Mexborough and Swinton Times, July 29th, 1932
Another 1300 Men Out
Darfield & Wombwell Main Dismissals
This has been a depressing week for Wombwell. In two consecutive days 1300 men employed at Wombwell pits have lost their jobs.
On Tuesday notices were handed to 900 employees of Darfield Main; and the following day over 300 notices were given at Wombwell Main. In addition, 300 workers, have been dismissed at Houghton Main and the services of smaller numbers have been dispensed with at other mines in the locality.
The effect on the business and domestic life of Wombwell, with its population of 18,000, is bound to be serious. In each case the hands of the employers have been forced by trade depression, and the only hope that conditions in the industry will soon improve. People officially connected with the mines take the hopefully view that the end of this month will see the worse over, but others declare that there is no likelihood of increased activity in the industry until the summer is over. In the demand for home coal there has been an emphatic slump, and this has particularly affected the seams in which work has been suspended.
The intimation that 900 men had received notice at Darfield Main came as a great shock to the district, and was totally unexpected by the majority of the men who received them. The branch officials however had some brief warning and had an interview with the management on Monday. Apparently, there was no way out. These men have all been employed in the Melton field seam which is the only seam worked at Darfield Main. The seam is from 4ft. to 4ft. 8in. thick and is excellent house coal. Darfield Main has been turning coal for about 75 years and after Wombwell Main is probably the oldest pithead in the Dearne Valley. The Barnsley seam has been worked out and the Parkgate seam worked from Mitchell Main, operated by the same company. Of the 900 men dismissed some 350 are employed on each of the coal turning shifts and 200 on maintenance work on the night shift. Up to the early part of this year the colliery was working fairly good tine, but in recent months output has been restricted to three days a week.
Most of the men affected live in Wombwell and Darfield, the proportions being about equal. A smaller number live at Hoyland and Barnsley. Most of the men from Hoyland had previously been working at Hoyland Silkstone.
A representative of the Yorkshire Miners ‘Association stated that they had been informed by the management that the closing down of the colliery was due entirely to trade depression. He also expressed the opinion that there was little likelihood of the mains being re-opened until the end of the summer.
The men will be eligible for unemployment benefit but since Rule 76 of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association has been abandoned, they are not entitled to benefits from trade union funds.
Notices to between 300 and 400 workers were issued at Wombwell Main Colliery on Wednesday. This development had been expected for some days. These men have all been employed in the New Silkstone seam, with a few at Hoyland. Lack of demand for this class of coal is the explanation.
An increase of staff at the Wombwell Employment Exchange will be necessary to cope with the situation.