February 14, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

347

NOTES FROM SOUTH WALES.

Ffrom OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.-!

Change of the Wage Rate, &c.—Unreasonable
Demands Injurious to the Men Themselves—Two
Million Tons Increased Shipping Power at Barry—
Result of Miners’ Ballot: Extremists Defeated —
Numerical Weakness of the Federation—Destructive
Influence of Strikes Policy—Important Develop-
ments in the Anthracite Field—Huge Cargoes of
Coal—New Seam Struck.

The Conciliation Board met on Monday to deal with
the question of the wage rate, both sides having given
notice for variation. Mr. F. L. Davis presided on the
owners’ side and Mr. W. Brace, M.P., on the men’s.
The owners’ application was for a reduction of II per
cent., whilst the men sought an increase of 24 per cent.
It was argued on behalf of the former that the audit of
the employers’ books showed prices to have been lower
on the whole, and that therefore a reduction was
justified; but the workmen’s representatives contended
that the state of trade was so unsatisfactory, and the
prospects so good, that no reduction ought to be made;
that, on the contrary, the increase sought by them
should be conceded. The Governmental returns were
stated to have shown that the average price of coal
during three months had been only a fraction below 16s.
per ton. The owners, however, pointed to the heavy
addition to working costs which recent legislation
entailed, the latest being the new regulations by the
Home Office. It was from the outset clearly manifest
that the parties had no prospect of agreeing, and
consequently the meeting was adjourned till next
Monday, when the independent chairman (Lord St.
Aldwyn) will be called in to give a decision.

This little discussion at the Conciliation Board has
direct bearing upon a very interesting controversy now
current as to the return which capital and labour
respectively obtain from the coalmining industry. New
demands indicated by the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain give effective point to the considerations
adduced. Whilst on the one hand there has been a
steady and large advance in the remuneration of labour
during the past few years, this fact, and the very heavy
burdens placed upon the industry by successive enact-
ments, with the prospect that still heavier burdens are
likely to be imposed, make the investment of capital
more risky, and therefore more restricted. What, in
these circumstances, is the effect upon the demand for
labour likely to be ? That is the crucial question.

Mining being recognised as a peculiarly risky
enterprise, will capital be attracted unless there still be
some reasonable probability of good returns ? An
average of 5 per cent, is not sufficient to attract and
retain capital, and the special risks of new developments
—whether in foreign coal competition, greater economy
in combustion leading to reduced demand, the adoption
of oil fuel and its congeners (to name only a few)—are a
perpetually deterring force, making it highly injudicious
for labour leaders to create and foster hopes which
cannot be realised, the mere discussion of which have
an inevitable effect of discouraging investment, and
consequently of limiting the demand for labour.

The increase in shipping power at Barry Dock was
authoritatively announced at the shareholders’ meeting,
held on Friday, when for the first time a statement was
made showing what would be the power of the six new
tips which the company are erecting on the island side
of No. 1 dock. Taking only the average realised in
operating the present tips, and without making any
allowance for improvements both in construction and
in working, it was estimated that the total addition to
the shipping facilities would be approximately two
millions of tons per annum. The cost will be about
£150,000; and the whole of the work will be completed
within eighteen months.

Seeing that a moderate estimate of the added
production of the coalfield puts the enlargement of
output at between four and five millions of tons, the
additional tips will not be ready at all too soon for
meeting the requirements of shippers. One point to
which particular reference has been made in subsequent
discussion has been the need of preserving these new
tips from allocation. Favoured shippers at present
have an advantage in shipments, in some cases having
practical control of certain tips ; and it is desired that
at Barry, in reference to this new provision, there
shall be greater freedom for the smaller shippers.

