huthwaite Urban District Council and builders and building societies' representatives, there is a probability of further housing provisions being made in the town. The conference was presided over by Councillor F.C. Sowter, J.P. (Chairman of the Council), supported by other members of the Council, Mr. E.B. Hibbert (Clerk), Mr. E.W. Bostock (Surveyor) and other officials.
  Others present were Messrs. A.E. Cripwell (Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society), G.C. Marshall (Co-operative Insurance Society), W. Leeson (Wakefield Building Society), Radford and Jenkins, J. Keeling, B. Wass and N. Pickerill (Messrs. Bradwell and Sons).

  Mr. F.B. Hibbert fully explained to the meeting the contents of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933, pointing out that the Act had been provided by the Ministry of Health in consultation with the associations of building societies and of the building industry, and had been passed by Parliament in the hope that the economic forces operating together in the present more normal conditions would secure an extensive and varied provision of dwelling-houses for the working classes at competitive rents. It was also hoped that private builders and housing companies, public utility societies, financial associations and private investors would all take a share in the ownership of working class houses.
  "The object of Huthwaite Council," added Mr. Hibbert, "is to ascertain the need for houses of the type referred to and how far that need is likely to be met by private enterprise. Within the Council's knowledge this need is great, as already some 280 applications for houses appear on the Council's list. If houses of the type desired are provided by private enterprise, the Council will confine their efforts to slum clearance, and the re-housing of persons displaced by slum clearance."

  Mr. Hibbert went fully into figures to explain the financial benefits offered by the Act, the proportion in which the 90 per cent. of the valuation of a proposed houses would be guaranteed by the Local Authority and the Ministry of Health, and the reduced rate of 4 per cent. interest at which loans would be advanced by the building societies.
  An enthusiastic discussion followed, in which the majority present participated, and the meeting ultimately closed with an undertaking by the builders present, to confer amongst themselves and with the building societies' representatives as to the extent to which they were prepared to go to put the Act into operation in the district.
  Mr. Bostock (the Council Surveyor) intimated that although the Council had no unused building sites to place at the disposal of the builders, there was no shortage of suitable sites in the district, and every facility would be placed in the way of builders by a reduction in the required width of streets and the quality of the material required for street making purposes when circumstances permitted.
  The Council are now awaiting the intimation from the builders.

  At long last Huthwaite West End have pulled off a victory in their League programme, beating Messrs. Barringer, Wallis and Manners at Mansfield on Saturday by the odd goal of five. Now they have found the winning path, West End have hopes of similar victories in the future. ...... Team:-
  Huthwaite West End: Fox; Weston and Hill; Stainwright, Walters and Roebuck; Bowler, Stringfellow, Simms, Turner and Haslam.

  Huthwaite's latest football combination, Huthwaite Park Rangers, have made their bow rather late in the season, but they know the way to goal. In their first two matches, home and away fixtures with New Hucknall Ambulance Reserve, they have scored 13 times without a single response. Saturday's scorers were Arrowsmith (2), V. Dykes (2), Denby, Carter and Tuckwood.
  The new team has 15 players at present, but is expecting more to sign on, and requires home and away friendly matches with fairly strong teams of an average age of 18.
  The Rangers have the option of playing on either the Villa's or United's grounds in their absence, and also have a separate pitch of their own on the Park. The secretary-manager is Mr. H. Guderidge, of Lime Avenue, and the treasurer, Mr. W. Cooper. Colours are blue shirts with a white V and white knickers. A selection committee is to be formed as the Club develops.
  To-morrow's match is against Sutton Colliery Colts at Stanton Hill and the visitors team will be:- Quible, Cockayne and Bostock; Jones, Tuckwood and C. Dykes, Denby, V. Dykes, Carter, A. Dykes and Newman.

The Unemployment Bill.
  Forecasts of the new Unemployment Bill state that it will add a million workers to the insured population. They will include certain classes of agricultural workers and raise the salary limit for exemption for non-manual workers from £250 to £350. It is not definite that these alterations will be made, but it is known that the new scheme is to be self-supporting and that transitional benefit will cease. The able-bodied unemployed whose insurance has lapsed will, together with the uninsured, be the care of the local authorities acting through committees and machinery distinct from poor law relief.
  The financing of public assistance for the able-bodied unemployed has yet to be explained, but there is apprehension among local authorities that it will mean an addition to ratepayers' burdens. The Means Test will be retained. The position of the Insurance Fund is improving and it is now showing a credit balance of about £250,000 a week. This is not a surplus as it only arises after the payment by the Exchequer of £1,000,000 a week for transitional benefit, which is no longer debited to the Fund. Revised contributions and benefits have helped this improvement, but it is mainly due to the drop in unemployed claimants this year.