April 16, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

823

etc. . Upon the difference of opinion arising, counsel’s
opinion was taken by the men, who obtained a statement
that the two-thirds majority of those voting met the require-
ments of the Act; but the matter has been carried further,
and the Home Secretary has now issued an explanatory note,
showing that it is necessary for the majority to be 'two-
thirds of the workmen employed—as the section specifically
states. Some of the workmen 'are now urging that this
particular provision of the Act should be made compulsory.

The Cwmnant Colliery at Pontardawe is said to have
changed hands, and it is reported that the new proprietors
purpose sinking to the lower measures, large developments
being projected.

Following the example of the King, Mr. Leonard
Llewellyn, general manager of the Cambrian Combine, has
made special efforts to induce abstinence from intoxicants
during the war. By a visit to each of the collieries under
the combine he was able to secure the signatures of almost
the whole of the officials to a pledge, in which he himself
took the lead. The pledge not only indicates abstinence
from intoxicants during the war, but also that the signatory
undertakes to use his influence in furthering the movement.
An appeal was also sent out to the workmen’s committees,
so that they may join in securing signatures. The
endeavour to secure additional abstainers from intoxicants
has been very successful, for Mr. Llewellyn consulted with
the men’s leaders at one of the collieries, and they headed
the lists of signatories. Posters have since been placed at
the different pit heads of the combine; and even at the outset
it was anticipated that considerably more than half of the
men would sign. Some of the leaders do not regard pro-
hibition as necessary, and voluntary abstention such as that
which is being organised by Mr. Llewellyn wins far wider
approval.'

On Monday Cardiff Council conferred the freedom of that
city upon Sir W. J. Thomas, one of the principal proprietors
of the Bedwas Colliery, and formerly owner of the Standard
Colliery, Ynyshir, which he sold to the United . National
Company. Sir William has been conspicuous of late years
for his munificence in helping forward local institutions.
He has also been especially prominent in furthering ambu-
lance work in the coalfield, being the chief contributor to
the first motor ambulance provided for that purpose, and has
so far appreciated the work as to offer 1,000 gns. towards
the cost of a second. He is a director of the Barry Dock
and Bailway Company, and of a number of other local
organisations.

Messrs. Bichard Thomas and Company have re-started the
Burry Tin-plate Works at Llanelly, which have, been idle
for some time. This firm, which is probably the most
enterprising in the Principality, lately added two up-to-date
furnaces at their steel works, a conspicuous feature of which
has been the electrical arrangements for saving of labour.

Northumberland and Durham.

Pits Working Well—Boiler Explosion Due. to Explosives—
Dr. Wilson's Successor—Lord Joicey on the Restriction
of Exports.

That the Northumbrian collieries are at present working
exceptionally good and almost full time, is shown by the
fact that there are on the unemployment books of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association only 50 men and boys.
The majority of these are old men, over 60 years of age,
who, having worked at one pit practically all their lives,
find it something of a hardship to move to those collieries
where men are needed.

Neither steam pipe nor steam chest, it appears, caused
the explosion at East Pontop Colliery—'Whereby the engine
house was wrecked, the engine damaged, and the windows
of neighbouring houses broken—on March 26. The cause
was that Bobert Clark, keeker, had placed 20 lb. of gelig-
nite on the engine to thaw, instead of using the warming
pan provided for the purpose. The Home Office ordered
his prosecution, on account of recklessness, and Clark was
fined the full penalty of 40s. by the Consett magistrates
on Monday. The penalty was microscopic by comparison
with the damage done, for the latter is estimated at £500.

Mr. T. H. Cann, who will probably not be opposed as
the successor to Mr. John Wilson as general secretary of the
Durham Miners’ Association, was born in Cornwall in 1858,
the son of a Cornish miner. He started work on the surface
of a tin mine at the age of eight, earning 3d. per day. Four
years later he descended the mine, where he worked under-
ground for seven years, after which he removed to Brotton,
and worked in a Cleveland ironstone mine. Six years later
he emigated to the United States, and worked for a year in
the iron ore imines of Michigan. Then he returned to
Brotton. Thirty years ago he removed into the county of
Durham. In 1890 he was elected to the executive com-
mittee of the Durham Miners’ Association, and, in 1896,
was made treasurer, defeating Mr. House by 248 votes to
202.

