November 20th First Meeting in Market Hotel, Durham.

December 3rd First Annual Meeting of D.M.A.

August 12th First annual gala in Wharton Park.

February 17th First meeting of D.M.A. and Owners Association.

Abolition of Yearly Bond.

July 19th. Formation of Joint Committee.

May 18th. Death of Mr. T. Ramsey.

May. One week's strike.

November. First wages arbitration.

June 3rd. Opening of Miners' Hall, Durham.

May 4th. First sliding scale arrangement.

October. Formation of Federation Board.

April 5th. General Strike commenced.

Employers' Liability Act.

October 31st. Death of Mr. McDonald, M.P.

November. W. Crawford returned Member of Parliament for Mid-Durham.

J. Wilson returned Member for Houghton-le-Spring.

July 31st. Termination of sliding scale.

July 1st. Death of Mr Crawford.

First International Miners' Conference (at Jolimont, Belgium).

J. Wilson returned Member of Parliament for Mid-Durham.

January 1st. Ten Hours Agreement.

March 12th. General Strike commenced.

February 18th. First Conciliation Board.

July 16th. Death of Mr. W. H. Patterson.

February. Joined Miners' Federation.

July 1st. Compensation Act came into force.

June. Second Conciliation Board formed.

October. First Aged Miners' Homes opened at Haswell Moor.

September 2nd. Death of Mr. J. Forman.

January 20th. J. Johnson returned Member of Parliament for Gateshead.

February 16th. West Stanley disaster (168 lives lost).

January 1st. Eight hours' strike.

December 29th. Death of Mr. J. Johnson.

March 1st. Minimum wage strike began.

March 26th. Minimum Wage Act passed.

October 20th. Sir R. Romer's award.

March 23rd. Death of Dr. John Wilson, M.P.

October 23rd. Opening of new hall and offices.

May 7th. Death of Ald. Wm. House, J.P.

September. First War Wage granted (flat rate).

July. Second War Wage.

December. Putters' basis rates increased.

March 3rd. Coal Commission commenced.

March 20th. Sankey Award re hours and 2/- per day.

June 20th. Second Coal Commission awards.

August. Deputies' basis rates increased.

November 20th. Executive Committee meeting in Market Hotel.

December 8th. Mr. Peter Lee elected Agent.

December 20th. Jubilee celebrations.

December. Workmen's Compensation (Supplementary War addition 75 per cent.).

March 12th. 2/- per day advance or 20 per cent. whichever was higher.

June 18th. Houses, Rent and Fire Coal Agreement. Rent increased to 10d. per shift. 12 and 15 tons of coal per annum as per number of workers and family.

June 18th. Two weeks' strike, ended November 3rd, 1920 — Advance of 2/- per day. Output bonus for November and December.

January. Advance of 1/6d. per day Output bonus. February. Reduction of 2/- on Output.

March 14th. Wage for age agreement (for boys) underground and surface.

March. Reduction of 1/6 on Output.

March 31st. Mines decontrolled.

April 1st. Great lock-out. Terminated July 1st, 1921, and National Wages Agreement Act.

December 7th. Houses rent and firecoal agreement further amended.

November. W. Whiteley and Joseph Batey elected Members of Parliament and ceased to be Agents.

April. Joint Committee broke up.

May 18th. Mr. John E. Swan elected Agent.

January 7th. Agreement with the Owners with respect to accidents under provisions of Workmen's Compensation Acts, 1906-1923, as applied from January 1st, 1924.

January 17th. Three months' notice to terminate National Wages Agreement.

January to November. First Labour Government (minority).

May 6th. Death of Mr. T. H. Cann.

May. Buckmaster Inquiry. Amended agreement raised general minimum percentage on Standard Wages from 20 per cent. to 33.3 per cent. and the fixing of subsistence wage was 7/6.

September, 1924 to April, 1926, percentage in addition to basis rates was 110 per cent. The subsistence wage to low paid day wage men 7/6½ per day.

April 2nd. Mr. James Gilliland elected Agent.

National Stoppage, May to November.

July 8th. 7 Hours Act, 1919, amended to give 8 hours for hours of employment below ground.

Terms of settlement imposed upon Durham Miners after the stoppage, 30th November:

(1) A reduction in the percentage addition to basis wages from 110 per cent. to 89 per cent.

(2) A reduction in subsistence wage from 7/6½ to 6/8½ per shift.

