144 January 16, 1914. ________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ton at pithead. This unsound economic condition of the trade induced the coalowners in the Transvaal to co-operate with the object of preventing under- cutting, and notwithstanding the opposition of powerful interests arrayed against them, to some extent they achieved their purpose. In Natal also, as the Government mining engineer tells us in his last report, for years past “ the collieries have been underselling one another in the effort to obtain and maintain a market for their coal,” to the extent even of attenuating the resources necessary to secure the safety of the mines. After several unsuccessful attempts, the owners in 1912 succeeded in forming a combine, but five of the fifteen collieries in Natal remained outside. It is generally conceded that the only really effective means of raising the price of coal would be a combination on the part of the Transvaal and Natal collieries. The following table, extracted from the Govern- ment report, shows the output of coal in 1911 and 1912 : — Output. Province. 1911. Tons (2,0001b.). Transvaal ...... 4,343,680 ............ Cape.............. 89,023 Orange Free State 482,690 Natal __........ 2,679,551 brisk; forward business in gas coal rather dull. Manu- facturing fuel in good demand, and prices have become firmer. In South Yorkshire, steams coals are less brisk. Other classes of fuel in fair demand. Cold snap improves position of house coal in Derbyshire, and market generally remains satisfactory. Export trade, however, fails to show improvement. The market at Cardiff shows only slight improvement, but prospects are brighter. Tonnage scarce and prices slightly depressed. Coke still weak. The Scottish coal trade continues quiet, though immediate improvement is expected. FATAL ACCIDENTS ii SMES. DURING 1913. An advanced proof of the tables of fatal accidents and deaths in and about the mines and quarries of the United Kingdom during the year 1813 has been issued by the Home Office. The tables will eventually appear in Part I. of the General Report with Statistics for 1913. Under the Coal Mines Act.—Under this heading are included mines of coal, stratified ironstone, shale and fireclay, and the accidents include those occurring on private branch railways and tramways, and in washing and coking coal:— in the Union Value per ton. 1912. Tons (2,0001b.) .4,751,850. . 74,701. . 525,459. .2,765,068. s. 4 11 . 5 . 5 1911. d. s. 8 39...4 6 98..11 8’42...5 4’98...5 1912. d. 4-78 0’55 4’57 6 99 ________ ______ ______________ Total ...... 7,594,944 ...8,117,078... — ... — The only reason for the higher price in the Cape is the absence of competition. No less than 76 per cent, of the Transvaal output in 1912 came from the Middelburg area, whilst 84 per cent, of the Natal production was raised in the Klip River country, extending north-west and south-west of the town of Dundee. Assisted by the stress of competition, efforts have been made in recent years to cultivate an export trade, and it may be remembered that last year much anxiety was created amongst the Bengal collieries when the Indian railways purchased considerable quantities of South African coal; more recently Natal coal has found its way as far afield as New Zealand, but so far, at least, as the Transvaal is concerned, the natural market is on the goldfields, and, as showing how the whirligig of time brings its mitigations, a notable outlet for the slack coal, which was formerly a drug upon the market, has been found at the power supply stations. In 1912 the gold- mines in the Transvaal consumed 2,148,112 tons of steam coal and 28,354 tons of smithy coal. The action of the Government is a striking commentary on the statement made by the Depart- ment of Mines, in its contribution to the Coal Resources of the World, that “ the location of new coal- fields or the precise delineation of those already|known, is a matter that has little immediate interest either for the private individual, the general public, or the State.” South Africa has found that even this “ Cinderella ” of the coalfields is of some account, and it may be urged that econornic conditions such as those that have hampered the coal trade of the Transvaal and Natal are matters of paramount interest both to the general public and the State. Incidentally, this South African precedent is one to be remembered should similar circumstances arise in this country. _______________________ ■ THE ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN. A joint meeting of the Parliamentary Committee and the Coal Mines Act Special Committee was held at the Whitehall Hoorns, on Tuesday last, January 13, when there were present