TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 651 



Wharfedale contributed enormously in the middle of last century from some 

 twelve or fifteen mines, of which Grassington Moor mine was by far the most 

 important. They were closed some thirty years ago. 



Of Airedale but little need be written, for, with the exception of the great 

 Cononley Mine, there were only a few lessor trials. 



In the last area, that of Ribblesdale, three mines were worked, namely, at 

 Rimmington, Skelhorn, and two in the BoUand district near Slaidburn. 



Skelhorn Mine was worked centuries ago, and was rich in silver, like many 

 of the Yorkshire mines. 



So far as can be ascertained there are possibilities for future enterprise in 

 nearly all the areas mentioned, but prospectors will do well to observe the 

 causes which led to the close of the various workings before. Briefly they are 

 as follows : — 



(«) The continued low price of lead, largely influenced by Spanish importa- 

 tion. 



(6) The spirit of mine speculation in the worst sense of the term, whereby the 

 mines were bought up and floated for the sake of immediate gains from their 

 flotation. 



(c) The system of remuneration of the miners themselves having been 

 changed from the ' bing system ' to the ' fathom system.' 



(d) The fact that landlords in many districts purposely put difficulties in the 

 way of miners on account of the value of their lands for grouse-rearing, and 

 because of the pollution of their rivers owing to the lead-washing. 



TUESDAY, AUGUST!. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. The Unemjiloyed. By C. J. Hamilton, B.A. 



The author attempted an analysis of the industrial and social character of the 

 unemployed, based upon the returns to certain distress committees under the 

 Unemployed AVorkraen's Act. Taking typical districts it is possible to obtain 

 i'airly exact statistics of age, wage, and trade distribution. These prove the 

 following facts : — 



(rt) That 8G per cent, of the applicants are ' unskilled.' 



(6) That 56 ,, „ „ are ' casual ' labourers. 



(c) That 37 „ „ „ owe their position to one or more of 



the following causes — age, inefli- 

 ciency, or bad character. 



(d) That 22 „ „ ,, are of good character, possessing good 



industrial records. 



(e) That 41 „ „ „ are of indifferent efficiency, and have 



only an indiflferent record. 



if) That 16 „ „ „ are or have been members of a recog- 



nised trade-union. 



(g) That 14 „ „ „ are or have been members of a friendly 



society or slate club. 



The paper then briefly compared the following chief causes of sufl^eriug from 

 unemployment in order to indicate the relative importance of remedial measures : — 



(1) Long-period fluctuations in the volume of industry. 



(2) Imperfect organisation of the labour market in respect of certain trades- — 

 e.g., the docks, building, &c. 



(3) Imperfect organisation of thrift. 



(4) Insufficient provision for the training of .skilled labour, 



