452

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

February 26, 1915.

TRADE AND THE WAR.

The Government's Arbitration Scheme—The Dye Scheme—
Italy and the “ Blockade " — Export and Import
Licences—The Coal Enquiry—Mr. D. A. Thomas on
Coal Prices.

In the House of Commons last week Mr. Evelyn Cecil
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the
managers of the Admiralty coasting trade office at
Newcastle were paid a fixed salary, and whether he would
avoid any arrangement which might tend to raise freights
contrary to the interests of coal consumers. Mr. Robertson
said the arrangement with these gentlemen was on the
basis of a fixed sum per annum for each vessel, together
with a percentage on the net profits, but subject to a
maximum rate of remuneration per annum, which would,
he thought, have the effect desired.

His Majesty’s Government have received a report from
the Committee appointed to enquire and report on the
question of production in engineering and shipbuilding
establishments engaged on Government work. The Com-
mittee are strongly of opinion that during the present
crisis employers and workmen should under no circum-
stances allow their differences to result in a stoppage of
work. They add :—

Whatever may be the rights of the parties at normal
times, and whatever may be the methods considered
necessary for the maintenance and enforcement of those
rights, we think there can be no justification whatever
for a resort to strikes or lock-outs under present con-
ditions, when the resulting cessation of work would
prevent the production of ships, guns, equipment, stores
or other commodities required by the Government for
the purposes of the war. We therefore submit for the
consideration of his Majesty’s Government the desirability
of the immediate publication of the following recom-
mendation to Government contractors and sub-contractors
and to trade unions, and to request their adhesion to this
recommendation—

With a view to preventing loss of production caused
by disputes between employers and workpeople no
stoppage of work by strike or lock-out should take place
on work for Government purposes. In the event of
differences arising which fail to be settled by the parties
directly concerned or by their representatives, or under
any existing agreements, the matter shall be referred to
an impartial tribunal nominated by his Majesty's
Government for immediate investigation and report to
the Government with a view to a settlement.

His Majesty’s Government have intimated their concurrence
in the Committee’s recommendation, and, with a view to
providing the necessary tribunal indicated therein, they
haVe extended the present reference to the Committee by
empowering them to accept and deal with any cases arising
under the above recommendation. The members of the
Committee are Sir George Askwith (Board of Trade), Sir
Erancis Hopwood (Admiralty) and Sir George Gibb (War
Office), and communications on the subject should be
addressed to Mr. H. J. Wilson, secretary to the Committee,
at 5, Old Palace-yard, London, S.W.

The latest publication of “ The Tariff Commission ” deals
at length with the aniline and other dye industries, and
states that the United Kingdom imported in 1913 <£1,890,000
worth of coal-tar dyes and dyestuffs, of which £1,730,000
worth came from Germany. These German imports were
made up as follow:—Alizarine and anthracene dyestuffs,
£271,000 ; aniline and naphthalene dyestuffs, £1,382,000 ;
synthetic indigo, £77,000 ; other coal-tar dyestuffs, £500 ;
or a total of £1,731,000. The remaining £160,000 of imports
was made up almost entirely of aniline and naphthalene
dyestuffs from Switzerland, Belgium and Holland, practically
all, however, from Switzerland (£146,000). The United
Kingdom exported coal-tar dyestuffs to the value of
£177,000, of which £20,000 went to Germany. The evidence
received by the Tariff Commission from the leading firms
of makers and users of dyes in the United Kingdom goes
to show that the potentialities of the country are sufficient
to relieve any feelings of apprehension if the resources of
British industry are properly organised and an adequate
guarantee as to the future is given. There are held to be
almost illimitable possibilities of adapting and expanding
existing chemical industries for the production of aniline
dyes ; indeed, the problem is regarded as in a sense
comparable with that which has been so successfully
overcome under the pressure of war demand in obtaining
enormous supplies of war material from industries estab-
lished for other classes of production. The general trend
of the evidence received is that no guarantee would be
considered adequate which did not include protection for
the new industry.

