South Yorkshire Times, January 13th 1933
Darfield U.D.C.
Gallant ‘Flu
Reluctant To Attack Ladies
Chairman And Alderman
A meeting of the Darfield Urban District Council was held on Friday, Mr. G. Dickinson presiding.
A Dickensian Interlude
Arising out of a recommendation by Finance Committee that no alteration be made to officials’ salaries, there was a sharp passage between the Chairman and Ald. T. H. Foulstone.
Mr. Foulstone had risen to speak when the Chairman asked “What are you going to do Mr. Foulstone?
Mr. Foulstone: I am speaking sir.
The Chairman: I want to know what you are going to talk about.
Mr. Foulstone: If you listen respectfully, you will hear.
The Chairman: Unless I have a definite resolution, you cannot speak.
Mr. Foulstone I hope the press will take notice of this. If a member has no right to express approval or disapproval on any atter that arises it is no use his coming here.
The Chairman: You can express your disapproval but you must do it in a proper manner.
You cannot talk for half an hour before I know what you are talking about.
Mr. Foulstone: I will leave the public to judge between you and me.
Mr. R. Randerson intervened to say that the Chairman was correct in his ruling and Mr. M. Upperdine said that if if Mr. Foulstone had wanted to move that the matter be referred back he had had his opportunity.
The Chairman: I am the Chairman sir and I can manage this meeting. I am the person in authority.
Mr. Foulstone: And a very sorry person who is afraid to let a member express his opinion. Mr. Foulstone then resumed his seat saying that if the Council were satisfied, he was satisfied.
Male ‘Flu
The Medical Officer (Dr. W.F. L. Castle), reported six births and three deaths during the month. Of infectious diseases seven had been notified – three of scarlet fever, three of chicken-pox and one of acute pneumonia. In reply to Mr. Foulstone the doctor said that during the corresponding period of last year there were four births and no deaths.
Asked by Mr. R. Randerson what the position was in the district, in regards to influenza the Medical Officer ejaculated: “Rotten.” He added “But I think it is subsiding a little now.” When Mr. Randerson asked whether the epidemic was most marked among adults or children, the doctor replied, “It started entirely among the male section of the population and for the first five days I do not think a single female patient had been down with it here. Certainly, no children were affected. Now fathers are beginning to infect the other members of the family through staying at home. In the first place it was confined entirely to the men.”
School Site
The Clerk (Mr. Goodyear), reported receipt of a letter on the subject of coal working in relation to the site of the proposed new school. The County Education Officer recalled an interview between representatives of the Council, the County Council and District Valuers at the County Hall, Wakefield in August 1931. It was then stated that while the danger to the proposed site of the working of the Parkgate seam was negligible, it would be necessary to reserve a pillar of coal in the event of the Melton Field seam being worked. Therefore, it would appear that no action was necessary in regard to the proposed working of the Parkgate Seam. The County Council however, appreciated the courtesy of the Darfield Council in reminding them about the working of coal under the site.
Support For Local ‘Bus Proprietors
Camplejohn Brothers, motor omnibus proprietors, wrote thanking the Council for the resolution passed at a meeting on December 9th in support of their appeal to the Ministry of Transport. They also asked for a member of the Council to be nominated to give evidence, if necessary. Dibb and Clegg, Solicitors, Barnsley representing Camplejohn Bros. wrote a long letter on the same subject giving details of the ‘bus services and the points upon which the appeal was to be based.
Mr. Foulstone: I shall move that we give our support. We have backed them from the beginning and we might as well go on with it to the end. We have nothing do with Thurnscoe, but where the interests of the people of Darfield and neighbouring places such as Little Houghton and Billingley are concerned, we ought to be prepared to take a definite course. I think that what the Camplejohns are asking for is in the interests of the travelling public.
This resolution was seconded by Mr. R. Randerson and eventually Mr. Foulstone was elected as the Council’s representative to give evidence if required.
U.D.C. Conference
The Council voted for Whitby in preference to Ilfracombe as the venue for the annual conference of the Urban District council’s Association in June next.