South Yorkshire Times August 22, 1959
£750 Compensation at Denaby
Described as “Ridiculously Low”
A Denaby window, Mrs Joseph Jones, of Bolton Street, has been offered £750 by the N.C.B. following the death of her husband, a deputy at Denaby Main Colliery, who was killed eight months ago.
On Wednesday her son, Mr. Bernard Jones said “My mother has been penalised because my father saved during him lifetime. She would have been just as well off if my father had saved nothing and had not paid superannuation”.
Mr. Joseph Jones was 61. Compensation was negotiated by the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers, and originally an award of £500 was offered. Mrs. Jones made an appeal and now an offer of £750 has been made.
Claims are based on what a man would earn during his remaining working life, less average personal spending, the amount of his estate and, in Mr. Jones’ case, superannuation credits.
“It is not particularly the N.C.B. I am disgusted with”, Mr. Bernard Jones told the “South Yorkshire Times” this week. “It is the law as it stands. My mother would have been just as well off, if my father had not saved and paid superannuation, Nothing can compensate for a man’s life but £750 is a ridiculously low figure
It looks as though my mother may be forced to accept the last offer”, Mr. Jones added. “As far as the law goes, the N.C.B. are within their rights. It’s the law that is wrong. It affects other Industries as well as the N.C.B.”