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Weighing of Coal 1872
Researched by John Lumsdon
On Wednesday Mr. William Brown addressed a meeting at the Swan Inn, Talke. The meeting was called to consider the advisability of having a weighing machine on behalf of the men at the Talke Colliery. Mr. Brown said the question of having fair weight was very important. The miner’s material should be got by weight where it was possible, and where there was enough coal coming out each day to pay a check weighman. In his opinion a weighing machine was of little use unless such a man was appointed by, and on behalf of, the men. Coal could not be got fairly by measure. At the miner’s district meeting last Monday, it had been stated by one delegate that his employers had advanced the miners 6d per day, but very little more money. They had more per ton, but the tons were much larger.
Mr. Brown explained the introduction of checking the weight in Barnsley. Mr. Normansell was there appointed by the miners’ to see their coal weighed in 1863, prior to the passing of the Act of Parliament. He was then called a scrutineer. When the Act was passed, Mr. Normansell was confirmed in his appointment by the colliers. The employer had nothing against Mr. Normansell or against his conduct while at work, but John B. Platt, the agent, refused to permit him to remain, and in order to get rid of Mr. Normansell, the employers “set” the pit down. But the men were determined to have him as their machineman. The agent refused to permit him to work, ejected him by force from the weigh-house, and used considerable violence, and indulged in abusive language. After receiving legal advice, they laid information against the agent for violating the statute. On the day of the hearing, John B. Platt was convicted in a penalty of 1s and costs, the whole of the magistrates stating they were of the opinion that John Normansell had been legally appointed.
Mr. Brown explained the way in which the miners’ in South Yorkshire had been treated, but in spite of all capital could do, the men had established the weighing system, and it proved a great benefit to them. They got the weighing system, and they kept it, by the power of their union and if the Talke miners’ were intended to have their material truly weighed, they would have to be combined in one grand bond of union.
The employers of the Longton Hall Colliery wanted their men to have their coal weighed, and they had given every facility to the men to test the true weight of the tubs. Mr. Casey had been over from Barnsley, on two occasions, and had tried the weight and the agent at the colliery had done all he possible could do to give satisfaction to the men. And if coal could be weighed at one place it could be weighed at another.
He was strongly in favour of the miners’ at Talke having their coal properly and honestly weighed. If it was right that the coal and ironstone should be soled by weight, it was equally as right that the miners,’ who actually produced these commodities, should be paid by weight. The Mine’s Bill, if passed would make it imperative on all coal and ironmasters to weigh the miners’ material.
The employers were doing all they could to cripple the Bill; but he hopes it would pass in its present form. Then the Truck system would be done away with, the miner would not have a portion of his wages stopped at the pay office. There were a great many evils that which wanted abolishing. Their labour had been very much abused in days gone by; coal had been disposed of at a very low rate. It was not the coal owners in many cases who got the large profits, but it was the coal merchants’ men, who never speculated a penny in sinking pits, or erecting engines. They could raise as much money as would build a few rail way wagons and borrow money to carry on with for a short time and then the could and did accumulate wealth at a very rapid rate. It was no uncommon thing for coal merchants to get more profits out of the coal that the coal owners, who speculated hundreds of thousands of pounds.
But he would have the coal owners to know that if they had been so simple as to make long contracts at almost ruinous prices, the miners’ were determined not to dispose of their labour at starvation price.
Mansions had been built, and no doubt were being built, out of the large and extravagant profits realised out of coal. The coal owners had entered into large and lengthy contracts, and the merchants were reaping the benefits, the mine owners and the miners’ ought to have. Surely the employers would be more cautious in the future. In conclusion he trusted all miners’ present would keep united, and he would pledge himself to do all he could to assist them in having their materials truly and honestly weighed.Vote of thank brought the meeting to a close.
The weighing System
A Letter to the miners Aug 9th 1873, to inform the miners generally and especially those of North Staffordshire, that the weighing system has been established at several of our collieries in this district. It is well known that the system of weighing the miners’ material has been in operation at Talke o’ Th Hill colliery a little over 12 months; and I am most happy to inform all lovers of harmony, peace, and justice that the system has answered well and both the employers and their workmen are well satisfied with the change, from measure to weight.
