No. 97. — Nicholas Wood Esq., Viewer of Killingworth, Hetton, and other Collieries.

The regular hours of work for children, &c., are 12 hours down the pit. Thinks they would not stay down the pit much longer. It will take something beyond the 12 hours, including the time that is required to reach their place of work from the bottom of the shaft and to return to the shaft bottom. This must, of course, depend on the locality of their work, in most cases would not exceed half an hour, i.e. a quarter of an hour going and a quarter returning. The above is the time they are actually down the pit. The 12-hour boys do not work overtime, except in very rare cases; there is no power in the bond to compel them to do so. In no cases is Mr. Wood aware of their working overtime all. If they do it would never exceed 2 hours additional.

In cases of leading water and similar pursuits and in cases of task or bargain work and where the work is necessary to be done to enable another set of men to get to work, the boys may remain until such work is done beyond 12 hours, say 14 or 15 hours but these are rare cases: or in cases where boys have to go down the pit to prepare or do some work (such as raising the steam of steam-engines, &c.), to enable the pit to commence working, boys may remain 2 hours more but these are also very rare cases, not 2 or 3 in an entire concern and these apply not to the very young boys, but those above 13.

The demand for coals fluctuates at different periods of the year, and during those periods (the autumn and winter) the pits remain at full work during the entire 12 hours and the boys are consequently kept more incessantly at work than during the summer months. In some cases when the demand is very great, the pits are set to work what is called 'double shifts, or the entire 24 hours, by 2 sets of workmen, each 12 hours but in these the boys cannot remain longer than 12 hours. No overtime can be worked.

But it is not the practice in the coal-trade to work overtime, as in the manufactories, when the demand is great but to employ more hands in 12-hour shifts and to store coals in summer at the pits mouths for the increased demand in winter.

Meals. — There is no fixed time allowed for meals, because the nature of the work is desultory and they have occasional or regular stops from the nature of the work. All the work is done in trips, at the end of which they must necessarily rest and then commence a fresh trip. Generally during these periods of rest they get their meals or 'baits.' It is now becoming a practice to have a quarter of an hour's stop among the putters for meals.

At first Mr. Wood knew them to eat rye-bread; now they will only eat wheaten bread and in general the food is of the best description. The parents do not give the children very much animal food; perhaps more bread and tea and coffee and oatmeal. The meals are taken without any change of clothes or any washing of hands. Generally they do not take any animal food into the pit, having this after they come up, as far as it is given them at all.

No one is employed to clean machinery, &c., as it is all kept constantly going during the 12 hours but all the machinery works only in a succession of trips, during the 12 hours which the machinery is cleaned and looked to.

Children are principally employed in 3 kinds of work and are thence called putters, drivers and trappers. Putters drag or push the trams from the workings to the horse-roads. These putters are the oldest boys. The average distance of their trips will be from 150 to 180 yards each trip. Generally the price paid per score puts is 1s. 3d. for the first 80 yards, 1d. more for every additional 20 yards. This 1d. is only paid on the completion of the last yard of the 20 additional yards. Thus, if the price paid is 1s. 3d. a score for 80 yards, 1s. 3d. only will be paid for 99 yards and 1s. 4d. for 100 yards, and so on. The average score price may perhaps be taken at 1s. 8d. Putters then rest at the end of each trip. Supposing a lad to put 2 score (40 corves) in a day, at 1s. 8d. per score, he will have made 40 double trips that day and each double trip being a distance of 360 yards, he will have travel 40+360 yards, equalling 14,400 yards, or between 8 and 9 miles. It is the general practice to conduct a tram in the following manner:—

1. If one lad puts a tram by himself, he is called a 'tram.'

2. If an old and strong boy, and a young boy together, put a tram, the older boy 15 a 'headsman' and the younger boy a 'foal.' The headsman pays the foal 4d. out of shilling, retaining the 8d. for himself. The foal is a servant of the master.

3. If 2 boys of about equal age and strength together put a tram, they are called 'marrows' and they divide their earnings equally.

All these putters are bound to work for 12 hours and very rarely exceed that time. The 'drivers' drive horse-rolleys and in some cases donkeys to assist the putters at steep places. 'Helpers-up' are boys substituted for these donkeys and they are much more suitable at slight inclinations, for donkeys are very slow and are only used at considerable inclinations. At this colliery (Killingworth) they have 13 donkeys in use. There is a practice now at Hetton and other collieries of substituting for putters small ponies, drawing a different kind of carriage, and taking the coals direct from the hewers to the shaft bottom.

The plan is likely to answer and witness thinks of trying it here. It is much cheaper, and would render it possible to do entirely without putters. The half-marrows, or foals, have the heaviest work for their strength and of course the lad who goes before the tram to keep it back when coming down, has the heavy weight upon him. In nine cases out of ten the putting of the full corf or tub will be down, not up. Where boys help up the rise will never exceed 1 in 20 if steeper, ponies, &c. are used, except in short distances where the rise may be 1 in 12. The average of places may be 1 in 20. Wherever donkeys and ponies are used, the putters still are employed behind the trams. The putters will not exert more than their natural strength in general, although in very steep places some may have been strained by putting. The drivers are the most liable to accidents.

