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The annual general meeting of the National Association of Colliery Managers was held yesterday morning in the board-room of the Wood Memorial-hall, Newcastle. Some fifty members were present from various parts of the country. The president, Mr. G. S. Bragge, was in the chair.

The annual report, read by Mr. W. Sanderson, of Derby, stated that, although unable to report many large increase in the total number of members belonging to the association, the council were pleased to note the good progress made by several branches.

Mr. Brain said that the Finance Committee reported that, so far as actual money received was concerned, the finances of the association were in a more favourable position than they had been for a long time past. Two years ago they altered the method of collecting the subscriptions by having them remitted to the general secretary, instead of having them collected at the branches. They had in consequence very materially improved their financial position. He moved the adoption of the report and statement of accounts. It was agreed to take at the same time the discussion on the motion of the North of England branch :— "That the resolution passed at the last general meeting be rescinded and that subscriptions be collected by the local secretaries."

Mr. Walton Brown said that the North of England branch had lost members through the new rule, while the Cumberland branch had become extinct from the same cause.

The motion of the North of England branch was lost, and the report was adopted.

It was decided that the proceedings of the association should be published in the Colliery Manager, and that the issue of the "Transactions" should cease after the conclusion of the current volume.

The President Retired from the chair and congratulated the members on the fact that Mr. William Logan, of Consett, had been unanimously elected president.

Mr. Logan then took the chair, and returned thanks for his election. A paper by Mr. Walton Brown on the superannuation of colliery managers was discussed. Mr. Brown said that his scheme was particularly based upon the scheme for the superannuation of school teachers, which had just become law. If state aid were given to school teachers and poor-law officers, it seemed even more necessary in the case of colliery managers, who might at any time be incapacitated from following their employment. A distinction would be made between future and existing managers. The proposed scale of superannuation was not high. In the case of a man retiring after 42 years' service it would be £50 15s. in the case of a present manager, and £60 17s. in the case of a future manager. The scheme also contained provision for colliery managers who might be compelled to retire at an earlier period owing to ill-health.

Mr. Brain thought that the subject should be referred to the council. They could lay the matter before the Home Secretary, whom they would probably have to see soon on the subject of the Mines Bill. This course was agreed to.

After an address from the President, in which he urged the importance of paying attention to the business side of their work, it was decided to hold the next meeting at Wigan, and Mr. John Knowles, of Wigan, was nominated president for next year. Mr. Tunge, of Lancashire, introduced to the meeting a patent hydraulic mining cartridge designed with the intention of superseding blasting in mines. Afterwards the members visited the collieries in the neighbourhood.

 

Name	Age	Occupation	Notes
Bragge, G. S.
Brain, —
Brown, Walton
Knowles, John
Logan, William
Sanderson, W.
Tunge, —