1182

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

June 4, 1915.

action of the Commissioners more than the news of the past
week. They were bold enough, he said, to subscribe to a
deeper borehole at South Carr than had ever been put
down in this country. The proving of the Barnsley bed
at Rossington, which •adjoined the Hatfield Chase estate,
set the hypothetical question on one side as to the Barnsley
seam being divided at South Carr. A. fortnight ago, the
sinkers at Bossington went through the Barnsley seam to
the full thickness, and they had now found the Dunsil seam
below it, at 5 ft. 6 in. in thickness, and of good quality,
which meant a double Barnsley seam in value to the land-
owners and to the district, because the extra seam would
be drawn by the same pair of shafts.

Mr. Arthur Hayes, of Hawshawe House, ECoyland, who
has just been appointed manager at the Hoyland Silkstone
Collieries, was 5J years ago advanced to the position of
under-manager in the Silkstone Pit, and 16 months ago
became assistant manager. Previous to coming to Hoyland,
he was under-manager at the Eckington Collieries.

Much interest was taken in coal-exporting circles at Hull
in the marriage at Beverley, near Hull, on Wednesday
morning, of Mr. T. W. Smith, a director of Messrs. C.
Baine and Company Limited, coal exporters, to Miss
Bursell, of Beverley. The bridegroom is a well-known
member of the Hull Coal Exchange.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Lance-Corpl. Fuller, a young Mansfield miner, who won
the. Victoria Cross for capturing 50 Germans at Neuve
Chapelle, had a great reception from his fellow townsmen
on Wednesday. He was met at his home by the mayor,
town clerk, and macebearer, and escorted in state to the
market place. The band of the Mansfield Colliery, where he
formerly worked, preceded the civic carriage, followed by
a procession of enthusiastic miners. In the market place the
Duchess of Portland occupied a seat on a specially- erected
platform, and here the mayor (Alderman Maltby), Sir
Arthur Markham, and General Gordon Gilmour, com-
manding the troops at Clipstone Camp, extended hearty
congratulations to Fuller, and presented him with an
illuminated address and a gold watch. The Duke of Port-
land sent his tribute by letter.

The Midlands.

Mines Drainage in South Staffordshire.

The last meeting of the session of <the members of the
Association of Mining Electrical Engineers (Notts and
Derbyshire branch) will be held to-morrow (Saturday), at
the University College, Nottingham, at 3.30 p.m. A dis-
cussion will take place on the paper, “ Experiences with
Electrical Plant,” by Mr. Archibald Smellie (member of
council for West of Scotland branch).

The reports of the engineers of the South Staffordshire
Mines Drainage Commissioners have been issued. In
regard to the Tipton district, Mr. E. Howl states that the
rainfall during the four weeks had been 2-48 in. The pump-
ing had been 13,228,500 galls, per 24 hours, compared with
13,575,000 galls, the previous month, and 9,774,700 galls,
in the corresponding period of last year. The Moat old
engine and Gospel Oak Mond gas-driven plant had been
“worked full time to assist the Moat new engine. There had
been a diminution in the quantity of water at Bradley
engine. At Deepfields the water had now been lowered
about 25 yds. below thick coal. The Herbert’s Park engine,
working at full speed, was lowering the water slowly, but
it had not yet been got below the New Mine coal. The
water was being lowered at Leabrook, and there had been a
considerable diminution at Park Lane. Reporting on the
Old Hill district, Mr. W. B. Collis states that the under-
ground water in the northern portion had remained at the
low point reached the previous month, and had been easily
dealt with at the Windmill engine alone. The underground
levels were in good order. The level of the water at the
Saltwells and Waterfall Lane remained the same.

Somersetshire.

After 15 months’ boring, coal has been discovered at a
depth of 230 yards on the estate of Capt. Vaughan Jenkins,
lord of the manor, at Priston, near Bath. The seam is the
Great Vein, one of the most valuable in the Somerset coal
field. The discovery is hailed with rejoicing. Large
developments are assured.

Kent.

Tilmanstone Colliery and New Capital.

The sanction of the Treasury has been asked concerning
the raising of the new capital for Tilmanstone Colliery, and,
under the circumstances of the case, the board have every
hope for a satisfactory reply. The costs of the applications
in the courts, which resulted in the refusal to confirm the
sale of Tilmanstone Colliery to the Channel Collieries Trust,
have been cast upon Mr. George Thomas, of Dover, who
represented the shareholders in the matter. These costs
amount to about £100, and the suggestion is being made
that the .shareholders should reimburse Mr. Thomas, whose
action prevented the property being sold over their heads.

