Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevWhen the town was incorporated in 1871. the more progressive members of the Council were quick to recognise that the works were most inconvenient situated for their purpose, involving the department in heavy transport charges, besides occupying a central and valuable position in the town.
In the early seventies, Ald. Morgan, the then chairman of the Gas Committee, made an effort to have the works removed to a site near the railway. Unfortunately, when a vote was taken on his proposal, the Council were found to be evenly divided, and as the Mayor (Alderman Wigfield) refused to give a casting vote, nothing further was done. In the light of our present experience, it seems a pity the advice of an expert was not sought. No doubt, with his report to support it, the alderman’s resolution would have been carried. Such, however, was not obtained until ten years later when the cost of removal had largely increased. Mr. Newbiggin, the most eminent gas engineer of that period, after an exhaustive survey of the borough, reported that he was unable to find a site, owing to the coal having been worked underneath all the places that were otherwise suitable. Such sites as were suitable were outside the borough boundary, and as the committee insisted upon the works being in the borough, to avoid paying rates to an outside authority, the question of removal had to be dropped.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
When the works were taken over by the Corporation, Mr. Tom Bellamy held the position of chief clerk. Salaries in those days were low, and Mr. Bellamy having made several applications for an advance which had been turned down, persuaded the committee to allow him to change the title of chief clerk to that of secretary. Twelve months later, another application for an increase of salary was received by the committee, this time being accompanied by a list of the salaries paid to the secretaries of other gas undertakings similar in size to that of Rotherham. The list revealed that as secretary Mr. Bellamy was grossly underpaid, and an increase under these circumstances could not be refused Whilst chairman, I had a long experience of Mr. Bellamy, whom I found to be a most painstaking, conscientious, and faithful servant. Unfortunately, for his worldly success, he lacked that confidence and push so necessary for self-advancement. He underrated his own worth, and had an excess of modesty. His committee, consequently, never set full value on him because he never set a sufficiently high standard on himself. The outcome was that he was always underpaid for the very excellent services he rendered.AN OLD OFFICIAL
Another old and faithful servant who served the department for nearly forty years was William Haggard, father of Willie Haggard, who carried on an ironmongery business on premises on the site now occupied by the furnishing department of the Co-operative Stores. He collected the gas rents, then amounting to about £10,000 per annum, for which he received a commission of fourpence in the pound, out of which he had to find stamps and pay an assistant.Tommy Gillott, another veteran, acted as meter inspector, and was one of the most familiar figures in the town. Low in stature and deformed, he could be seen daily, with his hook under his arm and his water can with a long spout (for watering the wet meters then in use) in his hand, arguing some local matter with a ratepayer and emphasising his statement with the long spout of his can, or on his way to record the consumption of gas at the various houses.
ELECTED CHAIRMAN
Upon my return to the Council in 1894, I was elected chairman of the Gas Committee, - a position I held until 1917. The plant at the works was obsolete and inadequate for its purpose. This it was determined to discard and replace with modern appliances and up-to- date methods of working. Owing to the loyal support of my committee, we were, three years later, in possession of one of the best equipped works it was possible to have, and one which would compare favourably with any other in next »prev « «