The weighing system was commenced at Messrs Bidder and Elliott’s collieries in the present year, and with the exception of a little misunderstanding about the tubs which came without table being set down to the check-machineman, things have gone on in a satisfactory manner. But permit me to say, everything was done openly and above board. There were no manifestations of over-reaching on either side. Before the colliers commenced getting their material by weight the net weight which came out in each tub was taken by the representatives of both masters and workmen, and the prices per ton arranged accordingly. Check-men were selected for each machine and I believe the accurate weight of each tub has been properly taken, and every collier has been paid honestly for the work he has done. The check-weighmen have done their duty; but I have never heard a single complaint about one of our machine-men overstepping the bounds of propriety.
The tubs have been tested at the Hanley and Bucknall pits, and the prices per ton agreed upon, and I believe all will go on well. On the 1st. Inst, the weights were tested at the Chatterley works and there was not much the matter. I daresay by this time all will be made right. On Saturday last we tested the tubs at Podmore Hall Colliery and I think it only fair to say that every facility was given to take the accurate weight of each tub and the prices set accordingly and by the time this appears we shall have tested the tubs at several more collieries, and I will have no doubt that the same straightforward course will be perused. I think it my duty to inform our members that at those places where the weights have not come to hand, it is on account of the makers being over busy, but time and patients will place a weight upon most of our pit banks in North Staffordshire.
This is a new era of connection with the mining industry of this district, and I trust that all miners will do their work in such a way as to cause no unpleasantness between the parties interested. Miners will do well to send their coal and other material as free from dirt as possible. I perfectly aware that there are times and places where and when it is next to an impossibility to send the coal and stone to bank perfectly clean, when men have to load by the imperfect light of a lamp, and in the mist of powder smoke, it is impossible to keep the coal clean and every manager would do well to see that all working places are ventilated in a proper manner. It should be remembered that misunderstandings will arise at times and all check-weighmen must deal impartially and let all have their rights as near as possible.
The check-weighman will not find everything pleasant and pleasing but they will be expected to do their duty and act rightly. I trust the imperial ton will be established throughout our district. Let the 112 lb to the cwt. and 20cwt. to the ton.
It is so at all places where the miners work by ton, and I hope we shall know nothing else. In conclusion, I strongly recommend to all parties concerned to pull together and if they do so I am sure we shall have cause to be thankful that the weighing system was ever established in our district. Confiscation will be done away with, all dead brief pegs can be taken down and honesty, which is the best policy, will be the right thing for everyone to deal in.I am yours truly, William Brown. (Miners’ Agent)
Check-weighmen Chatterley Colliery
To the Editor of the “Examiner”
Having been appointed as one of the 4 check-weighmen by the miners’ at the above named colliery I feel myself duty bound, in the honour to the men, to publish to the thousands of readers of your far famed journal, the unanimity of principle and oneness of spirit that exists amongst them and the noble manner in which they have responded to the first call made upon them for their check-weigh men’s wages. To their honour be it said, though they had not at most above three days’ to receive, they contributed more the £12 on Saturday last, which, after paying their 4 check-weighmen £2 each, leaves a balance in the Treasurer’s hands of above £4 towards the weigh fund. Such a beginning, I consider, is worthy of every colliery in North Staffordshire. What a happy change, that the men begin to have confidence in each other. Time has been that the working men had more confidence in the men who would look down upon them with contempt, and treat them as surfs, with unmingled distain: men who would scorn to speak to a working man: and, ifa deputation waited upon them with a view of having some grievance redressed, would turn their backs on them with unmitigated scorn and walk off with such measured steps as though they feared to knock their heads against the sun, or their brains (if any) against the stars. But thank God our union has changed things for the better: we can now meet our employers, and they will reason with us and in many instances grant us our reasonable request.
In conclusion, I wish to say such manifestations of confidence as exemplified by the miners’ of Chatterley towards their check-weighmen, deserves to be made known through the length and breathe of North Staffordshire, and demands from check-weighmen all honesty, faithfulness and fidelity that becomes their station, even wereit to involve in their going forth, not knowing whither they went.
Miners of North Staffordshire
Our cause is just we need not fear
Let us try and persevere
To protect our union
Let every man assist the cause
In carrying out the weighing clause
As it’s defended by the laws
And sanctioned by our union
We do not care about Jack Daws
Fothergill or Menelaus
But we will have the weighing clause
As sanctioned by our union
Through North Stafford let it be such
On every bank, the weighing machine
Let nought on earth ere intervene
Between us and our union
Yours truly, Edward Lyons. August 13th 1873