March 22, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

595

and that it ought to be free to lead others rather than
to be Jed itself. The honour of the Association has
always been as his own honour to him, and every-
thing that has touched its interests has been vital
to himself. This outlook upon the place and work
of the Association has undoubtedly contributed largely
to the success that he has secured in his office.
But if this has been his outlook for the Association in
all its external relationships, whether with Government
departments or whether with other associations of
employers, his whole work and policy within the Associa-
tion has been to make it, as it were, a family hearth-
round which the members of his large mining family,
with all their varying family characteristics, in what-
ever district they might dwell and in whatever circum-
stances they might operate, might gather for mutual
counsel and benefit, and for mutual co-operation in safe-
guarding the family interests and in promoting the
family’s good. In this connection I think you will
agree with me when I say that he has done much to
create and secure a sympathetic and friendly atmo-
sphere. He has never spared any pains to render any
service in his power in the common interest, wherever
it may have emerged, and his concern has mani-
fested itself right down to individual interests in
so far as practicable for him to. do so. And I am
sure that we all recognise to-day that he has striven
to hold, and has succeeded in holding, the balance most
equitably and honourably between the somewhat diver-
gent interests that must of necessity at times emerge.
One of the most satisfactory features of the Mining
Association to day is the good feeling and good fellowship
that exist among its members. Its discussions are
always conducted in a spirit of moderation, with a
desire to see fair play, and to make mutual conces-
sions as far as these have been possible. It surely,
therefore, must be a large part of the tribute that we
pay to Sir Thomas to-day, when we say in his presence
that it is very largely due to his personal qualities that
such a condition of things exists. It has been from
the brooding of his spirit over our councils and
assemblies that so much co-operation and harmony have
resulted, and he ought surely to regard it as a special
personal triumph that at the end of 25 years he is sur-
rounded by-sucha happy and contented family. Applause).
In estimating the importance and value of the work of
Sir Thomas has done for the Association and for the
mining industry, we require to consider the conditions
and circumstances that have been operating during his
period of office. His tenure of office has been con-
current with what may be regarded as a period of
greatest development, and also I think the period of
greatest complexity, in the mining industry. If we
consider the question of output, and contrast the output
at the present time as compared with what it was in
1892, we see that an enormous increase has taken place.
But a contrast between these two years in regal’d to
output does not altogether visualise the situation for us.
During these 25 years mining problems have very
largely altered in their character, by reason of far-
reaching changes that have taken place in the winning
and raising of coal. New methods have been adopted,
new machinery has been installed, sinking.s have
become deeper, collieries are carried on on a much
bigger scale, and the washing and sizing of coal
and its manufacture into coke and by-products have
completely changed the whole aspect of mining enter-
prise during the period of Sir Thomas’s service.
But that period has also been marked by a great flow of
mining legislation, and of industrial and social legisla-
tion, all of which has had an important bearing upon the
mining industry, and has added greatly to the complexity
of the work that has had to be undertaken. All the
changes that have taken place have necessarily been
reflected in the work that has passed under the review
of the Mining Association, and affords us some indica-
tion of the duties that Sir Thomas has had to undertake,
and of the heavy responsibilities which he has been
called upon to discharge. To-day we look out
upon an industry that may be said* to have almost
completely changed as compared with what it
was in 1892 ; and in all the work that has
been involved in the various stages that have taken
place Sir Thomas has had his full share, and I
think we can say with entire sincerity that he has
acquitted himself with an increasing amount of credit
to himself and satisfaction to us. (Applause.) Now,
when we think of Sir Thomas himself, we are not
surprised that he has succeeded in his office, for I think
you will agree with me when I say that he possesses
qualities of mind and of heart which belong to very few
men; and it is the combination of these qualities in
operation that has made him what he is, and that has
enabled him to do so well the work that he has accom-
plished. First of all, his legal training has been of
the greatest possible advantage to us, and also to
himself. It has made him careful and accurate,
it has induced a thorough analysis of the case pre-
sented before an opinion has been expressed, he has
become fully conversant with the facts before drawing
his conclusions. Partial interpretations and consequent
misunderstandings have therefore been absent, and the
case has always been fully represented to us for and
against in all the representations that Sir Thomas has
made. Sir Thomas’s knowledge and acumen as a lawyer
have been of immense advantage to the Association, and
we recognise that in all legal matters connected with
the mining industry Sir Thomas is an outstanding expert
who can always be safely relied upon. (Hear, hear).
But I venture to say, gentlemen, that his qualities as
a lawyer, taken by themselves, would not have enabled
him to succeed as he has done had he not combined with
these qualities of deep and widespread knowledge of com-
mercial and industrial affairs. His experience of business
matters has been broad and profound, and he has brought
all the wealth of that experience to the multifarious duties
that he has been called upon to perform. And we, as
an Association, have had the incalculable benefit of that
storehouse of knowledge and experience that he is.
But I go a little further, and I say this. I suggest that
it is his rich human qualities that have had as much to
do with his success as anything else. It is his human
viewpoint, and the ease with which he establishes a

