532 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 4 1914. accordance with usual practice. To some investors, no doubt, the loss of expected income is of consequence, although the ordinary investor is wise enough to spread his risks over different classes of securities, and thus safeguard him- self against exceptional circumstances in any one line of business. To the speculator, of a certainty, the restriction of dividend is accentuating the difficulty of his position, and adding to his loss; an incident of speculation which he will. necessarily have to endure as part of his ordinary ventures. From the standpoint of the directors—that is, of the per- manent interests of the company as a whole—the matter is’ viewed in a far different light, lasting effect rather than immediate profit being in chief regard. The second half of this year is bound to show financial results far different from those of the first half, and those collieries which are not on the Admiralty list are passing through very trying times, for added to the losses due to bank-holiday stoppage is the loss occasioned by failure to sell, failure to ship, lack of pitwood, shortage of labour through men called to the colours, etc. Not yet, and perhaps not for some time yet, will trade get back into normal conditions, despite the fact that the seas are open, and that the demand is keen, both depots and foreign buyers being short of stocks. Even Admiralty collieries cannot market second qualities in ordi- nary quantities; and the general derangement necessitates cautious policy in regard to distribution of funds in hand. Special efforts are still being made to meet the shortage in pitwood supplies, but it is feared that the calling up of French reserves, as announced this week, will still further restrict that labour which is indispensable if adequate quan- tities are to be marketed. True, the French authorities are understood to have made arrangements for coping with the labour difficulty; but it is obvious that military con- siderations will outweigh all others, notwithstanding repre- sentations to them that pitwood is urgently required by collieries which furnish the coal needed by the British Fleet. Mr. W. North Lewis (chairman of the Pitwood Consumers’ Syndicate) and Mr. T. E. Watson (president of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce) have been appointed South Wales representatives on the Consultative Committee of the Mining Association of Great Britain, which has been con- sidering the matter with the Board of Trade, and will go into the whole question, including alternative supplies from Canada and elsewhere. Meanwhile the Board of Agricul- ture are taking action to induce owners of home-grown timber to place it promptly on the market, and are communi- cating directly with those who have plantations. But here the question of cost of transport comes in, railway carriage from any long distance being a decisive factor. In the Rhondda two pits not working the extra hour allowed under the Eight Hours Act were the Maindy and Eastern sections of the Ocean Company’s undertaking. These have now, however, fallen into line, a meeting held last week having rescinded a previous adverse decision. About 2,400 men are affected. Alexandra Company’s new dock at Newport is making , higher reputation for prompt loading, the latest instance being that of the s.s. “ Inver,” which took 1,223 tons of cargo, and also completed bunkering, in three hours and 20 minutes, Messrs. Lancaster’s coal being supplied. One of the later departures from Rhymney Valley for the front is Mr. B. Rees, secretary of the Bargoed mining classes, he being also second officer of the district ambu- lance brigade. On the occasion of the Senghenydd explo- sion last year he was particularly conspicuous in the rescue work. Rhondda colliers, to the number of over 2,000, have already enlisted for service, and nearly half of these came from the Cambrian Combine collieries, where the general manager (Mr. Leonard Llewellyn) has been very active in stimulating recruiting. From Rhymney alone close upon 250 men have joined either the Regulars or the Territorials. The decision of the South Wales Miners’ Federation has evoked demand that other unions should follow. The federation executive resolved that all men who have been called up or who enlist shall not be required to pay their subscriptions, and that on return from the war they shall be received as full members, sustaining no loss because of their cessation to pay. It is now desired that other unions should take the same course; otherwise, men who elect to serve their country in the time of crisis will be really penalised, for a trade union payment of Is. to 2s. per week is as impracticable as it is unjust in the circumstances. Northumberland and Durham. Pitmen and the Army—A Miners' Battalion—Fire at Turs- dale Colliery—The Pit Prop Shortage—Colliery Owners' Generosity. The letter from Mr. W. J. Locke, the novelist, which was quoted last week in the Colliery Guardian, has aroused con- siderable resentment in the Northern coalfield. It is strange that every eminent novelist has suddenly turned recruiting sergeant on a large scale, but, in the case of Mr. Locke, his efforts have been somewhat nullified by his evident ignor- ance of miners and the mining districts. Anyone who knows the Northumbrian miners—or their comrades in Durham— knows full well that they are the last to “ whimper for pence ” from any charitable organisation. The greatest charitable institutions in the North of England are largely financed by the pence of the miners, and the contributions to the relief funds will be augmented in no small measure by the levies which they are voluntarily placing upon them- selves. Then, as to their patriotism. We