November 27, 1914.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1135

ence to the report of arrangements arrived at between the
Cabinet-, the coal owners, and the miners’ executive), that
whilst desirous of carrying out the obligation to unemployed
men, the Western Valleys district dissociated itself from the
arrangements, because these “ make no provision for carry-
ing out its local obligation entered into for the assistance of
the dependants of the men who have enlisted in the Army
and Navy.” This resolution obviously indicates a further
widening of the discussion.

The miners’ executive met last week, and it was stated
that arrangements had been made between the Federation
and the Prince of Wales’s Fund Committee, whereby the
Federation would receive the levy deducted from the men
for payment of out-of-work benefit to those idle through the
war. At the next meeting a deputation will be received from
the Enginemen’s and Stokers’ Association, regarding amal-
gamation with the Federation. The executive decided to
ask for a special meeting of the Conciliation Board to con-
sider the question of substitution of oil or electric safety
lamps for naked lights, and to advise’ the workmen at Blaen-
avon, where electric lights are being substituted for naked
lights, to accept under protest, pending the meeting of the
Beard. Relative to vacancies for Belgians, the secretary
was instructed to state that the Federation had no objection
to the employment of Belgians, provided that they were
under proper supervision so as not to endanger their own
lives or those of other workmen in consequence of the
language difficulty—and providing there was a scarcity of
labour. t

The action of the Seamen and Firemen’s Union with
regard to the increased wage rate has raised the question
whether Admiralty vessels are likely to be hampered by dis-
agreement in this respect. The officials of the union, how-
ever, state that they will do nothing to hamper Admiralty
tonnage, but, on the contrary, will make every effort, as
they have done hitherto, to provide crews. It is stated on
their behalf that they have already had considerable diffi-
culty in getting a sufficient number of British men for the
vessels on Admiralty charter and get them away with
prompt despatch. One of the questions at issue is as to
payment for overtime, for which the union are now requiring
9d. or Is. per hour.

The miners of the Eastern Valleys of Monmouthshire have
decided to ask the Labour M.P.’s to bring before the House
of Commons one of their grievances. A ballot vote was
taken upon the subject of pit head baths at Llanerch and
Blaenserchan; and the men hold that the majority was
sufficient, whereas it is stated that the management declare
that a clear two-thirds majority is necessary for obtaining
the establishment of the baths.

Mr. Hubert Jenkins, the miners’ agent, reported to the
East Glamorgan district of miners on Monday that only a
few compensation cases arising out of the Senghenydd explo-
sion now remained unsettled.

The will has been proved of Mr. W. P. James, Aber-
sychan, colliery proprietor, who died September 30, ag-nd
75 years. The gross value of the estate is given as 1-35,683,
nearly the whole being net personalty.

The tedious question as to the liability of the Glamorgan
Council and the Standing Joint Committee for maintenance
of the police during the strike occupied the High Court
nearly the whole of last week, in addition to the days in the
week preceding; and ultimately Mr. Justice Bankes deferred
his judgment. The earlier days were occupied with th?
claim of the Glamorgan Coal Company, and the later period
with hearing the separate claim of the Powell Duffryn
Company. They sought repayment of over £2,000 expended
in feeding the police through the strike in October 1910.
The total of the claims now involved was £23,000. For the
Powell Duffryn Company it was alleged that whilst they
were willing to house the men they would not be responsible
for feeding them; and they relied upon a conversation
between the manager and the Chief Constable, by which (it
was alleged, on their behalf) a distinct agreement had been
arrived at regarding the feeding of the police. There seem
to have been matters of a peculiar character connected with
the case, although these were not disclosed; for the parties
had apparently agreed to a consent order that the judge
should try the issues between them, and direct how the
damages should be dealt with. Counsel for the Standing
Joint Committee said there were matters he could not
discuss before the Court, and added : “ My clients are not
acting solely in the interests of the county authorities, but
in the interests of colliery proprietors who are the claimants
here. I do not want to discuss these matters, and would
rather have said nothing about them.”

The Chief Constable contended that he had made arrange-
ments with the colliery company for the catering for the
imported police. One of the counsel engaged stated that the
expenditure on police during the period of the strike had
been at least £100,000, and between £50,000 and £60,000
was involved in the dispute over the Metropolitans coming
into the district. It was submitted that, legally, the Stand-
ing Joint Committee had not ratified the employment of
Metropolitan police; and that, therefore, there was no case
to answer.

