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PIT-HEAD BATHS I N June, 1913, a number of workmen from the South Wales coalfield were invited to undertake a tour of inspection through the mining areas of France, Belgium and Germany, in order to study at first hand the operation of the pit-head bath schemes, in vogue at the collieries of these countries. Each member of the party on his return submitted a report, containing an account of the incidents of the tour, a description of the facilities for taking baths and drying clothes offered at the places visited, and a personal opinion as to the adaptability of similar systems in the Welsh coalfield. These reports make very instructive reading, and we intend making public in the pages of The Welsh Outlook the contents of some of them, in the hope that the mass of information they embody will serve to stimulate a greater interest in the matter in Wales. It may be well to note, at the outset, that in all three countries the provision of baths at the pit-head is compulsory, though this legal compulsion does not extend to the miners except in Germany. In spite, however, of its being optional in France and Belgium, in the former country fully 80 per cent of the workman avail themselves of the facilities granted, while in the latter the percentage is considerably higher. One report states that in Belgium only 10 out of 556 in one pit, and one alone out of 600 in another did not take advantage of the baths, while in the last pit visited all with one exception used them." It should also be made clear that the miners contribute nothing towards the upkeep of the baths, except their own soap and towels, but in many cases the owners purchase large quantities of these, selling them later at cost price." The aspects of the scheme, however, which are the main concern of the colliers (and their wives) are the nature of the facilities for bathing, and the provisions made for the drying and safe custody of the clothes. This month we give from the reports such extracts as deal with the first, reserving the remaining two for future treatment. Thus writes one tourist: We visited all the collieries where arrangements had been made for us in France, Belgium and Germany, and on our tour we found that they are not baths in the same way as we understand the meaning of the word, but douches or shower-baths. We also found that there are, at least, two different systems, the cubicle which is used in France and Belgium, and the open system as used in Germany. The system that would suit us in South Wales, undoubtedly is the French system-the cubicle with revolving doors. I do not think that the open system, as used in Germany, would be considered for a moment by the workmen, it is not private enough and they would object to it As for the cubicle system, I think it would be a blessing, if it were adopted by the workmen of the South Wales and, for that matter, any other coalfield. We were amazed, when in the ^dressing room, after the morning shift had bathed, to see the amount of dust and dirt that was left behind, and we must bear in in mind that they are not nearly so black as we are when we come up from the pit. We, therefore, carry home every day dirt which could be very conveniently left on top of the pit, if we were to adopt pit-head baths Summing the whole matter up in short, I am thoroughly convinced that if the cubicle system were adopted it would be a boon to the working classes of South Wales. We would have cleaner and consequently healthier homes, in which to enjoy our leisure hours."