May 26, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1007

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

An unprecedented situation hats arisen dn South Wales, the
Miners’ . Federation executive being in revolt against
action by the independent chairman of the Conciliation
Board (Lord Muir Mackenzie), and, having passed a resolu-
tion that in tiie circumstances “ it is'impossible for him to
adjudicate.” All that Lord Mackenzie did was to make a
suggestion to both sides ; but it is against this—or rather the
fact of its having been made—that the Federation execu-
tive have taken umbrage,, and have gone so far as to bring
the matter before the Board of Trade. The difficulty is all
the more serious because very strong feeling is prevalent as
to the demand for wage increase, in relation to which Lord
Mackenzie made his suggestion.

The men had applied for 15 per cent, rise, and the
employers had submitted a proposal for 7J per cent.; and as
the Conciliation Board failed to agree, the qeustion was
relegated to the independent chairman—who, by the consti-
tution of the Board, can only say ” Yes ” or ” No ” to any
specific proposal, not being at liberty to effect any com-
promise. As there is now no selling price of coal accepted
as an equivalent to the minimum wage, Lord Mackenzie has
no such guide as his predecessors have had the advantage of,
the old equivalent having been abandoned when the new
agreement was framed last year; and he has therefore
written to the joint secretaries suggesting an equivalent.
It is this suggestion that the executive of the Federation
have resented, and the text of their resolution, passed on
Monday, reads : “ The Executive Council, having carefully
considered the letter of Lord Muir Mackenzie, sent to the
joint secretaries of the Conciliation Board, dated 15th inst.,
expresses its regret that his lordship should have given an
opinion upon the application under consideration before
having the matter discussed under his presidency. The
Council are, therefore, of the opinion that, having done this,
it renders it impossible for him to adjudicate upon the
application.”

It was further resolved by the Executive that, in addition
to notifying Lord Muir Mackenzie and the coal owners, the
President of the Board of Trade should be informed and
asked to receive a deputation, so that the deadlock which ■
has arisen may be dealt with.

The contention on the men’s side is that, whereas there
has been an endeavour to raise the question of the equiva-
lent, the whole point being what its amount shall be. Lord
Mackenzie has suggested an amount which, although
applicable only to the present occasion, would undoubtedly
have influence in deciding a permanent figure; that, more-
over, the decision as to an equivalent is not within the
competence of the independent chairman, it having to be
fixed separately and by special reference.

Tliis difficulty is all the more regrettable because of the
delay is occasioned in settling the wage rate. Yesterday
(Thursday) was to have been the day of the Conciliation
Beard’s meeting to deal with the question.

■ There is a certain amount of irresponsible talk now
current as to the unrest in the coal field on account of the
demand for higher wages; but it may be emphatically
asserted that “ down tools ” is only loose and ill-considered
utterance, and should not be indulged in. Wages
are already high, and the miner’s income stable. The
experience of last year was entirely exceptional, and risk of
stoppage need not now be feared. Last year, in pressing for
a new agreement, the men had in view the circumstances
that would prevail at the end of the war—a great influx of
returning men, coincident with cessation of Admiralty
demand for coal, and a serious derangement of the market,
both in prices and labour; and therefore they insisted upon
a new agreement embodying terms that would carry them
over that time of stress. To-day it is a simple question of
rise and fall in the wage rate, determinable upon facts sub-
mitted to an independent referee.

Judge O’Connor has given his award in the matter of the-
alleged “ lost 5 per cent.,” which has for so many years
formed a topic of complaint in the anthracite trade; and
perhaps the most noticeable feature is his Honour’s plain
declaration as to the wrong idea which has been held by the
men. The judge states “ a totally erroneous view, honestly
held, has been due to a want of acquaintance with the facts
of the situation in 1882, and to a difference of presentation,
on the pay notes which was not understood.The enquiry
was full and exhaustive, his Honour sitting in Cardiff and
taking evidence; evidence being also taken on commission
in the case of witnesses who could not attend personally. The
men’s idea was that at a time of depression they had “ lent ”
the employers 5 per cent.; and their present contention, there-
fore, was that their new standard should be 50 per cent,
above the old one, instead of 45 per cent, upon which they
are now paid. The employers, on their side, argued that
since 1882 several agreements have been made in the anthra-
cite area, and that adjustment has been made in respect of
1882 conditions. His Honour decides against-the men, and
states that, so far from being worse off by 5 per cent, than the
steam coal men, the'anthracite employees are better off. It
is, he says, “ rather the reverse, for out of 30 classes of mien,
all but three are receiving more in the anthracite collieries
than in the rest of the' field.” He adds that it has been
agreed by both parties to adopt an elaborate system of equiva-
lents drawn up by Mr. Finlay A. Gibson, secretary of the
Coal Owners’ Association, setting off for every-possible rate
on the 1879 standard its corresponding figure in the anthra-
cite district, even to two decimal places of a penny. This
system of tables, therefore, I assent to till experience shall
have shown how it works.” Judge O’Connor takes occasion
to bear strong tribute to the work of Mr. Gibson in compiling
the tables referred to, these statistical calculations bringing
out clearly the relation of the 1877 and the 1879 standards to
that of 1915.

