318

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

August 7, 1914.

relation between the transformation of the resins,
and the acquisition of coking properties ? It is
interesting to note here that Hatchett, in 1804,
brought before the Hoy al Society a theory that the
resins and waxes were the sources of the bituminous
quality in coals. We need, perhaps, further con-
firmation of these views, but an interesting specula-
tion is thus opened out, and it is to be hoped that
the publication of this paper will stimulate further
research in this direction. It was a brilliant thought
to turn to the younger coals for information which
in the older coals has become obscured by the effects
biochemical and dynamic transformations.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

At Neath County Court recently two colliers and a
haulier claimed certain amounts from the Gwauncaegurwen
Colliery Company for failing to find them employment on
November 11, 1913. There was a counter claim against the
men for absenting themselves from work on the day in ques-
tion. It was stated that the men presented themselves, and
worked for two hours, but were obliged to stop owing to a
shortage of trams. The horses were certified unfit for
work, owing to their being short of feed. The shortage of
food was said to have been caused owing to the shaft having
been blocked by the lowering of a new haulage engine. The
men were allowed 7s. 6d., 5s., and 6s. 6d. respectively. On
the counter-claim it was said that the men absented them-
selves without notice, and his Honour observed that the
men had stood on their legal rights, and the company were
doing the same. It was a question of retaliation, but he
was of opinion that both parties were wrong. He gave
judgment on the counter-claim for the company in the
amounts of £2 10s., 19s. 8d., and £1.

Extraordinary action by the federation was announced on
Saturday at the meeting of the western district. It was
reported that, in face of the attitude of the Ynisarwed work-
men towards the recommendations of the central executive,
the men of those two collieries have been dismissed from
the federation, and that no transfers from the local lodges
would henceforth be taken.

The Anthracite Miners’ Association met in Swansea on
Saturday, when it was stated that a large number of men
were idle on account of collieries closing down, as well as
owing to disputes. Protest was made against an alleged
refusal of the Cwmgorse Company to refer a dispute to
arbitration.

Tirbach men are idle because of a dispute as to payment
for through coal.

The Western Valleys district council of mineis decided to
make a grant of 5s. per head extra to the miners on strike
at Arael Griffin Colliery, these having been on strike for
five weeks on the lamps question. A deputation has waited
on the Home Secretary, some of the lamps objected to have
been sent to the Government testing station, officials have
met workmen’s representatives, H.M. inspectors have
visited the mine; but the settlement has proved impracti-
cable. The men object to a large number of the lamps on
the ground that the locking is unsafe.

Blaenavon blastfurnacemen were given a week’s notice
because of refusal to accept a new rate of wages, and it has
been stated that the furnace will be damped down.

Ffaldau miners, who have been on strike for five weeks,
decided on Saturday that they would return to work if all
the men were given their old places.

Because the management declined to reinstate a dismissed
man, over 500 employees at- the Navigation Colliery,
Crumlin, went on strike last Friday.

The long-drawn conflict over banksmen’s hours and wages
was advanced a further stage on Friday, when one more
meeting of the joint sub-committee took place, having been
summoned by request of the men’s representatives. Pro-
posals were made from both parties tending towards settle-
ment, and though no agreement was arrived at, the sub-
mittee separated, with an arrangement to meet again—
which is a hopeful sign. Excessive hours, low rate of pay,
and w’idely-varying conditions at different collieries were the
■original causes of complaint, and the men sought to estab-
lish a uniform eight-hour day, with 5s. as the standard rate.
The owners*’ offer of a nine-hour day and 3s. 6d. standard
was rejected at first, but subsequently a nine-hour day was
accepted, and agreement was also reached as to conditions.
The owners then offered 3s. lOd. as the standard, while the
men reduced their demand to 4s. 5d., subsequently to
4s. 3d.

Upon the non-unionist question 500 men struck last week
at the Graigola Collieries, Swansea Valley.

Work has been resumed at Bryncethin Colliery, near
Bridgend, where the men have been idle for nearly five
months upon the question of a price list, over 400 being
affected.

North of England.

