The Northumberland Coal Trade

A meeting of theA meeting of the Conciliation Board in the Northumberland coal trade was held in Newcastle-on-Tyne, on Saturday, to fix the wages of the miners for the ensuing three months. Mr. John Strachan, K.C., chairman of the board, presided. The coalowners were represented by Mr. R. O. Lamb (chairman of the association), Mr. Thomas Taylor, Mr. Edward Eccles, Mr. J. G. Weeks, Mr. Ridley Warham, Mr. J. R. Simpson, and others ; and the miners by Mr. Thomas Burt, M.P., Mr. Hugh Boyle (president of the association), Mr. W. Straker (secretary), and others. The ascertainment of the selling price of coal read at the meeting on Saturday showed an advance from 6s. 2·15d. per ton to 6s. 3·42d. per ton, and it was resolved that the wages be advanced by 1¼d. per cent., making the wages of the underground workmen and "banksmen" 17½ per cent. above standard.