July 21, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

127

The capitalists living in Park-lane should not be allowed
to manufacture the poor of Yorkshire without paying
their share for maintenance.

Mr. Baker (Cannock Chase), who seconded, said the
Federation should consider seriously the attitude of all
members of Parliament on this question.

Mr. Richardson (Durham) said if it had. not been for
the assistance given by the workers of Durham 70 per
cent, of the old-age pensioners would have had to go into
the workhouse.

Mr. J. G. Hancock said the Nottinghamshire Miners’
Association was paying £600 a month to aged miners.
They had discovered that the old-age pensions of these
men were reduced in conseauence. They had been
forced in these cases to withdraw their own pensions,
because they were taking upon themselves responsibilities
which belonged to the State,

Mr. J. Winstone (South Wales) said they must tell
tlie Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer that
the justice of this demand was such as to warrant the
miners taking action if the Government did not meet
their wishes. He wished to say, as a constituent of Mr.
McKenna—A Voice : “ Shame!”—” When you have,”
said Mr. Winstone, “ given as much time as I have to
remove men like Mr. McKenna out of Parliament it will
be time for you to cry shame.” When Mr. McKenna
came to his constituency he would get a very warm
reception.

Mr. Whitefield : And he deserves it.

Mr. J. E. Sutton (Manchester) said if they met with
a point-blank refusal from the Government one hardly
knew what was the alternative in the present circum-
stances. One would think the only alternative was a
“ down tools ” policy. That would be a very regrettable
thing at this time, but if a threat of that kind was thrown
out it might do some good.

The President said no question raised during the war
had brought so many letters to the War Emergency Com-
mittee as this question. The pathetic thing about it was
that the people who were claiming the increase had been
the people who had been deliberately robbed by the
people who now could not make up their mind to give
them back a little of the money. Mr. McKenna and Mr.
Asquith said the case was not made out. That was not
their last word on this question. They could not allow
it to be their last word. Why should not the Labour
members divide the House of Commons on this question?
He did not believe the majority of members of Parlia-
ment would risk going to their constituents if they voted
against this 2s. 6d. a week. To him it seemed deliberate
lying to say a case had not been made out.

Mr. J. E. Sutton said as this was a financial question,
it was impossible to get a decision of the House.

Mr. House : You can rend the rafters of the House.

The resolution was carried.

Election of Officers and Executive.

Mr. R. Smillie was re-elected president, Mr. T.
Ashton secretary, Mr. W. Abraham treasurer, and the
following members of the executive : Messrs. H. Smith,
S. Roebuck, H. Roughley, J. Brown, J. Murdoch, C.
Bunfield, L. Lovett, T. H. Cann, T. Trotter, W.
Johnson, J. Winstone, G. Barker, V. Hartshorn, W.
Straker, and F. Hall.

The final sitting of the conference wras held on
Friday, Mr. Robt. Smillie, president, being in the chair.

Minimum for Scotland.

The Scottish Miners’ Federation submitted the follow-
ing resolution, a discussion on which had been adjourned
on the previous day :—“ That this conference reaffirms
the resolution passed at the annual conference held at
Scarborough in 1913, viz., that this conference is of
opinion that a minimum wage of not less than 7s. per
day should be secured for all miners employed at the
face or in the rippings, and pledges itself to render all
assistance possible to any district desiring assistance
upon the employers attempting to reduce wages below
that point.”

The President said they would remember that this
resolution was sent back so that a clause might be
added which would give satisfaction to the conference.
It was proposed to add :—“ That the Federation pledges
itself to do everything possible to prevent any reduction
of the present minimum standards which are established
or exist in district agreements.” That was put in, said
Mr. Smillie, to protect any district which had estab-
lished a higher minimum than 7s. Whatever was in
their agreements, 8s. or 8s. 6d., the Federation would
do everything possible to protect them to maintain.

The resolution was then carried without any further
discussion.

Dustproof Trams.

An important resolution was considered with refer-
ence to the introduction into the pits of dustproof trams,
and discussed in private. The resolution, which was
unanimously passed, was as follows :—“ In view of the
serious danger which exists in mines on account of the
presence of'coal dust, this conference, believing that the
chief cause of this dust being deposited is the use of
open or faulty tubs or trams in which the coal is con-
veyed along the roadway underground, requests the
Government to introduce at the earliest possible moment
a Bill providing for dustproof trams to be used in all
dry and dusty mines.”

Soldiers’ Pensions.