friendly and sincere contact with his fellows, that has
made him not only win his way with us, but command
the esteem and regard of everyone he has come into
contact with. (Applause). That human viewpoint has
enabled him always to see the other man’s case as
well as his own. and I think that that is one of
the features of Sir Thomas’s outlook in his negoti-
ations on our behalf that has made him moderate
and reasonable and just; and so far from us seeing any
bias or unreasonable prejudice in him, we have always
found him an honest and straightforward man, bent
upon doing his duty, and still more bent upon finding
the right in it. I do not wish to enlarge upon Sir
Thomas’s qualities as a man, although I might well do
so, and there are many here who could do so to a greater
extent still. But I want to say this—that he has that
charm of nature which disarms hostility—that gracious
personality which surrounds him always with an atmo-
sphere of sweet reasonableness—that spirit of helpfulness
and subordination of himself which are among the
crowning virtues of human life. I think I might almost
say this of him, in summing up this aspect of his work
and character—that we can say truly that he has
always been, in the deepest sense of the word, the servant
of the Association—(hear, hear)—but that when he has
been most our servant he has been most the master of
the assembly. (Applause.) Now I turn more particu-
larly to the portrait itself. We are glad that, in making
this presentation to Sir Thomas to-day, we are able to
do something that is in entire accord with his own
wishes When we ascertained that it would be agree-
able to him to receive his portrait, we at once made up
our minds that that portrait must be the best that we
could give him, having the desire to convey to him to
the fullest extent possible our appreciation of his
services and of his worth. We therefore went to the
best man that we could get, and our choice fell
upon Sir Arthur Cope, R.A., and the painting that
is to be presented to-day is by his hand, and I hope
that when you have seen it you will all unanimously
agree that the portrait is lifelike and good. May
I assure Sir Thomas in your name that nothing has
been more gladly and heartily done by us than the
presentation of this portrait. (Applause.) It is the
outcome of our spontaneous desire. It can only be at
best an inadequate tribute to his work and worth, but it
is given with the utmost goodwill as an expression of
our affectionate esteem and regard on this occasion
when we mark a further milestone upon the road, and
when we gratefully recall his innumerable services to us
in the past. If I may for a moment touch a sadder
note, and yet perhaps one that will be agreeable to your
feelings, may I say that it has been a matter of deep
regret to us all that Sir Thomas’s semi-jubilee in his
office should have coincided with a deep and irre-
parable domestic sorrow. But perhaps these gifts,
while marking our recognition of his personal ser-
vices, will sustain and encourage him to carry those
burdens which none escape, but which human friend-
ship and sympathy may do much to lighten. (Hear,
hear.) This portrait is also given with our good wishes
for the future. We trust that the days before you,
Sir Thomas, are still very many, and that health and
strength will be given to you to continue to occupy the
place that you have for so many years filled with such
conspicuous success and with so much satisfaction to
us. (Hear, hear.) Along with the portrait, there is
given a piece of old silver in the form of a pair of
caddies, which have been chosen by Mr. Jones and
Sir Arthur Cope. I believe that they are very good of
their kind, and I hope that they will be acceptable to
Sir Thomas, The inscription that is upon the portrait
is as follows :—

Sir THOMAS RATCLIFFE RATCLIFFE-ELLIS, Kt.

Presented by

The Mining .Association of Great Britain in
grateful recognition of his invaluable services
as Secretary and Law Clerk during 2y years,
and. as a mark of high esteem.

Sir Thomas, I have very great pleasure, in the name
of the Council, in congratulating you to-day upon this
memorable occasion, and in asking you in their name
to accept these gifts. [The President then shook hands
with Sir Thomas, amid loud applause.] I think there
are one or two friends here who would like to add
something to what I have said, and if so I think we
would be very glad to give them the opportunity now.

Mr. F. J. Jones, on behalf of South Yorkshire, and as
having twice been president of the Association, wished to
endorse every word which had fallen from Mr. Nimmo.
He desired most heartily to echo every word which the
President had said. He had been fortunate enough to
have been closely associated with Sir Thomas in the
work of the Association, and had greatly admired
his ability and sterling qualities—particularly that
quality of moderation which had been already alluded
to. That quality had dominated all the work which
Sir Thomas had done for the Association, and in
his (the speaker’s) judgment the result had been
beneficial to the Association. He joined in the heart-
felt wish that Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis might for
many years be spared to them to continue the work
which he had done so ably for the Mining Association
of Great Britain.

Sir W. S. Barrett, having been associated with
Sir Thos. Ratcliffe-Ellis for a great many years, desired
to echo everything that had been said by the two
preceding speakers. Sir Thomas was a man of ability
and moderation, and in most of the things in which he
had advised them, his moderation had enabled
them many times to carry the day when force would
have been of no use whatever.

