294

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

February 5, 1913.

setting up machinery to minimise law costs in disputed cases
of compensation, has been arranged to be held. The miners’
representatives are favourable to setting up a joint board,
before which all disputed claims of compensation would be
discussed, which would endeavour to come to an agreement.
What proposals the employers will put forward at this
meeting is not known, but it is believed that their scheme
is much more far-reaching than that of the miners’ repre-
sentatives. Undoubtedly there is a strong feeling amongst
the miners’ leaders that a change of some kind must be
made to reduce the lawyers’ fees for compensation cases,
which in Scotland alone amount to close on £10,000
annually. Should the negotiations ’ with the employers to
set up a joint board succeed, it is not improbable that the
question of the miners’ unions employing their own legal
staff will be considered, rather than continuing the present
arrangement of giving the business to outside legal firms.

The Board of Trade has replied to the Scottish coal
owners’ request for reduced rates on coal traffic for export
normally dealt with at ports on the upper Birth of Forth,
but now diverted to other ports, chiefly Glasgow. The reply
states that the marker has been fully considered by the
Railway Executive Committee, but that it has not been
found practicable to quote reduced rates for the traffic.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Great and growing interest has, during the past few days,
been manifested in the conference of miners’ delegates which
opens to-morrow (Saturday) at Cardiff; and resolutions upon
some of the points at issue have been passed by meetings in
different parts of the coalfield. The chief question is :
whether notice shall be given terminating the Conciliation
Board agreement? Following this come the various sug-
gestions as to amendment that should be sought; one is that
a new minimum should be established at 50 per cent,
(instead of 35) above the standard of 1879; another is as
to general application of the practice of paying six turns
for five; abolition of the maximum; improvement in surface-
men’s wages and hours; an alteration of the anthracite
standard; increase of Federation.subscription, etc., have also
been mooted, and the gathering must inevitably prove one
of the most important of recent years.

North of England.

Employment in the Northumberland coalfield continues to
show steady improvement. During January the miners
worked an average of 4-806 days per week, which is very
nearly full time, as compared with 4-318 days in December.
Men at the steam coal pits worked an average of 4-841 days,
as against 4-0087. The. house coal pits hardly worked so
well, the average being 4-747, as against 4-95.

The annual meeting of the Cumberland Miners’ Associa-
tion was held at Workington on the 28th ult. Mr. Cape
submitted the balance-sheet, showing that, although
upwards of £5,000 had been spent in support of men laid
idle, the gain on the year’s working expenses exceeded
£1,500. The membership had decreased through so many
members—1,704—joining the Colours, and now consisted of
6,841 full members and 1,022 half-members. Rules for the
government of the society recently formed by the associa-
tion for the insurance of its members against accident, and
the payment of benefits in accordance with the Workmen’s
Compensation Act, were adopted, and the point raised by a
resolution from the Aspatria lodge, that any person losing
work on business authorised by the association should be
eligible for insurance in the society, having been covered,
the resolution was withdrawn.

Representatives of the Northumberland Deputies’ Asso-
ciation met the coal owners at the Coal Trade Offices on
Saturday, with a view to the regulation of the deputies’
wages. After considerable discussion it was arranged that
the deputies’ wages be reduced 3d. per day, commencing
on pays February 1 and 8, thus making a daily wage for
the deputies of 7s. 2|d.

The representatives of the Northumberland Colliery
Mechanics’ Association waited on the Northumberland coal
owners on Saturday, for the purpose of adjusting wages for
the ensuing three months. In August of last year the
mechanics were due to suffer a reduction of IJd. per day, but,
owing to the outbreak of war, the owners decided to forego
their claim for three months; at the end of the three months
they decided to again forego their claim for another three
months. The miners having this year suffered a further
reduction of 3 per cent., it was decided that with the pays
commencing Mondays, February 1 and 8, the wages of
mechanics be reduced by 3d. per day.

Federate^ Area.

