414

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

February 20, 1914.

of Commerce, who last week alleged that undoubtedly
the Miners’ Federation in South Wales “go hand
in glove with the Coalowners’ Association in keeping
up the price of coal,” should think before they speak.
Clear memories of the “ stop-day ” case would have
counselled better wisdom. As a matter of fact, the
gospel of large outputs is so generally accepted in
the British coal trade that any Machiavellian
scheme such as this would be foredoomed to failure.

The Chief . Inspector of Factories
Transmission has just published a report* dealing
Wadllnery with transmission machinery, and
m suggesting certain modifications in
Factories, existing requirements under the
Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.
It is proposed eventually to deal with these sugges-
tions in the form of regulations to be made under
section 79 of the Act, but in the first instance
they are issued as an appendix to the report for the
consideration of those concerned, and observations
upon them are invited.

Using a Parliamentary expression this may, there-
fore, be deemed the suggestions stage in regard to
matters which may shortly automatically become law,
and it is necessary that they should be carefully
scrutinised, not merely by the large class of factory
managers, but more especially by those who only
incidentally come within the scope of the Factory
Acts. For it goes without saying that certain regula-
tions and restrictions which might be quite properly
applicable to large factories, such as cotton mills,
would prove irksome and uncalled for in the case of
those smaller workshops and other appanages of
mines which only come more or less accidentally
under the purview of the factory inspectors, as being
“ places ” within the meaning of the Act.

It is for this reason that we take this opportunity
of directing attention to this report. It deals solely
with transmission machinery, a term which it is
proposed to substitute in place of the expression
“ mill-gearing,” as used in the Factory Acts, but
with a wider meaning. It will be remembered by
those who have followed the course of the Factory
Acts, that prior to 1901 the term “ mill-gearing ” had
a somewhat restricted application, and even driving
belts were not included; but the addition of the
phrase “ or other appliance ” subsequently enlarged
its scope, so as to include all kinds of connecting
transmission links between the prime mover and the
working machine. The term “ transmission
machinery ” still further extends this meaning, and
includes—(1) the wheel or pulley on the prime
mover actuating the main driving belt or shaft; and
(2) the fast and loose pulleys of each individual
machine or appliance. For the precise details of the
various parts of a power plant coming under the
definition of transmission machinery, as now proposed,
we must refer those interested to the report itself,
where these details are set out at some length.

The material part of the proposed new regulations
is not so much the requirement as to fencing
certain additional moving parts of workshop and.
other machinery as the limitations and restrictions
suggested to be imposed upon its working.

It cannot, of course, be denied that many avoidable
accidents happen in connection with machinery used
in colliery installations ; but it is quite a debatable
point whether such regulations as are now proposed
would even tend to diminish them. Let us examine
one example, the case of belt-shipping. It is a
common practice, where machines are worked inter-
mittently from a shaft, to throw off the driving belt,
in order to economise power, when the machine is
not in action. On the Continent it is sometimes
obligatory for workmen to use special safety devices,
known as belt-shippers, belt-poles or belt-perches,
for this purpose. Much is made of these mechanical
devices in France, Germany, Italy and Belgium, but
in Great Britain they have found but little favour,
perhaps for the very good reason that they are not
always suitable for the object in view, and in some
cases even more skill is required in handling the belt
pole than in shipping the belt by hand. By the

# “ Report on Fencing and Safety Precautions for Trans-
mission Machinery,” by W. Sydney Smith, issued by the
Factory Department, Home Office.

terms of the proposed regulations, as we understand
them, the use of mechanical belt shippers will be
compulsory in all cases unless the speed of the shaft
is first reduced below six revolutions per minute—
that is to say, virtually stopped. Moreover it would
seem that by paragraph 14 of the proposed regula-
tions it will be necessary not only to appoint a com-
petent person to see that these regulations are
observed, but to record in a book any breaches of
the same that come to his notice.

It is necessary to examine carefully the details of
these proposed requirements. However small may
be the additional restrictions imposed, it must be
remembered that these are cumulative. They apply
neither to the prime mover nor to the machine, but
solely to the intermediate connecting gear ; and they
do not include either compressed air mains, hydraulic
mains, manual machines or electrical conductors.
The sole justification for the regulations is on
the score of greater safety. The number of
accidents due to shafts, drums, pulleys and belts
shows no diminution from year to year, not-
withstanding the requirements now in force, and
the fact that 60 per cent, of these accidents are due
to workmen coming into contact with transmission
machinery in motion has led to this attempt to
tighten still further the official screw.

orara MO BASES.

