A Greater World: A woman's journey

by Clare Flynn

  Mr Robinson was looking alarmed. 'I don't know what Mr Kidd would have to say about this? It's most irregular.'

  'Let me worry about Mr Kidd, you just show me the books and explain what's going on. I want to understand everything. Where the money's coming from, how much is going on wages, expenses, everything.'

  Robinson was about to answer when she continued 'We can do this the easy way and you can talk to me like a grown-up person and tell me everything I need to know and then I'll be gone. Or we can do it the hard way, in which case I'll be spending a lot of time with you until I have the answer to every one of my questions – no matter how long that takes.'

  He sighed pointedly, then said, 'Where do you want to start?'

  Two hours later, with the help of a couple of large ledgers and a lot of scribbled figures which he made on the blackboard, Mr Robinson had given Elizabeth a comprehensive overview of the Black Water Colliery's finances.

  Elizabeth inhaled slowly. 'So, if I've understood you correctly, the mine is in a perilous position? The main seam is getting too thin to work economically; opening a new seam involves significant risk and investment; on top of that, the price of coal is dropping as many newer, more automated mines are entering the market? As a result my husband had already begun to look for a way out, but has so far been unable to identify an interested buyer? The current work-force consists of 120 men and in the absence of an alternative plan, you believe we'll need to consider layoffs before the end of the year?'

  The three men at their desks all looked up at her then swiveled in their seats to see Robinson's reaction. He looked as though she'd asked him to swallow a slug.

  'Yes. That's it in a nutshell, Mrs Kidd. You've grasped the situation perfectly for, for ...a person new to the mining industry.'

  'Thank you. For a moment there I thought you were about to say 'for a woman'. I'm so glad you didn't. Now we need a plan.'

  'We do... but that's not something that you...'

  'I will be back on Thursday afternoon. By then I'd like you to work up some alternatives for the business – what it would cost to develop a new seam? what possible new markets can be identified? are there any potential local buyers for the coal? – we could sell at a lower price if the transportation costs were less. I'd like the Chief Engineer to join us and anyone else you think should be present. It may be some time before Mr Kidd can attend to these matters and I don't want him to worry about this at all. Is that clear?'

  'Perfectly, Mrs Kidd.' His oleaginous features were beaded with sweat and glowing red. He took a large, spotted, silk handkerchief from the pocket of his waistcoat and wiped his face.

  Elizabeth left the room with a nod to the other men. Little work had been done that afternoon, so avidly had each of them listened to the exchanges between the fat accountant and the boss's wife.

  As she drove away, she felt exhilarated. For the first time since being in Australia, apart from being a mother, she had a sense of purpose.

  'Michael's gone away, Lizbeth.' Will was sitting in a chair in the garden, the rug that she had draped over his knees abandoned on the grass beside him. He walked slightly further around the garden each day and the colour was coming back to his face.

  Elizabeth's head shot up and the expression on her face was eager. 'Have you heard from him? Where is he?'

  'Nah. Not from him. I spoke to Hat last night. He's gone abroad. England or maybe New Zealand! They've split up and they're going to get divorced.'

  'Yes, I did know that.'

  'Why didn't you tell me, Lizbeth? I can't say as I'm surprised he's left her. But New Zealand? Why would he go there. It rains all the bloody time. Nothing but sheep and rain. Hat wouldn't have put up with that for a second! Not with her fancy clothes.' He looked at Elizabeth for corroboration but she avoided his eyes. He carried on. 'More likely he's gone back to England – he told me a while back his mum was ill. I'm sorry he's gone. He was the only person I liked at the mine. My life will be worse for him going, that's for sure.' He looked glum.

  'Does Harriet know his address?' her voice was hesitant.

  'No. She's going to divorce him for desertion so she doesn't want to know where he is.'

  She pretended to be absorbed in her embroidery, but was stabbing the needle into the fabric, blind to the stitches.

