THE DURHAM MINERS' STAND
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In your issue of October 16th, you print an article by Mr. F. A. Mackenzie under the heading " The Durham Miners' Stand," and whilst part of this letter is an expression Of opinion, many of the statements are so contrary to the facts that I venture to challenge Mr. Mackenzie upon them and to ask in what district or area of Durham County he made his observations and received his impressions.
I would like to ask first who Mr. Mackenzie means by " the miners in these regions," which he mentions in the first paragraph as being " stronger for a continuance of the strike than are their leaders." If he means the extreme element which runs practically all the lodges I will agree with him, but in this event he is not voicing the views of the rank and file but of a comparatively small number who work their will upon the majority. If the writer of the article had talked to the man in the street he would have learnt that the large majority are tired of the stoppage for which they can sec little justification, many expressing the opinion that they should never have been brought out. These men are nervous in expressing their views, as they fear intimidation and victimization, and in addition are generally the most loyal to their union.
Mr. Mackenzie may not be aware that the reason for the wives being more determined than their husbands is not in the majority of cases because of the merits of the dispute, but because their larders have in so many cases been better stocked with foodstuffs than for a long time past—in this respect it is no secret that many have received so many groceries that they could not use them and have in many cases traded with them or in some cases sold the food tickets. In many instances the coal-owners have supplied a certain quantity of free coal to their workmen as long as stocks permitted ; in all cases to my knowledge no. exception has been taken to men digging for coal on the surface, except perhaps in the case of actually endangering works on the colliery. In other eases owners have given the men drifts to work outcrop costl and supplied props to timber the workings. Many miners do very well out of selling coal thus obtained, and they do not forget to charge the maximum prices for it—and although in some cases they make several pounds per week they still draw their relief, which in the Union where I am living is not as Mr. Mackenzie states I8s. per week on the average for a family of six, but 12s. for the wife, plus 4s. for each child— a very different figure.
I would like to tell your correspondent, who appears to have such an overwhelming impression " from his visit to pit districts in Northumberland and Durham, that we have had, if not an orgy, certainly a boom in charabanc trips and cinemas, but I never heard of any prearranged dog fights —he can still, however, see football matches almost any day, often the opposing sides being women.
In conclusion, I feel convinced that the men in Durham are only waiting for a lead, and if a secret ballot could be taken, the men would show their willingness to return to the pits at once.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Previous page
