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Monthly Circular.
No. 21.	January.	1917.
TO THE MEMBERS.

Gentlemen,

War Savings Association.

Whilst men and munitions are absolutely indispensable to the successful prosecution of the War, it is equally important that, if victory has to be achieved, money should be forthcoming, and for that purpose the Government have issued a new War Loan appeal.

Patriotic motives alone would be quite sufficient to induce many people to subscribe to this Loan ; but to those who are not actuated by any such sentiment, its value, as a commercial investment, ought to be sufficiently alluring to make those who can, strain every endeavour to raise money, for the purpose of investing it in the War Loan.

In a country like ours, the security is an unimpeachable one, and the market value of the shares, with the rate of interest guaranteed by the State, is not likely to be a fluctuating one.

One cogent reason why working men should make every effort to put as much money as they possibly can into the Loan is, because the burden of paying for the War is inevitable, and both in a direct and indirect way he will unquestionably be called upon to shoulder some share of the burden; and, if he consulted his best interests, he will see to it that, whilst he is being compelled to pay for the Loan, he is also reaping as large a share of the benefits to be obtained from investing in it as his circumstances will permit.

One of the difficulties that he has got to surmount is the fact that, generally speaking, the working man (and particularly if he has a family) is not often in a position to put down the necessary amounts for acquiring shares. This difficulty is, however, met to some extent by the process of forming War Savings Associations, through the medium of which a weekly sum can be contributed that is, at any rate, within the compass of the vast majority, which, in effect, means that they are saving money and securing War Loan on a co-operative plan.

Any of the Central Associations that are in existence will only be too pleased to give details of the Scheme and where any number of men periodically meet for other purposes the task of forming a branch Association, and working the same is comparatively simple.

If it is deemed desirable to hold a meeting for the purpose of discussing the method of operation, or any points in relation to the Scheme, speakers will be provided to attend the same.

Another reason why it is desirable that, wherever they possibly can, working men should invest in War Loan, is that under existing circumstances the demand for labour is greatly in excess of the supply, as a result of everyone who is out of the Army being required for supplying the needs of the same. With the final cessation of hostilities that source of employment will to a large extent cease, and there is bound to be a period of disorganisation and loss of work before any systematic resumption of our normal industrial life can be accomplished; and the condition of partial chaos which is bound to ensue will be greatly aggravated by the demobilisation that will follow the conclusion of peace; and with a view to meet loss of work which is sure to attend this condition of affairs, it is imperatively necessary that economy should be our watchword ; and I know of no better method of practising economy than that of investing in War Loan that will provide a fairly lucrative source of income; and even though the sale of the shares become necessary, little or no difficulty would be experienced in negotiating the same.

My estimate of what is likely to happen at the conclusion of the War may be considered of a somewhat pessimistic character, but the wise man lives not in the present alone. He has an eye to the future; and the need for taking precautions is undeniable.

I am aware that many schemes are being suggested for the purpose of endeavouring to satisfactorily cope with the anticipated dislocation that is bound to follow, but past experience teaches me, and particularly so far as Governments are concerned, that there is a large measure of truth in the words of the Scotch Poet that "The best laid schemes of mice and men aft gang agley"; and, in the event, we should be in an infinitely better position if we take all available steps towards securing our future, as far as we can do so, from the possibility of hardship and suffering, and this can only be done by rigid economy; and no better use can be made of whatever surplus money this might secure for us, than investing it in War Loan.

Aged Miners' Homes Movement.

It will be remembered that some time ago I dealt with the financial condition of this movement, which, like many others actuated by the highest type of philanthropic motives, was somewhat hardly hit by this War.

My appeal was coincident with one that the Society were making, and I am not egotistical enough to think that the response, which I am informed by the Secretary was of a gratifying character, was solely due to my appeal. Probably it may have helped, and on that presumption I hope I shall be forgiven for again referring to the matter.

It may be due to advancing years, with their growing infirmities that one daily realises more keenly the beauty of this Movement, and the necessity for doing whatever lies in one's power to further its success ; but to me its importance is sufficiently strong to merit a further appeal for help.

I have already said that the response to our last appeal both by workmen and many Owners was such that, to a large extent, the overdraft at the bank has been removed, but there yet remains a part of it, that continues as an incubus on the Movement ; and, with a view to getting rid of this, I have no hesitation in urgently appealing to such Lodges as have not tip to the present made any special effort, to do what they can in the direction of assisting a Movement, the beneficience of which is beyond question.

Many liabilities, apart from the still remaining overdraft, stare the Committee in the face, liabilities that were contracted before the War was anticipated, and which cannot be honourably evaded ; and with a further depletion in the income, as a result of the calling up of additional men to the Army from the ranks of our members, a continuance of the special effort, that so many of our Lodges, with their usual large-hearted generosity nave made, is still desirable, if not absolutely essential, inasmuch as the demand for homes, which tend to comfort and brighten the waning years of the aged people, is ever increasing ; and the continuance of support in a matter of this kind is assuredly not a case of "Casting thy bread upon the waters."

It has occasioned some surprise and regret, to learn that a few of our Lodges (fortunately a very small percentage) have not as yet become identified with the Movement.

