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Monthly Circular.
No. 2.	June.	1915.
TO THE MEMBERS.

Gentlemen,

Lying Idle and the need for Economy.

Our attention is frequently drawn to the fact, that in spite of being in the throes of a War, unparalleled in its scope and with all its devastating effects, living, as we are, in a period when the cost of the necessities of life are a terrible burden ; and the vital requirements of those who are fighting on behalf of our liberties grow daily more insistent; yet, with all these forces pointing out the urgency of regular working, the percentage of lying idle at many of our Collieries continues so excessive as to be a constant source of complaint.

I never have, nor do I propose to hold a brief in the interests of dividend making, the other side being quite capable of doing that; but has it never occurred to those members who make practice of periodically lying idle, without any real or justifiable reason, that they are not only doing themselves an injustice but are, even though unintentionally, helping to deprive their fellow members of many advantages both in better conditions and increased pay that their regular attendance at work entitle them to?

Under normal conditions how frequently does it happen both locally and generally that one of the strongest arguments we have to contend with, when seeking to improve our conditions is that this excessive lying idle has so materially added to the cost of production, with the result that the extent and value of what is obtained is greatly minimised.

The present time, however, is anything but normal and whatever reasons can be advanced for a decrease in lying idle time under ordinary conditions, can under the present unprecedented circumstances, be amplified to a considerable degree.

Is it not an incontestable fact that coal is a most important and, I believe, an indispensable factor in the production of Munitions of War ; and does not each succeeding day bring forth fresh evidence that one of the chief obstacles to the progress of our soldiers in their heroic struggle for right against might is an insufficient supply of artillery, shell and various other equipments ; but not only is this shortage responsible for prolonging the War, but it is also adding largely to its most horrible of all exactions, viz., the loss of human life of the finest physical type; and if this terrible toll of our fellow Countrymen can be even in the slightest degree lessened by the putting forth of some little additional effort on our part, then surely we ought to need no urging to do it.

I can appreciate the difficulty that many of us may have in realising that this is not pure imagination ; but in view of the additional evidence of men who have recently visited the trenches and are at present giving lurid word pictures of the difficulties our Soldiers have to encounter, there remains little or no reason to doubt the truth of it.

I am not referring to men who could be described as the tools of capitalism, but men whose lives have been spent in the interests of labour, and who have devoted the best part of their existence in waging war with Capitalism, and the soul demoralising influences of Modern Commercialism.

For years we have always kept in the foreground of our policy — that the safety of our workers' lives and the health-giving conditions under which they were called upon to labour, ought, at all times, to be the first consideration of any Government; and although this makes it possible to appeal on the lines of bare consistency for every effort to be put forth and to do whatever we can to improve the conditions and decrease, as far as possible, the loss of our men's lives at the front, I prefer to make such appeal on the grounds of humanity, which is an infinitely higher plane.

Does this not furnish another and supreme reason why men, whose health and strength will permit, should attend regularly to their work ; as, by so doing, they are helping to bring the end of the War appreciably nearer?

Another reason, which ought to carry some measure of weight with it, is the urgent need that at all times exists, but is of paramount importance at present, of providing for the inevitable rainy day.

Work, for the time being, is plentiful; and, although wages are fairly high, the cost of living is at such a prohibitive figure, that it is only by exercising the strictest economy that there can be any margin for saving; and any loss of work must mean that such margin is seriously diminished, if it does not actually disappear; and it is beyond the sphere of my horoscope to forecast the conditions which are likely to prevail in the Industrial World at the conclusion of the War but if it should transpire that there was a slump in the labour market, then the man who has provided against that contingency will be able to pass through the period of tribulation, without losing any measure of his self respect and independence.

Again, what assurance do we possess, that, even during the course of the War, the present condition of constant employment will continue. I have no desire to pose as a pessimist ; but it is not outside the range of possibility to imagine that developments, during the course of the War, may arise to handicap to a large extent the regular working of the mines ; and that eventuality, remote as it may appear at present., is entitled to some little consideration.

I do not deem it desirable to further labour this question, feeling certain that the vast majority of our members will agree with me that they are serving their best interests by only losing such work as their physical welfare demands.

Female Labour.

A matter of considerable moment to the Miners of this County was an incipient attempt on the part of certain Colliery Managements in Durham County to introduce the employment of girls at the mines.

I need scarcely say that prompt measures were taken to nip in the bud this insidious move.

Your Ex. Committee, when their attention was called to the matter, most strongly resented the attempt., and were prepared to resort to the most drastic of measures to prevent its inception.

Whilst we all are extremely reluctant to take any steps at the present juncture that might be open to misunderstanding, or could be considered to be adding to any National difficulty, we shall require to be convinced beyond the shadow of doubt that it is not less than a question of our Country's salvation, before we become a consenting party to the introduction of girl labour in or about the Mines; and, even then, it would only be with the deepest reluctance.

I personally make no claim to be an "ultra purist," and am aware that in some of our counties the employment of females still continues; and although I am prepared to confess that I have no intimate knowledge of the conditions prevailing at the places in question, I am unable to conceive any set of conditions that could prevent such employment from having a tendency to partially destroy, if not totally eliminate, the finer attributes one cannot fail to associate with one's ideal of true womanhood.

It is not impossible to realise that circumstances may arise when female relations of those who are fighting at the front might, in obedience to the dictates of humanity and love of their kith and kin, feel it necessary to do any description of labour calculated to save the lives and limbs of those who are so bravely contending with an unscrupulous foe ; but if that time should arise (which I earnestly hope, nay pray never will), then it behoves every man to see that some scheme for the re-organisation of labour is adopted, so that the services of our womenkind might be utilised at such employment as would have the least demoralising effect.

