402

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

February 19, 1915.

the rise in Midland ‘ prices. as being dictated by general
conditions throughout the country, such as’smaller output due
to shortage of labour, the railways congestion and want of
trucks;, the increase in the price of timber and. materials .
generally', etc. The coal "merchants’ he. states, ■ are netting "
the bulk of the,profits, and illustrates large coal of domestic
sorts sold at. the pit head on Cannock Chase at 9s. per ton,
and‘which' is selling from the merchants’ wharves at over
20s. 6d. per ton.. The . coal masters themselves are not
getting an advance which much more than covers increased
working costs of. production.

Black Country ironworks have again been thrown idle for
lack of fuel. Unable to get regular supplies of coal for the
puddling furnaces, iron masters are turning their attention
more to the production of steel. This means a considerable
displacement of business. Threats are made that the
penalty clauses will be put in force against the colliery
owners, but it has to be recognised that the coal masters
are helpless, and would be only too. glad to increase the
turnover. It would appear that the limits of recruiting have
been reached, so far as the Midlands coalfield is concerned,
if industrial'efficiency is to be maintained at anything like a
satisfactory pitch. Iron masters declare that they are
paying as much as 14s. to 16s. per ton for mill and forge
coal at date, and 10s. to 11s. for slack—prices which are an
increase over the normal at this season of the. year of 3s. to
5s. per ton on large coal, and 2 s-. 6d. to 3s. 6d. per ton on
slack. Besides the shortage, there is also the difficulty of
the inferior quality of much of the slack which, is being
delivered.

Kent.

Financing the Collieries.

At the meeting of the debenture holders in Kent Collieries
Limited (the owners of the Shakespeare Colliery, Dover),
the financial scheme for providing further capital—parti-
culars of which were given in these columns last week—
were approved, with only one dissentient. The Channel
Collieries Trust, which has been financing Kent Collieries
Limited for sortie time, as shown by the balance-sheet, have
agreed, to take up the balance of the new capital that is not
applied for by the share and debenture holders.

Another 2s. 6d. has been called up this week on the shares
in the Chislet Colliery Limited, making the .shares (£1)
7s. 6d. paid-up. This company, which is sinking a colliery
near Sturry, Canterbury,,has a registered capital of £120,000,
and had called up rather less than £30,000 of this amount
up to the period of their annual balance-sheet. The expen-
diture of £16,000 to £17,000 for additional plant which is
now necessary, has caused the present call upon the shares.
Mr.- C. Kearton is the manager of the company’s colliery,
the sinking of which is being steadily proceeded with.

A circular from the directors has this week been received
by shareholders in the seven Kent coal companies, of the
Concessions Group which are concerned in the scheme for
raising .£100,000 new capital to maintain the various con-
cerns and carry out. the sinking of a shaft to open out the
deeper seams. . According to this circular, only half the
sum appealed .for had then been subscribed, and the import-
ance of providing the full £100,000 was strongly urged, in
order to maintain the properties in the hands of the share-
holders. ■

Dean Forest.

■ Prosperity tn the Forest.

Coal owners and others owing allegiance to the Crown in
the Loyal Forest of Dean 'attended at the Speech House
last Friday afternoon, and paid the royalties due to the
Office of Woods on the coal, iron ore, stone, etc., won during
the past half-year. The financial arrangements having
been , attended to, . the usual'banquet followed. Mr. W.
Forster Brown (the Deputy Gaveller) presided, and was
supported by, amongst others, Mr. Osmaston (deputy sur-
veyor), -Sir Francis Brain (Trafalgar Colliery), Mr. M.
Maclean (Gannop Colliery), Capt. Herbert Drummond,
Mr. J. W. Guise, Mr. C. E., Machen, and Mr. Joseph Hale
(Crump Meadow Colliery). Mr. Forster Brown proposed
the toast of “Prosperity to the Coal Trade and Kindred Indus-
tries of the Forest of Dean,” and said he believed that at the
present time the coal trade of the Forest was enjoying a
period of prosperity. The output for the past year showed
a slight increase—of about 2,200 tons—over the preceding
year, which, in turn, was- higher than the year before,
being no less than 60,000 tops, the figures for the past three
years being as follow-.;—1912, 1,066,775 tons; 1913,
1,127,198 tons; 1914, 1,129,427 tons. It was perhaps
interesting to note that they had not yet quite reached the
output—1,150,000 tons’—obtained in 1898, but he had every
hope that next year.they would pass it.—LSir Francis Brain,
responding,' said dividends had been almost forgotten in the
history of some collieries in the Forest, and the degree of
prosperity which they were now participating in their share-
holders were very grateful for. The Forest house coal
trade, was in a very flourishing condition, and he only hoped
it would continue jor some time to come.—Mr. M. Maclean,
who also . responded, referred to the. developments at the
Cannop Colliery.—Mr. J. W. Guise submitted the toast of
“The Imperial Forces,” which ' was replied to by Capt.
Drummond.

