Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 01 March 1912

Disastrous Effect on Trading Concerns.

AII the miners in the Mexborough district were out yesterday. At Cadeby, Manvers Main (three pits), Goldthorpe Main, Wath Main, Thrybergh Hall and Warren Vale, Hickleton Main, and Stubbin Colliery, something like 20,000 workers have thrown in their lot with the national movement to secure a minimum wage. Altogether from 70,000 to 80,000 men, women and children dependent upon the local coal trade may now said to be directly affected the storage.

But, beyond the miners, local industries are being more less affected by the trouble in the coal world. As already announced, the New Don Works, have been dosed down indefinitely through want of fuel, and 200 glassworkers are thus thrown out of employment. The next firm to succumb the abnormal conditions will be Grocock’s Waggon Works (Swinton), which will be shut down to-night, not so much on account of the strike, but on account of its effect in locking the waggons and down the railway system.

Messrs. Baker and Co.’s steel forge at Kilnhurst will be shut down at the end of the week because of the small stock of coal, another week will probably see work suspended at the Siemens’ furnace department and the waggon works, which together employ about 330 hands. There has been very little coal drawing since Wednesday morning, and very few men presented themselves for work at yesterday morning. The colliery company will commence paying what, is known as tool money to-day and the bulk of the tools have been drawn to the surface. The “tool” system at Denaby and Cadeby is not in general use among South Yorkshire collieries. The colliery company mentioned provide sets of tools at each stall and obtain repayment by instalments from the colliers, who, in giving proper notice to terminate their employment, are refunded the money again.

At Cadeby there will some difficulty in some cases, owing to the fact that good deal of coal has been “got” and left in the pit and tools are lying in stalls at present inaccessible. The Colliery company are diminishing the huge stacks piled on the surface by means of steam “navvies.” The colliery clerks, and engineers’ services will retained.

The police have asked the officials of the Mexborough Rifle Club to remove all rifles and ammunition from their club house on the range. This has been done, and it is presumed the same steps have been taken at the headquarters of other district rifle clubs.