 |
| Coat of Arms of Manchester Corporation |
an intellectual character, an amount of ability, a modesty, and a respect for the rights and opinions of others which had won for him general and cordial esteem. (Applause)
The proposal was carried "with acclamation". John was invested with the chain of office and took his seat amid more applause and the firing (the simultaneous ringing) of the Town Hall bells.
John addressed the Council, with a brief review of what the Council had achieved in the 44 years since it had elected its first mayor. He spoke of the organisation of the police – the building of a gaol – the establishment of the fire brigade –
The primary material wants of large communities – water and light – have been satisfactorily met. The persistent labours of the gas committee have maintained, over an area of 45 square miles, a supply of artificial light of high quality, at moderate cost, and resulting in an annual profit of many thousands of pounds, applied to the improvement of our streets
(In 1884, in his turn, John Harwood would speak when he became Mayor of the "legacy of confusion, mistakes, and arrears" left by the commissioners in 1838. Of the "narrow, dirty and dark" streets and of how in 1842 the building of back-to-back houses was banned. Of the thousands of people who were living in cellars when the borough council was established, and how by 1854 their number had been reduced to 16,400 people living in 4,673 "cellar dwellings", and that in 1868 the number of inhabited cellars had fallen to 2,658, in which lived 9,548 people. In 1867 bye-laws had been passed making it compulsory that all ashpits (privies) should be covered in, ventilated, and flagged. And now, John Harwood reminded the councillors, 1,000 men and 275 horses were employed to clean the 475 miles of streets, 900 miles of footpaths and 350 miles of courts and passages, and they were collecting "241,215 tons of animal and vegetable matter, cinders, and other refuse" every year.)
Asa Briggs wrote that in Manchester "efforts were made, quite inadequately and much too slowly, to develop necessary civic policies and to create necessary public administration." [1] I think nowadays we'd be far more inclined to look with amazement at what they achieved.
John went on with his list. Streets had been widened, paved and cleaned – there was an efficient system of tramways and "street locomotion" – the waterworks, "overcoming enormous material difficulties", brought in water at continuous high pressure to homes and businesses – rubbish was collected – acres of cesspools had been removed – infections were now properly reported and life expectancy had been lengthened – flooding prevention work had begun – baths and washhouses had been built – parks and playgrounds had been provided – there were free libraries, spaced short distances apart across the city – there were board schools, grammar schools, colleges, there was Victoria University
The admirable system of grading and exhibitions [awards] renders it within the possibility of the child of a working man to rise step by step to the highest point of culture, and to reach the most distinguished position in any profession.
John's cogent and direct style of speaking seems to have appealed to the newspaper reporters, who seem often to report him verbatim.
Manchester has become not only a seat of commerce and manufactures, but a seat of learning. Every day I am more deeply impressed with the sense of duty which growingly pervaded all classes, high and low, rich and poor. Hospitals, refuges, orphanages, industrial and Sunday schools, engaged the sympathies of an army of unselfish workers for the public good, in constant ministration to the wants of the sick, the poor, and the ignorant. I hope during my year of office to gather in those halls some of these, your co-workers, of varied station, men and women who care for others, to meet with you, for mutual encouragement and friendly union, for I think this building ought to be the home of the wholesomest social life of the city
And he described his idea of central and local government:
When I think of what has thus been accomplished through the medium of our municipal organisation, or in collaboration with it, I am proud of being a citizen of Manchester, for I know not where in England, or elsewhere, a finer or more effective exhibition has been presented of provincial self-government. The scope of imperial government I take to be, the doing for the people what they cannot do for themselves. Within the legitimate objects of local self-government I include all the people localised in a community can do better when acting together than they can do separately. … First, the maintenance of order, with security for the persons and property of the citizens, and the correction of abuses; second, the provision of the necessaries of decent and healthy life; third, the satisfaction of intellectual needs and the encouragement and gratification of the love of beauty.
But gentlemen, much yet remains to be done. We have a future of work set before us; defects and blots to remove from our civilisation; evils to remedy; wants to be supplied.
Work was needed to provide enough gas and water for future needs, to distribute and control the electric light, to purify the rivers ("the south side of the city looks longingly and patiently for the extension of baths in that direction") and for
the yet more difficult task of removing the clouds of smoke and sulphurous vapour which pollute our atmosphere and deaden our energies
Lastly, if possible, to realise the Manchester Ship Canal, "that splendid engineering dream of bringing the ships of all lands to our own doors, removing thus the disability of our inland position, and placing our city in proximity to the ocean, that highway of the nations". He ended, as the Courier reported, with an exhortation
All these, besides your daily administrative work, will engage your thoughts and labours. Many of our city fathers are laid at rest, but their spirit still survives here. For our younger men there are triumphs yet to be won, if they are animated with that spirit, and will follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before. Gentlemen, let us bring to our work new zeal and energy, mingled with mutual forbearance and courtesy. Let us leave our city better than we found it. Let us do what we can to lighten the lot of the sons of toil, and render all the conditions of city life not only endurable but enjoyable. The bells of time are ringing changes fast. Grant, O Lord, that each fresh peal may usher in an era of advancement, each change prove an effectual lasting happy gain. (Loud applause)
Young John wrote to Alice
Morrison, of Leeds, was expressing his admiration of Father's speech when he became Mayor. He considered it the best he had ever seen and had preserved it to show their own mayors of how they ought to do that duty. I like Morrison; he seems to have a lively appreciation of Father as an ideal local public man. [2]
No comments:
Post a Comment