What does the following quote from D.H. Lawrence's novel, Sons and Lovers, mean? "An' I says, 'Tha'd better stan' on a bit o' clunch, an' hold it...

In this phrase from D.H. Lawrence's Sons and
Lovers, a gaffer (in England a foreman, in particular the overseer of a group
of laborers) comes to Paul Morel—who works in the mines—and complains about the props. A
"prop" is some kind of beam, pole or structural support to hold something up. When Morel
responds, he uses the word "clunch" which, in parts of Europe, particularly in England
and Normandy, it refers to a common building material (hardened
clay).

This comment is made by Morel at a tavern or pub,
which he frequents on a regular basis:

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An' I says, 'Tha'd better stan' on a bit o'
clunch, an' hold it up wi' thy 'ead.' So 'e wor that mad, 'e cossed an' 'e swore, an'
t'other chap.

According to
Morel, when the gaffer complains, Morel meets his concerns with a flippant (or
disrespectful) response. He basically says:

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And I said, "Thou [You] had better stand on a bit
of clunch [hardened clay] and hold it [the "ceiling" of the mine] up with thy [your]
head." And the gaffer was so mad, he cursed and he swore at the other chap
[man].

It would appear that
Morel is venting his own person frustration. His home life is hard, living with a
Puritan woman who punishes him for his failings, not seeing him at all for who he is,
but who he could be. It is a struggle for Paul Morel. He spends
some time, almost everyday of the week, drinking, though it rarely interfers with his
work. It does, however, support the notion that Morel aggravates others for the pleasure
of it. Perhaps this makes him feel that he has some small control
over what happens in his life.