MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
HOME INTELLIGENCE SPECIAL REPORT NO. 14
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1st April, 1942
The Home Front in the Rhondda Valley
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The following report is based on the observations of the Intelligence Officer in the Welsh Region who recently visited several towns in the Rhondda Valley area.
Though there appeared to be some dissatisfaction over “what were considered to be the elementary rights of the workers” - particularly in the mining industry - the Intelligence Officer found no evidence of defeatism. It was suggested, however, that official attention to these “elementary rights” would have “a very beneficial effect on the general morale” of the people in the Rhondda Valley.
The complaints to which the Intelligence Officer: has drawn attention fall roughly under three headings:
Production; the Means Test; and Colliery work.
Production
Bad Management
: Many complaints were made of bad organisation on the part of colliery managements. Among specific instances in which this was said to be holding up production were:-
that too few coal trams were available within easy distance of the colliers.
that though pit-wood was available in pit-head yards, colliers were sometimes idle because of a delay in sending the wood down to the pit.
that material which could be used to ensure better production had been laid aside “for after the war”.
that some unprofitable sections of collieries were now being worked.
Disparity in wages
: Because of the disparity between the pay of colliers and of munition workers, “who are often alleged to be doing much less[Text Missing] work”, some colliers wish to change over to munitions, and, it was suggested, “might[Text Missing] possibly try to work their ticket from the colliery” so as to free themselves for munition work. On the other hand some men who had taken up factory work were said to be dissatisfied because of enforced idleness, even though it be only temporary. “The better type of colliery worker,” says our Intelligence Officer, “though always ready to fight for his rights, has also always been an honest worker and hates to be on the dole”. Commenting upon tales of idleness in factories, one contact remarked that as long as such stories were bruited about - and in many cases they were believed - the miners “would not give of their best”.
Spare parts factory
: When, owing to the difficulty of getting spare parts, buses had to be laid up for long periods, workers' transport problems were increased. It was suggested that spare parts factories should be set up in various parts of the country, for providing “spares” for the transport vehicles of “essential workers”.
Consultations with qualified colliers
: The suggestion was made that colliers should be called periodically to meet mining experts employed
by the Government. It is felt that such men, who have to meet and overcome the daily difficulties at the pit bottom, are in a better position than other miners' representatives to point out inefficiencies in the working of the colliery and to suggest means of improving production and conditions of labour.
The Means Test
“Bitter complaints” were made about “the unfairness of the Means Test”, as it is felt that to base payments on a person's means is to penalise the thrifty at the expense of the unthrifty. Payments to the National Unemployment Scheme being at a fixed rate, it is thought that benefit from the scheme should also be equal. It is considered unfair, too, that one's means should be taken into account when voluntary or public assistance is required by the unemployed. Complaints such as this are said to be leading to comparisons between references to the restoration of small nations' rights “and the absence of any attempt to rectify gross injustices of this nature at home”.
Colliery work
Silicosis
: The prevalence of this disease has led to a feeling that those who suffer from it should receive expert examination and treatment free of charge by “independent medical authority”. It is felt that compensation for disability or disease should also be decided on the evidence of an impartial medical authority; not one under the control of the colliery Company.
Firemen
: As the lives of hundreds of men depend on pit firemen, it is felt that the following steps should be taken to ensure that they work efficiently:
that firemen should be Government employees and not employees of the colliery Companies,
that there should be a sufficient number of firemen attached to each colliery to make it unnecessary for one fireman to work a double shift when another drops out owing to illness or some other cause,
that firemen should receive periodical silicosis and X-ray examination without charge to themselves.