  William, unaware of the effect of his words, carried on. 'It's strange isn't it? Just a few weeks ago I'd three brothers and now I've none. Mikey's dead. Nat's dead. Michael's buggered off and when the divorce comes through he'll not be my brother any more.' The boy looked crestfallen.

  'Sorry, Will. It's been very distressing for you.'

  'I'm bothered more for you. Having to look after me. And all the worry of Pa's trial coming up. And the mine and everything. All this and losing little Mikey and the bub.'

  She smiled at him. 'As the philosopher said, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger".'

  'You're a very strong woman, Lizbeth. And you've looked after me so well.'

  'Looking after you, Will, is an absolute pleasure.'

  'Do you think they'll hang Pa?'

  'Will! What on earth makes you say that?' She felt a stab of fear.

  'Because it's the law. If you kill someone it's murder and the law says you get the drop. If they do hang him it'll be my fault.'

  'What on earth are you talking about?'

  'He was trying to save me.'

  'And you were trying to save me. Once the court hears what happened, your father won't be found guilty. Certainly not of murder.'

  'But he could get manslaughter and still go to prison for years.'

  'If he does we'll face it together. But once the jury hear the circumstances he'll get off. I'm sure of that.'

  'If he does stay in prison I can still live with you, can't I?'

  'This is your home, Will. You've as much right to live here as I have. But before too long you'll be getting a home of your own. When you marry, I mean.'

  'I won't be marrying.'

  'Don't be silly. Of course you will. When you meet the right girl.'

  'No I won't.' He looked down at his hands.

  'Why ever not?'

  'Because the only person I want to marry is already taken.'

  Elizabeth looked up from her sewing nervously.

  'And who might that be?'

  'You know who I mean. Don't make me say it.'

  She raised her eyebrows. 'I've no idea.' She shrugged, 'I'm sure you'll eventually meet someone else much prettier and much nicer then her, whoever she is. All good things come to those who wait! You have so much time. You're still so young!' She laughed.

  To her surprise William got up and went into the house, calling back angrily over his shoulder.

  'Why do you want to make fun of me?'

  He slammed the french door to the dining room behind him.

  The remand wing of the Willagong Prison was overcrowded. The population had outgrown the original planner's expectations in terms of serious crime, and Kidd found himself in close quarters with many undesirables and unfortunates. Not that he was afraid of roughing it: he felt more comfortable in the company of these men than he ever had mixing with the wealthier citizens of McDonald Falls. Being accused of murder, he was denied bail and it was expected to be several weeks before his trial.

  The prison had been built more than a hundred years earlier by convict labour and was a stern and grim place. The days there were tedious and the routine unvarying: an endless repetitive round of being locked in the cells, let out of the cells, queuing for food and walking in the small exercise yard. Kidd hated the confinement. It was worse than being down the pit – at least there he could emerge from the depths and breathe the clear mountain air and he had decisions to make and people to marshal. Here it all boiled down to doing what the wardens told you to do, staying on the right side of the tougher long-termers, doing the odd deal for a bit of baccie and generally trying to keep your nose clean.

  Unlike the sentenced men, who were
allotted only twenty minutes visiting time each month, as a remand prisoner Kidd was allowed regular meetings with his lawyer and a weekly half hour meeting with Elizabeth. The sentenced men were all herded into a large area and expected to shout through a wire mesh barrier, at their assembled nearest and dearest several feet away whereas those on remand were afforded the privilege of an interview room, with only a single prison guard to look on and listen in to the conversation.

  Elizabeth brought her husband fruit and some of Mrs Oates' homemade biscuits, but the guards who checked her in took them from her. There'd be smiles on the faces of their wives that evening. Still in mourning for the children, her black silk coat put her in sharp relief against the grey-painted walls of the gaol.

  Kidd was thinner than the last time she'd seen him.

  'How are they treating you?'

  He grunted. 'No worse than I can take.'

