92

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

January 8, 1915.

of the National Union of Sailors and Firemen, said that
the Union did not advise any action to secure a rise in
wages at present, but that every member should do his
best to assist the Government. If a demand were made
later, then the shipowners would be approached nation-
ally, and the men would agree to the formation of a
National Wages Board, to which all disputes might be
referred. A resolution was passed urging that no relaxa-
tion be made in the language test or in any of the other
regulations, as the Union were of opinion that there was
a sufficient number of seamen without permitting the em-
ployment of Chinese or alien Asiatics.

A Conference of tin-plate manufacturers has been sitting
this week with a view to regulate output at the works,
and nearly every firm in the trade has been represented.
The conference has been in existence for close upon twenty
years, and although at the outset not more than about
one-third of the owners adopted the idea, the control of
output has proved to be so satisfactory that at the pre-
sent time scarcely any works of importance are outside
its operation. In conjunction with the Conciliation
Board, it has gone even farther, for it has helped to
secure uniformity of wage-rate, and the necessity of this
procedure—the war having interfered so seriously with
exports—makes it even more desirable that works should
not compete with each other, reducing prices and com-
pelling a lowTer wage-rate. Masters and men co-operate in
this matter, to the advantage of both. Where limitation
is imposed upon certain works, these receive compensa-
tion from a pool provided by the levy which is made
upon more prosperous works in respect of their excess of
production.

The chief feature in the tin-plate trade at the present
time has been the success of the efforts made to preserve
trade with neutral countries, chiefly Holland, Denmark,
and Scandinavia. The special risk was that if hindrance
to exports were established, the American makers might
get an entrance, and the market be permanently closed
against Wales. The Welsh Plate and Sheet Makers’ Asso-
ciation, having set out fully these considerations, both to
the Board of Trade and the Admiralty, the issue of
licences permitting shipments has enabled them to ensure
the dispatch of large quantities, and thus to retain their
valuable connection and prevent intrusion of American
competitors.

As indicating local opinion on the subject of the iron
and steel trade, it may be noted that Col. Wright (of
Messrs. Baldwin) agrees with the view, so often ex-
pressed in this column, anticipating great times in the
future. Already the war, by its demand, has made local
works busier; and as time goes on, there must be, he
states, a still heavier demand.

With regard to the general course of business in South
Wales, it has to be observed that the galvanised sheet
trade, which has a direct bearing upon the prosperity
of certain colliery companies (the Ebbw Vale, for in-
stance) is in normal times one of the most flourishing in
the kingdom. Within five years its exports doubled,
having risen from less than 400,000 tons to nearly
800,000. South Wales and Monmouthshire represents the
larger amount of this growth, which is attributed to the
cessation of the agreement wdiereby an Association con-
trolled the output and obtained high prices and large
profits. Within the next few weeks a new agreement is
expected to come into operation, having similar objects.
The trade has been badly injured by the war, but it is
anticipated that, with the cessation of hostilities, an ex-
ceptionally heavy demand must arise for temporary struc-
tures in the devastated areas. The experiences of the past
six months have been very unsatisfactory indeed, and no
material revival is looked for until the war is ended.

The Monmouthshire Education Committee has this week
had under consideration applications from 72 candidates
who sought appointment as organiser and instructor of
evening classes preparatory to a course of mining educa-
tion. Three were selected to appear before .the commit-
tee, one from Edinburgh, another from Port Talbot, and
the third from Leeds ; and ultimately Mr. D. Brynmor
Morgan, B.Sc., was selected. He is a son of Mr. David
Morgan, employed in the offices of the Dowlais Company,
and a brother of Mr. J. T. Morgan, metallurgist, of
Merthyr. After going through Merthyr County School
and the South Wales College, Mr. Morgan was for three
years an assistant colliery manager, and afterwards
mineral surveyor to the Dowlais Colliery. In 1910 he was
appointed lecturer at Wigan Mining College, and subse-
quently lecturer in mining at the University of Leeds.
He has the distinct advantage, in this district, of being
proficient in the Welsh language. During his time in
Leeds, he conducted a series of experiments in weighing
air and testing safety lamps; and on these subjects has
given expert evidence during Government enquiries.

