962

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

Mat 1s 1914.

Coal Mines Act, most of them admittedly trivial. To
those familiar with the complexities and intricacies
of the legal requirements now in force, it must be
doubtful whether there are any pits in the country
which could successfully pass the microscopic scrutiny
of such an inquest as this without disclosing deficien-
cies in regard to the strict observance of the letter of
the law. The new Coal Mines Act and its numerous
appurtenances are not yet thoroughly understood in
their entirety, either by the authorities or by colliery
officials, and some of their obscurities are well
brought out in this report.

According to the advance return
Th® Output issued by the Home Office, the
Of British output of coal last year under the
Coal.	Coal Mines Act amounted to

287,411,869 tons, an increase of
27,013,291 tons compared with 1912. The total is
the highest on record, and the increase itself is
actually the largest in the history of the British coal
trade.

Any finite conclusions based upon the figures for
these two years, however, must embrace a considera-
tion of the shortage in output caused by the strike on
the minimum wage question. This amounted to
11,475,561 tons. On the other hand, the returns for

1912	were for the first time exclusive of . the dirt
raised with the coal, in that year estimated at
2,268,000 tons. Thus, if we go back to 1911 to
establish a comparison, it is necessary to add to the
total for 1913 some two and a-lialf million tons repre-
senting the dirt sorted out, bringing the aggregate,
roughly, to 290 millions, or about 18,100,000 tons
ahead of the total for 1911.

If we delve into history, we find that there have
been several years in which the output of British
coal has shown a striking advance. In 1880, the
output, which was then about half what it is now,
increased by 13,250,000 tons; in 1894, by nearly
.24,000,000 tons; in 1899, by 18,000,000 tons; in
1906, by 15,000,000 tons ; and in 1907, by 17,000,000
tons. It will be seen that relatively the figures for

1913	are by no means abnormal if a two-yearly basis
be taken, since it does no more than equal the
increase in 1899 over 1897, and falls far short of the
difference between 1907 and 1905. In two cases at
least the heavy rate of increment was due to causes
similar to those prevailing in 1912, for 1893 was the
year of the great strike in the Midlands, and 1898
was chiefly notable for the strike in South Wales.

It will be remembered that.the Royal Commission
on Coal Supplies found that during the 30 years
prior to 1902 the output had increased at the average
rate of 2J per cent., whilst exports had increased by
4J per cent, per annum. The Commissioners, how-
ever, considered that owing to physical considerations
it was highly improbable that that rate of increase
in the output of coal could long continue. In the
light of this statement, it is interesting to examine
the figures for the years that have supervened:—

Percentage increase (-		F ) or decrease ( —).
	f	
Year.	Output of	Exports of
	coal.	fuel.
1903	.	+ 1-4			+ 5 6
1904	.	+ 09			+ 31
1905	.			+ 1‘6			+ 20
1906	.	+ 6 3			+143
1907	.	+ 67			+10 9
1908	.	- 23			+ o-i
1909	.	+ 08			+ 08
1910	.	+ 0-2			- 1’7
1911	+ 28			+ 30
1912	.	- 30			- 14
1913	.	+10 3			+14*5

A simple calculation shows that, so far as the
output is concerned, the calculations of the Com-
mission have not been far out, as the average annual
rate of increase works out at 2-j- per cent. On the
other hand, the exports show a slight tendency to
advance the ratio of increase, the average rate for
the 11 years working out at about 4J- per cent. How
far the position is complicated by legislation, and to
what extent the natural tendencies of trade have
been artificially modified, is a matter requiring
deeper investigation, but the net deduction from this
brief recapitulation must be that the period of
economic slack tide at which the Commission hinted
has not yet arrived.

am

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Lord St. Aldwyn, independent chairman of the South
Wales District Board, sat in London last week as
referee upon a question which had arisen as to the
interpretation of his award under the Minimum Wage
Act. It was a dispute as to the wage of bottom cutters,
or rather their classification, which arose at the
Cwmbran Colliery ; and both parties agreed to refer it
to his lordship. On Wednesday, his lordship’s decision
was announced. He rules that bottom cutters who
previous to the award were receiving the rate of rippers,
should continue to receive that higher rate ; and the
importance of the ruling is that it will apply also to
bottom cutters in other collieries who were in similar
circumstances.

Banksmen in the South Wales coalfield are seeking
permission from the miners’ executive council to tender
notices on May 10. This decision was reached on
Saturday evening, in a conference of delegates at
Pontypridd, where report was presented as to the
negotiations for securing better wages and improved
conditions.

