December 8, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1123

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Miners and Control—The Coal Owners' Case—Conference at
Cardiff—The Eight Hours Act—Absenteeism.

Matters concerning colliery control have developed slowly.
The fact that control had been established came as a sur-
prise to the public, and especially to the men’s leaders, for
though the latter had been in consultation on November 29
at the Board of Trade Office with Sir H. Llewellyn Smith,
their first intimation was the announcement made in the
circular to South Wales colliery proprietors.

It was felt that the decision to take this course must have
been arrived at while consultation with them was in progress,
and some resentment was manifested by the workmen’s
representatives. They did not accept, while in London, an
invitation to submit their case to the new Inter-Departmental
Committee, but returned to South Wales after passing the
following resolution :—

That this council, having been informed of the decision
of the Government to take control of the South Wales
collieries, resolves : (1) To reiterate the demand for a 15
per cent, advance in wages. (2) To enter our protest
against the Government control of collieries that is not
made applicable to all the coal fields of Great Britain, and
that any such proposal should be made the subject of
negotiation with the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.
(3) That a further meeting be held to-morrow to prepare a
report for a conference to be held in Cardiff.

The Inter-Departmental Committee, it was announced,
would consist of Mr. W. F. Marwood (Board of Trade), Sir
Richard Redmayne (Home Office), and Mr. W. Jenkins, who
represents the Admiralty at Cardiff. Mr. Marwood, as is
well known, is assistant secretary in the Railway Depart-
ment of the Board of Trade; Sir Richard Redmayne is H.M.
Chief Inspector of Mines, a position he has occupied for the
past eight years — having served on Departmental Com-
mittees and Royal Commissions in regard to mining sub-
jects ; and Mr. W. Jenkins is the Assistant-Director of Navy
Contracts, and has been stationed at Cardiff since the out-
break of war to deal with Admiralty coal. He is, there-
fore, thoroughly conversant with the South Wales trade.

The coal owners met the members of the Inter-Depart-
mental Committee, in response to an invitation, and sub-
mitted their case for a reduction of 10 per cent, in the wage
rate—those present being Mr. F. L. Davis, chairman of the
Conciliation Board; Mr. Mewton, chairman of the Coal
Owners’ Association; Lord Rhondda, Sir Clifford Cory,
M.P., Mr. B. Nicholas, and their secretary, Mr. F. A.
Gibson.

The first declaration from the workmen’s side was as
indicated above—a protest against sectional control of the
coal fields by the singling out of South Wales; and this was
accompanied by the suggestion that negotiation with the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain should take place on
this point.

On ’Change at Cardiff the matter was, of course, very
freely discussed, but it was recognised that whatever
arrangement should be made, the actual detail management
of collieries must necessarily remain in the hands of the
experienced men who are now in charge; and that inasmuch
as so very large a portion of the output was already subject
to control, there was no occasion for uneasiness. Neverthe-
less, business was impracticable at anything like normal
extent. What with the limitation of price to British
Admiralty and Allied Governments, and also the limita-
tion of home trade prices, it was argued that a relatively
small proportion of the output remained to be dealt with,
the opinion being that probably not more than 12 per cent,
of free coal would be subject to any alteration in price or
market as a result of the fresh Government action. Even
where free coal has been marketed at good prices, the opera-
tion of the excess profits duty has been such as to take from
the colliery proprietors a heavy proportion, so that any
change in price rates or liberty as to marketing would not
wholly fall upon the coal owners. The many speculations
that were current need not be repeated. Everyone was wait-
ing for specific declaration as to what control meant, and how
far there would be interference with business.

