Northumberland Coal Conciliation Board

A meeting of the Conciliation Board in the Northumberland coal trade was held on Saturday, at the coal trade offices, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Mr. John Strachan, K.C., chairman of the board, presided. The coalowners were represented by Mr. R. O. Lamb, Mr. Thomas Taylor, Mr. T. W. Benson, Mr. C. W. C. Henderson, Mr. J. G. Weeks, Mr. J. H. Reah, Mr. J. H. Merivale, Mr. T. E. Forster, Mr. J. Morison, Mr. Ridley Warham, Mr. James Fraser, Mr. Edward Eccles, and Mr. M. Liddell ; and the miners by Mr. Thomas Burt, M.P., Mr. Charles Fenwick, M.P., Mr. Ralph Young, Mr. Hugh Boyle, Mr. T. H. Scott, Mr. R. Wood, Mr. T. S. Dunnigan, Mr. George Campbell, Mr. T. Wilson, Mr. T. Cavins, Mr. W. Hogg, Mr. T. English, Mr. M. Davey, Mr. T. McCowey, and Mr. W. M. Straker. The accountants' ascertainment, covering the three months of December, January, and February last, showed that the net average selling price of coal in the county had been 6s. 4·45d., as compared with 6s. 9·95d. in the preceding quarter. Complaint was made by the miners' representatives that the county which exports most of its coal was feeling the effect of the coal tax seriously. It was, after discussion, mutually agreed that, with pays beginning April 4 and 11, the wages of underground workmen and banksmen be reduced 2½ per cent. (surface labourers in the usual proportion), making the wages of underground workmen and banksmen 18½ per cent. above the basis of 1879, and other classes of surface labour 15 per cent. above the basis of 1879.