North of Englando

The Wages Board of the North umberland Miners’
Association will meet the Coalowners’ Association of
the county at the Coal Trade Offices, Newcastle, on
Saturday, the 28th inst., regarding an application for
an increase in miners’ wages. The last similar applica-
tion was heard in November, when wages remained
unaltered. Wages are now 52J per cent, above the
basis of 1879, in the case of underground workers and
banksmen, and 39 per cent, in respect of other classes of
surface labour.

The sub-committee of the Northumberland coalowners
and the sub-committee of the Northumberland Miners’
Association, appointed to consider the question of regu-
lating the wages of miners of the county through the
medium of a sliding scale, met on Saturday, at New-
castle. The men’s side presented figures which they
had drawn up representing the proposals they are pre-
pared to accept, and the employers, on their side, also
presented figures embodying the recommendations of
the coalowners. The principal point discussed was in
regard to. the minimum percentage, and the selling price
per ton to be allowed under that minimum. The sub-
committees will report in due course to a full meeting
of the coalowners’ and the miners’ representatives.

Federated Area.

The recent award of Sir Edward Clarke under the
Minimum Wage Act has led to a difficulty so far as the
miners employed at the several collieries in the Rother-
ham district with which John Brown and Co. Limited
are concerned, viz., Aldwarke Main, Rotherham Main,
Carhouse, and at the Silverwood Colliery of the Dalton
Main Collieries Limited. About 10,000 men came out
on strike on Monday morning. They claim that the
award entitles them to 6d. per day advance. Their past
payment has been not less than 7s. 5d. per day ; but last
Saturday, instead of an increase, they sustained a
decrease of approximately 2d. per day. Mr. Herbert
Smith, president of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association,
in opening a new institute at Moorthorpe, near Ponte-
fract, on Tuesday, referred to the dispute and said he
always tried to avoid strikes, but they could not accept
peace at any price. He was not going to tell the men
to go back to work at a reduction, however much he
deplored the fight. He could not tell them to go back
after they had been before an independent chairman and
got an advance. They had been playing two days
already, and a meeting of the council that day had been
called to decide their line of policy. They had £210,000
well invested, and it looked as if it was going to be
useful. A special meeting of the council of the York-
shire . Miners’ Association was held at Barnsley on
Wednesday to consider the whole matter. No official
information was given of any action which the council
had taken in the matter, except that the position was
put before the delegates, who will report to their
branches, and attend the adjourned meeting of the
council on Tuesday next. It was stated that a meeting
of the joint committee of owners and workmen for
South Yorkshire had been arranged to be held on
Monday next to discuss the matter.

In this column last week the alterations in the rates
under the Minimum Wage Board for South Yorkshire
were given in detail. In addition, Sir Edward
Clarke has made certain alterations in the rules. In
Rule 3, “justifiable cause” for absence is defined as
“including “ absence to attend meetings or deputations,
or urban district councils, or boards of guardians, or
county councils.” In Rule 6 (a), instead of “ at the pit
bottom or at the lamp station near thereto,” the reading
now is “ at the pit bottom or at the lamp station within
150 yards thereof.” There is a new clause to the same
rule, as follows :—“ (/) Where no dispute exists any sum
of money due or payable to a workman in order to make
up the amount of the ordinary wages earned by him
during any day to the minimum rate shall be paid to

him at the same time as along with such ordinary
wages.” Decisions are now to be given within “ 21 days of
the refusal of the company to pay, unless such time
shall be extended by the committee or the chairman of
the District Board”; formerly the decision had to be
given within four weeks of the date of the dispute, and
there was no power to extend the period. There are
one or two minor alterations in addition.

A meeting of the National Society of Colliery Engine
Winders and Stokers was held at Dudley on the
12th inst. to hear the result of the ballot of members
with reference to the alleged contravention of an agree-
ment entered into with the Black Country coalowners
last year. Mr. J. H. Wright, who presided, said that
the result of the ballot was that not a single paper was
returned against the testing of the question. A resolu-
tion was passed informing the Coalowners’ Association
that unless an assurance was given that the agreement
was carried out, and the grievances removed, the men
would tender notices on February 28. A resolution was
also passed calling upon the whole of the miners in South
Staffordshire and East Worcestershire to support them
in the event of a strike.

