June 11, 1915.

1218	.	THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

_________________________	__________________________________

and the probability of higher wages* in the coal trade.
It has been found, too, that in North Staffordshire a
number of persons have left the potteries for the coal
mines, and there is no doubt that a large number of
agricultural labourers have drifted into the mines. A.
certain number of Belgian refugee miners have also been
employed at mines, notably in Cumberland, South
Yorkshire, and South Wales, but the number is small.

The. evidence ,is conclusive that if labour is further
withdrawn from the collieries (notwithstanding the
adoption ..of all possible ameliorative measures), the
output will be so reduced as to seriously affect the indus-
trial position of the country, and the time appears to the
Committee to. have arrived when very full consideration
should be given to the question as to whether further
recruiting among the miners should be encouraged.

■ All the witnesses1 who were questioned on the point,
whether inspectors of mines, representatives of the coal
owhers or of the workmen, agreed that the recruits had,
for .the most part, been drawn from the underground
labour, and very largely from those engaged at the face
in the work, of getting (hewers, colliers) and moving
(drawers, putters,- or hauliers) the coal, who, taken
together, constitute7 roughly about; two-thirds of the
underground labour of a colliery.

Shortage in Supply.

It .will be noticed that the fall in output per month
has been fairly - regular, that is to say, roughly, a loss
of nearly three million tons (with the exception of the
months of November and January last, when it was
higher) as compared with the same months of the period
preceding the war. It will be observed, also, that for
August' last the loss of output was 2,829,819 tons, as
compared, with a loss of 2,661,817 tons for the month of
February, of this year. At first sight this appears para-
doxical, especially in view of the fact that comparatively
few. recruits had been drawn from the mines during the
former month, and that the effect of recruiting on pro-
duction ..must necessarily, .have been gradual and
cumulative.—small at first, but considerable as the
number of recruits increased. The fact is, that, the
falling ofi in output during the earlier stages of the war
was not so much due to a shortage of labour as to other
causes.; For instance, Mr. Guthrie .informed us that
in Northumberland and Durham, and more especially in
the:.former county,-the decreased production was due to
lack of orders; for the .coal. Gradually the position
righted itself, and. the mines are now working full time.
A study of the tables for Northumberland and Durham
shows the loss of output to have been very heavy indeed,
showing actually a greater loss for August 1914 than in
respect of February of this year. Some other mining
districts were affected in like manner, although to a less
extent. Especial stress has been laid upon Northum-
berland, because it depends for its market more than
any other mining district (with the possible exception
of Fife) on shipping and export, and is unable to com-
pete with other districts for much of the internal trade.

A characteristic example may be given of the case of
a district unaffected by the disruption caused by the
war in its earlier stages—that of Cumberland. This is
a mining district from which large numbers of miners
have gone to join the Forces.. The effect of the recruit-
ing has been gradual and: cumulative.

At the time of the outbreak of war, and for some time
prior thereto, the cotton trade of Lancashire was
depressed, and the demand for coal was below the
normal (compare the output for July 1914 with the same
month for 1913), and the mines were not working full
time, but trade conditions'have improved of late, and
the demand for coal has increased, with the result that
the effect of labour shortage in this district is now
beginning to be severely felt.

Put briefly, during the earlier months of the war coal
was not drawn on so many days as at present. Coal is
being wound practically on as many days now as before
the war. Thus,5 dealing with returns sent m by 891
owners of groups of .collieries, in February 1914 the
number , of days on which coal was wound was 23,887-J,
ahddn February 1915 the number was 23,887|; whereas
in August 1913 the number of days on which coal was
wound was 23,548|, while in 1914 the number .was
20,425|; It is only since the turn of the year that a
general improvement in respect of the number of days
worked has set in, largely contributed to by Scotland
and the - North of. England.

There are factors which may have operated to prevent
the falling off of output being greater than it has been.
It would appear from the evidence . of several of the
witnesses that in the working of many collieries the
output per person employed below ground is greatest
on those days bn which the absenteeism is greatest,
due to the fact that those coal getters who are at work
are more expeditiously served with empty tubs, and
their coal is sooner cleared away than when the full
complement of coal getters is at work, that is to say, up
to a certain point only may the output of a mine be
said to be directly proportional to the number of under-
ground workers employed therein—a mine may have
been overstaffed with coal getters. But a point is soon
reached at which the diminished supply of labour is felt
—a point, which, in the present case, has long since
been passed, i.	.

A factor making for increased production for a given
staff of workmen is the re-organisation of the working
conditions, of the mine, e.g., concentrating the coal
getters into those parts of the mine in which coal is
most, easily got, - curtailment of dead and, exploratory
work, expediting of underground haulage, more exten-
sive application of labour-saving; appliances. , .The
probability is that as the labour shortage: began to be
manifested, .: organisation of this kind. was more and
more carried into effect by the management! of -the
collieries.. But the Committee are of the opinion that
in. the. present emergency this side , of the question
should be emphasised, and steps taken to effect where-
ever possible improvements in these directions.

Tons.

