Can any list members help me with the following queries please;
1) Can anyone provide me with a brief outline of the "contract system" (not to be confused with the Butty System) of coal mining as used by the NCB and/or just prior to nationalisation of the coal industry in 1947. Also when and where was the "Contract System" first introduced?
2) I get the impression that in many early British collieries (say pre 1800s) that the miners were employed on fixed daily rates based on the production of a set number of corves (i.e. such as under the "darg" or "bond" systems) and that it wasn't until after the industrial revolution had really started to kick-in that there was a general push by the mine owners to put the miners onto unlimited piece work with no daily caps to their earnings or production quotas. I appreciate that it is difficult to generalise as most UK coalfields operated differently but would list members agree with my general understanding on this matter?
Regards
Mark Smith
Visit the UK's National Mining Memorabilia Association's Web site at;
http://www.mining-memorabilia.co.uk/index.htm
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