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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 7, 1915.

THE PROHIBITION OF COAL EXPORTS.

The Board of Trade make the following announce-
ment :—

“The export of coal and coke to all destinations abroad
other than British Possessions and Protectorates and
Allied countries, is about to be prohibited by Order in
Council, which will come into operation on May 13.
Application for licences to export these commodities to
any prohibited destination should be made on a special
form to the War Trades Department, at 4, Central
Buildings, Westminster, London, S.W. Appropriate
forms can be obtained there upon application, either
personally or by letter, and can also be obtained upon
personal application only at certain offices of Customs
and Excise, including Custom Houses at the coal ports.

“ The Board of Trade have appointed the Right Hon.
Russell Rea, M.P. (chairman), Sir Douglas Owen, and
Sir Richard A. S. Redmayne to be a committee to con-
sider and advise on all questions relating to the exporta-
tion of coal and coke from the United Kingdom to
destinations other than British Possessions and Protec-
torates, Allied countries, and Portugal, and have
appointed Mr. E. J. Elliot, of the Board of Trade, to
be secretary to the committee. Questions relating to
export to Portugal have been excluded from the terms
of reference to the Committee, at the request of the
chairman, owing to his commercial connections with
that country.”

At a. meeting of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce
on Wednesday, referring to the restriction on the expor-
tation of coal, Mr. Beckingham said on this question he
had been in communication with influential people, and
had ascertained it was not the intention of the Govern-
ment to prohibit export of coal to neutral countries, but
it was proposed to discriminate, and shipments would
be under licence. It was proposed to licence contracts.
He had pointed out to the authorities that it was
desirable that licences should be given at the end of one
week for all ships intending to load the following week,
as if it was necessary to telegraph for a licence for each
vessel it might cause stoppage of pits. He understood
this proposal was under consideration.

A member suggested that the chambers of commerce
throughout the country could be utilised for the issue
of such licences. He understood the London Chamber
had been empowered under the fixed rules not only for
coal, but for copper, chemicals, and manufactured
goods.

Mr. Shaw, the secretary, was sceptical of -any such
arrangement being allowed. Tie said he had mentioned
it, and had been told it was out of the question; the
only department concerned was the War Trades Depart-
ment, which kept a large mass of carefully collected
information, and included black lists of oversea traders
and firms. Mr. Shaw was given a watching brief on
the subject.

BOOK NOTICES.

Mining Manual and Mining Year Book, 1915. Ed. by W.

R. Skinner. 1,250 pp., 8 J in. x 5| in. London:
W. R. Skinner and the Financial Times. Price, 15s.
net.

This is the 29th issue of Mr. Skinner’s manual. Par-
ticulars are supplied of 2,450 companies operating in all
parts of the world, and there are complete lists of
directors -and secretaries, mining and consulting engi-
neers, mine managers and agents, and dictionary of
mining terms. It is at all points indispensable.

“ The Trade of Hull and the Humber Ports ” is a
wonderful pennyworth, published by the Eastern Morn-
ing and Hull News Company. All the interests of the
port are passed in review, and the informative letter-
press is brightened by numerous photographs.

A new edition of the British Standard Specification
for Portland Cement, one of the most widely adopted
of the Reports issued by the Engineering Standards
Committee, which has just appeared, contains some
important modifications. Increased fineness of grind-
ing of cement has been legislated for, and the minimum
tensile strength at seven days of both neat cement and
cement and sand has been raised. The clauses dealing
with the preparation of the briquettes have been
amplified, the procedure being described in greater
detail than has previously been the case. In the case
of both neat cement briquettes and cement and sand
briquettes, ramming or hammering is expressly pro-
hibited. The growth of tensile strength at 28 days both
for neat cement and cement and sand is now given in
the form of a formula in place of the fixed percentages
which have been specified hitherto. While not making
any material alterations to the figures previously laid
down for the growth of the tensile strength at 28 days
over that at seven days, the formula gives a progressive
increase instead of the somewhat irregular steps of the
method previously adopted, and for use in the test house
lends itself to the construction of a curve from which
the breaking strength at 28 days corresponding to any
ascertained breaking strength at seven days could readily
be read off. All the plates have been entirely re-drawn,
and two new plates have been added to the specification,
one dealing with a standard spatula for use in making
up the cement and sand briquettes, and the other shows
an improved form of specific gravity bottle which the
Committee have approved as suitable for use, though
they do not stipulate for its employment to the exclusion
of any other pattern. Instructions for obtaining the
specific gravity of cement are given on the plate.

