September 17, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

589

willing to remain longer than their usual shift in the pit,
so as to cope with stoppages and breakdowns. The paper
gave rise to an interesting discussion.

Mr. Robert Wilson, who has had a long and successful
career as manager of Giffnock Collieries, has retired, and
taken up his residence in Glasgow. He took a prominent
part in the work of the Mining Institute of Scotland, and the
National Association of Colliery Managers.

At the Valuation Appeal Court, the Dalmeny Oil Company
appealed against their present valuation of £3,100 on the
ground that they are working against great difficulties, their
through-put being only one-third of what it was two years
ago. Seventy-two out of 196 retorts are working at present.
The secretary of the company said it was not possible to
increase the yield meantime. The company had been going
from bad to worse, culminating last year in a loss of between
£11,000 and £12,000, and the present year would be the
worst in their history. The court agreed to fix the valuation
at £2,250.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Conciliation Board met on Friday, Lord St. Aldwyn
presiding as independent chairman, and the workmen sub-
mitted an application for 12J per cent, increase in wages.
The matter had been brought up at a previous meeting of the
Board, when the employers made a counter offer of 5 per
cent., but the parties failing to agree, Lord St. Aldwyn
was called in to decide. Mr. J. Winstone, president of the
Federation, with Mr. A. Onions, treasurer, submitted the
case for the workmen on Friday; and they contended that
inasmuch as the selling price of coal had now reached
an average of 22s. 9d., and that small coal was selling
above 13s., the men were entitled to the advance claimed.
They also urged that the volume of trade and the prospects
for future business were satisfactory. As to the reduction of
output for the preceding three months as compared with the
corresponding quarter of last year, this had been quite small.

In reply to the men’s contention, the coal owners argued
that although the price of coal had increased, the cost of
production had advanced by at least 5s. per ton, due to
the higher prices of stores, as well as scarcity of labour, with
consequent reduction of output. Whereas 14s. 9d. was the
equivalent of 50 per cent, advance upon the old standard,
they submitted that the new equivalent ought to be 19s. 9d.
per ton; and therefore they desired that an average selling
price of 19s. 9d. should be the equivalent of the new standard
of 1915. It was pointed out on their behalf that the men
were already receiving 18| above the new standard, and
that therefore the advance of 5 per cent, offered would be
fair, this 5 per cent, being equivalent to 7J on the old. It
was further stated that the rate of progression under the
old agreement was approximately 9 per cent, advance for
every shilling increase in the price of coal; but that under
the new conditions it would not be possible to grant an
advance at an equal rate. There had been, they urged,
a great reduction in the normal production of the coal field
owing to the large number of enlistments, and the output
was also hindered by Government restrictions on exports.

After hearing both sides, Lord St. Aldwyn stated that
under the circumstances he desired to give full consideration
to the points that had been raised, and that he would reserve
his decision. His lordship’s award was delivered on Tues-
day, the men’s claim for 12J per cent, advance being
conceded.

The strike of over 2,000 men at the Tylorstown pits has
come to an end, the number of non-unionists having been
brought into co-operation with their fellows in regard to
subscriptions.

Because of a dispute between.the men themselves, over
a thousand miners ceased work at the Standard Collieries,
Ynyshir, on Monday. Members of the Enginemen and
Stokers’ Association employed at the pits refused to join
the Miners’ Federation, and the federationists would not
work with them. This subject is more fully dealt with
under the heading “ Notes from the Coal Fields,” some of
the important points raised by the stoppage being discussed.

In accordance with the arrangement made at the last
meeting, the representatives of the Coal Owners’ Associa-
tion met representatives of the Enginemen and Stokers’
Association at Cardiff on Monday to consider the men’s
demands for increase of wages. Mr. T. H. Deakin presided
over the owners and Mr. W. Hopkins over the men’s leaders.
The official report stated that at collieries where feeders
had been paid a higher standard than stokers, and as
stokers had been raised to the new 5s. 6d. standard, feeders
should receive a new standard of 5s. 8d. The men’s leaders
asked for an all-round advance for all classes of enginemen
and surface craftsmen; but the owners intimated that they
could not agree to this. It was, however, arranged that
special cases at individual collieries should be considered
where the rates paid to any particular classes of men were
below the average of the coal field. A further meeting of
the joint committee will be held to consider this matter.

