April 9, 1914. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 798 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. to the situation in South Yorkshire, declare that if : matters are not speedily adjusted after Easter, the men, in the Doncaster area at any rate, will settle the thing for themselves and return to work. They have no grievance, and they are anxious to continue their well-paid labours. It is stated that a considerable number of the employees of the Bentley Colliery have proceeded to the Eastwood pits of Messrs. Barber, Walker and Co., in Nottinghamshire, and have there obtained employment under the same firm. Last week-end it was again hinted, pretty positively, that in spite of statements to the contrary, the Don- caster miners are seriously contemplating a union of 1 their own, apart from the Yorkshire Miners’ Association at Barnsley. They recognise that the funds of the latter will be seriously depleted- if the present situation lasts. “ You may take it from me,” said a well-known figure in the local coal world, “ that if the Barnsley funds are exhausted in strike pay the Doncaster men will immedi- ately return to work and form their own miners’ union, the officials of which will not ’ be permitted to seek election to Parliament.” Tk-r . -i ’TTY 1 • j TTY 1 T IT T AAAAAALAAfci OM LAU/tAi ULLA AA j d’AAVA LA 1 L1L>M. UAJCLU ULI. AO OAAMLLAM. UU North Wales miners at Wrexham, on Monday, under public authorities. decided to ^suspend their strike notices for 14 days Terms have been arranged as to work at Bryncethin t°Permik aJ11 eethig.with the .masters. Colliery, where the men have been idle for a fortnight. 1 he non-union question occupied the attention of the - Two of the miners’ agents met representatives of the members of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners ~ - — - • . J'e^era^On monthly meeting in Manchester on upon the price list and day wage was settled, but the •Saturday. Mr. T. Greenall (president) and Mr. T. .agreement will have to be endorsed by the directors in Ashton (secretary) were appointed to meet the general Belgium. manager of the Bold and Collins Green Colliery-,- near meeting of the statutory Minimum Wage joint -St. Helens, with a view to obtaining facilities for ~ ~■ ■ dealing with men employed there who are not members ■ of the miners’ organisation, and the executive were empowered to take a strike ballot of the men in the event of no arrangement being made. Between 3,000 '■ and 4,000 men are employed at the colliery. • The progress made by the Derbyshire Miners’ Associa- Chesterfield, on Saturday, when the auditors’ report for the past year was read. Mr. James Martin, J.P., pre- sided. of the most satisfactory for many years. 1 _________________________________________________________ • that practically the whole of the contributions of the members had been added to the reserve fund, and that expenses had almost been paid out of interest. The balance to the credit of the association was £281,000. _____________________________________ T At fairly well-attended meetings of Messrs. Andrew and others are to be referred to an arbiter. Knowles Limited and Lord Ellesmere s miners, held last week-end, resolutions in favour of the continuance (with certain amendments) of the Minimum Wage Act • were adopted. Similar resolutions have been passed by members of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Feder- ation in the Leigh, Tyldesley, Wigan and St. Helens coalfields. • 1 The second annual meeting of the North Warwick- shire Miners’ Association was held at Tam worth, on Saturday, Mr. W. Gent presiding. The report of the . council stated that, in spite of the heavy expenditure, the year’s working has resulted in a surplus of £406, bringing the accumulated funds to a total of £925. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The fifteenth annual conference of the South Wales Miners Federation opened on Monday with the presi- 14 seem to be id leSs than the standard rate of 7s. 6d. dPBT.in ndnrPSQ nr Mt Ktqop MP Mnd if-, ivno i i • > -i i will be sufficient here to state the decisions arrived at. When the conference debated the question of the bank’s- men position, it was decided again to leave the matter with the executive council, who will approach the employers and seek agreement, and in respect of the schedule of rates for new work, further effort : is to be made to induce the employers to concede it. Upon the demand for general operation of the practice of paying six turns for five, no decision was reached, this also being referred. At Tuesday’s sitting, the conference passed a resolu- tion asking that labour M.P/s would endeavour to secure prohibition of the use of electricity for motive power in fiery mines. Another resolution was to the effect that inasmuch as the Conciliation Board agree- ment governs the whole coalfield—non-unionists benefiting as well as federationists—the employers should recognise the Federation by having a proviso in the next agreement that all workmen should join the union. This was unanimously carried. One resolution protested against the coalowners securing control of mining education, and urged that this should be entirely decided to^suspend their strike notices for 14 days ““lern^have^been ai'ranged as to work at Bryncethin sub-committee took place in Cardiff, on Saturday, and a .number of disputes, &c., were dealt with—chiefly by reference of the issues, to nominees of each side. In one case (Cwmbran Colliery) the question involved interpre- tation of Lord St. Aldwyn’s award, and it was arranged that the two chairmen of the committee, with the joint .. - J J - > „ . J . secretaries, and one representative from each side, tion was referred to at a meeting of the ,council, at should submit the point to his lordship for decision. Scotland. The auditors’report was considered to be one The miners in the . Chapel Coal Company’s pits, ’ - LaS .Wishaw, who have been on strike for three weeks, and a section of them for a much longer period, have resumed work, a settlement having been effected. A compromise has been made on certain points in dispute, THE IUSH OOAL TMDE Wednesday, April 8. Dublin. Merchants continue to be well engaged in most depart- ments of the coal trade, and prices of all qualities remain unchanged. Supplies of York “brights” are now practi- cally cut off, but other classes are being more largely purchased in lieu of it at the cross-Channel shipping ports. Quotations in the city are as follow:—Best Orrell, 28s. per • ton; Abram, 27s.; best Wigan, 26s.; Whitehaven, 26s.; best . kitchen, 24*.; steam coals from about 22s. per ton; best slack, 22j. ; best coke, 21s. par ton; house coal, retail, Is. 8d. per sack. