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375. Monsieur Harzé, the Director of Mines at Brussels, states that the average annual wages of miners in Belgium during the years 1888 and 1889 were as follow:

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376. In Liége, where wages are higher than in the other provinces, the average Fourth annual wages of all workers, underground and overground, were:

Report,

p. 114.

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The hours of hewers vary from 5 to 12 from bank to bank. The average is Fourth from 10 to 101, except in two districts, where they average 83. The hours of other Report, underground workers employed vary on the average from 8 to 12 hours per day.

P. 120.

Germany.

377. The average daily wages during the 1st quarter of the year 1890 are given in the following table :

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378. As the Westphalian district is supposed to compete with England in regard to the export of coal, it may be pointed out that the Royal Commission appointed in 1890 by the German Emperor to inquire into and report on the conditions of miners, states that the average wages per day in Westphalia were:

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From these same earnings 0.29s. have been deducted in respect of materials, &c. It is also pointed out that 49.6 per cent. of the miners employed earned more than 3s., and 69.4 per cent. more than 2s. 6d. per day. The Commission further reported that the miners demanded an eight-hours day from bank to bank, but that it had been arranged that the actual working time should be eight hours, the concessionnaires promising that as far as possible the descent and ascent should not last longer than half-an-hour each. At the time these figures were compiled, wages were rising. The gross wages given by Mr. Mulvany for 1890 being 4s. for hewers, and 2.89s. for other underground men; the proportion of men earning the higher rates has also risen.

Fourth Report, p. 158.

379. As regards the proportion of price taken by the miners, it appears that the price of coal and the average wages per shift (or per day) of all workers in the Westphalian district for the years 1888, 1889, and 1890, were as follows:

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380. According to Mr. Mulvany the average daily output per worker is about 18 cwt. The average wages per ton and the per-centage such wages are of price at the pit mouth, will be as follows:

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381. The average yearly earnings of all workers underground and overground in Germany during the years 1888, 1889, and 1890 were as follows:

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382. The usual hours of underground men worked per day, including the time for descent and ascent, are as follows:

Upper Silesia

Lower Silesia

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Aachen

Saarbruchen
Dortmund

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8 hours (in hot mines 6 hours), excluding time for descending and ascending.

Surface men work from 10 to 12 hours.

383. We are now in a position to compare the proportion of price taken in wages in France, Belgium, and Westphalia :—

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The per-centage for Belgium for 1890 has not yet been published, but probably was about the same as in the previous year. It appears from the foregoing table that in France and Belgium the workers receive about 50 to 55 per cent., whether the price of coal be high or low, whereas in Westphalia, as the price rises, the proportion of price taken in wages rapidly decreases.

England.

384. The figures that have been given regarding the wages paid on the Continent are averages calculated from returns that every concessionnaire is obliged to make,

No such accurate averages exist as regards England. The only recent information published in this country relates to the year 1886, viz., " Return of Rates of Wages in the Mines and Quarries of the United Kingdom, with Report thereon, 1891, C.--6455." It appears from this return that the average annual wages of all persons employed in and about a mine in 1886 was 55l. 1s. This figure, however, represents normal wages for constant employment, and it is suggested in the Return that 10 per cent. should be deducted for loss of work arising from holidays and other causes. Making this deduction, the average wages would be 491. 16s. It must be remembered that this figure is only an estimate, inasmuch as it is compiled from answers given to questions issued to a comparatively small though representative body of lessees.

385. It would not be incorrect to say that, with certain local exceptions, no important variation in prices or in wages occurred during 1886, 1887, and 1888, and the above figure for 1886 may be taken as approximately correct for 1888.

386. Both prices and wages rose in 1889 and 1890. Assuming that the rise in wages was equivalent to 20 per cent. in the former and 40 per cent. in the latter year on the wages of 1886-1888, and that the output and number of working days were the same in 1889 and 1890 as in 1888, it may be concluded that the average annual wages of all workers in and about a mine for 1889 and 1890 were 601. 6s. and 71l. 16s. respectively.

387. We are now in a position to institute a comparison between the average annual wages in France, Belgium, Germany, and England.

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388. It appears from this table that wages are higher in England than on the continent, but that the divergence is not so great when prices are low as when they are high.

