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Monthly Circular.
No. 11.	March.	1916.
TO THE MEMBERS.

Gentlemen,

Forward Movement.

Again it is my most unpleasant duty to be compelled to complain of a Movement within our ranks which, experience teaches us, is pregnant with the seeds of disintegration.

Unpalatable as the task may be, the true interest and welfare of an Association to which I am proud to belong, and in whose usefulness I not only have implicit faith, but am paid to maintain, makes it an imperative duty to condemn a Movement utterly inconsistent with the true spirit of unity.

The long period of inactivity had, in all probability, inspired the belief that this Movement, having accomplished its purpose, had been allowed to die a natural death. It appears, however, that we are labouring under a delusion.

That it owes no allegiance to the General Association is evidenced by the fact that, though circularising all the Lodges in the County, they did not think it advisable to forward a copy to Headquarters; and it is only through an indirect source that I obtained one.

So far as the subject matter of its circular is concerned, we can afford to view the recrudesence of this Movement with perfect equanimity; and I do not see any reason why, on this occasion at all events, they should have hesitated to forward a copy, and even solicited our approval. Their not doing so almost serves to indicate that they recognise they are up against constitution and order.

If their functions were such as only entitled them to deal with matters that only indirectly come within the purview of our Association, then I do not think any serious grounds of complaint would I be urged against them ; but it is common knowledge that, under normal conditions, their activities largely consist of criticism of the direct affairs of the Durham Miners' Association, and pointing out what, in their opinion, ought to be its policy and methods.

With all their arrogation of our standing wisdom, I have not yet found any of them able to prove that the creation of unconstitutional societies (or shall we call them cliques ?) within a society are either consistent with the fundamental principles of Trades Unionism, or likely to conduce to its welfare.

Again am I left wondering if many of our people have come to the conclusion that the day of Trades Unionism has gone by, and it is only to be tolerated because it possesses a well grounded and legalised system for roping in the monetary assistance that is so requisite to their propaganda.

My faith in the power and usefulness of wisely administered Trades Unionism remains undiminished ; and, no matter who they are, any one who is guilty of doing something likely to prevent the growth of that power and usefulness is courting whatever opposition I am capable of.

What are the aims and objects of the Forward Movement, and on what grounds do its founders seek to justify its existence? I am bound to admit that I have heard reasons put forward ; and let us carefully review them, and endeavour, as far as possible, to approximate their value.

It can only be that, in the almost incredible belief of our retaining the pristine innocence and simplicity that was so conspicuous a feature of our early childhood, they put forward the plea that this Movement was originated as a stimulating influence to the General Association, and with a view to furthering their efforts in obtaining varied concessions, by publicly indicating to those from whom such concessions have to be obtained that there is a strong volume of agitation behind our demands which might easily produce a serious state of affairs in the event of a refusal.

Is there any person of even average reasoning faculty who is likely to be so easily gulled as to believe that this is the real purpose for which this Movement was designed? I cannot really conceive that there is; but let us, for the sake of argument, stretch our imagination sufficiently to assume that this plea was a real and not an ostensible one. Then to what conclusion are we inevitably driven? Neither more or less than that our constitutional methods are hopelessly inadequate to our necessary requirements.

Our rules and regulations are formed on the purest of democratic lines, and their defects are always subject to the will of the members ; and I have yet to learn that our constitution is not such as would provide a legitimate channel for the promulgation of any doctrines that the wisdom (often questioned) of a majority might feel was to our advantage.

This being so, surely there is ample scope through the medium of our Society to display our sincerity in the righteousness of our demands, without having recourse to the creation of any new organisation for that purpose ; and, with due deference, I submit that there is infinitely more power and influence behind a spontaneous and united demand from our Lodges than there can be from any artificially stimulated agitation which might be engineered by the Forward Movement. To argue or think differently is practically equivalent to assuming that the Owners or any one else are unable to differentiate between froth and force.

Viewed from whatever standpoint you care to make use of, there can only be one conclusion arrived at, and it is that this reason for their existence is a pretext of so flimsy a character that we would be surprised if any one was deluded by it.

If the Movement had even been designed to further the interests of any large number of miners who were outside the Union from sheer lack of faith in the principles of Trades Unionism, then a certain measure of justification might be urged in its favour ; hut even this consolation, meagre as it would be, is denied them, as all those who take a prominent part are members of the Union, many of them leading lights, and therein to my mind lies the real reason for its continuance.