Let us examine one or two instances to which my attention has been drawn, which would seem to indicate that any necessity for employing girls about the Mines is, so far as this County is concerned, more simulated than real.

At a Colliery not many miles from those I referred to, as attempting to introduce girl labour, the management, although the pit is working 6 days per week, are lying idle a large number of boys on the Pay Saturdays ; and, by doing so, they escape the payment of a day's wage for a short shift day, their excuse being (and how far it is justified remains to be proven) that they have no work for them.

Does this not indicate a superfluity rather than a shortage of boy labour, and also further serve to furnish an additional reason for the conviction that the desire to employ girls is not so much a matter of National necessity as in the interests of increased profits?

I am further advised that this practice is by no means confined to this one particular Colliery, but is prevalent, perhaps in a lesser degree, at others. Then again, at another of our Collieries, the services of a batch of men and boys have been dispensed with. All these incidents tend to show that the era of girl labour is still a most remote contingency.

Before leaving this subject of girl labour it is only bare justice to time Owners of this County to say that, as an Association, they were not a party to the attempt to introduce this most objectionable feature of mining life, but as a matter of fact, at once discountenanced it.

Miners' Wages and the Price of Coal.

A somewhat interesting item, and one which merits to be briefly commented upon, is a statement quite recently made by the President of the Board of Trade, in response to a question recently put to him in the House of Commons, viz., that the additional cost per ton of coal that could be attributed to time recent rise in the wages of the workmen could not even, at the highest figure they could estimate, be more than 1/6 per ton ; and probably the correct estimate would not take it beyond the pence stage. Now, according to the findings of the Coal Committee, the estimated rise in the price of coal per ton worked out at between nine and ten shillings.

The reason I am referring to this is because a most prevalent idea in the minds of the ordinary consumer of coal is that the exorbitant price he is called upon to pay for it is largely the result of the demands of the miners for higher wages.

To the close observer of mining affairs, the fallacy of this conclusion is at once obvious ; but it is surprising the extent of misconception that prevails in regard to the matter, no doubt assiduously fostered by people who have an axe to grind.

In the light of the President of the of Board Trade's statement together with the Coal Committee's published information, it will be apparent to the general public that the miners, as a class, have been the victims of a good deal of opprobrium and censure by no means merited.

We have never felt greatly concerned about being so largely misunderstood, inasmuch as a conscious innocence has always been a sustaining solace; but if recent happenings help to remove a misunderstanding that no doubt was chiefly the result of most incorrect information, then it will be a source of pleasure to know that some little undeserved antipathy has been swept away.

Tribute to our late General Secretary.

We are always delighted to hear from our old and highly esteemed friend, Tom Burt, M.P. (I know that he will forgive the familiarity of this term, as in spite of his worthily won honours, he is still one of us) ; and, although in by no means his usual health, I am pleased to learn that he his gradually recovering from his somewhat protracted illness.

He informs me that line has had word from Governor Munro Ferguson, for many years M.P. for Leith, and at present Governor-General of Australia. I give an extract from the letter :—

"Mr. Wilson is a great loss. He was one of the Members of Parliament who reflected most credit on the House of Commons. A gentleman fir to represent Northumberland and Durham. Had I known Mr. Wilson's family I would have written to them. He and I were for so long good friends."

I am sure that the relatives and members generally will thoroughly appreciate this kindly reference to our late General Secretary.

Mr. House reports the work of the Arbitration in Committee as follows :—

Fatal Cases.

Fatal Cases

Lodge	Name	Age	Occupation
Mainsforth	William, Blakeman	55	Hewer
Eden	James, Brown	18	Labourer
Towneley	Joseph, Carlisle	20	Putter
Lumley	George S., Elliott	38	Hewer
North Hetton	Charles, Gowland	21	Shifter
South Hetton	Aaron, Morris	65	Shifter
New Herrington	N., Oliver	14	Driver
Seaham	R., Rowell	18	Pony Putter
Houghton	Thomas, Stothard	65	Wasteman
Shotton	William, Westgarth	47	Hewer
Lambton	William, Wilson	42	Shifter

Non-fatal Cases.

Non-fatal Cases

Lodge	Name	Age	Occupation
South Hetton	John, Allison	21	Shaft Bottom
Eldon	Matthew, Birch	48	Hewer
Sherburn Hill	James, Clarkson	28	Hewer
Houghton	James, Coughlin	17	Coal Cutter Lad
Easington	Andrew, Douglas
Silksworth	George, Fletcher	43	Hewer
Waldridge	George, Hancock	31	Hewer
Beamish, Air Pit	John, Kilgallon	44	Hewer
Seaham	Joseph, Marwood	60
Chopwell	J. W., Mason	18	Bank Lad
Marley Hill	Robert, McNeal	42	Hewer
Eden	Frank, Rose	23	Pony Putter
Wheatley Hill	Robert, Stoker	67	Shifter
Houghton	Thurston, Vose	16	Shaft Lad
Byers Green	Robert, Wallace	40	Hewer
Hylton	Andrew, Weberling	49	Stoneman

Durham, June 1915. T. H. Cann.

 

Source:

NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/1/6/40, D.M.A. Minutes, Circulars etc. for 1915 (two volumes: covers Jan-Jun, Jul-Dec)