Northumberland and Durham.

More than 100 miners were thrown out of work on
Monday by a somewhat serious accident at Brandon Col-
liery “B” pit. The main shaft of the haulage engine
broke in two.

The North Hetton Coal Company, Hetton-le-Hole,
announce that they have disposed of North Hetton Colliery
to the Lambton and Hetton Collieries Limited, who will
carry on the same as from December 31, 1914.

Cumberland.

Developments at the Collieries—Cumberland Fireclay—The
Coke Trade—New Rescue Station.

The sinking of the new and larger shaft at Clifton
Colliery by the Allerdale Coal Company has been com-
pleted. During the year new haulage machinery has
been installed, and the erection of a new' fan and a
washery is in progress. The same company have recently
completed several new winnings at their Buckhill Colliery,
near Broughton.

It is stated that there is some likelihood of the Wythe-
moor Colliery being taken over by a new company. At
Brayton No. 4 pit boring has been proceeding to the east
of the present workings over a large down-throw fault.
If successful, this will add considerably to the life of the

colliery and the output of the coalfield. At the Brayton
No. 5 pit the yard seam is being won.

Moorhouse Guards Colliery and Brickworks, which were
sold by public auction recently, and re-sold privately and
re-started, have been closed. The Gillhead Colliery, near
Flimby, which is of the same double character, is now
employing a reduced number of men.

Camerton Colliery and Brickworks are doing a fairly
good trade in fire-clay goods, both at home and abroad,
and the fact that they have got on the Admiralty list
speaks well for the quality of their products. Mr. Turn-
bull, who hails from the Haltwhistle district, was recently
appointed manager, in succession to Mr. Bell, who has
left to take up an appointment in India.

Important developments are at present being carried
out at Whitehaven by the new colliery company. Two
new shafts are being sunk on the high ground near
Kells, between Wellington and Ladysmith pits. The
shafts, which will probably be the largest in the district,
are 21 ft. in diameter. The company propose, after sinking
to the 6-quarter seam, to go seaward, with the object
of winning the undersea seams between Ladysmith and
Wellington. At the Wellington pit, the main band seam
has already been won, over the down-throw fault, two or
three miles out to sea. There is a very large spread, and
the coal is of excellent quality. Main roads are being-
opened out and driven back landward, with the object of
tneir becoming the main haulage roads for the new col-
liery. The company are also erecting a new underground
fan, which will give access to workings which could not
previously be dealt with.

The Cumberland coke trade has been exceedingly brisk
during the year. Prices are, of course, regulated by an
agreement between the coke makers and the local smelters,
and rises and falls with the value of pig iron. For the
first six months of the year prices were low; in August,
September, and October they recovered, but in November
they fell again. In December they commenced to im-
prove, and are still rising with the price of warrants. In
1913 there were 270 coke ovens in Cumberland. During
the year the Workington Iron and Steel Company, who
have taken over the capital of the Harrington Coke
Ovens, Ltd., have erected 50 more ovens at Harrington,
bringing their battery up to 100 ovens. Moresby have
also added 10 ovens during the year, so that the number
in operation will shortly be increased to about 330. White-
haven are now laying down a battery of 60 Otto ovens at
Ladysmith pit, sulphate of ammonia, tar and benzol being
the by-products in view. Production will be on what is
termed the direct process, a more economical method
than that adopted at any of the other Cumberland col-
lieries. The company are also erecting a washery to deal
with all the coal required at the coke ovens. It is ex-
pected that before the end of the year there will be nearly
400 by-product ovens in operation in the county.

Last week Mr. A. Kerr, late manager of the Flimby
Colliery Company, received a beautiful dressing case from
the officials and workmen of the various collieries. Mr.
L. Thompson, the newly-appointed manager, made the
presentation, and, in doing so, said it was pleasing to note
the kindly feeling that existed between Mr. Kerr and the
men after he had been amongst them for 3| years. The
collieries had undergone many changes during the time Mr.
Kerr had held the post. He was going to take up duties
in his native town, which would, no doubt, make the
change acceptable. He trusted that Mr. Kerr’s efforts at
the Brierfield Collieries would be crowned with success.