Mr. J. G. Hancock, M.F., agent, presented the half-
yearly report and statement of accounts at the monthly
meeting of the Notts Miners’ Association, held at Notting-
ham on Saturday. The report expressed pleasure that such
a large percentage of members had not only joined the
Forces, but had rendered such services that had merited the
complimentary remarks made by military officers. Nearly
5,000 members of the association had enlisted. During the
past six months the income from members’ subscriptions
alone had amounted to close upon £18,000; £10,900 had
been banked after all expenses had been met; £3,563 19s.
had been paid in old-age pensions. At the end of 1914 the
association was worth £175,000. The membership stood at
33,915. There had been three members killed in the last
six months, and compensation obtained in each case for the
relatives. It was reported that, at the request of the men’s
section, a meeting of the local Minimum Wage Board had
been arranged to be held on February 15, to consider an
alteration in the rates of wages.

A three hours’ sitting in London on Friday last of the
miners’ section of the English Conciliation Board was
entirely occupied with the discussion of the proposals from
the coal owners and men’s side of the Conciliation Board
for the arrangement of a new wage agreement for a further
period of three years.

On Tuesday the first batch of strike notices were tendered
at the West Yorkshire collieries. Notices have been handed
in at the collieries concerned on whatever day the books of
the collieries are made up, to-day (Friday) being the final
day, and the notices will run for the customary period of a
fortnight before there will be any cessation of work. The
later information, however, is that a conference is to be held
on Tuesday.

Forest of Dean.

There has been a further meeting in the Forest of Dean
between representatives of the Associated House Coal

Owners and of the trade unionist workmen. The outcome of
the meeting was an unanimous decision to put up the prices
of house coal another Is. per ton, which, in accordance with
the wages agreement, gives the workmen 5 per cent, advance
in their wages. This is the third advance in coal price and
of wages in this coalfield since December.

Scotland.

A meeting' of the executive of the Scottish Union of Mine
Workers was held on Monday in Glasgow, Mr. Robert
Smillie presiding. A letter was read from Mr. R. M.
Stewart, secretary of the Scottish Coal Exporters’ Associa-
tion, urging that the miners should work six days a week,
and also agree to the suspension of the Eight Hours Act in
order to increase the supply of coal. The meeting agreed
there was no necessity for the men working six days a week,
or for the suspension of the Act, as many collieries were
working short time at present.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

A special meeting of the executive of the Miners’ Federa-
tion of Great Britain was held at the Westminster Palace
Hotel, London, on Tuesday,- to consider the result of the
West Yorkshire strike ballot on the minimum wage dispute,
and other matters affecting the industry. Mr. Robt.
Smillie, Scotland, president, was in the chair, and there was
a full attendance.

Mr. T. Ashton, secretary, presented the figures of the
recent ballot in West Yorkshire, which showed that 26,676
men voted in favour of giving in notices, and 7,211 against.
The return was made by the Yorkshire Miners’ Association
in accordance with the decision of the recent conference that
full financial support be given to the Yorkshire miners in the
event of a two-tmrds majority of the men voting in favour
of a strike. The majority in the ballot is largely in excess
of the necessary two-thirds, but it is understood that further
efforts will be made to' effect a settlement of the dispute
previous to the expiration of the notices on February 20. It
was decided that Messrs. R. Smillie (president), T. Ashton
(secretary), W. Brace, M.P., and Stephen Walsh, M.P.,
shall act as representing the Miners’ Federation, with the
representatives of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association, in any
further negotiations with the West Yorkshire coal owners
for the settlement of the West Yorkshire minimum wage
dispute. The executive then proceeded to consider the
agitation which has been started in certain quarters for
the suspension of the Coal Mines (Eight Hours) Act, and,
after a full consideration of the matter, the two following
resolutions were passed :—

“ That this executive committee emphatically protest
against the movement at present being engineered by
certain mine owners, manufacturers, chambers of com-
merce, gas committees, and other interested parties to
bring about a suspension of the Eight Hours (Mmes) Act.
We desire prominently to bring before the Government
and the public the fact that any shortage in the supply
of coal is not in any way due to the operation of the Eight
Hours Act, large masses of miners at a considerable
number of collieries throughout the country not having the
opportunity of working more than a few days per week at
the present time. The committee desire public attention
to be drawn to the fact that the workmen in certain
important districts have quite recently suffered reductions
in wages because of falling prices in coal, showing that
the supply, so far as the workmen are concerned, has been
adequately maintained. Any shortage of supply is, in
the opinion of the executive, due to such cause as con-
gestion of traffic on the railways, excess of freight charges,
exploitation by middlemen, and other causes entirely out-
side and irrespective of the Eight Hours Act.”

