Mexborough & Swinton Times, 27 October 1893

The Coal War.

A Wearisome Struggle.

No Signs of Giving Way.

The Coal Owners Compact.

Distress Still on the Increase.

The disastrous dispute in the coal trade still drags on undecided. Neither the owners’ ultimatum nor the miners’ display the least disposition to surrender, and some owners have even gone so far as to declare that they do not want to open their pits until after the end of the year, the reason given being that if they commence work now they would be compelled to complete the contracts made in June but which, if resumed upon, will fall through at the end of the year.

To commence them now, would entail constant working to complete the delivery in two months, which, when the majority of contracts were made, it was intended to carry over six months. This reason was given to us by a colliery manager and although it may not be a true one, we give it as presenting a certain sort of explanation for the action of the colliery owners, who, to say the least, in the present moment look beyond their own immediate advantage. It is only fair to support that view to the extent of assuming other than a desire to beat Ben Pickard and Co. which is inducing them to remain closed in the face of chances of remunerative trade which are offered, and it may very possibly be that they realise that they have no time left to complete this half-year’s contracts, and from a desire to avoid the loss which non-completion would entail have no desire to attempt the fulfilment.

At Denaby Main for instance, it cannot be urged indeed less on the part of the Company which is prolonging the stoppage, for this firm, just after the lock-out had a very remunerative contract to supply the Russian Government, placed with them. Had they thrown up the pit when a partial resumption was agreed to they might possibly have completed the greater part of the contract. They cannot do so now for the Baltic is closed. Should the explanation to the contrary be the correct one, the outlook for the miners is very black indeed, and there is something in a declaration of a miners’ leader at Wath to the effect that the Railway Companies and other large contractors ought to force their contracts, which are prolonging the dispute.

So far the partial resumption which was agreed to about a month ago has had the slightest effect in this district. At Earl Fitzwilliam’s collieries where it was thought it would have a very speedy effect, there are no signs of surrender, and at Thrybergh Hall, where too it was anticipated a resumption would follow, there was no sign. Everywhere there is no indication of anything but the sort. As far as Manvers and Denaby were concerned no one had much hope that they would hurry to give way and less disappointment is felt that they have not resumed, but at Wombwell and Darfield there was an expectation—it may only have been a case of the wish being father to the thought—and there is some disappointment that it has not been realised. So far in the South Yorkshire district it is conceded, and particularly so far as our own district is interested, there is not a single sign that the owners are giving way.

At Wath, where the work of repairing still goes on, nothing has been said about resumption, but the miners of the district seem heartened greatly from the fact that the statements made by the Mercury some time ago and other papers to the effect that a resumption at this colliery as soon as the repairs were completed have never been denied. It was declared very recently that Messrs. John Brown and Co. intended to resume work at Aldwarke Main and Carhouse Colliery, but this statement has received a denial, so that there is not even the encouragement existing which is to be derived from the rumour.

It has been very freely stated, though it remains to be seen on what authority, that the coalowners have been under a compact to stick to the federation until the 28th of October, and that the penalty for breach of the contract was £1,000. If this is an act that may account for the fact that comparatively few owners, and generally those not in the Federation, have opened their pits. To-morrow is the 28th of the month and should the statement to which we have referred be true, the end of the compact may be marked by a general disruption of the Coalowners’ Federation. We are afraid, however, that like many other things that have been rumoured during the struggle, this statement must be dismissed with the verdict that there is “nothing in it.”

Relief Of The Distressed

With the prolongation of the lock-out the distress daily increases. The levies obtained from the men returned to work have enabled the miners’ officials to distribute a little money to the men, and in some quarters funds have been raised by borrowing and applied to the same purpose. But this has not stayed the widespread increase of the distress, which unhappily for want of funds has not been met by an increase of relief. The Committee have found it entirely impossible to cope with the distress in their district, and one or two have been compelled to “throw up the sponge” entirely.

In Mexborough the Committee continues to give a great amount of substantial assistance. A week’s work be gathered from an account of the week’s work contained in another column. Messrs. Verity’s works were reopened on Monday, a supply of coal having been obtained, and it is anticipated that the opening of pits in other districts may have the effect of opening the glassworks in Mexborough, many of whom have plenty of orders in hand but are stopped for want of fuel. The decrease in the railway work consequent upon the discontinuance of passenger trains has made itself felt, one railway guard on Monday being stopped for the first time in 30 years. It is satisfactory to learn that Messrs. H. and S. Barker and Co. has received a large order that will keep their men employed until next spring. This firm has recently been giving a free breakfast daily to all their men for whom they could not find employment. There is a great amount of personal and private relief being given in the district. The Mexborough Co-operative Society have up to the present given away 3,600 loaves and 900 sacks of potatoes. They have made a further distribution this week. Messrs. Goodall’s, of the Drug Stores, continue to distribute 250 loaves a week. A very noticeable feature of the relief work in Mexborough is the feeding of school children by means of free breakfasts. At the Doncaster road schools yesterday, a breakfast was given, to which the Rev. H. Ellershaw contributed 10s., Mr. Dixon 7s. 6d., and Mr. Hart 2s. 6d. The breakfast was given by Mr. T. Chambers, butcher, and the youngsters by his kindness and that of those who contributed to assist him, secured a very substantial meal. On Wednesday Miss Davison, the headmistress of the school, gave the children a breakfast of bread puddings. Messrs. Fry and Co., of Bristol, through Mr. Mawson (confectioner), has given 6lbs. of cocoa. Mr. Clift has given 1lb. of tea and 1½lbs. of coffee. Mrs. Hornsby, Pitt Street, and a few friends, have done the cooking necessary to provide the meals. The breakfasts have been continued daily.