With regard to the claim against the County Council, it
was submitted that they had been wrongly brought into
the Court. As already stated, his lordship reserved judg-
ment.

Following these cases which dealt with the maintenance of
the police, a further action was heard afterwards, the
Glamorgan Coal Company again being plaintiffs, and sub-
mitting a claim against the Standing Joint Committee
(which is a body composed from Quarter Sessions and the
County Council). The company sought to recover under
the Riot Damage Act a sum of £244 in respect of injury
done to buildings at the Llwynypia Colliery. For the Joint
Committee a denial was made that the property had been
damaged by persons acting riotously; and an alternative
contention by them was that the plaintiffs’ property was
insufficiently protected, and that there had been provocation
of the colliers and others in regard to the dispute. Chiefly,
however, the contention was that they were the wrong
authority to sue; and this view the Bench upheld, on the
ground that administrative duty had been transferred to the
County Council. Judgment for defendants was therefore
entered.

It was stated on Wednesday, at a meeting of the
Glamorgan Distress Committee, that there had been a great
improvement in the coal trade in the anthracite district.

The Board of Trade has not been idle in the matter con-
cerning the supply of pit props, for, in addition to approach-
ing the French authorities in order that shipments might be

facilitated from the other side of the Channel, it sent out a
Commissioner to Canada, and that gentleman having now
returned, the detail of his report awakens considerable
interest. Its most satisfactory point is that he states
definitely that there is a large area of timber available in
Eastern Canada and Newfoundland—in a position permit-
ting of ready access to the sea, and consequently of cheap
loading for transmission to the United Kingdom. Although
the cost of mining timber to the Canadian collieries is high,
this is no criterion of the cost at which such timber could
be brought to this country; for there is the obvious differ-
ence between the rates for sea and for railway carriage.
The Canadian mines have to depend upon the railways,
whilst seaborne goods might be landed here at a much
lower price. Then, with regard to South Wales especially,
this district has the additional advantage that the n ines
are near the docks, and no great cost would be entailed in
carrying pitwood right to the colliery. It is to be hoped
that the report will be carefully examined and its leading
statements promptly tested, so that the coal owners may, if
East Canadian supplies prove to be available, quickly secure
the advantage of this alternative source, for the market is
in need of heavier consignments, as is shown by the high
prices ruling—21s. to 22s. per ton.

The pressure in regard to tonnage still continues, with
the natural result that rates of freight have advanced
further, quotations for Genoa—taking this port as a kind
of barometer—being as high as 16s.; and there is as yet
no indication that the high rates have sufficed to bring for-
ward the tonnage needed, although such an effect is almost
certain to be realised at an early date. In ordinary circum-
stances the closing of the Black Sea and the Baltic would
at this time of year, lead to a surplus of tonnage, so that
rates would become easy; and whilst it is inevitable tha$
the large number of vessels taken up by the Allied Govern-
ments has lifted a huge quantity off the market, it was
not expected that so sudden and great a rise in freights
would be occasioned by any shortage. The effect upon coal
shipments has not yet been serious, but it must necessarilv
have a strongly deterrent effect upon sales. Fortunately,
competing supplies from Germany and Belgium not being
available, the buyers of coal are not able to go to any
alternative market for their supplies.

Tin-platers, who are seriously affected ‘ by the embargo
upon exports to Denmark, Holland, and Sweden, sent a
deputation to the Board of Trade, and as a result, it has
been arranged that a special licence will be granted in cases
where it is shown that the tin-plate will be used in neutral
countries, and that there is no risk of transmission to Ger-
many. A curious story comes as showing the watchfulness
of the British authorities. It is said that the German
forces are supplied with small tin cans containing a stew
of boiled beef and onions, and that a number of places in
Denmark have been turned into cooking places for this
stew. Upon enquiries reaching South Wales for certain
sizes of tin-plates to be forwarded to Denmark—and it was
found that in Swansea alone shipments were being made
which totalled more than three times the whole of the quan-
tity sent to Denmark in 1913—the natural conclusion was
that the tin-plate was to be used for packing food for the
enemy. Hence the immediate action of the British Govern-
ment. On the other hand, regular customers in Denmark,
cocoa manufacturers and the like, have not received their
supplies of tinplate which were ordered before the war. and
these orders ought to be filled. The Welsh Plate and Sheet-
makers’ Association have appointed a committee, who will
watch the shipments and prevent improper trade.

