Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevthe members and a few other guests, including Mr. Eaton, the engineer, and Mr. Terry, the commercial manager of the Sheffield water- work, in the Dukeries. I remember on the return journey a halt at the Royal Hotel, Worksop, for tea. took place. During our stay the Mayor and his party were greatly annoyed when one of the young women from the bar presented herself before them arrayed in the robe and chain of office. Although strong protests were made at this discreditable and unseemly exhibition, the members responsible for it paraded her through the hotel premises, and nothing but physical force would have prevailed to put a stop to their folly.
GOOD SPEAKERS
I have often been asked who I thought was the best speaker in the Corporation. I have but one answer - David Winter, who had an instructive, arrestive, and persuasive style. He rarely overdid it, he had few mannerisms, and adapted himself to his surroundings. His contributions on any important question were polished and convincing. There were other good speakers such as Alderman Fred Mason and Councillor Cox, who, when occasion demanded, could deliver quite an eloquent speech.HOWLERS
An alderman once said Councillor Pearce constituency never intended him to be on the Finance Committee; he would make a good highwayman. Councillor Pearce in protesting against an expenditure of money in the centre of the town, thought the 'inskirts' had had enough done for them, and it was time the outskirts had attention. When the old batwing burner was being rapidly displaced by the incandescent mantle, Councillor Copley persisted in claiming that the best results were not obtained from indecent mantles. Another Councillor, who had only a short reign, would persist in using a long word where a shorter one would have served his purpose better. Referring to some slum property my committee wished to demolish, he protested against AId. Gummer demoralising any more property. On anotheroccasion desiring to acquaint us with the fact that he was near to something we were discussing, he said he was in close proximity. Not in the same class, but still with a touch of humour, we find a member of a horse buying committee assuring us they had purchased nothing but up to date horses. One valiant member, many years go, in proposing the toast of the Army and Navy, declared “he was prepared to die for his King and Country, even, if it cost him his life.” This is equalled by a candidate for municipal honours, who said Why buy a pig in a poke, when by voting for me you can have the original article?” The slightest interruption will occasionally upset the most fluent speaker. Mr. Councillor Badger, when, chairman of the Highways Committee, claimed to be imbued with good intentions, and collapsed when reminded by another councillor that he knew “a place that was paved with them.” Councillor Bibbs, referring to his work, remarked, “ As I once said before on a future occasion.” Perusing the minutes of the Education Committee, Mr. Councillor Shaw came across tire following: The schoolmaster advertising £2 10s. and asked why the committee should pay for the headmaster’s advertising. The 'ad.' was one for teachers and appeared in a paper that circulates largely amongst the teaching profession. Mr. Councillor Copley got wrong in his metaphors when he said: 'The moth always flutters about the magnet'. These errors perpetrated by individual members, may be excused, but what are we to think of a recommendation of the Gas Company, who years ago sent the following to the Council for confirmation, 'The Council are recommended to instruct the Town Clerk to ascertain that no contract exists, and having satisfied himself on this point ‘to put an end to it.’ The same being done at once. - or this, from the Finance Committee,Messrs. Hart and Moss are to be asked to state the charge perday for investigating the old accounts for the purpose of arriving at the proper amounts of the waterworks on capital accounts. That this jargon means next »
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