Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 11 June 1927

Agitators at Work.

The allegations made at a recent meeting of the Miners’ Federation to the effect that miners are being victimised and are subject to such a loss of working time generally that the men cannot make a living wage, reflect the disappointment prevailing in regard to the present position of the coal trade.

Inquiries made Sheffield Telegraph representatives with a view to ascertaining the situation in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire undoubtedly reveal that the miners are having a bad time, in which unhappy predicament they are not alone, for coal owners, with them, are faced with adverse economic factors at home and a slump in export trade, which now has a further menace, through the decree of the French Government which came into operation yesterday.

This latest embargo on the importation of British coal into France except under an import licence is not calculated to improve already difficult situation for British coal, but this factor is but one of the many adverse influences operating to the detriment of miners and coal owners alike. The depression is a recurrence of circumstances of too frequent appearance in the last few years, and some of its latest mischief is, no doubt, due to the long stoppage of last year, which left as heritage a great and, to material extent, a permanent reduction in the demand for house coal.

On the resumption of work the miners enjoyed very good wages for short while, and to-day when “times are bad” there the inevitable accompaniment of grumbling, and statements are being made prejudicial to the true interests of the coal trade, some of them, indeed, most mischievous, particularly those of the agitators who are always ready to meet genuine trouble with provocative utterances designed more for the development of dissatisfaction and recourse to damaging extremes than to find a remedy for a decidedly trying situation. Many of these agitators are particularly busy at the present time.

Outlook for summer.

Unfortunately, the immediate outlook is not so bright to be reassuring, and with the summer season close at hand, neither miners nor coal owners can expect substantial recovery in the next few months. But that does not excuse the prejudice inserted into the parrot-like cries of division’s disciples who have for their purpose the spreading of suggestions aimed at the disruption of the working unity, never more necessary than now. The term victimisation,” again to the fore, is broadly true only in so far it applies to the ‘‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” of circumstance. Colliery officials since the resumption of work following the long stoppage of last year have certainly had greater opportunity of exercising their authority which was considerably crippled before because of the political aims allied to trade union pressure, exerted too often, it is safe to say, regardless of the economic position of the pits and suffered, in many cases, through proprietorial desire to avoid a break. But that does not mean that officials of reputable pits are asserting their resuscitated authority to the base use of victimisation, for every official worth his salt realises that the best possible coal production can only obtained where every effort is made to meet legitimate grievances and by the maintenance of a conciliatory working atmosphere.

There are exceptions, no doubt, where known agitators and disturbers of harmony have been dismissed, but even in their case this step has only been taken because of repeated transgressions contrary to the rule and spirit of the mine.

In this matter the investigations of the “Sheffield Telegraph” have brought from many colliery managements of the Sheffield district denial of the victimisation alleged. Said one of their number, whose words may be taken as generally representative (always allowing for the exceptions incidental to every class of employers and employees alike). “No, we don’t believe in victimisation and do not practise it. We have enough and to spare of the unavoidable troubles of the coal trade without adding to our tribulations the applications of personal spite as a solatium for disagreement.” The common sense of that statement is obvious.

Other Allegations.

Now, to the other allegation, ventilated by the Miners’ Federation, that the men are having such shortage of time that they are unable to make living wage, it is only too plain fact that wages present are poor. That, as explained above, is due to circumstances beyond control and cannot be debited to the cruelty of Capitalism, as the agitators, Communists, and others would have the miners believe. Colliery companies would only be too glad of the ability to pay better wages.

In the Mexborough district, for instance, there is example of continued provision of work for what is practically ten shifts of a possible eleven each fortnight, but, so far as proprietorial profit is concerned, the pits are not at present worth working, with the necessity of exporting coal at prices below pre-war figures and house coal in the grip of a slump. Even so, with railway contracts helping to provide work, and despite the deficiency arising from the lessened demands of the gas and electricity works, while this colliery company is giving labour practically full opportunity, absenteeism is by no means a spent luxury on the part of a number the miners.

In the Mexborough district also, and which contains several well established, finely equipped, and well-known collieries, the opportunities of the miners for work are more favourable than m many districts farther afield. That the miners cannot earn more for their toil is not due to the shortcomings of the coalowners, who, as a matter of fact, are gravely concerned for the welfare of their men, and would welcome a speedy return of conditions essential to the realisation of the improvement all desire. And if there is consolation in the encouragement so often tendered to the sick and suffering, Think of others who are so much worse,” South Yorkshire miners can at least claim employment resources better than those available in too many of the coalfields.

The minimum wage, poor as it may be is there, and it is not exactly a ‘living’ one the care free sense of the word, is, at the least, a protection for the miners from what, but for its safeguard, might be much worse.

Sympathy with the miners is genuine, and the pity of it is the prospect of the coal trade still remains far from bright.