Mr. Jas. Winstone proposed that the soldiers dis-
charged from the Army in consequence of illness or

disease should be placed in the same category with
respect to pensions and any other allowances as the men
discharged through having been rendered unfit for ser-
vice through being wounded. He felt that this would
meet with whole-hearted support in the conference, and
if there was any sincerity in the expressions of opinion
they got through the Press from outsiders, this resolu-
tion would receive the support of the country. He
thought he should explain his own position, because his
attitude on the war was well knowm. Personally, he
would be very glad if they had peace to-morrow. While
he had been opposed to the war, as well as being
strongly in favour of peace, his heart and soul had
always been with the boys who had been fighting at the
front. Since the resolution was sent in by the South
Wales miners a good deal of the evil had been remedied.
He thought some of the credit for the-remedy belonged to
the War Emergency Committee. That body had taken
a very active interest in the wounded soldiers, as well
as those who had suffered from disease. Thete were
some men who were suffering from disease that were
receiving the same amount of pensions as men who had
been disabled by wounds. He was not pleading for those
—but was pleading for the men who were entitled but
were not receiving pensions. These men, whatever
might be the matter with them, had offered to give their
bodies in the defence of their country, they were passed
into the Army by responsible medical men, and having
been accepted and passed as physically fit, he thought if
disabled by disease they should be given a pension
adequate for their support. There might be some
doubtful cases—he did not deny that—but he was one of
those who believed that in cases of doubt, the men
should receive the benefit of the doubt. He would
rather pay in 99 doubtful cases than one deserving case
should go unpaid.

Mr. W. Adamson, M.P. (Fifeshire), who seconded,
said this was a matter wThich very largely affected the
Federation, as they had such a large number of men at
the front. These men were accepted for service, and
as they had been rendered incapable of returning to civil
life because of disease contracted on military service,
they were entitled to have an adequate pension pro-
vided until they were able again to take their part in
civil employment.

The resolution was carried.

Miners and Education.

Mr. Frank Hall moved “ that this Federation is
strongly opposed to any curtailment of facilities for work-
ing class education now, or after the war, believing that
any such limitation would be against the best interests
of the workers and the whole nation.” He said, with a
war expenditure of five million pounds a day, there was
a great danger that economies would be attempted in
every department of State, and he was afraid that the
education of the workers’ children would suffer.

Mr. R. Richardson, who seconded, asserted that
already the education of the workers’ children had
suffered. Thousands of teachers had gone from the
schools to fight their country’s battles, and their places
had either been left vacant, in which cases classes had
been enlarged to 70 children, or untrained persons had
been appointed. In the secondary schools, which were
the training ground for teachers, instead of making the
access of the children of the workers easier, the fees had
been increased.

Mr. W. Latham asserted that in agricultural districts
thousands of children were being exploited in the interest
of agriculture. The age limit had been reduced from 13
to 12, and the children deprived of the most valuable
year of their school life.

The resolution was carried.

Miners and Income-Tax.

Mr. Frank Hodges moved that the conference
request the Chancellor of the Exchequer that in the
assessment of the wages of workmen for income-tax pur-
poses allowance should be made for the money expended
in the payment of train fares to and from their work.
He said one would have liked to have said something on
the incidence of a tax which applied unfairly to the work-
ing classes as compared with the richer classes, but for
the moment they had to be as practical as they could.
Under the present arrangements under which their men
were taxed, and as far as they were able to do, they
wanted to reduce the liability of the workmen to pay
income-tax to the lowest possible minimum. • The men
were going to get abatements for tools, for explosives,
and for candles where naked light collieries were still in
existence. But in the more congested colliery districts
the workmen could not get houses near the colliery, and
had to travel to and from their work by train a distance
of seven or eight miles. He considered they should be
allowed an abatement for the cost of travelling to their
work.

Mr. T. Capes seconded.

Mr. Hogg (Northumberland) opposed the resolution,
believing it would place the miners in a worse position
so far as income-tax was concerned.

The resolution was carried, Northumberland dissent-
ing. .

August Holidays Postponed.

Mr. William Brace, M.P. (Under-Secretary of the
Home Office), Sir Richard Redmayne (H.M. Chief
Inspector of Mines), and Mr. Delevingne (of the Home-
Office) had an interview with the chief officials of the
Federation on Thursday night on the question of post-
poning the August holiday and continuing work at the

pits. It was pointed out to the Federation, on behalf
of the Government, how vital it was to the interest of
the nation, and the successful prosecution of the great
offensive which is now in progress, that there should be
no interruption of the output of coal and of munitions
at this time.

As a result of the interview, the executive decided to
recommend the districts to postpone the holidays, and
continue work at the pits without any interruption.

The resolution was submitted to the conference after
the public business on Friday, and almost unanimously
adopted. The objections which were raised were not to
the principle of the proposal, but to local matters in
dispute.

Aid. W. House (Durham) was re-elected vice-presi-
dent of the Federation, and Mr. E. Hughes (North
Wales) a member of the executive.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.-]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Action in respect of Subsidence—The Great Junction
Dispute, Cardiff v. Taff Vale—General Conference on
Labour Troubles—New Appointments—Profits of South
Wales Ship Owners—Holiday Question.

