Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevNext to the Mayor no one comes before the public eye more than this official.
I have already referred to Mr. William Whitfield, the first Town Clerk. The second, Mr. Geo. Wagstaff Hodgkinson, whom I knew personally but with whom I did not serve, died in 1881, shortly after his appointment. The loss of such an able official was a great blow to the borough. Although opposed by an influential section of the Council, such were his undoubted qualifications, he discharged his duties fearlessly, faithfully and with rare ability - hat within a few months he had secured the unanimous and hearty approval of the whole Council.
It was always a mystery to me why Mr. Parker Rhodes, the ablest man in the town and district, was not appointed when Mr. William Whitfield died, and it was a greater mystery still when he was overlooked after the death of Mr. Geo. W. Hodgkinson. The selection of a successor to Mr. Hodgkinson caused no little dissension among the members of the Corporation. Discussions on the subject were accompanied by displays of personal feeling unworthy of any public body.
After the selection of Mr. Samuel Brown (a local solicitor), at a meeting of the Council in committee, convened to elect a Town Clerk, it was the plain duty of the Council to confirm the appointment. Instead of this, animosities were evoked by the advocacy of the claims of other candidates, the whole matter being reopened. The proceedings were described as unprecedented folly on the part of a section of the Town Council. At the Council meeting the Mayor (AId. Marsh) moved the appointment of Mr. Samuel Brown, but strange as it may now appear, he refused to vote or to give his casting vote when it became apparent that the votes were equal. Alderman Wigfield, after seconding the resolution, voted against it at the Council meeting. I can recall no case in my municipal career so glaringly inconsistent. A deadlock occurred, and subsequent meetings were held, at which angry passages of arms took place, ‘midst considerable excitement amongst the members, their sympathies being manifested according to the views they held on the subject. Some members left the meeting and refused to take further part in the proceedings.
At the next Council meeting the appointment of Mr. Samuel Brown was again recommended for confirmation. Nearly half the members of the Council were absent. The meaning of such a demonstration was plain, although the wisdom of this action was questionable. Mr Brown received the appointment, the salary being £400 per annum, or £I00 less than the sum originally fixed. His appointment was accompanied by a scene - Councillor Bottom, having sent in his resignation and paid the necessary fine, the friends of Mr. Brown alleged this was intended as an insult to the new Town Clerk. Personalities were introduced and the voices of the members could not be heard for the noise. The Mayor, in calling the members to order, described their conduct as fractious and unbearable, and said he could not continue the meeting if they persisted in such behaviour
APPOINTMENT OF TOWN CLERK
Some years later the appointment of Mr. Samuel Brown to the position of Town Clerk of Salford created a vacancy which the Council decided to fill by again appointing a part.time official. As expected, keen competition for the post arose amongst the local solicitors. Mr. H.H. Hickmott and Mr. R. E. Hodgkinson were selected, for the Council to make their choice, the former eventually securing the coveted post by one vote.Although politics were not supposed to affect such appointments, they undoubtedly had their influence on a few members of the Council. Family connections also played a part. Some days after the appointment it was freely stated that had the speech delivered by Mr. R. E. Hodgkinson, at the Drill Hall, in furtherance of his candidature for the County Council, been made prior to the election of Town Clerk, the voting would have resulted in his favour. next »
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