Eastry Board of Guardians, at their last meeting, decided
to obtain three railway trucks of Kent coal from the Snow-
down Colliery at the quoted price of 25 s. a ton at pit head.
The coal continues to gain new adherents in the district.

At the East Kent Light Railways Company’s meeting
last Thursday, the various reports and balance-sheet were
adopted. It was strongly urged that the section of the
railways to Sandwich should be completed promptly, but
Mr. Stephens, the engineer, stated that it would involve
too great an outlay at present, the bridge over the South-
Eastern and Chatham Railway costing about £4,000 alone.
Mr. Arthur Burr and Dr. Malcolm Burr resigned as
directors, and the meeting elected Mr. John Dewrance and
Mr. Greig in their places. At an extraordinary meeting of
the shareholders the draft order for the proposed light
railway between Wickhambreaux and Birchington, Thanet,
was approved.

In order to raise funds for carrying on the Ebbsfleet Coal
Syndicate during the war period, the directors have decided
to offer to the shareholders half of the 4,000 £1 shares the
syndicate holds in the Betteshanger Boring Company. These
shares are paid up 10s., and .are to be offered at that figure.

Scotland.

The Gurdrum Colliery was the most busy of all the little
collieries in the south of Stirlingshire until the outbreak of
the war, when it was shut down for a period of six months.
It has now been re-started, and is giving employment to a
fair number of men.

Mr. John Brown, who has been in charge of Kinglassie
Colliery, belonging to the Fife Coal Company, for a con-
siderable time, has been appointed to the management of
Bowhill Colliery. The latter colliery also belongs to the
Fife Coal Company.

, Op the invitation of the Lanarkshire Coal Masters’ Asso-
ciation, practically all the colliery managers in Lanarkshire
have been invited to inspect the buildings and equipment
in connection with the new rescue station at Coatbridge.

LABOUR AMD WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The first meeting of the Conciliation Board to consider the
question of the new wage agreement was held on Monday,
the present agreement expiring at the end of June. Mr.
F. L. Davis presided over the owners. Mr. W. Brace,
M.P.—who, it may be noted, has been appointed Under
Secretary at the Home Office, with a salary of £1,500 per
annum—was chairman of the workmen’s representatives.
The Board had before it the proposals of the South Wales
Miners’ Federation. The first request was that the present
standards of 1877 and 1879 should be abolished, and a new
standard established, into which shall be merged the 35 per
cent, on the 1877 standard and 50 per cent, on the 1879
standard; and that the new rate should be called the 1915
standard. All the rates of the anthracite area to be
regarded as those of 1879. Further, the ‘new standard for
underground day-wage men should be 50 per cent, above
the rates of the minimum-wage award, except where by
adding 35 per cent, to the 1877 standard, or 50 per cent, to
the 1879 standard, the new standard will be higher than the
minimum wage award, and in those cases this higher rate
should be fixed. For surface men, it is proposed that 50 per
cent, be added to 3s. 4d. a day, except where 35 per cent,
or 50 per cent., as aforesaid, gives a higher rate; and then
the higher rate shall be fixed. A further proposal was, that
during the continuance of the new agreement the rate of
wages should not be less than 10 per cent, above the new
standard, and that this rate should be paid when the
average selling price of large coal is at or below 15s. 6d.
These proposals would establish a new minimum wage-rate
at 60 per cent, above the old standard. Another proposal
is, that all workmen employed at afternoon and night
shifts shall be paid a turn and one-fifth for each shift
worked. Seeing that the new minimum wage would be
equivalent to 60 per cent, on the old standard, and that the
workmen are at present getting a war bonus of 17| per
cent., their total wages at the present moment are 77^-
above the old standard. The proposed new minimum
wage being 10 per cent, on the new standard, it represents
really 15 per cent, on the old, so that their present wage rate
is 12J per cent, (reckoning on the old standard) above what
they ask as a new minimum wage. This was why it was
urged on their behalf that there would be no burden on the
owners by making the s concessions asked for. Other
demands were submitted as set out above. In reply, the
owners emphasised the necessity of the workmen postponing
their demands until after the war, it being very desirable
that work should go on harmoniously. The employers
considered that it would be injurious to the interests of the
whole industry—indeed, to the whole community—if
matters of such controversy were entered upon, and the
peace of the coal field endangered. They also pointed out
the need for a steady output of coal at this time of war.
The men’s representatives were, however, unwilling to
assent to any delay, suggesting that peace in the coal field
could be better preserved by discussion of the proposals
now submitted, with a real endeavour to arrive at a settle-
ment. The answer of the coal owners to this was that they
would give the proposals careful consideration, and that a
future meeting of the Conciliation Board should be called
for discussion of the matter.

