Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 28 May 1921

Swinton Council

A Cricket Comedy

Blow for Budding Hirsts

A meeting of the Swinton Urban District Council was held on Wednesday, Mr A Russell presiding.

Advance Refused

The Finance Committee, having considered a report from the Wath and District Weighted Board, recommend that an application from three workmen for an increase of wages be not entertained – Agreed

Deferred

Consideration on the scale of salaries at the National Association of Local Government Officers, as it applies to junior members of the Swinton’s council staff, was deferred.

First Class Roads

At a meeting of the Highways Committee the Surveyor reported that the Ministry of Transport had classified Wath Road and Warren Vale Road as first class roads, and were considering the status of Queen Street and Fitzwilliam Street. The survey was instructed again to his importance of the thoroughfares, and also to be scheduled first class for the purposes of the Grant.

Kilnhurst Bridge.

It decided to draw the attention of the County Council to the desirability of widening the canal bridge at Kilnhurst.

Speed Limits.

The Clerk instructed to ascertain what powers the Council have to fix highway speed limits, and Mr. Hughes was asked to define the areas in which he thought speed should be officially limited.

Improved Scavenging.

At a meeting of the Sanitary Committee, the Sanitary Inspector presented a report comparing the scavenging work done by the old staff with horses and carts, and by the new staff with a motor lorry. The committee decided to recommend that the services of Mr. Bisby and the use of his lorry be continued. This recommendation was adopted, and in the course of discussion it was stated that as a result of the new system of removal of loads by lorry, the district was in a better state sanitarily than it had been for years. It was understood that the Sanitary Committee would proceed to consider the question of purchasing a lorry as an alternative to hiring one.

Piccadilly Rents.

The Clerk having reported that the Ministry of Health had objected to the alleged inadequacy of the rents fixed for the Piccadilly Houses, the Housing and Town Planning Committee agreed that the question should be referred to the appointed Tribunal.

Councillors With Houses To Let.

There are 19 Piccadilly houses unlet, and, it has been arranged that with regard to twelve of them each Member of the Council shall nominate one tenant. The remaining seven are to be dealt with in due course. Mr. Peat said he had ascertained that there were exactly seven ex-Service men who gave up their houses to go to the war, and he should propose, when the matter came up again, that these men be nominated for the tenancies.

Items.

It was decided to grant the use of Highfield Park for the Swinton Hospital Demonstration on July 31. No action was taken with regard to wilful damage to trees in the recreation ground. Mr. H. Hicks was appointed to act as emergency food executive officer.

Price of Tennis.

The Surveyor having been instructed to ascertain the charges made locally for the use of public tennis courts and howling greens, he reported that at Rawmarsh the charge was 1s. per hour. It was decided to continue the charge of 1s. 6d. per hour for the court at Highfields.

Low Death Rate.

The Medical Officer reported the registration of five deaths and 30 births, giving respective rates of 4.5 and 27.

Excess Rates.

The Mexboro’ and Swinton Property Owners’ Association asked the Council to advertise publicity through the Press and by means of handbills, the amount of excess rates chargeable against each class of tenant during the present half-year, in order to remove the misunderstanding and suspicion on the part of tenants, and to facilitate the collection of the rates.

The Council took the view that arrangements for giving public information on this subject were adequate, and decided to continue them.

“Soft” Cricket.

There was a long and rather amusing discussion on the subject of cricket in recreation grounds.

Several Kilnhurst allotment holders complained of damage and danger arising from the playing of cricket by young men in the adjoining recreation ground.

Mr Peat: I think this is a matter that the Kilnhurst members can deal with.

It was a corner referred to the three Kilnhurst members.

Mr Peat said he had that day taken a class of schoolboys into the Highfield recreation ground for the purpose of playing cricket, but was told by the caretaker date he had had instruction from a member of the Council that cricket was not to be allowed. He would like to know what member of the Council are given those instructions, and what the recreation ground was to be used for, if not for cricket.

Mr Hewitt; I think this is a matter that the Swinton members can deal with. (Laughter).

Mr Hughes said that cricket could not be played in recreation ground without considerable danger to the women and little children who use the ground. He had himself seen instances of this. The Parks Committee considered the matter, and I decided it was not safe.

Mr Ward said that cricket was allowed in other recreation grounds in the township, and should be stopped there, if it was to be stopped at Highfield

Mr Jagger said that cricket was the king of sport; the finest pastime known, and everybody should be encouraged to play the game. It was a great educator in sportsmanship, a quality which we justly provided himself as a race.

Mr Pete: Well said Mr. Jagger.

Mr Peat said the decision to fob that cricket was “silly,” and he moved that a portion of the Highfield recreation ground be reserved for cricket. This could be done without putting anyone in the slightest danger.

Mr Jagger said he should have supposed that the old people, women and little children, wanted quite and nice and pleasant surroundings, would have preferred the ground and shrubberies to the playing field.

Mr Peat said that organised games are now part of the curricular schools, and it was very desirable that education authority should provide playing fields for schoolchildren. It was time something of the kind was in Swinton, until something was done, recreation ground ought to be available for this purpose.

The Chairman said the recreation grounds were not large enough to permit of cricket by youths of 16 and upwards with comfort and safety to the rest of the people who wanted to use them.

Mr Peat: it is just these youths that you want to get away from the street corners into the playing field.

Mr Creighton said that at that age he paid for his cricket. He had no objections to cricket in recreation ground if softballs were used.

Mr Pete: You can’t get a break on with a softball. (Laughter.)

Mr Ward said this matter had apparently been decided by committee of one.

Mr Hughes: Mr Ward is wrong. I don’t care for his sarcasm – – –

Mr Ward: Has it been before the Council?

Mr Hughes: I can tell you this, that you have neither quarter nor a third of the sport in you that I have. (Laughter.)

Mr Ward: I have never seen you so much. You’re never shown or paid for any. (Laughter.)

Mr Hughes said he considered himself justified as chairman of the Parts Committee, in stopping a practice which he believed to be dangerous to women and little children.

Mr Peat’s resolution, that a cricket pitch be prepared in the Highfield recreation ground, was lost by five votes to 4.

Mr Creighton: I should like to move that cricket be allowed if a softball is used.

Mr Pete: Don’t insult the lads. (Laughter.)

Discussion then dropped.

Unveiling of the War Memorial

It was decided to accept the invitation of the Swinton War Memorial Committee to attend the unveiling of the memorial in June 5 at 3 p.m.

Concert

Permission was given to the Mexborough and Swinton Railwaymen’s Orchestral and Choral Society to give a concert at “Highfields” on a date to be arranged.