Agitation, along strictly constitutional lines, through the medium of the Lodges fails to provide adequate opportunity for basking in the limelight ; and playing shuttlecock with the principles of true organisation is with them a secondary consideration to the personal loss of hiding their light under a bushel.

The surprise to me is, first, that the membership generally, and the official section of our Lodges in particular, have been so long content to take this Movement lying down.

With a constitution that it is within the province of the members to make as broad and expansive as they feel disposed to, does it not denote a lack of intelligence on their part that they have so framed it that it can be claimed that a distinct Movement is required to give full ventilation to their views, or that solidity in favour of their demands cannot be emphasised, except by the formation of another Society ? What a reflection!

I am aware that these self-constituted custodians of advanced methods of progress will probably urge that one of the difficulties Trade Unionism has to contend with is the indifference of the ordinary member to his true welfare ; but, admitting the truth of this, they surely cannot have the effrontery to apply this to the hundreds of keen and earnest members who form the Local Committees and Officials of our respective branches — men who are chosen on account of their zeal in the cause of Trades Unionism. No, so far as these men are concerned, I am afraid they will not have the temerity to urge that their shortcoming is one of indifference. Then in what other respect have we to look for their inability to recognise that our Constitution is defective in many of its most essential requirements? There appears to me only one other reason, and that is the presumptive one of insufficient intelligence to initiate. This presumption is so grossly unfair an aspersion upon a vast number of our members who are daily doing such splendid and sound work in an unobtrusive way, having a single eye to the good of the community, regardless of personal aggrandisement, that I really could not allow it to pass unchallenged.

National Housing and Town Planning.

With the ready concurrence of the Executive Committee, I had the honour of being placed upon the Organising Committee of the above Council ; and to me the duties pertaining to such position have been delightfully interesting and highly instructive.

One of the problems peace will bring in its train is the return of the thousands of our Industrial workers, skilled and unskilled, to the labour market ; and although generally it is felt that the present paramount necessity is the successful prosecution of the War, it is equally as vital a precaution that earnest thought and consideration ought to be given to the task of seeing that our many heroes, who have not failed to recognise that the rights of citizenship entailed moral obligations, the discharge of which were far from pleasant, should, on their return (which I hope we all earnestly pray may not be far distant), find that due provision has been made for the uninterrupted pursuit of the many varied occupations so essential to their existence in civil life.

The solution of this difficulty is by no means simple; and, to my mind, its most involved aspect will be that of dealing not so much with the skilled as the unskilled labour.

It is to this laudable end that the Committee of the National Housing and Town Planning Council, under the exceedingly able direction of the officials connected with the Movement, have been devoting their energies during the last few months.

With a view to focussing their ideas, so that some tangible scheme may result, it was deemed desirable to call a Conference for the 11th April and following days, when a most comprehensive programme will be dealt with, copy of which I append for the information of our members.

"SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED.

(1)	(a)	The preparation of Housing Schemes for the building of Urban and Rural Cottages — these schemes to be put into operation at the close of the war so that the danger of serious unemployment in the building trades may be avoided.
	(b)	The provision by the Government at the close of the war of the necessary capital to enable such schemes to be carried into effect.
	(c)	General housing finance at the close of the war and especially the need for removing legislative difficulties which hamper developments in the building trade; the possibility of amending the law in regard to the compounding of rates, &c.
(2)	(a)	The need for financial aid being given to Local Authorities in the preparation of schemes for the clearance of unsanitary areas.
	(b)	Consideration of the gain to the nation in better citizenship and greater productive capacity when those whose housing conditions are poor are transferred to better surroundings and their standards of life are raised.
	(c)	The special housing and planning needs of Mining Districts.
(3)	(a)	The reorganisation of existing methods and the adoption of new methods to secure the provision of capital to aid all classes of cultivators of the land in order that the rural resources of the Kingdom may be developed.
	(b)	The provision of homesteads as an essential part of the equipment of Small Holdings; the simplification and cheapening of procedure in Small Holdings administration.
	(c)	The need for recognition by Parliament and by town dwellers generally, that urban and rural problems are interdependent and that therefore the sound development of rural life by the application of business methods to agriculture (more especially to the organisation of the production and distribution of agricultural produce) is a matter of primary importance to the whole community.
(4)	(a)	The preparation of Town Planning Schemes, in anticipation of future developments, and more especially schemes for the construction of new arterial roads, playgrounds and other open spaces, so that if employment is needed for unskilled workmen at the close of the war these workmen shall be employed at tasks of real service to the community.
	(b)	The preparation of schemes for settling disabled soldiers and sailors on the land.
	(c)	The preparation of schemes for afforestation, and for the reclamation of waste lands.
(5)		The possibility of adopting new and cheap building materials and securing economies in the design of cottages, provided that the essential standards of good building construction and of the wholesome environment of dwellings are not impaired."