It should be observed that there has been since the out-
break of war a steady progress in miners’ wages. First, 15
per cent, was given in March of last year on the old stan-
dard which was then in existence; then 12| per cent, in
August, when strike was threatened, and as this was on the
new standard, it was the equivalent of 18f per cent, on the
old one. There was a reduction of 5 per cent, in December.
Again, in June of this year, 15 per cent, was granted;- and
now another 15 per cent, has been given. The net increase,
therefore, is 73f per cent, on the old standard of 1879, which
was in force when war began. It is a singular reflection
that when the Munitions Act was passed the miners were
exempted from its operation because of a belief that through
•the conciliation boards any dispute which might arise would
be settled; and, in particular, that no stoppage of work in
this vital industry would take place. The mines were not
scheduled, notwithstanding that every other industry depends
upon the supply of coal; and their exclusion from the
schedule was due, in the main, if not entirely, to a convic-
tion that the joint boards throughout the country would
avoid any stoppage. Despite the strike of last year, that
conviction has prevailed hitherto; but now the Government
has cut the Gordian knot; and the Departmental Committee
had to deal with a demand for 15 per cent, advance on the
one hand, and for 10 per cent, reduction on the other; also
with the demand of the men for a general audit of produc-
tion costs from 1903 until September of this year; further,
that in arriving at a decision the average relative financial
position of employers and employed should be maintained
at the level which existed under earlier Conciliation Board
agreements.

During Friday, the executive council of the South Wales
Federation met in Cardiff, and sat the whole day, there
being difficulty in reaching any understanding of what the
control order meant, and consequently in deciding what
course the Federation should follow, seeing that there was
no indication of the relation which workmen would hold
in the future to the new committee. Would the collieries
become controlled establishments, similar to munition works,
or would they stand in a position like that of the railways?
Would there be compulsion to remain at work in a parti-
cular colliery? Would men be liable to prosecution, as
munition employees are liable before their tribunals? One
view was that, as the Board of Trade had taken control,

and not the Ministry of Munitions, the answers to those
questions should be in the negative; and finally it was
decided that the Federation solicitor (Mr. Nicholas) should
seek counsel’s opinion on the subject. There was discussion
also as to whether the operations of the Conciliation Board
would be -suspended; and on this point also it proved imprac-
ticable to reach any conclusion. Again, would the new Inter-
Departmental Committee discharge, in relation to the
employees, any function similar to that of the Conciliation
Board?

The failure of the men’s representatives to meet the Com-
mittee in London on Thursday was attributed to a misunder-
standing—that they had regarded the intimation of that
meeting as a request for documentary information, and not
for personal attendance. The letter of Sir H. Llewellyn
Smith which conveyed that intimation stated that

the suggestions put forward at to-day’s conference [that
of November 29] for the purpose of preventing the recur-
rence of labour difficulties in the South Wales coal field
have been referred to the Committee for consideration.

The executive council on Friday had this letter before them,
and they ultimately resolved to notify the Inter-Depart-
mental Committee that they would submit their case, pro-
vided the 15 per cent, advance were conceded, and the terms
of their resolution on this point are noteworthy. It reads :—

That whilst the workmen cannot accept less than the
demand for an increase of 15 per cent, in their wages as
and from December 1, the workmen’s representatives are
prepared, without prejudice, to at once supply the Inter-
Departmental Committee with any further information in
support of the workmen’s demands which may be required
by the Committee; and subject to the demand being
granted, the workmen’s representatives are further willing,
without prejudice, to wait upon the Committee with a view
to ascertaining the terms and conditions upon which it is
proposed that the workmen should continue to work in the
future.

This resolution was made known to Sir H. Llewellyn Smith
both by telephone and telegraph; and the council, after
debating the best course of procedure at the coal field con-
ference of delegates called for Monday, adjourned till
Saturday morning.

At the resumed sitting on Saturday, the main feature was
an announcement that the 15 per cent, increase of wages
had been granted; and it is important to note that this was
apparently an act of the Government, not a decision arrived
at by the new Committee after investigation of facts and
figures. This is clear from the letter which announced the
concession, the writer (Sir H. Llewellyn Smith) stating
that the Board of Trade, after consulting the Committee,
had “ determined to appoint an independent auditor to
ascertain the facts in regard to the increase in cost of pro-
duction of coal in South Wales,” and they invited sugges-
tions as to instructions for the auditor, the letter concluding :

Pending the receipt of the result of this audit, an increase
of 15 per cent, in the miners’ general wage rate will be
paid as and from this date [December 1] ; but any future
adjustments of wages will be contingent upon the result
of the audits now to be instituted, taken in conjunction
with all other relevant factors.

Naturally, this decision to concede their demand as to wages
gave general satisfaction to the men and their leaders.

