ABSTRACT
The year 1892 saw a marked deterioration in trading conditions. The national average pit head price of coal for the year, at 7s. 3d., was 9d. lower than in the previous year and 1s. lower than in 1890.1 Output fell by almost four million tons-from 185,479,126 tons in 1891 to 181,786,871 in 1892, but this was more than accounted for by the six million tons lost in Durham because of a trade dispute. Nottinghamshire produced only slightly less coal than in the previous year-7,159,750 tons in 1892 as against 7,221,047 tons in 1891.2 The Durham miners were locked out for three months, during which time they received no less than £33,385 16s. from the M.F.G.B., but they were finally forced back to work at a 10 per cent drop in wage-rates.3
