558

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

March 12, 1915.

Notes from the Coalfields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

War Bonus to Miners—Men Seek 20 or 25 per cent, plus
New Agreement — Annual Meeting of Coal Owners’
Association — Swansea’s Year of Trade : Gratifying
Recovery from War Hindrance—The Growing Burden
of Rates, etc., upon Colliery Properties.,

The striking feature of the week is a suggestion — not
formal demand—by the miners for a war bonus of not less
than 20 per cent, (one resolution called for 25 per cent.),
and this quite independente of, and in addition to, any
difference in the wage rate that might be brought about by
a new 'agreement. The employers, on their part, offer 10
per cent, upon the standard as a war bonus (making 70 per
cent, total), conditional upon the old agreement being main-
tained till the end of the war.

On Saturday at Bargoed there was a conference of com-
mittees from the workmen of the Powell Duffryn Collieries
in the Rhymney Valley, and, according to the report which
they issued, the purpose of their meeting was to bring about
an immediate “show cards” at the collieries, and also to
deal with the question of the high prices of food. Upon the
latter a resolution was passed stating that the conference
represented 6,000 Powell Duffryn workmen, that “ it viewed
with alarm the attitude of the Prime Minister and the
Government towards the unjust and unpatriotic conduct of
merchants and shipowners in causing such rapid and great
advances in the prices of foodstuffs ” ; and, further, the con-
ference specially called upon the executive of the South
Wales Miners’ Federation “to take immediate steps for
securing 25 per cent, advance in wages as a means of
partially meeting the exigencies of the time.” The agent,
Mr. Walter Lewis, justified the • resolution by referring to
the speech of Mr. Joseph Shaw, the chairman of the com-
pany, which he said “ revealed huge profits made by this
company largely at the cost and sacrifice of the workmen.
While it was true that the company had done well in assist-
ing dependants of soldiers, for which the men were grateful,
it was equally true that the sacrifice of shareholders was
nothing equal to the sacrifice of employees.”

A similar resolution has been passed by the workmen of
the same company at New Tredegar, where it was decided
that the demand for 20 per cent, advance should be made
at the next meeting of the Conciliation Board; and that this
should be “ in addition to the present amending of the
Conciliation agreement.”

Upon this very important new development, Mr. Vernon
Hartshorn (Maesteg), who holds the post of assistant
treasurer in the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain,
declares that increase in the cost of living has seriously
affected the miners, and they must, he argues, adopt methods
which are being generally adopted by the working classes
throughout the country. His contention is that industrial
agreements arranged in normal times are not designed to
meet all the conditions 'arising from a war; and, just as
revision of terms in other contracts are being made, because
of abnormal conditions, so the miners are entitled to take
exceptional action. Increase in cost of living has meant
for them an actual reduction in the spending power of their
wages, so that “ even on the basis of the terms in their
agreements, they have suffered a substantial reduction of
wages, which was never provided for in the terms of the
agreements.” Mr. Hartshorn insists that this is a distinct
problem, “ which must be dealt with entirely apart from
the terms of the miners’ contract”; and whilst wage
increases or bonuses have been granted to railwaymen,
dockers, seamen, and others, in order to help them meet the
higher prices, “ the miners cannot consent to be left out of
the general readjustment,” and “ there is no reason why
they should wait any longer.”

He then refers to the general conference of the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain, summoned for March 18 in
London, and states that this will formulate demands on
behalf of the whole of the miners in the country for an
immediate war advance of wages to meet the abnormal
prices now being charged for the necessaries of life. The
important part of his declaration is that “ this demand has
nothing whatever to do with the termination of the general
wage agreements, and will not form part of the programme
to be placed before the employers.” It is a separate demand
—a pressing demand—which “ must be dealt with apart
from the rest of our business ”—and must be dealt with
at once.

Mr. D. A. Thomas (Cambrian Combine), in the course
of a communication to The Times, referred to the suggested
advance in wages sought by workmen, and stated that,
whilst he had no authority to speak for the coal owners, his
own views are that the men are entitled to share in the
increased prosperity. Although the cost of production had
gone up, it was idle to deny that at the present time the
majority of collieries were in such a prosperous position as
to justify increase of wages.