The Congress is open to representatives from :—

City, County Borough, and Town Councils in Great Britain.

County Councils in England and Wales, and District Committees in Scotland.

Urban District Councils.

Rural District Councils.

Professional and other Associations interested in the various subject to be considered.

Associations of Employers and Workmen interested in the avoidance of unemployment (more especially the National Association of Building Trades' Employers and the Building Trade Unions) and the National Trade Unions.

It needs no words of mine to emphasise the outstanding importance to our members of the results likely to accrue from a Congress of this character; and fully recognising how imperative it is that the problems bound to confront us at the finish of war should, as tar as possible, be anticipated, with a view to minimising, if not entirely avoiding, unnecessary suffering, our Executive Committee have decided that a deputation should attend ; and I do not think that their wisdom in doing so can be gainsaid.

In the onward march to that high and practical ideal of a Democracy whose minds have been enlightened and broadened by the process of wise education and healthier conditions of living, the question of housing reform is bound to play a supreme part, for the obvious reason that any one compelled to live in sordid surroundings is bound, despite all counteracting influences which may be used from any outside Source, to become, even though almost imperceptibly, subject to the lowering conditions under which he lives and although maturity can and often does strengthen our powers of resistance to these pernicious influences, they still remain a real and effective harrier in the path to a brighter and happier social and intellectual life.

It must ever be remembered that our hopes for the future rest with the children ; and baneful as the influence of life under sordid conditions unquestionably is to grown up people, it is infinitely more demoralising to the children. Their receptive minds, in the process of formation, are daily assimilating the conditions under which they are reared ; and the healthier and more invigorating you make their surroundings the greater the development of those forces that tend to the true amelioration of mankind generally.

The Society whose object is an improvement in the conditions of our home life is doing a work that makes for healthy minds in healthy bodies, the national importance of which it is impossible to over-estimate, and deserves all the support our Association can give it.

I am looking forward to the Congress in the sanguine hope that a free exchange and discussion of constructive ideas may have a fruitful outcome ; and hope to deal with the same in some subsequent circular.

(These remarks are, of course, written prior to date of Conference.)

---

The Arbitration Committee was held on April 3rd, and Mr. House reports the decisions of same as follows :—

Fatal Cases.

Fatal Cases

Lodge	Name	Age	Occupation
Ushaw Moor	Arthur, Griffiths	41	Screener
Chester South Moor	Thomas, Harrison	15	Driver
Ushaw Moor	Mark, Henderson	18	Hand Putter
Cornsay	W. Barron, Kennedy	54	Pit Heap Man
Springwell	James, McVeigh	17	Pony Putter
Lumley New Winning	Samuel, Russell	45	Stoneman

Non-fatal Cases.

Non-fatal Cases

Lodge	Name	Age	Occupation
Lumley New Winning	Joseph, Bell	15	Shaft Bottom
Westerton	Alfred, Cartwright	20
Shotton	Joseph, Coxon	17	Driver
Seaham	R. W., Dodds	21	Driver
Ryhope	Luke, Dono (Scorer)	39	Hewer
Wooley	John, Featherstone	21	Putter
Ushaw Moor	John, Gargett	18	Pony Putter
Ryhope	Richard, Kirtley	47	Hewer
Greenside	William, Ludkin	25	Hewer
Seaham	J., Marwood	60	Wasteman
Silksworth	Peter, Oswald	67	Stoneman
Tursdale	Arthur, Porteous	29	Waggonwayman
Washington	John, Shipley	72	Wasteman
Washington	Robert, Simpson		Shifter
Stargate	Robert, Smart		Rapper Man
Shildon Lodge	William, Spedding	21

Durham, March 1916. T. H. Cann.

 

Source:

NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/1/6/41, D.M.A. Minutes, Circulars etc. for 1916 (one volume: covers Jan-Jun)