October 2, 1914.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

733

special report issued last year, stated that the present
position in South Africa of British-made oil engines
was by no means unsatisfactory, although it is capable
of improvement. In engines of over 5-horse power
capacity the United Kingdom practically controls the
market, but in the smaller sizes American makers are
in a commanding position, although British firms are
making their influence felt in their endeavours to
compete. Germany does very little trade in this line.
Efficient local representation is a matter of vital
importance in building up a regular business in the
country. Where power is required in Rhodesia for
mining, industrial or municipal purposes, steam or
electricity is employed in preference to oil or gas, except
in a few isolated instances. For mining purposes there
may be said to be no opening for oil engines, since few
are in use or are likely to be installed. Electricity and
steam are so readily available at the mining centres that
their use in preference to that of oil or gas plants is
easily understood. The efforts of British makers should
be directed chiefly towards the improvement of the
smaller sizes of engine, in which America has specialised,
since the larger machines of British make are regarded
as being in every way satisfactory and are subject to
but little serious foreign competition. There is a fine
opening for a satisfactory air-cooled engine in this
market, as being an improvement on those merely
water-cooled. Then, an essential requirement is the
“walking beam,” as embodied in the “Jack-of-all-
trades ” engine of American make. The beam (or
rather the gearing which works the beam) should be
capable of easy disconnection from the engine, so that
the engine may run free and its flywheel be used for
belt-drive to centrifugal pumps, mealie-crushers, or
other machines required for farm purposes. Lastly,
the importance of simplicity in construction cannot be
too strongly emphasised. Spare parts should be inter-
changeable to the greatest possible extent, with the
dual object of reducing the piime cost of manufacture
and of obviating the necessity for merchants or farmers
stocking a large variety of sizes of any one spare part.
Farmers are in engineering matters non-technical, and
the replacement of broken parts of an engine should,
through this simplicity of construction, be made as easy
an operation as possible. It would be a considerable
advantage if the directions as to working, cleaning, &c.,
were printed on enamelled plates, as paper instructions
are speedily lost or destroyed. In the future, should
crude oil be obtainable locally and the supply be
sufficient in quantity and regularity, it might be
advisable for makers to turn their attention to an
engine working on crude oil. For the present, however,
the demand for such a type does not warrant attention.
British prices are high as compared with American,
and whilst it is true that the British engines contain
“ better value for the money ” than do those of their
competitors, every effort should be made to bring the
cost of engines to farmers and others down to the point
at which they appear reasonable from the very first.
Many orders in the past have gone to America for
reasons of price alone, but the desirability of farmers
being educated at the outset to the use of power
through the medium of British-made machinery is
obvious. Something has undoubtedly been lost to home
manufacturers owing io the initial work of education
having been commenced by American makers and their
agents in this market. A list of the leading South
African mei chant firms who are trading in gas and oil
engines, or of firms who are open to consider the
repiesentatiou of United Kingdom firms, may le
obtained on application to the Commercial Intelligence
Branch, Boaid of Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, London,
E.C.

The total imports of prime move is other than
electrical into British India in the year ended March
1913 amounted in value to £327,153. Of this amount,
goods supplied by the United Kingdom were valued at
£311,875, being a decrease of over £90,000 as compared
with the previous year. The imports from Germany
were valued at £7,729, as compared with £22,000 in the
previous year.

In Egypt, in view of the strong position previously
held by British manufacturers, it should not be
difficult to secure the additional amount of trade
formerly in German and Austrian hands.

His Majesty’s Consul General at Philadelphia in a
recent despatch wrote as follows :—

“ The reduction of the tariff on stationary engines,
and gas engines imported into the United States,
has very much reduced the American business in
this line and has enabled Germany to make great
inroads on the trade in this country. It has been
stated to me that the Underwood Tariff Law gives
the foreign competitors an advantage which home
manufacturers in this country cannot meet, and the
biggest and most profitable orders are being sent
abroad, mostly to Germany, to be filled.”

In Japan, Germany holds a very favourable position
in the tiade in gas, petroleum, and hotair engines, steam
engines, and steam boilers.