The annual meeting of the Monmouthshire and South
Wales Coal Owners’ Association was held at Cardiff on
Tuesday, Mr. E. M. Hann presiding, and a resolution was
unanimously passed appointing Mr. Hugh Bramwell (Great-
Western Collieries) chairman for the ensuing year; and
Mr. W. H. Mewton (Locket’s Merthyr Collieries) vice-
chairman ; Mr. E. M. Hann being heartily thanked for his
services during the past year. The statement showing
membership for the year ended December 31 reported the
following quantities of output :—Cardiff area, 30,103,076
tons; Newport area, 9,842,808 tons; Swansea area,
4,201,487 tons; making a total of 44,147,371 tons.

The proposals for a new agreement submitted by Mr. Tom
Richards, M.P., secretary to the men’s Federation, were
brought up, but the members present did not discuss them
in detail, one expression of feeling being that this was
not the time to open up negotiations, which might engender
hostile feeling between the two sides. The output of the
collieries as a whole in the district showed that during 1914
there had been a decrease of 1,847,079 tons as compared
with 1913. The figures for the latter year were nearly 46
millions of tons, whereas last year the total was 44,147,371
tons.

For the district boards, the following gentlemen have
been appointed :—Cardiff : Mr. B. Rutherford, Rhymney
Iron Company (chairman); Mr. G-. E. Llewellyn, Baldwins
Limited (vice-chairman). Newport : Mr. W. StewTart

(chairman); Mr. B. Nicholas (vice-chairman). Swansea:
Mr. Charles E. Oleeves (chairman); Mr. Henry Williams,
Llangennech (vice-chairman).

Mr. Hugh Bramwell, who becomes chairman of the Coal
Owners’ Association, is the agent of the Great Western
Colliery, having been connected with that undertaking for
25 years, and, as is well known, great development of the
property is being made, especially with regard to the new
sinkings near Llantwit Vardre, which will open out a very
valuable section of the coalfield. Mr. Bramwell is chair-
man. of the Treforest Electrical Consumers Company, with
which several of the collieries are associated, and he is a
member of the South Wales Institute of Engineers.

Mr. Mewton, in addition to being manager of Locket’s
Merthyr Collieries, has an interest in the G-lyncorrwg
Colliery Company, where important developments are taking
place. He also is a director of the Treforest Electrical
Consumers Company, and has been chairman of the Cardiff
District Board.

The annual report of the Swansea Harbour Trust states
that the past two years have been record breakers, but in
opposite directions, for while 1913 broke the record in
respect of increased trade, 1914 broke it in regard to
decrease. In the former year the increase was 927,077 tons,
or 14*7 per cent., but in regard to 1914 there had been a
loss of 1,139,593 tons, or 15-7 per cent., for which the war
was responsible. 'Although the registered tonnage of
vessels was 338,394 tons lower than in 1913, last year saw
an excess as compared with 1912; and even as to the aggre-
gate trade, the comparative decrease with two years was
only 212,516 tons, or 3-3 per cent. The export of coal
suffered last year to the extent of 730,000 tons; patent fuel
was 213,000 tons lower. The new coal tip of the Rhondda
and Swansea Bay Company, which forms so useful an
addition to the port’s facilities, was 'brought into use on
December 15. The gross traffic of the port shows that coal
and coke totalled 3,791,293 tons, -and patent fuel 711,141
tons. Tin, terne, and black plate exports were 415,699 tons,
as against 468,229 tons in 1913.

At the annual meeting of the Swansea Harbour Trustees
on Monday, Sir Griffith Thomas, who was re-elected chair-
man for the 19th time, said it was almost his first experi-
ence of having to report retrogression instead of advance.
Yet, in view of the tremendous struggle going on, he was
surprised that trade had kept on during wartime as well
as it had done, seeing that Swansea’s trade chiefly was
with countries now unfortunately engaged in battle. From
the beginning of the present year, especially last week, the
trade of the port had increased. It was actually bigger
last week than that of the corresponding week of last year
—and that was a good omen. The shipments of bunker had
increased last year; and he emphasised the fact that this
was a trade which could only be secured by the provision
of the best possible standard of appliances, capable of
shipping bunkers quickly, and now that that essential had
been secured, future success might be expected.

Some of the miners in the anthracite district are protest-
ing against the increase in contributions to the Federation,
and are claiming that it cannot be imposed until a vote by
ballot has been taken approving of it; and among the
objectors the argument is made that the abnormal food
prices constitute -a reason for limiting their subscription. A
protest is made against the action of the conference, on the
ground that it is disregard of the democratic constitution
of the Federation, there having been nothing in the agenda
that the conference would be allowed to finally settle the
question. Contention is made that before such a new rule
can be enforced, there should have been given three months’
notice of alteration.