His Majesty’s Minister at Panama reports that the
Panama Canal Administration supplies fuel oil to vessels at
a charge of 1*25 dols. (about 5s. 2d.) for each barrel of
42 galls, delivered to vessels alongside the crib. There is
no wharfage charge at the crib, just as there is no dock charge
against a vessel embarking coal or other supplies furnished
by the Panama Canal Administration.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

The War Bonus.

The Prime Minister has accepted the view of the mine
owners of Great Britain that the application of the men for
a war bonus of 20 per cent, should be decided in the dis-
tricts. Mr. Asquith’s decision was conveyed to Mr. Thomas
Ashton, the secretary of the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain on Wednesday evening, to the effect that the amount
of the advance in wages is to be decided by each district
within one week, but the payment is to begin from
Wednesday, May 5.

The decision can hardly come as a surprise, even to the
workmen’s representatives, after the strong case made by
the coal owners at the Home Office conference in favour of
local settlements of the proposal. The joint conference of
representatives of the mine owners and miners of Great
Britain held a .six hours’ inconclusive sitting at the Hotel
Metropole on Friday. The first three hours of the sitting
were occupied with a further discussion of whether the pro-
posal should be dealt with through the local Wages Boards
or on national lines. Both parties stood firmly to their own
position, and there was every danger of a deadlock. The
two sections then held separate meetings, and on resuming
the coal owners submitted counter proposals to those of the
workmen for a settlement. The offer of the coal owners
was a promise of a general advance of 10 per cent, on the
standard to be made through the local Wages Boards, with
an undertaking that they would consider in those Boards
any further application for a higher percentage of advance,
It was urged that 10 per cent, was the utmost limit which
could be given in the whole of the districts, but that when
the proposal went to the local Wages Boards, full considera-
tion would be given to any proposals made by the workmen.
Following some discussion of the coal owners’ counter pro-
posals, there was a further adjournment of the joint
conference, and the workmen’s section had a protracted
private sitting to consider the 10 per cent, offer. On the
resumption of the joint conference there was more discus-
sion on the proposals and counter proposals for the settle-
ment of the war bonus application, but the parties failed
to reach an agreement on the point at issue between them.
Mr. Isaac Mitchell and Mr. Wilson, of the Labour Depart-
ment of the Board of Trade, had an interview with some
of the coal owners after the joint conference, and about
nine o’clock both gentlemen visited the Westminster Palace
Hotel, where the full miners’ conference was still sitting.

On Saturday the miners’ conference decided to reject the
offer made by the mine owners in the joint conference on the
previous day of a 10 per cent, advance on the standard wage,
and to allow their proposal for a 20 per cent, advance on
actual earnings to be decided by an arbitrator—or arbitrators
—chosen by the Prime Minister. The offer of a 10 per cent,
bonus made by the owners was conditional on the offer being
accepted by the men as a settlement on the war bonus pro-
posal. If the matter was referred to arbitration, it would
not go forward -as an offer.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Enginemen and Stokers’ executive met in Cardiff on
Tuesday, and a report was submitted stating that on behalf
of the association an application had been made to employers
for a 20 per cent, war bonus on earnings, but that the
employers had offered them—similar to the miners—a bonus
of 10 per cent, on the standard rates. The matter was
discussed by the executive, it being ultimately agreed that
they act in consonance with the Miners’ Federation; and,
inasmuch as that organisation had left the question in the
hands of the Government, that- they should accept a similar
amount in respect of war bonus to that which may be
decided.

The Nantyglo and Blaina miners have decided to have
“ show cards ’’ every two months, instead of quarterly as
hitherto. At their monthly meeting it was decided to take
two 3d. levies in May and November towards paying the
men’s examiners. Owing to timber shortage, it was stated,
piping had been introduced at the Lower deep pit, with
satisfactory results.