(3) An increase in hours from 7 to 8 per day for all classes with the exception of Deputies and Hewers, who were to be increased to 7½ hours.

April 5th. Saturday working, and week-end agreement.

February 9th. Sir Wm. Piender's Award reduced percentage in addition to basis from 89 per cent. to 65 per cent, and reduced subsistence wage from 6/8½ to 6/6½ per shift.

From November 30th, 1926, to February 9th, 1928, a reduction in percentage on basis of 45 per cent, in subsistence wage a reduction of 1/- per shift to low paid day wage men.

May. Second Labour Government (minority). In office to August, 1931.

August 8th. Death of Mr. W. P. Richardson.

August 23rd. Durham Miners' Welfare Convalescent Home, Conishead Priory, opened.

July. 7½ Hours Coal Mines Act passed.

November 22nd. Death of Mr. Thomas Trotter.

December 4th. Mr. W. Lawther elected Agent.

December. Four collieries tendered 14 days' notice under Harton Group. The strike was against the management who wanted to change the status of deputies to that of officials.

United Council Meeting, December 15th, tendered three months' notice to terminate District Wage Agreement these notices to terminate March, 1935.

September 7th. Death of Mr. James Robson, O.B.E., J.P.

January 25th. Mr. Edward Moore elected Agent. June 16th. Death of Mr. Peter Lee.

National Wages campaign for wage advance of 2/- per shift.

D.M.A. requested to suspend negotiations for new agreement pending national campaign.

November 14th. General Election. Labour Party in Durham County won all County Divisional seats, also the Borough of South Shields.

Flat rate advance of 6d. per shift for those over 18 years of age and 3d. per shift for those under 18 years of age, from January 1st, 1936; and undertaking for the setting up of a National Joint Standing Consultative Committee to deal with wages by district agreements, proposed selling schemes, etc., to improve the finances of the industry as a whole and give the work people increased wages.

January. D.M.A. appointed Mr. R. W. Williams a full-time solicitor to take charge of compensation and matters of law.

July 1st. Mr. S. Watson elected Agent.

August 1st. System of control of sales of Durham coal permits came into force re selling schemes.

November 9th. Working on general holidays be paid at week-end rates.

May 15th. New wages and conditions of employment agreement rids the county of 1879 basis by fixing new basis rates for all workers underground and surface plus 5 per cent. increase of percentage in addition to basis rate =70 per cent, and reduced surface hours from 49 hours per week to 48 hours.

November 4th. Agreement putters' rankage and furtherance and conditions, etc.

June. Coal prices complaint, Durham Mineworkers. Durham District Committee of Investigation.

April 14th. Holidays with pay agreement.

August 5th. Amendment minimum wage rates and rules agreement.

September 3rd. War with Germany declared.

November 9th. Air raid warnings arrangements. Further amended December 23rd, 1940, by appointment of watchers.

November 1st. Wages: war addition — first National War Wage advance, 8d. for adults and 4d. non-adults; arrangement by Joint Standing Consultative Committee. Accumulated increases up to 2/8 for adults per shift, July 1st, 1941.

January 1st. 5d War addition.

March 20th. National wages cost of living agreement.

May. Prime Minister resigned. Mr. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister. He invited members of the Labour Party to join his administration. Agreed unanimouslv by Executive Committee of Labour Party. Conference of M.F.G.B., endorsed by Annual Conference of Labour Party, that "they should take their share of responsibility as full partners in the new government under Mr. Churchill."

June. Capitulation of France. Loss of exports. Dislocation of coal industry in Durham. Pits laid idle or working short time. Loss of man power in Durham coal industry over 23,000 by end of 1940. Transferred either to other coal fields or other work of national importance.

August. Workmen's Compensation (Supplementary Allowances) Act.

October 1st. 5d. War addition.

January 1st. 6d. War addition.

March 3rd. "Safety in Coal Mines." National Agreement Mining Association and M.F.G.B. for compulsory partial pit inspections. Cost of inspections, 50 per cent. owners, 50 per cent, workmen.

June 1st. Attendance bonus, 1/- per shift with qualifications.

July 1st. 4d. War addition.

September 1st. Attendance bonus conditions dispensed with.

Essential Work (Coal Mining Industry) Order dated May 15th, 1941.

June 24th. Arrangements made with the owners for its administration.

December 1st. Increase of basis wage for boys working underground of 6d. per shift plus percentage.