Trappers may be said to go to work at a minimum average of 8 years. Usually and generally speaking the air in the pits is not unhealthy. Very few pitmen are consumptive and asthma if compared with lead-mines, is scarcely known at all among them. In the 'broken,' or pillar workings the men are there constantly, but the putters and boys move about, and their stoppages are all at the crane (which is not in the pillar or broken workings.) It is true the ventilation in the broken is imperfect.

The boys have a fortnight holidays at Christmas and a day on Good Friday, and sometimes Monday.

The parents generally contract for or bind their children and mostly wish to have their children bound for heavier work than they are fit for, merely for the sake of the additional wages. If money is lent to parents, which is very rarely done, of course the debt is paid out of the wages of the family indiscriminately. The parents draw and receive the earnings of children just as long as they are under parental control. No mistakes occur in paying the wages to the wrong party; the proper party is always known. It is not often that boys under 16 take themselves away from their parents homes and control.

There are no particular rewards for good conduct or punishments for bad, except fining, may not be at present legal. For a boy to he sent home is the greatest punishment. The children are perhaps a little ill-formed and the majority of them pale and not robust. Men working in low seams are bent double and bow-legged very often. A tall man would not stay in a low seam. Perhaps the minimum thickness of the seams in this district will be three feet three inches and the average thickness four feet and a half.

The men perspiring very freely and being of a spare habit and having no tendency to inflammation, get over accidents much sooner than other men. It is surprising how they recover from burns and scalds and perhaps no pitmen are disabled from outward burns. There is a very general diminution of stature amongst pitmen. Does not remember to have seen a pitman ever wearing a great coat or plaid. Their clothing is not very different in summer or winter.

The pit ropes never break off. Being flat and composed of four strands, if one strand the other three strands would be sufficient to hold. The banksman inspects the ropes, &c. and reports to the heap-keeper, who is a general inspector of things at bank and his sole duty is to be going round and seeing to these things all day. About a month ago a man being too late one morning, obstinately laid hold of the rope, which slid through his hands and he fell to the bottom and was killed.

There is a self-acting plane at this colliery, with a counterbalance weight, to assist the in holding back and pushing up the corf or tub. Swing doors are only applicable where the pressure is vet-v light, and where the air is connected for short distances. Old men are too stupid for door-keeping, and would be scarcer than boys.

The number of hewers (underground) will probably equal from half to two-thirds of the total number of men employed in and about the colliery.

The boys of the hewers alone would be insufficient to carry on the collieries, and hence the boys of the mechanics and labourers in the adjoining villages are generally employed; and hence in collieries families are eagerly sought after. Of course the deeper or farther in the workings are carried on, the greater will be the number of boy's required, as there is a greater distance to run. It is always more expensive to bring coals from the dip than the rise, as is clear and in the Downs Pit at Hetton there is an (underground) engine for this purpose. The nearest coal being first worked the pits are becoming deeper and therefore the want of boys will be more and more felt. Looking at the total number employed underground there would be two hewers to one man otherwise employed and to these three men would be wanted a proportion of two or two and a half boys. Males above 18 years of age are unfitted for putting and still more for driving. Putting is disagreeable to adults for many reasons, and if a hewer is ordered to put coals and he binds himself to do so if ordered, then he is paid score 'furtherance' more than the boys are paid and so too in the other grades the boy is paid not for the work perhaps that he is doing at the particular time, but according to his capabilities. Persons are employed as hewers at 20 years of age. Now, boys being generally employed at 8 years of age, there are 12 years of boys and lads labour to each individual. In proportion then as you restrict the age at which boys enter pits, in that proportion reduce the quantity of boys labour. But if you restrain boys from going down before 10 years of age, then there is only 10 years labour of boys, and therefore the effect would be to lessen the number of boys, in the proportion of from 12 to 10. If there be any restriction there should be some discretionary power vested in the medical man to grant certificate to children equal in strength to the required age. It would be very hard in the case of a widow who depends upon the wages of her children and considering the number of accidents and therefore the number of widows, great distress would often occur in coal districts from any such restriction. As we now see that the pit-work, &c., is not greatly injurious to boys they might be allowed to continue in their present state.

We see that trappers and drivers are always in good air; that putters travel but nine or ten miles a day, and that they are at least half their time disengaged out of the twelve hours and therefore have a very large quantity of time for meals and rest. We see that there is nothing like the labour, &c., of factories here; and hence we cannot see the necessity of any legislation.

Education would not benefit the men and boys as work-people nor would they be advanced simply for that education. Any higher kind of education would be of no service to them as pit-people; their work being merely mechanical, and there being no superior mode of doing it. It is the opinion of many, and especially of under-viewers, that they would be worse workmen if educated, as education would produce a dislike to work. But in all the popular commotions they have been worst in the most ignorant colliery districts. At this place there are above the common standard in intelligence, and Mr. Wood has found them more steady than in an adjoining colliery; and thus an educated pitman is more desirable. In strikes the few men who may be educated may happen to be the most mischievous, and schoolmasters themselves have often led the men on in strikes.

