The Harworth Dispute In an admirable statement in the House
of Commons on Tuesday Captain Crookshank made it clear that the real obstacle to compromise in the dispute in the Nottingham- shire coalfield is the question of" victimisation " at Harworth pit. It is true that the ballot paper issued by the Miners' Federation covers the question of " recognition " in Notting- hamshire as well as of " victimisation " at Harworth. But both Captain Crookshank, and Sir Walter Citrine in a speech on Monday, have said that if the 35o men to be reinstated at Harworth are chosen by some method which makes " victimisation " impossible, the other question at issue would be amenable to compromise and negotiation. Un- fortunately, the Harworth owners show no signs of making a concession which is easily in their power. In a statement published on Monday they confuse the issue by saying that the Miners' Federation have demanded the reinstatement of all the goo men now out of work at Harworth. That demand has never been made. And they assert that for them no further compromise is possible either with the Notts. Miners' Association or the Ministry of Mines. If that is true, a deadlock seems unavoidable ; and, as the owners' statement says, public opinion will know where responsibility for it lies.
Previous page
