The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-22 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL.

T LIE PUBLIC BATHS QUESTION.
The Mayor (Mr. Tempest Radfoei) presided at
the moathly meeting of the Kidderminster Town
Council (et Wednesday I letter had been re-
ceived from the Town Clerk of Gloucester. suggest-
ing that a Conference should be held at Worcester,
of the various representatives of commercial inter-
este to consider the question of tbe Ship Canal
from Gloucester to Birmingham.
The Mayor said it was an important matter.
Although it did not directly affect Kidderminster,
yet as a question affecting railway rates it was very
important they should take part in it.
A. deputaiion, consisting of the Mayor and Coun-
cillors D. W, Goodwin, C. Crowther, and J. P.
Harvey, was appointed to attend the Conference
tjThe Mayor called attention to the scheme for th 3
erection of public baths in Ki alerminster, and said
s .me persons objected to it because it was proposed
thoughto
siol
that
ltiok.goityheaftri;erbsottnistss.
ho lie
matter in acrotchet
s
and go in for what would benefit the town
considered. too, that the time had arrived when the
. He
member of the Town Council should came forward
led pt a
to support the scheme.
• A discussion follee ed, in the course of which the
Mayor explained that he only nropesed to give free
baths to the children attending the various element-
ary schools, and not to adults, as some persons ap-
peared to imagine.
Mr. J. P. Harv, et, Mr. D. W. Goodwin, and
several other gentlemen expressed their approval of
the mayor's statement, and subscriptions amount-
to about £lOO were promised at ones in support of
the scheme by the members of the Council present.
Mr. Grosvenor remarked that a feeling had got
of
fe
thenew
burdens
sns wouldup one ntthaoil
raa
teeopansyi consider-
able
When
et thead been said in his presence he had
done ihnics that t:leh
increase
est to dissipate the idea. His own con-
victionsaabl .eo
and that of ad those who had gone into
the matter was that the improved character of the
baths would bring a very important increase in:the .
number of bathers, :ma that the income would in.
crease in proport.on, whilst the working expenses
would remain nearly the same.
Mr. Morton said that at the present time there
was a loss of something like £2OO per year in con-
nection with the old baths. lie did not think with
the new baths they:should make much profit at
first, but they would be educating people into a de-
sire for bathing by giving free baths to school
childrea, who would in future years pay for their
baths and make the affair self-supporting.
The Mayor pointed out that there was not only a
certain loss of t2OO per year with the present baths,
but it woul I co-t ~000 to put them in such repair
that their use might be continued.
The report of the Nledical Officer of Health state I
that measles were still prevalent in the borough,
and there nad been 18 deaths during the past monta
No doubt the great cold had in a great measure con-
duced to this, for me isles was cue of those diseases
that require to be kept warm and in one temper-
ature, or bronchitis was almost sure to supervene.
Some remarks were made about the Infectierts
Hospital, and Aldermait Howe Green pointed to the
fact that five cases of scarlet fever had been taken
out of one house to the hospital, and no other cases
had followed, as a proof of the gr,at value of th
hos ital in affording efficient means for isolation.
In seconding the adoption of the report of the
Improvement Committee, Mr. Holdsworth called
attention to an item of £57 19s 6d, and asked if
that had all been expended upon carting away into*
from the streets,
Mr. Comber, the Borourh Surveyor, said it was
not all laid out in clearing the snow away. but also
in doing the general work of the plat monta.
The may e remarked that what had been spent
in clearing the snow out of the streets hod been
well laid out, and it hail also found employment for
peer persons who otherwise would have hal no-
thing to do.
Mr. Herring pointed out that the Corporation
were overdrawn at the bank at the present time to
tae amount of OW, ant that they hail expenditure
to meet which w ,uld leavethern in debt by the 21st
of Maiedi to the extent of £3,000.
Mr. Coteling remarked that the last rate was not
large enough.
Mr. Herring said the list two rates were not
lare enough.
The teport was adopted.