THE YORKSHIRE COLLIER,

Star (Christchurch), 30 September 1893, Page 2

THE YORKSHIRE COLLIER,

A MAN TO LEAVE ALONE. ' "■ (St James* Bu&qtt .) ■„ . Pity the poor collier ! He works undergrcrand all the week, never seeing the green grans or hearing the birds sing, exposed to violent and sudden dangers, existing on a.pittanoe and crippled by his toil; that was the view presented to tv in childhood, throngh the medium of tract! and instructive books given by otherwise excellent parents to their young.' Kow consider the other view. The collier is a roaring, ramping brute, speeding his life in getting drunk, kicking his wife, and dog-fighting. He is always black; de* graded and foul-mouthed. Both ideas are equally unjust and futile. As a rule he has a garden; for, contrary to general belief, collieries are not commonly found in tawns. He prefers pigeon* flymg to dog-fighting, and though often deficient in c.nnubial tenderness, seldom kicks his wife. He gets drunk afc times ; bnt does so in a solid hearty fashion, very much as English country gentlemen did a hundred yeara ago.' He does not oftea appear in Conrt ior that offence, thongh tue fact that rescues are more popular than police officers may bear on tha matter. He is naturally lawless. As ono remarked to an election canvasser, "JFrea country, indeed! Donno 'bout that! If I a man doeß what he likes, they precious soon claps 'lin i' pris'n." Hjs idea of law ia like bis idea of fair wages— all. the halfpence his side and all th© ticks on "the other. The "collier "seldom subspribes to a strike ajnong other, working men. No, be is righteously indignant with them for stopping rrade-~by which he means hig trnde ; all else he utterly refuses to comprehend. "When he comes out every industry is dislocated. This be feels to be power, and rejoices accordingly. The daily papers register the votes takea at the various lodges aB to whether they shell strike, and the miners' leadera chuckle when they see them. The result of the ballot only is given, the words pro* po sing the resolution are usually kept dark: it is said that in some caseß no choice ib offered. If any man speaks against the motion, cries cf "Chook 'Ja outer t' winder!" are raised? "and they'd do it too," added my informant grimly. When trade was good he got what is varyingly described aB from 20 to 45 per centadvaince. Owners and miners' leaders calculate these figures from a totally different basis; and theyare bandied about from speech to speech and paper to paper till re dens remind themselves that "Nothing is more fallacious than faots, except figures." Well, the contention now is, that the collier demands a " livihg wage." Ifc is an argument for any workman to fall back upon— when he has so better. But, speaking broadly, the collier's own idea of a "living wage" is this. Pricks high— bo high that the owners cannot get sufficient orderß to work the pit full tiffle. Then the men in four days can earn enough to keep themselves for the week. It is not really alarge sum on Saturday the bnlk of them require, but what they consider a week's wage for four days' work. It is hard laborious toil, no donbt, and they will do no more of it than they consider necessary.- Explosions can- , not be unexpected to the man who knows nine-tentbs of his mates wonld t__ke matches down dangerous pits were they not searched, and the frequency with whioh boxes or loose ones are discovered shows how often smuggling does succeed. He will not prop up the roof unless forced, thereby often killing himself- or bis mate. If unhurt, he will risk life and limb to save his comrade, and bear the most fearful pain without a tnurmur. Indeed, aunals of pit-life are foil of reckless risk ard. highest heroism. Tou may make frienda with the collier gradually, but he is not partial to the stranger in his land. Deedß of what he holdß kindness he will remember years and years. He is fond of little children; and he Washes. Sut touch not on debatable points, refer not to his Union, his masters, nor his strikes; those are subjects upon whioh it is not wholly safe to argue with him.