Home Industry and Commerce Town Council The Elections – Kilnhurst & Swinton

The Elections – Kilnhurst & Swinton

April 1909

Mexborough and Swinton Times April 3rd 1909

The Elections

No Excitement at Swinton

Points from The Addresses.

Swinton may be said to have vied with Mexboro’ in the maintenance of a peaceful condition of things during the week which will end with the polling day. There has been an absence of public meetings, and an absolute lack of excitement of any kind. The candidates have been carrying on their campaign in the quietest possible manner. Whether this desirable condition of things will be reversed as the polling time draws nearer remains to be seen.

During the last few days the various candidates have issued their addresses to the electors.

Mr. Hague, one of the retiring members who is seeking re-election, and who has been the chairman of the Swinton Council for two ‘ years past, refers to the fact that the purchase of the gas works will form a very important item in the deliberations of the Council shortly. As to the water question, he states that the Council are quite alive to the present serious situation, and are doing everything possible to augment the supply. He thinks the sanitary condition of the township is far from what it ought to be, and that it could be much improved. Mr. Hague has now sat on the Council for six years.

Mr. Colin Ward, another of the retiring members, who has worked in an effective manner on the Council, means to use his best endeavours, if re-elected, to obtain and maintain a good and constant water supply for the township, the question having a strong claim upon his personal interest owing to the nature of his business, up advocates a steady and persistent course of sanitary improvement.

Mr. Thomas Cooper, the third old member, who again. offers his services, also makes reference to the very important gas and water schemes that will shortly demand the consideration of the Council. He believes that the past three years and not been barren one, and during that period very useful work has been done.

Coming to the new candidates, we find  that Mr. Ben Smith, the nominee of the Manvers Main miners and the Mexboro’ Trades and Labour Council, expresses himself in favour of a direct road being made from Swinton to Kilnhurst, with: all possible speed. The question of the water supply would receive his earnest consideration, whilst amongst other matters that would claim his notice, would be the purchasing i of the gas works, the provision of allotments for working men, and the adoption of the standard union rate of wages for the Council’s workmen, and men engaged on the Council’s contracts.

Mr. Arthur Carr‘s address is a very brief one. He mentions the water and gas schemes and the new road to Kilnhurst as important matters that will engage the attention of the Council.

Mr. Phillips, the third new candidate, has also issued an address.

Summing up the chances of the candidates reconsider the prospect of the three retiring members being return of quite rosy. The remaining three will experience a hard struggle for the fourth place. Mr Ben Smith will require some shaking off, seeing that he is being supported by the Trades Council, and is the Swinton member of the Rotherham Board of Guardians, which authority we believe he has some useful experience. Mr Phillips will have a portion of Manvers Main contingent to help him, and he should poll more than the 246 votes he obtained last year.

Mr Arthur Carr is a well-respected Swinton tradesmen, and is the nominee of the Swinton butchers Association, and made poll well.

Our Kilnhurst correspondent writes expressing the opinion that Mr Colin Ward, one of the most useful, if not the most talkative members of the Council, and Paul exceedingly well in Kilnhurst, and the opinion that he will head he has informed Mr Hague, who invariably falls heavily Miss Cooper, however, is a very strong backing Roman Terrace, and will run the gentleman a tight race