Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Monday 22 November 1948
“Too much like military machine”
Union critic of N.C.B.
“We are getting too much like a military machine.” This criticism of colliery organisation under the Coal Board was made at Barnsley on Saturday night at the second annual dinner of the Denaby and Cadeby branch of the Overmen, Deputies and Shot Firers Association.
The critic, Mr. Jack Howard, of Barnsley, secretary of the Association’s Yorkshire area, said, There Is something to said for the time when you could go the manager’s office in a dispute and he could say ‘ Yes ’ or * No.’
Now he has to study what the area manager will say. I do not think it in keeping with what should be under nationalisation. There are many problems a colliery manager could settle on the spot, but cannot present.”