Germany’s supplies of gas engines, petroleum engines,
and hot air engines have increased from about £17,000
in the year 1912, and an even more remarkable increase
is shown in the imports from Germany of steam engines,
the figures for 1912 being only about £4,500. On the other
hand, the imports of gas engines, petroleum engines,
and hot air engines from the United Kingdom decreased
from about £99,000 in 1912, whereas the imports of
steam engines from the United Kingdom were stationary
in 1912 and 1913, both years showing a considerable
decrease as compared with 1911.

(To be continued.)

The miners of Dinnington have had a meeting to discuss
the butty system. The decision arrived at was that it shall
be continued so far as this pit is concerned.

Notes from the Coalfields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Moratorium and the Coal Trade—Swansea Chamber on
Traders' Difficulties—Newport and the Claims Upon
“ Enemy Vessels ”—State-paid Firemen—Widening
the Admiralty Area—Coal Supplies to Belgium—
Miners' Provident Society —.Railway Companies
Refusal of Information to Coal Traders—Cardiff
Exchange and Sir W. J. Thomas—Hundreds of Men
Wanted at the Collieries—Colliers and Recruiting :
Demand for Higher Family Allowances—Prosecution
at Ammanford.

In view of the expiry of the moratorium, the Cardiff and
Swansea Chambers of Commerce have been considering a
circular letter from the Association of Chambers of Com-
merce, the object of which is to obtain Government assist-
ance in respect of debts owing to the members by foreigners.
The suggestion is that overdraft should be granted to each
member by his bank for an amount equivalent to the debts
due to him, and the members are asked to send statements
of such amounts, distinguishing the separate count:, i-.s. It
is said in the circular that the matter is under the considera-
tion of the Treasury, the expectation being that if advances
are made by the bankers to their customers against debts
owing them by foreign creditors, the Government would
consider the question of guaranteeing a portion of any loss
that may be incurred; and it is upon the suggestion of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer that bankers and traders are
taking up the matter.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Swansea Charnbe?.-
of Commerce, Mr. T. P. Cook said the Government seemed
to have worked in a marvellous way with a view to mini-
mising traders’ difficulties occasioned by the war. The
executive of their Chamber had taken action with regard to
State insurance, prohibition of exports of coal and patent
fuel, the triple bond, the transfer of credit, the commandeer-
ing of colliery horses, the supply of pitwood, delay in the
returning of empties, the extension of the moratorium, the
embargo on tinplates and galvanised sheets, and other
matters such as assistance to manufacturers to work into
stock. Their action, combined with that of other Chambers,
’ had led to a great diminution of the difficulties under which
traders laboured at the outbreak of the war. He also bore
testimony to the arduous and successful work of Sir Alfred
. Mond, M.P., who was a member of the committee of bankers
and traders appointed to confer with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer. The result had been a strong current of trade
in the port and district at the present time. Mr. Cook also
referred to the active co-operation which for the first time had
taken place between the Chamber and the Metal Exchange,
and said he trusted that the good relations set up by recent
trade difficulties might be deepened and extended—a senti-
ment which was cordially endorsed by his audience.

Dealing with the position of British creditors and German
shipowners, a matter of direct concern as to supply of
bunkers, etc., Mr. Hill, solicitor, said at the meeting of New-
port Chamber of Commerce that the Procurator-General could
seize a German ship and ask for condemnation in the Prize
Court, and in this case the vessel would be sold and the
debts paid. But the Procurator-General might, on the other
hand, ask only for an order of detention, in which case the
vessel would be kept until the end of the wTar, and then
handed back to German owmers, possibly free from debt
which she might owe the British creditors. A Newport firm
would have no remedy in case of detention.—Mr. Lyndon
Moore said he believed that as a matter of grace the
Procurator-General could pay the debts of the British
creditors of a boat condemned; but he was somewhat
sceptical about, the success of an application.

