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The Rushden Echo, 20th November, 1908, transcribed by Gill Hollis
The Unemployed At Rushden
Town’s Meeting Discusses The Position
Voluntary Distress Committee To Be Appointed
A town’s meeting convened by the Chairman of Rushden Urban District Council (Mr. W. Bazeley, J.P.) was held at the Public Hall on Tuesday night. Mr. Bazeley presided over a good attendance, and was supported by Messrs. G. Miller, C. Bates, G. H. Skinner, A. J. Dobbs, and C. E. Bayes (members of the Council), Mr. G. S. Mason (clerk), Mr. W. B. Madin (surveyor), and Mr. W. Beetenson (assistant clerk).
The Chairman said they would all be aware that the meeting was the result of a discussion at the Council meeting last Wednesday. It was thought that some steps should be taken to deal with unemployment in Rushden. That meeting was not called with the idea that there was more distress in Rushden than in other industrial centres. In fact, they thought the position of affairs was better in Rushden than in some other places, but they thought there were cases of acute distress from unemployment which needed attention. Sometimes a man out of work did not receive civility when applying for a job. The incivility was not always received from the employer but often from a lad and he would like to urge upon employers to give instructions that applicants for work should at least receive civility. (Applause.) The great part of those out of work belonged to the shoe trade and he believed there were
About 100 Unemployed
old men, middle-aged men, and youths. At one time there seemed to be a demand for boy labour, but now a number of lads seemed to be unemployed. To deal with the distress, there were only two methods that he could see. One method was to find work for the unemployed at the standard rate of wages for the district, and the unemployed of the town would, he thought, desire that. Working men as a rule did not want charity; they wanted work. (Applause.) The Urban Council would like to find the work, but they had no surplus allocated for public improvements or any work for the unemployed. The other cause was to form a voluntary distress committee to help the workers till they were able to help themselves. (Applause.) The Council were not in a position to find work and it was desired that those present should discuss the matter to see what could be done.
A telegram, received from the Rev. W. F. Harris, was read by the Chairman, as follows:- “Sorry cannot attend to-night’s meeting. Will gladly help.” (Applause.)
Mr. Derbyshire said he saw in the papers that Mr. John Burns was anxious to grant loans to public bodies for the purpose of providing work. There was plenty of work needed doing in Rushden, and he wished to know whether the Council could not
Apply For A Loan.
The Chairman thought the time was opportune.
Mr. Chamberlain said that the four labour members of the Council were pledged to the building of lavatories for both sexes. If that were carried out, work would be provided for some, and if the Council had not got the money he did not think the ratepayers would object to a loan. (Laughter, and “Wouldn’t they?”). He proposed that the Urban Council be asked to consider the matter.
Mr. Derbyshire seconded the motion.
Mr. Hollowell asked if it was not a fact that the Council already had one loan lying dead.
The Chairman said that was so. With regard to the lavatories, he must inform them that the reason they had not been erected was owing to the extraordinary cost of the water scheme. As a matter of fact the Surveyor had presented several plans.
Mr. J. R. Brooke thought the lavatories were very necessary, but pointed out that that kind of work was hardly suited for shoehands, who were the men chiefly out of work.
The resolution was carried.
Mr. Hollowell then asked if it was not possible to put the other loan into operation and so provide more employment.
The Chairman said that the loan was for stables, and it would not be of much use to erect stables now, when they had a three years’ contract for scavenging.
Mr. Baylis said other work which needed doing was the filling in of the filthy ditch in Washbrook-road and the erection of
Baths And Washhouses.
But of course, the labour members of the Council had not full control and he did not expect they would get much of that work done till they had control.
Mr. G. White asked whether the Council had ever considered what contribution the working men of the town would be prepared to make towards the cost of baths.
The Chairman said the matter had never been considered in that way. The idea had been that the Council should carry out the work by means of a loan when they were able.
Mr. Baylis: Is there any means by which the Council could be pushed to do something?
The Chairman thought that meeting might encourage the Council a little. There was plenty to hold them back.
Mr. Baylis: What I meant was – supposing a canvass of the town showed that a majority of the townspeople were in favour of baths, would it have any effect on the Council?
The Chairman said the Council would try their best to carry out the wishes of the town.
Mr. Elsdon asked if the Council had considered the advisability of a complete registration of the unemployed. He thought that was very necessary before they could deal with the distress.
The Chairman said that if a distress committee was appointed they would, no doubt, organise
A Registration Scheme.
In reply to questions, the Chairman said they could not get a grant from the Local Government Board, on account of the small population of the town.
Mr. P. Collins asked if the meeting could have the views of some of the other Councillors present.
The Chairman said he would be very pleased to hear them.
Mr. Miller said to him the question of unemployment was a very serious one indeed. Owing to the high rates, the town was unable to undertake schemes to provide work. It was of no use to wait for public baths. They had to consider the coming winter and he thought they should form a representative distress committee and get into working order as soon as possible. At the same time they ought not to magnify their difficulties, for he believed Rushden had still a good future before it.
Mr. Wingrove suggested that the town should be canvassed to see what those who are in work are willing to give for those out of work.
The Chairman said it would be necessary to appoint a committee first.
Mr. Bates moved that this meeting having considered the question of unemployment in the town desires that a voluntary distress committee be formed to help those who cannot help themselves, and that an appeal be made for funds for the purpose.
Mr. Collins thought the meeting had been used too much to air opinions opposed to the Government. (No.”) He simply came there with the idea that it was his duty to help a brother in need. He had not expected to hear a lot about public improvements.
The Chairman: What you have to do is to deal with the matter as it is to-day. It is natural that questions should be asked as to the Local Government Board fund, but I do not take those questions as political questions.
Mr. G. F. Skinner said he had no idea that there were so many out of work. He suggested that each employer of labour in the town should take one or two men on at their own trade. They did not want to make paupers of men and it would be a disgrace to give the unemployed doles from day to day. He was not a large employer of labour, but he would take his share.
Mr. White thought Mr. Skinner’s suggestion was the best made during the meeting.
Mr. Wingrove said he would be sorry if employers offered to set men on at 16s. a week when they were worth 28s., simply because they were out of work.
Mr. Baylis thought Mr. Skinner’s idea was absurd under the present competitive system.
The Chairman thought Mr. Skinner’s remarks were very good, all the same. He hoped that at any rate employers would do all they could to abolish overtime while there was distress. It was bad to see overtime worked by some when others wanted a job. It seemed as if there was
Systematic Overtime
In some cases in Rushden, and he appealed earnestly to employers to employ as much labour as they could and not resort to overtime.
Mr. Dobbs believed the best way to find money for the unemployed was to pay it out of the rates, as everybody had to pay them according to their pockets. When they made a public subscription, working men paid far more than their share. He thought the meeting should urge the Council to carry out public improvements.
Mr. Jos. Knight asked whether the proposed distress committee would deal with those who are out of work and are never likely to get work again. Something had to be done for those people.
The Chairman: That would be left to the discretion of the committee.
The motion to form a committee was carried.
Mr. Elsdon moved that the Chairman of the Urban Council be requested to call the first meeting of the committee and invite all organisations in the town to send delegates.
Mr. W. Abrams seconded the motion, which was carried.
The Chairman promised to call the meeting as early as possible and thanked those present for their attendance.
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