Non-Unionists. As a condition of employment all manual workers should be members of their appropriate trades union. Agreement February 27th, 1942.

June. Greene Award. Unconditional 2/6 per shift to wages of all persons over the age of 21 years, also to wages of all underground workers between the ages of 18 and 21 years. Graduated addition to wages underground 18 years, surface under 21.

A national minimum wage for all workers over 21 years of age at the rate of 83/- per week underground and 78/- per week on surface. These figures to be reduced to terms of shifts worked.

August 19th. "Wet Work" underground workmen agreement 6d. per shift basis to persons over 18 years of age. 3d. to persons under 18 years basis.

August 28th. Piece workers overtime to complete cycle of work on face 10d. per hour basis rate.

October 12th 1942, and 17th February, 1943. Piece workers brought back from face to do datal work at request of management for a quarter of shift or more if own work is available to be paid 6/- per shift basis. Period less than quarter of shift, 10d. per hour basis.

June. "Coal" (White Paper). Providing:

(a) National machinery with responsible Minister to take full control of all coal mines, and Labour Director.

(b) A National Coal Board.

(c) Regional machinery, and Pit Production Commi ttees.

(d) Wages machinery: to deal with wages and profits structure of the coalmining industry on a national basis.

(e) Coalmining to be added to the list of priority indust ries in preference to military service.

January 26th. Disputes Committee set up. Agreed to by both Associations.

February. Workmen's Compensation Act, 1943. Amendment of Section 47, Act 1925. Section 2 of Workmen's Compensation Act (Silicosis and Asbestosis), 1930.

February 27th. D.M.A. affiliated to National Council of Labour Colleges.

March 6th. "Payment and Conditions for use of Steel Supports on working faces." Award by Dr. J. Charlesworth. Arbitrators: Mr. Sam Watson, workmen; Mr. E. Kirkup, owners.

April 14th. Deputies, shotfirers and chargemen's basis wages increased from 5/9 per shift to 6/9 per shift.

September 4th. National minimum wage scale for juveniles. Coal Mines, Great Britain. Underground and surface. Lord Porter tribunal.

January 22nd. Porter Award — National Wages Increase.

Out-of-pocket expenses of mineworkers as hospital outpatients. July 14th, 1943, November 15th, 1943, Amended March 30th, 1944.

June 24th. Durham Miners' Rehabilitation Centre at Hermitage, Chester-le-Street, opened officially.

July 8th. Workmen's Compensation Agreement with respect to accidents coming under Workmen's Compensation Acts, 1906-1943.

January. Formation of the National Union of Mineworkers

May. End of Hostilities in Europe and unconditional surrender of Germany.

July. General Election: La-hour Government elected with clear majority over all other parties.

September. Election of Mr. J. Kelly as Agent.

Appointment of Mr. F. Morris as Solicitor.

December. Election of Messrs. J. Foster and J. Joyce as Agents.

April. Re-opening of Conishead Priory Convalescent Home.

July. Dene House, Seaham, offered to D.M.A. by the Marquess of Londonderry.

First Post War Annual Gala.

August. Payment for Statutory Holidays.

January. Vesting Date under Coal Industry Nationalisation Act.

Establishment of Residential Training Centres, Easington and New Kyo.

Agreement re. employment of Polish Workers.

May. Introduction of Five-Day Week Agreement.

Strike of Winding Enginemen.

August. Appointment of Mr. I. E. Geffen as Solicitor.

Louisa Old Pit Explosion, 21 lives lost.

October. Extension of Hours Agreement.

November. Opening of Medical Treatment Centres, Vane Tempest and New Herrington.

Research Scheme: Incidence and effects of Nystagmus in Durham.

December. National Wages increase.

June. N.C.B. Scholarship Scheme.

August. Opening of South Pelaw Pithead Baths.

December. Compensation for Redundancy Agreement.

Gift of Production Bannerette by Messrs. Tutills.

July. Closure of Burnhope Colliery. Opening of Garesfield Pithead Baths. Investigation by Divisional Coal Board into Dust Suppression and Wet Cutting.

August. Opening of Pelton Pithead Baths.

January. Replacement of Northern Coal Board by two separate Divisional Boards (Durham Division and Northern (N. & C.) Division).

February. Miners' National Fatal Accident Fund Agreement.

Re-election of Labour Government.

September. Opening of Sherburn Hill Pithead Baths.

October. 23rd Award of the National Reference Tribunal

November. Dyde Case Settlement.

