3. That at all collieries, in case of an accident or breakdown which is not remedied one hour before loose, such coals shall be drawn as may be necessary to prepare the pit for working the next shift, such preparations to mean drawing such a quantity of coal as will enable one empty set (or 45 tubs where endless rope haulage is employed) to be taken to each landing affected by the accident. For the Durham Coal Owners' Association, REGINALD GUTHRIE. For the Durham Miners' Association, JOHN WILSON. JOHN JOHNSON. Three of the concessions on the part of the employers are contained in the following agreement:-- It is hereby agreed between the Durham Coal Owners' Association and the Durham Miners' Association as follows:-- _Hand Putters' Basis Wage._--That the basis wage for hand putters when employed on datal work shall be 3s. 4d. per day. _Stone Putters' Short Shifts._--That stone putters when working with stonemen and shifters shall be allowed the same short shifts as those granted to the men with whom they are working. _Boys' Minimum Wage._--That the minimum basis wage of boys employed at bank shall be one shilling per day. For the Durham Coal Owners' Association, REGINALD GUTHRIE. For the Durham Miners' Association, JOHN WILSON. BROKEN PRICE There was a fourth question which was not put in the agreement because it was so complicated--viz. the fixing of a relative price between the whole and broken prices. The custom at some collieries had been to fix a whole and broken price for the seam, the definite figure being named of, say, 2d. per ton difference. In every case where a future broken started it was at the original price, no matter how much the whole prices might have increased. The effect was that there were men who might be working at 2s. or 2s. 6d. per ton on the Saturday, and through the area of goaf being taken out they would have a reduction of in some cases 1s. and 1s. 4d. per ton on Monday. It was always difficult to get a rectification at Joint Committee, and it was thought best to arrange a uniform or relative price between the whole and broken prices, so that, no matter how the prices in the former might alter, the relative difference would never vary. The arrangement removed a very great anomaly and grievance, it being left to the Joint Committee to decide. SURFACE FIREMEN'S WAGES