Somersetshire.

Home Office Prosecution at Radstock.

At the Radstock. Police . Court on Monday, the Edford
Colliery Company Limited, of Edford, Holcombe-, with the
manager (Mr. William J. Button), were summoned at the
instance of Mr. Hugh Johnstone, H.M. inspector of mines,
for (1) failing to provide an automatic indicator for regis-
tering. the number of revolutions of ventil'ating fans; (2)
failing to provide an .automatic indicator registering the
water gauge; (3) failing to provide a detaching hook to
apparatus used for raising or lowering persons to or from
the surface; . (4) for failing to provide a contrivance to
prevent overwindiiig to the apparatus used for' raising or
lowering persons..' The manager of the colliery pleaded
guilty to two of the offences, but not guilty to the two other
alleged, offences. . The colliery company was not legally
represented.—Mr. Brown, who prosecuted, pointed out that
the • Act under which:-those provisions should have been
made came into, operation in July 1913. ■ The colliery com-
pany asked for an extension of time to provide the things,
and they were -granted Until July 1, 1914. . Pi epea ted visits
by. the inspector . and warnings had failed, to obtain per-
formance in.compliance with the Act, and up to December 10 ;
(the date mentioned in the summons)'nothing whatever had
been done.—The defendant,, Button, stated that the colliery
was closed on January 21, with the. exception of winding-up

affairs. He was only appointed manager in April last, and
his ■ attention; was called by the inspectors to several things
that were, required. These he had'attended to so far as he
was. able, but he'had no power to provide the- things men- :
tioned in the summonses* Their provision, would mean a
large expense, us a new head gear would be required for the
detaching hooks, which would be an expensive matter,
especially for a company on the verge of bankruptcy.—The
Bench fined the company £10 bach on the two summonses
for failing to provide the detaching book and contrivance to
prevent overwinding, and £5 each on the other two sum-
monses, with £5 5s. costs, making a total of £35 5s. They
fined the manager 2s. 6d., inclusive of costs, on the four,
summonses.

Scotland.

Coal Shipment at Kirkcaldy—.Rates from Bo'ness.

Capt. C. E. Monro, R.N., on behalf of the Board of
Trade, held an enquiry on Friday last at Kirkcaldy, relative
to the proposed new bye-law. for the harbour, whereby
vessels taking bunker coal should have preference over cargo
steamers. The bye-law was opposed by. Mr. Matthew
Taylor (Methil) and Messrs. Connel and Sons (Kirkcaldy).
—Conn. Herd said that Kirkcaldy was primarily a trading
harbour, and was very largely supported by the local
shipping companies, which traded regularly to and from
the port. It was important that these vessels should run
up to time, and that preference should be.given for bunker-
ing coal.—Capt. Monro explained that if it was thought
necessary there was nothing to hinder the harbour authorities
asking the Board of Trade to rescind the bye-law at any
time.' .

At a meeting of Dundee Gas Committee last week, it was
reported that the department coal supply was no better
than , a month ago. It was stated that Dundee manufac-
turers were placing contracts for coal at prices 3s. 6d. per
ton above the rates paid a year ago. A resolution was
adopted to co-operate with other authorities in requesting
the Government.to take such steps as would increase the
supply of , coal.

Two miners were rescued in an exhausted and critical
condition on Thursday of. last week by a relief party, after
being entombed in the Niddrie Colliery, Midlothian, for 35
hours.

Mr. Matthew Brown, general manager of the Banknock
Coal Company, has been appointed general manager of
the Shotts Iron Company, in place of Mr. A. W. Turnbull,
retired. Mr. Turnbull has acted as general manager for
fully 26 years, and under his regime the company has bee'n
put on a sound basis. Of late he has been in failing
health.

