March 12, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 557 certainly could have been improved upon. Brown ought to have known, at the same time, that it was a very foolish thing to fill those stoves in the engine house while they were still lighted. Another matter he wished to refer to was that it would have been better to have had the hose down the pit instead of on the top. Had it been available, Brown might have dealt with the fire promptly and effec- tively. With the means they had, he thought all the men worked as hard as they could to save life. Bicker ton certainly deserved to be highly commended for what he did. It was wonderful that he was alive to give evidence. The only clause of the Act which might have a bearing on the case was section 70, which provided that where timber, grease, or other inflammable material was stored-, adequate means for extinguishing fire must be provided. He assumed the method in this case was adopted a consider- able time ago, and was within the knowledge of the inspector •of mines who passed it. He did not think the jury would find any difficulty in arriving at the cause of death. ! They had also to find whether anyone was responsible, and he would certainly say, after the evidence, that nobody was responsible, that it was a pure accident. Thirdly, they could express their view as to how to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. The jury quickly came to a decision, and the. foreman (Mr. W. Bromfield) said they found that the deceased men died of “ Carbon monoxide poisoning, set up through an accidental fire at the New Hem Heath Colliery on February 25, 1915.” The jury, the foreman added, agreed with the Remarks of the coroner in regard to the facilities provided, and they hoped that the bravery of Bickerton would be recognised in some way. On behalf of the residents of Chesterton, he would also like to thank the rescue brigades for their excellent work. German Rock Drill Patent.—Mr. E. F. Lamb, of 54, New Broad-street, London, E.C., applied in the Patents Court on February 19 for a licence to make during the war a valve for rock drills, sold at 20s. 9d., and made under a patent owned by a German named Flottman, of Westphalia. The Flottman Engineering Company Limited, of Allanbank Works, Cardiff, opposed, and asked to have the patent, as well as an allied patent, for a rock drill in connection with wThich the valve is used, suspended in their own favour. They had made the rock drill for the last eight years. Their manufactures were entirely British. They made all the parts 'at Cardiff, and supplied, besides the English market, Japan, South America, and the Colonies. The drill made in Germany was unsuited to the needs of South Wales, where a shorter stroke and a larger area had to be used. The Comptroller stated that where there was a go-ahead concern endeavouring to carry out their obligations, it was the policy of the Government that they should have ' a licence, and they would shortly hear from the Board of Trade. United States Imports and Exports of Coal in 1914.—The following is a comparative statement of imports and exports of the United States for the 12 months ending December 1912-13-14, in long tons :— Twelve months. 1912. 1913. 1914. Imports: — 'Ions. Tons. Tons. United Kingdom 8,697 6,141 . 27,421 Canada 1,404,139 ... 1,096,924 . .. 1,050,592 Japan 30,621 ... 117,483 . 75,109 Australia and Tasmania 162,671 ... 188,613 . .. 219,941 Other countries 2,222 4,696 . 2,253 Total 1,608,350 ... 1,413,857 . .. 1,375,316 Exports:— Anthracite : Canada 3,615,530 ... 4,083,333 . .. 3,767,774 Brazil — — 6 Uruguay — .7 84 — Other countries 73,259 70/69 . ” 62,464 Total 3,688,789 ... 4,154,386 . .. 3,830,244 Bituminous : Canada 10,433,010 ...13,496,190 . .. 9,170,901 Panama 486,309 ... 489,761 . .. 267,598 Mexico 302,487 ... 477,046 . .. 3:9,302 Cuba 1,152,004 ... 1,275,538 . .. 1,074,825 West Indies 651,268 ... 608,762 . .. 552,600 Argentina — 70,048 . .. 241,248 Brazil — ... 279,933 . .. 278,026 Uruguay 16,858 . 76,088 Other countries 1,434,900 ... 1,272,621 . .. 1,780,762 Total 14,459,978 ...17,986,757 . ..13,801,850 Bunker coal 7,340,100 ... 7,700,520 . .. 7,266,002 In December 168,035 tons were imported, as against 165,061 tons. Exports included 184,467 tons of anthracite (226,391 tons), and 696,546 tons of bituminous coal (1,129,976 tons), whilst 490,931 tons were shipped in bunkers, as against 607,249 tons. A statement of exports of bituminous coal from the Hampton Loads ports, Phila- delphia, and Baltimore to'’ European countries is 1914 is given by the Black Diamond :— Destination. Hampton Roads. Tons. Phila- delphia. Tons. Balti- more. Tons. Totals. Tons. Italy . 674,437 ... 25,863 ... 252,414 . .. 952,714 France . 5,768 ... — 40,826 .. .. 46,594 Egypt . 4,878 ... — 89,919 .. .. 