  'Have you seen the lawyer? Any news on the trial date?'

  'He reckons it'll be a couple of weeks minimum. More like a month.'

  Elizabeth gasped. 'That's terrible. We must do what we can to bring it forward. We should ask again for bail. Surely they can't possibly believe you're a danger to the public? For heaven's sake, you killed a man who was attacking your son and your wife.'

  'Murder's murder. Round here they think a man who'd shoot his own son in the back is a good candidate for the gallows.'

  Elizabeth shuddered. 'Don't talk like that, Jack Kidd! Once Will and I testify, no jury will ever convict you. You'll be out of here soon. I'm sure of it.'

  'You won't be testifying.'

  'What do you mean?'

  'The law won't allow it. 'Spousal incompetence' they call it. Can't testify for or against, on the grounds that the law considers a husband and wife to be one and the same person.' He smiled.

  'That's ridiculous.'

  'Maybe, but you can't change the law.'

  'What about Will then?'

  'Lad's been through enough. I don't want him dragged into court.'

  'Surely he'll be called as a witness?'

  'Like as not the Prosecution will want him to testify.'

  'Why not the Defence? He can tell them what Nat did. He stabbed him, for heaven's sake!'

  'Yes he can tell them that. But it won't make any difference. He's alive and his brother's dead and nothing will take away the fact that I shot him.'

  'If that's what the lawyer is saying, then we need to find a new lawyer.'

  'There's nothing wrong with Cody. He's got as good a record as you'll find anywhere in New South Wales. I'll take my chance.'

  'But if they find you guilty?'

  'I am guilty.'

  'But you aren't going to plead guilty?' The alarm in her voice was evident.

  'I'm not that daft. I'm not signing my own death warrant.'

  'My God. Don't say that.'

  'Well that's what I'll get for sure if I plead Guilty. That's what the law says. It's no different here from in England.'

  'So what does Mr Cody say?'

  'Has it in his head to try to get me off on the grounds of temporary insanity.'

  'And?'

  'He spouted a lot of Latin stuff at me, but I think he reckons I was acting without thinking in killing Nat to stop him killing you and Will. Said something about provocation and something else. Hang on – I wrote it down – automatism.'

  'What?'

  'I know. It's a load of old gibberish to me.'

  'I will go and talk to Mr Cody.'

  'Keep out of it, woman. I mean it. I don't want you messing about with all that. Leave it to the lawyer. I'm paying the man enough. Now talk to me about something else in the few minutes we've got left.'

  'We could talk about the mine.'

  'What about it?'

  'It's in trouble.'

  'Says who?"

  'I've been there and looked at the books and talked to that very supercilious accountant of yours, Mr Robinson.'

  Kidd laughed. 'What the hell do you know about mining or about anything to do with business?'

  'I know enough. My father used to talk about his business. My sister and I often spent time in the office with him. I picked up enough to know how to read a balance sheet.'

  Kidd whistled. 'Well, well. You never cease to surprise me, girl. So what do you reckon?'

  'That the mine isn't viable without significant investment. The seam you've been working is narrowing and it's becoming uneconomical to extract the coal.'

  Kidd raised his eyebrows but she continued. 'On top of that, the market's becoming more competitive and you're being undercut by competitors that are more highly automated than you are. It looks to me that, without some significant investment to open up a new seam and buy more modern machinery, or developing an ancillary business such as iron smelting, or finding some local outlets for the coal you can produce who are willing to pay the prices you need, or finding a buyer who is prepared to do some or all of this, the mine's going to have shut before the year's out.' She was breathless by the time she finished.

  Kidd whistled. 'I'm impressed. There's a lot going on under that pretty little hat of yours.'

  'Please don't patronise me, Jack Kidd.'

  'I wouldn't dream of doing that.' He laughed.

  'So?'

  'So what?'

  'What do you think? Do you agree with me?'