December. Opening of Residential Training College, Dame Margaret Home, Washington.

Inception of N.C.B. "Ladder Plan" for Training.

January. National Increase in Wages Agreement. Opening of Seaham and Chilton Pithead Baths.

April. Durham Miners' Rehabilitation Centre, The Hermitage, taken over by Ministry of Health.

May. Explosion at Easington, 83 lives lost.

June. Opening of Dene House Rheumatic Clinic, Seaham.

July. Explosion at Eppleton, 9 lives lost.

October. Election of Conservative Government.

December. 2nd Increase in Wages Agreement; entitlement to 2 weeks' Holiday with Pay. Miners at Head of Table of Industrial Workers' Earnings.

January. Inception of Mineworkers' Pensions Scheme. National Subsidised Transport Agreement.

July. Transfer of Welfare Schemes to Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.

Sinking of New Shaft at Murton Colliery.

December. Colliery Houses and Firecoal Allowance — County Scheme.

Death of Mr. J. Gilliland, former President of D.M.A.

February. Durham County Mining Federation Board contributed £20,000 to National Flood Disaster Appeal Fund.

National Wages Increase — Daywage Workmen.

October. Commencement of Work on Memorial Gardens at Red Hill, Durham.

December. Opening of Trimdon Grange and Greenside Pithead Baths.

During the year the following Colliery Medical Treatment Centres were opened: Hylton, Washington, Murton, Harton, Thornley, Monkwearmouth.

The output lost in Durham through disputes in 1953 was the lowest recorded figure since Vesting Date.

January. Mr. C. Pick elected Agent.

National Agreement — Increase in Day Rates and Weekly Minima.

May. Unveiling Ceremony and Official Opening of Easington Colliery Memorial and Garden of Remembrance.

November. Divisional Production Conferences: nine meetings held, covering six Areas and 119 Colliery Consultative Committees.

During the year Pithead Baths were opened at Brandon, Marley Hill, Beamish, Tursdale, South Hetton, Bowburn, Eldon Drift, and Tanfield Lea; Medical Treatment Centres were opened at Brancepeth, Easington and East Hetton, and Welfare Grounds were opened at Harton and Westoe. At Fishburn a new £2 million Coke Oven Plant was opened which is expected to provide employmerit for 180 men.

January. Death of Mr. W. Chesterton, Secretary, Durham County Enginemen's Association. Opening of Sacriston and Witton Pithead Baths.

February. Death of Ald. J. Ritson, formerly M.P. for Durham.

April. Inception of New Wages Structure for Daywage Workmen. Opening of Crookhall and Washington Glebe Pithead Baths. Opening of William Whiteley Aged Miners' Homes, Greenside.

May. General Election. Conservative Government re-elected. Opening of Watergate Pithead Baths.

June. Opening of Thrislington Colliery Pithead Baths, Canteen and Medical Centre. Opening of Byer Moor and Marley Hill Pithead Baths.

Mr. S. Watson received Honorary Degree of Doctor of Civil Law from Durham University.

November. Death of Mr. W. Whiteley, M.P., former Labour Chief Whip and President, Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association.

December. Opening of Chester South Moor Pithead Baths.

February. Increase in Wages — Daywagemen.

Death of Mr. J. E. Swan, former General Secretary of D.M.A.

March. Opening of Adventure, Brusselton and Tudhoe Park Pithead Baths.

April. Opening of New Shildon Pithead Baths.

May. Opening of Whitworth Park Pithead Baths.

July. Opening of Tursdale Training and Education Centre.

November. Closure of Blaydon Burn Bessie Pit. Opening of Handen Hold Pithead Baths.

December. Death of Mr. J. Foster, Executive Committee Secretary.

Opening of Westerton Pithead Baths.

Opening of Burnopfield Pithead Baths.

February. Opening of Lanchester Towneley and Metal Bridge Pithead Baths.

March. 1 Increase in Wages — Daywagemen.

June. Mr. A. Hesler elected Agent. Membership of Mineworkers' Pension Scheme made compulsory for new entrants into Mining Industry. Removal of disqualifications to Five-Day Week Bonus. Opening of Deaf Hill Pithead Baths.

August. Opening of Stanley Burn and Esh Pithead Baths. October. Opening of Tudhoe Pithead Baths.

January. Opening of Middridge Drift Pithead Baths. February. Opening of Wardley Pithead Baths.