At Ebchester on Saturday last, 12 new aged miners’ homes
were formally opened by Mr. F. O. Kirkup, J.P., of Manor
House, Medomsley. The annual meeting of the Durham
Aged Mine Workers’ Homes Association will take place on
the 24th inst., when a president in succession to Dr. J.
Wilson will be elected.

The West Beechburn Colliery, which is owned by Mr.
Christopher Wilkinson, and the royalty of which extends
over 700 acres, has been purchased by the Harperley
Colliery Company Limited, of which Mr. Thomas Finley is
the managing director.

There is a suggestion which, it is understood, is being
favourably entertained in some quarters, that North country
coal owners should publish their accounts for the past half-
year’s trading, in order.to dispel the prevalent idea that they
have been making large profits out of the war. So far from
huge profits being made, of course, the fact is that many
collieries had hard work to make ends meet from August to
the end of December last.

Addressing the members of the Newcastle Chamber of
Commerce at their 99th annual meeting, held at Newcastle
on Wednesday of this week, Lord Joicey referred to the
proposal to restrict the export of coal. He said that a
committee had been appointed by that Chamber to give
evidence against any restriction whatever. The question
was of vital importance to the industry concerned in coal
production, and he felt that, if the Government attempted to
interfere in a matter of that kind, it would do more harm
than good When the Government meddled with trade, it
always muddled matters. They, as business men, took
broad views of these things, and thought only of national
interests

Cumberland.

The Solway Works.

The Maryport Urban District Council, at their committee
meeting on Monday night, had before them a reply from Sir
John Bandies, M.P., in regard to their recently expressed
wish that the Solway Ironworks should be re-started. Sir
John regrets that he is unable to hold out any hopes of the
works being re-started under present conditions, and gives as
reasons the high freights and unsuitability of the works for
the class of iron now being manufactured. The reply caused
keen disappointment to the members of the Council.
Acknowledgments have been received from the Government
departments to which representation was made, urging the
taking over of the Solway Works for the production of war
munitions. The Council has also been informed that a
committee has under consideration various works that have
been recommended for this purpose.

Yorkshire.

Doncaster's Rates—Accident at Hatfield—Shortage of Pit
. Sinkers.

It is popularly supposed that Doncaster people pay no
rates. Lest any prospective comers to the new coalfield
may have heard this fairy tale, it may be as well to dispel
the illusion. At its meeting last week the Corporation
increased the general district rate from 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d.
in the £. This looks like an increase of 3d. only, but in
reality the rate has advanced Is. in the £, because last year
the Corporation granted a subsidy of 9d. from the borough
fund. On account of the war, and the likelihood of making
but very little profit out of the races this year, this subsidy
will not be forthcoming, and its equivalent will have to be
found by the ratepayers themselves. On top of this, the
education rate has just been advanced from lOJd. to Is. 3d.
in the £, and the price Of gas has gone up by 4d. per 1,000.

The new sinkings at the Hatfield Main Colliery, near
Doncaster, have enjoyed a wonderful immunity from serious
accident, but last week the spell was broken, when one of
the pit sinkers, a man named Fredk. Cresswell, living at
Stainforth, lost his life at the bottom of the No. 1 shaft.
He was working with 17 other sinkers, a full hoppet had
been sent to the surface, and an empty one was descending.
Instead of stopping at its usual place, about 9 yds. from the
bottom of the shaft, it was allowed to descend further. It
caught the deceased on the head, and the appearances were
that he was instantly killed. The engine winder, named
Bates, answering questions put to him by Mr. Mottram,
H.M. inspector of mines, as to why he did not stop as usual,
stated he was looking across at the speed control, kept his
eye on it too long, and ran past his mark to the bottom.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”