94,979 Greece . 62,780 ... — 10,073 . .. 72,853 Spain . 5,161 ... 4,470 7 43,154 . .. 52,785 Sicily . 11,351 ... •— 4,082 . .. 15,433 . Algiers — — 20,921 . ... 20,921 Dakar, F. W. A . 78,117 ... — — .. 78,117 Norway . 9,209 ... ’ 11,714 7 4,390 .. 25,313 Sweden . 20,242 ... — — . 20,242 Austria . 20,099 ... ■ — .. 20/99 Portugal . 12,091 ... — — .. 12,091 Grand Canaries. .. 13,106 — — .. 13,106 Gibraltar . 26,810 ... — • — .. 26.810 India . 3,010 ... — — 3,010 Congo . 3,742 .. — — 3,742 Liberia . 3,009 ... — — 3,009 GermanS. A. . .. 1,‘99 .. — — 1,499 955,309 ... . 42,047 ... 465,779 . ..1,463,135 * Includes Lamberts Point , Sewalls Point, and Newport News. In 1913 only 333,000 tons w7ere shipped to Italy, and 16,000 tons to France. New buyers were Greece, Norway, and Sweden. LABOUR AMD WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Enginemen and Stokers’ Association of South Wales are taking action to obtain higher wages, etc. Their executive council (met in Cardiff on Thursday last week, and it was decided that at the conference to be held on March 25, consideration should be given to the advisability of applying for an advance of 20 per cent, upon the standard, also to the position of the association in view of the engine- men, stokers, and craftsmen being included in the miners’ new agreement: Delegates from the South Wales coal trimmers met at Swansea on Monday, in order to reach agreement amongst themselves as to their demands for.revising the tariff. In addition to the local men, there were representatives from Barry, Cardiff, Newport, and Fort Talbot—about 4,000 men being affected. The decision of the meeting was to ask for an increase of 10 per cent. The difficulty at the Tirydail Colliery, Ammanford, has been settled, and although the notices expired on Monday, work was continued. The demand of the employers was that the monthly holiday should be abandoned, and to this the men have now agreed. The question at issue at Bedwas as to price list for the Rock Vein Colliery will be postponed for a while. The Cardiff tippers’ dispute has been ended after a strong protest against the action of the men in striking without notice. The supplementary allowances which they had before the war bonus are to be continued. The men at the Cyfartha Collieries have given notice terminating their employment, this having been done as a protest against non-unionists. The patent fuel workers who had been on strike at Cardiff returned to work on Friday last week, the matters in dispute being subjected to negotiation. The actual text of the Federation demands in respect of a new agreement were submitted this week to the coal owners, Mr. Tom Richards, M.P., secretary, having for- warded a letter containing them, and also a request for an early meeting of the Conciliation Board to discuss the proposals. As previously stated, the requirement is that a new standard (to be called the standard of 1915) should be established; and the document continues :— The present standard rates of 1877 and 1879 be abolished, and a new standard established, wThich shall have merged therein 35 per cent, on the 1877 standard and 50 per cent, on the 1879 standard, which shall here- after be called the 1915 standard rate of wages. The standard rates in the anthracite area to be regarded as those of the 1879 standard. The new standard for underground day wage workmen shall be arrived at by adding 50 per cent, to the several rates embodied in the minimum wrage award, except in any colliery where, by adding 35 per cent, to the existing 1877 rate, or 50 per cent, to the existing 1879 rate, the r ew standard wall be higher than the rate in the minimum wage award, such rate shall be settled for that colliery. In calculating the new standard rate of wages to be paid to all surface workmenf 50 per cent, shall be added to 3s. 4d. per day, except that at any colliery where, by adding 35 per cent, on the existing rate of the 1877 stan- dard, or 50 per cent, on the existing rate of the 1879 standard, the new standard will be higher than 3s. 4d. per day, plus 50 per cent., such rates shall be fixed for that colliery. During the continuance of the agreement the rate of wages shall not be less than 10 per cent, above the new standard rate, and this rate shall be paid when the average selling price of coal is at or below 15s. 6d. per ton. That all workmen employed on the afternoon and night shifts shall be paid upon the new standard at the rate of a turn and a-fifth for each shift worked. That all hauliers on the afternoon and night shifts shall be paid the same rate of wages as those employed on the day shift. That for the smoother working of the Joint Board the provisions for dealing with disputes at the collieries and various other classes shall be revised. That the