March. Death of Mr. R. W. Williams, M.P., Solicitor to the D.M.A., 1936-1945.

Mr. J. C. Robinson elected Agent.

April. Opening of Tanfield Lea North Pithead Baths.

July. Opening of Langley Park and East Tanfield Pithead Baths.

August. Opening of Fenhall Drift and Kimblesworth Pithead Baths and Elemore Miners' Welfare Hall.

September. Opening of Houghton Pithead Baths. Increase in wages — Daywagemen.

Inception of Supplementary Sick Pay Scheme for Mineworkers.

October. Opening of Houghton Pithead Baths. November. Opening of Murton Coking Plant.

January. Closure of Ouston 'E' and East Hedley Hope Collieries.

May. Opening of Bearpark Pithead Baths, Canteen, Group Offices and First Aid Room.

Opening of Heworth Pithead Baths.

August. Opening of West Auckland Drift Pithead Baths. September. Opening of Hawthorn Combined Mine.

Opening of Wingate Pithead Baths.

October. Opening of Emma Pithead Baths. Opening of Vane Tempest Welfare Hall.

Compensation Scheme for Mineworkers compulsorily retired at age 65 or over.

General Election. Conservative Government re-elected December. Opening of Blackhall Welfare Hall.

Opening of Clara Vale Pithead Baths.

June. Closure of White House Lodge.

July. Closure of New Hargill Hill Lodge.

September Increase in Wages — Daywage men.

Closure of South Garesfield and North Hetton Lodges

February. Increase in Wages — Daywage Men. Closure of Gordon House Colliery.

March. Closure of Langley Park Cokeworks. Opening of Whittonstall Drift Pithead Baths. Opening of Roddymoor Miners' Institute.

May. Opening of Sam Watson Rest Home, Richmond.

July. Opening of Bowburn Welfare Hall.

Mr. Sam Watson, General Secretary, completed 25 years as an Agent.

October. Closure of Moorhill Drift.

February. Closure of Ravensworth Shop Pit, Esperley Drift, Cockfield, and Randolph Hutton Drift. Closure of Blaydon Burn and South Moor No. 2 Lodges.

March. Opening of Eden Pit Head Baths.

April. Increase in Wages — Daywagemen. Closure of Stella Gill and Trimdon Grange Cokeworks. Closure of South Moor No. 1 Lodge.

July. Closure of Victoria Garesfield Colliery.

August. Closure of Tanfield Lea Colliery.

September. Closure of Victoria Garesfeld Lodge

October. Closure of Eldon Drift and Wingate Colliery.

November. Closure of Beamish Second Colliery.

December. Closure of Littleburn and Chophill Lodges.

January. Death of Mr. Hugh Gaitskell.

February. Closure of Addison Colliery.

March. Retirement of Mr. Sam Watson.

Mr. J. Rooney elected Agent.

Closure of Waldridge 'D' Pit.

Closure of South Medomsley, Newfield Drift, Ramshaw and Westerton Lodges.

April. Increase in Wages — Daywagemen.

May. Closure of Fenhall Drift.

June. Closure of Heworth and Stargate Collieries. Closure of Axwell Park Lodge.

August. Closure of Roddymoor/Wooley Colliery.

January. Amalgamation of Durham and Northern (N. & C.) Divisions of the National Coal Board.

April. Closure of Fenhall Drift, Princes Street and Tanfield Lea Lodges.

May. Opening of Murton Welfare Hall. Agreement for 7 Rest Days per annum in lieu of shorter hours.

June. Increase in Wages — Daywagemen.

August. Closure of Wooley Lodge.

October. General Election. Labour Government returned with overall majority of 4.

During the fiscal year 1964-65 the following Collieries closed: Watergate, Phoenix Drift, Derwent, Hole-in-the-Wall, Stanley Burn, East Tanfield, Lambton, Pelton, Tudhoe Mill.

February. Closure of Morrison Lodge. June Closure of Derwent Lodge.

August. Death of Lord Lawson, former M.P. for Chester-le-Street, Secretary of State for War and Lord Lieutenant of Durham County.

Commencement of Clean Bagged Coal deliveries under Durham County Council Act.

October. Closure of Pelton Fell and Tudhoe Mill Lodges.

During the fiscal year 1965-66 the following Collieries closed: Harraton, Sherburn Hill, New Shildon, Bradley Drift, West Thornley, Witton, Dean & Chapter, Lumley 6th, North Tees, Clara Vale, Beamish Mary.