The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-05-26 00:00:00

THE UMPIRE'S AWARD.

On Thurslay a rye:ling f te Sout'l Stafford-
shire and East Worcestershire coal trade was held
at the Qttoen's Hotel, Birmingham, to receive the
award of the umpire, Mr. Haden Corscr, upon the
wages qu stion. Mr. Walter Williams presided;
and the other employers pre-eat were Messrs. D.
Groucutt, M. Grazehroolc, J. Bissell, W. B. Collis,
W. Noith, J. Aston, J. B. Cochrane, J. T. Adden-
brooke, B. Hingley, McPherson, It. Mason, G. P.
Dunn, J. Wright, and J. Dadley (secretary to the
trade). DAegates were present from all the prin-
cipal cad-producing centres.
The Chairman explained that at a meeting held
in Wolverhampton last Friday the argun, nts fr
and against the propoed reduction of wages were
fully laid before the umpire, and they had ratt to
receive his award, which_ was as follows :

"By an agreement called the Birmingham agree-
ment the t rms for the settlement of the South
Staffordshire and East Worcestershire miners'
wages were agreed upon, to come into operation
on the Ist January, 1882. By clauses 1 of that
agreement it is provided that the wages of 'the
eelliers should rise and fall according to the sel-
ling price of coal. By clause 2it is provided as
follows: 'The selling prices are those per statute
ton as quoted in the Earl of Dudley's circular for
furnace coal east of Dudley,' On the 301 i April,
1883, tie above agreement being still in force,
Mr. Fisher Smith, on behalf of the Earl of Dud-
ley, issued a circular in these terms: 'I beg to in-
form you that from this date the Earl of Dudley's
prices ef coal, of different qualities will be re-
duced is. per ton, slack remaining unaliered.'
Now, if the agreement had been strictly adhered
to, the rate of wages would have been at once re-
duced by the self-acting clause, and the masters
would have leen quite within their legal rights in
meeting the obligations which were then urged
on behalf of the men a Aainst a re,luctien of wages
by pointing to the agreement and to Mr. Fisher
Smith's circulate They were, however, not dis-
posed to adhere strictly to the agreement on this
pint and a meeting of the coal trade was held on
..
May 2, 1883, to meet the colliers' representatives
as to tie reduction in wages consequent upon
that in the price of coal. At that meeting it was
resolved to give three months' notice to terminate
the Birmingham agreement, and such
.notice has
been given and accepted. It was further resolved
as follows: 'That the subject of reduction of
-wages cousequent on the issue of Lord Dudley's
circular for the lowering of the price of coal from
May I, under the Birmingham agreement, be sub-
mitted to arbitration, the matters and the men
each to send two representatives, and those to
agree upon an umpire, and they to determine t'.e
question within fourteen days from this date;
and that meanwhile Mr. Fisher Smith he requested
to suspend Lord Dudley's circular.' In pursuance
of the foregoing resolutie n, Mr. Walter Williams
and Mr. Bassano were chosen as representatives on
behalf of the masters, and Mr. S. 11. Whitehouse
and Mr. T. Carter on behalf of the men, and hav-
ing chosen me umpire, I sat to hear the'r argu-
ments, and to determine the question submitted by
I the resolution. By agreeing to refer this
qucs'ion to arbitration, instead of allowing it
to he determined in the ordinary course,
by the terms of the agreement, I considered
that the operation of the agreement on thia
point was suspended for the time being.
and I theref, re felt at liberty .to hear all that
could be said both as to the reduction of prices and
as to tie reduction of wages. It was agreed by
reprk sentatisas of the men that the state of trade
did not warrant a reduction in the price of coal
as it was improving ; and that the output of coal
was stealily increasing. It wes also stated that
over 200 employers, of whom the names of some
were given to me, had stated, previous to the issu-
ing of the circular, that they should continue the
present rate of wages notwithstanding any reduc-
tion that might be made in the list price of coal,
showing, so far as they were concerned, that they
did not think that wages ought to be lowered. It
was further suggested that the circular had been
issued because Lord Dud ey was being undersold,
but of this no proof was given; and also that the
circular had been issued under pressure, but I find
no grounds for this suggestion. On behalf of the
'pastes it was contended that inasmuch as the
whole question as to the reduction was opened, it
was only fair that they should be allowed to show
what had been the actual prices realised during the
whole period of the operation of the Birmingham
agreement as compared with the last prices; and it
was contended that if the reduction were made as
proposed by the. circular. the list prices would only
be brought down to the average realised prices.
The figures given to me, as taken from the books of
ten large fines in the district, entirely bore out the
coat entien that none of these firms had, during the
period covered by the agreement, realised the prices
quoted in the lists ; and it was stated that this was
the ease generally throughout the district. It was
also agreed on the part of the masters that as con-
stant alterations in list prices were undesirable in
the interests of trade, and as they had hoped tr,do
would sufficiently revive to enable them to realise
the list prices, they had not re duced their list prices
until they felt that a reduction was necessary to
stop the payment of wages upon prices that were
not being, nor likely to be realised. Miring the
course of the arguments I was informed that it a as
' understeod by both sides that a Conciliatem Board
would in all probability be formed to regulate the
rate of wages upon the expiration of the Birming-
ham agreement, which would take place early in
August. At the conclusion of the hearing it was
agreed between the parties that I should have power
to recommend what should be done pending the
determination of the agreement. Now, the first
question I have to decide is this—Whether the re-
duction made by the circular of the 30th April was
a reasonable reduction ? I am of opitO,on that it
was. Then follows the question as to what should
be done i'h regard to the reduction of wages.
Now, bear'n,g in mind that if it had been the
general (pinion of the masters that wages ought to
be reduced, all they had to do was to take their
stard upon the agreement and circular, and also
bearing in mind that the whole ques•ion of wages
will be throuhly discusse I at the expira-
tion of the agreement, and bearing in mind all the
circumstances of the case, lam of opinion, and I
recommend, that the present rate of wages should
be continued until the cxpiratien of the Birming-
ham agreement.—(Signed) HADEN CORSER. Wol-
verhampton, 21st May. 1883."
Having read the award, the Chairman said it was
for t hear° present to say whether or not they would
accept it.
Mr. B. Iliegley asked if the award was a recom-
mendation or a Caeisi ; to which the Chairman
replied that it was a recommendation having the
free of a decision. He looked upon it as expres-
sing an opinion and a decision at the same time.
In reply to a question, the Secretary explained
that the Birmingham agreement would expire on
Ist August. .