agreement shall apply to all grades of work- men employed in and about the collieries. It will be observed that this document deals with the con- dition of the anthracite men and their special standard, which is at the present time 5 per cent, below that of 1879; that surfacemen are included; also the six turns for five; and that other points which have been so frequently dis- cussed are also included. On Wednesday the employers’, representatives on the Conciliation Board replied to the letter of Mr. Richards, which gave notice terminating the agreement; and they proposed that the existing arrangement should be continued for the. duration of the war, “ so as to maintain the output and avoid disputes and possibly cessation at some of the collieries.” They stated that if the workmen’s representa- tives agreed to this proposal, the owners, recognising that “ there has been some increase in the cost of. living . . . are prepared to offer the men a war bonus of 10 per cent, on the existing standard rates until peace is declared, such bonus to apply as from April 1 next.” The owners go on to point out some of the difficulties with which they have to contend, namely, that the bulk of the output has been con- tracted for at prices very much lower than those now ruling; that a reduction of 15 to 20 per cent, has taken place in the output of the .collieries owing to the large numbers of men who have enlisted, this involving a corresponding increase in the cost of working; and that a very large increase has occurred in the cost of materials necessary for working the collieries. The owners appeal to the workmen’s represen- tatives to co-operate in measures of improving the regularity of work on the part of the workmem—this factor at present acting very unfavourably to them, and to the country at large. , < North of England. A special meeting of the Cumberland Miners’ Association was held at Workington on Tuesday, to consider the pro- posals to be submitted to the employers in the making of new agreements. Ultimately it was decided that a list of proposals should be drafted and submitted to the members, and to a further delegate meeting on . the . 16th inst. 'The proposals settled upon at that meeting w7ill be submitted to the Coal Owners’ Association. Reporting to the members of the Northumberland Miners’ Association with reference to the recent representations to coal owners regarding the miners’ house coal question— representations to the effect that the usual supply given before the war, and restricted when hostilities broke out, should now be resumed, as the pits were working almost as well as normally—Mr. Wm. Straker states :—“ The owners said that they agreed with the position and request. At the same time, they reminded us that, as some collieries, owing to the military authorities having commandeered nearly all the horses and, in some cases, motor wagons, there might be some difficulty in getting the usual supply to the work- men. They also said that, while they, as an association, agreed to our request, yet they had no poiwer to compel individual owners to comply with it. The owners also expressed the opinion that it would be better for both parties if the .system was altered so that men would buy their fire coal and receive an equivalent in wages. As we were not there for the.discussion of that question, we said little about it other than expressing the opinion that, if such a change would be a benefit to the colliery owners, the corollary was that it would be a disadvantage to the colliery workmen.” The Weardale Steel, Coal, and Coke Company Limited has given notice to the. 240 men and boys employed at Croxdale Colliery of their intention to lay the pit idle. The high cost, of production is given as the reason. The pit was opened in 1875, and has been twice closed down. A report just issued by the Northumberland Miners’ -Association shows that, at the end of December last there were 28,023 members and 4,562 half-members in the associa- tion. To the end of the year 8,464 members and 129 half- members had enlisted. The Board of Trade has communicated with the financial secretary of the Northumberland Miners’ Association, stating that, as the association has not complied with the conditions laid down by the Board, the association. cannot be paid any share of the War Emergency Grant, or any payment under section 106 of the National Insurance Act, in respect of money paid as out-of-work benefit. Under the circumstances, the executive committee of the association has decided to allow the claim to drop. A communication has been received by Mr. William Straker, corresponding secretary of the Northumberland Miners’ Association, from Mr. Herbert Shawy secretary of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, stating that, through some