That Was Then, This Is Now...
by Tim Barnes-Clay, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 02 June 2012
This month we begin the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark 60 years of The Queen's reign.
The Queen came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and her coronation took place on 2 June 1953.
Do you remember that time?
What were you doing when you heard the news?
Well, for the Country Land & Business Association (CLA), 1952 was a busy year.
1952
According to the Association’s Lincolnshire archives, members weren’t happy that the Agricultural Land Commission wasn’t charging a “full fair rent” and familiar problems such as fly-tipping were being reported, with the minutes of one branch meeting looking at how best to dispose of factory waste on farm land.
There was also worry over the fall in numbers of agricultural workers in Kesteven. In a letter to the CLA from the Kesteven County AgricuItural Officer, it was reported that between June 1949 and March 1952 the numbers of regular workers had been reduced by 12.5 percent. Concern was such that the CLA was asked to assist in arresting the decline by improving agricultural workers’ cottages.
The CLA’s Lincolnshire committee discussed this at length and it was determined that although the installation of water supplies and electricity would keep workers more contented, the real solution was to provide adequate transport to and from villages and towns, so that the “women-folk can shop and not feel isolated”.
It was decided that a letter should be written to the CLA’s headquarters on this matter, pointing out the need for doing “everything possible” to stop the fall in the number of Lincolnshire agricultural workers.
In other news at the time, there was alarm that lay-bys on main roads were positioned without considering the danger of fire to adjoining woodlands, and, on a lighter note, Belton Park in Grantham was the site of the Lincolnshire Show. It cost the CLA a grand total of £7:13:10d to have a presence there.
Water and Wood
Meanwhile, in Northamptonshire, the CLA was focusing on excess water worries. According to 1952 records, members thought a drainage scheme was necessary but declared that the chief cause of flooding was water from towns and large villages.
Therefore it was felt that it wouldn’t be fair for the agricultural community to be the only ones to pay for a drainage solution, as “drainage was for the benefit of all, and all should contribute”.
There was also a draft resolution from Captain G.W.M Lees, read out at an October 1952 Northamptonshire CLA meeting: His communiqué said: “This branch requests CLA headquarters to take action at once to prevent the sale of foreign imported timber (much of it Russian produced by slave labour) at such prices as to make home produced soft wood almost unmarketable, even at prices agreed between the Coal Board and the UK Forestry Commission.”
The letter prompted much debate at the time and it was felt that a formal resolution might be dangerous and unlikely to receive much support, because any action likely to hinder the building of houses would not be tolerated by the Government.
Same CLA
Well, that was then, and this is now. Lots of things may have changed in 60 years, but the CLA still remains the only organisation working to influence Government solely on behalf of owners of rural land, property and business.
Whatever you do to celebrate this month, we wish all of you a very happy Diamond Jubilee!