North of England.

Included in the 31 motions to be considered by the annual
council meeting, of the Northumberland Miners’ Association
on . Saturday, May 15, are the following :—“ That the
political levy be no longer deducted from our contributions,
but be paid as a separate levy of 3d. per member per
quarter.” “ That we ask the coal owners for a uniform rent
allowance of 6d. per day for 11 days per fortnight, irrespec-
tive of the collieries working less than 11 days, providing
men were idle through no fault of their own.” “ That we
ask the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain to press for-
ward for an eight hours day for all surface workers.” “That
we seek to have rolley waymen’s basis wage raised to 4s.
per day.” “ That every effort be made by our association
to restore the short shifts to night workers, which they had
before the Eight Hours Act came into operation.” “ That
every effort be made by our association to again put before
the coal owners the various proposals for night workers,
including the short shifts existing prior to the Eight Hours
Act, with a determination to their adoption.” “ That we
seek to have all royalty rents and wayleaves transferred to
the State.” “ That we do not send any more students to
Ruskin or Central Labour Colleges, but that we establish
tutorial classes in any village where 10 or more students
can be got together.”

The meeting of the Northumberland deputies, enginemen,
and mechanics with the coal owners of the county, which
was to have been held at Newcastle last Saturday, for the
purpose of deciding on the rate of wages for the ensuing
three months, has been postponed owing to the negotiations
which are at present proceeding in consequence of the
Miners’ Federation request for an advance of 20 per cent.
The delay, however, will in no way affect the operation of
any change that may be made in the rate of wages of the
men who should have met last Saturday, any change dating
from the same period as though the meeting had duly taken
place.

Federated Area.

After relaxing for some time their efforts to remove forks
from the pit, and to substitute shovels instead, the Brods-
worth miners are now once again taking up the question
with some vigour. They have obtained permission of the
Yorkshire Miners’ Association to take a ballot of the whole
of the members of the Brodsworth branch upon the question.
A previous ballot, taken some time ago, resulted in favour
of a large majority for enforcing the matter by means of
drastic action. But this previous ballot will not be taken
into account, as some time has since elapsed, and it is felt,
therefore, that in justice to all parties, a fresh one shall
be taken. Mass meetings are being held by the branch
officials to decide upon a course of action.

Representatives of the Midland Counties Colliery Owners’
Association and the Notts Miners’ Association met at the
Victoria Station Hotel, Nottingham, on Monday, May 3,
to further consider the wages of the surface workers, other
than those who manipulate coal, and the general labourers.
At the previous meeting the last-named class obtained a
basis rate of 4s. 3d., plus 10 per cent.—4s. 8d. On this
occasion the conference was occupied in trying to fix the
rate of wages for other classes, the principle of a basis rate,
and of a percentage, and the price of coal having already
been agreed upon. The parties Were unable to agree on the
question of wages for other surface workers, and the
delegates are to report the position to both associations to
see whether the matter should go to arbitration or not.

A claim for a war bonus has been made by the Lancashire
and Cheshire Colliery Firemen’s Association, and failing a
satisfactory reply from the employers, the ballot papers will
be issued to the men to decide on the question of a strike.

A question has arisen under the recent award of his
Honour Judge Moss, who is the chairman of the Joint
District Board for North Wales under the Minimum Wage
Act, as to who shall deal with a claim under the Act;
whether the men have to make the claim, or if the officials
are to deal with the matter without a claim from the men.
The masters maintain that it is for the men to make a
claim in each instance, but this the men dispute, and hold
that it is for the staff to make up the claim. It has there-
fore been -decided to submit the matter to his Honour Judge
Moss, and this will be done on Saturday, May 15, at
Wrexham.

On the 19th inst. the notices which have been tendered in
North Wales by the men, to the effect that they will no
longer work with non-union men, will expire, and the men
will cease work, unless a settlement is come to in the
meantime.

There is also an agitation in North Wales among the
members of the Miners’ Federation to get the engine
winders to join that association, which they have hitherto
declined to do, having belonged to another association. A
meeting to discuss the question is to be held on May 15.