A private circular has been issued by the National
Federation of Associated Paint, Colour, and Varnish Manu-
facturers of the United Kingdom dealing with the import
of aniline dyes under licences. The circular asserts that
the Board of Trade are prepared to issue licences for the
import of coal tar dyes into this country from abroad,
including enemy countries, on application. Mr. Sutcliffe
Smith, of the Bradford Dyers’ Association, told the Bradford
Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday that unless immediate
arrangements were made for taking raw material to
Switzerland and bringing back the finished product there
would soon be an enormous stoppage of textile machinery

It is reported from Rome that as a result of the German
“ blockade ” of British ports, Italy is threatened with a
scarcity of coal. The State railways announce that reduced
consumption is indispensable. The question, which is of
vital importance to Italy, will be brought up in Parliament.
Meanwhile, Germany is reported to have offered to send
coal to Italy if Italian miners are allowed purposely to
emigrate, with the object of working German mines, which
are short-handed ; but the offer has already been practically
refused, since special restrictive measures have been
adopted to prevent the exodus of Italian workmen to
belligerent countries. It is reported that to economise coal
the Italian State Railways have just taken off about 40
trains on the Piedmont, Lombardy, and Genoa and Rome to
Naples lines. Italy is at present negotiating for obtaining
supplies of coal from Germany, which would have to come
ti », St. Gothard and also via the Lotschberg-Simplon line,
as it would entail too heavy a traffic for one line alone.

Sir Alexander Henderson, at the annual meeting of
shareholders of the Great Central Railway Company, held
on Friday last, at Manchester, said the South Yorkshire
coal strike in April reduced their gross receipts by fully

£70,000. Replying to a shareholder, the chairman said that
the diminished train service was not entirely due to Govern-
ment requirements. Mainly it was due to that cause, but,
he added, “We are all much concerned about our stock of
coal, and that is one of the reasons why we have given notice
of decreased passenger services.”

The Treasury announce that, in view of the complexity
and volume of work involved in dealing with applications
for export and import licences during the war, a depart-
ment under the Treasury, to be called the War Trade
Department, has been formed to replace the Committee on
Trade with the Enemy so far as this work is concerned.
Lord Emmott has consented to act as director of this
department, and Sir Nathaniel Highmore will be the
secretary. The War Trade Department will deal with all
applications for the grant of export and import licences,
and will embrace an intelligence division, which will serve
as a clearing-house for all war commercial information. The
remainder of the work of the Trading with the Enemy
Committee (relating to the movements of funds and other
questions in which the Treasury is mainly concerned) will
be transferred to the Treasury, and will be performed by
Sir Arthur Thring, the Parliamentary counsel, and his
staff. All applications for licences to export prohibited and
restricted goods, and all applications in respect thereof,
should be sent to the offices of the new department,
addressed as follows :—“The Secretary, War Trade Depart-
ment, 4, Central-buildings, Westminster, London, S.W.”

It is understood that the Board of Trade have requested
the railways to furnish periodical statements of the quantity
of coal reaching important centres of consumption. Weekly
statements are desired of the tonnage delivered by rail in
the following districts: — London, Birmingham, Leeds,
Bradford, Huddersfield, Sheffield and Glasgow.

Writing to The Times on Monday, Mr. D. A. Thomas
says:—“ In the discussion on Tuesday in the House of
Commons, a member complained that the figure given by
the Prime Minister of 15 per cent, as the average rise in the
price of coal in consequence of the war was far from correct,
and declared that the rise had been 70, and in some cases
100 per cent. May I point out that no such rise at any
rate has taken place in the price of South Wales large
steam coal, though the price of small has fluctuated within
wide limits ? The price quoted in the Cardiff papers for
“ best Admiralty large coal ” was from July 3 to August 4
21s. 6d.-22s. 6d.; while on January 31 last it was 21s.-21s. 6d.
In other words, so far from any rise having taken place
during that period, there was an actual drop in the price of
Welsh Admiralty large, such as that supplied to the Navy,
in the first six months of the war, notwithstanding the
increased cost of production due to lessened output through
shortage of labour and the big rise in the price of pitwood
and other colliery stores and materials. The price during
the past fortnight or so has advanced a couple of shillings
per ton, and to-day it is quoted 22s. 6d.-23s.”

LABOUR ARD WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The sub-committee of the South Wales Federation
executive has now drafted the list of demands which will
be submitted to the coal owners for amendment of the Con-
ciliation Board agreement. The work was completed at a
meeting of the sub-committee held last week.

