More than one million men and boys are employed in the Coal Mines of Great Britain, and to recruit this large army of miners about thirty thousand boys take up coal mining as an occupation every year. These boys usually begin work at the age of fourteen, when they leave school, but some do not enter the mine until they are older. Unless a boy is fourteen years of age, or older, the law does not admit of his employment in the mine, even though he may have obtained exemption from attendance at school. The boy who becomes a miner enters upon an occupation, which, in spite of all the scientific skill that is brought to aid the industry, must always remain a dangerous one. Notwithstanding every effort that has been made to prevent accidents, there has been little improvement for several years past. It is now almost certain that if greater immunity is to be secured the standard of intelligence must be raised, and the chief hope seems to lie in the better education of the miner.

An intelligent and disciplined workman is better to look after his own safety, and that of his comrades in the mine, than stupid or careless one, and is of more value to his employer. He is also able to earn better wages and secure steadier employment. Thus when a boy goes to work in the mine, if he wishes to become a good and trustworthy miner, he should give his mind to his work. If he does this he will secure his own interests, and help to safeguard his less earnest-minded comrade, thereby helping to establish a higher standard of safety. Besides, in an important industry like coal mining there are many positions of importance and trust to be filled, and these positions are given to the most reliable and best educated workmen. If then a young miner wished to succeed in the calling he has chosen, he must continue his education for many years after he has commenced to work in the mine. In this way he can prepare to qualify for a Government Certificate as a Mine Fireman or Deputy, then afterwards for a Second Class or Undermanager's Certificate of Competency, and finally, for a First Class or Mine Manager's Certificate. A few Government posts as Sub-Inspectors and Assistant Inspectors of Mines are open from time to time. These important posts are filled by competitive examination, which is open only to men who have already obtained a Mine Manager's Certificate.

Any boy with the necessary determination to succeed may aspire to these positions, and whether he obtains them or not, the effort to do so will make him a better and more intelligent man.

The young miner of today is offered many opportunities to further his education, but these opportunities are not taken advantage of to the extent that they ought to be. Many young miners think that the instruction open to them after they leave the elementary school is only intended for those who are ambitious to rise above the rank of a workman, and as they have no such ambition they do not take up continuation classes.

This is a great mistake, as the instruction offered in these classes would, if taken advantage of, make them more intelligent workmen, and thereby decrease the risks of their occupation. This in itself should form a praiseworthy object, even although the lad had no wish to rise above the rank of an ordinary miners.

Something might be done to create a greater interest in what will afterwards be the lifework of a large number of our boys by presenting the elements of mining to them during the last year or two of their school career.

Present-day mining is largely a particular application of scientific principles, an introduction to which already forms part of the curricula for Supplementary Schools, and in mining districts an introduction to the work and discipline of the mine might well be added. Such an introduction should aim at giving a general idea of how coal occurs, how it is mined, how the miner is safeguarded while at work, and how our national prosperity is no largely dependent upon our coal supplies. A course of this character would, if carefully presented to schoolboys of from twelve to fourteen years of age, do much to foster a desire for further study in after years, and incidentally help to make the would-be miner realise the nature of the employment he intends to enter upon. It would also enable him to realise the necessity for the strict observance of rules framed for the safe-conduct of mining operation. As this would take place at the most impressionable age, it would have the effect of moulding character, and would at the same time raise the standard of intelligence and discipline, and so secure greater freedom for accident than at present exists.

If the foregoing contentions are correct, no apology is needed for what follows in these pages.

D. R.

Royal Technical College

June 1917.