Coal shortage (1926)

Post date: Apr 11, 2014 2:20:58 PM

The following is a transcription of a letter from The Railway Hotel, Wateringbury dated 29/6/26 kindly given by The Marden History Group. The original is in the Society's library. The addressee is not shown but context indicates a coal merchant

RAILWAY HOTEL

WATERINGBURY,

KENT

Phone: Wateringbury 37

29/6/26

Sir,

Having received no coals throughout the strike I have sed up all my stock. I have now received tikets [sic] allowing me ^1/₂ Cwt per week, which is not enough for me to carry on with, we do all our cooking with coals I have a great many parties to cater for which is a part of my business. My usual amount of coals used are from 15 Cwt to 1 Ton per MonthI should be greatley [sic] obliged if you could see your way clear to allow me from 5 Cwt to ^1/₂ Ton per Month so as I can carry on.

I am Sir

Yours faithfully

A Grainger

There is a manual inscription on the letter stating "1 ¹/₂ cwt. weekly".

In June 1925 the coal mine owners, under pressure from cheap imports from Poland and Germany, gave one month's notice of reduced wages, which was rejected by miners. After initially refusing any subsidy, the Conservative government under Baldwin gave way and offered a 9 month subsidy to industry while a Royal Commission investigated ways of improving efficiency of the industry. The Commission reported in March 1926 recommending an immediate reduction of wages and longer hours with, in the future, some re-organisation (rejected by owners) of the industry.A lock-out started on 1st May 1926. The Trade Union Council (TUC) called out on 3rd May other workers in a General strike that lasted 9 days before called off without concessions. After 6 months the miners were driven, by starvation, back to work at reduced wages and longer hours.