The final figures of the miners’ ballot show that
out of a total vote of 64,292, there is a majority of
over 19,000 against the proposal to change the organisa-
tion of the South Wales Federation. The actual

figures were — against the scheme, 41,691 ; for the
scheme, 22,601 ; and inasmuch as the anthracite
district seceded (and therefore abstained from voting)
rather than approve of the new idea, 13,000 more must
be added to the adverse majority. The curious
circumstance connected with the present vote is that
little more than 64,000 voted out of a membership of
considerably over 100,000; and the extent of the
indifference is manifested by the fact that in the
previous ballot, during September last, no fewer than
85,306 took part. Whereas on that occasion there was a
majority of 10,340 in favour of the scheme, a few months’
consideration has transformed this into an antagonistic
majority of 19.000, plus the 13,000 of the anthracite
district. In the voting last September the anthracite
men took part, leaving 72,000 as voters in the other parts of
the coalfield, so that the present roll is nearly 8,000 less,
and the decision is directly contrary to an overwhelming
extent. Taken by districts, out of the 19 only two had
a majority in favour of the scheme, all the others casting
their total against it.

This ultimate decision has directly opened the
question of changes in the Federation, not only its
organisation, but also in its procedure, making it quite
clear that quiet consideration and explanation are the
strongest forces against a drastic change. The proposal
to reduce the salaries of miners’ agents put those gentle-
men on the qui vive to an extent which, under other
circumstances, might not have been realised ; but, apart
from this, it is undoubtedly the inherent weakness of
the scheme itself which has destroyed it. The idea was
Syndicalist, mooted by extremists who had not had
lengthy experience in the trade or in industrial negotia-
tions. The present check is effective and the discussion
which has gone on has been distinctly educative.

Also, the present prosperity of the coal trade has
had much influence, most of the men being content with
their circumstances; and then, again, there has been
clear recognition that conflict is injurious to their own
interests. The funds of the Federation were practically
exhausted by the national strike and the long continued
stoppage of the Cambrian collieries ; and it was clearly
seen that the proposal to centralise the affairs, leaving
the executive to deal with all disputes throughout the
coalfield (instead of having them, as at present, settled
by local negotiation) entailed risk of perpetual stoppages
and further heavy losses to the workman.

Now that the scheme has been rejected, it is being
realised that several thousands of pounds have been
wasted in what was demonstrably from the very first an
impracticable idea. No difficulty at all was experienced
in making plain to the miners that the proposal could
never be put into operation except at the loss of all the
effective power of the Federation so far as regards
settlement of disputes and the arrangement of reason-
able conditions of labour with regularity of employment.
The original scheme was greatly changed in committee
last September; then came the voting, which gave the
majority of over 10,000 in favour; next was the secession
of the anthracite men, who resented the abolition of
districts and would not submit to have their distinctive
interests dependent upon the opinions of a central
executive, the majority of whom knew nothing about
the circumstances of the anthracite field, and now, after
months of discussion, the whole proposal has been
decisively thrown aside.

As one result of the rejection a more active policy
on the old lines of the Federation is foreshadowed. At
present it is probable that not a half of the employees
in the coalfield are in the union, for the total engaged
in the industry may be taken at 230,000, whilst the
Federation is said to have only from 105,000 to 110,000.
But the exact figure cannot be obtained, because the
number out of compliance includes many who are,
nevertheless, still willing to retain their connection.
The highest point of the Federation membership was in
1908, when the returns showed over 140,000 out of a
total of 200,000 employed; and the fact that the increase
of number employed coincides with so heavy a decrease
in membership is directly attributable to the strikes, and
to the Syndicalist proposals, of which the centralisation
scheme is one feature. Now that this is disposed of
and there is likely to be a return to more moderate
counsels and ways, the strength of the Federation will,
it is expected, be augmented, though it may be some
time before its old proportion of influence will be
regained.

A movement is on foot, now that the centralisa-
tion scheme is generally disapproved, to bring the
anthracite men once again into direct connection with

the Federation, their secession having been occasioned
by that proposal. A resolution has been passed by the
Gwaun-cae-gurwen men requesting the district meeting
to reconsider the position.

