Wartime in Rushden - October 1940

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 11th October 1940, transcribed by Jim Hollis

Council Keeps Food Control Seats - No Share for Trade Unions

More Shelters - Rushden Postal Services Again Criticised

Trade union hopes of securing a seat on the Wellingborough and District Food Control Committee were defeated at the Rushden Urban Council’s meeting on Wednesday.

The committee is elected annually, and the council appoints three persons to represent the town. Councillors Roe and Cox and Councillor Mrs. Muxlow have held the Rushden seats during the last twelve months.

When new appointments were considered on Wednesday the Clerk (Mr. W. L. Beetenson) read a letter from the secretary of the Rushden and District Trades Council submitting the name of Mr. R. Welsford.

Mr. Beetenson said that the Ministry of Food had made an Order to the effect that the Trades Councils of Wellingborough and Rushden should have one member on the committee. He was given to understand that the Wellingborough Trades Council had already nominated one member, who would consequently represent the Wellingborough and Rushden Trades Councils. He also understood that Rushden Trades Council were not taking any exception to that arrangement.

Mr. Roe Resigns

Mrs. Muxlow and Mr. Cox were reappointed, but when Mr. Roe was nominated he announced that he must decline. “I find,” he said, “that my boy will be called up next Monday for the Air Force, and it will be quite impossible for me to attend meetings in the daytime. I feel very sorry to give it up – as you know, I have been vice-chairman for the last year; but I have no option in the matter.”

Mr. Roe added that while he was quite willing to see Mr. Welsford appointed he felt that a representative from the Urban Council represented the town and could be “got at,” whereas a representative from the Trades Council only represented one side.

The appointment of Councillor Green in place of Mr. Roe was then moved by Councillor Weale and seconded by Councillor George.

Councillor Spencer said that because of the small number of seats allowed to Rushden a section of the community was not represented. While not wishing seriously to oppose Mr. Green, he would move that Mr. Welsford be elected.

Councillor Waring seconded.

Councillor Weale was informed that no other section of the community had asked for representation.

A vote was taken and Councillor Green was elected, six members on the Labour side voting for Mr. Welsford.

Post Office Closed

Complaints about the post office service were renewed after the Clerk had read letters from the authorities in reply to the Council’s resolution asking for a sub-office to be re-opened in the South Ward.

The head postmaster at Wellingborough wrote that the decision to close the Park-road sub-office was arrived at after consideration of all the circumstances and in view of the urgent need for economy under the present exceptional conditions. The policy, he said, was a national one.

An officer at Birmingham wrote that the office was closed on the resignation of the sub-postmistress. Post Office facilities in the neighbourhood were examined and it was found that the retention of the office would not be justified.

The Newton-road sub-office was 440 yards distant from the former Park-road office, and the main office was 707 yards distance. He had carefully reviewed the circumstances and was satisfied that the available facilities were adequate to meet the reasonable needs of the general body of the public. Old age pensioners who were unable to attend a post office could appoint an agent to whom payment might be made.

“Bad To Worse”

Councillor Bailey, who moved the resolution at the September meeting, said these replies were very unfortunate. Since the passing of the resolution things have gone from bad to worse and complaints had been received in regard to the new post office.

During the present week he had received complaints from three persons as to the service in the new office. He himself had paid three visits during the last seven days. On one occasion he found it impossible to remain long enough to transact his business; on another he had to wait in a queue for seven minutes.

In their letters, said Mr. Bailey, the postal officials had given the distances for their own convenience. They had given them from the old sub-office and did not mention the distance from the top of Wymington-road or Bedford-road. It might not be advisable to press the matter now, but he hoped that when the time was more opportune they would if necessary send a deputation to press for a service able to cope with the needs of the town.

Shelter Sites

The War Emergency Committee reported that the Surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd) has been instructed to prepare estimates of the cost of providing 50-person shelters near the junction of Irchester-road and Wellingborough-road, near the ‘bus shelter at the foot of St. Mary’s-avenue, and at the junction of High-street and Washbrook-road.

These plans are being submitted to the Regional Officer of the Ministry of Health, who will also be asked to sanction the public use of basements in High-street and Church-street which, with strengthening and certain alterations, would accommodate about 450 people.

The Clerk reported that various manufacturers had given permission for factory shelters to be used by the public when not required by the employees.

It was announced that 869 official evacuees, with teachers and helpers, arrived during September, and that many other people were continually arriving, some finding their own accommodation and many applying to the Council Buildings for billets, thus causing a great amount of work in the billeting department.