Mr A. F. Pease wished to say a very few words to
endorse, on behalf of all his colleagues in the North of
England, how warmly they joined in all that had been
said regarding Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis. Few had

been more closely associated with Sir Thomas than he
had during the last seven or eight years. Sometimes
they might have thought that Sir Thomas was not
pushing things hard enough, but on subsequent
consideration they had found that his course had been
the right one, and that by his patience and
ability he had prevented things being done which
would have been injurious to the Association. It was
impossible to over-value the benefit which the Asso-
ciation had received by reason of the confidence
Sir Thomas had inspired in people outside. He did
not believe that any of them knew the many
awkward corners Sir Thomas had got the coal
trade round by his patience, ability, and the trust
which he has inspired among those outside.

Col. Lionel E. Pilkington wished to add a word on
behalf of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Association.
As a Lancashire man, they had the honour to claim
Sir Thomas as their own, and their knowledge of him
being, perhaps, more intimate, their appreciation of his
qualities was, perhaps, even deeper than anyone else’s
could be. Lancashire was very proud of having given
such a man as Sir Thomas to the Mining Association of
Great Britain, and congratulated him upon having
established such feelings as had been made evident
there that day.

Mr. C. B. Crawshaw asked, on behalf of Yorkshire, to
be allowed to add his congratulations to Sir Thomas on
having arrived at this stage in his career. There were
few men who had served an Association for 25 years
without making an enemy; but all the past and
present members of the association regarded themselves
friends of Sir Thomas, and Sir Thomas as a friend of
theirs. He had worked for the Association as no other
man could have worked.

Mr. T. H. Deakin expressed, on behalf of his colleagues
of South Wales, the sincere appreciation of Sir Thomas’s
services for a great number of years. Some of them had
often thought that a stronger and more go-ahead policy
would have been wis< r, but in the end they had known
that Sir Thomas had done what was best and wisest in
the interests of the whole country. He joined in
wishing Sir Thomas many useful years of service and a
happy eventide.

Mr. James Darlington, on behalf of North Wales,
desired to re-echo the very excellent sentiments which
had fallen from Mr. Nimmo, and which so entirely
covered the ground of the services rendered by Sir
Thomas to North Wales. Sir Thomas all through his
life had received the esteem and respect of everybody.
He had always attempted to do his best, and had
always spared no pains to arrive at a right and proper
conclusion.

Mr. Reginald Guthrie was glad to have an
opportunity of speaking from his own personal
' point of view in regard to the work which Sir
Thos. Ratcliffe-Ellis had done for the Association.
It had been the speaker’s good fortune to be very
closely associated in the work which he had performed,
and he knew and appreciated most highly the work
he (Sir Thomas) had done. He had seen in all its details
how Sir Thomas had carried it out in the most marvellous
manner by his unwearying industry, his extraordinary
patience, and his great merits of mind and manner, by
which he had obtained such an influence over the minds
of Government departments, had exercised an influence
on members of Parliament of both Houses, and had
dealt with people in ail directions in such a way as to
ensure their admiration and command their support for
the line of action which he thought proper.

Mr. Charles Carlow said that the President had
not overdone the appreciation of the coal owners
of Scotland of Sir Thomas Ellis in the capacities
which he occupied in connection with the Associa-
tion, and of the points of his character which
showed them how very estimable a man he was. He
desired to homologate personally every word the
President had said with regard to Sir Thomas, and to
wish him many, many years of usefulness of every kind.

Dr. G. P. Bidder, on behalf of the Cannock Chase
Association, said that Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis had
been most considerate in all his relations with them,
notwithstanding that they were a few and feeble folk,
a small and unimportant association, and that attitude
largely constituted his secret of success.

Mr. W. B. M. Jackson, on behalf of the Midland
Association, endorsed everything the President and
other speakers had said. Sir Thomas was indeed full
of good qualities, and was, amongst other things, the
most persuasive man one could possibly come across.

Sir Francis Brain, speaking for the small districts
of the south, said that even their small interests had
been looked after by Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis. He
had watched Sir Thomas’s career since the time he
became secretary with admiration and regard, and felt
greatly indebted to him for all his kindness, when he
(the speaker) occupied the presidential chair.

Mr. E. B. Wain, on behalf of one of the smallest,
though not the least energetic of the associations, wished
to say that they also fully appreciated Sir Thomas
Ratcliffe-Ellis’s services to the Association.

Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis (who on rising to reply
was received with great cheering) said, Mr. Presi-
dent and gentlemen,—I wish I could command words
in which I could express to you what I would wish to
say; but I assure you that I fully appreciate your
valuable	and	most	acceptable	gifts, and	still

more the great kindness which has prompted
you to	give	them	to me.	You have	been

pleased, sir, and other gentlemen who have spoken,
to refer in terms of very high commendation to the
work which I have been privileged to do for this Asso-
ciation. I wish I could deserve half of it. But it
would be mere affectation on my part to say that
what you have said is not most acceptable to me,
and you have made me feel a very proud man. As
you have said, I was appointed to this office in the
year 1892, on December 14. I regarded it then as
an office of very great responsibility, and I appre-
ciated the great trust which the Council placed in me
in giving me this appointment. Following, as I did,