Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 07 November 1902

Denaby Notes

Article in a Yorkshire Evening Paper

A well-known Yorkshire evening paper has earned further notoriety in a recent article which dealt with the local strike. The article in question explains how keenly distress is being felt in Denaby Main.

It says, “In many of the homes at the colliery village everything possible has been pawned” and families are known to have existed for days on bread and dip.”

To a certain extent this is true, but the reflection is cast on nearly the whole of the miners families, and it is rather unfair. I’m bound to admit that there has been more pawning of household goods than is usual in times of peace amongst the miners, but I don’t agree with the tone of the article in question on this subject.

The writer further states: “it is confident that if a ballot were taken it would not be many days ere the pits were working,” and further still, “the local lodge officials, however, and those who support them, strongly contend that the men must play on until their grievances are remedied.”

This latter part of the article reads like nothing more or less than a shy at the local officials, which, I am quite sure, is altogether uncalled for. Those who read last week’s issue of the “Times” would read how contradictory are the opinions of the men in the meeting rooms and away in the country, and the matter rests entirely with the men, and not their officials. I am, and always have been, of the opinion that if a ballot were taken there would be no change in the position, as there are very few men indeed who would wish to return to work on the old terms.

I speak from a knowledge of the miners and as so much comment has been used in the papers recently regarding a ballot, I am now prevailed upon by some of the men, who express indignation at the opinion, to refute the statement.