The Potteries Examiner : — 1873-08-23 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

FRENCH ARBITRATION BOARDS.:-Ti; lisTOf electors to the council of Pruirhommes of the arbitration boards, which have been established by government in France since the year 1806, have been revised and completed last month, and the election of the Prud.hommes, or jury, will take place this month. It is known that a council of Prud'hommes is composed of two employers of labour elected by the employers of the district, and of two workmen elected by their fellowworkmen. The tradeslare divided into categories, and each category has its council of Prud'hommes. A great many candidates have come forward to represent the interests of the workmen at the present election, and the Paris Rappel has received no less than 46 electoral addresses from workmen of the capital.  WAGES OF IRONWORKERS AND COLLIERS IN 13ELti lIIM.—The following particulars will be read with interest by our readers •  It is calculated that there are 120,000 colliers and ironworkers throughout Belgians. Their average wages for the last five years has been 3.4 francs per day, or 912 francs per annum. This dbes not include the wages paid to women and children, who are largely employed in colliery labour, and whose wages are so low that their inclusion reduces the average of all hands employed about collieries and ironworks to 708 francs per annum, or 21 francs per working day Out of the millings of the colliers various contributions are paid. One of these is levied under an arrangement called the Crises de &emirs, which is a sort of a sick or accidental assurance company, temporary in its action. As a rule, a club of this kind is attached to each pit. Another organization, established with similar objects, but on a broader or national basis, is called the t'ontes de Pretwynace ; and although membership is not compulsory, its benefits are so universally recognised that 90 per cent, of the miners are contributors. Altogether, the contributions paid towards these societies amount to about 16.48 francs per annum, or shoat two per cent, of their whole earnings. The colliers of Belgium work considerably longer hours than their English confreres. Ten hours a day is the usual thing ; but a twelve hours shift is not at all uncommon. One of the largest pits in the country is the Grand: Sorensen, where about 715) hands are employed. The depth of this mine is 560 yards, and it has tsar 15 sear., varying from Ift. to 4ft. 6in. in thickness. The employment of girls and children in loading the skips and other forms of pit labour is a feature of Belgian colliery life which has happily become a thing of the past in England. There seems to be much need of a Factory Act to prevent the continuance of this degraeling practice. Yet both men and women seem to lie comfortable, and withal very happyTheir sports and pastimes are very much akin to those of our Durham and Northumberland pitmen. In their hygienic laws, hall, pitch and toss, and athletic exercises of varirom kinds form a prominent place. They do not, however, appear to he actnatel by that strong fancy for the canine race which is as distinguishing a characteristic of our own north country pitmen. As for their dietetics, it is observable that they seldom indalge in animal food—not more than twice a week—and that their favourite dish id mope ntaigre.—Corrcepondent of the Nen:castle Chrotticle.  At Liverpool assizes, on Monday, John Connor, boiler maker, was sentenced to death for the murder of a man named Geoffrey, who interfered to protect a woman whom Connor was abasing, and was stabbed in consequence. ANOTHER RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT MILES PLATTll,o.—On Monday a serious collision oceurred at the Miles Platting Junction, between a Lancashire and Yorkshire train and a London and North IVestern express, which fortunately resulted in no loss of life. An engine and six or eight carriages were being removed from the Newton siding, about a quarter of a mile from the Manchester station. The carriages were empty at the time the collision took place. As they were croaking the down line on to the up line, the London and North Western express, from Manchester to Leeds, dashed into the midst of the carriages, smush:us the greater number into splinters. Strange to say, the other train sustained no .hnuage leyoe,l the lose of ohe of the buffers of the Lt. U/1.1 proceeded to it, destination. lieu occur lias not been a.ic..:Lainea.