The secretary of the Federation, Mr. T. Richards, M.P.,
brought forward a statement that men engaged in light
employment under the Compensation Act had not been paid
the war bonus ; and he desired that these should have the
benefit of Lord St. Aldwyn’s award.—The owners answered,
however, that this was not a matter for the Conciliation
Board; and that if the workmen under compensation felt
that they had a grievance they should seek redress else-
where.—It is stated that, in all probability, test cases will
be brought in the law courts to decide whether workmen
under compensation are entitled to the war bonus.

A further meeting of the Conciliation Board to discuss
the proposal for amending the agreement will take place
on June 9.

At the Clydach Vale collieries of the Cambrian Company,
the workmen’s committee have issued an appeal to the
men to pay a share of the war bonus to the collier boys.
The committee' suggest that where a boy was earning
2s. 6d. per day, he should now receive 2s. 9|d., and that
the 3s. payment be increased to 3s. 4d. The committee
state that unless the boys are given a proper proportion,
steps will be taken to enforce payment.

One section of men at Blaenavon were on strike on Satur-
day owing to a dispute, and 2,000 employees were stopped.
The Big Pit and the Millfraen Pit were affected, and the
grievance is said to be due to a question arising from the
payment of the first war bonus. The difficulty was,
however, so far got over on Monday, that work was
resumed pending agreement.

In the last day of the annual conference of Enginemen,
Stokers’ and Kindred Societies, at Swansea, a resolution was
proposed dealing with a legal eight-hour day for colliery
enginemen, boilermen and stokers. Mr. W. Hopkins (South
Wales and Monmouthshire) said that the South Wales col-
liery owners had been approached on the subject, but if it
could be done through Parliament it would be more satis-
factory. The president (Mr. T. Watson) said they already
had a Bill drafted; and it was stated in the discussion
that in certain parts of Yorkshire the 12-hour system had
already been abolished. The proposition was carried; also
one insisting that telephone or speaking-tube connection
should be made between pithead and winding-engine room.

The question of substituting safety lamps for naked
lights in a number of South Wales collieries affects about
7,000 workmen, and the men make an objection on the
ground that loss of illumination interferes with their
working power; they are therefore claiming increased rates.

The matter came before the Peace Committee of the Con-
ciliation Board, which sat at Cardiff on Friday. The
answer of the owners to the workmen’s demand is that the
introduction of an electric safety lamp gives greater illumi-
nating power, and does away with the inconvenience under
which the men have suffered with the oil lamps. After
hearing evidence in the case of three collieries, the com-
mittee adjourned for a week.

North of England.

The Cumberland Coal Conciliation Board agreed to adopt
whatever decision the Midland Conciliation Board came to
with respect to the miners’ application for a war bonus, and
to pay such bonus as from the first making-up day in May.

Complaint's have been made in different parts of the
Cleveland mining area with regard to the method adopted
for the payment of the war bonus of 15 per cent., but a con-
ference held at Middlesbrough, on Wednesday, between the
mine owners’ and miners’ representatives had the effect of
removing all doubt on points on which there had been any
differences of interpretation. It was agreed that the worker
should receive the advance of 15 per cent, on the base rates,
independently of what was required to bring up his wages
to the recognised minimum for his particular grade. As for
men partly on compensation and doing light work, the
understanding arrived at was that their compensation
should remain unaltered, and that they should receive the
15 per cent, advance on the base rates, while those workers
on fixed wages will also benefit by the 15 per cent, advance
granted over a fortnight ago.

