Archived Extracts

A concert took place on Wednesday evening in connection with the Wesleyan Church, arrangements having been made for the following talented entertainers to appear, Misses Irene Bands; Maggie Jaques; Messrs. E. Humphreys, W.J. Higginbottom, A. Fletcher and J.E. Byron.

Huthwaite was visited on Saturday by a red and white army, some with top hats decorated with red and white. These invaders were the supporters of Leicester Wheatsheaf, who were visiting Huthwaite for the first time in connection with the C.W.S. Inter-Department Cup Competition third round tie. The party numbered nearly 50, and arrived about 11 a.m., were conducted around the factory, where they spent an interesting hour. At 12-30 they visited the West End Cafe for lunch. Tea was served in the works dining room, and finally the visitors were the guests of the evening at the dance held in the Drill Hall. They departed about 11.15, after a pleasant day spent. ... Mr. J.A. Tomlinson presided and in the absence of the manager (Mr. H. France), welcomed the visitors, and Mr. Bull (chairman of the Leicester Wheatsheaf Sports Club) suitably replied. Mr. S. Bebber (Capt. of Leicester) and Mr. R. Saxton (Capt. of Huthwaite), Mr. J. Thomas (referee), Mr. R.B. Bond (chairman of the Huthwaite Football Club) also spoke.

The question of the employment of local labour on a Council contract and the parish's alleged unfair representation on the public Assistance Committee were among the items discussed at the monthly meeting of the Huthwaite Urban District Council held in the Council offices on Tuesday evening. Councillor J. Davies presided, and the other members present were:- Councillors T. Goodall, E.H. Lowe, H.A. Simpson, J. Potter, J. Iball, S. Allcock, A. Wilson, M. Betts, J. Peters, F.C. Sowter, W. Clarke, J.C. Wright, D.D. Bonser and W.E. Hancock.
  Mr. Sowter asked the Clerk if he had heard further from the Unemployment Grants Committee with regard to a grant for the sewer extensions.

  The Clerk replied that he had an interview with the Ministry on the matter and had been informed that it was the definite policy of the Unemployment Grants Committee not to make a grant where the work had been already commenced. However, he was doing all he could to obtain a grant and was expecting to hear from the Committee.
  When the Roads and Buildings Committee minutes were before the Council, the contractor for the 12 new houses in Blackwell Road was employing local labour.
  The Surveyor replied that at present only excavating was being done and the contractor could not do with any more men yet.
Mr. Clarke said it was not fair play. There were plenty of young men out of work and he thought a local plumber ought to be employed on the job. The contractor was not employing labour according to contract and the speaker thought it was time the Council took some action to enforce the contractor to employ local labour....

The Clerk read a letter from Mr. P.J. Elliott, secretary of the Huthwaite and District Unemployment Workers' Association, protesting against Huthwaite's alleged unfair representation on the local Public Assistance Committee. The Association felt there should be another representative from the local Council or from their organisation.
  The Chairman said the Council had no power in the matter and the Clerk said he was quite sure it would be wasting time for the Council to go into the matter.
  Mr. Sowter said the passing of the 1929 Local Government Act had struck a very severe blow to that parish. In the past Huthwaite had two representatives on the old Local Board of Guardians, but now they had only one representative on the Area Public Assistance Committee, who had power to co-opt a certain number of people. He strongly objected to the principle of co-option. He understood Sutton had six representatives - three elected by the Council and three co-opted people, who were broadminded and sympathetic, but he strongly objected to people with only twelve months' experience on the Guardians being co-opted in preference to people who had been on the Guardians for over 20 years.

  "The means test had added considerable difficulties to the Public Assistance Committee," added Mr. Sowter, " and their work is tremendous. As far as Huthwaite is concerned it is absolutely impossible for one representative to give adequate time to the cases for relief and also to the cases that come under the means test, and I do think we shall be lacking as a local authority if we do not protest to the County Council for not having sufficient members on the Public Assistance Committee. I know people have given much time and thought to the work and are willing to do so again, and it is a blow to the workers and a slight on the people who have had such long service on the old Board that priority should be given to these less experienced co-opted members. I am not casting any slur on Mr. Betts when I say that it is impossible for one man to give sufficient time to the cases. I have been informed by Mr. Betts that he can give four and six hours together and then not get through all the cases."
  Mr. Betts said the Committee met every week, and in all probability he would in future have to go to Kirkby once a week as the members there were unable to give the necessary time to the work. Some of the members were kicking against it.
  The Chairman said it had been suggested that Mr. Betts should be recommended for co-option by the Committee when he ended his term in April, and the Chairman thought that was a good suggestion. He asked if anyone would move that the Clerk write in that strain to the County Council. On the proposition of Mr. Sowter, seconded by Mr. Clarke, it was agreed that that be done.

  Mr. Betts: I am prepared to stand again. I have been a member now for over 22 years and the wage has been the same every year - a duck egg.
  Mr. Clarke referred to the bad state of the road at the back of the new Council houses. People had to have coal tipped at the front of the houses because it was a foot deep in mud at the back. He thought the road ought to be seen to and something done to make it more passable.
  Mr. Sowter: I do not know who was responsible for the laying of the ashes, on this road, but if it was one of the Council's employees he ought to be severely spoken to. It is an absolute disgrace. Salmon tins, etc., are on the top and are a big eyesore. I think the rubbish ought to be cleared and some proper cinders put on the road to make it decent. It is an eyesore to the new property. It was resolved that the Surveyor be instructed to have the work done.
  Referring to the doors that were to be put on the Cross Lane Council houses, Mr. Clarke said the tenants were finding it very draughty and cold and it was time the work was done. The man who got the job submitted the cheapest tender but he was the slowest in getting the work done. The speaker said he had also had complaints with regard to the lack of front gates on the Council houses in Bonser Crescent.
  The matters were left in the hands of the Surveyor to try and speed up the work.

On behalf of the Mothers' Union stall at the forthcoming Parish Church Bazaar, the members of the Mothers' Union are making a series of individual efforts. On the Monday afternoon Mrs. H.A. Simpson provided a tea and entertainment at "The Mount," Chesterfield Road. The tea was all that could be desired and was followed by a social. Recitations and interesting anecdotes were contributed by Mr. Simpson, and community singing was indulged in to the pianoforte accompaniments of Mrs. Simpson and Mrs. Goodall. Musical selections on the piano and violin were played by Miss Kathleen and Mr. Jack Simpson, and the event altogether was a big success. The Rev. W.L. Boulton was present, and at the close Mr. and Mrs. Simpson were heartily thanked for giving the tea and arranging for the enjoyment of the guests in several ways. An acceptable sum was realised for the object mentioned.