THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

AND JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Vol. CVII.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1914.

No. 2770.

The South Wales and Monmouth^
shire School of Mines. . .

On Saturday, the 24th inst., Lord Mkrthyb of
Senghenydd formally opened the School of Mining at
Treforest, which has been founded by the coalowners
of South Wales and Monmouthshire to meet the
educational needs of this important coalfield.

In one sense the new school is self-centred, being
under the sole control of the colliery proprietors, by
whom it is supported and maintained. On the other
hand, it forms an integral part of a very much larger
scheme, perhaps more nearly akin to the Continental
system than any other to be found in this country. Foi-

OPENING

AT

TREFOREST.

desire to bring about improved education and instruc-
tion in mining and its allied sciences in the South
Wales district, were compelled to look about for other
means.

As a result a number of the principal coalowners in
the district banded themselves together and formed the
Mining Board (South Wales and Monmouthshire Coal-
field) for the purpose of establishing a school or schools
of mines in South Wales and Monmouthshire ; the
new school at Treforest is the first instalment of their
scheme and will, without doubt, form their central

for the purposes of the Coal Mines Act, is discontinued,
and in lieu thereof a joint diploma course will be given
jointly by both institutions, the general division being
that the University College at Cardiff gives that part
of the joint instruction which comprises pure science,
while the School of Mines will give that part which
treats with the technical application of that science to
coalmining. The students taking the joint diploma
course are recognised as students of the School of
Mines and will be entered by the School of Mines for that
part of the course which will be taken at the University
College, and the School of Mines will stand in loco
parentis to the students during the whole period of
their- instruction. The joint authorities will award cer-
tificates to mine surveyors, and the Home Secretary has
consented to recognise both these and the joint diploma
for the purposes of the Coal Mines Act.

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Fig. 1.—General View of the

School of Mines, Treforest.







2. Mining Laboratory.	Fig. 3-—Corner of Mechanical Workshop.

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this purpose it is to serve as the connecting link between
the secondary schools and the University College at
Cardiff. It is necessary to explain that a few years
ago negotiations took place between representatives of
the University College of South Wales and Monmouth-
shire and the coalowners with a view to the establish-
ment of a mining school at Cardiff in connection with
the University College, but at the expense and under
the control of the coalowners.

Notwithstanding the desire on both sides to carry
through that scheme, it was found that the limita-
tions of the college charter did not permit the proposed
arrangements to be given effect to in the form then con-
templated, and the coalowners, still actuated by their

institution. Other schools, at Crumlin (Monmouth-
shire) and Swansea (in the western district), however,
are already projected.

It was felt to be desirable that the close allegiance
with the University College should still be maintained,
but that an essential condition to any mutual arrangement
was to obviate overlapping in instruction. Therefore, a
joint working scheme has been arranged for the purpose
of the award of a mining diploma. The general effect
of this scheme is as follows:—The three years diploma
course in mining, which has heretofore been carried out
by the University College at Cardiff solely in respect of
which the University College have awarded a separate
diploma, which has been recognised by the Home Office

In addition to the foregoing, arrangements have been
made whereby the college has put into operation a fourth-
year or post-diploma course for those promising students
who desire to specialise in certain subjects, and the coal-
owners provide five studentships of £50 a year each for
the encouragement of students proceeding!to the post-
diploma course, in respect of which the University
College will give an additional diploma or certificate.
Another possibility of the future is the establishment
of a research fellowship at the college.

On their part, the coalowners agree to recognise the
university as the most desirable authority for giving all
kinds of instruction in mining other than coalmining,
and devote £9,000 immediately to the University College