5,998,434

8,952,328
2,031,077
1,056,634
369,789

. It is impossible to estimate with any certainty what
would have been, the output for, the year 1915 had the
war not occurred, but the Committee think it may be
taken that the decrease of production will be fully 36
million tons, if not more, unless means can be devised
to increase the monthly output already recorded, or, at
any rate, prevent a further diminution.

It is realised that such a loss of output may not mean
a shortage to a like extent. For there has been liberated,
owing to the closing of certain markets, fully 18 million
tons,* which in normal times would have been exported
to the following countries, viz. :—

Russia ....................
Germany ..................
Belgium ..................
Austria-Hungary ..........
Turkey ....................

18,40$,262*

The returns for the quarter ending March 31 last show
a decrease in export of 6,210,643 tons, as compared
with the like period of last year. Which, if the rate
of fall is maintained, would give a decrease for the year
of 24,842,572 tons, or about six million tons in excess of
that accounted for above. It is doubtful, however, how
far these figures can be taken as a guide for the future,
for it is thought that the amount of the export will
largely be governed by the extent to which shipping is
available for carrying the coal.

It must be borne in mind that the greater number of
the mines in the Pas-de-Calais coalfield are in the
possession of the enemy, and that Germany has ceased
to be a competitor in many of the coal markets of the
world. ' ,

The Committee do not anticipate that the recent rise
in the price of coal will have a materially deterrent
effect on export. It should be remembered, too, that
the demands of the Admiralty are far in excess of the
normal. ’

There- are no means of accurately gauging the extent
of the shortage of coal for home supply, as of the three
factors entering into the computation, viz., production,
export, and home demand, only the first two can be
determined; the latter is an uncertain and fluctuating
figure. For instance, there are no means of gauging
accurately the extent of the shortage of supply for gas
works and household purposes, as the effect of the
evidence goes to show that up to the end of the year the
opportunity of putting coal into stock was not taken
advantage of, although collieries were working short
time, and that consequently stocks were depleted, and
a shortage resulted, which was accentuated by the diffi-
culty of obtaining ships for coastwise trade, and, in
respect of some districts, by the dislocation of railway
traffic. The necessity of maintaining the output at as
high a level as possible is obvious.

While some indication has been given that the home
demand may be somewhat less at the present time than
it was some little time before the war, on the other hand,
certain.industries are much more active than they were,
and the Committee are therefore of the opinion that it
might not be wise, in considering the question of
shortage, to ■ assume that the home demand will
be materially less than it was before the war.

This brings us to the consideration of the various
means which might be adopted with the view of (1)
maintaining or possibly enhancing the present rate of
output, and (2) of devising means for increasing the
supply of coal for use in the home markets.

The means which have been suggested in the course
of the enquiry as calculated, if adopted, to counteract
the effect of shortage of labour due to recruiting are :—

(1)	The reduction of avoidable absenteeism on the
days on which the mines are open for work;

(2)	The curtailment of holidays;

(3)	The suspension of the Eight Hours Act;

(4)	The introduction of labour from outside;

(5)	The employment of women to perform the
lighter work on the surface of the mines;

(6)	The reduction of the age limit at which boys
are permitted to work at the mines; and

(7)	What may be described as general reorganisa-
tion of the work at the mines.

The Committee say : “We have examined these
possible ameliorative measures with a view to deter-
mining how far they are practicable or desirable, and,
if so, how they could best be carried into effect. The
conclusions we have arrived at are set out below, and it
should be understood that they are dependent for their
effectiveness on the cordial co-operation of workmen and
employers.’’

Absenteeism.

The reduction of the avoidable absenteeism from
work on the days on which the mines are open for work
presents, the Committee are positive, the best means
for increasing the output, and they are confident that
much can be done in this direction.

It has been shown that the average absenteeism over
all classes of workmen employed at collieries, surface
and underground, for the period since the commence-
ment of the war up to the end of February last is, for
the United Kingdom, 9-8 per cent., as compared with
10*7 per cent, for a like period during the pre-war
months, or a reduction of nearly 1 per cent. But it is
a fact well known to the members of the Committee,
and supported by the great weight of evidence, that the
absenteeism is much heavier in, respect of some classes
than of others. Thus it is far heavier in the case of
those engaged in the hewing and the putting of the coal
than among the datal or on-cost hands, the hewers
earning higher wages and both they and the putters

* These figures for the year 1913 are taken from, a return
furnikhed by the Board of Customs and Excise. Some coal
was expdrted to Russia and Turkey last year after the out-
break of war, viz., to Russia, 207,637 tons; and to Turkey,
53,525 tons—a total of 261,162 tons.

being engaged in mpre arduous work than is the case
with other classes of mine labour. As the coal-pro-
ducing. classes (hewers and transit hands) constitute
roughly, on the average two-thirds of the underground
labour employed in mines, it is desirable that the Com-
mittee should know, at any rate approximately, what is
the percentage rate of absenteeism in respect of these
classes, for it is in promoting greater regularity of work
on the part of these classes that most relief is to be
obtained.