The report of the executive of the Enginemen and Stokers’
Association stated that it was decided to ascertain the rates
at present existing at the various collieries in order that
the association might prepare their claim prior to meeting
the owners again. Mr. Hopkins, the secretary of the
association, stated that several branches reported increased
membership.

It was reported at a meeting of the Rhymney Valley
miners last week that although the new agreement had been
put into practice there were a considerable number of dis-
putes and misunderstandings arising out of the adoption
of the new rules. There were a few pits still outstanding
in practically every colliery upon which there had been
failure to reach a settlement as yet, and these had been
referred to the special committee appointed by the Con-
ciliation Board.

In the Aberdare district the colliery timbermen and
rippers have had some trouble on the question of the bonus
turn; and at a mass meeting of the men held on Friday
evening a deputation was appointed to lay their case before
the Federation executive. The question was whether
Saturday afternoon and Sunday night shifts came within the
category of qualifying shifts for the bonus turn, and
whether the timbermen and rippers were within their rights
in expecting extra payment for working these shifts. A
resolution was submitted proposing a stoppage of work,
but Mr. Stanton, the agent, persuaded the men not to act
upon it, and the resolution as to approaching the Federation
executive was agreed to.

North of England.

In his September circular to the members of Durham
Miners’ Association, Mr. T. H. Cann makes reference to

the quarterly meeting of the Conciliation Board, held on
August 6, and says, inter alia :—“ The accountants’ ascer-
tainment of the selling price of coal for this county compared
very unfavourably not only with the prices that prevailed
nationally, but, also, with the recent ascertainment in a
neighbouring county. The smallness of the increase, in
conjunction with other factors, created the not unreasonable
hope that, if ever the occasion existed for the Board to
justify its character as a Conciliation Board, it was the
present. I candidly confess that I never went to a meeting
of this description in a more sanguine frame of mind, and
I never left one more disappointed.” He goes on to state
that, when the Board was formed, it was tacitly under-
stood that the sliding scale method of 1'25 per cent, for
each 2d. fluctuation in the selling price of coal should con-
tinue to form a basis from which calculations might be
made, “ but that it formed a concrete basis, which could
be insisted upon as being the determining factor in the
wages negotiations of the Board, appears to me an unreason-
able and inconsistent attitude for any body of men to take
up who were desirous of justifying the designation of a
Conciliation Board. That the Board itself recognised the
sliding scale method as being of an obsolete type is, to a large
extent, demonstrated by the fact that, during the last 11
years, a new relationship has been established and the
average percentage which each 2d. rise in the selling price
has yielded has changed from 1'25 to 1*69 per cent. During
the last 15 years, certain factors have arisen which, from
the standpoint of equity, would entitle the miners of this
county to much more generous treatment than can be
obtained by a strict observance of any hard and fast method
of determining wages, as, for instance, the fact that large
numbers of by-product ovens have been erected, the profits
from which have been at all times lucrative, but never
more so than at present, and, although the labour of the
miners is the source from which this increased income arises,
they practically reap no benefit from it. Then, again, all
surplus coal over and above what is contracted for is invari-
ably sold at a price largely in excess of the contract coal,
yet such enhanced price does not come into the ascertained
selling price and though, under normal conditions, this is
probably a negligible quantity, under recent abnormal cir-
cumstances I am certain it was a more considerable item
than ordinarily is the case.” Mr. Cann goes on to state :—
“ I have so strongly resented the owners’ attitude on the
wages question that my sense of fair play makes it
necessary to say that the spirit evinced when meeting us on
the question of local reductions was decidedly more credit-
able to them, and their subsequent conduct in relation to the
several claims for local reductions has served to restore to
some extent the hope that, at next meeting of the Concilia-
tion Board they will be found to be in a more conciliatory
frame of mind than on last occasion.” The owners’
resolution on the local reductions question, which, Mr.
Cann admits, has answered admirably, was as follows :
“ The owners will undertake that applications for local
reductions should be avoided as far as possible during the
war. Where it can be shown that higher average earnings
are due to additional work on the part of the men, the
owners will agree that reductions shall not be sought, but,
where the average earnings are high through changes in
condition of the seam or through altered conditions of work,
then such can be dealt with by the Joint Committee under
the ordinary regulations, the rule as to revisions of prices
to continue in operation without alteration.”

