1080 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 20, 1914. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. Notices having been given by some of the workmen to terminate their contracts in the 9 ft. seam of Nixon’s Col- liery, it was arranged at the Conciliation Board meeting that the notices and summonses should be withdrawm, and that Mr. Gray and the miners’ agent should deal with the dis- pute, and that failing an agreement, Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Vyce should enquire into the matter. The notices given by workmen at Cynon Company’s Col- liery, where work has ceased, were discussed by the Board, but no settlement was arrived at. Other disputes were also dealt with, but referred for inves- tigation, with power to settle. The Conciliation Board had also before it once more the old question of fixing a period for averaging the wages of pieceworkers, a report being brought up by the joint sub- committee which was appointed to deal with the matter. This committee has had several meetings, and it was said that a proposal had been made from the employers’ side, and that they were still awaiting the reply of the workmen’s representatives. As these were not yet in a position to reply definitely, the matter has again been referred to the sub- committee, so that they may endeavour to frame a joint recommendation. The owners’ side brought up the question of stoppages at the Gelli Colliery of Messrs. Cory Brothers and Company, and at the Cwmvale Company’s colliery, notwithstanding that settlements had been arrived at by the joint sub-com- mittee in reference to them. With regard to these, and also the stoppage at Messrs. Williams and Sons’ colliery, the workmen replied that they were still dealing with the three questions; and they were urged to make every effort for obtaining resumption of work. Newport coal trimmers have yielded to the appeal made to them by Mr. Vickery, manager of the Alexandra Docks; and on Monday passed a resolution withdrawing the month’s notice they had given. This had relation to the clause in the tariff concerning a certain type of steamers. Their declared reason for withdrawal is that “ we do not think the time opportune during the war crisis to embark upon con- tentious matters which may bring into existence a dispute, and thus affect the trade of the port.” It was further decided that “ all matters pertaining to trimming work not mutually, settled shall be referred to the Trimming Concilia- tion Board; and there shall be no stoppage of work.” North of England. The majority of the men who were thrown out of work by the closing of the Newburgh Colliery have now found employ- ment. Most of the men of sufficiently good physique have joined the Colours, and the greater part of those remaining have been employed at Broomhill and Bullock Hall collieries. It is gratifying to learn that, although Pegs wood Colliery notices to 400 men and boys expired last week-end, nearly all the 400 are to be given employment at Ashington col- lieries. The owners of the Pegs wood Colliery are allowing their late employees to retain possession of the colliery houses until trade revives. Most of the men and boys employed at the Adelaide Col- liery, Shildon, have received a fortnight’s notice to termi- nate their employment this week-end. About 200 are affected. Most of these, however, are likely to secure work at neighbouring collieries. Through the closing down of a district in the Beaumont seam at Usworth Colliery, over 50 men and youths have been rendered unemployed. The management of the col- liery, however, hopes to find employment for them in other parts of the same pit. The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Association has sent out a circular to the branches, dealing with the proposed emergency grant from the Board of Trade. Under the Insurance Act of 1911, the association can claim from the Board either one-sixth or one-third of the money disbursed in unemployed benefit, according to the extent to which it is prepared to levy its members. It was hoped to avoid the payment of this levy, as the miners have contri- buted to the various relief funds amounts very much larger than that which can be raised by a levy. In addition to these contributions to relief funds, the men who have not been thrown out of work by the war have done much to alleviate distress in their own particular district. The Board of Trade has, however, refused to accept this in place of the levy, which must now be paid in order to receive the grant. In the circular, Mr. J. Cairns, the financial secretary of the association, says that the funds of the association are much depleted, and that the payment of the levy seems to be the only way to raise money. The amount claimed from the Board of Trade is about £10,500, being one-sixth of total out-of-work disbursements from January 1913. The benefits and rates are :—Benefits exceeding 15s. but not exceeding 17s., 3d. weekly levy to obtain an emergency grant of one- sixth ; 6d. weekly to obtain grant of one-third. Benefit exceeding 13s. but not exceeding 15s., 2d. per week levy to obtain grant of one-sixth; 4d. per week levy to obtain grant of one-third. Benefit not exceeding 13s., Id. per week levy for one-sixth, and 2d. per week for one-thjrd. The levy is only to be paid when full time is worked, and members under 21 years of age are not liable to be called on. The members are asked to vote in favour of the 6d. levy. Amongst recent decisions of the executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Association is one to the effect that it is not considered desirable to press the claim for a larger amount of compensation for men doing light work when the pit is working short time, “as to do so would endanger the loss of the agreement with the Coal Owners’ Association for the compensation