15

C.—3

74. That there is also a rule of the A.M.L.A., or, rather, a recent resolution not yet printed, that when there is not work for all hands a number of hewers give place to others, or admit of a third man working in their places, and carrying on thus for a month, to keep the surplus men on the spot waiting a busier time. 75. That there was also during part of this year a voluntary restriction of output imposed by the A.M.L.A., so as to limit each hewer's earnings to 15s. (Bishop) or 16s. (Eobinson) per day, evasions of which were both accomplished and attempted by the men themselves, but which acted prejudicially to the interests of the company, by passing less than should have been passed through the hands of their wages-men. 76. That, as, however, the workings have for some time been confined to removing pillars which are considerably crushed, a very large output when at full work is easily accomplished. 77. That, the coal-hewer's pay being by a tonnage-rate, his actual workinghours are not checked, but consist nominally of eight hours for each shift, one of which begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m., and the other begins at 2 p.m. and finishes at 10 p.m. 78. That, whilst, previous to March, 1890, the men had to be in their places at the beginning of each shift, they decided in association to reckon the time from " bank to bank"—that is, to enter the mine at the beginning of the shift and leave it as it closed. 79. That reaching and leaving their places within the eight hours must inevitably have caused to themselves a loss of thirty or forty minutes per day, and a slack time for the truckers, screeners, and other men in attendance, waiting output and working on day's wages; whilst an allowance of half an hour for meals would reduce the shift of eight hours to six and three-quarters of actual work. 80. That the actual daily wages of the miners has been put in by Mr. Eobinson, a miner who was deputed by the A.M.L.A. to take up this subject, in his evidence before the Commissioners, and who submitted the statement as undisputed, but subject to expenses amounting to 4d. per day for Accident Fund, doctor, &c, as before mentioned. 81. That this statement comprises the results of seven fortnightly paysheets, or fourteen weeks, ending 28th June, the rate being 2s. lOd. per ton unscreened since Bth March, and gives the following results, after deduction of blasting materials : — Wallsend .... 3,839 shifts; £2,691 10s. Id., averaging 14s. per man per day. Coal-pit Heath 4,233 ■„ £3,020 16s. 6d., „ 14s. 3d. „ Brunner .... 3,629 „ £2,706 14s. 9d., „ 15s. 9d. 11,501 „ £8,419 Is. 4d., „ 14s. Bd. Besides which there was paid over all to the same men for other work £562 Bs. 9d., which increased the final average to 15s. 7Jd. per man per day. 82. That a similar statement was also obtained from the mine-manager, in which, however, the payments for extra work are not included, and which, apart from these, gives the following results for ten weeks ending Bth March, the rate being 4s. per ton screened, and blasting materials being deducted : — Wallsend .... 2,060 shifts; £1,409 17s. 7d., average 13s. Bd. per man per day. Coal-pit Heath 3,150 „ £2,235 10s. 7d., „ 14s. 2d. Brunner .... 2,342 „ £1,481 19s. 2d., „ 12s. Bd. „ 7,552 „ £5,127 7s. 4d., „ 13s. 7d. And for twenty weeks ending the 26th July, the rate having been changed on Bth March to 2s. lOd. per ton unscreened — Wallsend .... 4,856 shifts; £3,412 3s. 3d., average 14s. Id. per man per day. Coal-pit Heath 5,717 „ £4,079 7s. 3d. „ 14s. 3d. Brunner .... 4,649 „ £3,626 10s. 7d. „ 15s. 7d. 15,222 „ £11,118 Is. Id. „ 14s. 7d.