Dealing with most of the districts separately—

Scotland.—In respect of Scotland, Mr. Mitchell, (a
Scottish coal owner) submitted a statement based on
the returns sent to a committee representing the
Scottish coal trade, a return which did not include the
whole output of Scotland, but “ such a large percentage
that the conclusions to be drawn from them may be
taken as fairly accurate.’’ He said, referring to the
Committee’s returns, “ for the eight months from July
1914 to February 1915 the shifts lost for workers above
and below ground are 6*20 per cent, of the total which
could have been worked. This, in my opinion, is under-
stated owing chiefly to the information given in columns
6 and 7 of the Schedules not being made up on the same
basis as 7 and 13. In columns 7 and 13 shifts worked
on idle days and Sundays have in many cases been
included, the actual absenteeism being thereby shown
as less than is really the case.’’ As he gives the
absenteeism of the 'workers at the face for the month
of February as 9-97, which is low as compared with
other mining districts, and the on-cost workers at 6-74
per cent., the Committee incline to the belief that the
figure 6-20 per cent, of general absenteeism is not far
from, the truth. On the other hand, Mr. Mitchell put
the unavoidable absenteeism at a very low figure—viz.,
3 per cent., but adding thereto 2 per cent., which may
reasonably be taken as accounting for the persons who
are in receipt of compensation, the Committee arrive
at 5 per cent, as the amount of unavoidable absen-
teeism.	,

The reduction of output for the whole of Scotland,
calculated over the period August 1, 1914, to Feb-
ruary 28, 1915, is nearly 4 million tons, or 16-48 per
cent., but causes other than loss of labour have operated
to reduce output. Mr. Mitchell expressed the opinion
that there was no material deficiency of supply and that
the local demand would decrease during the summer,
and that the export would not, in his view, increase
owing to, lack of ships. He added, however,, if the
local demand was as much as it was during 1913, then
there was a shortage amounting probably to 1| million
tons, but he thought that the local demand was less.

Northumberland and Durham.—Mr. Guthrie stated
that the statistics which the owners have prepared year
by year show that the percentage of lost time by the
coal hewers in Durham varies from 7-33 per cent, in
1896 to 13-29 per cent, in 1913, and in Northumber-
land from 7-71 per cent, in 1896 to 14-49 per cent, in
1913. He regarded 5 per cent, as a “ generous allow-
ance ’’ for unavoidable absenteeism, “ and a further
deduction of, say, 2 per cent, might be made for other
reasonable causes of absence, thus leaving a balance of
6-29 per cent., which could and should be available to
increase production.’’ Adopting a similar deduction,
from 14-48 per cent, in Northumberland, there is a
difference of 7-48 per cent., of avoidable absenteeism.
Applying these figures to the production of a normal
year, he shows what increase could be secured if avoid-
able absenteeism were eliminated. Thus :—

Actual Avoidable	Estimated

output, absention. QUtpUt	increase.

Tons. Percent.	Tons. Tons.

Durham....... 41,532,890... 6’29 .. 44,145 309...2,612,419
Northumberland 14,819,284... 7’48 .. .15,927,766... 1,108,482

56,352,174...	— ...60,073,075... 3,720,901

Mr. Guthrie continued The production of an ordinary
year is not a proper basis for adoption at the present
time, when the number of men is so much less than
usual, but making a deduction of 20 per cent, for this
cause, there is still a very large possibility of increase,
as is shown in the following table :—

Estimated Avoidable Estimtd. Estimated
output, absention. output, increase.

Tons. Percent. Tons. Tons.

Durham ... 33,226,312... 6'29 ...35,316,247...2,089,935
Northumber-

land..... 11,855,427... 7’48 ...12,742,213... 886,786

45,081,739 ..	— ...48,058,460 . 2,976,721 = 6’60

“ The total production of the country in 1913 was
287,411,869 tons. After deducting 20 per cent, for loss
of output through shortage of labour, a balance is
shown of 229,929,495, and if the increase through
reduction of absenteeism were the same as that esti-
mated as above for Durham and Northumberland (6-60
per cent.), then the total increase of the whole country
would be 15 million tons.”

Lancashire and Cheshire.—Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis
submitted on behalf of Lancashire and Cheshire a
closely reasoned statement. He first showed that the
output of coal for these two counties during the year
1913 was 24,627,515 tons (not very largely different
from the output of the five preceding years). From
this figure he deducted 9 per cent, for colliery con-
sumption, which left available for market 22,411,039
tons, which figure had further to be reduced by -the
amount of coal supplied to the workpeople. Then
taking the returns from 33 representative collieries with
an aggregated annual output of 12,922,769 tons, or
52-47 per cent, of the total output for the district, he
proceeded to make the following calculations and deduc-
tions :—The decrease in tonnage in respect of these
collieries was for February 1915, as compared with the
month of February 1914, 147,780 tons, or equal to a
loss of 12-75 per cent;, or a loss of output for the whole
district of 12-75 per cent, of 24,627,515, or 3,140,008.
Taking the 33 representative collieries, he found that