South Yorkshire Times – Friday 27 October 1933
Swinton U.D.C.
Budget Statement
Gas v. Electricity Again
A Serious Burden
Chairman Gives Tenants Free Choice
Swinton Urban Council, at the monthly meeting on Wednesday, decided to levy for the half-year ending March 31st the same rate as last half-year, 8s. 4d.
The Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. M. Creighton, said the industrial position had not improved, and the Council were chary of increasing their liabilities by further reducing the rate. To keep the rate at 8s. 4d., economies had to be effected in all departments.
“We have to meet a most unusual position this half-year—a precept of £1123 13s. 6d. from the Gas Board. This is very high, and the Council takes a most serious view of it.”
No Work Fund
Mr. Creighton pointed out that for some years a portion of the rate each half-year had been allocated to a fund for providing work for unemployed. At the estimate meeting the Council decided that this would not be possible during the current half-year. Faced with the demand from the Gas Board, they were of the opinion that an increase on the rate would not benefit the unemployed, while it would add to the burden of the other ratepayers.
“As a representative of the Gas Board, I hope this high precept will not be an annual occurrence. This £1200 is like a debt that is of no use to anyone. I suppose it is due to progress and we must meet it.”
The redeeming feature of his report was that, thanks to a balance of £685, the Council asked for £14,362, an increase of only £147. The County Council this half-year demanded £7410, more than half Swinton’s estimate.
Ratepayers Thanked
Swinton still held an excellent position regarding payment of rates. The ratepayers deserved the sincere congratulations of the Council. The arrears for the last half-year were £219 17s.; for the previous half-year £202 18s.; and for the corresponding half of last year £186. The arrears showed a tendency to increase, but were still low. A new system had also been inaugurated respecting rent arrears. Monthly statements were now considered by the Council, so that these arrears were kept as low as possible. In the last two months rent arrears had been reduced by over £45. Seventy-five per cent. of the Council’s tenants are clear of arrears. Yet there are some who are not doing their best to pay, and we are forced to take firm action.
Moving a vote of thanks, Mr. T. Beighton said Mr. Creighton was energetic and zealous and dealt with the ratepayers’ money as carefully as with his own.
Mr. W. Chappell, seconding, said it was regrettable that not a single penny could be used for finding work, but he thought the public would agree with the Council’s decision.
The Chairman (Mr. A. Russell) said he did not know another Finance Committee Chairman who had so much confidence placed in him by his colleagues. “This Gas Board precept is a big burden to us, but we shall get over it. We shall recover lost ground.”
The motion was unanimously accorded.
Tenants’ Demand For Electricity
A last attempt was made by Mr. Chappell to persuade the Council not to allow electricity to be installed in the Meadow View and Brookfield Avenue estates. A recommendation came from the Housing Committee that permission be granted, and Mr. Chappell moved its deletion. Though it was against some of his views, he had no option in view of the position at the gas works.
“No more revenue can be sacrificed by the gas works. The Finance Chairman has mentioned the high precept this time, and if this sort of thing goes on such a precept is likely to be annual.”
If the tenants of Meadow View and Brookfield Avenue were allowed to change over, the Gas Board would lose over £150 per annum, as well as capital expenditure on fittings. Members might think they were “moving with the times,” but he doubted that. Gas was as modern as electricity. He was convinced that most of the claims made for electricity were exaggerated. He might be accused of being undemocratic, but he had to take his present position because of the state of gas works finance.
“I appeal to this Council not to be led up the garden path. The Gas Board had lost too much money, nearly £3000, on this side alone. We must remember that, with another authority, these gas works belong to Swinton. That other authority might not be pulling its weight, but there is little advance on their attitude at the present time, and there are distinct possibilities of increased revenue from Mexboro’.”
Possible Solution
Mr. F. J. Wilkinson, Chairman of the Gas Board, seconded the amendment, and mentioned that during the last few days a canvas had been taken of the tenants on the two estates. Of 51 residents, 41 said they were satisfied with gas, and 15 said they required electricity for wireless. “It makes me think that gas in the living room and electricity elsewhere would meet the case.”
Mr. W. A. Rix, opposing, said this matter had been discussed too often. Some members had not acted rightly by taking Council committee business to the Gas Board. “I knew of this canvas, and I had pickets following the official. It took him two days to make his canvas, and I say that those days were wasted.”
The tenants at Meadow View had desired electricity for over twelve months. “And we know why the Gas Board precept is high. It is due to bad control and bad administration.”
Mr. D. White said he had never heard so much ado about nothing. The other Council tenants had both gas and electricity, and the Council should allow those at Meadow View and Brookfield Avenue the same advantages.