A serious stoppage, admittedly “unconstitutional”
from the Federation standpoint, and at present involving
about 5,000 persons, has commenced at Ebbw Vale.
The more serious feature is a risk that its prolongation
may lead to stoppage of the iron, steel and galvanised
sheet works, until a total of perhaps 12,000 are affected.
It is a dispute originating in a change of practice. In
certain sections of the Waunllwydd collieries, where
conditions were specially difficult, the men were allowed
10s.; but the management gave notice that, the con-
ditions having improved, they would thenceforth pay
upon a tonnage rate, and. according to the men's state-
ment, this proves unsatisfactory, because it leaves them
unable to earn an amount equivalent to the minimum
wage. Their request for a higher rate being refused,
they have ceased work, and other men have come out in
sympathy. In the course of an address to the men on
Tuesday, Mr. Vyce, their leader, said plainly that the
strike being unconstitutional, they could not expect
financial aid from the Federation executive—indeed, the
Federation had not the funds to support them. The
possibility was that the stoppage might last a long time.
A resolution to strike in support of the Waunllwydd
men was, nevertheless, carried, an amendment to return
to work pending negotiation being rejected.

The amalgamation of the Enginemen and Stokers’
Association with the Miners’ Federation is still being
pressed forward, notwithstanding that the ballots have
not given the required balance of votes. Another ballot
is to be taken.

Workmen at the Llanerch and Blaensychan Collieries,
who had been idle for two days, held a mass meeting
and received a report from their agent (Mr. Winstone),
who had visited the engine-house in company with Mr.
Greenland Davies, H.M. inspector. Mr. Winstone told
the men that he had examined the new appliance
for prevention of overwinding, and was satisfied that
it was an appliance which contributed to safety.
Examinations and tests had been made, and he recom-
mended the men to give it a trial for a fortnight, the
men not to be lowered at a greater speed than 60 seconds.
This the men agreed to.

The miners in the Aber Valley, scene of the Sen-
ghenydd explosion, have decided by large majorities to
appoint permanent examiners at the collieries. Windsor
voted in favour by 904 to 501; and Universal also in
favour by 596 to 277. Similar votes have been given in
other parts of the Caerphilly district.

A dispute affecting between 1,500 and 2,000 men at
the Lower Deep and No. 2 South Griffin Collieries,
Blaina, has been settled, and work was resumed last
week.

Aber dare timbermen and repairers held a conference
on Friday, and formulated demands which include their
desire that all timber should be sent down to the working
places, instead of the man having to go to the yard to
notch it. They also decided to seek a minimum (on the
standard) of 6s. per day for timbermen and repairers,
and referred back to the lodges the question as to
abolishing sub-contracting on timber.

A striking declaration by Mr. Vernon Hartshorn has
been evoked by the recent ballot, which showed such
decided refusal to increase the Federation contribution
from Is. to Is. 6d. per month. He not only argues the
actual point at issue, but even questions the wisdom of
resorting to any ballot at all, and suggests .that the
representatives in conference are better fitted to decide.
The adverse decision of the men he regards as an
“ ominous fact,” threatening the success of new move-
ments, especially that as to the new price-list for the
coalfield. There is, he says, a curious change, the men
now lagging behind the leaders. Whilst the official
programme represents the considered judgment of the
leaders and the delegates in conference (those who
closely study the matters dealt with, and are endeavouring
to eliminate sectionalism), the mass of the men are
not supporting it. An advanced programme needed new
methods of enforcement, and there was a decision that
anyone signing a price-list which was not in accordance
with the declared policy should be liable to expulsion.
Districts were relieved of this former responsibility for
supporting men in a dispute which affected not more
than 5 per cent, of their membership ; and a central
fighting fund was shown to be necessary. Yet the men,
by their ballot vote, refused to supply that fund. He
argues against balloting upon every question, likening
it to the referendum in political affairs—which would, in
his judgment, result in national paralysis,and bank-
ruptcy. The ballot, he asserts, brings into effective
operation the power of those who had not taken any
trouble to inform themselves upon the matter in issue;
so that policy comes to be decided by those who know
least about it.

North of Englands

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Bill brought
forward by Lord Willoughby de Broke for the abolition
of the three-shift system in Northumberland has given
a great fillip to the movement for its abolition. On
Saturday his lordship visited the Northumberland coal-
field in connection with his Bill, Saturday morning
being spent in visiting Ashington Colliery in company
with Mr. J. W. Hills, Conservative member for Durham
city. On returning to Newcastle, Lord Willoughby
de Broke met representatives from the following
Northumberland collieries: Chevington Drift, Wallsend
group. Dudley, Walbottle, Walker, Newburgh, Broom-
hill, Newbiggen, Hartford. Shankhouse, Cramlington,
Burradon, Hazelrigg and Benwell. A resolution,
thanking his lordship for introducing the Bill, was
unanimously carried. It was also stated that the
Newburgh Lodge Committee was responsible for the
original draft of the Bill. Lord Willoughby de Broke
stated that he might shortly pay another visit to the
northern coalfield.