The dispute at Brayton Domain Nos. 4 and 5 pits at
Aspatria, with respect to two men sending up black stone
in their tubs, has been amicably settled. Last week a
meeting was held at Aspatria between the representatives
of the masters and the men, and on the men agreeing to
withdraw a letter which had been sent to the manager, Mr.
Askew, the latter promised to reinstate the discharged men,
and the workmen eventually decided to withdraw their
notices.

On Saturday representatives of the Durham Coal Owners’
Association and the Durham Deputies’ Association met at
the Coal Trade Offices, Newcastle, under the presidency of
Sir Lindsay Wood. The deputies submitted the following
requests :—Bising of the basis wage, wet working, and
Sunday labour. The questions were discussed at great
length, and the owners will forward their replies to the
requests in due course.

The dispute which arose at the Cramlington Ann Pit has
been amicably settled, and the putters will withdraw the
14 days’ notice which they handed in. The dispute arose
in consequence of three putters not being paid the minimum
wage.

The Cumberland Miners’ Association held their annual
demonstration and sports at Whitehaven on Saturday after-
noon.

Speaking at the miners’ demonstration at Whitehaven on

Saturday, Mr. Robert Smillie referred to the question of
safer working in mines. He said there were hundreds of
inventions for the saving of life, but when he suggested to
Mr. McKenna that there should be an exhibition of the
apparatus invented by different persons, and experts called
in to examine them, and see whether they would really be
of service, the matter was referred to the Home Office, with
the result that there was an unfavourable reply. The exhi-
bition would only have cost a few hundred pounds, and
would not only have satisfied the inventors, some of whom
had perhaps spent their lives over their invention, but might
have led to the saving of hundreds of lives in the mine.

A serious dispute has arisen at Messrs. Pease and
Partners’ Bowden Close Colliery, Crook, and the pit was
laid idle on Tuesday in consequence. About 1,300 men and
boys are affected by the dispute. The difficulty has arisen
by the men in the Five Quarter seam refusing to allow their
cavils to go in, declaring that the place was an abnormal one,
and below the standard height. In spite of the men’s refusal
to cavil the management put the cavils in, and, it is alleged,
none of the representatives of the men were present. Efforts
are being made to arrive at an amicable settlement of the
dispute.

A further conference between the Cleveland ironstone
mine owners and the Cleveland miners’ representatives took
place at Middlesbrough last week, respecting the wages to
be paid at the Cleveland mines during the next three months.
Mr. A. F. Pease presided. At the previous meeting the
owners pointed out that the. ascertained price of pig iron
for the past quarter was 51s., and according to the usual
formula they were entitled to a reduction of 1'20 per cent.
An arrangement was effected, however, that wages should
be reduced by 0’50 (one-half) per cent.

In the last issue of executive committee minutes pub-
lished by the Northumberland Miners’ Association, it is
stated that it was decided to meet, the management of the
Walbottle Colliery, with a view to terminating the four
shifts system prevailing at that colliery. A rather peculiar
heading in the minutes is :—“ One-legged surface men.”
In this case it appears the committee intend asking for
the wages of several one-legged men at Hartford Colliery
to be raised. It was decided to send a resolution for the
agenda of the annual conference of the Miners’ Federation
of Great Britain, advocating the appointment of extra
mines inspectors.

The annual mass meeting of the Durham County Colliery
Mechanics’ Association ■ was held last week at Durham.
Mr. J. W. Taylor, M.P., the secretary, reported
that the income for the year amounted to .£6,027, an
increase of £570, and the expenditure to £2,345, a
decrease of £243. The membership was 6,252, an increase
of 479. They had a balance in hand of £8,578, an increase
of £3,766, due, largely, to the absence of friction. The total
worth of the association was now £12,365, an increase
of £3,682.

Simultaneously, the annual meeting of the Durham
County Colliery Enginemen’s Association was held in the
cathedral city. Mr. W. B. Charlton, the agent, presented
a report showing a balance of £14,425 17s. 7d. at the end
of 1913, to which was to be added £717 16s. 4d., being the
credit balances on the last two quarters’ workings, and
£203 8s. 8d. interest on investments, with £25 5s. 8d.
reclaimed income tax, showing a general fund amounting
to £15,828 Ils. 7d., an increase of £2,295 4s. 5d. on the
year. By the recently created retiring benefit, 38 old
members had received a total of £285 15s. The membership
had increased from 3,142 to 4,027 in the ‘last two years.