The conference of miners’ delegates took place in Cardiff
on Monday—nearly 300 being present, representing over
141,000 men. During Sunday, mass meetings of the men
had been held to give instructions to the delegates; and the
feature of the proceedings on Monday was the practical
unanimity with which decisions were arrived at. Originally,
it had been intended to deal with absenteeism, but the issue
of the new control order, on account of its pressing import-
ance, took first place, although in the absence of any definite
announcement as to what “ control ” meant, the conference
could only deal with the question from its own standpoint
of demand. Report was made as to the concession of the
15 per cent, advance, and as to the resolution of the execu-
tive to take counsel’s opinion on the control question; and
Mr. Nicholas, solicitor of the Federation, delivered an
address, setting forth the contractual obligations of the
workmen, and the extent to which the Conciliation Board
agreement might be affected; also as to whether the men
wrould be subject to any new penalties. The proceedings
were conducted in private, and it was announced that a
resolution had been passed, authorising the executive to
ascertain the full effect of the control order, and that the
question should be raised at the conference of the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain this week. It was further
resolved that the council should bring before the Board of
Trade the desires of the miners as to instructions for an
audit upon the costs of production, and that when in posses-
sion of all the information available, the council should call
another conference.

The meeting dealt also with the question of absenteeism,
discussing the resolution which had come from the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain, recommending the districts to
adopt the principle of local joint committees, and that these
should have power to inflict fines under rules agreed upon
by the Federation—'these fines and penalties to be applic-
able to colliery officials, where they proved to be at fault. The
meeting manifested strong antagonism to this recommen-
dation of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain; and
among the contentions put forward was one that the output
was reduced by failure to provide trams and wagons, more
than the avoidable absenteeism. It was stated also that
some of the collieries were working only half-time. Strong
feeling was manifest against the idea that workmen’s com-
mittees should impose penalties on their fellow workmen,
and some speakers pointed out that it would be a great loss
of time, and consequently cause reduction in output, to con-
duct investigation of charges of absenteeism. As to the
enforcement of fines, it was stated that these could be
collected only through the colliery office—a system to which
the Federation was opposed. One resolution submitted was
that the existing joint committees should be disbanded. How-
ever, the conference passed the resolution that no more
absentee committees should be set up. By an overwhelming
majority, the proposed scheme of the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain in relation to absenteeism was rejected. Exist-
ing joint committees will continue their work.

Mr. Cleeves, chairman of the Swansea section of the Coal
Owners’ Association, whilst unable (in the absence of definite
detail) to forecast the effect of Government control, states
that if it puts an end to threats of colliery stoppage, that
result alone will be welcomed by the employers, even though
their interests may be adversely affected otherwise. Greater
regularity of work and longer hours in the pit will be a good

thing, for increase of output will be a remedy for the state
of affairs, which the men allege to exist—excessive profits
to coal owners, with its consequence of high prices to
consumers.

There is a hint in this opinion which indicates what is in
many minds, namely—the question whether, as one out-
come of Government control, there will be suspension of the
Eight Hours Act, or any similar endeavour to obtain increase
of output, such as adoption of the double shift, or more
extensive use of coal-cutting machines. Any one of these
devices would economically make the output greater, largely
to the public advantage.

Coun. G. Davies, speaking at a meeting of Ebbw Vale
miners on Saturday, declared that the miners’ executive felt
that they had been treated shabbily at the Board of Trade.
They had been apparently negotiating for two days, whilst
someone was preparing a pistol behind the scenes. Person-
ally, he had never believed a lot in Government control of
the mines; and certainly he did not agree to it in condi-
tions under which they now found themselves. He was in
agreement with the Government taking over control, if only
they would take out the middle party.

The miners’ agent for the Brynmawr and Blaina district
(Mir. Manning), referring to the change, said that the execu-
tive council did not think the miners had come within the
provisions of the Munitions Act; and the meeting passed a
resolution that if a Government control did make colliers
subject to the provisions of that Act, a conference should be
immediately called.

Upon the question of absenteeism, Mr. Manning also
spoke, stating that the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain
conference had referred the question to the different districts
for consideration. Where there was wilful absenteeism on
the part of the men, they could not expect the Federation to
protect them. The meeting subsequently passed a resolu-
tion which strongly repudiated any idea of setting up joint
committees which would involve imposition of fines. The
resolution recommended the men’s committees to use all
moral persuasion in order to reduce absenteeism.