The new Rescue and Aid Station for the Cumberland
collieries, at Brigham, is completed, and the instructor,
Mr. Alex. McMillan, of Whitehaven, is now in residence
there. The Meco apparatus has been installed, and a
new 40-h.p. Daimler rescue car has been purchased to
accommodate 10 persons and all the appliances necessary
for rescue and aid purposes. The station will be fitted
with the most modern improvements, and will be one of
the best stations in the county. It is expected that the
station will be open in the course of a week or two for
the training of the teams. The temporary station at
Wellington pit, Whitehaven, will be maintained as a sub-
station, owing to the importance of the Whitehaven col-
lieries.

Over 1,000 of the 10,000 men engaged above and under-
ground at the Cumberland collieries have enlisted in the
new armies.

About 9.30 on Saturday evening the pumping machinery
at the Buckhill Colliery, near Broughton, broke down,
with the result that the water quickly rose in the lowest
level. By working all day on Sunday, the pumps were
got into working order again on Sunday night, but the men
in the area affected were unable to get to their working
places on Monday morning, as the pumps were then un-
able to overtake the flow of water.

Yorkshire.

Progress at Maltby, Flemsworth, Wath, Thurcroft, and
Ros sing ton.

Few of the colliery districts around Doncaster are de-
veloping more rapidly than that of Maltby. This has
made various public improvements absolutely necessary.
Last week-end Mr. A. W. Brightmore, D.Sc., one of the
Inspectors of the Local Government Board, held an in-
quiry into the application of the Rotherham Rural Council
to borrow £353 for the purpose of carrying out sanitary
work at Maltby. During the inquiry it was stated that
at the census of 1911 the population of the place was only
1,700, but at the present time it had been increased to
5,230, the rapid rise being entirely due to colliery develop-
ment. The assessable value for poor rate is now £15,475,
and the rates are 8s. 3^d. There was no opposition at
the inquiry, and the loan will doubtless be granted.

A big housing scheme is being undertaken by the Hems-
worth Rural Council, and at last week’s meeting of that
authority a proposal was brought forward that a fully-
qualified architect be appointed to supervise the work.
The Council have already agreed to build 160 houses in the
district, comprising a capital investment of about £28,000,
and the number of houses asked for by the whole union
is 600, which means a capital investment of £115,000. The
Council feel that if this work has to be supervised by

their own surveyor, he cannot possibly attend to his
ordinary duties as well. Eventually an amendment was
proposed, to the effect that the various Parish Councils
in whose area the houses will be built shall be first asked
for their views upon the matter. This was agreed to.

Wath-on-Dearne, having embarked upon an extension
of its waterworks, the formal opening ceremony took
place last week-end. Members of the Urban Council and
a number of friends assembled at the pumping-station and
borehole, thence proceeded to the reservoir at Wath
Wood, and were afterwards entertained to dinner at the
Red Lion Hotel, by Councillor Godber, the chairman of
the Waterworks Committee. The total cost of the new
scheme is approximately £12,000, and the work has been
carried out under the supervision of Mr. J. H. Drew,
surveyor to the Council. The cost of the new pumping
plant is £2,300, the reservoir and sand filters have cost
£5,385, and the pumping and engine-house £750. About
three miles of new mains have been laid. The receiving
reservoir has a capacity of 354,000 gallons, and the filtered
water reservoir 275,000 gallons, making, with the old
reservoirs, a total capacity of 900,000 gallons, or three
days’ supply.