But if the whole mass of men were educated they could not be so operated upon; they are led away because ignorant. The educated man is respected for his education, but a general education would destroy the charm.

Men are selected as overmen and deputies, not for their education but for their general qualities.

If any general system of education were deemed advisable for collieries there should be a general system of direction. Schools and libraries should be under the control of the owners and all blasphemous and immoral publications excluded. Many persons now come about with these things for sale, and they are purchased extensively.

The pit villages are colonies of themselves, and must be treated as such. Whatever direction you give to them it is retained, while it is otherwise in a manufactory in a town. In 99 cases out of 100 boys brought up in the pits will continue in them. Very few have recourse to any other trade and if they have it is merely with a view of bettering their circumstances.

The subscription to the school here is not compulsory, yet two-thirds or three-fourths oft whole subscribe. This system has worked well here in every respect. The Infant-school works well. In case of a restriction of the employment of children in pits the parents would not send their children to schools where they pay as usual now, although they might could perhaps be sent to school at this colliery.

No. 98. — John Middlemas, and six other Lads, all bound to 'put.'

All go to work at 4 o'clock morning, and loose at 4 o'clock p.m. All are called a quarter-past 3 o'clock a.m. All take meals and baits down the pits, as other witnesses do. Those who have no father are not so well off as others, and do not get so much to eat, &c. Sometimes but very rarely, they work the whole double-shift; that is, they go down at 4 o'clock a.m. and do not come up till 4 o'clock in the day after that, thus stopping down 36 hours, without coming up sometimes; and sometimes they come up for a half-hour and then go down again. One was worked thrice in the last twelve month this way; never came up at all 10 36 hours; worked on all the time, never ceased the working in the usual way. There we three sets of hewers during that time. In 1839, another boy worked twice a double-shift the way. Another, once in last year; and also another once in last year. Another work for 24 hours last week, and never came up at all: was putting and driving a cuddy. Another has stopped down 36 hours without coming up at all twice during last year. When working this double-shift, they go to bed directly they come home; then get up at 3 o'clock a.m., and go down at 4 o'clock a.m. again.

No. 99. — Ralph Hardy.

Aged 16. Has once worked down the pits 48 (consecutive) hours. Out of this 48 hours only up for half an-hour. At about 5 o'clock p.m. took more baits down than common; sleep an hour out of the 48 hours. This was at the week end; he finished the 48 hours work 4 o'clock of a Saturday morning. Went down the pit again 4 o'clock Monday morning and worked on single-shift of 12 hours, as usual. On that occasion he slept from 4 o'clock a.m. Saturday morning to 5 o'clock p.m. Went to bed at 9 o'clock Saturday night, and got up on Sunday morning about 9 or 10. Was no sick or ill from this extra work. Would do this again, if he possibly could, because of the great earnings, having made 5s. for the 48 hours. This witness is healthy', and (apparently tolerably grown and strong) never has had the doctor, except when his finger was once lamed. No one forces him down the pit; would prefer to be a joiner. Sometimes the big putters or the men may rub (hit) him, but not to hurt. Two years ago was lamed in the finger by rolleys, and was off 3 weeks.

No. 100. — John Laverick, and several other Boys.

Go down the pit at 4 o'clock, called at half-past 3, get breakfast first, coffee, brown bread, white cake, and yeasty bread. Take down cake, butter, and bread, and coffee, and sometimes meat for bait in a bag. Generally begin to eat these about 8 o'clock and 12. Eat when the rolleys are stopping. and sometimes while sitting on the moving rolleys; sometimes could eat more before they loose. Get as much as they like when they get home at half-past 4 or 5 o'clock. If have to do and when the cages or corves break, they stop down till 6 or 7 o'clock. Last week the staple-chain or counter-balance chain, broke, and they were kept down 3 hours extra, till 6 in the morning; they should have been up at 3 o'clock a.m., having gone down at 4 o'clock p.m. previous day. This often happens. The staple-chain broke twice last week. During the last month they have been kept down three times extra, from an hour to 2 or 3 hours each time. The cages could not come down, as something was out of order, and so they could not get up. Many times they fell sick down the pit. Sometimes they have the heart-burn; sometimes force up their meat again, perhaps twice or thrice in a fortnight. Some boys are off a-week from being sick; and occasionally they feel pains. But, on close questioning some of these arise from influenza, and other causes not connected with pit-work.

No. 101. — Six Trappers, or Doorkeepers.

Are called at half-past 3 o'clock. Go down at 4 o'clock. Come up at 4 o'clock p.m.; sometimes half-past 4 o'clock; sometimes 5; more rarely at 7 o'clock, when the machine is stopped from any cause.

Sometimes the putters beat them. If they are not sharp enough, they thump them. Sometimes they feel sick upon going to work in the morning. Sometimes bring up their breakfast from their stomachs again. Different boy's at different times do this. One boy has spewed twice, and another three times in the last fortnight.