| Administrative History | Contribution books were supplied to branches by the Area Office of the Derbyshire Miners' Association (DMA), founded in 1880, and from 1945 the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Derbyshire Area. The books were used to record contributions made by individual members of the union at branches across north-east Derbyshire. Members included miners in various occupations, weekly paid industrial staff (WPIS), canteen staff, and foreign workers. In many instances, the books note when a miner moved collieries, left the industry, retired or died. From 1883 members could pay into a General Fund and and a District Fund. The former was used to pay a weekly allowance to members locked out or on strike (in later volumes this fund is covered by 'Political Contributions'); the latter was used to meet the working expenses of the union. Various benefits were provided by the union out of these funds and others that were introduced in subsequent years. The contribution books document 'out of work' payments, old age pensions and holiday deductions.
The contribution books were the property of the union, and the Area Council or Executive Committee had the power to audit or inspect them at any time. Half-yearly statements in each volume confirm the income and expenditure of a given branch. The statement would be completed by the Branch Secretary and sent with books to the Area Office for audit after the half-year ending in June and December. If not re-elected, a Branch Secretary would pass the books to a successor, and if a branch was closed they would be deposited with the Area Office.
For more information on the DMA and NUM's financial arrangements in the years between 1880 and 1945 see J.E. Williams, The Derbyshire Miners (1962), pp. 237-249 and 583-609. |