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 70, as compared with 48 the week previously, chiefly from Point of Aire, Ardrossin, Garston, Ayr, West Bank, Partington, Campbeltown, Troon, Irvine, Swansea, Newport, Preston, Glasgow, Cardiff, Whitehaven and Workington. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 31,0C0 tons. Belfast. About the only notable feature in the local coal trade is that the strike in Yorkshire is keeping prices firm, as supplies from that centre cannot be obtained, with the owners (Coppee Company, of Belgium), and the dispute result that there is a greater run upon other qualities from ' i i the various mining districts. Business in this port can only be described a3 fair, as, although there may be a little more enquiry for immediate use to cover the holiday * period, there is, upon the whole, a quieter tone in the market. There is no change in quotations for any class of fuel since last report. City prices stand as follow:—Best Arley, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26j. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch.house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23l 6d., all less the usual Is. discount for cash. Current rates for steam coals are:—Scotch steam, 16s. to . 17s. per ton; Scotch slack, Ils. 6d. to, 12s. 6d.; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s. per ton delivered; Welsh steam coal, 17s. to 18s. per ton delivered. Coal cargoes arriving during the week were chiefly from Silloth, Glasgow, Ayr, Irvine, Swansea, Partington, Troon, Manchester, Garston, Girvan, and Mary port. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Business is fairly good and prices much about the same. There is, if anything, a slightly firmer feeling in pitch. Benzils remain firm, but as yet reflect The adjourned meeting of the Scottish Coal Trade nothing of the possible taxation under the forthcoming -Conciliation Board met in Glasgow on Friday to con- Budget. Carbolics and naphthas are unchanged, .sider the claim by the coalmasters for a reduction of values are: — • the miners’ wages by 25 per cent, on the 1888 basis. The present rate of miners’ wages is 7s. 6d. per day, and ;the reduction claimed by the masters is equivalent to > Is. per day. The meeting adjourned without coming to a decision. Lord Balfour of‘Burleigh was appointed arbitrator. Lord Balfour of Burleigh has agreed to. act as arbitrator, and the meeting will be continued on the 17 th inst. Considerable friction has recently arisen in connection with a section of oncost men at the Shotts Iron Com- pany’s Hyndsham Colliery, Castlehill, near Carluke. It appears that there are something like 40 oncost men employed underground at this colliery, of which number dential address of Mr. W. Brace, M.P., and it was per shift. Some time ago a representation was made to - -- shown that the membership (which now exceeds 153,000) company to the effect that the wa^es of the oncost makers works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. had been 153,813 during the year completed. Contri- • men referred to should be raised to the standard rate, 1 butions amounted to £54,511; and the total income but no advance was given. The oncost men have refused to £65,352. Expenditure had been £35,739, leaving to work, and as a result the pit was idle. A meeting of nearly £30,000 m hand. Among the most interesting the oncost men was held, and it was agreed to apply to the county union for permission to come out on strike. The miners will support the action of the oncost men. dislocated, and values are unreliable. Closing prompt About 400 men are affected. —- - The Iron, Steel and Engineering^Trades. The ascertained price of No. 3 Cleveland pig iron for the months of January, February and March was certified this week at 51s. 5*13d. per ton, as compared .............................. 50’s ...... 90’s North . 50’s North ........................ Nearest 1/1 /m /10 to/10-1 /10| /lot 1 /Oi to 1/1 /3i ‘ /9| /5 /3i 37/ 36/ to 36/6 ' points dealt with was the result of the ballot upon increasing the monthly contribution from Is. to Is. 6d., there being an overwhelmingly adverse vote. Out of a • • total poll of 122,508, no fewer than 95,624 were against the proposal, this being therefore rejected by a majority of 68,740. Mr. Brace spoke very highly upon this subject, observing that South Wales was the largest branch of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, but did not enjoy that respect which the position entitled them ’ - - • . mi- to, seeing that most of the districts were actually with 55s. 3'79d. per ton m the previous quarter. This paying more money in one week than the South Wales men paid in a month. r"’ were consequently able to accumulate large funds • considered necessary; and they were beginning to regard South Wales as the weak link in the chain. Had South •Wales shown, by increased contributions, an earnest , desire for reform, they would have been much stronger to meet the position that would arise next year. He would not again be a party to asking them to increase. Whenever increase of contribution was to be considered again the proposal must come from the mass of the men. With regard to extending the Minimum Wage Act to surface workers, he regretted that the Premier was not sympathetic, and he also regretted that South Wales coalowners had refused to consider the question, although coalowners elsewhere had met the men’s representatives and had instituted considerable reforms. They would have to go in for an eight-hours day and a minimum rate for all workmen. Evidently, there was only one language the South Wales owners understood—the language of power. They had no knowledge of the language of humanity, justice or fairplay. Government and owners must accept demands Benzols, 90’s Do. Do. Do. Toluol ____........................