Messrs. Arthur F. Pease (president) in the chair, W. C. Blackett and Reginald Guthrie (North of England); F. J. Jones, W. H. Chambers, R. Richardson, E. B. Whalley, F. Parker Rhodes, J. H. Cockburn, 0. B. Crawshaw, J, Francis Warrington, Joseph Warrington, and Roslyn Holiday (Yorkshire) ; J. W. Fryar, J. T. Todd, George J. Binns, and Ernest E. Bramall (Midland Counties); W. G. Phillips, and H. Mitcheson (Warwickshire); Col. A. H. Heath, Col. R. S. Williamson, and J. Selby Gardner (Cannock Chase); Sir W. Scott Barrett, D.L., W. H. Hewlett, Capt. Henry V. Hart Davis, and Tom Stone (Lancashire); Evan Williams, Joseph Shaw, K.C., W. Stewart, and T. H. Deakin (South Wales) ; W. Russell, C.B., J. T. Forgie, William McLintock, Charles H. Moss, and Robert Baird (Scotland) ; and Thomas R. Ratcliffe-Ellis (law clerk and secretary). Letters of apology were announced as having been received from several members who were unable to be present. On the motion of the President, the following resolution was unanimously passed:— That this joint meeting of the Parliamentary and the Coal Mines Act (Special) committees of the Mining Association of Great Britain, assembled at the Whitehall Rooms, London, on Tuesday, the 13th January, 1914, desire to convey their sincere congratulations to Sir William Edward Garforth, LL.D, on the honour of knighthood recently conferred upon him by his Majesty the King, and to express the hope that Sir William may be spared for many happy years to enjoy the distinction. The following were the principal matters which were discussed :—Rescue and Aid—Proposed Regulations as to Breathing Apparatus (referred back to a special com- mittee)—Letter from the Lord Mayor of London, re Colliery Relief Funds—Explosives in Mines Order- Minimum Wage Act (recent decisions)—Income Tax on Wagons—Railway Rates, Increases—Private Bills, 1914 —Law Clerk’s Report, etc. Committee meetings were afterwards held to further consider (1) the Income Tax question; and (2) the proposed regulations as to breathing apparatus. ______________________________________ TBE ML TIME Thursday, January 15. eg g O 'c3 O 02 ,O Q L Qi H 0 Separate fatal accidents— Scotland .... ............ 4... 67...24... 52... 32... 179... 162 Northern .......... —... 99...10... 58... 35... 202... 212 York &N. Midland 2...149...11... 62... 36... 260... 225 Manchester & Ireland— N. and E. Lancs. —... 18... 3... 20... 8... 49... 51 Ireland........ —... —...—... —... —... — ... — Liverpool&N.Wales—... 47... 3... 24... 6... 80... 87 South Wales...... 5...146...13...118... 35... 317... 293 Midland & Southern 1... 65... 9... 30... 18... 123... 121 Total in 1913 ... 12...591...73...364...170...1,210...1,151 Total in 1912 ... 20...553...69...335...174...1,151... — Deaths— Scotland .............. 7... 69...26... 73... 32... 207... 171 Northern ........ —...101...10... 59... 36... 206... 214 York and North Midland ...... 3...154...27... 71... 36... 291... 318 Manchester & Ireland— N. and E. Lancs. —... 19... 3... 21... 8... 51... 52 Ireland ........ —... —...—... —... —... — ... — Liverpool&N.Wales—... 47... 3... 24... 6... 80... 93 South Wales......450...157...13...122... 35... 777... 306 Mid. and Southern 1... 67...14... 30... 18... 130... 122 ....................... Total in 1913 ...461...614...96...400...171...1,742...1.276 Total in 1912 ...124...567...71...339...175...1,276... — Of the deaths from fall of ground, 401 occurred at the working face, 135 on roads while repairing or enlarging, 74 on roads while otherwise working or passing, and four in shafts. Of the deaths from shaft accidents, 16 were due to overwinding, two to ropes or chains breaking, 14 whilst descending or ascending by machinery, eight by falling into shaft from surface, 20 by falling from part way down, six by things falling into shaft from surface, and eight by things falling from part way down, whilst 22 where of miscellaneous origin. The deaths from miscellaneous causes below ground may be divided as follows :—By explosives, 30 ; suffoca- tion by natural gas, 8 ; underground fires, 22 ; irruptions of water, 9 ; haulage, 212 (8 by ropes or chains breaking, 176 by being run over or crushed by trams or tubs); electricity, 13 ; machinery, 15 ; sundries, 55. Of the deaths on the surface, 28 were caused by machinery, 82 by accidents on railway sidings and tramways, 3 by electricity, and 58 from miscellaneous causes, there being again no death due to boiler explosions. ___________________________ Trade Summary. ' The London coal trade was exceptionally busy during the past week. Orders from the general public have been plentiful, and the continuance of the cold weather has greatly stimulated the consumption of all qualities of