Not only has the war brought in its train a scarcity of
pit props, but there is also a great scarcity, in this part of
the country at any rate, of the human element—the miner,
and, for that matter, the pit sinker. There is scarcely a
colliery in the Doncaster coalfield but could easily
find employment for a few hundred more hands, and, in
regard to one or two important sinkings, more pit sinkers
would be cordially welcomed and highly paid. The process
incidental to the freezing of the shafts at -the Thorne Moor-
ends pit of Messrs. Pease and Partners at Thorne is slowly
proceeding; but at Hatfield and Bossington the sinkers are
well on towards the Barnsley bed; indeed, at Bossington it
may be reached any day. At the German pit at Harworth
silence reigns supreme, for operations have been completely
suspended, and probably will be till after the war, or at
least till the end of things is in sight. By the way, nothing
has been heard lately concerning the proposed acquisition
of this undertaking by a well-known English colliery pro-
prietor, but very little doubt seems to be felt that this is
what will happen ultimately, and very properly so, for a
German undertaking in this country is by no means fancied,
under the circumstances. Matters are also very quiet in
connection with the projected colliery at Armthorpe, near
Doncaster, the actual site of the shafts for which does not
yet appear to have been really definitely decided upon.
After the war negotiations for new pits . in the Doncaster
area look like proceeding with some rapidity.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Salford Buys Mines to Protect Gas Works.

At a meeting of the Salford County Borough Council last
week, the seal of the Council was affixed to agreements with
Messrs. Andrew Knowles and Sons Limited, as to the sale
to them of certain mines under various plots of land belong-
ing to the Corporation; a conveyance to the firm of the
said mines; a lease to the firm of certain mines under a
portion of Buile Hill Park; a conveyance to the firm of the
rights of the Corporation in the Bams Mine under a portion
of°Buile Hill Park; and an agreement with the firm as to
leaving mines unworked within a certain area surrounding
the gas works.

The Salford Corporation have appointed Mr. J. H. Walker
as mining engineer to the Corporation to examine the work-
ing plans of the mines in the neighbourhood of an area of
support agreed by Messrs. Andrew Knowles and Sons
Limited to be left unworked for the protection of certain
gas works, and to report to the Corporation, and to inspect
and survey the mines whenever necessary.

Notts and Derbyshire.

At a meeting at Nottingham, the Duke of Portland read a
telegram expressing Lord Kitchener’s appreciation of the
colliers’ action in working during the Easter holidays.

The Midlands.

Mines Drainage Commission—Pelsall Accident Fund.

At the recent monthly meeting of the South Staffordshire
Mines Drainage Commissioners at Dudley, Aid. J. Hughes,
who presided, said now that the fine weather had set in,
there was the prospect of a considerable abatement of the
quantity of water to be pumped. In addition to the increased
price of slack, some difficulty had been experienced in getting
sufficient to meet their requirements. It was important to
the coal owners that the Commissioners should be supplied
with a sufficient quantity of slack, because unless the pumps
were kept going the mines could not be worked to their
fullest extent.

A quarterly meeting of the trustees of the Pelsall Mining
Accident Fund was held on the 6th inst. On the recom-
mendation of the Investigation Committee, it was decided

to make grants amounting to £33 to 34 cases. The chair-
man announced that there were balances of £208 10s. on
the deposit account and £29 13s. 8d. on the current account,
making a total of £238 3s. 8d., as compared with £223 18s.
for the previous quarter, and £238 7s. 5d. for the correspond-
ing quarter of last year.

Kent.

Kent Coal Reorganisation—Iron Ore at Dover.

The creditors’ meetings of the Kent Coal Concessions
group of companies which were held under the chairmanship
of Mr. John Dewrance at the week-end passed off very satis-
factorily. These meetings were necessary, in consequence
of the decision to go to allotment on £90,000 (already sub-
scribed), instead of the £100,000 new bond issue originally
proposed. The approval of the scheme was unanimous in
each case by the creditors, except at the East Kent Contract
and Financial Company’s meeting. There was only one
exception in that case, this being the Belgian Trefor Com-
pany, who were creditors for £3,000, balance of payment
due on a contract for boring operations. This company,
through their representative asked for further information,
which was given by Mr. Dewrance. The scheme has now to
be approved by the court, and it is probable that the Belgian
company will come into line with other creditors (who agree
to await payment of their account until siix months after the
termination of the war) by the date the question is before
the court.