In view of the large amount of billeting and re-billeting, it was reported, Mrs. V. B. Greenwood has been engaged as full-time billeting officer and another lady for temporary duty. The Clerk, at his own request, has been relieved of his duties as chief billeting officer owing to the many extra duties now devolving upon him, and Mr. E. F. Tomkins takes his place.

A.R.P. Fire-Fighting

The Council have agreed to act as official distributors of stirrup pumps and an early supply has been requested on the ground that more than 100 fire fighting parties have been formed in Rushden.

The Housing Manager (Mr. H. C. Allen) stated that practically the whole of the streets on the Council estates were now organised for fire fighting purposes.

It was agreed to purchase two second-hand high-powered cars for the A.F.S.., one to carry the canvas water dams and the other to haul the trailer pumps and convey firemen and their equipment.

Twenty-six more auxiliary firemen have been trained and are to receive a bonus of £1 each.

The Council agreed to dispose of the old steam fire engine for the best price obtainable.

On the ground that the roots are affecting the pavements and may damage the houses, while the leaves keep light and air from the houses, residents in Prospect-avenue applied for the complete destruction of the chestnut trees which were planted by the owner of the estate before the road was completed. The Council agreed to obtain an estimate of all necessary work and ask the owner for a contribution towards the cost.

Cleaner Milk

Ten milk samples out of 12 sent for bacteriological examination were reported to be satisfactory, Mr. Richardson remarking that this was a great improvement on the previous report.

Following a memorial from 32 residents of Station-road and Carnegie-street, complaining of smoke from a factory, the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper) stated that he had interviewed the factory owners and had reason to believe that the nuisance was now abated.

A renewed application from the National Union of General Workers for the up-grading of the district for the purpose of increasing the wages scale was turned down by the Finance Committee, who decided that no useful purpose would be served by receiving a proposed deputation from the Union.

Building plans were : Additions to “The Hutt,” Higham-road, Mrs. A. Cave; addition to house, St. Mary’s-avenue, Mr. H. Rice; addition to 11 Washbrook-road, Mr. H. W. Groom; air raid shelter, Windmill-road, Rushden Heel Co.; garage, Fitzwilliam-street, Mr. R. Hollis.

Councillor Sawford advocated the purchase of a presser for paper and tins, saying that there would still be a use for it after the war. Councillor Richardson promised that the Sanitary Committee would consider this.

Food Office Proposal

Councillor Roe was informed that the Council had recovered the whole of the amount spent on snow clearance last winter.

Councillor Spencer gave notice to move at the next meeting that a permanent food office be provided for Rushden.

The general rate was sealed at 6/2 in the £ for the coming half-year, and Councillor Capon noted that the yield would be £131 15s. 10d. in advance of the last half-year’s.

Members in attendance were Councillors J. Allen, J.P. (Chairman), T. W. Cox (Vice-Chairman), A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, Dr. R. W. Davies, F. Green, Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, W. E. Capon, A. F. Weale, J. George, T. J. Swindall, J. Spencer, J.P., J. H. J. Paragreen, H. Waring, W. J. Sawford, E. A. Sugars and J. T. Richardson. An apology for absence was received from Councillor A. Allebone, J.P., C.C.


The Rushden Echo and Argus, 11th October 1940, transcribed by Jim Hollis

Night Watchers Should Be Paid - Exploitation Alleged by Rushden Boot Operatives

Strong views on the employment of night watchers at industrial premises were expressed at the Boot Operatives’ Union meeting at Rushden on Monday, and the following resolution was carried.

“This meeting expresses its appreciation of the action of those manufacturers who are paying a night watchman for his services, but condemns most emphatically the action of other employers who are exploiting the patriotic sentiment of their operatives in inducing them to do the same amount of work for nothing or for the disgracefully inadequate sum of 2/6 per night.

“The meeting feels that quite apart from the question of meanness there is also the health of the operative to be considered. Night watching is not a job to be done by people who have already done a day’s work, and cannot be so done without the eventual impairment of health. The meeting feels that the guarding of strategic points by the Home Guard is in a different category of communal service. The guarding of profit-making establishments is something that could be and should be paid for adequately.

The meeting instructed Alderman A. C. Allen (president) and other officials to bring the complaint before the manufacturers and call a meeting of the Arbitration Board.

The following were elected as members of the branch executive. Clicker, Mr. E. A. Mayhew; lasters, Messrs. J. Perkins and Charles Smith; finishers, Messrs. W. M. Burgess and W. Ainge; pressman, Mr. W. Hills; closers, Miss D. Tassell and Miss Grace Webb.

Wartime in Rushden 1940 - 1945