The Denaby Trouble

Mexborough Times, June 5th

The Denaby Trouble.

Dissatisfaction with Winding Arrangements . The men employed at Denaby Main Colliery ceased work on Wednesday as a protest against the temporary winding arrangements which had been necessitated owing to the accident to the main winding engine.

A message was despatched to Barnsley, and Mr Herbert Smith, with Mr Mottram (chief inspector of mines) and Mr Hudspeth (district inspector), conducted an examination of number 1 shaft which was being worked with restricted engine capacity.

In the afternoon, Mr Smith addressed a mass meeting of the men, and stated that he was satisfied, as the result of inspection, that the Company were doing all they could to ensure the safety of the men, and he, therefore, recommended a return to work.

He did not do that, he said, in order to save the funds of the Association – although anxious to do that, he consider the safety of the men more important – but he felt that in light of what he had seen and experienced he was justified in making the recommendation.

Mr Smith´s report received a mixed reception, and in reply to a question as to whether, in the event of the men decided not to return to work until the engine was working at its normal capacity, they would receive a financial backing from the Association, he said that he would not go further than to say that Denaby will be dealt with fairly according to rules. Personally, he would recommend the Council to pay them.

After further discussion, a vote was taken, which showed a majority of about 25 in favour of stopping work, but a second law, taken under more satisfactory counting conditions, showed a majority of about 100 in favour of resuming.