The Coal Dispute 10th Week – Mr Herbert Smith: “Fight must go on.”

July 1926

Mexborough and Swinton Times, July 9, 1926

The Coal Dispute
10th Week
Colliery Owners Terms For Eight Hours
Government Check To Yorkshire Owners
Mr Herbert Smith: “Fight must go on.”

The coal stoppage enters on its 10th week today.

During the week colliery owners in most of the districts have issued their terms for reopening the pits on the basis of an eight hours day.

The Eight Hours Bill was expected to become law last night. Its final stages were held up by the Government, who disapproved of a clause in the Yorkshire owners terms entering the ratio of profit to wages from 13 – 87 (1924 agreement) 15 – 85 (1921 agreement). The Yorkshire owners abandoned this proposed change in deference to the government’s views.

So far the miners have not anywhere accepted the new offers.

The government has this week taken power to spend £3 million on the importation of coal.

Mr Herbert Smith, president of the miners Federation, speaking at Hemsworth, declare that he could not in any circumstances recommend acceptance of an eight-hour day, and the fight must go on.