Page 72 - Bulletin 7 2003

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The Officials of the KB-MM 1895 - 1913

Municip Clerks : H. C. Webb 1895-96 Municipal Enginrs: Thomas Bennett 1901-06
: W. G. Bellamy 1896-97 : D. P. Howells 1907-11
: A. H. Barnes 1897-07
: A. J. Baillie 1907-10
: D. P. Howells 1911
: J. Scott 1912-13
Med. O. Health: Dr. J. J. Bolger 1897-04 Municipal & Sanitary: E. Baker 1901-04
: Dr. E. E. Wood 1905-13 Inspectors : W. Holt 1901-06
: H. E. A. Ford 1906-13
Electrical Enginr: G. H. Swingler 1907-13 Waterwks Suprntdts : C. Wolfendale 1902-04
* : L. Binns 1905-07
: L. Ladan 1908-09

* Mr. George H. Swingler, who started as the foreman of the Royal Road Power Station, joined
the new City of Cape Town and became the City Electrical Engineer in 1918, a post he held for
26 years until his retirement in 1944.

Without the dedication and support of these councillors and officials the Mayors

would not have achieved the results they did. The signatures of all 10 mayors are
shown in Fig. 2.8.

Conclusions

There was criticism that the Council marginalized the fishermen by increasing

rates from ½d in 1895 to 4½d by 1913, but this was naive and short-sighted. It is
true that this did force some fishing families to move to the non-rateable slum

area south of Clairvaux Road (known as Die Land), but the overall effect was
that with these rates increases capital could be raised to address a host of

problems and necessities to the benefit all families, be they fishermen or new
residents. It was untenable to continue in the circumstances existing before the

establishment of the Municipality.

In 1896 rates revenue was £994 and, in 1913, £12 000. The Municipality brought

piped water, waterborne sewage, electricity, and established a wash-house, all of
which greatly improved the hygiene of Kalk Bay for all its inhabitants. It

appointed Sanitary Officers and a Medical Officer of Health to ensure that