IS IT A MENACE?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 69, 16 September 1924, Page 5

IS IT A MENACE?

SKIS AM) HIDE LICENSES. MORE COUNCIL DISCUSSION. At the meeting of the Borough Council last evening the Works Committee reported as .follows: We, beg to recommend that all licensees be notified that licenses will not be renewed for their present premises after 31st March next, and that each firm be offered a piece of land, with 24ft frontage, on the northern side of the paddock on eastern side of Swansea Road (pound site) from the entrance gate eastwards. Rent £1 per annum, the firms to have the right of removing any buildings they may erect. Cr. Ward moved that the report be adopted.

The Mayor said the Council should be careful not to appear ridiculous over the matter. He pointed out that the Council should not do anything to drive business away from the town. He thought the statements about the trade being offensive were being carrier too far. €r. Lamason: You are quite right, your Worship. The Mayor repeated that they appeared to be driving trade out of the town, and asked what would be done about the businesses dealing in manures, which was infinitely 'worse than skin and hides. He would be quite satisfied if the firms agreed to go o n to the sites suggested in the borough, but it was a question whether they would go there, as for one thing the cartage to and fro would be heavy. He was convinced the Council would be doing the ratepayers an injustice by refusing the licenses. He pointed out that nobody had complained about similar businesses that had been carried on in the town for years, and he personally did not think there was much room for complaint.' He suggested that the councillors should inspect the places for themselves. The Town Clerk then read the following letter from the undersigned residents in the vicinity of Page and Miranda Streets, who (requested that .the Borough should not grant a license for a skin and hide store in the neighbourhood. Apart from the nuisance to the residents, it was pointed out, there '.was la church, school, and children's playground in the immediate vicinity: Gordon and Gordon, G. North, N. F. Thorpe, H. Thomson, Chas. Penn, L. Miller, J. Jeffries, C. Mcßarron, F. G. Maples, M. A. Harding, John Orr, H. T. Cooper, J. S. Bryce. A letter was read from Mrs P. Thomson asking that her name be deleted from the (petition, fl.s she had signed it under a misapprehension.''

The Mayor suggested that a temporary license be granted for the firm to carry on in the" meantime until a decision had l been finally come to. Cr. Lawson moved that the request of the petitioners be acceded to. He objected to the Council being flouted in the matter by the firm. Cr. Rutherfurd moved that (the Works Committee report be held over until the special meeting of the Council, leaving time for the councillors to inspect the premises in the town. Cr. McDonald seconded. Cr. Ward suggested holding over decision ' until the March meeting, when the present licenses would expire, and the councillors would be able to judge in the summer time if there was a real menace to the health of the residents. Cr. Finnefty supported Cr. Ward for the reason that then they could finally come to a decision. Five voted for the amendment, which was-then carried as the substantative motion. Cr. Ward wished to move as an amendment that the matter be deferred till the March meeting, but the Mayor ruled it out of order. Cr. Lawson moved that the firm be requested to remove the skin and hides at once from the premises in Page Street until such time as a permit was obtained from the Council, and the recommendations of the Health Inspector were carried out, provided they, obtained a permit from the Council. In answer to Cr. Lawson' as to whether a permit had been given the firm to open the business in the premises, the Mayor said the Town Clerk had given a temporary license. Cr. Lawson: He had no right to. It was pointed out that permission had been given only to store skins and hides for a few days until consignments could be made up to and sent away by train, and that no washing was being done on the premises. The motion was lost.