A number of the Fife Coal Company’s employees recently
made a presentation to Mr. John Wallace on the occasion
of his leaving the" district. Mr. Baird, the underground
manager, was in the chair, and made the presentation. Mr.
Wallace was presented with a handsome writing desk and
a dressing case, and Mrs. Wallace with an umbrella.

Col. Cadell, of the Bridgeness Colliery, Bo’ness, and Mr.
Clarkson, of the Kinneil Collieries, Bo’ness, introduced by
Mr. Pratt, M.P., had an interview on the 11th inst. with
Mr. J. M. Robertson, of the Board of Trade, in connection
with railway rates.for coal from Bo’ness to Leith and
Granton. The closing of the Firth of Forth, it was
explained, had hit the coal industry of Bo’ness very severely,
and it was urged that the Board should re-consider its
refusal to reduce coal freights from this district to the coast.
Mr. Robertson promised to lay the matter before the Rail-
way Executive Committee.

LABOUR AMD WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The executive of the -South Wales Miners’ Federation met
on Saturday, and discussed at length the proposals for an
amended agreement under the Conciliation Board; and
finally a sub-committee wras nominated to prepare the draft
for submission to the coal owners. This, however, will not
be done until the draft has been approved by the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain, which has a conference within
the next few days. The executive discussed also the ques-
tion of the increase in' contributions from 3d. to 6d. per
week, which comes into operation at the beginning of next
month.

It was reported to the,executive with regard to the dispute
concerning a checkweigher at Ynysarwed Colliery, that
representatives of the Federation had met the management
of the company, and, as a result, the whole of the workmen
who had been idle would return to work.

The anthracite district of miners, who met in Swansea on
Saturday to discuss the proposed new agreement, had under
consideration their existing standard, which is, it will be
remembered, 5 per cent, below the general rule of the
coalfield, and applies only to the anthracite district. After
some debate on the point involved, the matter was adjourned
for further consideration.

At Abertillery on Monday, the Monmouthshire ’and
Western Valleys miners’ representatives met. In the course
of speeches upon the question of a new agreement, it was
urged that obligation rested upon the Federation to get
the surfacemen’s grievances remedied. Mr. George Barker,
one of the agents, stated that a number of seams were still
being worked without price lists, and at one colliery condi-
tions were acute, for payments were being made upon price
lists prevailing 20 or 30 years ago. Owing to dispute at
one colliery, the men had appealed for permission to give
notie’e; and this question' was referred to the central
executive.

Mr. John (miners’ agent), when addressing a meeting of
the Rhondda district at Forth on Monday, said it was
necessary they should concentrate their energies upon the
new proposals submitted to the employers. Though these
were numerically few, they, involved very important points
in principle; and it had been computed, that the proposed
reforms would mean at least one million per annum to the
coal owners.

The East Glamorgan miners, at Caerphilly on Monday,
decided to. make representations to the Federation executive,
so that provision should, be made, in allocating.the increased
benefits arising out of the larger contributions, that, a
greater amount should.go to the district fund, so that each
district should be able to defray the expenses of colliery
examination. The agent, stated, with regard to . the fixing
of a price for. the Rock Vein seam of the Bedwas Colliery,
that it was hoped that next- year - they would' be able to

report progress towards a settlement. , It was reported to
the meeting that the air tubes on the main west level at
Senghenydd Colliery had been reached, and there remained
only a small area in.what was known as the “ fire zone.” ■
The meeting also considered a complaint from the Windsor
Colliery, Abertridwr, where dissatisfaction prevails amongst
the workmen because of disputed compensation cases. A
suggestion had been made from the men’s side that the
company’s doctor should meet the workmen’s doctor,, with
a view to getting the cases disposed of. The arrangement,
however, proved impracticable, and it was stated at the
meeting that unless something was done to meet the
grievances, there was a probability that the men would deal .
with the matter in some other way than through the
county court.

Owing to the prevalence of water, the men in No. 1 seam
of the Glen a von Colliery, Blacngarw, held a meeting, and
decided not to descend until the water had been cleared.

North of England.

At a meeting of the Whitehaven miners’ joint lodges of
the Cumberland Miners’ Association, convened for the
purpose of considering the future wage agreements, to place
before the Cumberland Coal Trade Conciliation Board, it
was agreed that the following be forwarded to Mr. Andrew
Sharp (miners’ agent), with a request to act on the instruc-
tions laid down by the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain :

(1)	That a minimum wage of not less than 5s. per day
be paid to all surface workmen of 21 years of age and over.

