The Control of Coal, Gas, and Electricity
Seats For The Wounded Soldiers and Sailors
The Municipal Houses
Increased Cost of Road Materials
Potatoes For Sale

  Wednesday, present Councillors T. Wilmott, J.P. (in the chair), F. Knight, J.P., (vice-chairman), J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, J. Claridge, J.P., C.C., W. Bazeley, J.P., J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, J. Tomlin, and F. Green, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the temporary Sanitary Inspector (Mr. A. E. Lloyd).

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, June 26^th, 1918, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), Fred Knight, J. S. Clipson, J. Hornsby, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and J. Tomlin.

Plans

were presented for:-

  A stable and coach-house at the rear of Breeze Villa, Bedford-road, for Mr. C. E. Bayes, and passed.

Road Materials

  A letter was received from Messrs. T. Butlin and Co., Ltd., stating that owing to increased cost of production of Slag for road repairs, they had been obliged to make application to the Road Stone Control Committee for permission to increase their prices.  The Committee had increased the prices to 5s.  9d. per ton for the best quality and 3s.  6d. for seconds, F.O.R. at their sidings, the increased prices to date from June 1^st instant.

Seats For Wounded Sailors and Soldiers

  A letter was received from the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers asking the Council to provide seats in the town for wounded Sailors and Soldiers.

  A letter was also received from the Rushden United Working Men’s Clubs’ Benevolent Committee offering to make a grant from their funds to purchase two such seats if the Council could see their way to purchase two more.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accept the offer of the W.M.C. Benevolent Committee and to authorise the Surveyor to purchase two other seats and to fix them in convenient places in the town.

  The report was adopted, Mr. Claridge suggesting that some seats be placed on the Green, in addition to the others, and also recommended that a seat be placed near the starting-place for the ’bus.

  It was decided to purchase such seats as were obtainable.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, July 2^nd, 1918, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), W. Bazeley, J. Claridge, and Fred Green.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

  The Committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:-

Collector’s Accounts

  The Collector’s accounts were also examined from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums since the last meeting:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts, from which it appeared that he had received the following sums since the last meeting:-

And that the following balances were in his hands:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £1,541  11s.  10d. were examined and passed for payment.

Council Houses

  The Surveyor submitted the Contractor’s final account for the construction of these houses together with a letter from Mr. Marriott asking the Committee to agree to the amount of his contract being amended owing to the increased cost of labour, etc., and it was resolved to refer the matter to the whole Council in Committee.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, July 3^rd, 1918, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (in the chair), C. Bates, J. Claridge, and Fred Green.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The report of the Medical Officer for the month of June was received.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the past month 29 preliminary notices had been issued calling attention to nuisances, all of which were receiving attention.

  One lot of infected bedding had been destroyed since the last meeting, after a death from consumption and the room stripped and cleansed.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed at a cost not exceeding £1  7s.  6d.

  It was also resolved to recommend the Council to pay the cost, 3s.  6d., of dyeing a child’s dress which had been damaged when fumigation was taking place.

  A quantity of tripe, corned beef, tins of fish, fruit, etc., voluntarily surrendered, had been destroyed as being unfit for human food.

  The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work during the past month.

Farm

  Potatoes. – The Farm Sub-committee reported that they had met at the farm and decided to recommend that the Surveyor be authorised to obtain prices for the early potatoes and that main crop be sold by public auction together with the other crops on Tuesday, the 23^rd instant.

  The Committee agreed, and resolved to recommend the Council accordingly.

  The report was adopted.

Coal

  The Chairman referred to the Coal Order, and said it was proposed that the Gas Co. should appoint one representative on the committee, that the Electric Power Co. should appoint one, with one each by the coal merchants and coal dealers, and the Council not fewer than five.

  The Clerk said the Order comprised over 90 paragraphs.  The Order applied to all coal, gas, and electric power used for heating purposes as distinct from industrial purposes.  The Order comes into force as from July 1^st.  A local fuel overseer would have to be appointed.  People who, for instance, were entitled to six tons of coal in the year, would only be able to purchase four tons if they had two tons already in stock.  No new supplies of gas or electricity for heating purposes could be put in without the consent of the local committee.

  Mr. Bazeley: The heating quality of the gas is reduced, yet you have to reduce your consumption.

  Mr. Knight: The Gas Companies are bound by the Government restrictions.

  In the course of further explanations, the Clerk said that a customer could have three tons of coke for two tons of coal, and he could “exchange” coal for an extra supply of gas.

  Mr. Swindall moved the appointment of Mr. W. B. Madin (surveyor) as Fuel Overseer, and this was carried.  It was resolved that the Council Buildings be the offices for this purpose.

  As representatives of the Council, the following were elected: Messrs. Wilmott, Clipson, Tomlin, Spencer, Claridge, and Hornsby.  Mr. Wilmott was appointed chairman of the Fuel Committee.