Federated Area.

The council of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association met at
Barnsley on Tuesday, Mr. H. Smith presiding. Bequests
for permission to ballot on the question of giving notice on
the ground of alleged grievances were granted to the men
at the Glass Houghton Colliery (subject to further negotia-
tions for a settlement), at Orgreave and Treeton Collieries
(Rothervale Colliery Company), and Cleckheaton Colliery.
The Mitchell Main district will decide whether the colliers
shall ballot owing to a dispute regarding the amount to be
paid for working the coal in the new Dunsil seam. Mr.
Smith said there was a large list of applications for assist-
ance from men who had been stopped without, it was
alleged, any reason. The association would have to defend
the men, and some action would be necessary to stop so
large a number of men being sent on the funds. At the
same meeting a resolution against the war was unanimously
carried.

The non-union question was again discussed at the
monthly meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’
Federation, held at Caxton Hall, Salford, on Saturday.
The conference decided that in regard to the Garswood Hall
Colliery a strong deputation should be appointed to inter-
view the manager, and if that should fail power should
be given to the executive committee to take a ballot. In
the three other cases the conference decided to adjourn them
for a month. A resolution was unanimously passed pro-
testing against the war.

The quarterly meeting of the Coal Conciliation Board for
the federated mining districts of England and North Wales
was held in London, at the Westminster Palace Hotel, on
Friday. Mr. T. J. Jones (Yorkshire) (chairman) presided,
and at the outset stated that the proposals which the men
had prepared for a new wage basis and a new agreement
were published in the Press on July 10, a w’eek before they
were received by the secretary to the coal owners. The
vice-chairman (Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P.), said the men’s
side were in no way responsible for the premature publica-
tion. The chairman stated that the coal owners would be
prepared to give careful consideration to the new’ wage
proposals made to them by the representatives of the men
on the Conciliation Board, and then meet the men’s section
of the Board for the full discussion of the proposals,
together with any counter proposals prepared by the coal
owners’ side of the Board. The proceedings lasted less than
a quarter of an hour. The main proposals submitted by the
men to the coal owners as the basis of a new agreement
for a further period of three years, provide for a new wage
standard of 50 per cent, above the present wage standard
of 1888, a higher maximum wage. At the present moment
wages in the English Federation area stand at the maxi-
mum of 65 per cent, on the 1888 standard.

A case under the Eight Hours Act w’as heard at St.
Helens on the 31st ult., when William Hals all, colliery
day wage man, sued the Sutton Heath and Lea Green
Colliery Company for £2 4s. 4d., a week’s wages in lieu
of notice. Halsall was employed in the Sherdley Colliery,
Peasley Cross, under a contractor named Michael Davock.
On June 23 Halsall was working in the early morning
tunnelling in the mine, and at 4.30 a.m. he realised it was
impossible for him to finish the work within eight hours.

When the eight hours were up he fetched his coat. Davock
would not allow him to go down to work in the next shift,
so he sued for a week’s wages in lieu of notice. The defence
was that the man did not work eight hours, and that he
left his place in a dangerous condition, unfenced, and not
in compliance with the Act. Halsall had on at least two
previous occasions left work before time. The magistrates
dismissed the claim, but declined to give either side costs.

Scotland.

The 21st annual conference of the Scottish Miners’
Federation will open at Edinburgh on August 19. The
principal resolution on the agenda is that by the Lanark-
shire Miners’ County Union, which asks the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain to take steps to secure a
minimum wage of 8s. for all adult underground workers in
the British coalfield. The Fife and Kinross Miners’ Union
will propose that the federation executive take action with
a view to enforcing a uniform five-day working week
throughout Scotland; while the Lanarkshire miners wish to
extend the five-day week all over Britain. Other resolu-
tions request a legal eight hours day bank to bank, the aboli-
tion of unnecessary Sunday labour in mines, the provision
of drinking water in mines and working tools at the
employers’ expense, the erection of three-apartment houses
with conveniences for miners by the local authorities, the
observance of May 1 as a general labour holiday, the estab-
lishment of a legal department for Scottish miners, the
abolition of coal contracting, the appointment of practical
miners as H.M. mines inspectors, the abolition of notice
agreements, etc.