The Rhymney Valley executive committee of the miners’
organisation represents about 10,000 members; and at their
meeting on Saturday they discussed the appropriation of
the increased contributions. Approval was given to the
demand for increase to commence on March 1. Some of the
members of the Miners’ Federation, however, seem disposed
to criticise the new departure. There is a demand that the
local organisations should have a larger proportion of the
subscription, and that the new contributions shall not be
distributed in similar fashion to the old.

A very satisfactory condition of affairs prevails in the
anthracite coalfield, unemployment having been very largely
reduced, and many men who had transferred themselves to
the steam coal district having returned home because
engagements awaited them in their own neighbourhood.
Upon the question of the 5 per cent, below the standard of
1879, which forms the basis of anthracite vrages—making
the wage rate 55 per cent, instead of 60 per cent., as in
other parts of the coalfield—there is the countervailing point
that in settling price lists during recent years the fact of
the lower percentage has been duly allowed for. Should
the demand of the Federation be conceded and a new
standard be established 50 per cent above the 1879 rate, the
anthracite coalfield at once comes into line with all other
parts of South Wales, and the old grievance as to the 5 per
cent, difference would be extinguished. A general confer-
ence of delegates representing all the anthracite men will
take place to-morrow, whereat the different subjects will be
fully discussed.

North of England.

Much of the most recently issued minutes of the executive
committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Association is
taken up with references to the fire coal question. The men
are being advised to endeavour to get an arrangement
locally to tide over the present crisis.

Mass meetings of miners, held to protest against the
Government’s inaction in regard to the high prices of food
and also against the proposal to suspend the Eight Hours
Act, were held on 'Saturday last at the principal colliery
centres throughout Durham. At the meeting in Durham
city, Mr. T. H. Cann presided over the representatives of
29 lodges. Mr. Cann, who is financial secretary of the
Durham Miners’ Association, declared that none of the
workers in Durham collieries would return to the old condi-
tions, and no power, not even the Government, would force
them. Mr. W. B. Charlton said enginemen were certainly
opposed to the Act being repealed. Aid. S. Galbraith said
it would be a fatal blunder on the part of the Government
to go back to long hours for boys. If such an attempt were
made, it would mean a serious fight in the North of
England.

At a meeting of the executive of the Cleveland Miners’
and Quarrymen’s Association at Saltburn last week, it was
reported that the voting of the miners’ lodges on the sub-
ject of extra hours being worked to increase the output of
ironstone for the furnaces had been received. The returns
from the lodges show that the miners are not at present
prepared to agree to any alteration of hours, or to agree to
working the extra hour on two days a week, as suggested
by the owners, and the Mine Owners’ Association have
been informed of this decision.

Federated Area.

A special conference of representatives from the Federated
mining districts in England and North Wales included
within the Conciliation Board was held at the Westminster
Palace Hotel on Monday, under the presidency of Mr.
Stephen Walsh, M.P., to consider the terms of the provi-
sional wage agreement, and to decide the policy at the
National Federation conference. A meeting of the men’s
section of the Conciliation Board was held previous to the
conference, for the purpose of receiving reports from the
districts. The committee sat for about two hours. The
discussion, both in the committee and the conference,
revealed the fact that a good deal of opposition to the terms
of the provisional wage agreement has arisen ainong the
men in the Federation districts. The rise in the cost of
living is responsible for the demand for an immediate increase
in wages. The present agreement is only terminable by
three months’ notice from April 1, and this means that a
new agreement will only become operative from July 1,
and any application for an advance in wages would be
deferred until that date. An objection has also been raised
to the insertion of a maximum percentage in any future
wage agreement which may be signed. These two points
present difficulties Which may lead to a re-opening of the
negotiations between the representatives of the coal owners
and the workmen, instead of, as was expected, the signing
of the agreement at the meeting of the Conciliation Board
on March 3. Opposition was also offered to the proposed
minimum wage of 60 per cent, on the standard, and it was
urged that the miners' original proposal for a minimum of
65 per cent, should be further pressed. On the question of
the 5 s. minimum for surface workers asked for by the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, which is not included
in the provisional agreement with the coal owners, the con-
ference pressed for this to be further raised in the Concilia-
tion Board. The raising of these further questions and
demands means a further period of negotiation and of
uncertainty. The one clause in the provisional agreement
which has been endorsed is the proposed new wage standard,
in substitution for the 1888 standard, in which the present
minimum of 50 per cent, is merged. Mr. Stephen
Walsh, M.P., gave the following official report of the
conference :—

The first clause of the provisional agreement setting out
the basis of December 1911, and the application of future
advances to each and every class of work on the price list
of such date, were agreed to.