The executive council of the Miners’ Federation on Monday
discussed the award of Judge O’Connor, and resolved that
the decision be accepted, and that, in carrying out the neces-
sary adjustment of percentage in the anthracite district for
the standard of 1915, the figure of 45-78 be added, instead of
50 per cent., which the workmen thought they were entitled
to.

Aid. Bowen, of Tredegar, who has just celebrated his
golden wedding, will be remembered by old-time disputants
in the coal field as a protagonist in 'the days when Mr.
Halliday was the men’s leader. Acting as a sort of honorary
miners’ leader in the Tredegar district,- he was a powerful
opponent of strike policy, a keen critic of Mr. - Halliday s
action. A member of the District Council and of the County
Authority, also a Justice of the Peace (being the first working-
man magistrate in the town), Mr. Bowen has held the confi-
dence of the voters for a very long period, and still exercises
influence in mining questions.

Aberavon Council is taking action with regard to the
charges for coal sold by retail, and has communicated with
the Board of Trade, stating that it has been impossible to
obtain verification of the limitation of prices paid by middle-
men. The Board referred the Council to the committee sitting
at Cardiff; but that committee replied to the effect that they
have nothing to do with middlemen. Consequently, the
Council again appeals to the Board of Trade.

The executive council of Enginemen and Stokers’ Associa- .
tion of South Wales met in Cardiff, and considered reports
that were presented upon different disputes, a large number
of .these having been, so it was stated, brought to a settle-
ment. It was decided to call a special meeting for dealing
with revision of the rules, and the trustees were instructed to
visit Merthyr with a view to purchase of a house and offices
for the association. Strong opinion was expressed as to the
number of non-unionists at work, and the secretaries will
make special effort to bring all outsiders into membership.

North of England.

At the annual council meeting of the Northumberland
Miners’ Association in Newcastle on Saturday, a letter was
road from Mr. Thomas Burt, M.P., regretting inability to
attend, but stating that his health was improving. The
following .were announced as having been elected to the
various committees Committee of Management : Messrs.
E. Edwards (Ashington), A. Walton (New Delaval), A.
Kdnghorn (Barrington), H. Dunn (West Wylam), W.
Beavley (North Seaton), G. Campbell (Woodhorn), W.
Ogle (Algernon, Backworth), and B. Browell (Blucher,
Throckley). Wages Committee : Messrs. G. AV. Shield
(South Tyne), J. Carr (North Walbottle), G. E. Middleton
(Mickley), J. Chapman (South Benwell), Charles Fen-
wick, M.P., G. FI. Warne (Woodhorn), B. J. Taylor
(Blackett), W. Dent (North Seaton), J. Bigg• (Wallsend),
P. McKay (Algernon), and J. S. Dunigan (North Delaval) ;
and Messrs. John Cairns,-William Straker, William Hogg
and William Weir are the representatives on the Local
Federation Board, and Mr. Straker remains the association’s
representative on the Miners’ Federation Executive Com-
mittee. As a result of the increased scale of contributions
which came into operation at the beginning of the year, the
sum of £4,000 had been paid off the overdraft by the end of
March, and it was expected that by the end of the third
quarter of the current year the remaining amount of £9,000
would be wiped out. The only division that occurred was
on Shankhouse’s motion, “ That all hewers and fillers in
the county, when working in places where the rumble or
other stone is thicker than the coal, be paid the county
average rate.” This was defeated by 29 votes to 12.
Besolutious were unanimously carried calling for 6d. per-
shift for working wet, Is. 6d. per hour for drawing timber,
etc., the alteration of the minimum wage local rules so that
soldiers returning to coal-hewing may receive the minimum
wage; a substantial advance upon the hewers’ minimum
wage basis, the county percentage to be added to rent allow-
ance, rent and fire coal allowance to be conceded to surface
labourers, the short shifts which existed prior to the Eight-
Hours Act to be restored to night workers, the basis wage
for horsekeepers to be 3s. Id. and “ callosity ” to be
scheduled as an industrial disease under the Workmen is
Compensation Act. Motions withdrawn called for the entire
abolition of the old colliery house system or for rented men
to be made equal with men in colliery houses,-the whole of
the percentage to be paid to men on whole or part compen-
sation in view of the high cost of living; the aid of the
Miners’ Federation in securing a 20 per cent, advance in
wages, and the amendment of Section 29 of the Coal Mines
Act so as to fix a standard of not less than 20 per cent, of
oxygen in the mines, especially in non-ga-seous mines. The
colliery house motion was withdrawn as • not expressing
exactly what was meant, and that with reference to com-
pensated men was not voted upon because it was recognised
that the end in view could only be attained by an alteration
in the law.