in all such cases to be based on five days per week’s work, which has worked very advantageously to our members in the past; and that, while this agreement may be, to such men, a slight disadvantage during the present exceptional time, it would be a great mistake, taking the future into consideration, to have it set aside.” Federated Area. There was a dispute at Bentley Colliery, Doncaster, last week, which threatened to close down the pit, but happilv it has now been settled. The winders alleged that the col- liery company had not been keeping to their agreement to find them seven shifts work per week, and that they had been reduced to four shifts, even when the pit had been winding coal for five days per week. They also complained that they had been asked to go from one engine house to another between the working time, contrary to the custom of the Winders’ Association. One man refused to do this, and was dismissed. The other winders then handed in their notices. A deputation met Mr. Fryer, agent for Messrs. Barber, Walker and Company without result. Next day there was another conference, at which underground men, surfacemen, and winders were represented. It was agreed that the discharged man should be reinstated, and that in future such matters as the one in dispute should be referred to arbitration. A meeting of the men was called, and the proposals were accepted. The pit continued working throughout the negotiations associated with the dispute. The miners’ dispute at Hafod Colliery, Wrexham, has been settled. Fifteen hundred men have been idle. In view of the expiry of the miners’ agreements in March next, steps are already being taken to ascertain the views of each side with regard to their renewal. Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., presided over a meeting at the Westminster Palace Hotel on Tuesday. Representatives of the Miners’ Federation and that of the employers were present. A pre- liminary interchange of opinions took place, but no decision was attempted. After sitting until late in the afternoon, the conference adjourned till December 2. The fireclay miners in the Old Hill and Stourbridge dis- tricts have sent a request to the Midland Miners’ Federation for them to be placed under the Minimum Wage Act. Scotland. The first meeting of the executive of the National Union of Scottish Mine Workers was held on the 12th inst. in Glasgow, Mr. Robert Smillie in the chair. It was decided that the union should give a grant of £100 from the central fund to the Belgian workers in Belgium. Mr. Gilmour reported that the men at Knowton Colliery, near Shotts, had been idle for four weeks owing to a dispute about a reduction in ton rates. Messrs. Brown and M‘Kerrell were appointed (along with Mr. Gilmour) to meet the general manager of the company, with the view to arriving at a settlement. A serious dispute at Neilsland Colliery, Hamilton, by which 800 miners have been idle for a week, was reported upon on Friday last by Mr. David Gilmour, secretary of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union, at a meeting of the miners. The dispute originated in the refusal of the company to accept liability in connection with a claim for compensation by a workman suffering from nystagmus, a disease of the eyes recognised by the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The company argued that, several months ago the workman signed a receipt in settlement of a claim for damages founded upon injuries which he had sustained in his own home by the explosion of a gelignite cap, which had inadvertently got into a cart of coals delivered to him, the cap bursting on being thrown into the fire with some coals. This receipt, it was averred, contained a proviso which covered liability for any loss of work which the workman might in future sustain through the condition of his eyesight. After being idle 17 weeks, and working fully four months, the miner was incapacitated through nystagmus. Sheriff Shennan, at Hamilton, sided with the company, holding that the miner by his receipt in the former case had practically given away his rights under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The Lanarkshire Miners’ Union decided to appeal against the decision. Meantime the company took action in court to evict the workman and his family from their dwelling house. Mr. Gilmour approached the general manager of the company and asked that the proceedings might be post- poned until the whole point at issue could be discussed. This was refused, and the pit was thrown idle by the union. As a result of a subsequent conference with the officials of the company, the contention of the union’s representatives was upheld. On reporting these negotiations at the meet- ing of the miners, complete satisfaction was expressed at the result, and the men have resumed work, the company agreeing to suspend further eviction proceedings pending the decision in the appeal to the Court of Session. INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES. Australasia. Coal in West Australia. — In “ Miscellaneous Report,” Bulletin No. 48, 1913, Geological Survey of Western Aus- tralia, Mr. E. S. Simpson gives the results of investigations into the composition and properties of coals from the Collie coalfield. The Collie coal measures are stated by Mr. A. G. Maitland (Bulletin No. 50) to be of permo-carboniferous age. The samples examined are from seams worked at depths of from 100 to 250 ft. thick, and the seams vary from 6 to 10 ft. in thickness. The coals are described as non-caking coals of the hydrous bituminous class. Though belonging to the same general class, the coals are of two types. One of these, the “ Proprietary ” type, is dull and porous, dirty to handle, crumbles on exposure to the air, and burns freely without much smoke. The other, the “ Collieburn ” type, is bright and compact, clean to handle, burns less freely, and gives off an appreciable amount of smoke. The mean proximate analyses of the two types of coal are as follows :— Proprietary type. Per cent. Collieburn type. Per cent. Fixed carbon 48*48 40’20 Volatile matter 24’79 3217 Moisture 18-62 23'32 Ash 8-11 4’31 Calorific value (B.T.U.) 9,695 ... 