______________________________________ Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)..................... Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ____............... Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package) ... Crude ditto (in bulk) ........................ Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ............. Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ...................... Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ...................... Do. (f.o.b. gas companies) _____................. [Bensols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at - — Pitch f.o.b. neL] Sulphate of Ammonia.—It’ anything the market has bad a backward tendency, but this is in no way surprising, as full advantage is usually taken of a holiday interlude, when buyers and sellers are at variance. Business is naturally prices are:— London (ordinary makes)................. , Beckton (certain terms) __.....__ Liverpool _______.............________ Hull __.................___________ Middlesbrough ....;...........__ Scotch ports...................... Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, dis- count ; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality j allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.'] £12/7IQ £11/12/6 £12/6/3 to £12/8/9 £12/5/0 £12/3/9 .. £12/7/6 to £12/10 10/6 means a reduction in blastfurnacemen’s wages of 4*75 Those other districts per cent, which brings the wages from 29 00 per cent. Y above the standard to 24*25 per cent, above the standard, which enabled, them to prepare for forward movements The reduction takes effect from the 4th inst. __________________________ The return of the accountants to the Midland Iron and Steel Wages Board as to the output and selling ; price of iron during the first two months of the year has now been published. The board controls iron- workers’ wages in North and South Staffordshire, Shropshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and South Wales, and the return shows the average net selling price of all descriptions of iron produced by the 17 selected firms to have been £7 4s. lOd. per ton, com- pared with £7 10s. 5d. in the two previous months, or a reduction of 5s. 7d. In accordance with the sliding scale the wages for puddling will be reduced 3d. per ton, making them 9s. 6d. In addition to the puddling rate the men are allowed a bonus of 6d., which brings the rate up to 10s. per ton. The reduction took effect on Monday last, and will continue until June 6. Trade Union Combination. The proposals of a scheme for bringing about a work- _________ ing arrangement between the National Union of quoted :—C W 14 x 20, 12s. 6d. per box; C W 28 x 20, enforced by industrial and political power. Mr. Brace Bailwaymen, the Miners’Federation of Great Britain, and the Transport Workers’ Federation will be discussed at a meeting of these organisations, to be held at Westminster, on April 23. A draft scheme for amalga- mating the various unskilled labour unions and the • transport workers, involving 400,000 men, will be discussed at an early date at a conference of the executive officers and permanent officials. A committee has been deputed to draw up a report summarising the steps that have been taken, and explaining the causes in the light of the work of the past three or four years. THE TIH-PLATE TRADE Liverpool. There is practically no change in the position. The demand is exceedingly quiet for prime plates of all descrip- tions, and 12^. 10£d. for I C 14 x 20 cokes is being freely quoted for quick delivery. Stocks are heavy, and works are accepting low figures to clear. For forward shipment, however, makers are standing pretty well to their quota- tion*3, which run:—Coke tin-plates: I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 133. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb ), 26s. to 26s. 3d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 1081b.), 13s. 6d. per box; I C 14 x 18f (124 sh. 110 1b.), 13s. 3d. per box; I.C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 110 lb.) 13s. 3d. per box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.). 18s. 9d. to 18s. 10|d. per box; I C squares and odd sizes, 13?. 4|d. to 13s. 6d. basis. Charcoal tins are in quiet demand at 15s per box and upwards, according to tinning. Terne-plates are easy at round 23?. for I C 14 x 20. Coke wasters are in fair demand and are referred also to the record of deaths by accident in the Welsh coalfield, and described it as appalling. Upon the question of representation in Parliament and on local administrative bodies, he urged loyalty to the fund, so that the interests of the miners should be properly safeguarded. Mr. Brace, M.P., is re-elected president; Mr. Onions re-elected treasurer; and Mr. T. Bichards, M.P., re-elected secretary. An outline of the subjects coming before the con- ference was given in last week’s issue; and therefore it 24a. 9d. per box ; C W 14 x 18f, Ils. 3d. per box; C W 20 x 10,14s. 10|d. per box. There is a moderate demand for black-plates at round £8 15s. per ton basis for pickled and close-annealed rectangles. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ._____________________________ South Staffordshire and Warwickshire Institute of Mining Engineers.—The next general meeting will be held at the University, Edmund-street. Birmingham, on Monday afternoon, April 20, at 3 p.m. The following paper, “ A Description of the Proof of the Western Boundary Fault at . Holly Bank Colliery,” will be read by Mr. N. Forrest.