It is utterly impossible to conceive for a single moment that they can be antagonistic to its object ; and I assume that their failure to join up is either due from lack of careful consideration to realise its worth, or that some apparent administrative flaw is the reason assigned for their holding aloof. In either case, surely this is not an insuperable difficulty, but is one that I feel confident could be readily removed by the General Secretary or some member of the Committee, if they only gave them the opportunity of attending either their Local Committee or Lodge Meeting. Apart from the loss of that elevating influence that springs from a generous action, did it never strike them that they may unwittingly be doing an injustice to many a man who is verging on that period of life when physical toil is impossible to him ? He may have paid for years into the Movement, amid, probably for family reasons, is compelled to move to a colliery which he finds is not paying to the Movement, with the result that he is eventually deprived of his chance of a home in which to spend his declining years, owing to the fact that the only colliery that can nominate him is the one at which he last worked.

Personally, I should prefer that Lodges should identify themselves from motives that to my mind are of the highest, and of a pure type, than local self-interest ; and I sincerely trust that the few who have not yet joined will do so ; and, by so doing, they will not only bring themselves into line with the rest of their fellow trade unionists, but will have the consciousness of knowing that they are shaming with them in a work which is an inspiration for human betterment.

Collieries Lying Idle.

Suffering is an inevitable corollary of War; but surely one of the first attributes of any good Government should be to endeavour, as far as they possibly can, to take all necessary precautions to equalise the suffering which is bound to ensue; as with all the care that could be exercised, the poorer section of the community will always be, even relatively, the greater sufferers.

Yet what do we find? That during a month of weather of the severest, type that has probably been experienced for years, thousands of poor people in the large towns, London in particular, whose condition in life, even in normal times, is such as to only permit of the purchase of fire coal in small quantities, have been unable to procure the same; in thousands of instances, not because they were unable to pay for it, although the task might be one of difficulty, but simply because the large consumers, whose needs were not so much a matter of life and death as luxurious comfort, were allowed to absorb the available supply.

Yet, given an intelligent interest in the welfare of people, it was surely possible for the governing powers. who are supposed to control our destinies, to have taken such administrative steps as would have tended to mitigate much of the hardship and suffering that has been entailed.

One might have understood this state of affairs being tolerated if coal had been unobtainable; but in our County alone — and I have yet to learn that it is confined to this district — several of our collieries have been working short time, with the result that the men who are employed at them have found the problem of living seriously intensified.

Surely it could not be an insuperable task to establish coal depots, with power to commandeer, coal to be sold to the small consumer in relatively fair proportion to the larger consumers, such as fashionable hotels.

If some scheme of this kind had been devised, I have no hesitation in saying that not only would much silent suffering have been avoided, but the working of short time at collieries would also have been unnecessary.

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Mr. House reports the decisions of the Compensation Committee, held on February 5th, as follows :—

Fatal Cases.

Fatal Cases

Lodge	Name	Age	Occupation
Shotton	M., Brannon	61	Wasteman
North Hetton	George Forster, Clemitson	14	Driver
Oakenshaw	Thomas, Collingwood	16	Onsetter's Assistant
West Thornley	Oswald, Dixon	14	Driver
Craghead	Ralph, Dixon	18	Offhand Lad
Usworth	John, Dunn	60	Screener
Eldon	Norman, French	16	Datal Boy
Whitburn	Frederick W., Howden	15	Landing Keeper
Hetton	Wilfred, Robinson	17	Engine Plane
Pelton	William, Sewell	14	Driver
Esh	Robert William, Telford	19	Assistant Rolleywayman
Kibblesworth	Luke, Woodhouse	65	Wasteman

There were 4 cases of requests, and 2 full liability cases for allocation dealt with.

Non-fatal Cases.

Non-fatal Cases

Lodge	Name	Age	Occupation
Mainsforth	Joseph, Asprey
Randolph	Thomas, Balmer	42	Hewer
Wheatley Hill	F., Bell	35	Hewer
Marsden	Michael, Brown	58	Stoneman
Greenside	William Edward, Clough	21	Powder Man
Houghton	Luke, Coughlin	21
Sherburn Hill	James, Errington	22
Hebburn	Henry, Gorman	32	Hewer
New Herrington	T. W., Henderson	14	Driver
Shield Row	G., Nelson	55	Hewer
Beamish	George, Rayner	49	Horsekeeper
Wheatley Hill	Stephen, Shutt	49	Hewer
Lintz	Edward, Simpson
West Carterthorne	J. A., Smith	40	Engineer
Urpeth Busty	Albert, Suggett	24	Hand Putter
Quary Pit	T., Teasdale
New Herrington	R., Thompson	19	Pony Putter
Wheatley Hill	J., Turpin	66	Shifter
Randolph	Thomas, Waistell	15	Driver
Cornsay	John Thomas, Wells	29	Hewer

County Court Cases.

Lodge	Name	Age	Occupation
Marsden	Michael Brown	58	Stoneman

Cases outside the Owners' Association.

There are a few firms of employers who are not in the Coal Owners' Association for compensation purposes, and consequently we cannot deal with any cases from collieries belonging to these firms, at the Arbitration Committee. The North Bitchburn Coal Company is one of these but, fortunately, we are not troubled with very many cases from them, but in almost every case the Agent of the Company and ourselves are able to come to satisfactory and amicable settlement. We had two cases from Randolph belonging to this firm, and Mr. Heath, Mr. Foster and myself met the Agent of the Company and the manager of the colliery, with the local deputation, at Bishop Auckland, on Thursday, January 25th, 1917. The cases were as follows :—