Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 08 January 1879
Denaby Main Colliery Dispute.-
Determined Opposition To The Decision Of The Council.
A meeting of the miners of the Denaby Main Colliery was held yesterday at the Large Room, Masons’ Arms, Mexborough, for the purpose of hearing the decision of the Council in reference to the strike existing about the check-weighman, Marsland.
About three hundred of the men were present, and the meeting throughout was of a most excitable and turbulent nature, one scarcely being able to speak without interruption.
Mr. Jarvis occupied the chair, and no sooner had done so than were heard different parts the room asking What have we come here for?”
Mr. Chappell: We have come here your friends.—Then followed shouts of “Bah!” Bosh.” “Rubbish!” “It is settled already in the Sheffield Telegraph.”
After a little more disturbance of this kind, the Chairman said the Denaby dispute had been brought before the Council in honourable manner and it had been treated honourably.
A letter was read from Mr. Pope, one of the owners, stating that the colliery would not be open again for Marsland. After some further remarks from the chairman, Mr. Chapped read the following resolution as passed by the Council at “That this Council deeply regrets that they are not able to see their way clear to recommend the Denaby miners to further protract the present struggle arising out of the dispute of Council, upon taking into consideration the privation and consequent suffering arising therefrom, without any apparent possibility gaining the battle, strongly recommend and advise the Denaby miners to resume work without further delay.”
Mr. Chappell proceeded to explain to the men that he and the delegates they had sent to Council had done their very best for them, and they could do no more. If they went against the decision of the Council they would not receive any support from the association. (A Voice: “Then we will do without it, and support ourselves.”)
The following resolution was then passed and carried, we believe, unanimously: That the present struggle be continued until the expiration of the contract notice, 15th instant, and that if the district go for in no reduction they (the Denaby miners) ask for their late reduction of five per cent. to be given back again.”