April 9, 1915.THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.	769

Notes from the Coalfields.

["Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Mischievous Recommendation of the Coal Committee :
Short-sighted Proposals—New Room for the Institute
of Engineers—Transfer of Lord Bute's Abernant
Collieries—Chamber of Commerce Call for more Docks
to Accommodate Coal Trade—Grave Outlook in the Tin-
plate Trade.

Amongst the suggestions of the Board oif Trade Com-
mittee appointed to enquire 'into the causes lof rise in retail
prices of coal, the bare indication of an idea to interfere
with exports provokes widespread discussion in South Wales.
Whilst, on the one hand, there is some degree of confidence
that the Government would not make any such serious inter-
ference with trade, there is, on the other hand, an apprecia-
tion of the fact that interference of some sort must
-necessarily arise, even if 'the idea of the Committee entailed
only limited application. It would be impracticable to
establish restriction in areas which are both domestic and
exporting, and yet leave untouched those areas which, like
South Wales, are mainly exporting centres. Anywhere
from two-thirds to three-fourths of the ouJtput in this district
goes abroad in normal times. At present, of course, demands
of the Admiralty and the very heavy shipments made on
account of war service dislocates all ordinary procedure, and
one consequence is the very high price that now prevails,
the export demand being insistent and increasing.

In the course of the discussion which has arisen on this
subject, emphasis is laid on the fact that to hinder export
of coal entails very grave stoppage in the imports of raw
materials for other industries, the steamers carrying coal
being those which bring return cargoes of corn from the
Argentine, for example. In other directions, the tramp
steamer, having discharged the coal, goes to the cotton, wool,
or iron ore port for its next freight. Steamers to the
Mediterranean or Cape Verde Islands, for example, go to
Spanish ports for ore; others of them farther afield. The
rates of freight for goods of this class would inevitably be
considerably higher if it were not for the coal trade and the
empty vessels which have carried coal to the foreign ports.
Just here is the difficulty with the Americans. They have
no such exports, and consequently cannot get the cheaper
imports, even if they desired them. Nor, on the other hand,
are they able to get low rates for coal exports, because they
have no vessels making the imports.

One other argument against any restriction upon British
coal is that it would afford the Americans a far better oppor-
tunity of getting into countries and coaling stations which
hitherto have been served by the British, and this at a time
when, owing to German and Belgian exports being com-
pletely stopped, the British coal merchant is relieved of
competition which has been of grave effect in the past.

How far the Committee was qualified to deal with a sub-
ject of such wide-reaching importance, indeed, how far the
Committee had any duty to deal with the export trade at
all, is another question raised, seeing that the terms of
reference to them applied solely to retail prices of coal for
domestic consumption, and this mainly in London. No
district is more deeply interested in this matter than South
Wales, and, without a doubt, if the recommendation be
seriously considered, the local Chambers of Commerce and
also the local ship owners’ associations would take prompt
and determined action in opposition.

Principal Griffiths, of the University College of South
Wales, opened a new reading room for the Institute of Engi-
neers at the Metal Exchange, Swansea, last week, and after-
wards the annual general meeting was held, at which there
was a large attendance, including Dr. Atkinson and Mr.
Dyer Lewis (H.M. linspectors of mines). Two papers having
special reference to the tin-plate trade were read; one by Mr.
S. B. Cound, of Aberavon, dealing with the subject of
“ How to Improve Bolling Mill Practice.” His argument
was that the chief men in the mill crew were at present
hindered by the existing method; and he also described
improvements in mechanism which would have a labour-
saving effect, and, at the same time, tend to increase the
output. Mr. F. W. Gilbertson, of Pontardawe, spoke with
reference to American methods, and asserted that whilst the
Welsh operatives were superior to the Americans in point
of skill; they did not adapt themselves in respect of change
in manufacture. It was claimed by the secretary of the
Tin and Sheet Mill Men’s Union, who followed Mr.
Gilbertson, that most of the improvements in machinery in
America have originated in suggestions from the workmen.

Announcement has previously been made that the colliery
properties of Lord Bute in Abernant district would be trans-
ferred to the Powell Duffryn Company. . Formal notices to
the men, as from the old employers, terminated on Saturday,
and the Powell Duffryn Company took over the manage-
ment on Monday. It is expected that the new ownership
is a preliminary to fresh developments that will entail the
employment of a large additional number of men.

Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, at their annual meeting
last week, heard an address from the president, Mr. T. E.
Watson, who referred to the negotiations with the dock
companies. He said that the three companies had been
urged to obtain powers for building a new dock, because the
need for additional accommodation would become pressing
long before construction could be completed; and the com-
panies were asked that in the meantime they would increase
the present tipping accommodation, and make the handling
of traffic more expeditious by the adoption of more efficient
arrangements. Mr. Watson said that negotiations had been
progressing favourably until the outbreak of war occasioned
their suspension. Whilst giving the Government credit for
consulting the leaders of the commercial community during
the crisis, he thought the Ministry was not so well advised
as to certain decisions 'they had arrived at, such as that
relating to the triple bond, also the difficulty of sustaining
British claims for necessaries supplied to alien vessels before
the war, and the Proclamations which had been issued to
prevent trading with the enemy. He acknowledged very
cordially the assistance which they had received from Sir
Clifford Cory and Mr. Donald Maclean, M.P., by whose aid
they had been successful in Obtaining withdrawal of such
requirements as were shown to be oppressive to the trade
and useless for their intended purpose. He said that the
council had ydt to consider whether the Government should
not be asked to remedy the scarcity of coal supplies by
suspending the Mines (Eight Hours) Act. Upon a dis-
cussion as to the high rates of freight which prevailed, Mr.
H. Badcliffe, ship owner, contended that the increase had
taken place only to certain areas, and that freights outwards

had already dropped back from 33s. to Genoa to 18s. or
19s., and were still going down. His firm had at that
moment got a ship for which they could not get a freight
outwards. Ship owners were not on a bed of roses, nor
were they making the tremendous money that some people
seemed to think.

It has been agreed that the appeal by the' inspector of
mines against the decision of Caerphilly magistrates in the
Senghenydd Colliery explosion case shall be heard in the
First Divisional Court on April 16. It is the case where
prosecution has been instituted in regard to alleged breaches
of the Coal Mines Act in regard to ventilation and dusting
of the roads.

Mr. Lewis Watkins, on leaving Bargoed after 13 years’
service at the local collieries, has received presentations
which were generally subscribed for in the locality, he
having served on the Council and other public bodies. During
his term of management, 'the South Pit, Bargoed, touched a
world record, with the - output of 4,023 tons in one day.
During the proceedings at a public meeting, special refer-
ence was made to Mr. Watkins’ “ self-sacrificing efforts in
rescuing life after explosion — as at Darran and
Senghenydd.” Mr. Watkins, who has been president of
the South Wales Institute of Electrical Engineers, will, in
future, act as agent for Mr. Taylor’s Navigation Collieries
at Nantgarw.

Some amount of unrest and anxiety prevails as to the
effect which present high prices of tin-plates may have
upon the permanence of our export trade, and particular
attention is directed to the fact that the American Trust has
sold over 100,000 boxes, chiefly to China and Japan—a
market which hitherto has 'been exclusively that of the
Welsh makers. Whereas the Welsh price is 16s. 6d. per
box, that of the Americans is 14s.—a striking contrast to
conditions prevailing before the war, when the Welsh price
was below that of the American. Statistics from the United
States show a heavy growth of exports, and the Americans
have at the present time the advantage of obtaining their
raw materials at a price which has not been so largely
increased as have the prices in this country. Every effort is
being made to reduce the cost of manufacture, and a ballot
was taken upon the subject of the reduction of wages in
order to attain this end. On the other hand, it has to be
noted that wages in America are at least double as much
per ton as in South Wales; but, on the contrary, labour-
saving machinery is much more generally used, and the
relative product per head of employees is very much greater
across the Atlantic.

Northumberland and Durham.

Miners' Official on the Coal Prices Report—Business Men
Discuss the Report—Boiler Explosion at East Pontop—
Better Working at the Northumberland Pits.

In a Press interview, Mr. Wm. Straker, corresponding
secretary of the Northumberland Miners’ Association, dis-
cusses some of the recommendations of the Committee
appointed by the Board of Trade to enquire into the cause
of the present rise in retail coal prices. He says :—“ The
Committee had no representative of the miners upon it, and,
consequently, little knowledge of ’the subject. They would
have been well advised to have awaited the report of the
Committee now sitting under Sir Bi chard Bedmayne, and
composed of miners and coal owners, to enquire into the
coal supply. I agree that the Government, should take over
the coal supplies, and, when they do, it will be sufficient time
to -prohibit the exportation of coal, as proposed. If large
exporting districts like Fifeshire, Northumberland, and
South Wales have to find a market in the home trade, many
of the collieries will be at a standstill. Thousands would
be thrown out of work, and nobody benefited. As soon,
however, as the Government is prepared to take control,
and take our coal, so that our people will not be laid idle, I
would agree to fa restriction of coal exportation. There is
this drawback about the proposal, however, and it is, pro-
bably, one of which the Committee has not thought. When
we send coal abroad, we bring back something. If the ships
now engaged in exporting coal have to go out in ballast,
homewTard freights will rise, and the commodity with which
the vessels return will be tremendously enhanced in price,
which will add to the already too high cost of living; in
other words, the poor may get their coal a little cheaper,
but will have to pay more for the other necessaries of life.”