(2)	That boys starting, work on the surface at the age of
14 be paid a minimum of 2s. 6d. per day, and to receive
an advance (on a set out scale) every six months, so that
they will reach the minimum at the age of 21.

(3)	That 50 per cent, of the present percentage, paid on
the standard, be put into the standard (the old standards
to be abolished), and that 10 per cent, be paid on the
above, and from the new minimum percentage. That all
underground workmen be paid at the same rate of per-
centage.

(4)	That all workmen working on the afternoon and
night shifts be paid at the rate of one shift and one-fifth
for each shift worked. Workmen constantly employed on-
the night shift be paid at the rate of one and a-half
shift for each shift worked.

(5)	That all screen women be advanced 6d. per day
on their present standard wages.

The above lodges have also sent an application for an
advance on the minimum wage rates, to assist them to
meet the advance on the foodstuffs, with a request that it
be dealt with as early as possible.

The executive committee of the Durham Miners’ Asso-
ciation has passed the following resolution :—“ It is with
deep regret and a strong apprehension of the serious conse-
quences that might result, that we, the Durham miners,
learn that a large number, of gas companies and other
influential bodies are approaching the Government with a
view to the temporary repealing of the Eight Hours Act,
their reason for so doing being, as they contend, a shortage
of coal. We desire to point out that this contention is
fallacious, inasmuch as a large number of collieries in our
county are working short time, and others are stopped; and
we further consider that the coalfield generally is quite
capable of efficiently supplying the demand without having
recourse to the lengthening of the hours. We urge upon
the Government the strong desirability of not interfering
with the hours of labour at this present juncture, more
particularly as no real or adequate reasons have been or
can be advanced for a change.” A resolution was also
carried asking the Government to take steps to deal with
the rise in price of the necessities of life. Similar resolu-
tions were adopted by a labour conference, convened to
consider the present high prices of food and fuel, at New-
castle on Saturday last.

Federated Area.

The sub-committee of the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain have brought their protracted negotiations for a
new wage agreement to a conclusion. The decision was
anounced by Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis, secretary to the
coal owners, and Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.F., chairman of
the men’s section, as follows :—•

The negotiations for a renewal of the Conciliation
Board have reached a point where the parties have decided
to submit terms for the consideration of their respective
constituents. A further meeting of the Board will take
place on March 3.

The proposed basis of the new agreement, the terms of
which are to be submitted to the coal owners and miners
of the Federated area in England and North Wales, may be
summarised as a new wage basis in substitution for the
wage basis of 1888, in which the present minimum of 50
per cent, is merged, a minimum wage increased by 10 per
cent, on the old standard from 50 to 60 per cent., and a
maximum wage increased by 15 to 80 per cent*, on the old
standard. The merging of the present minimum of 50 per
cent, on the 1888 standard in a new standard wage will
change the future percentages, as they will be reckoned
upon a standard which is 150 per cent., instead of the
present 100 per cent. The parties have decided that future
alteration of wages shall be on the same basis as under the
present agreement, and consequently they will be reckoned
as 3^ per cent, instead of 5 per cent., as at present. To put
the figures in the revised percentages, the new agreement,
if ratified by the parties-, will have a minimum wage of 6j
per cent, on the new standard, and with wages at the
present amount of 65 per cent, on the old standard, this
will be the equivalent of 10 per cent, on the’ new standard.
If selling prices justify applications by the miners for
further increases of wages, they will be entitled to make
three 'applications of 3^ per cent, each, or, as already stated,
15 per cent, when calculated on the old wage basis. The
proposed agreement is to run for a period of three years,
and to be determinable by. three months notice. The full
Conciliation Board has been in attendance for consultative
purposes throughout the negotiations by the sub-committee,
and has accepted the proposals for consideration by their
respective constituents. A special conference of delegates
from the Federated area in England and North Wales will
be held in London on Monday, February 22, to consider
the proposals.

A national conference of the Miners’ Federation will be
held on Tuesday, February 23, to deal with the question of
wage agreements, and to decide the period for which they
will run,, and the notice to be given.

The meeting of the English Conciliation Board has been
adjourned until March 3, so as to obtain the decision of the
Miners’ Federation. It may be added that the surfacemen
question is Unlikely to be dealt with in the general agree-
ment.