“A strong desire has been expressed by the mine
owners in the ironstone district of Cleveland to have the
Eight Hours Act suspended at those mines, because of the
extraordinary demand for raw material in the production
of iron and steel, and also of by-products which are
secured in the manufacture of iron from the iron ore. It
was reported that the miners of Cleveland had been
requested to meet with the mine owners, with a view to a
mutual understanding being come to in claiming that the
Eight Hours Act should be suspended for a period. The
executive committee, having fully considered the matter,
decided that they could not see their way to countenance
the suspension of the Act applying to any part of the
mining districts of Great Britain.”

It was resolved that copies of these resolutions be for-
warded to the Prime Minister, the President of the Board
of Trade, and to Sir Geo. Askwith, head of the Labour
Department.

The next matter which was considered was the all-round
rise in the price of food, with the consequent higher cost of
living, and the following resolution was unanimously
agreed to :—

. ‘ ‘ That we view with grave concern the rise in the price
of foodstuffs, which is equivalent to a serious reduction of
wages. We therefore call upon the Government to take
immediate steps to control supplies, regulate prices, to
prevent gambling with the means of living of the common
people, and to prevent the general community being
exploited.”

The executive adjourned until the following day.

The executive committee, at their meeting on Wednesday,
considered the question of the new wage agreements' under
the various Conciliations Boards. Mr. Robt. Smillie, Scot-
land, president, was in the chair.

The progress of the negotiations in England, and the
actions taken by the South Wales miners were reported to
the executive, and a protracted discussion followed, which
was incomplete when the executive adjourned for the day.

The executive committee met again yesterday. At the
conclusion of the sitting the president announced that the
following resolution had been carried :—

“ That for the guidance of districts in the negotiation
of new agreements, the executive committee recommends
that no such agreement be finally settled until it has been
submitted to the executive committee for confirmation, in
order to ascertain whether or not the proposals laid down
by the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain are embodied
in the terms of the agreement; also that every such agree-
ment shall be subject to a three months’ notice at any
time, at a date to be fixed by a conference to be held on
the 23rd inst.”

The following are the Scarborough Conference resolutions
for the guidance of districts in negotiating any new wage
agreements :—“ That all new agreements entered into by
the Conciliation Boards must terminate at one and the same
time, subject to three months’ notice.” “ That a new

standard rate of wages be created in place of the present
obsolete standards oi 1877, 1879, and 1888, by merging into
the new standards all bonuses and percentages not less than
the existing minimum rates recognised oy the present
Board.” ” That a minimum wage of not less than 5s. per
day for all adult surface workers be asked for.” ” That
notice be given to terminate all existing agreements regu-
lated by Conciliations Boards on April 1, 1915.”

Our correspondent understands, on the authority of Mr.
Smillie and Mr. Ashton, that the meaning of the resolution
is three months’ notice from the termination of the period
for which the agreement is signed, whether it is one, two, or
three years. The period of years over which the new agree-
ments will run will be determined by the conference on the
23rd inst.

Firemen’s Associations.

The annual conference of the General Federation of
Colliery Firemen’s, Examiners’, and Deputies’ Associations
of Great Britain was held at Sheffield on Saturday. Dele-
gates were present from Yorkshire,. Northumberland,
Durham, North Staffordshire, the Midland Counties, South
and North Wales, Monmouthshire, Lancashire, and
Cheshire. Mr. Coulthard was re-elected president of the
Federation. Following lengthy consideration, an important
resolution dealing witn the Scottish deputies was passed,
expressing regret that the Scottish Deputies’ Association had
not that freedom in Scotland as had been hoped for, it
being understood that the miners1’ representatives were
still hostile to that body. It was decided to hold a con-
ference of delegates in London during the Easter week-end,
to consider suggestions and amendments respecting the Coal
Mines Act of 1911, sent in by the various associations.. The
conference resolved that unless the war made it inadvisable,
the summer conference in June should be held at Durham.

The Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

It is announced that the wages for February and March
of workmen associated with the Board of Conciliation and
Arbitration for the Manufactured Iron and Steel Trade of
the North of England will be the same as during the pre-
ceding two months. The average net selling price of
manufactured iron for the two months ended December 31
was £7 Is. l-38d. per ton, as compared with £6 19s. 0-56d. in
•the previous two months.

Mr. Daniel Jones and Mr. W. Aucott, secretaries to the
Midland Iron and Steel Wages Board, publish the report of
the accountants (Messrs. B. Smith, Son and Wilkie) for the
two months ended November and December 1914, and
announce that, in accordance with the sliding scale arrange-
ments, the wages for puddling during the months of
February and March 1915 will be 9s. 9d. per ton, and all
other, mill and forge wages will be advanced 2J per cent.
These wages will take effect from Monday, February 8, 1915,
and continue until Saturday, April 3, 1915. In addition to
the puddling rate of 9s. 9d. per ton under the sliding scale,
there will be an allowance of 6d. per ton given to the
puddlers by resolution of the Wages Boarci which met
July 15, 1912. The allowance applies to.puddlers only, and
will now make the total puddling rate 10s. 3d. per ton.
The certified average net selling price was £7 8s. l-84d.
per ton.

The following intimation has been made to Messrs. James
C. Bishop and James Gavin, joint secretaries of the
Scottish Manufactured Iron Trade Conciliation and Arbi-
tration Board, by Mr. John M. MacLeod, C.A., Glasgow :—
“In terms of the remit, I have examined the employers’
books for November and December 1914, and I certify the
average net selling price brought out is £6 18s. 8-80d. per
ton. This means an increase of 2J per cent, in the wages of
the workmen.” The blastfurnacemen in Scotland have also
been awarded an increase of 2J per cent, on their wages.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.

KING’S BENCH DIVISION.—January 26.

Before Mr. Justice Rowlatt.

Increment Value Duty on Minerals.

Inland Revenue Commissioners v. the Sheffield and South
Yorkshire Navigation Company.—This was an appeal from
a decision of Mr. Thos. Jones, the referee in a reference
dealing with increment duty on minerals, and it raised a
question as to liability to assessment to annual increment
value duty under Part I. of the Finance (1909-10) Act, 1910,
upon certain minerals. These were comprised in a mining
lease dated December 23, 1909, from the Sheffield and South
Yorkshire Navigation Company to the Denaby and Cadeby
Main Collieries Limited. The term of the lease was 10
years. The minerals were valued by the Commissioners at a
capital value of £802. In respect of the year 1912-13 the
rental value of the minerals in question was £354. The
annual equivalent of the original capital value of the
minerals, in accordance with section 22 (3) of the Finance
Act, was £65. Increment value in respect of the year was
£289, and duty thereon would be £57, and this amount was
assessed on the company. The company appealed on the
grounds that the lease came within the exemption in
section 1 (a) of the Act, exempting leases of under 14 years’
duration.

The Solicitor-General, for the Commissioners, pointed out
that the minerals were first treated as separate parcels of
land; then the capital value was ascertained and assigned
to them. Having got that capital value they took 8 per cent,
on it as representing the proper distribution of that capital
value in the form of rent, and if any rent was paid under a
mineral lease in excess of that 8 per cent, on the capital
payment, that excess was treated as an annual increment,
and taxed £1 in £5. The learned referee had thought no
such duty was payable by the respondent company, because
their lease was less than 14 years. This was an erroneous
view on the referee’s part, owing to his thinking that the
sections dealing with land applied also to minerals. Section 1
of the Act charged increment duty on real estate, and then
proceeded to direct when such duty should be collected, on
the occasion when the land was dealt with. He thought,
however, it would be found by the proper construction of the
Act that the land so dealt with was surface land, apart from-
minerals. The Act distinctly provided that minerals were
to be treated separately. Section 1 provided for the imposi-
tion of increment duty on all land, including minerals, and
section 2 related to the manner of its collection. It clearly