March 19, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 611 the men’s-section of the. Conciliation Board, presided, and there was a large attendance of delegates. The conference approved of’ the proposals for the renewal of the Conciliation Board-.for a further period of three years, on the basis of a new. wage: standard in substitution for- that of-1888, raised by 50 per cent., am-increase of. 15 per cent, in the present minimum, ;and of 20 per cent, -in the maximum wages. The full proposals are :— (1) The establishment of a new basis. The new basis to be the price or rate being paid at each and every colliery, for each and every'class of work, when 50 per cent, on the 1888 basis was the rate of Wages in operation. This was in December 1911. Where a price or rate has been fixed since December 1911, such price or rate shall be adjusted in accordance with this and the following clause. (2) Existing price lists shall not be interfered with in any way, except that where the rate on the price list is the rate of 1888, or the rate of 1888 plus percentages or additions added since 1888, the rate of December 1911 shall be substituted for the rate shown on the price list, and be the new basis. (3) The new Board shall commence on May 1 next, and continue until April 30, 1918, and thereafter until deter- mined by either party by a three months’ notice. (4) The minimum to be 10 per cent, on the new basis, as provided for in clause 1, and the maximum to be 23| per cent, on the new basis. (5) The present rules of procedure of the Board, subject to the alterations as now agreed to by both parties, shall . apply to the new Board. (6) That the resolutions of October 21, 1912, January 6, 1913, and April 15, 1913, applying the advances given on those dates to the minimum wage rates then existing, to remain unaltered, and apply to minimum wage rates now existing, and, subject to the following proviso, shall apply, as well as any future adjustments of wages rates by the Conciliation Board to any minimum wage rates existing at the time of such adjustment. Provided that, in the event of an application to any joint district board for an increase or a decrease in existing minimum wage rates, in the comparison between the then minimum wage rates and the then average rate of wages, the average rate shall be taken to be the amount then prevailing, less any per- centage additions made thereto since the existing minimum wages rates were fixed; it being the desire and intention of both parties that in fixing future minimum wage rates, the advances given by the Conciliation Board on rand since October 1912, and those which may be hereafter given, shall not be duplicated. The period for which the agreement can be made is subject to the approval of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain. Mr. Herbert Smith, president of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association, in an interview with our correspondent, said : “ This new wage agreement is a step in advance of any- thing we have had before. One would have liked to see the maximum wage abolished, but, as the owners put it, ‘ While you insist upon a minimum wage, which is 65 per cent, on the old standard, we have a perfect right to say what shall be the maximum.’ I hope we shall have a period of industrial peace, and that the price of food will soon return to the normal. If the price of food does not fall we, as workmen, will be bound to press for an immediate advance of wages to meet the higher cost of living. Another good thing about the new agreement as nearly as possible equal to 30 per cent., and is asked for not by the ordinary method of calculation on selling prices, but is to be given as a war bonus to meet the increased cost of living. At the conference an amend- ment to the president’s proposal of 20 per cent, advance was submitted by Mr. W. Whitefield, of Bristol, for 10 per cent, advance, but the delegates were practically of one mind in pressing for the full demand. Mr. Robert Smillie, president, on behalf of the executive, submitted the resolution, as follows (1) That the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain make a demand as a national organisation for an advance *in wages in consequence of the increased cost of living which has taken place since the commencement, of the war. (2) That the demand be for an immediate increase of our w>ages to the extent of 20 per, cent, on the present earnings. (3) That the general secretary be requested to com- . municate with the secretary of the Mining- Association of Great Britain with the-view to an immediate, joint national meeting of representatives . of the mine owners of Great Britain and workmen -being held to deal with the fore- going resolution, in order that the advance in wages may come into force .at the earliest possible date. This resolution was carried, and it was resolved that “ The whole of the negotiations be left in the hands of the national executive.” Mr. Smillie, in an interview subsequently on the subject, said :— “ The resolutions carried at the meeting of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain to-day, and the claims con- tained therein, are the natural outcome of the serious increase which has recently taken place in the cost of living. The wages of the mining community, generally speaking, are fixed at such a point that under normal . conditions the income is little more than will supply the ordinary neces- saries and comforts of life, and under those circumstances any serious change of an upward character in the cost of living at once makes itself felt in the home. It cannot be said that the miners have shown unnecessary impatience. The increase in the cost of foodstuffs and other household commodities has been going on . for several months, and recently the rise has reached a point which makes it quite impossible that . the miners can remain passive. In addi- tion to the advance which has taken place in the ordinary household necessaries, the price of coal has advanced enor- mously. And whether this abnormal advance in the value of coal finds its way wholly or in part into the pockets of the mine owmers, the miner, at least, whose wage for many years has been regulated by the -price of coal, naturally feels impatient in face of . the fact that coal consumers —many of them quite , unable to bear the increased cost- are being called upon to pay. shamefully high prices for their, fuel. These, two things,, taking jn conjunction—-the rise in the price of food and the increase in the cost of coal —are the actuating, motives which have culminated in .the present demand. The feeling . of the conference to-day seemed. .to be that they were -extremely anxious .to avoid doing ^anything: which could in., any. way be construed, into action which would unnecessarily hamper the Government or the nation in the present...