June 4, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1183

A meeting of the Black Country Fireclay Miners’ Board
has been held to consider a claim by the men for a’ war
bonus. At a previous meeting the men made a demand for
an advance of 15 per cent. The employers offered an
increase of 4d. per day to clay getters and loaders, and 3d.
per day to all other underground workers, the advance to be
treated as -a war bonus. This offer was rejected by the
men’s leaders. At this week’s meeting of the Board, Mr.
Edwards, the miners’ agent, stated that he was instructed
to reduce his previous demand for an advance of 15 per cent,
to 12} per cent, as a war bonus. After considerable dis-
cussion, it was agreed that an advance of 6d. per day should
be conceded to all pikemen and loaders, and 4d. per day to
all other underground workers, the advance to be treated as
a war bonus. It was agreed, further, that neither the
present advance, which is equal to 10 per cent., nor a
previous one of 5 per cent, granted in February last, should
be taken into account in the fixing of any further basis of
wages. The miners’ agent made a further claim for an
advance of wages on behalf of the male surface workers
employed in the fireclay trade, and it was agreed by the
employers to grant an increase of 10 per cent, to this section
of the workers, the same conditions to apply as in the
advance to the fireclay miners.

Two important meetings of the National Amalgamated
Union of Enginemen, Firemen, Motormen, Mechanics and
Electrical Workers were held at Hanley, on Tuesday and
Wednesday, to consider recent negotiations with the
North Staffordshire Colliery Owners’ Association on the
question of wages. The three years’ agreement affecting
the colliery enginemen and stokers expired on May 17, and
negotiations were opened with a view to drawing up a new
agreement. The men, however, 'felt that the bonus granted
to the miners altered the situation, and they desired that
such bonus should be extended to them, and should include
not only the firemen and stokers, but also the mechanics
and locomotive men. This introduced a further complica-
tion, inasmuch as the 'mechanics were subject to a new
agreement, dated February 19, this year, by which they
obtained increases equal to 7} per cent. On Friday, the
colliery owners made an offer to pay a war bonus of 15} per
cent, on present rates on and from May 5 to all men
represented by Mr. Harper Parker, subject to the same con-
ditions as the agreement, dated May 21, with the miners,
and that the provisions of the agreements expiring on
May 17 should remain unaltered. To this offer the following
proviso was attached:—“The advance arranged for. under
the mechanics’ agreement of February 19, 1915, which we
consider equal to 7J per cent, to be considered part of the
war bonus.-” To this offer the representatives of the
union made a counter proposal, that the war bonus of 15}
per cent, should continue until three months after peace is
signed, and that the question of the formation of a new
agreement for enginemen, boilermen, etc., be allowed to
stand over until peace is signed, and a new agreement to
be completed within three months after peace is signed,
providing the colliery owners are prepared to concede. an
eight-hours’ day to the grades referred to in the applica-
tion, and also to fix a minimum rate of wages as soon as
peace is signed. The meetings unanimously endorsed the
union counter proposal.

At Halesowen Police Court on Tuesday, 32 miners were
summoned by Messrs. N. Hingley and Sons, proprietors of
the Golden Orchard Colliery, Coombs Holloway, Halesowen,
for neglect of work between May 15 and 19, nominal damages
of 10s. being claimed against each man. Mr. W. A. Foster
(who appeared for the plaintiffs) explained that the normal
draft of the pit was about 3,000 tons per week, and the draft
between May 15 and 19 was only about 500 tons. The
whole of the coal was consumed at the firm’s iron works at
Netherton and Old Hill, and utilised by them in the produc-
tion of war munitions. Messrs. Hingley were compelled to
take their present action by a strong sense of national duty.
They did not intend to receive the damages claimed, but to
hand them over to the National Belief Fund. Evidence was
given by the manager of the colliery (Mr. H. T. Newey).
Witness said the firm issued a notice to the effect that they
proposed to pay a 15 per cent, advance in wages to the men,
which would in no way affect the award of Lord Coleridge,
but the men actually struck work before the notice was put
up at the colliery. He admitted that when the men resumed
work on the 19th and 20th ult. he sent some 15 horse drivers
back because they declined to descend the pit in accordance
with the usual custom. It was a rule at the pit that if
more men turned up at the colliery than were required, they
had to take their turn, and play for a day. . For the defence,
Mr. Green contended that the workmen did not leave their
employment; it was only a temporary stoppage, and he sub-
mitted that if it were necessary for the workmen to present
themselves each day at their work, it was also fair and
mutual that the employers should be ready to engage them
whenever they wanted to work. He urged that the men
came out through a misunderstanding. The chairman (Mr.
J. G. Beay) remarked that it was very essential for the
miners to realise that coal was the foundation of all war
munitions, and that if coal were not supplied, the.whole of
the works would have to be closed. The notice issued at
the colliery could not be misinterpreted by even the dullest
scholar, and the Bench ordered the defendants, with the
exception of three, against whom the cases would be with-
drawn, to pay the damages, 10s., and costs 7s. The Bench
allowed the men 14 days in which to pay the money.

