122 CHAPTER VIII. 
working. At present attention is apt to be concentrated on the question 
of the gross output, without much reference to the output obtained by the 
individual miner. We believe that the latter question is one of the most 
important, not merely in the interest of the miner himself, but in the 
interests of the industry as a whole. 
Payment for Standard Output. 
We have dealt with the possibility of securing more regular 
work ; but there are two aspects to the case and it should be recognised 
that the miner on his part has cause for complaint. Practically all work 
at the mines is paid by the piece, the unit for coal cutters and loaders 
being the tub. The remuneration of both depends, therefore, on the 
number of tubs that can be filled ; but there are many causes lying outside 
the worker’s control, which may prevent him from securing an adequate 
day’s wage. Examples of such causes are deficiency of tubs, difficult 
working places, long leads, stone and shale and mechanical breakdowns, 
An allowance on these grounds is sometimes paid, but this is by no 
means universal. For example, we found in the Giridih field instances 
where a miner in a day of 12 hours could produce no more than one small 
bub of coal. Statutory provision is necessary to ensure that the 
worker, whose wages fall short from causes outside his control, 
shall not be penalised. We recognise the difficulty of making 
provisions of this kind without offering encouragement to the slack or 
incompetent worker, but our conclusion is that statutory distinction 
between the causes of short output is impracticable and that the manage- 
ment is in a position to protect itself against deliberate idling. Our 
recommendation is that every worker on piece-work who goes under- 
ground shall automatically be credited, for purposes of payment, with a 
certain minimum output for every shift of eight hours or more worked. 
Under the present system this minimum output would be expressed in 
tubs. We should leave to an authority well acquainted with local 
conditions, the amount of this guaranteed minimum output and also the 
determination of the area over which the same rate should apply. 
The standard fixed should in no case exceed the normal daily output of a 
man of average skill and industry. Beinganxiousto avoid setting up 
new authorities where existing bodies will serve the purpose, we consider 
that the Mining Boards might be utilised for this purpose over the 
areas which they cover, provided that, whatever the constitution of the 
Boards for other purposes, they contain an equal number of representa- 
tives of employers and workers when sitting to determine standards. It 
will be necessary for these Boards to frame rules to prevent abuse of the 
provision recommended in this paragraph. 
Sir Alexander Murray is unable to accept the recommendation 
contained in this paragraph. He draws a distinction between difficulties 
which are due to hard working places and other causes incidental to 
mining operations in all collieries, and those which are due to temporary 
shortages of tubs. The former difficulties can be provided for, and, so 
far as he is aware, are generally met, by special rates or allowances. As