Scotland.

A meeting of representatives of the Fife and Clackmannan
coal owners and the Scottish Colliery Enginemen and Boiler-
men’s Association was held in Dunfermline last week, to
consider a claim for an eight hour day for the boiler firemen.
The chair was occupied by Mr. Augustus Carlow, of the Fife
Coal Company. The case for the firemen was stated by
the secretary, Mr. Shirkie, and was replied to by the
chairman. After a lengthy discussion, it was agreed that
the meeting be adjourned to allow the coal owners’ repre-
sentatives to lay the claim before a full meeting of the Fife
and Clackmannan Coal Owners’ Association. The firemen
at present work a 12-hours’ shift, with a 24-hours shift at
the week-ends when changing shifts.

At a meeting of the Broxburn branch of the Scottish
Shale Miners’ Association, a proposal to adopt an extension
of the Eight Hours Act in order to get over the difficulty of
a shortage of labour was under consideration. Mr. Robert
Simpson, shale miners’ agent, intimated that a representa-
tive of Broxburn Oil Company, in consultation with the
miners’ officials, had stated that the company were at
present not getting sufficient quantities of shale for their
requirements owing to the scarcity of men, and if the output
could not be increased they would require to put out of use
one of the retorts, the effect of which would be to throw a
considerable number of miners out of work. As a means of
accelerating the output of shale, it was proposed to adopt
an extension of the Eight Hours Act, whereby the men
would work one hour extra on two days per week. Oncost
workers paid by the shift would receive payment pro rata
for extra time. After discussion, the men agreed unani-
mously to carry out the proposal.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The following finding by the Government Committee on
Production is in respect of the claim for a war bonus made
to the West Cumberland Iron Masters’ Association by the
National Federation of Blastfurnacemen :—“ The matter
was discussed between the parties, but no settlement was
arrived at, and it was agreed to submit the question in
dispute to the Committee on Production for decision. The
Committee accordingly heard representatives of the parties
on April 27. The wages of the blastfurnacemen are regu-
lated by a sliding scale, based upon the selling price of
Cumberland haematite iron warrants on the Glasgow iron
market, wages being increased or reduced periodically J per
cent, for every rise or fall of 2-4d. in average prices. Since
July 1914, in consequence of the rise in prices due to the
war, the workpeople concerned have obtained advances
amounting in the aggregate to 28| per cent, by means of
the operation of the sliding scale. The Committee’s finding
is that, in these circumstances, the workpeople have failed
to establish the claim to an increase in wages in the form
of a war bonus.”

Between 700 and 800 iron workers at Old Hill and
Netherton, South Staffordshire, came out on strike on
Monday on the war bonus question. They are men employed
by Messrs. Hingley and Sons, the largest chain and cable
manufacturers in the country, and were working on a
Government contract.

As a-result of the report by Mr. John M. MacLeod, C.A.,
Glasgow, to Messrs. James C. Bishop and James Gavin,
joint secretaries of the Board of Conciliation, between the
owners of the blastfurnaces in Scotland and the blast-
furnacemen, as to the price of Scotch pig iron warrants in
the Glasgow market for the months of February, March,
and April, there is an increase of 10 per cent, in the wages
of the workmen.

The operatives connected with the Board of Conciliation
and Arbitration for the Manufactured Steel Trade of the
West of Scotland made a claim recently for a special war
bonus of 5s. per week per man. The matter was discussed
between the parties, but no settlement was arrived at, and
it was agreed to submit the question in dispute to the Com-
mittee on Production for decision. The Committee accord-
ingly heard representatives of the parties on April 20. The
wages of the operatives are regulated by a sliding scale based
upon the selling price of ship plates on the Clyde, wages
being increased or reduced 2| per cent, for each 5s. advance
or reduction in the selling price of plates. Since July 1914,
in consequence of the ris-e in prices due to the war, the
operatives concerned have obtained advances amounting in
the aggregate to 22J per cent, by means of the operation
of this sliding scale, and there is a further advance of 5 per
cent, due this month. The Committee’s finding is that, in
these circumstances, the operatives have failed to establish
a claim for an increase in wages in the form of a war
bonus.