apparently insurmountable difficulty regarding com- pensation with the Chamber of Commerce at Rouen, the scheme to send some 200 Northumbrian miners to assist in the discharge of coal cargoes at that port has fallen through. Federated Area. The National Federation of Colliery Enginemen and Boilermen states officially that it will consider the proposal for an immediate national demand for increase of wages to meet the high cost of living. The question of an eight hours’ working day by Parliamentary enactments or other- wise, which wTill also be considered, is being supported by West Yorkshire, Derby, Notts, Somerset, and Northumber- land. Mr. H. Smith presided at a meeting of the executive of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association jit Barnsley on Monday. The chairman reported a settlement of the dispute at the Farnley Iron Company’s colliery relative to the minimum wage. He said he had met the representatives of the employers, and they gave a written undertaking to pay the recent award, with 15 per cent, advance. Mr. Smith reported that arising out of the minimum wage dispute there were still stoppages at the Fieldhouse Colliery, Huddersfield, and Messrs. Mann’s Colliery, Mirfield. The executive agreed to augment the strike pay to the miners out.of these pits by 5s. per wrnek for men, and 2s. fid. per week for boys, until the Leeds agreement was paid. Mr. Mann had ignored the letters of the association, and the executive would not trouble any further, but continue to support the men affected. In regard to a dispute at Cleckheaton No. 2 Colliery, it was reported that the voting was 1,254 against and 67 in favour of the men being allowed to tender notices. Safety lamps had been introduced in place of naked lamps, and an extra tonnage rate, reaching 4d. per day in some cases, had been asked for. Efforts to secure an amicable settlement had failed. In regard to the question of sup- porting men and boys out of work owing to the minimum wage dispute, it was reported that the district had decided by a tremendous majority to support a compulsory levy. Scotland. A meeting was held at Loanhead between representatives of the Shotts Iron Company and officials of the Scottish National Union of Mine Workers, in connection with the Loanhead dispute. Terms of agreement were arrived at with regard to the surface workers' wages, and were accepted by the men. Work has now been resumed. The whole of the pit workers of the Burghlee and Ramsay pits of the Shotts Iron and Goal Company Limited, Loanhead, number- ing about 800 men, had been idle to support the surface workers’ claim for higher wages. Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades. At Birmingham on Monday the annual meeting was held of the Midland Iron and Steel Wages Board, whose opera- tions extend over Staffordshire, Derbyshire, South York- shire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Shropshire, and Wales. Mr. Harris, the operatives’ chairman, said the men’s represen- tatives had that day pledged themselves to use all their influence to prevent any cessation of work, particularly on war contracts. Negotiations between the allied engineering trade unions and Sheffield employers in regard to an application by the former for an increase of wages have ended satisfactorily. The men asked for an increase of 5s. per week, and the employers offered 4s. for day workers and 10 per cent, increase on piece work. A mass meeting of the men was held, and the offer was accepted. An Arbitration Court appointed by the Board of Trade held a sitting at Glasgow on the 4th inst., to consider a claim by a number of steel workers in the Glasgow district for an increase of wages to the extent of 25 .per cent. The claim was made mainly in the interests of the lower-paid workers in the steel trade, the grades affected being gas workers, charge wheelers, ladle droppers, and day wage men employed in melting shops. About 2,000 workers were affected. Sheriff A. O. M. Mackenzie, K.C., presided. The • Court decided that an increase of 10 per cent, on the basis rate be granted, and that a double time rate be paid for Sunday work, the award to date from the first pay in December last. It was also stated that the decision had been made in respect of the conditions existing previous to the outbreak of the war, and the award did not preclude the men from making a claim for a special war bonus. . The Scottish Pig Iron Wages Board have under considera- tion a claim by about 4,000 men in the blastfurnace trade for .an advance of 50 per cent, on the basis rates of 1900, with double time for Sunday work, and a 4s. minimum per shift for labourers and 5s. minimum for furnacemen when labouring. The employers are understood to have made an offer, which will be duly placed before the men.