Mexborough and Swinton Times, June 14, 1929

Resident M.P.

Some portion of Mr. Harry Hirst’s remarkable popularity with his constituents is derived from the fact that he has long been a resident in the constituency; but he is not the only M.P. associated with this neighbourhood, for Mr. Tom Smith, who has regained Pontefract for the Labour party, is a native of Hemingfield.

He was born there in 1886, and as a boy worked in the pits around Wombwell. His first official job was that of checkweighman at Nunnery, and he held that position until he was elected for Pontefract in 1922. He was returned in 1923, but in both these years there was a three-cornered contest, and in a straight fight in 1924 he was beaten by General Ingham Brook. The re-intervention of the Liberal in this year’s election gave him the seat once more. In the Labour Government he served as Parliamentary private secretary to Mr. E. Shinwell, Minister of Mines.

Before entering Parliament he did a good deal of public work in and around Sheffield, and represented Darnall on the Sheffield Board of Guardians for ten years. He has also been for a number of years a Yorkshire miners’ delegate at conferences, national and international and since his defeat at Pontefract in 1924 he has served on the headquarters staff of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association. His home is at Darfield.