Long Service Employees
Mr. Brown and the Duke of Sutherland, were introduced to the following long service employees George Beadmore 54 years, James Humphreys 54 years, James Smith 53 years, William Rathbone 52 years, F. Bracknell 51 years, H. Morris 49 years, W. Hassall 49 years, B. Spruce 49 years, and G. Pass 48 years.
Mr. Brown remarked that some of the men had been working at the colliery before he was borne as he was only 52 and the Duke remarked that as his age was 44 two of the men had been working there ten years before he was born.
To The Distinguished Gathering
In his opening remarks the Duke congratulated the local Welfare Committee. They had he said, quickly and rightly realised that one of the best uses that could be made of the funds at their disposal was to augment the funds for pithead baths. They therefore decided to contribute an equal amount to that provided by the royalty levy. The men at the Great Fenton colliery had all along been most keen to have baths and in the ballot over 80% expressed themselves in favour, which, of course, meant contributing towards the cost. The baths were the most up to date type and the canteen was the first of its kind in the whole of the country
Unfortunately, he continued, things were not very happy in the coal trade and there was much short-time working, but they were all hoping for better times and the accommodation at the baths could be doubled to meet the demand.
The fact that the colliery had had the baths was a sign of the good feeling which existed between the management and the men, not only at the colliery, but at all the collieries in North Staffordshire, due to a large measure to the good leadership of the men by Messrs. Leese, Hancock, Sumnall and Timmis, their Union representatives. The directors and management were proud of that spirit of co-operation.
Example to Whole Country
Referring to changes in the working of pits the Duke said that North Staffordshire had set an example to the whole country in the mechanisation of mines and the Staffordshire Coal & Iron had played their part. The directors has supplied the plant, the management had made their plans and the men had carried them out with the result that the proportion of machine mined coal in the past ten years had increased from 45% to 99% while the proportion of coal mechanically conveyed from the face to the pit tub had risen from 7% to 96%. In order to work coal it was necessary for miners to become mechanically minded. He added, in conclusion that if prosperity was to return to the coal industry masters and men had to work hand in hand for the common aim.
To day they were opening the 107 th pithead baths under the Coal Mines Act of 1926 and now 137,000 miners were provided for. There were 45 more schemes under construction and the programme when completed would provide for 210,000 miners. It was true that North Staffordshire had exceptional keenness, and by the latest instillation 9,000 miners were provided for out of 33,000.
Mr. Brown concluded by giving figures of the amount earmarked for pithead baths, pointing out how brains plus kindness could work miracles in the coal industry, and urged the miners to make the fullest use of the facilities provided. The old belief that it is a very bad thing for a miner to wash his back because it makes it weak is a fairy tale, he added.
Victoria Baths 1933
Mr. Ebby Edwards, general secretary of the Miners Federation of Great Britain, paid his first official visit to North Staffordshire in June 1933, when he opened the new pithead baths at the Victoria colliery of the Norton and Biddulph Collieries Ltd., installed at a cost of £21,000. The baths, which are a further exemplification of the usefulness of the Miners Welfare Fund, will provide accommodation for 1,680 men, bringing the proportion of men thus catered for in the district to about 50%.
There was a large attendance at the opening ceremony. Mr. James Cadman, chairman, said the were all gratified when the men voted for the utilisation of the Welfare Fund in the erection of pithead baths and it was a great satisfaction to know that North Staffordshire now had a bigger percentage of pithead baths than any other district in Great Britain.
North Staffordshire’s Record
Introducing the principal guest, Mr. Cadman said, Mr. Edwards statesmanlike handling of his work had secured the respect and confidence of everybody, and they all wished him the best of luck, health and happiness in the high position he occupied.
Mr. Ebby Edwards said he had that day, the honour of opening the 112 th installation of pithead baths in the country. It was an achievement of which all sections might well feel proud, but he reminded them as yet only 20% of the workers were provided for in that respect. At the present rate of progress it was going to take 20years to provide for all the workers. One heard of many places, which had no pithead baths because the workers had voted against them. He regretted that very much, and he should like to appeal to those men to reconsider their decision if not for themselves, then for the sake of their women folk. Compared with the country as a whole, North Staffordshire had a magnificent record, and the fact that about 50% of the mineworkers were now provided with pithead baths, was a credit to the foresight and social conscious of the employers and the employees. There was no dispute between the men and employers about pithead baths.
No Stoppage in July
Speaking on the future of the mining industry, Mr. Edwards said the time had come as Mr. Cadman had suggested, when the industry must be looked upon not as a number of pits, but as a national asset, which it was the duty of the country as a whole to preserve. The great problem was to secure an increase in the demand for coal, and at the same time increase the economic value of the coal its self. Someone would ask,” What about the July situation?” and he would say in passing, that there would be no stoppage in July this year; because he believed the large body of employers, knowing the immense competition in the coal trade of Europe, could not afford to have any crises created in the industry which could lead to a stoppage. He would go further, and say that the wages of the men were so low that there could be no economic salvation in any limitation of the standards of the men employed in the industry. In those two facts he was satisfied that there would be no crises in the industry next month. The time has come when they should be able to implement the machinery, which would prevent any stoppage, and yet do justice to the workers in the industry. Nearly 75% of British coal production was used in this country, and there could be no justification for the employers selling at a price which would not give his men a living wage, and the employers a return on their capital.