The many friends of Mr. Chas. Irwin, fitter to the Cram-
lington Coal Company Limited, will be glad to know that
Mr. Irwin is now convalescent from the serious illness which
recently prostrated him.

Mr. A. Scorer, who for a long time has been connected
with Walbottle Colliery, has been appointed fitter to the
Bentinck Colliery, owned by Mr. S. H. Fraser.

A meeting of the council of Newcastle and Gateshead
Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday, Mr. J. H.
Buckingham presiding. The secretary, at the request of the
Advisory Committee, asked for the views of the Chamber
on the recommendations of the Board of Trade Committee
which has reported on the price of coal. — Mr. Bidley
Warham, of the Ashington Coal Company, suggested it
would be advisable to await the views of the Mining Asso-
ciation.—The chairman asked if it was proposed to cancel
cheap contracts now running if the collieries were com-
mandeered.—Mr. Warham replied in the affirmative.—Mr.
D. T. Hobkirk remarked that some of the recommendations
of the Committee were impossible. He suggested the addi-
tion of coal users to the Advisory Committee, with a view
of an impartial report being presented to the Chamber at
an early date.—Mr. Benwick thought the Chamber ought to
point oiit to the Board of Trade that if export was stopped,
Northumberland collieries could not be kept going.—The
chairman said he understood that two collieries in the dis-
trict had already been commandeered. It would be very
unfair if Cheap contracts were not cancelled.—It was resolved
that a telegram be sent to the Home Office, intimating that
the question was of great importance, and that the Chamber
desired to be heard on it; and also to call an early meeting
of the council of the Chamber to discuss the matter, large
coal consumers, such as the Gas Company and the. Electric
Supply Company, to be asked to send 'representatives.

Aid. Wm. House, president of the Durham Miners’ Asso-
ciation, has four sons at present serving with the Colours.

A somewhat mysterious shot caused the death of Wm.
Spoors, hewer, which was investigated at Durham Infirmary
last week. He died from shock 'following burns. After the
accident, which occurred in Sacriston Colliery, he informed
a mate that he had caught some “ brass ” when he was
putting a bobbin of powder into a hole, and that the bobbin
had exploded. The jury found that there was no evidence
to show how the shot was fired.

The recent steam explosion at East Pontop Colliery,
whereby an old engine house was demolished, appears to
have been of a more serious nature than was at first sup-
posed, and to have involved the bursting, not of the pipe
running from the engine, as was originally reported, but of
a large steam chest. It is surmised that the steam chest
and the two large cylinders by its side must have become
full of waterj and the action of the steam must have caused
“ hammering,” with the result that the cylinders exploded,
bringing down the steam pipes. The steam chest was split
into sections by the explosion, the thick walls of the brick
building containing the engine were knocked down, and,
of the engine itself, only the bedplate, wheels, sheaf, axle,
and other “scrap” remained. The explosion was heard
at Lanchester, Consett, South Moor, and Annfield Plain,
and many windows of houses near the colliery were broken.

The Norwood Pit, Dunsiton-on-Tyne, which was closed
down some months ago during the depression in the coal
trade, is to be re-opened on Monday, April 12. Hewers,
putters, boys, and a few coal cutters are now being asked
for.

The Weardale Steel, Coal and Coke Company has
restarted a large blastfurnace at Tudhoe Ironworks, Spenny-
moor, 'thereby providing employment for some 120 hands.
Nearly a year and a-half ago one of the company’s furnaces
was stopped for repairs, and more than 100 men were
rendered unemployed. The No. 2 furnace, which was under-
going re-construction at that time, was not quite ready to
go into blast. Since then, however, the company has carried
on the new work, and the lighting up of the furnace took
place last week by Mrs. Ouithwaite, of Spennymoor. Towards
the week-end the blast was applied.

