Meeting of Denaby Miners

A meeting of the Denaby Main miners was held in the yard adjoining the Keresby Arms, Denaby, on Saturday morning. Mr. C. Scofield was chairman. The principal business for consideration was with respect to the new rules of the Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund, with which the Chairman said he did not altogether agree. Still, he considered the relief fund had in the past done considerable good at Denaby, and under the new rules he was quite certain the same good results would follow.

Mr. Peter Hatton thought that the best benefit of the society was abolished; but Mr. R. Appleford, who met with considerable opposition, reviewed the history of the society from its commencement, and contended that the minor accident benefits of the Widow and Orphan Fund had done the most good in the past, because, as they all must know, the greatest number had received benefits from these branches.

The Chairman thought that, seeing that less than a third of the members were present, it would be far better that each member should have an opportunity of expressing his opinion on the question. It was not fair that the 300 present should throw the other 700 out of benefits. He himself knew quite 200 who were anxious to keep in the society, and he invited suggestions as to how the true feeling of the men could be obtained.

Mr. W. Cooper said there were not 20 men in Denaby who wished to continue in the Permanent Relief Fund.

A resolution was then passed that no more money be stopped for the relief fund. There is, however, a strong feeling amongst the men employed at the colliery in favour of the Permanent Relief Fund, and only a ballot of the whole of the men seems likely to give general satisfaction.