The Durham coal owners and miners, at a recent con-
ference, agreed to certain minor alterations in the Minimum
Wage rules. The first point dealt with was the question
of a man “ on the minimum ” being compelled to work
100 per cent, of his time or forfeit the minimum wage; the
owners agreed that the loss of one day per fortnight without
a reasonable excuse should not deprive a man of his
privilege. The second point was the case of a hewer being
called out to put, and the earnings he made when putting
being pooled with his earnings when hewing. The con-
ference decided that, wherever a man was called out to put
what was considered to be a full hewer’s putting shift, his
earnings should not be pooled with his hewing earnings.
Mr. Cann, the miners’ secretary, is of the opinion that,
whilst it cannot be claimed that these concessions constitute
a substantial gain to the workmen, they will tend to obviate
a good deal of trouble.

Wearmouth lodge of the Durham Miners’ Association, in
protesting against the proposed reversion to fortnightly
pays, argues that, whilst the colliery office staffs are short
handed, there is not now the number of workmen employed
in the pits as before the war, which equalises matters.

Quite an ambitious list of suggestions to ensure increased
output of coal during the war has been put forward at the
eleventh quarterly meeting of the members of the Northern
Colliery Officials’ Association, held recently in the
Coal Trade Offices, Newcastle. The following were agreed
upon :—Reduction of abstention to a minimum; despatch
in conveying workmen from the surface to the working face;
the provision of good working conditions; the stoppage of
places yielding low average outputs, if possible; bonuses to
be given to all workmen for full time, six days to con-
stitute a week’s work, and double pay to be given for
Sunday labour; female surface labour to be a last resort, and
to be remunerated at the same pay and bonuses as male
labour; females to be entitled to industrial war medals; the
Eight Hours Act to be suspended when the Government and
the miners’ leaders consider it inevitable; local class dis-
tinctions to be laid aside, enabling masters and workmen to
meet together freely; owners, officials and workmen to share
all enhanced profits; the country’s welfare to be placed
first, all side-issues obscuring the main issue to be con-
sidered as fighting for the Germans; if possiblerecruiting
in the coal fields to cease; local working committees of
all concerned to be appointed to meet weekly to consider the
aforegoing suggestions and also (1) the average output per
man per day; (2) average abstentions; and (3) the cost of
coal per ton at the pit head. The committees, it is sug-
gested, should work (1) by ascertaining that everything is
done in the pit to obtain a high average tonnage per man
per day, and should tabulate output data and institute com-
parisons ; (2) by examining the office time book, discussing
its contents and applying the necessary remedies; while (3)
depends upon (1) and (2). The committees should have power,
according to this scheme, to allocate special bonuses for full
time and also for high average output. Women’s meet-
ings, it is suggested, should be held to assist in creating the
feeling that anyone at the colliery not doing his full duty
is a “ German.”

Federated Area.

A joint meeting of representatives of the Leen Valley
colliery owners and the Notts Miners’ Association was held
at Nottingham on Tuesday, September 14, to confer on the

question of surface workers’ wages. The proceedings lasted
five hours, and were then adjourned until September 28.

Scotland.

A meeting of the Scottish Coal Trade Conciliation Board
was held in Glasgow on Tuesday, for the purpose of con-
sidering the question of working full time in collieries, so
as to increase coal production. The workmen’s representa-
tives agreed to recommend that collieries in every district
should work 11 days a fortnight, and if it is found that
in the national interest the output should be further increased
this will form the subject of consideration at a later
stage. This recommendation will chiefly affect Lanarkshire,
where the miners work 10 days a fortnight. In practically
every other Scottish mining district 11 days are worked.

At the Lady Pit, Whiterigg Collieries, there has been a
dispute on the question of the rates. For some time the
men have been paid a ton rate and a fathomage rate. The
men desired to have the fathomage rate done away with, and
the ton rate substantially increased. They alleged that the
fathomage rate was insufficient and unsatisfactory in its
application. On the other hand, the management held that,
as the working conditions at the face changed rapidly, it
was impracticable to fix a higher common rate, and that
each case required to be treated on its merits. The manage-
ment have agreed to give a definite rate.

The owners of Blairmuckhole Colliery, Harthill, since
introducing safety lamps, have asked the workmen to pay Id.
per day for oil lamps and l|d. for electric. The men contend
they are entitled to light free, and are being supported by
their union.

