Mr. Williams at Denaby
The Labour candidate visited Denaby on Wednesday. In the unavoidable absence of County Councillor Roberts, Mr. W. L. Worsley presided at the Rossington Street School room, which was crowded by miners, with a number of wives who took much interest in the proceedings. There were also a few voters from Mexborough.
Coun. F Collindridge of Wombwell was the first speaker, and was followed by Mr. Singleton of Mexborough.
Mr. Tom Williams was cordially received. He provoked good humour at the onset by remarking that the agent of the Party that morning had had great difficulty in describing his “occupation” on the nomination forms. Some persons suggested “checkweightman”, others “miner”, a few had the temerity to say “politician” and it was also hinted the term might be “gentleman”.
During the war there was work of everybody – even workhouses and prisons were searched for helpers. Since the war the same eagerness had not been shown to find work. Employers were taking advantage of the difficulties of the situation to-day economically. Science was finding more machinery and that meant more men out of work. The hours for work must be reduced or wages increased. The masters did not want them to be well off, and have a balance at the bank.
Yet they expected the workmen to believe that such parties were interested in their welfare. They had reduced the purchasing power of the people and certainly had not kept “the home fires burning”, to use a phrase of Mr. Baldwin. There would always be 800,000 or a million people unemployed – so said the supporters of the late Government. They are not ask for a further reduction of wages, they had not the audacity to do that but they proposed to erect tariff barriers. To put up would have to pay in extra cost of living. Thus wages were indirectly decreased. Protection would not do for a nation which was called “the greatest workshop in the world”, and which depended so much on exports. “Barriers” would cripple trade.
England was the last nation in the world where they ought to talk about protection. Science in industrial life should be made to help the workers the unemployed army should be looked after better by the Government. A man of 60 should have £1 a week for the rest of his life, and thus give a better chance to a young man. Fifty years was quite sufficient for any person to follow his employment. The policy of the Labour Party would result in better pay for the worker.
The “fit and proper” resolution was carried unanimously.