In the course of a statement to the shareholders of
North’s Navigation Collieries this week, Sir Robert Harvey
said that 1,150 of their men had enlisted since the outbreak
of the war, this being 20 per cent, of their employees. He
said that exploration under the company’s freehold estates
had disclosed the existence of valuable seams of unworked
coal, and they had decided to take the necessary steps to
work it, thus adding considerably to the value of the
property. Another interesting point was that the local
rates showed a still further increase, and during the year
had exceeded £16,000, whilst the payments under the
Workmen’s Compensation Act absorbed £13,350.

A paragraph was published a few days ago that the
Italian Government was seriously pre-occupied regarding
shortage of British coal and high prices, and was consider-
ing a proposal to import German coals in exchange for
foodstuffs. On Monday, however, a telegram was received
in Cardiff, stating that that report was untrue, and that
since the declaration of war Italy had only taken 50,000 tons
of coke and 1,500 tons of patent fuel, and that there was no
condition regarding exchange of foodstuffs or anything else.

At Maesteg a presentation has been made to Mr. Jenkin
Jones, manager of the Caerau Colliery (North’s Navigation),
on the occasion of his appointment to the management of
the company’s new pits at Cwmdu. Mr. Jones has a long
and honourable record in the South Wales coal trade, he
having commenced work at the pit at the age of 11. Later
in life his father and himself opened up the No. 2 seam in
the Ogmore district. Subsequently he became fireman at
the Wyndham Colliery, and in 1884 he was appointed under-
manager at Coegnant, afterwards becoming manager. Mr.
Jones takes an active part in public life as a member of
the Glamorgan Council, and of the Maesteg Council.

Northumberland and Durham.

New Miners’ Homes Opened—Recalcitrant Miner Delays a
Ship—Auckland Colliery to Remain Open—Electrifica-
tion at Bedlington.

Sir Alfred M. Balmer, who has been appointed High
Sheriff of the county of Durham, is a well-known Durham
coal owner, chairman of the Gateshead county magistrates,
and representative of the coal owners on the Tyne Improve-
ment Commission. He is the fourth son of the late Sir
Chas. Mark Palmer, whose name will always be associated
with the industrial development of mid-Tyne.

It had been hoped that Dr. John Wilson, M.P., would
have been sufficiently recovered from his illness to have
performed the opening ceremony in connection with the 12
aged miners’ homes at New Seaham, but, unfortunately,
Dr. Wilson is not yet able to undertake such engagement.
Aid. Samuel Galbraith, financial secretary to the Durham
Miners’ Association, therefore performed the ceremony last
Saturday. The site of the homes, together with a donation
of £100, was given by the late Lord Londonderry, who also
supplied the bricks at reduced prices. Mr. Corbett, agent
to the Londonderry Collieries, and Mr. Swallow, manager

of Seaham Colliery, have arranged that the old people in
these homes shall be supplied with coal, and that the fines
paid by workmen for laid-out tubs, etc., shall be contributed
to the funds of the homes. The workmen at Seaham
Colliery have subscribed about £1,280 towards the cost of
the homes, which, altogether, have cost about £2,000. The
general committee of the Durham Aged Mine Workers’
Association will, it is expected, defray 25 per cent, of the
total cost. Mr. J. Adair, general secretary of the Homes’
Association, mentioned that last year, despite six months
of war, the workmen of the county contributed £10,000 to
the Homes’ Association, that £2,348 was received from
owners and managers, and that private donors gave £549.
That was the 29th group of homes that had been opened
in the county.

Mr. Hugh Wilson, manager of the Wallsend Collieries,
w’ho is taking up another appointment, has been presented
by the officials and workmen with whom he has served, with
a roll-top desk, together with a gold brooch for his wife.

After, all, the St. Helen’s Colliery, near Bishop Auckland,
is not to be closed. It will be remembered that between
500 and 600 men and boys received their notices, to take
effect last week-end. The men’s leaders, however,
approached Mr. M. H. Kellett, agent for the owners, with
a view - to seeing if some understanding whereby the pit
might be kept going could be arrived at. The negotiations
have been successful, although it was considered difficult
to keep the colliery going as a paying concern, and the
pit continues operations. Certain matters were left with
Aid. Wm. House, president of the Durham Miners’ Associa-
tion, and Mr. Samuel Hare, of the Durham Coal Owners’
Association, for arrangement.