The working ait the Northumbrian collieries has gradually
improved since the earlier days of the war, when a number
of pits were closed down, and now the men are working at
full pressure. A return just issued by the Northumberland
Miners’ Association shows that, during last month, the
steam coal pits worked on an average 5*469 days
per week. The household coal pits were engaged for an
average of 5*458 days per week, so that the average over the
whole of the collieries was 5*4695 days per week. During
the last week of the month all the collieries, excepting .three
or four completely closed down, worked full time, i.e., 5'5
days per week. It is stated that the owners hope to re7start
the Thirlwall Pit in the near future. Lack of men is the
drawback.

Yorkshire.

Miners' Relief : A New Society—Good Response to Lord
Kitchener's Appeal—Progress at Askern—Testing of
Cables—The Cadeby Fund.

The most important feature of the annual meeting of the
West Biding Miners’ Permanent Belief Fund, held at
Barnsley on the 31st ult., was the decision to consider the
proposal to establish a fatal accident section of the fund.
Mr. T. Phipps, Dodworth, the president, occupied the
chair. It was decided that 'when a member accepted a
settlement under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, he
should be compelled to take a lump sum from the society.
There was little opposition to a proposal that the board of
management prepare a scheme to be submitted to a special
meeting, for a fatal accident society as a separate section
of the society. In moving the proposal, Mr. Johnson said
the question of the support of widows and families must
have primary consideration. Last year 1,753 men were
killed in the mines of the United Kingdom, and only 434 were
members of permanent relief societies, connected with the
Central Association. He believed they would have the help
of the employers with such a, scheme. Provision could be
made at a cost of IJd. per week. The chairman said they
must impress upon the miners the need for providing for
their wives and families in the event of a fatal accident.

The Pontefract Town Council on Wednesday received from
their engineer a report on the workings of the coal, under the
Park for the past half-year, showing that the net amount
due to the Corporation was 11,016 13s. 5d., as compared with
El,186 8s. lid. for the corresponding period of the previous
year. It was reported that the weekly wages paid during
the year ending March 31 amounted to £6,172 16s. 4d.,
against £5,032 13s. 2d. during the previous year.

Lord Kitchener’s appeal to the patriotism of the miners,
in asking them not to play for more than two days at
Eastertide, was loyally respected in the Yorkshire district,
where such a short Easter vacation has probably never been
known hitherto. In the bulk of the pits not only did the men
merely take (two days’ leave, but, in some instances, they
were satisfied with one. Some.pits worked on Good Friday
and not on Easter Monday, in other instances vice versa.
At Frickley Colliery, in the South Elmsall district, the men
decided to play on Good Friday only; at HemswortE, Good
Friday and Easter Monday were the days selected for
holiday. At Brodsworth and Bullcroft the men decided by
ballot to work on Good Friday and Saturday and to play on
Easter Monday. But here, again, a large number of work-
men were favourable to working on Easter Monday as well.
To meet 'their wishes, the colliery company decided to throw
the pits open on the Monday, and as an inducement for
work to proceed, promised to give each man, whether
employed upon 'the surface or underground, 2s. extra wages
for every shift worked during the three recognised holidays.
The workmen were notified that all hard coal turned up the
shaft during these three days would be devoted to Govern-
ment and railway purposes. Mr. Fred Hall, M.P., of the
Yorkshire Miners’ Association, who was in Doncaster on
Saturday, was asked by our correspondent how the response
of the men was regarded. He replied that it had been
splendid. Up to the time of his leaving headquarters not
a single complaint of any kind had been received as to men
not turning up.

The remarkable development of Askern, near Doncaster,
through the sinking of the Askern Coal and Iron Company’s
colliery, was shown last week, when Mr. B. G. Hetherington,
M.Inst.C.E., one of the inspectors of the Local Government
Board, held an enquiry at the County Council School into
the application by the Bural District Council of Doncaster
to borrow a further sum of £1,063 for purposes of sewerage
and sewage disposal for the township of Askern. It was
stated that in the month of November 1911 the District
Council found it necessary, on account of the colliery sinking,
to increase their sewage works, and a scheme was provided
at an estimated cost of £4,000. The colliery village then
became a necessity, and the sewer had to be deepened and
its capacity increased. This was estimated to cost £1,600.
The Local Government Board held an enquiry in December
1911, and sanctioned the borrowing of £5,600, and a con.
tract was let for the execution of the work at £5,839. The
contract thus exceeded the estimate, and did not include