The South Wales and Monmouthshire Colliery Examiners’
Association met in Cardiff on Saturday, and among the
subjects of discussion was the suggestion that colliery fire-
men should be employed and paid by the State whilst con-
trolled by the workmen. This is one of the ideas that have
been mooted by Labour leaders : and in the course of the
debate strong antagonism was shown to this idea that
firemen should be controlled by the w’orkmen. Some
of the speakers maintained that in any change which
aimed at the securing of greater safety, the initiative
should come from the Government inspectors and chief
officials. If the firemen were relieved from the control
of the owmers and the managers of mines—a change which
the speakers thought would increase the safety—they held
that the control should not be with workmen. The law and
regulations were laid down by the Government to be
observed by colliery proprietors, officials, and workmen, and,
in the opinion of the speakers, the Government itself should
employ and pay the men charged with seeing that the laws
were obeyed. State employment of firemen, whilst it would
not do away with accidents, would, it was felt, be a valuable
measure adding to security.

The miners’ agent for the Avon Valley, Mr. W. Jenkins,
has had an interview in London with Admiralty representa-
tives, to wThom he made special application as to the use of
coal from that area, where many men are on short time or
out of employment. At three collieries all the men are
under notice, and at others only two to three days a week
are being worked. Mr. Jenkins’ desire was that the Avon
Valley coal, where equal in quality to coal now supplied,
should be used in the Navy. His argument was that the
Government should ensure fairer distribution of work by
placing orders wherever suitable coal could be got. Promise
was made him at the Admiralty that his representations
should be duly considered. He pointed out that Port Talbot,
the outlet of the Valley, was second to none as a port, and
was within easier reach of the coalfield, and that the utilisa-
tion of local supplies would furnish employment at those
docks.

Already efforts are being made to open out coal trade
between South Wales and Belgium, the stoppage of mining
operations in the latter country having induced belief that
demand for supplies will be experienced at an early date.

Nearly 13,000 men, chiefly miners, have joined the Colours
from Monmouthshire, and 26,000 from Glamorgan. A letter
sent to Mr. Watts Morgan, miners’ agent, stated that single
men of recruiting age had been refused employment at col-
lieries where there were vacancies; but none of the delegates
at the Rhondda monthly meeting were able to furnish infor-
mation that sustained any such allegation ; and Mr. Morgan
said that 2,600 men were wanted in the Valley to fill the
places of those who had gone on military service. Some

speakers objected to their agent acting in the recruiting cam-
paign, but their objection was not supported.

The South Wales Miners’ Provident Society held its quar-
terly meeting on Saturday, and the accounts showed that
£2,707 had been distributed during the quarter in relief,
there being 204 disabled members, with 564 widows and 80
children on the fund. It was reported that the executive
committee of the Senghenydd Explosion Trust had decided
to distribute its relief through the agency of this society,
and that a payment of £200 per annum will be made to
the society. In view of the additional labour put upon the
officials some slight increases in salary w’ill be made. In
this connection it may be noted that the chairman and secre-
tary of a local relief committee make appeal for increase in
the amount of grants for payments to be made weekly, and
on certain other points, but it was not showm that increase
of grants is actuarially advisable.

Swansea Chamber of Commerce discussed on Friday last
a letter from one railway company which refused to give
information as to wagons carrying coal to inland centres. It
was stated that owing to the continually increasing number
of a’pplications the company had been compelled to give
instruction to the stations not to supply W’hat was asked for.
One speaker said that in this case the only thing to be done
■was not to send coal by that particular company if there
wTas an alternative route; and Mr. T. P. Cook, who pre-
sided, said he believed that some traders had already
adopted this course.

The members of Cardiff Exchange met on Thursday last
week to make a presentation to Sir W. J. Thomas, Ynyshir,
in recognition of his public work and his knighthcod, and
there wTas a very large attendance, practically all the prin-
cipal firms being represented. The presentation consisted
of a bronze bust of Sir William himself, a cheque for 1,000
guineas, and a cheque for £180. As it had been made
known that the intention of Sir William was to present them
in aid of Cardiff hospitals, the cheques were drawn in thq
form stated. The 1,000 guineas will be given to the King
Edward VII. Hospital, and the £180 to the Seamen’s
Hospital, whilst the bust will be placed in the former insti-
tution. Mr. Dan Radcliffe, of the shipping firm of Evan
Thomas, Radcliffe and Company, made the presentation, and
stated that when the honour of knighthood was conferred
upon Sir William, everyone at “ the docks ’’ thought that
something should be done to commemorate the occasion, for
Sir William had been so well known amongst them ’in busi-
ness circles, and also for his philanthropy. Mr. T. E.
Watson, president of the Chamber of Commerce, also paid
tribute to Sir William, whom he described as an honour to
Cardiff and the coal trade. Sir William, in reply, stated
that he had already 16 beds at the hospital, and this gift
would make the 17th. His one ambition was to do what
he could to relieve suffering, and he hoped he would be
spared to see the Welsh Medical School built and equipped.

