The Government and Re-construction
The Late Alderman G. Miller

  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., C. Bates, W. Bazeley, J.P., J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hyde, 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).

The Late Ald. Miller

  The Chairman: Before commencing the ordinary business I feel I must refer to the death of Mr. George Miller since our last meeting.  Mr. Miller, with the exception of the last five years, was a member of this Council for very many years, and at the time of his death he was an Alderman of the County Council, chairman of the Local Pensions Committee, besides serving on several other local bodies, and I feel sure I am only expressing the wish of the members when I ask the Council to send a vote of sympathy to Mrs. Miller and the family in their sad bereavement.

  By a standing vote the Council decided to send the letter of condolence.

  The Clerk said he had received a letter from Mr. J. Tomlin thanking the Council for the letter of sympathy with the family in the death in action of his son.  He had also received a similar communication from Mrs. G. H. Skinner in acknowledgment of the vote of sympathy sent to her on the death of her husband. 

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, May 29^th, 1918, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), F. Knight, J. S. Clipson, J. Hornsby, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and J. Tomlin.

Plans

were presented for:-

  Engine house to factory in Portland-road for Messrs. H. E. Wilmott and Co., and passed.

  Engine house and emergency exit to factory in Cromwell-road for Messrs. H. E. Chapman and Co., and passed.

  A letter from the Local Government Board was received stating that the Ministry of National Service was desirous that for the purpose of facilitating the dealing with applications for licences for the carrying on of building and constructional work he should be furnished monthly by the Local Authority with a list of all plans, etc., submitted to and approved by such Authorities; the list need not, however, include particulars of any work, the cost of which was not likely to exceed £250.

  The Surveyor was instructed to supply the information required.

Building Materials

  A letter from the Ministry of Reconstruction was received, enclosing forms of return which they asked might be completed and forwarded to them as to quantities of materials estimated to be required by the Council for urgent works during the two years ensuing after the cessation of hostilities.  The form of return required was of the most elaborate description, requiring particulars of every possible kind of material which might be required by the Council for any purposes, and would require considerable time in completing.

  The Surveyor was instructed to supply such information as he found possible.

Pig Keeping

  A circular from the Local Government Board was also received, urging Local Authorities as far as they can to facilitate the keeping of pigs and the collection of waste for their food.

  The Committee were of the opinion that everything that was possible was being done in this district.

Main Roads

  A letter was received from the County Surveyor stating that the County Council had approved the following estimates and grants for the work of surface tarring in this district during the current year:-

  The Committee approved.

Potato Spraying

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the Surveyor to render such assistance in the work of spraying potatoes in this district as was done last year.

  The report was adopted.

Finance & Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, June 4^th, 1918, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), F. Knight, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, J. Claridge, and F. 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 balances were as follows:-

Fittings

  The Rates Clerk submitted the following list of fittings accounts which for various reasons were irrecoverable:-

And it was resolved to recommend the Council to write them off as irrecoverable.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, June 5^th, 1918, when there were present: Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), T. Wilmott, C. Bates, J. Claridge, and Fred Green.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that 27 preliminary notices had been served during May calling attention to nuisances, etc., all of which were being complied with.

  Three lots of infected bedding had been destroyed after deaths from consumption and the houses disinfected.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed at a cost not exceeding £1 7s. 6d. in each case.

  During the month a quantity of beef and tripe had been voluntarily surrendered, and upon examination found to be unfit for food and destroyed in the usual way.

  The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work since the last meeting.

Dairies, Cowsheds, & Milkshops Order

  The Inspector also reported that he had during the past month made an examination of all the cowsheds in the district, and, where necessary, notices served for the periodical lime-washing of the premises.

Marine Store, Washbrook-Road

  The Inspector also reported that he had made two or three visits to this store and found considerable improvements taking place.

Sale of Grass

  It was resolved to sell the grass in the Cemetery field and at the Hospital to Mr. W. Macdonald for £7  10s. up to Lady Day, 1919.

Cemetery Approach

  It was also resolved to recommend the Council to close this field from Thursday, the 13^th instant, for 14 days in order to allow the grass to be cut and made into hay.

  The report was adopted.

An Offence

  The Chairman said that a meeting of the Cemetery Committee was held that afternoon to deal with the nuisance caused by the inhabitants of Winchester-road breaking through the fence between their gardens and the Cemetery and depositing old tins and other rubbish there.  The Committee recommended that the fence be repaired and that a notice be sent to each tenant asking that the nuisance should be abated.

  The Council concurred.

Allotments Committee

  A meeting of the Allotments Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, June 5^th, 1918, when there were present: Messrs. J. Spencer (chairman), T. Wilmott, C. Bates, J. Claridge, T. Swindall, L. Baxter, W. Gutteridge, and J. S. Mason.

Prizes

  It was resolved to offer prizes as was done last year for the best cultivated plots of War Allotments, and arrangements were made for the judging to be carried out, such judging to take place on Saturday, July 6^th. It was estimated that prize money amounting to £15  10s.  0d. would be available, and it was resolved to allot this as follows:-

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Spencer (chairman of the committee) said that the prizes were given by a number of gentlemen in the town.

Local Tribunal

  Mr. Swindall (chairman of the Local Tribunal) moved that Mr. C. W. Horrell be elected a member of the Tribunal in place of the late Ald. Geo. Miller.

  Mr. Bates seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously.

Blind and Crippled

  The Chairman read a letter from the United Clubs’ Blind and Crippled Children’s Association, asking for the use of Spencer Park for the sports and amusements on the occasion of Forget-me-Not Day.

  On the proposition of Mr. Bates, seconded by Mr. Clipson, it was decided to grant the permission asked for.