21st March 1941
SHORTAGE OF BILLETS FOR EVACUEES

Evacuee billeting difficulties in the Osgoldcross Rural District were discussed at a meeting of the Council in Pontefract, on Saturday, and local Billeting Officers are to be invited to a special meeting to investigate the question. The Chairman of the Council, Councillor C.Leach, presided over the meeting.

The Clerk and Chief Billeting Officer, Mr. G.W. Hobman, reported 44 evacuees in the District under the original scheme' and 265 under the London Scheme. Since the last meeting of the Council, 44 had arrived from London, and he was glad to state that all appeared to have settled down comfortably. He had been notified that 150 more were to be sent, but there were only 135 billets. The Council had the responsibility of finding accommodation.

The Chairman said he was sure most of the villages had more accommodation than had been offered. Fairburn had responded extremely well, and offered to take 68, while Brotherton offered to take only four. Councillor G.S.W. Green [Fairburn] asked what women were to do who had to work on the land; and the Chairman said there must be some sacrifice.

Mr. Hobman said it was a physical impossibility for him to billet 150 children compulsorily. Billets had been offered in other villages as follows, Balne, 15, Birkin, 4, Burton Salmon, 13, Byram-cum-sutton, 10, Cridling Stubbs, 5, Darrington, 0 [there were 17 there at the present], Eggborough, 0, [no Billeting Officer], Hensall and Heck, 0, Hillam, 18, Kellington,17, Monk Fryston, 12, Whitley, 2, Womersley, 14, Beal, 6.

Councillor R. Whitaker [Eggborough], said one reason for refusal was that people had only one spare room and were keeping it for sons in the Forces who might come return home on leave. When the Clerk recalled that originally there were 960 offers, and that the number had been reduced by more than half, Councillor Whitaker thought that was ''not so bad'' considering the number of soldiers and soldiers wives accommodated. He added he had done all he possibly could at Eggborough, but nobody would act as billeting officer. The Clerk added that other parishes had been extremely helpful.

1941 INDEX