At Monday’s session of the annual council meeting of
the Northumberland Miners’ Association, the agenda was
completed. Eltringham’s motion to seek to have the law
amended so as to make it obligatory on colliery manage-
ments to allow checkweighers to act on local deputations at
the colliery offices, etc., as representatives of the lodges was
unanimously agreed to, as was also Bomarsund’s motion,
” That we deal with the question of non-unionism,” and
the executive’s motion, “ That we seek the add of the
Miners’ Federation in an endeavour to get the 1906 Indus-
trial Act diseases clause so amended as to get compensation
for anyone suffering from the inhalation of powder and
poisonous fumes.” Ashington’s proposal, “ That our associa-
tion become affiliated with the Central Labour College,
London, for the purpose of establishing classes on social
science in our colliery district, and that the Management
Committee be empowered to draft a scheme for the carrying-
out of such work,” was rejected by 37 votes to 21. The
somewhat “ frightfully ” worded motion from Cramlington
Ann, “ That we suggest that, during the war, one of our
agents be abolished,” found no seconder. Only two sup-
porters were to be found that the Bising Sun’s.motion to
appeal against the executive’s decision not to grant the
lodge legal aid in its recent trial at court for moneys with-
held from its members, and that the association should pay
the solicitors’ expenses and the members’ fines. The
Executive withdrew its motion that it should be given power
to choose from the council meeting resolutions which had
been carried-by the county and submit these to an arbitration
board to be formed hereafter, consisting of 10 representatives
of the association and 10 members of the Coal Owners’
Association, with an independent chairman. At the con-
clusion of the business, the president (Mr. William Weir)
called upon Mr. Straker to report as to the recent conference
concerning the national need for coal. Mr. Straker explained
what had been done, and expressed the hope that branch
officials would assist those at Burt Hall in inducing men to
attend more regularly to their work. All the motions which
have gone to a vote at the council meeting will now be
submitted to the county, so that the council’s decision may
be confirmed or rejected.

By an overwhelming majority the workmen at Cambods
Colliery have, decided to adhere to the present system of
weekly pays.

Thirty-one putters who took holiday from the Byhope
Colliery on the day before Good Friday were summoned to
appear before the Sunderland magistrates on Saturday last
to answer a charge of breach of contract. The youths con-
fessed their fault, however, and agreed to pay 5s. per head,
which was claimed as damages. The cases were, therefore,
struck out.

With reference to the matters raised at the conference of
coal owners and miners’ representatives in London last
week, Mr. William Straker, corresponding -secretary of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association, expresses the opinion
that at least 5 per cent, of the absenteeism at Northumber-
land pits is avoidable, and that by the reduction of this
lost time we could almost meet the national needs. The
only point, he says, is how to induce men to attend work
more regularly. He points out the danger is that, if the
men cannot be induced to give up avoidable absence
from work, “ we and they will have to accept some other
measure which means going back on all that we have so
hardly won after such a long period of struggle, and will be
with difficulty regained. The men will have to make up
their minds either to reduce the amount of lost time, in order
to meet the national need, or to prepare themselves for the
reimposition of those evils which they have fought so hard
to remove and prevent.”

The relations between Air. T. H. Cann, secretary of the
Durham Miners’ Association and the leaders of the “ For-
ward Movement ” within the association are becoming
decidedly strained. Air. Cann devoted much of a recent
monthly circular to a criticism of the aforesaid leaders—who
include, be it noted, some of the most influential men in the
Durham mining community—and accused them of seeking
the limelight. The “ Forward Movement ” has now issued
a counter manifesto in which they aver that the particular
function of Mr. Cann’s monthly circular nowadays is to
make personal attacks, and that “ one looks in vain for
guidance ” from it.