Cardiff Exchange witnessed on Friday the unusual spec-
tacle of military officers addressing the' “ doeksmen,” and
with them a Presbyterian minister. The appeal was that
150 more volunteers would come forward to join the “ Pals ”
Regiment which had been formed from amongst the clerks
and other office staffs; and the vice-president of the Chamber
of Commerce (Mr. F. Fifoot) said inasmuch as the Exchange
had responded to the previous call, he could give assurance
that the present visit would not be in vain.

Owing to the large number of men who have joined the
Army from the Rhondda Valleys, there is at the present time
a shortage of labour, and it is stated that some pits could
take on hundreds of men. The Ocean Colliery at Treorky
alone could last week give employment to 500, and the Cam-
brian 200. Yet there are, taking the coalfield as a whole,
between 3,000 and 4,000 men out of work; and, to meet the
difficulty, approach will to made to the railway companies
to run more workmen’s trains.

The veteran miners’ leader, the Right Hon. William
Abraham, M.P., better known as “ Mabon,” address-d a
recruiting meeting in his constituency, and met wi h a
rousing reception. In connection with labour matters, the
hon. member for the Rhondda division has many times been
termed “ the old warrior,” on account of his 40 years’
strenuous advocacy on behalf of the miners; and he referred
to this in his speech, declaring that whilst he had been called
the old warrior, this was the first recruiting meeting he had
ever attended. Speaking in Welsh, “Mabon” urged that
the day for fighting had come, that if they did not want
their liberty to be crushed and become slaves to militarism
the battle must be fought right out. — Mr. Leonard W.
Llewellyn, general manager of the Cambrian Combine, said
that up to that time the Rhondda had supplied 5,307 recruits,
of whom 2,731 came from Tonypandy and Perth, and in
addition to these totals there were about 1,000 or more men
who had been taken from the district because they were
Reservists or Pensioners.—Mr. D. Watts Morgan, miners'
agent, said that he had received a telegram informing him
that recruits sent from the Rhondda would be enrolled as
a Rhondda Welsh Battalion.

Councillor W. J. Davies, of the Maritime and Pen. tow
Collieries, who had been invited to take up the position of
agent at Elder Dempster Collieries, Maesteg, was the reci-
pient of a presentation last week, this including an
illuminated address, a gold watch and chain, and a baro-
meter; whilst to Mrs. Davies was given a silver tea and
coffee service. The presentation was made by the officials
and workmen of the Maritime and Penrhiw Collieries, in
token of their esteem and of their good wishes, he having
been with them for 14 years. When it was known that he
had the offer to go to Maesteg, a deputation of w rkn e i
waited upon him and urged that he should stay with them,
and thereupon he declined the new appointment.

Cardiff Railway Company, in respect of their docks staff,
announce several changes, and it is evident that under the
control of Col. Denniss new vigour will be import d into the
operations of this important undertaking. Mr. H. Lander,
collector of dues, has retired on full salary after nearly 50
years in the service of the company; and it is stated as show-
ing the change in the mercantile marine, that whilst 84 per
cent, of the tonnage in his first year was sailing craft, the
percentage is now only 4, steam having almost entirely dis-
placed sails. Mr. D. Edmunds, joint collector, also retires.
Mr. W. H. Treatt, chief clerk, becomes collector.

A Commission will visit Newfoundland, under instructions
from the Board of Trade, to open up new sources for'supply
of mining timber.

The Western Valleys (Monmouthshire) Miners' Council
makes appeal to the Government “ to guarantee payment of
at least £1 a week for each soldier or sailor's wife, with 5s.
for each child”; also that the Government will take con-