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

389. We have now completed the inquiry undertaken by Your Majesty's commands and humbly beg to lay before Your Majesty the following summary of the leading conclusions at which we have arrived :

I. We estimate that the amount paid as royalties on coal, iron-stone, iron ore, and Para. 50. other metals worked in the United Kingdom in the year 1889 was 4,665,0431.; and that the charge for wayleaves for the same year was about 216,000l.

II. We are of opinion that the system of royalties has not interfered with the Paras. 53, general development of the mineral resources of the United Kingdom, or with the 179, and 212. export trade in coal with foreign countries.

III. We do not consider that the "terms and conditions under which these payments Paras. 65are made" are, generally speaking, such as to require interference by legislation, but 71. we recommend that some remedy should be provided for cases in which a lessee may be prevented, by causes beyond his own control, from working the minerals he has taken, and also for cases of certain restrictions upon the assignment and surrender of mineral leases.

IV. We are of opinion that, where the surface belongs to one person and the Para. 92. subjacent minerals to another, greater facilities should be provided for the working of the minerals.

V. We are of opinion that greater facilities should be afforded to tenants for life Para. 101. of settled estates in dealing with mineral property.

Para. 107.

Para. 126.

Para. 140.

Para. 164.

Paras. 83,

84.

Para, 51.

VI. We think that facilities for granting mineral leases for longer terms should be given to corporations and public bodies which do not already possess sufficient powers in that respect.

VII. We recommend for the favourable consideration of Parliament any measure which may be introduced, with the concurrence of all parties concerned, for dealing with mineral leases in Cornwall and Devonshire, such as the Bill which was introduced into the House of Commons by Sir John St. Aubyn in 1886.

VIII. We consider that Your Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests have dealt with the Crown rights to gold in Wales as liberally as was consistent with their duty.

IX. We are of opinion that some measures should be taken to prevent the serious obstacles to the development of the minerals in Ireland, likely to arise from the multiplication of small proprietary rights resulting from recent land legislation.

X. As regards wayleaves, we are of opinion that owners of mineral property unreasonably debarred from obtaining access to the nearest or most convenient public railway, canal, or port on fair terms, or from obtaining underground easements on fair terms, ought not to be left without remedy, and we have made certain suggestions with that object.

XI. We suggest that the Department of Mines in the Home Office, might be re-organised and extended with such additional statutory powers as may be necessary for the purpose of collecting and publishing accurate information with regard to

mines and minerals.

390. We desire to express our obligations to our Secretary, Mr. Herbert Lyon, for the services he has rendered in the course of our long and intricate inquiry.

391. We were deprived of the valuable assistance of Mr. Nicholas Wood, one of the members of our Commission, in the completion of our Report, by his death in the beginning of this year.

All which we humbly submit to Your Majesty's most gracious consideration.

(Signed)

NORTHBROOK.
MACNAGHTEN.

W. THOMAS LEWIS.

W. ABRAHAM.

A. BARNES.

THOS. BURT.
DAVID DALE.
G. B. FORSTER.
HENRY H. GIBBS.
ARCHD. HOOD.

GEO. AULDJO JAMIESON.
WILLIAM KENRICK.
JOHN KNOWLES.

J. E. C. MUNRO.

W. C. PENDARVES.

C. T. REDINGTON.

F. PARKER RHODES.

R. CHISHOLM ROBERTSON
JOSIAH THOMAS.

C. A. WHITMORE.

HERBERT LYON, Secretary.

March 24th, 1893.

81

INDEX TO APPENDIX.

Subject.

Page.

I.-Correspondence between Mr. B. Pickard, M.P., and the Secretary to the Commission - 82 II. The Laws of Mendip

III.-Calculations of the Amounts paid for Royalties and Wayleaves in the United Kingdom, with Memorandum relating to Durham and Northumberland

IV. Cases of alleged Hardship quoted by Witnesses, with the Explanation brought out in
Cross-examination, or given in Evidence by way of Reply

V.-Statement showing the proportion borne by Royalty to Selling Price

VI.-Statement showing the percentage of Price represented by Wages

22

82

883

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VII.-Statistical Tables

VIII.-Summaries of the Mining Systems of Belgium, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Spain

103

IX.-List of Witnesses examined before the Commission, with description

111

X.-Index to the Evidence

125

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