house- hold fuel. Heavy delays have been experienced by the vessels arriving in the. Thames, on account of the gales along the coast. Durham coals are all sold under contract, only Yorkshire offering at 6d. advance. Public prices advanced Is. per ton on stove coal, 6d. per ton on all other qualities, nothing on best—from Thursday last. All King's Cross and St. Pancras depots idle on Monday and Tuesday on account of strike amongst the loaders. At Newcastle, the prompt coal market is more active. Forward demand in Durham market is slightly easier; most descriptions more freely. Lancashire house coal trade is brisk, and supplies fail to meet demand. Activity exhibited in steam coals, though supplies also restricted. Furnace coals still easy, but bunkers show improvement. The demand for house coal in West Yorkshire continues Dublin, The coal trade continues active in most branches in the city, and the supply is well maintained by the regular arrival and discharge of steam colliers daily at the quays* The merchants' own men have not yet returned to work, but deliveries are effected with very little difficulty by free labourers both by motor lorry and ordinary carting. There is no change in prices, which stand as follow :—Orrell coal, 80s. per ton ; household, 28s.; Orrell slack, 24s.; steam coals about from 25s. per ton ; best coke, 26s. per ton delivered; house coal, retail, 2s. per sack. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 50 as compared with 55 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Newport, White- haven, Ayr, Preston, Cardiff, Point of Aire, Liverpool, Swansea, Maryport, Llanelly, Saundersfoot, and Troon. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 21,000 tons. An important contract is open in connection with the Port and Docks Board for the usual 12 months' supply. BalfagL Demand for household coal has improved considerably since the month opened, and a fair amount of business is current in other classes, prices all being firm and unchanged. Curtailed supplies from Scottish ports have reduced stocks to a certain extent, and some qualities of English coal are none too plentiful. Quotations in the city are:—Best Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton ; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d. Current rates for steam coals ex-quay:—Scotch, 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per ton; Navigation steam, 17s. to 18s. per ton; Welsh steam coal, 18s.6d. to 20s. per ton delivered. From December 14 to 31 the total number of steam colliers entering the harbour was 148. Cargoes arriving during the past week were chiefly from Ayr, Ardrossan, Birkenhead, Manchester, Girvan, Troon, Whitehaven, Swansea, Maryport, Partington, Newport, Irvine, Garston, Sharpness and Llanelly. __________________________ LM0TC WAGES, North of Englands A meeting of the Newbiggin miners was held on Saturday night to consider the position which has arisen by the action of the colliery company in summoning 98 workmen for alleged breach of contract on December 23, when the men returned home in connection with some trouble ovei’ the non-union question. The company claims 5s. damages from each man. A deputation of the men met the management on Monday, and agreed to pay the 5s. damages. The summonses were accordingly withdrawn. A meeting between the representatives of the Cleve? land ironstone mineowners and the Cleveland Miners’ Association was held at Middlesbrough this week to. discuss the question of the wages to be paid to the miners, during the ensuing three months. Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., who presided, pointed out that under the ascertainment for the past three months, the owners were entitled to. ask for a reduction of 3’65 per cent. The employers regretted that the immediate trade outlook was rather gloomy. It was understood that the owners’ claim would be put before the men, and a further meeting was arranged to he held on the 26th inst. The annual meeting of the Cleveland Ironstone Mine- owners was held at Middlesbrough this week, when Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., was re-elected president, and Messrs. A. F. Pease and W. W. Storr vice-presidents. A further meeting has been arranged between repre- sentatives of the Northumberland Miners’ Association and the coalowners of the county, for the discussion of the surfacemen’s demand for an increase of wages. This meeting will take place on Saturday, the 24th inst., at the Coal Trade Offices, Newcastle. In Northumberland there are about 10,000 surface workers, and they work, it is said, 10 and 11 hours a day for rates of pay ranging from 2s. 9d. to 3s. 3d, per day, plus the percentage on the basis rate