-crisis..... And the .general, opinion seemed to be that if any disturbance Jakes place in the . coal trade in connection with the present claims, the blame will not. rest upon the miners, but upon those who have been responsible for the manipulation of food figures and for the rise in the price of coal. The probability is that a’ joint ’ conference will' take place as an outcome of to-day’s proceedings, and it is to be hoped that a satisfactory arrangement may be arrived at, which will make it unneces- sary to have any stoppage which would threaten in..any way the continuance of the coal supply of the country.” OBITUARY. The death occurred on Saturday morning, the 6th inst., after a lengthy illness, at his residence, Moorfield, Tonge Moor, Bolton, of Mr. Charles L. Rothwell-Jackson, principal of the firm of Messrs. Jackson and Brothers Limited; of the Wharf Foundry, the oldest engineering concern in Bolton, having been established in 1792 by Abraham Butler. It came into possession of the Jackson family in 1835. The deceased gentleman, who was 70 years of age, was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The death has occurred of Mr. James Hollinrake, of 39, Benedict-street, Kirkdale, Liverpool, at the age of 68 years. The deceased was for some years in partnership with his brother, Mr. Hartley Hollinrake, as coal merchants at Heywood and Bury, and subsequently carried. on business in the same line on his own account at Heywood.. He left the town about 20 years ago, and had since been engaged in the coal trade at Liverpool. Many interested in the Wearside coal trade will regret to learn of the death, which occurred at The Hague recently, of Mr. P. R. Los, formerly consul for the Netherlands, and a prominent coal exporter at Sunderland. Mr. Los, who retired from business and went to live at The Hague about 20 years ago, has died at the great age of 96 years. He had two sons, one of whom is in the British Army, whilst the other is engaged at Rotterdam in the Coal business. It is announced from Amsterdam that Max Mannesmann, the inventor of the Mannesmann tubes, died on Tuesday, the 2nd inst. Mr. Max Mannesmann and two other brothers were interested in the Carl and Reynhard process, and established works at Swansea.and other parts of the world, but for many years past that company has had no connec- tion whatever with the working of the patents in this country, their interests having been bought out about 15 or 20 years ago by the British Mannesmann Company, which has carried on the Swansea works ever since. The death occurred on Tuesday of Mr. [George Stacey Wilson, of Broughton Grange, Cumberland, one of the principal partners in the Flimby Colliery Company, which owns three collieries in the Maryport district. Mr. Wilson had only been ill a week, death being due to pneumonia. For 30 years he had been a Marypbrt Harbour Commis- sioner, and he took considerable interest in the public works of the district. Mr. Wilson, who was a bachelor, was 64 years of age. The death is announced of Mr. Joseph Cook, who died at his residence, Cumberland House, Harrogate. Mr. Cook, who led a very active business life up to within a few days of his death, was managing director of the old- established firm of Joseph Cook, Sons and Co. Limited, Washington Ironworks, county Durham. The death has occurred at his residence, North Park Avenue, Rouridhay, of Mr. Benjamin Holgate, who was well known in local engineering and scientific circles. Mr. Holgate's interest in scientific matters extended over, the greater part of his life. He was a Fellow of the Geological Society, at one time a member of the Yorkshire Geological Association and for a long period president of the Leeds Geological Society. When the British Association last met in Leeds Mr. Holgate read two papers before the geological section—one on the strata of Leeds and the other on coal and its combustion. The death occurred at his residence, Toledo, Devonshire- road, Morecambe, of Mr Francis Thornton, who was in his 87th year. Mr. Thornton, who had lived in retirement at Morecambe for the past 16 years, was formerly the engineer of the Staveley Coal and Iron. Company Limited, Staveley, near Chesterfield, a position he held for 42.years. The death is announced of Mr. J. R. Leaver, J.P., it having taken place at West Cross, Swansea Bay, on Satur- day evening. Mr. Leaver took a leading part in the patent fuel trade of Swansea through his connection with the Atlantic Company, of which he was manager and secretary, and he was also vice-chairman of the Swansea and District Freighters’Association. News has been received by Major W. Eaton Walker general manager of the Clifton Colliery Company, that his son, Second-Lieut. H. C. S. Walker, of the 1st Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters, Notts and Derbyshire regiment, was killed in the fighting on Friday, the 12th inst. The deceased officer obtained his commission in September, and immediately joined the Sherwood Foresters, who had just returned from India, at Winchester. He proceeded to the front with them, and had consequently done considerable service in the fighting line. He was the . second son of Major Walker, and was only 21 years of age. Major Walker has another son, Second-Lieut. W. E. G. Walker, serving with the Robin Hoods, of/the Notts and Derbyshire It is announced from Belmes that the engineer and the foreman of the mine at CabezavacaJ Spain, in which a disaster occurred a fortnight ago, have been rescued safe and sound. They relate that five miners, disregarding the advice of the engineer, ran wildly through the galleries in a fruitless attempt to search for an outlet. They were asphyxiated. A Bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania Legisla- ture to eliminate wooden cages in mine shafts in which men travel. Another Bill seeks to make it unlawful to use any lamp in a bituminous mine other than a portable electric mine cap lamp of the style or type approved by the Bureau of Mines, but an approved gas-testing lamp may be used for purposes of examination. Another Bill affecting the soft coal mines is one for the certification of working miners. Yet another proposal is to place coal companies under the control of the Public Service Commission on the ground that, they are. purveyors of a utility.