Mr. J. A. Jones (Watts, Watts and Company) has been
elected president of the South Wales and Monmouthshire
Coal Freighters’ Association, in succession to Mr. D. A.
Thomas (Cambrian Combine).

At Pontypridd on Wednesday, a number of colliers from
Locket’s Merthyr Colliery were sued for £2 10s. each in
respect of breach of contract; but it was announced that an
agreement had been reached, the prosecution accepting £1
from each, upon an undertaking that in future no stoppage
should take place before an endeavour had been mad'
between the management and the men’s representatives to
settle the dispute.

Northumberland and Durham.

Curious Compensation Case — North Country Ambulance
Men in France—Proposed “ Bantam ” Battalion.

Mr. Thos. Dixon, who was recently promoted to be under-
manager of the South Hetton Colliery, has risen to that
position “ from the ranks ” after 40 years’ service. His
friends have presented him with an oak cabinet as a mark
of esteem and congratulation.

With reference to the partial closing of the Adelaide Col.
liery, Shildon, which was mentioned in last issue, it is
stated that the bulk of the 300 men employed have received
their notices, but, in the meantime, the company is consider-
ing the possibility of opening out certain seams which have
been worked previously, and, if the prospects are hopeful,
some of the men will be retained. In addition to the falling
off in trade, due to the war, the West Durham Wallsend Coal
Company Limited, which works the group of collieries com-
prising the Adelaide Colliery, has had to contend with a
number of difficulties. Strong efforts, however, are being
made to overcome these, so that the district shall not suffer
unduly.

A successful claim of a very unusual character was made
before Judge Greenwell at the Newcastle County Court last
week by John Armstrong, a miner, of Cowpen Quay. He
claimed from the Cowpen Coal Company 13s. 4d. per week
from November 1912 to January 13, 1914, which included a
period of nine months during which he was serving a sen-
tence of imprisonment for assault and robbery. The claim
was backed by the Northumberland Miners’ Association. It
appeared that applicant was formerly a stoneman at Cam-
bois Colliery. Earlier he was a corporal in the Coldstream
Guards, and had the South African medal with nine clasps.
The accident in respect of which the claim was made occurred
in July 1910, when he lost an eye owing to shot-firing.
Respondents admitted full liability, and paid compensation
until November 1912, when he was arrested. The compen-
sation was then stopped. Respondents admitted that he was
entitled to 6s. 8d. per week. He claimed compensation until
the date in Januarv this year, when he started light work.
The judge awarded him the amount asked for, and said
respondents had failed because they had not proved that
applicant had done any work since he came out of prison.

The detachment of 100 men—mostly miners—from the St.
John Ambulance Brigade, who recently left Newcastle to

man a military hospital in France, under the direction of
Deputy-Commissioner C. B. Palmer, has already done excel-
lent work, which has earned the men high praise from the
authorities.

The sanctioning of a “ bantam ” battalion*—the member^
of which are under the 5 ft. 3 in. standard of height—at
Birkenhead has evoked the suggestion that a similar batta-
lion should be formed from those Northumberland and
Durham miners who, physically fit in every other respect,
do not come up to the present height stipulation.

Cumberland.

Eight Hours Case at Working ton.

At Workington Police Court on Wednesday last week,
Wm. Wright, coal miner, 2, William-street, Great Clifton,
was charged with having on November 7 been a longer
period below ground than the time fixed by the Coal Mines
Regulation Act. Mr. St. George Curzon, who prosecuted
on behalf of the Allerdale Coal Company, said defendant
went down at 9.30 in the evening, and ought to have come
up again at 5 a.m. or 5.30, but he did not do so, and he was
found working with two sons in another part of the Lick-
bank seam. His excuse was that the two sons were in a
difficult place, and that he wished to help them. The Bench
ordered the payment of costs, 16s., and expressed the hope
that the company would remit 10s. of the costs to the
defendant.

Yorkshire.

Increment Value Duty on Freehold Minerals Being Worked
—Railway Developments—Rescue Station as Barracks.

