Barnsley Independent – Saturday 13 September 1919
Darfield Council
Uniform Wages Question
The monthly meeting of Darfield Urban District Council was held on Friday evening, Mr. G. Dickinson (vice-chairman) presiding.
Mr. Randerson gave a report on the conference of local authorities at Wath, called for the purpose of considering hours and wages of Council employees. Fourteen local authorities were represented at the conference, and each of them seemed to have been having the same experience with regard to the wages of their workmen. No sooner had some scale been settled, then a fresh application was put in. It was felt that it was time something was done by local authorities in the way of forming a Wage Board. The conference resolved that the delegates should go back to their respective Councils, and ask for a mandate to vote in favour of the formation of a Wage Board for the whole of the authorities represented at the conference. They were else quite willing to include any authority not represented.
On the motion of Mr. Marshall, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, the Council’s delegates were authorised to attend the adjourned conference, and were given the mandate asked for.
Dr. Addison Disappointed.
The Housing Commissioner for the district wrote that Dr. Addison was disappointed at the return of house plans which had been approved. The Commissioner added that they were all agreed as to the extreme urgency of the housing problem, and he knew that Darfield Council were anxious to make progress. His desire was to give the local authorities in the district all the assistance possible, and he asked to be informed of anything which was an obstacle to rapid progress. Approval might be given to parts of the schemes where operations could commence forthwith. Yorkshire as a county had given a lead to the housing scheme, and he hoped Darfield Council would help to maintain this.
The Nanny Marr Scheme.
An announcement with respect to the local scheme was made by the vice-chairman. In the first instance, he said, the Council had two sites, one of which they had in hand before 1914. A Government enquiry was held, and the whole of the plans passed, but owing to the war no building could be commenced. Afterwards they paid a considerable rent for the maintenance of this particular piece of land. Three or four different Inspectors had visited the district, the last of them coming on August 18th.
He kindly informed them that after all this trouble the Minister of Health could not see his way clear to allow the Council to have two different sites. They had, therefore, to give np the site at Nanny Marr, which they had maintained for so long.
The Housing and Town Planning Committee recommended the abandoning of the Nanny Marr site, and instructed the Clerk (Mr. W. Robinson) to write to the Housing Commissioner, explaining the position, and asking him to urge for the sanction of the loan for the purchase of the land at Millhouses.—This was approved.—The Vice- Chairman moved that the Clerk give notice to Mr. Gamwell to rescind the provisional agreement made between him and the Council in connection with the Nanny Man site.— This was carried, and it was decided to leave the question of the tenancy of the land for consideration at the next Committee meeting.
No Joint Food Commtitee.
The Divisional Food Commissioner suggested the amalgamation of the following Food Control Committees for the purpose of effecting economy : Wombwell. Wath, Bolton, Darfield, and Thiirmeoe.
The Vice-Chairmen said he and Mr. Illsley were deputed to raise this matter before the Investigation and tic- Committee at Bolton. They did so, none of the authorities had the slightest intention of joining in any amalgamation for food control. Neither had Darfield any intention of agreeing to it. Food control would only last another ten months and now that the registration in that district was complete, and the various cards were being dealt with. he did not see what they would have to gain by joining with Wombwell or any other authority. They did not want to send their people out of the township when they wished to made enquiries concerning the various rations.
The Clerk : I have already reported to the Inspector that it is quite hopeless a result of our meeting at Bolton, to form a joint committee.
No Profiteering In Darfield.
A letter from the Board of Trade suggested that it necessary, local authorities could appoint local Tribunals to enquire into cases of profiteering. These Tribunals would sit for six months, and any expenses incurred would be defrayed out of the rates.
The Vice-Chairmnn: If you think there is any profiteering in the township, now is your opportunity. Do you think it is desirable that a Tribunal should be formed?
There were no comments, and the subject was accordingly dropped.
Surveyor’s Return.
Mr. E. Hammerton, the Council’s Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector, who has been on military service for several years, wrote that having been demobilised, he would be prepared to resume his duties on October 1st, if this date was convenient to the Council.
The Vice-Chairman: I think that under ordinary circumstances, a month’s notice will he due to the gentleman at present occupying the position.
The Clerk said he understood from Mr. Hammerton that he would be willing take up his duties earlier than October.