imagine that Col. W. C. Blackett could give the lie to anyone who casts aspersion on the patriotism of the Northern miner. The strongest battalions of the Territorial Force have always been recruited from the mining districts. The Durham Light Infantry and the Northumberland Fusiliers are full of Northern miners and the sons of miners. Besides, the “ Geordie ” of the coalfield is as important in many respects as ‘‘ Tommy Atkins ” himself. The nature of the work is such that the dangers the miners daily face are no less dangerous, though less romantic, than the risks run by the soldier. In any case, the splendid response the miners have made to the call of Lord Kitchener should make Mr. W. J. Locke reconsider his attitude towards the Northern miners. A serious fire occurred at Tursdale Colliery last week. Soon after midnight it was found that fire had broken out amongst some pit props at the bottom of the ventilating shaft. The night shift men were at work, and considerable difficulty was experienced in informing them of the outbreak and in getting them to bank. In order to localise the fire it was found necessary to stop the ventilating fans. Strenuous efforts were made to extinguish the blaze by the use of buckets of water, but it was not until the arrival of the brigades from Houghton and Elswick that the fire was got under control. The latter brigade had made excellent time from Newcastle, a distance of about 24 miles. After hours of energetic work the fire was extinguished, but not until great damage had been done. The pit was rendered idle through the outbreak. An explosion of gas occurred last week at Burnhope Col- liery, as the result of which four men and a youth were burned. It is noteworthy that naked lights are used in this pit, which is not regarded as being “ fiery.” It appears, however, that a small quantity of gas had collected in the spot where the accident happened, and when the over- man and deputy arrived with open lights the explosion occurred. The injured were immediately brought to bank and attended to by the colliery doctor. The remainder of the men working in the seam were ordered to cease work, and the pit was laid idle for the rest of the day. The scene of the explosion was inspected, and it was ascer- tained that no disturbance had been caused by the accident, and, after the gas had been cleared out, the pit resumed work next day. Though the position at most of the collieries is improving, it seems likely that the Northumberland Miners’ Associa- tion will have to pay unemployment benefit to about 1,000 miners who will be thrown out of work at the Blackett and South Tyne pits at Halt whistle, which will be closed down on September 9. It is stated that the failure in trade owing to the war is the cause of the stoppage. About 1,000 miners have joined the Army in the Castle Eden district, which includes Horden, Shotton, Wheatley Hill, Trimdon, and Wingate. In Northumberland and Durham the shortage of pit props is causing some anxiety. The scarcity is not entirely due to the war, although it has, of course, accentuated the trouble. A year ago it was anticipated that there would be a shortage owing to the labour disputes in Baltic ports, the drought in Russia, and the high freights. At the same time there was a greatly increased consumption of pit timber owing to the extensive re-timbering of old pits, and the opening of new workings. Now, shipments from Nor- way and Sweden have been interfered with, and the only other places where the timber can be obtained—Garonne district, in France—is not able to supply the demand because of the difficulty in getting workers. Naturally, the prices of props and baulks are advancing, and if the present slack working of the pits is taxing the supplies, it is going to be a difficult problem when the pits begin to work more briskly. There is, however, the possibility that the Baltic trade may resume before the war is finished. The colliery owners in Northumberland and Durham con- tinue to arrange for provision for the dependants of those of their employees who are on active service. The directors of the Priestman Collieries Limited have decided to adopt the following scheme :—In the case of upstanding wage men, to pay to the wife or other dependants full wages; in the case of other married men and single men with depen- dants, to pay to the wife or dependants 8s. per week. In both cases the house and coal allowances will be continued, and the positions kept open. A committee has been formed at the Springwell Colliery for the purpose of organising the collection of subscriptions to the National Relief Fund. Mr. R. B. Clark, agent of the Spring well Collieries, has been appointed chairman of the committee. The owners of the Tynedale Colliery have decided 10s. a week shall be paid to the wives of their employees who have been called to the Colours, and each child in the family will be given an allowance of 2s. 6d. per week. The usual allowances will be made. The Tynedale Colliery has worked very regularly since the outbreak of hostilities. The miners of Wingate Colliery have decided to contribute Id. per shift per man to the Prince of Wales’s Relief Fund. Mr. Richard Berkeley, agent of Messrs. Bowes and Partners’ collieries at Marley Hill, has been elected chairman of the committee at Marley Hill which has taken in hand the work of supplying material to the Red Cross Society. A committee has been formed at Shotton Colliery to deal with the distress caused in the district by the war. It is a matter for congratulation that the Northumberland Miners’ Association now find themselves in a position to pay full unemployed benefit to their men who are idle on account of the war. Some time ago the trustees and executive committee decided that, in