Penarth Dock, which is owned by the Taff Vale
Railway Company, had last year a total of coal ship-
ments which is returned at 4,179,506 tons.

The stoppages at Gwaun-cae-gurwen and at the
Tumble owing to the non-unionist question are now at
an end, the men haying returned to work last week.

Progress at Port Talbot is still manifest, it being
now reported that another project for patent fuel works
is on foot, and that particulars will shortly be made
public. The idea is the construction of works near the
docks.

Five hundred colliers employed at the New
Duffryn pit of the Rhymney Company tendered 24
hours’ notice on Saturday, and were idle for one day,
because of a grievance concerning the price list.
Nearly 600 men have been idle at the Cynon Colliery,
Pontrhydyfen, owing to a difficulty with a comparatively
small number of hauliers.

Considerable developments are reported to be in
contemplation at Tareni Colliery in the Swansea
Valley, it having been decided to work a deeper seam,
to erect new washeries and screens, and ultimately to
raise the output from 850 tons to nearly 2,000 tons per
day. The Triglion seam has been proved, and this
very fine anthracite coal will be mined by several
hundreds of men in addition to the present employees.

Other developments in the anthracite area include
the new East pit at Gwaun-cae-gurwen, which is already
300 yards deep, and has passed two good seams.

On the occasion of distributing certificates to
colliery officials at Pontypridd last Saturday, Aiderman
Fleming said the Glamorgan Council was the first and
only authority which had been granted permission to
issue duplicate certificates in connection with those
examinations. A new series of classes would shortly
be started to prepare students for the Home Office
examinations, and so enable the working man to obtain
the highest positions in the mining profession.

A notable feature of recent coal shipments in South
Wales ports has been the very large size of some of the
vessels. At Barry, the s.s. “Knight Errant” loaded
10,000 tons to the order of Messrs. Worms and Co. for
Port Said; and another vessel for Genoa is taking an
equal quantity. It is significant of the steady increase
in size of steamers that whilst the number of vessels
entering Cardiff Docks last year was 682 fewer than in
the previous year, there was an increase of total tonnage
to the amount of nearly 150,000 tons register.

The Mynyddislwyn seam has been struck, 6 ft.
thick, at Nelson, by the Wem Ganol Colliery Company
upon a level of 350 yards ; and it is intended to open
out the workings, thus affording employment for a large
number of men.

OBITUARY.

The death has taken place of Major A. B. Jones, J.P.,
V.D., at his residence at Basford, Stoke-on-Trent. Major
Jones was one of the best-known men in the business and
public life of Hanley and North Staffordshire. As a youth
he joined the staff of the Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal
Company, and for many years he was the exchange repre-
sentative of the company, and regularly attended the
exchanges at Birmingham, Cardiff and Liverpool. More
recently he became the general manager of the steel section
of Knutton Forges.

The death occurred suddenly last week-end of Mr. Walter
Topping, one time colliery manager for Messrs. Cross,
Tetley and Co. Limited, Bamfurlong, but who for some
years had been retired. Deceased was 74 years of age.

Grimsby Coal Exports.—Grimsby exported coal to the
extent of 21,747 tons to foreign ports, and 932 tons to home
ports during the week ended February 6, the official
returns showing the shipments as follow : — Foreign :
Aarhus, 1,327 tons ; Ahus, 1,100 ; Antwerp, 700; Barcelona,
1,302 ; Copenhagen, 1,855 ; Dieppe 1.080 ; Drammen, 2,122;
Esbjerg, 529 ; Frederickstad, 1,245 ; Hal ms tad, 975 ; Ham-
burg, 1,448 ; Kallundborg, 1,387 ; Landscrona, 1,008;
Malmo, 3,182 ; Reykjavik, 1,187 ; Rotterdam, 761 ; and
Valloe, 536. Coastal: To London, 106 tons ; Milford Haven,
500 ; Newlyn, 300 ; and South wold, 26 tons.