Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
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David Winter, then a young man of thirty-three, agent for Mr. Arthur Dyke Acland, the Member for the Division, and a well known and popular lay preacher, accepted the invitation of the Liberals in the South Ward, where he was opposed by John Abson, landlord of the Crown Hotel, who made a strong point of having had previous experience of municipal work.
Dan Mullins although he had made an endeavour to join the Liberal Association a few weeks before the elections, contested the Masbro’ Ward against Geo. Sykes. a well liked Liberal, who had previously occupied a seat as a councillor. To me the Liberal Party allotted the North Ward for sev eral reasons. It was thought that my position as honorary secretary would have its influence with the electors and they were anxious to win the seat from Mr. Ben Sorsby. My business interests were also centred in the ward.
Long before I became a candidate I had interested myself in public affairs; in fact, it may be said I was cradled in the atmosphere of public life. When quite a young man and in my teens I was accustomed to hearing municipal matters discussed at home. In this way I became familiar with many of the leading questions, which knowledge proved of great advantage to me in my candidature.
AN IDEAL
I had then, as now, my own ideas as to the qualifications necessary for a town councillor. A young man of thirty-two, with my way to make in the world, and my time fully occupied with a growing business, I had little or no time to spare for additional work. Fearing I did not reach the standard that should be required, I declined the first invitation and allowed twelve months to elapse before I decided to accept the second, which was to contest the North Ward. It is the same in every community. Those who are fully employed are sought after rather than the idler and slacker. Some instinct tells us that the man who does much is most likely to do more and do it thoroughly. With him there is no waste of time in getting steam up, the fire being already lit.
The work of the Corporation was growing more arduous and more difficult every year, and it was imperative the ratepayers should avoid electing as their representatives stupid or incompetent men. That road only meant bad administration of the town’s affairs. It is not sufficient to say a man is qualified to be a town councillor because he is a large ratepayer, or because he is opposed to any increase in the rates. By all means avoid heavy rates, but remember, it. is more important that good government should be secured and that the town should be healthy and provided with that which improves our civic condition, It was with a deep sense of the obligations I owed to others, and in spite of the pressure of other engagenents, that I consented, as my friends Cox and Winter consented to accept public office, and do my best to give satisfaction, Three of the four aspirants of 1887 have since occupied the civic chair; the other (John Cox) would undoubtedly have done so but for his iintimely death in 1903.
When I look back to those days, I cannot help but think of the following lines which were then familiar to me:
