768

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

April 9, 1915.

tives, the following agreements have been arranged in respect
of the wages of these workers :—‘ ‘ That the wages of the
men and 'boys engaged on the pit banks and screens mani-
pulating the coal and governed by the Conciliation Board
for the Bederated area shall not during the continuance of
the Conciliation Board, so long as the present percentage
of 65 per cent, above the 1888 basis prevails, be less than
the following rates, but subject to the advances or reduc-
tions, if any, which may be made by the Conciliation Board.
Further advances or reductions granted by the Conciliation
Board shall be calculated on the basis of 50 per cent, above
the 1888 rate, the rates settled now being 65 per cent, above
the 1888 rates, this rule being subject to the Conciliation
Board agreeing to the new basis. Head banksmen, 6s. per
shift; second banksmen and takers-off, 5s. 3d.; pushers-on,
4s. 9d.; boys starting at 13 years of age, Is. 7d.; 14 to 15
years, Is. 9d. ; 15 to 16, 2s.; 16 to 17, 2s. 5d.; 17 to 18,
3s.; 18 to 19, 3s 3d.; 19 to 20, 3s. 8d.; 20 to 21, 4s. 4d.; all
others over 21 years of age, 4s. 7d. The foregoing figures
do not, in all cases represent the present rates paid, and
where they do not, the arrangement is not to justify a
reduction of wages for such work. A working shift shall
not exceed eight hours and 30 minutes, and all overtime on
week-days is to be paid for at the same rate as is now
paid at each colliery affected. Saturday’s shift to be eight
hours, and Sunday hours are to be an eight hours’ shift,
and overtime to be paid at the rate of time-and-half. Aged
or infirm workmen are not to be entitled to the foregoing
minimum wage rates, and aged men shall be those who are
over 65 years of age, which age limit may be raised or
lowered as circumstances justify. The agreement for
settlement of disputes, shall be the same as set out in the
award of his Honour Judge Moss in regard to the under-
ground men, and the new agreement as regards wages
shall come into force immediately after April 10.”

At a mass meeting of the Flintshire miners it has been
decided to apply for an advance of 6d. per day on the,,rate
of the minimum wage. Judge Moss recently laid down in
and award that the men of Denbighshire were entitled to
an all round advance as the pits in the latter area are
worked at a profit, but that as the pits in Flintshire are not
worked at a profit, the men could not be expected to be
entitled to such an advance. The men now contend that
the Point of Ayr Colliery is an exception to this statement,
and that the men employed there are fairly entitled to
a similar advance to the Denbighshire men.

A dispute recently arose at the Gertrude Colliery, If ton
Heath, Chirk, owned by Messrs. W. Y. Craig and Sons
Limited, in connection with the question of the minimum
wage for boys and surface men, but after an interview
between the manager and the men’s representative,
the matter was amicably settled, and the work was resumed.

The report of the North Wales Miners’ Federation shows
that the past, year was a record one from a financial point
of view. On December 31 there were 12,447 members on
the books, as compared with 13,339 in 1913. Three
collieries have been closed down during the year, namely,
Phoenix, Brymbo, /and Galchog. The amount contributed
from the various lodges amounted during the year to
£13,465 16s. lid. as compared with £13,061 12s. lOd. for
1913. The lodges had paid to the district through the
financial secretary’s account 1-9,947 7s. 9d. as compared
with £9,095 18s. 3d. for the previous year. The financial
statement shows that the ■association's funds are now
£14,624 4s. lid. in hand.

Following the granting of an increase of 7d. a day to
the general labourers employed at the various collieries in
the county as a temporary settlement, a deputation of
workmen, organised by Mr. C. Bunfield, secretary of the
Notts Miners’ Association, on Wednesday, March 31,
interviewed Mr. J. Piggford, general manager of the
Teversall Collieries, with regard to an increase to other
classes of surface workers. The application was for an
increase of 6d. per day, and after a protracted interview
the manager agreed to the payment of an increase of 5d.
per day, Winders and enginemen being excepted, as a
temporary settlement. The question of coal allowance to
surface workers was also raised and Mr. Piggford promised
that he would lay the matter before the Coal Owners’
Association. At a meeting of the men affected subse-
quently held, it was agreed to accept the general manager’s
offer of 5d. per day increase.

Scotland.

A conference of miners’ delegates was held at Dalkeith
on Saturday. Reports showed that trade continued active
and that full time employment was general in all districts.
There were, however, serious complaints as to the difficulty
of getting orders dispatched, and on account of the non-
return of wagons several shifts had to be declared idle,
with a consequent loss both to owners and workmen. About
30 cases of accident were reported from the, collieries of
Mid-Lothian and Haddingtonshire during March, and
particulars being found correctly stated were passed for
claiming under the Workmen’s Compensation Act.

The coal owners associated with the Scottish Coal Trade
Conciliation Board have under consideration the request by
the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain for a joint national
conference on the question of wages. The view they take
is that it would be preferable that the question should
be dealt with by the various Conciliation Boards in their
respective localities, Accordingly the Scottish coal masters
have intimated to the National Union of Scottish Mine
workers their willingness to meet the representatives of that
body, and have suggested that the meeting might be held
next week. .

A meeting of the executive of the National Union of
Scottish Mine Workers was held on the 1st inst. at Glasgow.
Mr. John Robertson, vice-president, presided. Arrange-
ments were made in view of a meeting of the Scottish Coal
Trade Conciliation Board to be held to-day (Friday), to
discuss the terms of a new wages agreement. At that
meeting the miners’ representatives will, under the rules
of the board, give three months’ notice for the termination
of tfie board, so as to bring all districts of Great Britain
into line and be free of contracts. It was reported that
a settlement had been arrived at in the threatened dispute
at New Cumnock Colliery, Ayrshire. With regard to the
steps taken by the National Union to have the Campbeltown
miners as members, it was reported that these men had
now unanimously agreed to become connected with the
National Union through Ayrshire district. The meeting
also had under consideration the question of surface
workers’ wages and the war bonus granted by the
Scottish coal owners to that class of employees. The
executive urged the surface workers to become members
of the union to protect their present wage in the future,
and also to be able to act with the surface, workers
throughout the British coalfields for the 5s. minimum which

has been demanded by the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain. Reports were submitted with regard to colliery
disputes at Rosehall, Cadzow, and Rutherglen, and a
deputation was appointed from the union to interview the
management.

An increase of 6d. per shift has been conceded by the
Scottish coal masters to all the surface workers employed
at the pits in the eight coal counties of Scotland as a
war bonus. This is apart from the claim at present under
consideration on behalf of the miners for a 20 per cent,
increase. In most instances the increase to the surface
workers will take effect from the beginning of the pay this
week. Considerable difficulty has been occasioned for some
time back in securing a full complement of pit labourers.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The steel workers at Ebbw Vale held a meeting on
Saturday and discussed the question of the war bonus.
What had been suggested on behalf of the men was that
they should obtain the same terms as those granted to
the workmen on the‘North East coast; but this had been
refused, and it was reported to the meeting that Mr. Mills,
the general manager, had offered to accept the. South
Wales agreement in its entirety. He, however, refused
to make any changes, though some improvements had been
proposed. One of the members of the deputation that
waited upon Mr. Mills stated that that gentleman informed
them that the Ebbw Vale Company were paying out £700
a week to the dependants of men who had enlisted, which
in 12 months would amount to £36,400. As one of their
leaders was not present and it was desired to have
advantage of his presence, the meeting was adjourned
without any decision being arrived at on this point. One
question discussed was as to the posting of notices which
stated that unless a settlement was arrived at with the
iron . ore tippers at the Victoria furnaces by Saturday
evening the whole of the works might have to be closed
down, and it was stated at the meeting that these tippers
were non-unionists. It was decided to allow the question
at issue to be dealt with by the sliding scale committee.
The iron ore tippers are paid on a standard of 2s. 8d. plus
the percentage under the steel workers’ sliding scale agree-
ment. They work under a contract; and the opinion of the
meeting on Saturday was that the contract system should
be abolished.

At the annual meeting held on Saturday of the South
Wales Tin and Sheet Mill Men’s Union it was arranged
that all questions affecting wages and conditions should
be held over until next year. This is due to a prior
arrangement that no Conciliation Board conference for the
tin-plate trade will be held this year, a special war agree-
ment having been arrived at. This union represents about
3,000 men engaged in tin-plate and steel works, and it is
noteworthy that amongst the resolutions passed at the
annual meeting was one desiring that means should be
adopted immediately “to see that collieries are either
worked in the interests of the Government or that all coal
comes under Government control, so that the people can
purchase at reasonable prices.”

The average cash price of west coast-haematite warrants
for the quarter ended March 31, 1915, having been 82s. 9d.
per ton, the wages of Cumberland blastfurnacemen auto-
matically rise 22J per cent, to 53 J per cent, above the
standard. The average prices of haematite for the preceding
and corresponding quarters respectively were 64s. 7|d. and
61s., and the percentages above the standard for those
periods were respectively 30| and 25. The past quarter’s
average is the highest recorded for upwards of a quarter of
a century.

The average net selling price of No. 3 Cleveland pig iron
for the months of January, February, and March is certified
to have been 52s. 8-95d. per ton, as compared with 50s. 9-53d.
per ton for the previous three months, and 51s. 5* 13d. per ton
for the first quarter of 1914. This means an increase in
blastfurnacemen’s wages of 2-50 per cent., which brings
the wages from 23-25 per cent, above the standard to 25-75
per cent, above the standard.

Notices have been posted in the iron foundries in Kirkin-
tilloch that a war bonus1 of 6d. per day is to be paid to all
workers over 18 years of age, and 3d. per day to those under
that age. This does not apply to the members of the Iron-
moulders’ Association, who are negotiating for an increase of
10 r]5er cent.

The Barrow Steel Company, in 1888, entered into a sliding
scale agreement with their blastf urn acemen. The return for
the past three months shows that the average price of
haematite iron during this period was 82s. 9|d., and on that
basis the men will get an increase on their wages of 22^
per cent. This is a record advance to these men.

The ironlfounding employers and the Associated Iron-
moulders of Scotland have agreed to refer the men’s claim
for an advance of Id. per hour to arbitration by the Govern-
ment Committee. The reference is to be heard by the
Arbitration Court to-day (Friday), and a decision is
expected very shortly afterwards.

The ironmoulders employed in the engineering works of
Messrs. G. and J. Weir, Cathcart, who number about 300,
have been notified that they are to receive an advance on
their wages of Id. per hour. The advance means 4s. 6d.
per week to the men, who 'work 54 hours per week. The
increased rate is retrospective as from February 12, which
is a date further back than that asked by the men’s executive.

Representatives of the foundry industries conferred with
the London Engineering Employers’ Association on Tuesday,
on the question of increased wages. The unions repre-
sented were the National Society of Ironfounders, the
National Brass workers and Metal Mechanics, the London
Amalgamated Brassfounders, and the London United Brass-
workers. The demands of the men were for an increased
wage of 6s. per week. It is understood that half this
amount was offered by the employers, but this is not con-
sidered satisfactory.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

The executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain
met at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, on
Wednesday, to consider the position of affairs 'with respect
to the application to the Mining Association of Great Britain
for a joint national conference to consider an application
for a 20 per cent, advance in wages to meet the higher cost
of living. Mr. Robt. Smillie (Scotland), president, was in
the chair. The men’s request to the Mining Association of
Great Britain for a joint national conference to discuss the
men’s proposal for a 20 per cent. wzar bonus met with the
reply that the Mining Association existed for dealing with
legislation affecting the coal mining industry, that Concilia-
tion Boards and other organisations were in active operation
in each district for dealing with wages, and that the coal
o'wners’ section of those Boards were willing to meet the

men and discuss the proposal in their respective districts.
The next move taken by the men was to make separate
applications to each of the organisations to take part in a
joint national conference on similar lines to the original
application to the Mining Association of Great Britain. The
replies from the employers’ section are to the effect that
they are prepared to meet the men to discuss the war bonus
proposal in thir own districts. At the moment the men’s
representatives—or, at any rate, the majority of them—
appear determined to persist in their demand for a national
conference. After a three hours’ discussion of the situation,
the executive decided to make yet a further effort to secure
a joint national conference with the owners, and, Jailing
this, to call all the mining districts together on April 21, to
decide what action shall be taken to secure a war bonus.
At the adjournment of the meeting at seven o’clock, Mr.
Robt. Smillie gave the following official report :—

At the adjourned meeting this afternoon, telegrams
. wTere read from the secretaries of the Durham
and Northumberland Mine Owners’ Associations,
■stating that at meetings of the members of both
associations which had been held they had decided
that they could not see their way to take part in
a national conference on the wages question. A letter was
read from Sir Thos. Ratcliffe-Ellis, owners’ secretary of
the English Conciliation Board, stating that the mine
owners of the English Conciliation area could not see their
way to take part in a joint national meeting on the wages
question.

After discussion, the following resolution was agreed to :

That this executive expresses its astonishment and regret
at the coal owners’ refusal to meet the representatives of
the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, to consider and
determine the demand for a 20 per cent, advance in wages
on the present earnings. It further instructs the general
secretary to again write to Sir Thos. Ratcliffe-Ellis, law
clerk and secretary of the Mining Association of Great
Britain, to co-operate in arranging a joint national con-
ference of coal owners and miners’ representatives, as he
has done many times previously. Failing such a joint
conference being arranged, that a conference of the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain be held in London
on April 21 and 22, to determine what policy shall be
pursued to secure the above advance in wages to cover the
increase in the cost of living. The advance to come in
force by May 3.”

A letter was read from Mr. W. Straker, secretary of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association, stating that Mr.
John. Cairns, financial secretary of the association, had
been selected as Labour candidate for the borough of
Morpeth, and asking that the candidature should be
endorsed by the Federation, and forwarded to the Labour
Party. This was agreed to.

A letter was read from Mr. John Galbraith, who has
been a member of the executive for some years, resigning
his position, on the ground that he had been requested
by the Liberal Association to contest Mid-Durham as a
Parliamentary candidate. The resignation was accepted.

A telegram was received from Mr. Cann, secretary of
the Durham Miners’ Association, stating that Aid. W.
House had been selected by the Durham Miners’ Associa-
tion as Labour candidate for Mid-Durham, and they
wished to have his candidature endorsed by the executive,
and forwarded to the Labour Party. It was unani-
mously agreed to endorse Aid. House’s candidature.

Firemen and Deputies.

At a special conference of the General Federation of
Colliery Firemen’s Examiners and Deputies’ associations
of Great Britain, held on Saturday in London to discuss
suggested amendments to the proposed new Mines Bill,
a letter was received from the Home Secretary, Mr.
McKenna, in which he stated he was confident that the
colliery officials represented in the Federation would be
guided by the feeling of patriotism which all those engaged
in the coal mining industry had shown to a high degree.
The conference approved of an amendment to the proposed
Mines Bill suggesting that the colliery firemen should be
State servants controlled by district Mining Safety Boards,
and that their duties should be those only which had refer-
ence to safety and that all other duties they at present
performed should be abolished. Another amendment agreed
to suggest that the District Mining Safety Boards should
comprise equal representatives of the Firemen’s Association,
the Colliery Managers’ Association, and the Miners’ Associa-
tion, with the divisional inspector of mines as chairman,
and to be under the control of the Minister of Mines. In
regard to the miners’ demand for a war bonus, the con-
ference decided that the general secretary should write to
the Coal Owners’ Association on the matter and point out
that whatever was granted to the miners should also be
granted to colliery deputies.

The annual report of the Public Trustee has just been
issued. Under the Trading with the Enemy Act the Public
Trustee has certain duties. He acts as the custodian of (a)
dividends, interest, share of profits due to enemies, of which
£700,000 has been paid over; and as registrar of (5) enemy
property managed by agents and trustees, returned at
£43,000,000; (c) enemy property in partnerships and com-
panies, returned at £30,600,000; (d) enemy property held
merely for safe custody, returned at £11,000,000. The
money paid over (£700,000) is invested, and the cost of
administration paid out of the interest • earned, so that the
application of the statute is thus free of cost to the taxpayer.

Hull Coal Imports.—According to the return made by the
Corporation coal inspector (Mr. W. H. Truman), the quantity
of coal brought into Hull during March was 404,701 tons,
378,970 tons by rail and 25,731 tons by river, as compared
with 511,452 tons in March 1914. The aggregate imports
during the first quarter of the year reached 1,105,087 tons,
as against 1,539,882 tons in the corresponding period of 1914.
Coastwise shipments during March totalled 61,649 tons, the
quantity for the period January-March being 170,767 tons.
The exports for the month of March, exclusive of coal
shipped for Admiralty purposes or for the use of the Allies’
Governments, were 144,150 tons, as compared with 280,751
tons in March 1914. Exports during the first quarter of the
year aggregated 499,461 tons, as against 765,942 tons during
the similar period last year.