A meeting of the executive of the National Union of
Scottish Mine Workers was held at Glasgow on Tuesday;
Mr. Robert Smillie presided. Apart from considering the
attitude to be adopted on the question of a six-day week,
the delegates decided to raise the question at the conference
of setting up machinery for the settlement of local disputes
during the period of the war. The opinion was expressed
that it would be well to leave this matter in the hands of
the joint committees of mine owners’ and workers’ repre-
sentatives in the various counties. The coal owners at the
afternoon meeting agreed to consider the proposal.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

The resolutions which will be considered at the annual
conference of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain have
just been officially issued. The conference will consider the
scheme already put forward for an alliance between the
miners, the railwaymen, and the transport workers. The
draft scheme has been approved by the railway and transport
unions and by the miners’ executive. The South Wales
section of the Miners’ Federation bring forward a proposal
for a comprehensive programme which they would use the
prospective alliance to attain. The resolution is as follows :
‘‘ Proposals for a working arrangement with railwaymen and
transport workers. That this conference instructs the
executive council to prepare a national programme to include
amendments of the Minimum Wage Act, Compensation Act,
Eight Hours Act (to include surfacemen), and the Mines
Act. The council is drafting the new bills to have regard to
suggestions received from various districts, and also divisions
of national conferences, and to submit the bills to a further
special national conference called for the purpose, with the
object of making them a programme to be submitted to the
joint body of railwaymen, transport workers, and miners for
action.” The particular amendments desired to the Mines
Act and the Compensation Act are dealt with separately in
resolutions from various districts. With regard to the
Minimum Wage Act, Durham asks for an amendment that
adult day workers shall have a minimum of 5s., and that
piece-workers shall have a minimum of not less than the
district average. In spite of the party truce, some keen dis-
cussion may be expected upon a Derbyshire resolution, pro-
viding that nothing in clause 3 of the Labour Party consti-
tution shall prevent negotiations between the executive of
the party, acting with the full consent and co-operation of
local organisations affected, and the executive of any other
political party or parties, with a view to securing a
quid pro quo agreement by which certain constituencies shall
be deemed to belong to labour. A resolution from Yorkshire
requests the Government to make provision for the persons
appointed upon section 16 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, to
be paid by the State. Northumberland asks for an eight-
hour day for all surface workers, that all royalty rents and
wayleaves be transferred to the State. Yorkshire also asks
for the age at which old-age pensions be granted be reduced
to 65, and that in no case the amount be less than 7s. 6d.
per week.

Trade Union Congress.

On Thursday of last week the important question of
craft versus industrial trade unions was raised on a resolu-
tion by Mr. J. Compton, Manchester Coachmakers, that the
congress should reaffirm the resolution of 1906 and 1907, viz.,
that any method of organisation that seeks to divide work-
men from their fellows in the same occupation was
detrimental to the best interests of trade unionism. The
resolution was carried at the Railwaymen’s Union, which
had decided to admit all workmen employed in the shops.
Mr. W. House (Durham Miners’) said the adoption of
this resolution would cause dissension and mischief among
the unions. The resolution was carried. The opposition
vote was restricted to the miners and the railwaymen, and
foreshadows a formidable fight by those two great unions
against the craft unions.

The following day, Mr. W. House (Durham Miners’)
withdrew a resolution from the Miners’ Federation that
the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress
give up its connection with the joint board. He said that
the Miners’ Federation withdrew the resolution because it
did not explain clearly what they meant, and they would
bring forward a more comprehensive resolution to the next
congress. A resolution proposing a minimum wage for all
adult workers was adopted.

The conclusion of the congress was reached on Saturday.
A resolution in favour of a more efficient system of factory
inspection was agreed to. The resolution called special
attention to the unhealthy conditions prevailing in the
galvanising and tin-plate industries, and the serious need
of proper sanitation and ventilation. It also urged that
employers should be forced to introduce remedial measures
to abate the smoke, vapour, and dust danger. The congress
agreed to a resolution instructing the Parliamentary Com-
mittee to endeavour to secure the amendment of the Coal
Mines Regulation Act, 1908. The following resolution,
moved by the National Association of Colliery Deputies, on
the same subject was also carried : ” That, in the opinion
of this congress, any legislation which has for its object
an attempt to diminish the number of accidents in mines