Wisdom Of Solomon
Mr. Creighton said Mr. Rix had made allegation regarding leaking of committee business, but he had forgotten that the gas works manager was present when the committee recommendation was made. “I think the manager should be complimented on making the canvas so quickly.”
Such appeals as they were considering came generally from one or two persons and needed the wisdom of Solomon to decide. The recommendation that permission be granted was only made on the committee chairman’s casting vote. If that recommendation was adopted the members would find the loss of £150 by the Gas Board was no small matter. It would have to be met from the rates during the next half-year.
“I do not like the accusation of bad organisation on the part of the Gas Board. We have worked with foresight, and if legislation comes about I am confident that the works in a year will be working full time. Those who spoke about bad administration should be placed on the Board next year.”
He appealed to tenants who had no definite use for electricity to stick to gas.
Rotherham Corporation’s “Unfairness.”
Mr. J. Kelly said that though he was one of the Gas Board’s greatest antagonists he did not blame them for the high precept. Instead he blamed them for allowing Rotherham Corporation to come into the district “free gratis.” He admitted, however, that the Corporation had not acted fairly, and mentioned that the Council had had to stop them placing electricity in the Piccadilly houses.
“The Corporation went there and started without getting our permission, but we must admit that these tenants have come to us in a right manner with their appeal.”
For Free Choice
Mr. T. Beighton said that though it might mean his retirement from the Gas Board he would have to vote in favour of the tenants’ appeal. He pointed out that before the houses at Meadow View were occupied, over 80 per cent. of the proposed tenants asked for electricity. The Council made them have gas, while the other estates, except Brookfield Avenue, had electric light and gas rings and coppers.
“Instead of stopping these people, why not go to the tenants on the other sites and make them have gas? That will make for the best position.”
The Gas Board precept should not have been so high this half-year. Mexboro’ had to pay the same, but they budgeted for half the amount last half-year. “This big item for Swinton this half-year is due to a mistake on someone’s part. And all this is pie for the Rotherham Corporation. It is the best advertising they could have. Go into your own Library. On one side there is gas and on the other electricity. At one side you have clean air and on the other a stench.”
Mr. Creighton pointed out that though Mexboro’ budgeted for half their precept last half-year they had not yet paid it.
Criticism Resented
Mr. Chappell said he resented the suggestion that the Gas Board was badly administered. “If members would only cast their minds back and think of the reports given here from time to time in the last two or three years, they would never make such statements. If it was not so efficiently administered the Gas Board would be in a far graver position.”
He pointed out that electricity had come into the district through assisted wiring schemes, but added that in the last month or so the gas works manager had received 22 applications for gas to be re-installed. “This shows that electricity is not such a good thing as it is boosted. It is dearer in the long run.”
Mr. Rix: Are you one of the twenty-two?
Mr. Chappell: No.
Voting on the amendment came to seven for and seven against, and the Chairman gave his casting vote, remarking, “It is electricity for them, gentlemen.”
Gallantry
The Chairman had the pleasure of making two presentations of Royal Humane Society certificates. The first was to Mr. Ernest Hanwell, 11, Bridge Street, who on July 15th rescued Horace Thompson (15), Foundry Yard, Swinton, from the canal at Bowbroom. The act was the more remarkable in that Hanwell was making his first walk after lying 13 weeks in hospital due to a crushed leg.
The second certificate was to Mr. Thos. Hannon, 13, Walker Street, who on July 23rd, though handicapped by a paralysed arm, saved Ernest Jackson, aged nine, from drowning in the canal near Swinton L.N.E.R. station. This was the second occasion in which Mr. Hannon had figured in such a case.
The Chairman complimented both on their bravery, and remarked that they had well earned recognition.
Mr. Hanwell thanked the members. “I only did what anybody else in Swinton would have done.”
Mr. Hannon remarked, “I think it is ridiculous to say anything else but thank you.”
Complimentary speeches were made by Messrs. Chappell, White, Creighton, and Beighton. Mr. Creighton added that he hoped the Council would evolve some scheme whereby such men’s bravery would be brought before the public from time to time.
Medical Report
The Medical Officer reported that during the last four weeks there were 8 deaths and 9 births, giving respective rates of 7.5 and 8.2, and also notifications of 14 scarlet fever cases and one of typhoid fever. During September there were 22 cases of scarlet fever. All were of mild type.
Rain Relief
In his report the Surveyor stated that the rainfall for September was 1.6 inches and that the water levels at the reservoirs had increased during the past fortnight. Following the Council’s appeal there had been reduced consumption of water, and he hoped this would continue for a further period.
Piccadilly Rents
The Clerk has been instructed to see if any reduction can be made in the rents of the Piccadilly houses.