The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-11 00:00:00

The Conference of Miners at Leeds.

On Monday a conference of the coal miners of the United
Kingdom was opened at the People's Hall, Leeds, for the
purpose of considering several important questions connected
with the social and general improvement of the class through-
out the country. There were 53 delegates present at the
preliminary meeting held on Monday. The chair was occu-
pied by Mr. William Pickard, of Ince, Wigan; and Mr. J.
Pickles acted as secretary pro tem. Mr, Towers, the secre-
tary of the Miners' National Association, first addressed the
meeting. The object of the conference, ho said, was to
consider the present condition of the miner, and in what
respect that condition could be improved. In his opinion,
the first subject for them to consider was the preservation of
the lives of the miners. In the second place, it would be
necessary for the conference to discuss the question of
wages, the truck and tommy systems, and the principle of
payment by weight. Education was also a question of great
importance for them to consider as well as the condition of
the miners' dwellings. He did not go particularly either
for an eight or a ten hours' bill, but what he wished to se-
cure for the miner was a fair day's wage for a fair day's
work—and that no boy should be permitted to go into the
mine until he was twelve years of age, and not then until
he brought with him a certificate from ,the certificated
master, and also a certificate from a member of
the College of Surgeons, showing that he was physically
competent for the work of the mine. He also sug-
gested that each boy up to the age of fourteen
should be compelled to go for three hours in three days in
each week to the school.—Mr. A. M'Donald, of Scotland,
then moved that three sections of the Conference be estab-
lished—the first to consider the grievances of miners ; the
second for discussing the questions of law effecting the
working miner ; and the third section be devoted to the con-
sideration of the social economics of the question. The pro-
position was adopted. It was further agreed that Mr. Towers
be the general Secretary of the Conference; that Mr. A.
M'Donald be the general chairman of the Assembly; and that
a letter be sent to Mr. Chas. Motron, inspector of collieries for
the district, advising him that on Wednesday afternoon his
conduct as an inspector would be considered, so that he
might have an opportunity of attending on the occasion.—
A mass meeting of miners was subsequently held in the
large hall connected with the Co-operative Stores, in Mar..
shall-street, Holbeck. The chair was occupied by Mr. Thos.
Stephenson, of Itothwell. Mr. J. Holmes, of Methley, was
the first speaker.—Tbe Chairman next spoke on the sub-
ject of inspection, which, ho contended, was at present so
utterly inefficient as to be practically worthless. In Belgium
there were sca cely over any accidents in mines, but this
was because the pits were in the hands of the Government,
which took particular care to ensure a really valuable
system of regular inspection.—Mr. William Brown, of
Hunslet, in the course of a long speech, advocated shorter
hours of labour, a better system of ventilation in mines,
and the hearty and unanimous support of the Miners'
Association by the body which it was established to benefit.
He also contended fcr a higher scale of morality amongst
the miners, telling them that if they would only be sober and
industrious men, they would not only command a greater
share of respect from their employers, but by their savings
they would then be prepared for a rainy day, or for obtain-
ing better terms from their masters than they could at pre-
sent command.