1398

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

June 27, 1913.

end the Referee upheld the Home Office rule,1
but with considerable diffidence. He suggested
that application for special exemption should be
made where necessary.

Winding and Haulage Appliances.

In Rule 72 it was agreed to limit the
annealing of cage chains to those in general use.

A highly technical discussion took place on
the question of capping. The owners urged
that the strength of the capping should bear a
ratio to the maximum load, and not to the
strength of the winding rope, and this point was
gained, a safety factor of seven being fixed by
the Referee.

As regards haulage ropes, the parties decided
to arrive at a suitable formula corresponding to
the maximum inclination of the roadway.

The merits of ring and rivet couplings on
round haulage ropes were discussed at length
when Rule 75 was reached, and the Referee
ultimately decided to allow rivets to be used
where such ropes are not employed for the
conveyance of men.

Double Intakes.

It is safe to say that the provision requiring
two main intake airways in new mines is
typically one in which the Act threatens to
place a burden on colliery enterprise. Regula-
tion 79 details a number of exceptions to the
requirement, and efforts have been made to
extend these.

In the first place the exemption in regard
to mines liable to spontaneous combustion was
taken, the question being the elimination of one
word “ greatly ”—the owners contending that
any mines thus subject, where the provision
of two intakes increases the risk of fire at all,
should be exempted. In this they succeeded.

The second case was the one in which the cost
of maintaining the airways might be so great as
to prevent the mine being worked at a profit.
The owners wished to place the cost of
“ making ” in the same category and to be able
to claim the exemption in all cases where the
cost was “ excessive.” The learned Referee had
some interesting remarks to make on this point
In the first place, he decided that “ profit ” was
a sequence of the “natural condition of the
seam ” thus bringing the case within the juris-
diction of the Act, contrary to the view
expressed by the miners; secondly, he regarded
“excessive” as meaning the same thing as
unprofitable. The first addition he allowed,
although, as he inferred, it must be clearly a
matter of estimate.

It was also decided to exempt the Scottish
shalemines. An application from the Bristol
coalowners on the ground of the cost of making
cross-measure drifts was dismissed, it being
pointed out that the case was largely covered
by the previous amendment.

Power to Alter the Act.

At this point the application of the owners to
repeal section 42, subsection (3) of the Act was
reached. This, of course, is the section which
governs the construction of stoppings and air-
crossings, which many mining engineers regard
as an exceedingly dangerous provision. Prior
to the consideration of this case on its merits,
the question arose not only as to whether the.
Referee had power to take action, but also
whether the Home Secretary himself, in the
terms of section 86, could act. It was pointed
out that that section gives him power to vary or
amend, but not to repeal or revoke any of the
provisions in Part II. of the Act. The counsel
for the Home Office raised the further point that
this amendment was not an “objection” in the
technical sense as provided in the Act. In effect,

the owners asked for an expression of opinion
from his lordship, which, if acted upon, would
amount to a variation or amendment.

Eventually his lordship decided to hear
evidence in regard to section 42, in the course of
which the fact emerged that the question of
amending it was actually discussed in the House

of Commons on the Committee stage and referred
to a conference, at which, however, the coal-
owners claimed, they had no opportunity of
expressing their views.

It was pointed out that, according to the
Second Schedule, the Secretary of State
must either incorporate in his Order the recom-
mendations of the Referee or drop the Order,
rendering both the Order and the reference
abortive. In this case, his lordship said he was
not going to decide the point as to whether he
had power to recommend the “repeal” of a
section, but he decided that, even if he had that
power, he felt he ought not to make a recom-
mendation which might have the effect of
nullifying the plain provisions of the statute.

As to the Regulation No. 81, which deals with
the construction of these stoppings, his lordship
said it appeared to him to put a considerable
burden upon the mineowners, but he had no
means of satisfying himself whether the require-
ments are too stringent or not. A further
conference between the parties is to be held.
The matter, it may be said, is one not so much
of expense as of safety, which the owners
contend would be prejudiced if the Home Office
method were followed.

The Signalling Code.

This decision also affects, of course, the pro-
vision as to a signalling code, to which the
owners are likewise totally opposed. This was
reached on Rule 82. In this case, however, the
drastic change which has come over the views of
the enginewinders was adduced as a factor of
considerable weight. Here, again, the Referee
declined to alter the Act, and it was decided that
the code itself should also be the subject of a
conference.

It is noteworthy that the Chief Inspector in
the course of the enquiry admitted that there
was an element of danger in the transition
stage; this, of course, is the main objection of
the owners and enginewinders.

With regard to the provision of telephonic
communication in Rule 91, Lord Mersey allowed
the objection of the Mining Association to the
effect that no telephones shall be used until the
distance of the main haulage from the shaft
exceeds 1,000 yards.

Sanitary Conveniences.

WTith regard to Rule 103, the Referee refused
to insert the distances within which sanitary
conveniences must be placed below ground.

The Length of the Enquiry.

