Coal mining in Great Britain is controlled by State laws, which have been framed with the object of securing the safety of the miner and improving his social conditions. At one time not so very long ago, colliers were practically slaves, and belonged to the owners of the mines. They had to work long hours, and although they received wages for their labour, they were not allowed to remove from the mines of one owner to those of another. In those days women and children had to work underground as well as men, and their lot was a very hard one. Boys and girls usually had to begin work in the mine when they were seven. or eight years old, but. in some cases much younger children were employed. These children were often ill-treated even by their parents, who should have been their natural protectors. No wonder then that many of them became deformed and suffered a miserable existence. At that time coal mines were not so deep as they are now, and being near the surface they were always wet and dirty. The underground roadways were low, and the women who carried the coal out in baskets had to crawl among all this water and mud. There was no regular system of sending a current of fresh air through the mine, and the atmosphere was always stagnant and unwholesome. Props to support the roof were not to be had, and accidents due to falls were a common occurrence. With all these disadvantages the life of the collier and his family was not a happy one, and it is not surprising to learn that during his short periods of leisure he often indulged in strong drink. This indulgence, added to the fact that colliers were rough and uneducated, caused other members of the community to look down upon them, and the feeling thus created is only now beginning to die out.

It is not difficult to estimate the general opinion that was held about colliers in the early part of last century, because, while our legislators were denouncing negro slavery in the House of Commons, hundreds of British colliers were still slaves.

Slowly a better day began to dawn, and the country, which was becoming more enlightened through the spread of education, realised that something would have to be done to remove this national disgrace. The result was that the colliers were bit by bit granted the privileges of freemen. The pits were getting deeper, and accidents, especially those due to explosions of firedamp, were becoming more frequent, until things got so bad that the Government was forced to take action.

In 1835 the House of Commons appointed a Committee to inquire into the management of coal mines. As the result of this inquiry certain recommendations were made for the avoidance of accidents, but no legislation was passed until several years had elapsed.

In 1842 an Act to prevent the employment of women and girls underground was passed, and from then until now the State has gradually taken greater control of the conditions under which coal mining may be carried on.

Various Acts and amendments have been passed from time to time, until at present we have quite a flood of legislation affecting the mining industry, most of it intended to secure better and safer working of our coal mines.

It is hardly to be expected that lads who take up mining as an occupation will be much interested in law ; but as they must conform to certain regulations when they enter the mine, it will be necessary to point out the nature and object of the principal Acts.

Coal Mines Act. — The present Act was passed in 1911, and is much more comprehensive than its predecessors. It places greater responsibility upon the manager than he previously had, causes the owner to make additional provision for the safety of the workmen, and demands a higher standard of technical skill from all responsible officials in the mine. It gives power to the Secretary of State to frame regulations and issue them in the form of orders, and in this way allows of additions to the Act being made when it seems necessary to do so. The object of the Act is to secure a greater degree of safety in working our coal mines than has hitherto been the case. If this increase of safety has to be obtained, every person employed in the mine must make himself familiar with the rules laid down for the guidance of the workmen, and obey them strictly, as it is only by so doing that the object of the Act can be realised.

When a boy obtains employment in a mine he should call at the pay office and get a copy of the Special Rules and an abstract of the Act; these he is entitled to receive free of charge. As soon as he receives these, he should read the rules that apply to the particular task on which he is employed, and endeavour from the commencement to carry out these rules in every detail. As soon as he has mastered the rules that apply to his own particular duties, he should read the whole of the abstract and general rules, and thus make himself acquainted with what is expected from him when acting in any capacity in the mine. If this advice is carefully followed it will help to provide for his own safety, and possibly the safety of certain of his fellow-workers.

General Regulations are drafted to deal with the duties of the manager and all underground officials, including firemen. They also deal with the duties of winding enginemen, persons in charge of ventilating machines, and boiler attendants. The procedure to be followed in making measurements of the air passing, the use of electric lamps, the character of the winding apparatus, the capping of winding and haulage ropes, and the use of certain instruments. are all specified. These regulations also provide for sanitary conveniences, storage of candles and wax, the use of electricity, and for the formation of ambulance corps in addition to many other minor points.

A large number of orders have already been issued, the chief of which is that dealing with the storage and use of explosives, and another providing for the use of safety lamps of approved pattern.

Eight Hours Act. — This Act limits the miners' working day to eight hours, requires a time to be fixed for raising and lowering men, and fixes a minimum period of rest between shifts.

Truck Acts. — These Acts deal with the payment of the miner, fixes the deductions that may legitimately be made from his wages, and prevents anything but coin of the realm being given in exchange for his labour.

Checkweighers Act. — Allows a majority of the workmen to appoint and pay a person to check the weight of coal sent up by each individual miner, and generally to look after their interests, in so far as the weighing of tubs and making deductions for dirt are concerned.

Workmen's Compensation and Employers Liability. — These Acts provide for the payment of compensation to workmen or their dependents should injury or death be caused by accident during the course of employment. Part wages must also be paid to miners who are laid off work because of illness contracted as a result of their employment.

To deal with claims under the latter Acts mentioned, the miners through their Trade Union usually employ qualified law agents to guide them when making claims, and safeguard their position from the legal point of view. Thus when litigation arises under these Acts which have been passed for their benefit, they rarely fail to obtain a fair and just settlement of their claim.

Rescue and Aid. — This order provides for the establishment of Rescue Stations at suitable centres in the coalfields, the training of teams in the use of self-contained breathing apparatus, and the keeping of such apparatus at the collieries for use in case of accident. Provision is also made for the supply and maintenance of ambulance appliances and the training of men in ambulance work.