many tales circulating the Cynon Valley about secret meetings held at the behest of the NUM area executive. Howells was already publicly advocating a return to work without an agreement, and continued to do so despite censure from an area delegate conference.
Demoralisation meeting organised brought together influential intellectuals and some lodge leaders from the The executive was finally able to win a vote for its position at an area delegate conference at the end of February, and militants in South Wales. But the executive themselves first helped to create hostility to mass picketing, and hence the inability of the union to bring any effective pressure to bear for support position, the area executive organised for the return to work - riding on the sentiment they had helped create, and arguing that a return was better than a split in the powerful traditions solidarity, that proved a telling argument indeed. Ine because they felt they but to 'save the union'.
At the same time the very way in which the return was organised created confusion which still exists among the militants signalled recently by the high votes at Bedwas and Celynen South collieries not to fight the there.
Dai Davies, a South ecutive member from Penrihweeiber, who had advocated the tactics of the national leadership, explained the confusion that existed after the heroic year-. long struggle. still prepared to fight,' he said. question is how?' La lodge After that, fearing for their own Wales union valleys with Rule men returned • had no option against valleys. This wa.
closures threatened . out pit by Wales expit closures "There are pits that are "The spark for that.