"By conciliatory means to prevent disputes and to put an end to any that may arise, and with this view to consider and decide upon _all claims_ that either party may, from time to time, make for a change in county wages or county practices, _and upon any other questions_ not falling within the jurisdiction of the Joint Committee that it may be agreed between the parties to refer to the Board." The following was the voting on the adoption of the old rules:-- For the old Rules Against Majority Miners 258 125 133 Enginemen 125 -- 125 Cokemen 52 3 49 Mechanics 75 -- 75 At the earliest moment after the result of the vote was known a meeting was arranged with the employers. At that meeting the employers wanted to alter the rules in one or two particulars, but the Federation Board informed them that their powers only extended to the adoption of the old rules, and if any alterations were made they would have to be referred to the members for sanction. "It was agreed that the employers should take the statement to a full meeting of their members, and if they persisted in desiring amendments a further meeting should be held, but if not, then the two secretaries should get the rules signed by the Owners' Committee and the Federation Board." The latter alternative was adopted. The old rules were signed as suggested. The first meeting of the Board was held on November 4th. The officers elected were Sir David Dale, Chairman; W. H. Lambton, Vice-Chairman; R. Guthrie and J. Wilson, Secretaries of their respective Associations; and Lord Davey, Umpire. It was further resolved: "That with pays commencing 6th and 13th of November 1899, wages should be advanced by 3¾ per cent., making the wages of underground men, mechanics, enginemen, cokemen, and banksmen to be 33¾ per cent. above the basis of 1879, other classes of surface labour 30¾ per cent. above the basis." THE AGED MINERS' HOMES