Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 17 January 1929

Oil Discussion.

Mexborough Council Decide to Buy From Russia.

A lively discussion took place at last night’s meeting of the Mexborough Urban Council on the question of the purchase of Russian petrol.

Some months ago the Council rejected a resolution to that effect, but last night it approved a minute recommending the purchase of Russian oil, only three members voting against it.

Proposing an amendment of disagreement, Mr. A. W. Tabor said he could not allow his name to be associated with the purchase of Russian oil when they could get English.

Mr. F. Harrison seconded, saying that he was not in favour of sending money to Russia for the sake of a halfpenny a gallon.

Mr. J. E. Cliff condemned the proposal emphatically, They talked about their unemployed, he said, and then they proposed to send what was needed here to a foreign country. Let us play the game for England,” he urged.

Mr. L. Jones said he was against Russian oil at one time, but he had learnt that it was just as good as British, and cheaper.

Mr. Frow, supporting the resolution to purchase asked if Mr. Cliff realised that we could not live without working with other nations, and that by making machinery for Russia work was provided for thousands of our men.

The Council agreed to send representatives to meet representatives of the Wath Council at the latter’s invitation, to consider the provision of a joint ambulance service with Wath, Mexborough, and Swinton.