.The working of the iron ore deposits passed through in
sinking the Shakespeare Colliery, and further proved as to
their extent by the Channel Collieries Trust’s borings in the
neighbourhood, will in all probability be commenced shortly.
Two large firms of northern iron masters, Messrs. Dorman,
Long and Company and Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and
Company are interested to a very considerable extent in the
Channel Collieries Trust. The proposal is to erect smelting
plant close to the collieries.

Scotland.

Shaft Accident at Bardykes Colliery.

On Sunday morning an accident took place in Bardykes
Colliery, Cambuslang, which resulted in the death of one
miner and slight injuries to another. Bobert Alexander and
Hugh Scott, oncostmen, were descending the shaft in the
lower deck of a double cage, when the cage crashed to the
pit bottom. So great was the impact that it spread the
legs of the cage, and snapped the bolts which held the top
and bottom decks in position. The result was that the top
deck came down on the one side and pinned Alexander to
the lower deck. The other side, however, held, and Hugh
Scott was pitched out and escaped with shock and slight
injuries.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Miners’ Federation of Great Britain special con-
ferences on Wednesday and Thursday next, as to.the demand
for a war bonus of 20 per cent. “ on earnings,” is naturally
regarded with deep interest in this locality; and the position
of South Wales employers is that this coalfield differs so
widely from others that local instead of national action is
imperative.

The 1,000 miners at Yniscedwyn and Ystradfawr
collieries, in the Swansea Valley, reached ,.a settlement of
their difficulty on Monday, all the non-unionists having
promised to join the Federation. The men arranged to
re-commence work in Saturday morning.

With regard to the banksmen’s committee of the Concilia-
tion Board, it was stated at the Bhondda meeting of miners
on .Friday last week that it had now been proposed to disband
the committee unless they .could agree.

The Peace Committee of the Conciliation Board, at its
meeting on Friday last week, took evidence upon the ques-
tion of the introduction of electric lamps to certain collieries,
particularly Ynyscorrwg, Abergwynfi, Oakwood, and Caerau,
witnesses attending from both sides. The workmen have
applied for increase of payment because of the substitution
of electric safety lamps for the naked lights hitherto used.
The committee deferred its decision. •

At the Avon Valley district meeting, held in Port Talbot,
on Saturday, it was reported that non-unionists were at
work in several collieries, and it was resolved that notices
should be tendered at each of these collieries unless the non-
unionists joined the Federation within the following fort-
night.

The Caeduke lodge asked permission on Saturday, at the
Western Valleys Miners’ Association meeting in Swansea,
to tender notice on the non-unionist question. The new
financial scheme of the Federation will come up for dis-
cussion at the annual conference of the Federation, and
Saturday’s meeting decided that an endeavour should be
made to secure provision in that new scheme for financial
support of strikers who were acting against non-unionists.

Because safety lamps were ■introduced at Hill’s Colliery,
Clydach, over 100 men refused to start work on Monday
morning. Their grievance was that they had not been
consulted, nor had any notice been given them.

The Garw miners heard a speech by their agent, Mr.
Frank Hodges, on Monday, wherein he said that if the
owners persisted in refusing to meet the National executive,
then the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain ought to
declare to the Government that it was their business to take
over the control of the mines absolutely, and work them in
co-operation with the Federation.

The Newport coal trimmers have held a meeting to con-
sider the question of a war bonus, and they have decided to
follow the example of Cardiff in accepting a_ compromise of
12^ per cent. The new rate came into operation on April 12.

Swansea coal trimmers, who have made application for
revision of tariff, had the matter brought before the Chamber
of Commerce, and the probability is that the decision will
follow the lines of Cardiff and Newport settlement, namely,
the concession of a war bonus.

The council of the Western Valleys has decided to take
steps for withdrawing men at collieries where price lists
have not yet been fixed.

A meeting is to be arranged for considering the question
of the wage rate of fan enginemen throughout the Western
Valleys district of Monmouthshire.

North of England.

After many discussions, the Northumberland coal owners
and miners’ representatives have come to an agreement that
Lord Mersey’s award under the Minimum Wage Act shall
remain unaltered, save in one point. That point, however,