Mexborough and Swinton Times, December 12, 1902
Denaby and Cadeby Strike
Question Of Strike Pay
Date of Action: Jan 14th
Association Relief To Be Continued.
Mr. W. H. Chambers,
Managing Director, Denaby Main Colliery Co.
“Is it peace?”
“Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will for a’that;
That most to man, the wide-world o’er,
Shall brothers be, for a’that.”
There are two sides to every question, and so there are to the Denaby dispute. In the first place the men acted illegally in striking without notice, and stood out twenty-three weeks before taking energetic action to obtain a concession of their claims. The masters, equally passive, looked on with equanimity, and simply stated that the pits were open, and any grievance that existed should be considered when the men resumed work. There is the case in a nutshell.
The grievances regarding the bag-dirt and the price list are clearly understood by the representatives on each side. Surely the price list can be made workable and intelligible to the men without any longer delay. The men now state they are willing to restart work on the old list, if the masters will adhere to it. The grounds of the dispute are reduced to such a minimum that it is imperative on both sides to-day to hesitate long before rejecting the golden opportunity they now possess.
No one, we believe, will have the hardihood to incur such a responsibility. The men have a definite promise that grievances shall be rectified. Cannot they accept this assurance, and leave the price list for the decision of the Joint Board? It is insensate folly to waste any more valuable time and money in strife and contention; the time has arrived to cry – “Enough! come let us reason together.”
A multitude are hanging upon the result of to-day’s deliberations in Sheffield. Surely in this enlightened twentieth century there should be no more blind, ruinous fighting, but a record to peaceful, civil methods, to effect a righteous settlement. Mr. Chambers’ last offer clears the way to an understanding, and if the men meet to-day in the same spirit, the glad tidings of peace will ring through the whole of Yorkshire ‘ere the setting of another sun.
We earnestly appeal to both masters and men to meet to-day in final determination to show that spirit of conciliation, without which conference is futile. In these days of light and liberty it is the far extreme of absurdity that this unfortunate dispute has endured such an unconscionable space of time.
The colliery proprietors we ask to meet the men in all fairness, and strain any point to end this ghastly civil war. The men we call upon to exhibit moderation, and to consider the questions before them with an open mind, free from bias. The piteous appeal of suffering, helpless children penetrates deeper than voices of strong men; the path is open, the course clear, and the hour has arrived; our strenuous desire is that peace may once more be proclaimed in every home throughout the Don Valley.
The history of the injunction to restrain the payment of strike money to the men out of work at the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries went forward a chapter on Wednesday.
First there was an interim injunction granted, and then leave was granted by the plaintiff to allow strike pay to be distributed for one week owing to the distress among the workmen.
On Wednesday the matter was before Mr. Justice Buckley in chambers. The plaintiff, Wm. Henry Howden, was represented by Mr. Montague Lush, K.C., Mr. H. T. Waddy, and Mr. H. W. W. Wilberforce (instructed by Mr. Arthur Neal, of Sheffield). The defendants were represented by Mr. Danckwertz, K.C., and Mr. Loehnis, K.C. (instructed by Messrs. Raley and Sons, Barnsley).
Numerous affidavits had been filed on both sides. The matter occupied a considerable time. The learned judge intimated that he was not disposed to deal with a question of such importance by an interim injunction, as he thought there was a fair dispute between the parties. He, therefore, made no order, but on the application of Mr. Lush, directed that the action should be set down for trial on January 14th next.
The effect of this is that the strike pay will continue to be paid for the present.
During Wednesday the greatest possible interest was shown in the Mexboro’ district as to the outcome of the proceedings in London. Men stood in groups at Denaby Main discussing the situation in the bleak, wintery weather, and the women gossiped in one another’s dwellings as to the probable issue before the judge. During the afternoon intelligence arrived by telegram that strike pay was to be continued, and the news very rapidly became general knowledge. Intense relief was afforded by the information, and many of the men became quite jubilant over the affair at the newly-opened Working Men’s Club at New Conisboro’. The strike pay, along with the money contributed at the various collieries, enables the bulk of the families to live without any fear of starvation, though where there are many children the food has to be eked out sparingly from day to day. The next good news would be that an amicable settlement has been arrived at, and everybody is desirous that this may be telegraphed on Friday, as a result of the intended interview between Mr. W. H. Chambers, the managing director, and the representatives of the men at the adjourned Sheffield conference.