At a meeting of the representatives who attended the
conference for the discussion of Lord Willoughby de
Broke’s Bill for the abolition of the three-shift system
in Northumberland, the following resolution was passed:
“ That this meeting of representatives from the whole
of the three-shift collieries is of opinion that the assist-
ance of the Northumberland Miners’ Association should
be enlisted at the May council meeting in support of
the Bill introduced into the House of Lords by Lord
Willoughby de Broke for the abolition of the three-shift
system, and. that, further, we consider that the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain should give its heartiest
support to assist in placing it upon the Statute Book.”
Notice will be given to include the resolution in the
May agenda of the County Association.

A meeting of the representatives of the Northumber-
land Coalowners’ Association and the Northumber-
land Miners’ Association was held on Saturday at
Newcastle. It was afterwards announced that an
agreement had been arrived at on the question of estab-
lishing a sliding-scale with a minimum rate. The
details of the new sliding-scale will be laid before the
miners of Northumberland. The negotiations for such
a scale have been going on for many months. Mr. Tom
Taylor presided over the meeting, and Messrs. Burt and
Fenwick also attended.

It has been decided to hold a special council meeting
of the Northumberland Miners’ Association on Wednes-
day, May 20, to discuss the Wages Committee’s report
on the proposed sliding scale for regulating wages in
the county as provisionally agreed to between the coal-
owners and the Wages Committee at the meeting in
Newcastle last Saturday. After the delegates at the
council meeting have discussed the subject, the sliding
scale agreement will be submitted to the branches for
approval.

The Chopwell Lodge of the Durham Miners’ Associa-
tion has been discussing the question of assessing the
value of houses and coals supplied to aged miners, and
has passed the following resolution:—“That this
meeting of the Chop well Lodge of the Durham Miners’
Association emphatically protests against the custom
of pension officers assessing the value of the cottage and
coals supplied to aged mineworkers when ascertaining
the annual income of the claimant; and contends that
the Old Age Pension Act defeats its own object in using
its provisions to close the gates of charity. We further
point out to those concerned that the Aged Miners’
Homes Association is not run to save the pocket of the
Exchequer, and that, if its pension officers persist in
that line of conduct, consideration will have to be given
to the question of the Treasury saving money at the
expense of the Durham and Northumberland miners.”

An adjourned meeting was held on Monday, in
Middlesbrough, between the Cleveland mineowners and
representatives of the Cleveland miners with regard to
the wages question. Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., presided.
An arrangement was effected by which wages will be
reduced 4 75 per cent, for the next three months.

Mr. Robert Needham, secretary of the Lambton
Lodge of the Durham Miners’ Association, has written
to Mr. T. Wing, M.P., pointing out that from the Coal
Mines (Surface Eight Hours) Bill which Mr. Wing
introduced, there had been left out screenmen and bank
labourers, and asking if those workmen could be
included in the Bill.

Mr. Wing points out that the Bill was introduced by
him at the request of the National Federation of
Colliery Engine and Boiler Men, but if they were
fortunate enough to get the Bill into Committee, they
would be glad to accept the suggestion made by the
members of the Lambton Lodge, and accept amend-
ments to include all surface workers.

At Morpeth Moor Colliery a dispute arose last week
in regard to grades of work.

At Choppington High Pit the workmen decided to
tender 14 days’ notice on Monday, but the notices were
withheld pending negotiations. The trouble has arisen
over the action, of the management in insisting on
changes regarding the shifts. The pit is at present a
two-shift colliery, but, as a result of an alleged difficulty
in obtaining boy labour, together with the abstentions of
men when on the early shift, the management proposed
to abolish the double-shift system and substitute a
single-shift system only. In order to make this
practicable the old custom of working in parties of four
marrows amongst the men—two in each shift—is
intended to be abolished, and to substitute a system of
three marrows, which is said to be quite new to the
county of Northumberland. Only 15 men working in
the High pit are directly affected.

Five names were submitted as Labour candidates for
the Chester - le - Street division at a meeting held
recently. Mr. J. W. Taylor, M.P., will retire from the
seat next General Election. The nominations for his
successor include Mr. R. Smillie, president of the