Mr. Cochrane thought that a decision hiving been
uiven, it would be only wise to fall in with it, and
abide the issue of any new aureernent that might be
made, and moved that Mr. Corser's award be ac-
cepted. .

.. -
This was seconded by Mr. .Aston, and agreed to.
The Chairman said it was only due to the men
that he should comet a statement which he made
at the last meeting, to the effect that they had
broken faith with the masters. When he made that
assertion he believed that they had done so, but he
had since learnt that Mr Fisher-Smith had told the
men to work at th-J old rate, if an agreement could
b come to with the masters. Under those circum-
sta.nces, he did not think he had any right to make
the statement which be did. If auy such arrange-
ment was made it should have been communicated
to all the masters. The only question for them now
to consider was how, and in what way, could they
get together the Conci!iatiou Board. Ile thought
they might select three men wan were virtual repre-
sentatives of the coal trade, an-. 1 the men could ap—
point a similar number, and the six should form
the Board.
Mr. llingley did not see why they should not
have baH a dozen on each side.
Mr. Barnes (Mtners secretary) : I understood
when at Wolverhampton, last Friday, that there
would be twelve on each side.
The Chaiiman thought six were quite enough;
but Mr. Rust, a delegate, was afraid that half a
dozen would not give satisfaction to the men.
Twelve would cover the district well.
The Chairman suggested that when the Board
was formed they should get some legal gentleman,
if they could find one, and give him an honorarium
to attend each meeting, and let him act as umpire.
They all knew the great difficulty which was ex—
perienced iu obtaining a really sound sensible man
to take the place of umpire.
Mr. Groucutt proposed that the Conciliation
Board should be formed of twelve employers and as
many colliers' delegates. Mr. Barnes seconded the
motion, which was passed.
Mr. Hingley pointed out that they could not
obtain a legal gentleman to attend their meetings
as umpire without some remuneration. Mr. Barnes
believed that ;f it was necessary forsan umpire to
-attend the meetings, the men would not grumble to
ar a proportionate share of the cost. Be thought
that questien, however, might be left for the
Conciliation Board to decide when it was formed.
The Chairman said that they could depend upon it
that there would have to be some money expended
to carry out the arrargements of the Board
props ily.
lhe meeting then terminated.
The representatives upon the Conciliation Board
will be elected at meetings to be held by either
side.