Mr. T. H. Mottram, His Majesty’s Chief Mining In-
spector for Yorkshire and the North Midland District,
appeared in the Doncaster Police Court last week as
prosecutor in regard to a particularly impudent case of
theft. In the dock was a man named Samuel Joseph
Stones, described as a photographer, of Salford, charged
with stealing Mr. Mottram’s silver cigar case, value £2.
It appeared the man called at Mr. Mottram’s residence,
and was shown into the drawing-room. He was canvassing
for photographs, but was told none were required. Soon
after he left the cigar case was missed, and it was found
later that the prisoner had pawned this for 8s. The Bench
sent the man to prison for three months.

Mr. W. D. Wallace, on leaving the Dinnington, Maltby,
and Rossington Collieries, where he was chief mechanical
engineer, to take up a position in New South Wales, has
been presented by the officials and workmen with a ster-
ling silver tea and coffee service and a silver salver.

Increase of population and mining developments in the
Thurcroft district were stated to be responsible for an
application to borrow £862 for sewerage purposes, and
£665 for water-supply for Brampton-en-le-Morthern and
Laughton, which was made at a Local Government en-
quiry held last week-end at Thurcroft. It was stated
the laying of a sewer was necessary in the parish of
Laughton, through the erection of property, and also for
prospective buildings on the east side of the colliery com-
pany’s cottages in the new village. Further sewers were
necessary by reason of the schools, and the same remark
applied to the w^ater mains. There was some objection
raised on the ground that ordinary ratepayers ought not
to be called upon to pay for matters arising out of colliery
development. The Inspector promised to take note of this
objection.

Interesting information is to hand concerning the pro-
gress being made at the Rossington Main Colliery, near
Doncaster, where work has been proceeding for the past
two and a half years. It is expected that the Barnsley
bed of coal will be reached about the end of March or the
beginning of April next, at a depth of between 850 and
900 yards. One of the shafts has already attained a
depth of 700 yards. The winding plant has been erected,
and the screens and sidings are being constructed, and
will be ready for use as soon as required. The water
problem has not proved a serious drawback here, as at
some other pits in the Doncaster area, and, generally
speaking, the sinking has been a smooth and satisfactory
one, so far as it has gone. The first sod of the colliery
was cut on June 10, 1912. The Rossington shafts are of
20 ft. diameter, and the area of coal to be worked is about
9,000 acres.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Gas Works and German Workmen—Developments at Pendle
Hill—New Departments at Partington Steel Works.

Mr. G. Elce, who has been manager of the Altham Col-
liery Company, Accrington, for the past 30 years, has just
entered upon a well-earned retirement.

The Rochdale Fire Brigade were summoned on Thurs-
day of last week to deal with an outbreak of fire in a
wood outbuilding at Mr. James Howard’s Lobden Col-
liery, Syke. The building, which was used for the stor-
ing of tools, was practically demolished, but the damage
was not very serious.

The Darwen (Lancs.) Corporation have found them-
selves in a peculiar position in connection with their gas
undertaking. When war broke out, a gas-making instal-
lation was in course of erection by a German firm, and a
number of the German workmen were removed to the
Concentration Camp at Lancaster. It was found impos-
sible to proceed with the work without their assistance,
and application was made for the release of three men,
in order that the installation might be completed. This
the authorities agreed to do, provided proper surety
could be given for each. Public opinion in the town,
however, was opposed to the employment of aliens at the
gasworks, and at a meeting of the Town Council, on Mon-
day, it was decided to leave the matter over for three
months, when it will be again considered.

Messrs. J. Hargreaves, Ltd., of Burnley (Lancs.), are
taking steps to further develop their collieries by sinking
new shafts to tap the coal area in the region of Pendle
Hill. Already one shaft has been sunk, and what is
locally known as the Mountain Mine has been struck at
a depth of about 500 yards. This seam of coal, which
is 4 ft. thick, is estimated to supply the requirements of
the district for a number of years. In proving the strata,
two thin, but workable, seams were passed through. The
sinking of a second shaft, with a view to making a start
at the actual coal-getting, is being proceeded with, but it
is not anticipated that the work will be completed in
much under two years.

Like most colliery districts, Burnley is at present suf-
fering from a scarcity of coal-workers, over 800 men en-
gaged in the local pits in one capacity or another having
enlisted in various regiments.