The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1864-12-24 (London, England)

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PRACTICAL MINERS.  BRETHREN,— Your Council have met to consider the best mode of rendering service to our common cause. One of the first subjects that engaged our attention was the evils to which we are all so liable while following our daily avocations. Those are at all times sufficiently dangerous even when the utmost precautions are taken by those whose duty it is to see that our safety is properly cared for while we are at work. Our attention has been directed to two cases in which the necessary care of our lives has not been taken—namely, one at Cassop Colliery, where the men were desired to work in the pit at a time when the workings were so foul that it was impossible to remain in the pit. The Government Inspector declared that "he could not measure the air, as there was none to measure." The law will not allow a man to commit suicide, and punishes any one who tries to take away his own life. Surely, if this is so, our employers have no right to compel us to kill ourselves, either by foul air in the pit, or by starvation if we refuse to enter it. We think this is a case that deserves your warm support. There is also the late fatal accident near Dudley, where eight men were killed through the negligence of those intrusted with the management of the pit, as proved by the verdict of the coroners' juries, who, in each case, have returned a verdict of manslaughter against the manager, engineer, and owner of the pit. We feel it a duty incumbent on us to take some steps in this matter; and, as we shall require legal assistance in order that substantial justice may be done to the survivors of those who have lost their lives in the one case, and to teach careless proprietors a lesson in the other, that this may be effectually done, we have laid a levy of threepence per head, to be at once forwarded to the national treasurer, John Scott Sangster, of Bishop Auckland. As both of these cases must be taken up immediately, no time should be lost in forwarding the necessary means, or it will be too late to take action, and the opportunity of doing essential service to the miners' cause will be lost. Each district in union will at once collect this special levy and forward it. We also recommend that collecting-sheets be prepared in which to receive the contributions of those miners who, though not at present in union, may yet be induced to see that these are cases worthy of their pecuniary support. Let every trustworthy member of a lodge be requested to take a book and collect such subscriptions, for we shall need all the aid we can receive, and the moral aid to be derived from the numbers who contribute will be equally valuable in the impending contest of right against might. Let every pitman, then, rouse himself for this struggle. Let us show the world that, while we combine, like other trades' unionists, to protect our labour and secure "a fair day's wage for a fair day's work," that we have yet a higher and holier end in view—that we have to protect our own lives from premature destruction, and prevent our wives from becoming widows, and our children from being made orphans before the time at which the Almighty, in the ordination of His providence, has decerned that the wives and children of the common classes shall be so bereaved. We cannot conclude this address without stating that, TuE MINER AND WORKMAN'S ADVOCATE being the acknowledged organ of the National Association of Practical Miners, the Council wish it to be distinctly understood that all communications on trades questions, whether from the miners or any other body of working men, will be kindly received and duly inserted free of any charge, thus giving to all classes of society the means whereby they can lay their grievances, expose their wrongs, and make known their proceedings, to rpmedy the same, to the world. The minutes of our proceedings will be found in another column of this day's issue. THOMAS KIMBERLEY, President. ROBERT CHEESDIOND, Vice-President. JOHN SCOTT SANGSTER, Treasurer. JOHN GRIFFITIIS, Secretary. JOHN FARRALL, Councillor. J. SHAW, Trustee.