Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevwaiting for the successful candidates who were accompanied by a brass band playing 'See the conquering heroes come.' Howard street was packed with people who loudly welcomed the successful councillors as they came in sight. When they entered the precincts of the Council Hall the band substituted the appropriate strains of 'Slap, bang, here we are again'.
The crush became greater; passages were densely packed; the Aldermanic Bench was invaded; and the noise became so great that the Mayor threatened to clear the room.
READING SPEECHES
At this meeting, Councillor Abson, the landlord of the Crown Hotel, whilst moving a resolution expressing the Council’s regret at the resignation of AId. Habershon, was observed by Mr. Neill to be reading his speech, which he had hidden in his hat. Mr. Neill strongly objected to this and the Mayor ruled Mr. Abson out of order. Poor Mr. Abson. finding himself unable to proceed without his written speech, sat down and asked another member to move the resolution for him.On what grounds the Mayor (Alderman Kelsey) ruled this out of order it is difficult to say. During my period of office many good speakers, including the best, Alderman Winter, have adopted this plan on important occasions, but without having recourse to a hat to disguise their efforts.
Although I prefer the man who is never tied down to your niceties of distinction, who, extemporaneously hurrying on, is prepared to hazard half he says without being obliged to pause and buttress what he has affirmed with a heap of evidence - one who flings at your head 'conviction in the lump' - it certainly is permissible to read speeches at Council meetings.
The incident referred to arose through an unfriendly feeling between Mr. Neill and Mr. Abson, the former having described the latter as a nincompoop !
TWELVE MONTHS LATER
The action of the magistrates had not been forgotten when the time for electing the Licensing Committee came round again. At the meeting convened for the purpose the Mayor (Ald. Kelsey) presided. A request for an open vote being refused, two of the justices present declined to take any part in the proceedings. The bigotry of the teetotallers went so far as to exclude one magistrate from the committee because his son happened to be a partner in a Sheffield brewery. Five of the seven elected on the committee were abstainers.MISTAKEN ZEAL
Having dealt at length with the Brewster Sessions of 1882, it now seems appropriate to mention the bitter feeling which continued to exist amongst some of the magistrates.During this period the borough was governed by men who, antagonistic to the liquor traffic, let their zeal outrun their discretion to such an extent that the burgesses resented it, and the balance of power was eventually turned.
Few readers will disagree with me when I say that the Mayor (unless debarred by being interested in the licensing trade) should be a member of the Licensing Committee. No matter what he may be, the Mayor is the chief of the popularly elected representatives of the people, and to his hands they have to a considerable extent committed the liberties of their constituents for twelve months.
The ostracism of any Mayor from the Licensing Committee by the Borough Justices is a slight upon the Town Council, the very body which called it into existence. Yet this is what occurred to Mr. George Neill, when Mayor in 1884. It was unearthed later by Mr. Morgan that his claims were only supported by one magistrate, viz., Mr. Ferdinand Wheatley. This was owing to the Mayor’s opposition to the Licensing Committee in 1882.
Whilst chief magistrate in 1899-1900, at the meeting to select a licensing committee, I received the least number of votes of those elected. I declined to accept a seat under next »
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