Yesterday (Thursday) Regulation 117 was
reached, so that it will be seen that it is not
improbable that the end will be arrived at
to-day ; that is, of course, leaving out the nego-
tiations in regard to the construction of stop-
pings and the drafting of a suitable general
code of signals. The enquiry has been of
the greatest moment and affords abundant
food for comment. Lord Mersey’s piquant
observations made from time to time on
the Act and these Regulations, which are
its cherished offspring, have attracted general
attention, and it may be said that the enquiry
has disclosed in unmistakable fashion the
defects of the present system of arbitration.
There has been an obvious disposition on the
part of all the authorities concerned to shelve
their responsibility where possible, and it is not

surprising that it has not always been an easy
matter to find anyone willing or able to assume
it. This and other features of the enquiry we
must leave to a future issue.

Trade Summary.

The London coal trade for the past week has been
exceedingly slow. Buying has been on a very limited scale,
and those factors who have fairly heavy commitments on
hand find it very difficult to keep stocks from accumulating./
Loaded wagons are becoming a serious matter, and already
many are on siding rent. All the large centres are
becoming congested, and trade in all directions is very
slow. The manufacturing market is slightly better than
the house coal market. All the depots are quiet. Contract
renewals are in abeyance. The shipping trade is fairly
firm. Coke is over plentiful.

The prompt market at Newcastle continues dull, and
there is an increasing glut of tonnage. Quotations, however,
are rather better.

The Durham coal trade is easy in all branches.

The Lancashire house coal trade continues quiet, and
steam coal remains easier. Slack is in fair demand.

Business in West Yorkshire is very quiet, being restricted
to enquiries for steam and manufacturing sorts.

In South Yorkshire there is an easier feeling, both as
regards house coal and the export trade in hards. Manufac-
turing coals are fairly steady. Coke continues quiet, and
prices are weak.

In Derbyshire the demand for house coal is fairly steady .
considering the time of the year, and fuel for manufacturing
purposes is going into circulation with fair regularity.

At Cardiff there is considerable difference on the subject
of prices, but sellers are still optimistic. The small coal
market is in a depressed condition. Monmouthshire coals
are easier, and bituminous sorts are a trifle lower. Patent
fuel makers are well booked.

Scottish shipments have declined, and the demand all
round has eased off.

THE TIH-PLATE TRADE
Liverpool.

The trade is in a depressed state just now. The output
is a long way ahead of the demand, with the result that
stocks are being disposed of at exceedingly low figures.
Further, many works are short of orders, and are cutting
prices to try and tempt buyers. The outlook at present is
anything but bright. Quotations for shipment over the
second half of the year may be called:—Coke tins: I C
14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 13s. 9d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh.
216 lb.), 27s. 6d. to 27s. 9d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (56 sh.
1081b), 14s. l|d. to 14s. 3d. per box; I C 14 x 18| (124 sh.
1101b.), 14s. to 14s. 3d. per box; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh.
110 lb.), 14s. to 14s. 3d. per box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh.
156 lb.), 20s. to 20s. 6d. per box; I C squares and odd
sizes, 14s. to 14s. 3d. basis for approved specifications.
Charcoals are easy at 16s. basis and upwards, according
to tinning. Coke wasters are in moderate request. Quota-
tions run:—C W 14 x 20, 12s. 10|d. to 13s. per box;.
C W 28 x 20, 26s. 3d. to 26s. 6d. per box; C W 20 x 10,
16s. 9d. to 17s. per box; C W 14 x 18|, 12s. 3d. per box—all
f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent.

THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE.

Tar Products.—There is a general tone of quietude pre-
vailing, and in most cases prices favour buyers. Pitch,
naphthas and carbolics are all easier. Benzols, however,
keep very steady. Nearest values are:—

Benzols, 90’s .................................. 1/1

Do. 50’s .................................. /10	to /10i .

Do. 90*s North.............................. l/0|

Do. 50’s North.............................   /IO

Toluol.......................................... /Il

Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ......... 1/31 to 1/4

Do. crystals (40 per cent.)................... /4f

Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package) ...	/9|

Crude ditto (in bulk) .......................... /4|

Creosote (for ordinary qualities) .............. /2|

Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ................... 41 /6 to 42/

Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ..................... 40/6	to 41/6

Do. (f.o.b. gas companies) .................... —

[BensoZs, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha; carbolic acids,
usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails ai
makers’ works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch
f.o.b. net.]

Sulphate of Ammonia.—Things are very quiet and prices
lower in several quarters, though they are more or less
nominal. Nitrate of soda also is much easier. Forward'
business is quite at a standstill, and is likely to remain so
for a while. Closing prompt prices are:—

London (ordinary makes).................. .£12/5

Beckton (certain terms) ............. —

Liverpool................................. JH2/17/6

Hull ..................................... £12/16/3

Middlesbrough ............................ £12/15/0

Scotch ports............................ £13	to £13/2/6

Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ...	10/7i

[Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, dis-
count; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance
for refraction, nothing for excess.]

Mr. David Waldie, Edinburgh, coal merchant, of Messrs.
James Waldie and Sons, and largely interested in the Fife
Coal Company Limited, the Shotts Iron Company Limited,,
left, in addition to real estate and property abroad, personal \
estate in the United Kingdom, valued at .6183,392.