On this subject of absenteeism, Mr. W. Lewis, agent for
the Rhymney Valley district, urged at a meeting in Bargoed
on Sunday, that it was the duty of every man to attend to
his work regularly, and to keep himself fit by abstaining
from habits calculated to make him unfit. He said that the
national requirements demanded this, and added that,
although he very reluctantly took part in the establishment
of committees which imposed fines, he was afraid that fines
would be inflicted through the law courts, and that possibly
steps would be taken to cancel the exemption certificates of
men of military age who habitually absented themselves from
work. If that came about, it would be harsher than the
fines wTiich might be imposed by joint committees.

The South Wales Coal Owners’ Association met on
Tuesday, Mr. Mewton presiding, and there was a full attend-
ance of members. The owners’ representatives on the Con-
ciliation Board reported proceedings in their interview with
the Government, and a resolution was passed that the asso-
ciation, “ whilst submitting loyally to the decision of his
Majesty’s Government in the present crisis, desires to enter
its emphatic protest against the action of the Government in
again being parties to the breach by the workmen of the
Conciliation Board agreement—the terms of which were
settled by the Government itself last year.” Among the
subjects of discussion at the meeting was that as to arrang-
ing for suggestions to be made concerning instructions to the
independent auditor appointed by the Board of Trade.

At the annual meeting of Swansea Metal Exchange, the
annual report showed an income close on .£900, but upon the
year’s working there had been the net loss of £46.

The Morfa Relief Fund Committee held its half-yearly
meeting at Aberavon, when the accounts showed receipts of
£334, and an expenditure of £300. Relief to widows
amounted to £220, and £61 had been paid over to the Miners’
Provident Fund. The total funds in hand are stated at
£4.500.

The negotiations which' have been in progress for so long
a time between the Government and the dock and harbour
authorities came to a close on Friday. It was agreed that,
without prejudice, for the duration of the war, full dues
should be paid on ships carrying coal for the Navy.

Mumbles Council, in the Swansea district, has discussed
the subject of local coal supplies, and it was stated that the
merchants had been paying too much for their coal. Some
collieries, said one speaker, had reduced the price by 2s. 6d.
per ton since the previous meeting, but he had not yet heard
that the consumer derived any benefit from that reduction.

Swansea Harbour Trust have given notice to increase their
rates; and at a special meeting, Sir Griffith Thomas pre-
siding, the report of the executive committee on this subject
was submitted. Owing to the adverse effect of the war upon
their revenue, and to increase of pay granted to dock workers
and others, the Trustees are obliged to give notices of
increases, which take effect as from December 1. On goods,
wares, and merchandise not dealt with under the consoli-
dated rates, there will be a further increase of 20 per cent.,
and on the goods which come under the consolidated rates
the increase will be 0 per cent.—At a meeting of the execu-
tive committee held subsequently, the contract for coal was
deferred, in view of the fact that the control of the collieries
had been taken over by the Government.

Special efforts are being made at Swansea to secure
tonnage—the Chamber of Commerce acting in conjunction
with the Exports Coal Committee; and they have communi-
cated with the French Exports Committee which controls
about 50 vessels, their desire being to secure greater faci-
lities for export by the utilisation of more ships. One great
cause of shortage is said to be that neutrals will not accept
freights except at very high rates, which will cover insur-
ance, and the idea has been mooted that the British Govern-
ment should guarantee neutral owners by a system of State
insurance. As colliery working has been seriously retarded
through lack of ships, this question of tonnage forms a main
subject of discussion on Swansea Exchange at the present
time. It is stated that one or two local exporting firms have
been in the market endeavouring to purchase steamers so as
to enable shipments to be made. The tirade of the port
during last week, nevertheless, showed a general increase—
being about 22,000 tons higher than in the week preceding.
Coal and patent fuel exports amounted to over 52,000 tons.

Opposition is still felt to the increase in contribution to
Federation funds, and it is reported that a meeting of Con-
servative members of the miners’ organisation has been held
as Pontypridd, wffien it was decided to apply for an injunc-
tion. restraining the levy of a higher rate than the members
had by ballot decided to pay, and to prevent distribution of
the funds to party political objects.