Disturbances took place at Whitehaven on Sunday, owing
to the local miners refusing to work with- the Belgians,
and on Monday operations at Ladysmith Pit were tem-
porarily suspended. There was a meeting at the colliery
office in the morning, and the Whitehaven miners held a
meeting in the Market Hall in the afternoon, when Mr. J.
Hanlon (the Whitehaven miners’ agent) put before them
a suggestion by the employers with regard to the Belgians,
his report being to the effect that the company had
despatched to London nine of the men, who, it was alleged,
had caused the disturbance, and agreed to suspend all the
other Belgians working at Ladysmith Pit until an enquiry
could be arranged, at which representatives of both sides,
including three men representing the resident miners at
Kells, will be present. After a lengthy discussion, a reso-
lution was passed agreeing to resume work on these terms.
Eight of the Belgians left Whitehaven by the 2.30 train on
Monday, and the ninth man went by a later train. A
crowd, including a number of local miners, gathered about
the station, and there was a hostile demonstration.

A return just issued by the Northumberland Miners’
Association shows that, during May, the steam coal pits of
the county worked an average of 5’32 days per week, as
against 5’1 days per week over the month of April. At the
pits working household coal, the men were employed for an
average of 5’46 days per week, which is almost full time,
as compared with full time worked throughout April. .

Federated Area.

Mr. J. G. Hancock, M.P., agent, reported at the meeting
of the council of the Nottinghamshire Miners’ Association,
on Saturday, that a settlement had been arrived at res-
pecting the rate of wages for certain classes of surface
workers. The report was adopted, and the officials
instructed to seek a further interview with the Erewash
Valley colliery owners respecting grades not dealt with. It
was decided that the workmen in the Leen Valley be
allowed to hold district meetings on the question of surface
workers’ wages, and with reference to the wages of similar
workmen employed at Mansfield and Rufford collieries, the
proprietors of which are not connected with any owners’
association. The matter was left with the secretary of the
association (Mr. C. Bunfield) and the local lodge of
officials. A resolution was passed recommending members
to pay a levy of 6d. per quarter to supplement the pensions
now paid to members who are on the association’s old-age
pension fund, on account of the increased cost of living
arising out of the war.

A meeting was held, last week end, of the committee of
the West Yorkshire Coal Owners’ Association, and the
representatives of the West Yorkshire Engineers and
Firemen’s Association. The result of the meeting was a
decision to grant an advance of 15J per cent, in wages to
the enginemen and firemen of West Yorkshire, which is
•the equivalent to the concession made to the miners as a
war bonus by the Conciliation Board.

A good deal of dissatisfaction exists amongst the miners
in the Old Hill (South Staffordshire) area regarding the
payment of the advance of 15£ per cent, in wages. The
advance under Lord Coleridge’s award was based on the
existing rate of wages, which was 6s. lOJd. per day for
thick coal pikemen and 5s. 6d. for loaders. In the case of
the pikemen, some of the coal owners paid the men an
advance of Is. 0|d. per day, whilst others paid Is. Ofd.
The men’s leaders contend that the thick coal pikemen are
entitled to an advance of Is. Id., bringing their wages up to
7s. ll^d. per day, and the loaders to an increase of 10d.,
making their wage 6s. 4d. per day.

Serious trouble is threatened by the surface workers
employed at various pits in the South Staffordshire and East
Worcestershire districts in consequence of the employers
refusing to pay an advance of 15J per cent, under Lord
Coleridge’s award. The contention of the colliery pro-
prietors is that the bulk of the surface workers do not
come under the award, and they have made an offer of a
10 per cent, increase on the existing rate of wages.

The coal owners of that part of the South Staffordshire
area concerned in the recent strike have decided to prose-
cute the 3,000 miners who came out on strike. About 70 of
the men have been proceeded against, and ordered to pay
10s. damage each and the costs. Hundreds of other sum-
monses have been issued and many served, and these will
be heard at Dudley and the Rowley Regis Petty Sessional
Court. The attitude of the employers, it is said, is likely
to cause a further rupture, and another general strike of a
more serious character is threatened. At the Golden
Orchard Colliery, Halesowen, belonging to Messrs. N.
Hingley and Sons, 400 men came out on strike on Friday.
They state that they were kept below in the previous night
beyond the statutory number of hours. Mr.-Sam Edwards
the miners’ leader in this part of the district, stated on
Saturday that the employers’ attitude was one of persecu-
tion, and that if persisted in he could not control the
actions of the men, who would give notice to cease work
this week-end unless the summonses were withdrawn.
The first effect of another dispute, he contends, will be the
migration of at least 50 per cent, of the miners to other
districts, where the conditions and wages were better.