The Scottish Miners’ Federation executive and a deputa-
tion from the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain had a
long consultation at Glasgow on the 31st ult. concerning the
crisis in the Scottish coal trade.

The Scottish Coal Conciliation Board, reinforced by repre-
sentatives from the Miners’Federation of Great Britain, will
again meet in Glasgow to-day (Friday) to consider the coal
owners’ application for a 25 per cent, reduction in wages.
Since the first meeting was held the situation has been com-
pletely changed by the international crisis which has plunged
Europe into war.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

Following the ascertainment of the Midland Iron and
Steel Wages Board of the production and average selling
prices of iron during May and June, there will be a reduc-
tion in iron workers’ wages. The puddling rate during
August and September will be 9s. per ton (a reduction of
3d.), and other mill and forge wages will be reduced 2| per
cent. In addition to the puddling rate of 9s. per ton under
the sliding scale, the increase of 6d. per ton given to the
puddlers by resolution of the Wages Board which met on
July 15, 1912, will continue. This increase applies to
puddlers only, and will make the total puddling rate 9s. 6d.
per ton. The average net selling price was £6 15s. 9‘23d.
per ton, as compared with £7 0s. ll'14d. in the previous two
months.

As a result of the report of Mr. John M. MacLeod, C.A.,
Glasgow, to Messrs. James C. Bishop and James Gavin,
joint secretaries of the Board of Conciliation, between the
owners of blast furnaces in Scotland and the blast furnace-
men as to the price of Scotch pig iron warrants in the
Glasgow market for the months of May, June, and July,.
1914, there is no change in the wages of the workmen.

BOOK NOTICES.

A Pocket-Book for Miners and Metallurgists. By F. D.

Power, F.G.S. Third Edition Corrected. London :
Crosby Lockwood and Son, 1914.

This little work has established itself as a handy vade
me cum for miners and metallurgists. In this new
edition the section on assaying has been in great part
rewritten. The sections on slags, ore dressing and mine
sampling have been improved and brought up-to-date,
and a simplified classification of igneous rocks is
supplied, which is probably enough for ordinary purposes
in the field, and is as far as it would be possible to go
safely without chemical and microscopical examination.
The information is of an extremely varied kind, and
includes even sections on photography and toxicology.

Mine Surveying. By E. B. Durham. London : McGraw-
Hill Book Company Incorporated. 1913. Price, 15s.
net.

This work is in the form of a pocket book : it is bound
in limp leather, and has rounded corners. But it never-
theless is a comprehensive treatise, running to nearly
400 pages and covering the whole field of mine survey-
ing. The order in which the subjects are treated is as
follows General surveying methods, equipment for
underground surveying, underground traversing, survey-
ing for details, traverse calculations, maps and projec-
tions, special mine surveys, special problems in mine
surveying, various mine surveying instruments, steep
transit sights, shaft plumbing, tunnel surveys, surface
and mine models, exploratory and magnetic surveys.
The author is a professor of mining in the University
of Calif orhia, and his experience in teaching has
evidently been of some assistance in the arrangement of
this book, which is eminently practical in its treatment,
and at the same time thoroughly well printed and illus-
trated. Coal mine surveying is treated specially, for
although in general the methods are the same, the
conditions differ greatly from those occurring in metal
mines.

Hydraulics. By W. M. Wallace. London : The Technical
Publishing Company Limited, 1914. Price, 4s. net.

This is an elementary work eminently suited for
engineering students. The subjects treated include
hydrostatic principles, hydraulic machines, flow of water
in pipes and through orifices, impact of water on
surfaces,water turbines,pumps (centrifugal and turbine),
measurement of flow, fluid friction, vibration and rolling.
The last chapter contains a collection of hydraulic
problems of interest. Mathematical demonstrations are
sparingly used, and the calculus is not so much in
evidence as is usual in books of this kind. The book can
be confidently recommended as a trustworthy guide to
the subjects discussed.