In the matter of the minimum and maximum wage sub-
mitted by the owners, considerable opposition was shown
by the delegates, but the resolution was carried authorising
the workmen’s section to make further sustained efforts
for improvement in both directions.

In respect of the 5s. minimum for all adult surface
workers comprised within the Federation, it was agreed
that sustained efforts be made by the workmen’s section
of the Conciliation Board to bring about the same; and
on both matters a report is to be made to a future
conference.

The application of any advance agreed upon in the
future by the Conciliation Board to both the existing
minimum wage and to any that may be hereafter agreed
upon was decided by the conference as a fundamental
condition of the renewal of the agreement.

The concluding paragraph is obviously framed to prevent
any further minimum wage disputes, such as South and
West Yorkshire.

There are at least three of the smaller West Yorkshire
collieries where the notices of the men have been put into
operation. Mr. J. Wadsworth, M.P., secretary of the
Yorkshire Miners’ Union, has expressed regret that there
was any misunderstanding with any of the collieries,
because when the settlement was arrived at with the coal
owners at Leeds, the miners’ representatives anticipated
they had made a final settlement. It is now reported, adds
Mr. Wadsworth, that some of the owners and managers
had taken advantage of the men by reducing their wages.
He had received a telegram from Mr. Ben Day, secretary
of the West Yorkshire Coal Owners’ Association, with
reference to two of the collieries, flatly contradicting reducing
any of the men’s wages. The pits at which stoppage had
taken place are Howley Park, Batley, and Cleckheaton, and
some of the men employed by the Leeds Fireclay Company
ceased work. “ These men have been instructed,” states
Mr. Wadsworth, “ to resume work under protest until
we can meet the West Yorwkshire coal owners, and
get any misunderstanding cleared up.” The trouble at
Batley turns upon a question as to whether the colliery
workers in class 4 are entitled to an extra 4d. per day under
the award of Judge Amphlett. By the Leeds settlement
it was agreed that the colliery proprietors should. pay the
additional 4d. to actual miners, and in several instances
the owners in the Batley district have, it is stated, refused
this payment to hurxiers, by-workers, trammers, and others
in class 4. Matters came to a climax at one pit last
Friday, when all the workers in the class mentioned with-
drew, although the local officials had advised . them to
continue work under protest until the point in dispute had
been thrashed out at the headquarters of the Yorkshire
Miners’ Association. Since then the trouble has spread,
and the Soothill Wood, White Lea, and Howley Park
collieries are all affected. The present wage of men in
class 4 is 5s. 4d. per day, and their demand is for 5s. 8d.

Scotland.

A conference of co-operative, trade union, women’s indus-
trial, and Socialist organisations in the West of Scotland
was held on Saturday in Glasgow, under the auspices of
the War Emergency Workers’ National Committee, to
discuss the high prices of food and fuel. . Mr. Robert
Smillie, representing the Emergency Committee, made a
statement as to the work that had been done by the com-
mittee. He said there was scarcely any necessary of life
that had not increased in price, and the total increase in
the cost of living was about 20 per cent. They found also
that their patriotic,owners of houses had also been increas-
ing rents. In the matter of the increases in the price of
coal, the Primo Minister had given as the reason that some
13-9 per cent, of the mining community had gone to the
front. Reasoning from percentages, he had said that that
must account for a reduction of 10 per cent, in production.
Had Mr. Asquith and his advisers gone into the question
fully, he would have found that in any year the mining
industry in this country produced less than its full possible
output by 15, or even 20, per cent. The miners left at home
were well able to put out the normal supply of coal in this
country. It would have to be proved to the miners by a
sounder argument from Mr. Asquith that there was any
real necessity for an increase in the price of coal. It had
been said that the cost of coal at the pit bank was 12s. to