At the Central school on Wednesday morning the children were also fed, the breakfast being subscribed for by Mr. Crompton the headmaster, and the teachers. Goodall’s Drug Company gave 25 loaves of bread for the purpose of the meal.

The Garden Street children have not been forgotten and in consequence of the labour of Mr. Hudson and his Staff, assisted from the outside, breakfasts have been given two or three mornings a week. During the present week Mr. A. Pupple has received two subscriptions of £10s. and £1 from the Congregational Union for the relief of the sufferers in the present labour dispute. He has distributed this amount in the manner suggested by the donors.

At Denaby Mr. Slater, on Saturday, gave away about 30lb. of bread and on Tuesday the children of Denaby Main were treated to bread and soup for their dinner. Mr. H. Taylor and others were responsible for this act of kindness. The meal was to be repeated this morning.

Buckingham Pope, the managing director of Denaby Main Colliery Co., has intimated his willingness to subscribe to a fund for the relief of the children but not for the men.

We are sorry to state that, owing to the inadequate support received, the Conisborough Relief Committee has been dissolved. All those who wish to assist in alleviating the widespread distress in this district, may do so by sending in their subscriptions to the Rev. R. Roseveare, curate-in-charge of Denaby.

At Hickleton Lady Hallifax has shown considerable kindness by distributing about 100 quarts of soup three times a week.

Wombwell was visited on Friday night by Mr. T. P. O’Connor, M.P., who came to inquire into the distress which existed in the township. Mr. O’Connor brought with him Mr. B. Pickard, M.P., and they together had an interview with the Rev. Geo. Hadfield, Congregational minister, who has often advocated the cause of the men. Mr. O’Connor left a cheque for £10, and he and Messrs. Hadfield and Pickard afterwards visited Cortonwood and West Melton. At the former place a cheque for £5 was left, and a similar amount was placed in the hands of the Rev. W. J. Cookeley, Congregational minister at West Melton, to be distributed in local relief. At Wombwell on Wednesday the Relief Committee distributed relief tickets, varying in value from 1s. to 2s., to 850 cases. They also distributed 200 loaves. The Committee has received about £250, of which £230 has been spent. The Co-operative Society has relieved over 300 persons this week, and Mr. Vaux, of Summer, has given free dinners to about 100 children three times a week.

On Tuesday in First Lane, West Melton, a large number of little ones numbering upwards of 200 took place opposite the Miners’ Arms, when the kind host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes, supplied them with a bountiful meal of tea and buns.

The Wath and Brampton Committee have had a busy week, but appeal strongly for further charitable aid to repeat their work next week. This week they have fed—at Wath 656 children and distributed 841 loaves, at West Melton 800 children and 560 loaves, and at Concrete 300 dinners were given and 220 loaves distributed, in addition to which 20 sacks of potatoes, the gift of Mr. C. E. Stanley, were given away. Earl Fitzwilliam has sent a second donation of £5 to the committee, but the amount placed at their disposal by the Barnsley British Co-operative Society has been exhausted. This represents a loss of £10 per week to the district.

At Swinton this week nothing is being done by the committee of that town, owing to the exhaustion of the relief funds. The committee have altogether received £130, including £12 2s. 3d. from Messrs. Hattersleys’ workmen, £2 10s. from the Swinton glass blowers, £2 from the Manvers Main workmen, and £13 from Messrs. J. and J. Charlesworth, of the Thurcroft Hall Collieries. Subscriptions have also been received from Mrs. Barker, £5; Miss Waring, £3; Miss Oliver, £1; Messrs. F. T. Harrop, £5; J. A. Bower, £7; F. L. Harrop, £3; J. D. Ellis (Thurnscoe), £5; R. C. Otter, £5; A. H. D. Acland, M.P., £13 6s. 8d.; “Yorkshire Post,” £5; “Daily Chronicle,” £5; Merrion’s Brewery, £1 1s.; Mapin’s Old Brewery, £2 1s.; Social Evening Committee, £2 4s. 3d.

For a number of weeks now they have distributed soup and bread to children. They have given away 4,600 loaves, 1,200 cakes, and 28,000 pints of soup. The committee have only £1 12s. 4d. in hand, and regret very much not being able to carry on the good work. Mr. Jones, chemist, of Swinton, is the secretary.