view of the strained circumstances of the association and the heavy demand for relief which was anticipated, it would be impossible to pay full benefit, and quarter benefit was decided upon. The heavy demand, however, has not been made, and the men’s representatives have decided that full benefit can be paid, and, as the position at many of the pits is improving con- siderably, it is probable that there will be for the second fortnight fewer claims on the funds of the association than was the case for the fortnight now ended. Mr. Jackson, cashier for the Bolckow Vaughan collieries for 21 years, received a presentation last week. The pre- sentation, which consisted of a gold watch, was -mbscribed for by the workmen and officials. Mr. J. W. Cook, the company’s agent, made the presentation, and also presented Mrs. Jackson with a gold ring. Mr. Jackson is now residing at Leasingthorne. The Dean and Chapter Colliery, Ferryhill, continues to work five days a week, although several of the other col- lieries at Ferryhill are not working so regularly. However, the Dean and Chapter Colliery employs by far the greater number of men. The decision of the Low Beechburn Colliery management to re-open 30 coke ovens has resulted in many of the unemployed miners in the district finding work in that direction. The Low Beechburn Colliery lodge has decided to hand over to the National Relief Fund all the surplus money from the Durham Gala Fund. Things are not looking very bright at the Kelloe Colliery. The miners in the Low Main and Hutton seams had only one shift to draw last pay, but they have worked much more regularly since. The west district of the Low Main seam is to be laid in, and the 60 men and boys engaged there have been transferred to the Hutton seam. The miners of the Thistleflatt Colliery have levied themselves Is. per week—6d. for relief work and 6d. for unemployed benefit. The Shotton Colliery has been kept pretty busy by a large coke order. Over 200 applications for stoppage relief have, been received by the Northumberland Deputies’ Association. The largest batches of applications are those from Burradon and Backworth. The war is affecting the coal trade in Northumberland and Durham in many ways, and, naturally, the miners them- selves are being affected also. Some of them have turned ambulance workers, some have enlisted, and quite a number of them have done excellent service in the way of digging trenches. The speed and efficiency displayed by the miners on the coast when engaged in trench digging has filled the military authorities with admiration. Speaking at Bly th and Ashington, Earl Grey suggested that a miners’ batta- lion should be formed. At Ashington 70 recruits were enrolled immediately after the meeting, and, so far as pos- sible, all the men will be kept in one unit. Earl Grey and Lord Howick asked the executive council to assist in the enrolment of recruits in the mining districts, and the circular issued from Burt Hall, and signed by Messrs. Straker, Cairns, and Hogg, was certainly not a very enthusiastic document. It was in the following terms :—‘‘ Fellow workmen.—We are informed that Lord Grey and others are convening meetings in a number of colliery centres in our country with a view to getting volunteers for Lord Kitchener’s Second Army, and we have been approached by Lord Howick to ask our local committees to co-operate with the military authorities to make these meetings a success. We, therefore, are in duty bound to inform you of what these authorities desire you to do.” However, the miners themselves were more enthusiastic about the recruiting scheme than the Burt Hall officials appeared to be, and at Ashington over 5,000 miners gathered on the football field when the recruiting meeting was held. Mr. Charles Fenwick, M.P., who has represented the Wansbeck miners in Parliament for so many years, has been ordered by his medical adviser to take a rest from all public work. Mr. Fenwick is suffering from a nervous breakdown, which has been developing for some time past. A serious accident occurred at Bearpark Colliery last week during the erection of a range of patent by-product ovens, when a crane broke down. The loaders and crane- men were all injured. Happily the accident was not so serious as at first reported, namely, that five men had been killed. Mr. Malcolm Dillon, agent for Lord Londonderry at Seaham, made an interesting statement at a meeting con- vened by the Seaham Urban District Council for the pur- pose of forming a War Relief Committee. Mr. Dillon said it would be unwise at .present to take any definite action by co-operating with the National Relief Fund. Lord London- derry was strongly of opinion that money subscribed in the county of Durham should be spent in the county, and his lordship had forwarded a cheque for j£l,000 on that under- standing. The officials of the Londonderry collieries had agreed voluntarily to deduct 5 per cent, from their salaries and wages to relieve local cases of distress. That applied to everyone engaged in an official capacity at the collieries. The Earl of Durham has also received a letter from Lord Londonderry, in which he reiterates his opinion that the money contributed in Durham should be spent in Durham. He also states that, should the relief fund be insufficient, he is willing to contribute still further. His lordship says :— ‘‘ All my interests are in Durham, where some 8,000 men are in my employment, and I am anxious that my donations should help to prevent distress there, and that the money should be at hand for immediate relief.” Last Saturday some consternation was caused in the Haltwhistle district by an announcement in the Newcastle evening papers that the Blackett and South Tyne pits were to be closed down indefinit