The case of the Corporation of Wakefield against the Loft-
house Colliery Limited was mentioned to Mr. Justice Astbury
in the Chancery Division on Monday. Mr. Micklem, K.C.,
on behalf of the plaintiffs, said there was a reserved motion
in the action asking for an injunction, and the defendants
gave an undertaking not to work their colliery so as to let
down the plaintiffs’ reservoir. It had been agreed that that
undertaking was to be continued, and that no order would
be taken on the motion except that the costs would be costs
in the action. He asked his lordship to approve of this
arrangement. His lordship assented, and made no order,
except that the costs of the motion would be costs in the
action.

On November 24 at Westminster, Mr. Thomas Jones,
referee under the Finance Act, 1910, heard the appeals of
the Kiveton Park Coal Company Limited and the Brods-
worth Main Colliery Company Limited against assessments
to increment value duty on their having worked freehold
minerals purchased by them. On August 23, 1910, Cree’s
representatives conveyed to the Brodsworth Company the
Barnsley bed of coal under 3 a. 1 r. 20 p. for £550. In the
financial year 1912-13 they worked coal to the value of £395.
Deducting therefrom /^ths (8 per cent.) of the £550 fixed as
the original capital value on April 30, 1909, a balance of
£351 was left, the increment value duty on which at 20
per cent, was £70. The facts in the Kiveton Company’s
case were similar, except that the conveyance to them was
dated December 20, 1909, i.e., before the passing of the
Act. Mr. Kingdon, solicitor for the Inland Revenue Com-
missioners, contended that the duty was expressly charged
by the first five lines of section 1 of the Act, and impliedly
by sections 22 and 23, and that the duty was intended to be
a tax on speedy working, rendering the proprietor liable if
he works more than 8 per cent, per annum. Mr. Cockburn,
solicitor (Parker, Rhodes and Company), Rotherham, on
behalf of the colliery companies, contended that sections 22
and 23 were not charging enactments at all, but merely
collecting or machinery clauses, providing for the duty to be
payable annually instead of in lump sum in cases where the
duty is chargeable at all, but that the words “ where that
duty is chargeable ” contained in section 22 (3) throw the
Revenue Commissioners back to section 1, which must be
read as a whole, without omitting the qualifying provisions,
and that, so read, increment value duty is not payable at
all unless the colliery companies should sell, or let, or come
within the periodical occasions of increment in 1914, 1929,
etc., none of which events had happened. He cited autho-
rities showing that to make the colliery companies liable
the revenue must point to clear and unambiguous words in
the statute, expressly, literally, affirmatively, and positively
imposing the duty, and that mere implication or equitable
interpretation or presumed intention of the Legislature is not
enough; and he showed that while the word “charged”
appears in section 20, imposing the mineral rights duty, no
such word is contained in sections 22-24, and he asserted
that the Revenue authorities were seeking to recover a tax
which was not the statutory increment value duty at all,
but another tax which had not been imposed, but which
would have to be called “ the additional and independent
minerals percentage duty.” The referee reserved his
decision.

The South Yorkshire Joint Line Committee are applying
to the Light Railway Commissioners for an Order autho-
rising the construction of a light railway from Tickhill to
Rotherham Baulk.

Excellent progress is being made with the extension of
the Doncaster tramways, north and west, so as to link up
the colliery populations with the town. The line to Warms-
worth, wdiich will provide communication with the colliery
centre of Edlington, and serve the employees of the York-
shire Main Pit, is almost completed. That to Woodlands
model village, for the Brodsworth Colliery employees, has
reached as far as the newT village of Highfields, which is a
sort of overflow population from the model village.

The fine new mines rescue station recently erected at
Wheatley, Doncaster, to serve the belt of collieries around
that town, has for the last few months been utilised for a
purpose for which it was never intended, but which, never-
theless, it serves admirably. It is situated in the neighbour-
hood of a military hospital, into which a school has been con-
verted, and is at present being used by troops. Having been
originally built for the accommodation of men, and being
fitted with baths, etc., it answers the purpose of the Terri,
torials splendidly, and is a popular station with them.

The Yorkshire miners came in for splendid tributes of
praise at a meeting held at Bentley last week-end to stimu-
late recruiting. Mr. R. Clive (chairman of the Bentley
Urban District Council, and agent for Messrs. Barber.
Walker and Company), who was in the chair, stated that
already 300 men at least had gone from Bentley Colliery,
and of these he noticed that about 100 were married men.
In spite of this there were a large number of their workers