The workmen at Seghill Colliery have complained to the
executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’
Association regarding the inadequacy of their fire-coal
supply, and the committee decided to inform the secretary
of the Coal Owners’ Association that unless the supply is
improved within 14 days the Seghill members will be allowed
to take a ballot vote as to whether they shall give in notice
to terminate their hiring. At the same meeting, the com-
mittee passed a’ resolution regretting to learn that 120
members of the Newcastle and District Quarrymen’s
Association had been refused any advance in wages, despite
the large increase in the cost of living, and were now on
strike and deciding to contribute £5 to the strike fund.

Federated Area.

The South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire colliery
engine winders and stokers held meetings at Dudley to con-
sider the refusal of the coal owners to accede to their demand
for a 5 per cent, advance. The following resolution was
passed at each meeting : “ After hearing the agents’ reports
of the interview with Mr. Claude Try-on (Lord Dudley's
agent), we insist upon our demand for the advance, and we
also demand an interview with the full board of coal owners
for the district to be held as early as possible. Failing this
we appeal to the Executive Committee for permission to
tender notices to force this issue. It is with the utmost
regret that such steps as these should have to be taken, but
we have come to the conclusion, after fully considering the
facts, that we have no alternative.”—The question of non-
union labour was also considered at the same meeting, and
it was decided to take steps to force those outside the union
into the organisation. Failing success in this respect within
14 days from Saturday last, notices to cease work are to be
tendered.

The question of absenteeism in Black Country mines was
considered at a meeting of miners 'at Old Hill on Saturday.
The miners’ agent, Mr. Samuel Edwards, said while it was
admitted that there was a good deal of unnecessary shirking-
on the part of a 'section of miners, the fact that so much time
was lost was largely due to bad management at the pits.
At some collieries miners attended their work regularly, but
often had to remain at the bottom of the pit for an hour or
more and then found that their services were not required.
This was discouraging to the men,.and he thought during
the present- crisis, when a larger output of coal was needed,
arrangements ought to be made to prevent these men having
to ” play.” A resolution was passed deploring the fact
that absenteeism is prevalent in the collieries, and urging
the colliery owners to enquire into the circumstances of
workmen employed at the mines not having been provided
with work when they have presented themselves.

The ballot of Edlington miners in regard to the question
of tendering notices has, it is stated, resulted in -a two-thirds
majority in favour. The dispute is said to be due to the
refusal of the company to re-instate a worker who is the
president of the branch, and who had been dismissed. It is,
however, understood that while the men are sympathetic they
do not favour the downing of tools.

A curious strike over a question of wages has occurred at
the Clifton .and Kersley Coal Company’s Clifton timber
yard. The trouble seems to have arisen over a sum of money
which the employers granted to the workmen several
months ago, and which they understood to be an increase in
wages. A fortnight ago the men were given another 2s. as
war bonus, but owing to a readjustment of the amount
given them previously- many of the men found their wages
to be less than the previous week, and they “ downed
tools ” at a minute’s notice. About 150 men came out on
strike.

Scotland.

Nego-tiat'ions have failed to bring about a settlement of the
dispute in Bosehall Collieries over the question of recognition
of the men’s organisation, and at a mass meeting at Bellshill
the men agreed to declare a strike

The Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades
opposed the Admiralty proposals regarding overtime and
labour dilution. It was decided to send a deputation to ask
for the State regulation of the prices of the commodities of
life. The Federation agreed to a motion in favour of increas-
ing old age pensions to 10s. per week.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

At a meeting of the Lanarkshire Branch of the Associated
Blacksmiths’ and Ironworkers’ Society of Great Britain in
Hamilton on Saturday it was decided to cease work in
support of the demand for an advance of Is. per day in
wages. It was intimated at the meeting that colliery smiths
are not munition workers, and do not come under munition
regulations.

Sheriff Laing, Aberdeen, arbiter in connection with an
application for increased wages by the semi-skilled and
unskilled workers at Westburn Foundry (Messrs. Douglas
Fraser and Sons), Arbroath, has granted an all-round
advance of Is. per week, to date from April 28. The men
asked an increase of 2s. per week for one section and an
advance of 4s. per week for another.