  'I think you've hit the nail on the head.'

  'Good. I've called a meeting with Robinson and the Chief Engineer and the Surveyor chappie and I've asked them all to come prepared with some options. I can then review all the alternatives so we can make a decision on the future of the mine as soon as possible.'

  'Have you now?' Kidd was frowning.

  'You don't look very pleased. But we can't just let things ride. There are 120 men and their families depending on the Black Water Colliery to keep bread on their tables.'

  'Do you think I don't know that?' Kidd's voice rose and she could see the anger in his eyes.

  'I'm sorry. You know I wouldn't dream of interfering, but Will's still sick, Winterbourne's gone. You're in here. Someone has to keep things moving. Obviously I won't take any decisions without consulting you first.'

  'You know Winterbourne's gone?' he looked up at her sharply.

  She hesitated and then said quickly. 'Yes. When you were arrested, Verity and I made a trunk call to Sydney to tell Harriet. She told us they'd parted. I thought you knew.'

  'Of course I knew. Winterbourne told me. We had an argument. I know the girl's a handful but I thought he was man enough to handle her. Seems I was wrong.'

  'Do you know where he's gone? Since we don't know how long you'll be stuck in here maybe we should try to get him to come back – just till you're able to take control again? Has he been in contact with you since he left?' She struggled to keep the note of hope out of her voice.

  'I'll not have him back after what's happened with Harriet and anyway I don't know where he's gone. Took the pay that was owed him and went on his way. Shame, as I actually liked the fella. Should have handled Hattie better though. For God's sake, she's his wife. And now she's running round Sydney like a bloody flapper girl. God knows what she's up to. If you'd put your time against convincing that girl to come back to the Falls instead of worrying about my mine...'

  'She won't listen to reason. Verity's tried. She won't even speak to me. She's determined to stay in Sydney. Jack... I think you need to know... I'm afraid she's cut herself off from the family.'

  Kidd looked down at the floor then lifted heavy eyes to look at her. 'Can't say that I'm surprised. Having a gaol bird for a father doesn't sit well with her society friends in Sydney, I suppose?'

  Elizabeth was about to reply when there was a rap on the door and the guard, who had been chain-smoking in the corner of the room, jumped to attention and called to them. 'Time's up. You need to leave now, Missus.'

  Kidd leaned across the table and took her hands between his. His eyes seemed to fill with tears, but afterwards El
izabeth convinced herself it was just the smoke in the room.

  'I know I haven't been the best of husbands.'

  She looked towards the door, eager to get out as quickly as she could now. She was unused to tenderness from him.

  'Hurry up, lady,' the prison guard said.

  'I'll see you again next week. Everything's going to be all right. I promise you, Jack.'

  As she reached the door and looked back at him, he spoke again. 'Don't make promises you can't keep, Elizabeth.' Then the door of the interview room swung shut behind her and the heavy metal clank resonated hollowly through the empty corridor.

  Over the following weeks, Elizabeth spent most of her days inside the scruffy office building at the Black Water mine, going over pages of numbers with Robinson and talking at length with the engineers and surveyors. She held meetings with the bosses of the McDonald Falls Electric Light Company, the iron foundry in the next town, and the bank manager.

  It became clear to her that, as well as the uneconomic nature of the coal seams, the mine was subject to other negative forces. The whole country over the past five years had witnessed the return of men from the battlefields of the Great War, putting pressure on employment. Mining in particular was suffering, with flat demand for production causing employers to cut wages and their workforce. Elizabeth discovered that Kidd had not moved in line with most of the other pit owners. He had held wages, then reduced working hours to avoid making layoffs. As revenue declined, the payroll was becoming unsustainable. On top of that she was beginning to harbour the suspicion that Robinson had been creaming off money, probably for a number of years.

  She asked Robinson about the wages bill, surprised that Kidd had not done as most of his peers had, and forced wages down and hours worked up, as unemployment in the region rose.