The question of subsidence still occupies a prominent
place in the public mind, Risca Council’s action in circularis-
ing other councils on the subject having aroused special
attention. Also, -a case that came on at Glamorgan Assizes,
in .Swansea, on Wednesday, provokes further discussion.
Nixon’s Navigation Company were the defendants in an
action brought by the Rhondda Valley Brewery Company,
and Mr. J. Lisle, who sought a declaration that they were
entitled to have their land and building, the Belle Vue
Hotel, Penrhiwceiber, supported by Nixon’s Company; and
they desired also to have the issue of an injunction restrain-
ing defendants from such underground working as would
occasion subsidence. Counsel having made an opening
statement, the judge suggested that the matter should go to
the referee, and this suggestion the parties agreed to accept.

The case in which the Taff Vale Company sought to render
nugatory a notice to treat for land at Treforest, where the
Cardiff Railway Company desires to effect a junction of
their line with the Taff Vale, has ended in favour of the
Cardiff Company. Mr. Justice Astbury said that the
plaintiffs had admitted and agreed that the Cardiff Railway
Company -would seriously compete with them if the junction
-were made, and that they wrere taking every possible step to
prevent it. It seemed to him that the Cardiff Company had
been given the right to use plaintiff's land for the purpose
of bringing their line up to the level in order that the
junction might be made; and therefore the action was dis-
missed.

According to one report, the Government is considering the
introduction of -a Bill to regulate coal prices generally—not
alone for home consumption or France, but in every direc-
tion. Sir Arthur Markham, who is a director of the
Tredegar Company, has suggested the desirability of sub-
stituting the average price of each quality of coal, as the
standard regulating prices instead of the corresponding
prices.

A conference has taken place in Cardiff between represen-
tatives of all the parties concerned in the coal trade of the
South Wales ports, and it has followed upon an enquiry by
Prof. Irvine, at the instance of the Board of Trade, who
sought to discover a way of lessening the frequent labour
troubles in the Welsh ports, especially in regard to the
coal trade. Prof. Irvine visited the localities, and as a
result the conference was summoned, when full discussion
of the different circumstances took place, the general idea
being to frame such an agreement as would get rid of
delays and difficulties, at any rate for the period of the war.
Several resolutions were passed. One was that all rules
governing trimming tariffs should be definitely formulated
in writing; also that there should be established a central
trimming board for the South Wales ports, one-third of the
members to be elected by the coal shippers, one-third by the
workmen’s unions, and one-third by the ship owners. For
Cardiff, Barry, and Penarth there will be three representa-
tives of each section, making nine in all; whilst for New-
port, Swansea, -and Port Talbot there will be two represen-
tatives of each section, making six in all; so that the board
will have a total of 15 members. It was further resolved
that at each port means should be devised for promptly
determining any dispute with regard to the trimming rate
applicable to any particular ship, and that, if no agreement
could be reached at the dock, the matter in dispute should
at once go before the local trimming board. Above all, it
has been provided that in no case shall there be any stoppage
of work pending termination of the dispute. A very impor-
tant resolution w*as the one which provided that workmen
employed 'in coal trimming at the various docks shall be
required to join one or other of the recognised trade unions.

As a consequence of the change in ownership of Messrs.
D. Davis and Sons’ Collieries, Mr. AV. B. Laws has been
appointed general manager, his duties including super-
vision, both of the Ferndale property and also the Welsh
Navigation Colliery. Mr. Laws has been assistant general
manager for a little over a year. He entered the service of
D. Davis and Sons about four years ago, having previously
been in a high position under one of the leading firms of
chartered accountants. Mr. Frank L. Jacob has become
manager of the’Ferndale and Coedely Collieries, in respect
of which he has hitherto acted as agent.

Intimation having been given to the Coal Owners’
Association that Mr. F. L. Davis wished to resign his posi-
tion as permanent chairman of the coal owmers’ side of the
Conciliation Board, a meeting of the members resolved
unanimously to ask Mr. Davis to reconsider his decision.
Mr. Davis has, at the request of Lord Rhondda, decided to
continue as representative, on the Coal Owners’ Association,
of Messrs. D. Davis and Sons Limited.

It is expected that the Queen will visit the Grafton
Galleries. London, in order to inspect the very fine collection
of statuary w-hich Lord Rhondda is presenting to the
Cardiff Corporation for tlie decoration of the marble hall in
the new municipal buildings.

On Tuesday, a fire broke out in the blast engine house of
Celynen Colliery, belonging to the Newport Abercarn Com-
pany. A party from the rescue station at Crumlin, as well