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