NATIONAL WAGES BOARD?
(To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The miners, in their demand for a National Wages Board and a national pool of profits, frequently assert that these were promised to them by the Government and mine- owners according to the terms of settlement of last Octo- ber 28th. This statement is entirely incorrect. In the terms of settlement the Mining Association and the Miners' Federa- tion solemnly pledged themselves to (a) " co-operate to the fullest extent to obtain increased output, and for this purpose will arrange to set up district committees and a National Com- mittee; (b) proceed forthwith to prepare a scheme for sub- mission to the Government at the earliest possible moment, and not later than March 31st, for the regulation of wages in the industry, having regard, among other considerations, to the profits of the industry and to the principles upon which any surplus profits are to be dealt with." The words "National Wages Board" are never mentioned in the terms of settlement. Their first mention appears to have been made in the House of Commons on November 3rd. On that date Major Kelly asked the Prime Minister " Whether, seeing that the first revision of miners' wages comes into operation at the end of December, it is possible, in the interest of •industrial
peace, that the National Wages Board should come into force at the same date? "
Mr. Bonar Law : It is part of the proposed terms of settle- ment that the scheme for the regulation of wages prepared by the owners and men shall be submitted at the earliest pos- sible moment, but the task before the' Joint Conference is a very difficult one, and I am afraid that it is hardly possible that they will be able to complete it by the end of the year.
Major Kelly : Seeing, so far as we can judge from the morning paper, that the vote is anything but decisive, is it not urgently necessary that the Board should be set up in December, when wages have to be revised, if possible?
Mr. Bonar Law : The Board will be set up without a moment's delay, and both the owners and the men realized the importance of it at the time when the report was discussed, and both of them can be certain that there will be no unneces- sary delay.
While on November 10th, in the same venue, the following took place between Colonel Newman and Mr. Bridgeman :- Colonel Newman asked the Prime Minister to what Govern- ment Department will be entrusted the setting up of the proposed National Wages Board in the coal-mining industry; is it proposed to allow the householder to have any represen- tation on a Board which will determine for him what price he shall pay for his coal, and, if so, will he consult those bodies who can claim to represent the ordinary householder?
The Secretary for Mines (Mr. Bridgeman): I have been asked to reply. The terms of settlement of the miners' strike pro- vided, amongst other things, that the Mining Association and the Miners' Federation should proceed forthwith to prepare a scheme for submission to the Government at the earliest possible moment, and not later than March 31st, for the regu- lation of wages in the industry. It is obviously impossible for me to anticipate the result of this conference. The adoption of any scheme that may be proposed will be subject to the sanc- tion of the Government through the Mines Department.
It will be seen that while Major Kelly and Colonel Newman both used the term " National Wages Board," Mr. Bonar Law spoke of the " Board," and Mr. Bridgeman merely quoted the terms of settlement. What was in the minds of both Govern- ment and mine-owners at this time was not a Board to nationalize or standarize wages over all the coal areas of Great Britain, but a Board to simplify the extremely complicated system of wages, with its percentage and fiat-rate increases. It would appear that, on the very slender basis that the words "National Wages Board" were used by two Members of Par- liament in the House of Commons, the miners base their claim that such a Board had been promised to them by the Govern.
ment and the mine-owners.--I am, Sir, &c., J. A. BOARD. Harrington Gardens, S.W. 5.
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