Important developments in the use of electricity are pro-
jected at Bedlington. Extensive electrical pumping
machinery is being provided at Barrington and Bomarsund.
At the Doctor Fit preparations are being made to instal
electrical pumping plant underground, thereby considerably
relieving the old engine at the “A” Pit. Arrangements
are also being made to convert the haulage system under-
ground from steam to electricity, and a large substation is
being erected at bank for the purpose of transforming the
electric current from high voltage to low voltage, the current
being obtained from the Northern Counties’ Electric Supply
Company, the mains of which are carried close past the
colliery. At Bomarsund Colliery the company already
possesses a power station of its own, which, besides supply-
ing current for its own use, supplies the “ juice ” for the
lighting of the main roads in the district.

Mining operations are to be commenced at a new drift
which is being opened out near the Vicarage at Tanfield.
The area has been “ pegged out,” and a road made from
the main road to the drift mouth. It is understood that the
coal will be led from the drift to the old colliery siding at
East Tanfield, and there placed on rail.

Since the Hazard Fit, East Rainton, passed into the
hands of the Lambton Coal Company, the electric lighting
has been installed for the surface plant and shaft sidings,
etc. It is reported that the railway which was closed when
the Rainton Collieries were dismantled 18 years ago, is to
be re-opened from the Hazard, by way of Dunwell, Bainton
Bridge, over the Durham and Sunderland main road at Rain-
ton Bridge, and by way of Nicholson and Plain Fits, to the
Lambton Railway at Fencehouses. Possibly a connection
may bo made by way of the old railroad between Hetton,
Dene House, and Rainton Bridge.

One of Messrs. Strakers and Love’s oldest servants, Mr.
Robert Hume, has just retired from his post as deputy-
overman at Brancepeth C Fit, a position he has held for
over 43 years, which period is stated to constitute a record.
Mr. Hume is not leaving the company, however, which he
is to serve in another capacity.

Mr. J. Evelyn Carr, of Heathery tops, Scremerston,
managing director of the Scremerston Colliery, who joined
the 1st Battalion of the London Scottish as a private at
the outbreak of the war, has returned home to recuperate
after having been wounded by shrapnel. Fortunately his
injuries are comparatively slight.

Sergt. A. A. Armstrong, of the Northumberland Hussars,
who has been mentioned in despatches by Sir John French
for gallant conduct at the front, was, prior to the war, a
miner at Seghill.

At the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in the
Seaham Harbour Dock Company, held recently, Mr.
Malcolm Dillon, who presided, stated that the company had
had to face unexampled difficulties during the war. They
had had a very largely reduced output of coal to deal with.
In the case of the Londonderry collieries, the reduction had
been about one-third of the ordinary total. Other collieries
in the district had suffered in the same measure. The
shortage of coal shipments, when compared with those for
the corresponding half of the previous year, had been
nearly 190,000 tons.

Mr. A. W. B. Hall, son of the late Mr. Robt. Hall, who
for many years was cashier at Messrs. Strakers and Love’s
Brancepeth and Oakenshaw collieries, has received a pre-
sentation from the workmen at Brancepeth Colliery fitters’
shop, where he has worked for more than 25 years. Mr.
Hall has received an appointment in Darlington.

New magistrates for Sunderland include Mr. Thos.
Hughes, miner; Mr. John Raine, coal exporter; and Coun.
F. W. Taylor, coal exporter.

Cumberland

Housing of Miners at Whitehaven.

At the recent annual meeting of the Cockermouith,
Keswick, and Penrith Railway Company at Keswick, the
chairman, Mr. Hamlet Riley, said that one very satisfactory
feature of the traffic at present was the carriage of coke. For
the seven months of the year before the war began there
was a steady increase in the receipts from that traffic—
about 3,500 tons—and it had increased very considerably
indeed since July; but he thought that was owing to the
abnormal circumstances created by the war. Their iron
ore traffic had also increased largely. That, he imagined,
was caused by the fact that very little Spanish ore was
coming into the country to the east coast, and therefore
this deficiency in ore had been met by iron ore going from
West Cumberland to Middlesbrough and district. He was
afraid he could not build any hopes on that. When the
war was over the ore would come in again from Spain, and
it would cease to be required by east coast smelters from
the West Cumberland mines, and the traffic would fall off.

In the House of Commons this week, Mr. Thomas’
Richardson asked the President of the Local Government