The non-unionist question has assumed a somewhat
acute aspect in both South and North Staffordshire. In
the Pelsall district of the former, threats of cessation of
work unless non-unionism becomes extinct have been
made, and as regards the adjoining coalfield of Cannock
Chase, although action has previously been taken for
forcing men into the union, the latter is by no means in
a satisfactory condition. To meet a miner who does not
strongly denounce the uftion officials is quite an excep-
tion, and it is only the general lack of combination and
initiative amongst the dissatisfied element that prevents
an upheaval. In North Staffordshire the owners have
agreed to a badge display being held on the 27th inst.,
and representatives of the unions involved will then
attend to take the names of non-unionists, in which class
are to be included all members who are over four weeks
in arrear with their contributions. The names of the
non-unionists are ultimately to be submitted, in
accordance with the agreement made a few months ago,
to a joint conference of owners and union officials.

Important proposals were submitted to the Concilia-
tion Board for the Federated Districts of England and
North Wales at a meeting held at the Westminster
Palace Hotel, London, on Thursday, for the adoption
of a new wage standard, raised by 50 per cent., for the
area covered by the Board in England and North Wales.
Mr. F. J. Jones, Yorkshire, chairman of the Board,
presided; Mr. S. Walsh, M.P., Lancashire, was in the
vice-chair; with the joint-secretaries, Sir Thos. Ratcliffe-
Ellis and Mr. T. Ashton, and a large attendance of mem-
bers. The proposals made by the men’s representatives to
the English Conciliation Board represent a movement
which will be general in all the British coalfields, the
Miners’ Federation having decided that similar applica-
tions shall be made to the South Wales and Scottish
Conciliation Boards for a new wages standard of 50 per
cent, increase on the 1879 and 1888 wage standards.
Mr. Stephen Walsh presented the men’s case for the
adoption of a new wage standard. The chairman of the
Board promised that the proposal should have con-
sideration, but stated that in the opinion of the coal-
owners the proposal was one which should be considered
as part of a new wage agreement for a further period of
time, together with a fixed minimum and maximum
wage. It has to be remembered that the raising of the
wage basis by 50 per cent, would alter the amount of
the percentages of advances or reduction of wages, and
as the advances or reductions granted by the Board are
restricted to 5 per cent., this is a matter which would
require adjustment. The further consideration of the
proposals were deferred.

The quarterly meeting of the Conciliation Board was
followed by an informal meeting for the consideration
of the dispute which has arisen in the Yorkshire coal-
field with respect to the amount of the minimum wage
to be paid under the Minimum Wage Act to workmen
who fail to earn the wage. Mr. H. Smith, president of
the Yorkshire Miners’ Association, presented the dispute
to the Board, pointing out that the resolutions passed
by the Board specifically stated that “ where workmen
are paid by contract, and are not earning the minimum
rate fixed by the Joint District Board for the district,
there shall be paid to such workmen, and those employed
by them, in addition to the minimum 5 per cent, on the
1888 rate so long as wages remain at this standard.”
He described the action of the Yorkshire coalowners as
a violation of the resolutions of the Board, and an
attempt to evade Sir Ed. Clarke’s award. The meeting
lasted nearly three hours, and at the close Sir T.
Ratcliffe-Ellis said there was no report.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The meeting of the Conciliation Board on Monday
was of an important character, and may have far-reaching
consequences—for three questions of much interest were
dealt with, in addition to a number of disputes. It had
been decided, by an appeal to the Law Courts, that the
independent chairman’s rule as to a fortnight being the
period for averaging the wages was ultra vires, and
the miners’ representatives submitted on Monday that
the averaging period should be a week. This the owners
were prepared to agree to, only they desired certain
safeguards; but the men’s representatives objected,
alleging that sufficient safeguards already existed. The
two sides failed to reach any agreement, and the matter
remains in suspense.

Upon the question of banksmen’s wages, as to which
there has been lengthy negotiation wherein agreement
was arrived at as to hours and duties, but no agreement
on the question of wages, there still remains an insuper-
able barrier. The men ask that the wage rate shall be
uniform all over the district; but the owners reply that
they cannot increase the rate of wages concurrently
with a reduction of hours.