9,516 Specific gravity ............... 1'39 ... 1*32 A notable feature of these coals is the high percentage of water they contain, even when quite dry to the touch and free from visible “ mine-water.” The whole of this water is lost when the coal is powdered and heated to 100 degs. Cent, for an hour; and about a third of it is given off in a few hours when the powdered coal is left exposed to the atmosphere. Two samples of Collieburn coal, containing when fresh 22’43 per cent, and 23-72 per cent, of moisture respectively, were crushed to pass a Jin. sieve, and left exposed to the air. After 31 days the moisture percentages were 14-95 and 9 respectively. The moisture percentage of a sample of Proprietary coal similarly treated dropped from 19’52 to 12-25. After exposure for a month the percentage of moisture remained constant. Coal in Southern Queensland.—Last year, as well as for several years previously, the coal mining industry in Queensland showred a distinct advance, and it is satisfactory (says the Queensland Government Mining Journal) to know that during the first half of 1914, in the southern division of the State at least, progress continues to be made. In the West Moreton or Ipswich district, amongst the new coal mines is one at Acland, on the Cooyar Railway, where the Sugarloaf Coal Company have secured what promises to be a valuable property. There are three known seams of coal, the top one being 8 ft. thick, lying fairly level at a depth of 80 ft. Fresh collieries have also been opened at Muldu, in the same district, and at Loamside, near Ipswich. The coke making industry, too, has developed considerably this year. The output of coal in the Wide Bay district during the first six months of this year was over 6,500 tons greater than that for the same period of 1913. The coal in this locality comes from seven different pits—four of them belong- ing to the Queensland Collieries Company Limited. Lately several leases were taken up between Bergowan Colliery and the Pialba Railway, and one on the other (or Torbanlea) side of the main north coast line. Several coal prospecting areas have been taken up a few miles from Colton Junction down the Pialba Railway, and the Goldfields Diamond Drill- ing Company have been boring at sites selected by the Government geologist (Mr. B. Dunstan). As a result, several seams of coal have been found, the results being on the whole very encouraging. It is understood that a little prospecting is being done in the same district by other people —some of them from Ipswich—in the way of sinking trial shafts. Some further boring has been carried out by the Queensland Collieries Company, while a Maryborough syndi- cate has been doing similar work near that company’s pro- perty. It is reported that an effort is being made to re-open the old Torbanlea mine, and that a party of working men are likely to start coal mining bn Walsh and Davidson’s property also. COAL SHIPPED FROM PORTS IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES During the Month of October 1914 Compared with the Corresponding Month of 1913. The increase in cargo and bunker shipments notice- able in September has continued during October. Though this increase is perhaps slight, it is satisfactory, as it points to trade being on the upward trend. The following figures issued by H.M. Commissioners of Customs and Excise show the shipments during October:— Cargo. Bristol Channel ports— Oct. 1913. Tons. Oct. 1914. Tons. Cardiff 1,715,356 . ... 1,076,781 Gloucester 1,853 1,195 Llanelly 27,129 . 11,079 Milford 265 . — Newport 368,669 . 7. 339,127 Port Talbot 179,281 . 87,662 Swansea 323,595 . ... 196,138 Total 2,616,148 . ... 1,711,982 North-western ports— Liverpool 28,803 . 21,582 Manchester 18,316 . 26,429 Preston 402 . — Runcorn 608 . — Total 48,129 . 48,011 North-eastern ports— Amble 43,636 . 22,630 Blyth 353,300 . .. 182,733 Hartlepool 112,646 . 77,550 Middlesbrough 3,070 . 1,958 Newcastle and North and South Shields 1,205,329 . .. 597,607 Sunderland 266,731 . .. 158,478 Seaham 79,496 . 40,628 Total 2,064,208 . .. 1,081,584 Humber ports— Goole 124,960 . 60,016 Grimsby 104,684 , 92,359 Immingham 245,966 . 84,252 Hull 459,966 . .. 196,747 Total 935,576 . .. 433,404 Other ports on east coast— Boston 27,161 . 11,843 Dover 10 . — King’s Lynn 17,838 . 6,451 London 1,219 . 32 Total 46,228 . 18,326 Other English ports— Southampton 643 . 5 Total 643 . 5 Ports on the east coast of Scotland— Aberdeen 218 .. — Alloa 13,114 ... 2,930 Borrowstoness 44,119 .. 36,585 Burntisland 173,732 ... 103,134 Grangemouth 119,388 ... 48,279 Granton 11,623 ... 4,959 Kirkcaldy 11,622 .. 12,291 Kirkwall 121 .. — Leith 196,232 ... 86,710 Methil 261,785 ... 119,713 Total............... 831,954 ... 414,601 Ports on the west coast of Scotland— Ardrossan 5,413 .. 3,100 Ayr 4,010 . 5,517 Glasgow .' 176,717 .. 215,419 Greenock 1,185 .. 16 Irvine ... — 948 Troon 9,262 *' 11,784 Total 196,587 .. 236,584 Grand total 6,739,473 .. .. 3,944,497 Bunker. Oct. 1913. Oct. 1914. Tons. Tons. Bristol Channel ports 458,362 .. .. 418,428 North-western ports 327,502 .. .. 385,116 North-eastern ports 295,331 . .. 184,461 Humber ports 296,695 . 156,203 Other east coast ports 157,213 . 92,972 Other English ports ... 84,636 . 16,350 Ports on east coast of Scotland... 137,114 .. 83,351 Ports on west coast of Scotland... 131,169 .. 118,345 Irish ports 772 .. 221 Grand total 1,888,794 . .. 1,455,447 Lord Merthyr, who died in August last, has left a personal estate of over .£600,000.