A meeting of the executive committee of the Yorkshire
Miners’ Association, held at Barnsley on Monday, Mr. H.
Smith presiding, decided to give the Elsecar branch permis-
sion to take a ballot on the home coal question. In regard
to alleged grievances at Frystone Colliery, it was decided to
allow the men to ascertain whether the district would allow
them to take a ballot to have the grievances rectified.
Beferring to the new war bonus, .the general secretary- (Mr.
John Wadsworth, M.P.) said he was exceedingly sorry to
have to state that he had already received one or two letters
from the men complaining that instead of being paid in
accordance with the agreement at the colliery, men had been
paid partly, some not at all, and the bonus was put in such
a way that the men could scarcely find out what position
they were in. He had also received a report that lads had
not been properly paid, and that owing to stoppage last
week they had only been paid for three days, and the wages
for two weeks held back. These grievances were like an
infectious disease, and might lead to serious trouble if not
remedied.	,

Colliery surface workers in the Barnsley district are dis-
satisfied with the proposals of local coal owners under the
new wages agreement. A. meeting of the various branches
of the colliery surface workers in connection with collieries
which come under the Barnsley Coal Owners’ Association,
was held at Barnsley on Monday. The offer made by the

association, it was stated, was a less percentage than was
agreed upon by the South Yorkshire Coal Owners’ Associa-
tion and surface workers. The claim was made by the
Barnsley owners that they should be brought under the area
of some part of West Yorkshire, where a less rate is paid.
The Barnsley coal owners, in making this claim, divided
the percentages of the east and west areas of West Yorkshire
and the offer they made is alleged by the surface workers
concerned to be 27 per cent, for the manipulators of coal,
and 22 per cent, for non-manipulators. This, the surface
workers contend, is less by 5} per cent, and 4J per cent,
respectively than the terms of the South Yorkshire agree-
ment. It was stated that at one place the war bonus was
not paid last Saturday, and the men concerned at the meet-
ing passed a separate resolution to the effect that unless the
money was paid to-morrow (Saturday) a strike was almost
inevitable.

At a council meeting of the Yorkshire Deputies’ Associa-
tion at Barnsley on Saturday, the delegates unanimously
passed a resolution claiming an immediate advance of 15}
per cent, on and from May 5, 1915, upon the gross earnings.

Mr. F. K. Smith, the secretary of the Yorkshire Deputies’
Association, has made a statement in regard to the differences
existing between the deputies and the colliery proprietors.
He states that the application of the award made by Lord
Coleridge, at .the Coal Conciliation Board for the Federated
mining districts of England and North Wales, produced a
set of circumstances never before experienced between colliery
managers and their deputies. The interpretation of the
award by certain coal owners in Yorkshire, as seen by the
payments made to colliery deputies on May 29, 1915, is a
revelation of inequality and injustice. At several collieries
there are signed agreements, at others verbal agreements,
that upon a fixed basis the deputies should receive advances
or decreases exactly in the same ratio as the miners received
■bonus rates. Until May 29, 1915, perfect harmony had
prevailed in this matter, and such payments had not been
questioned. However, for reasons yet to be fathomed, some
colliery deputies have been ruled out of their claim. The
payments on May 29 show that chaos prevails throughout
the country. Some colliery companies have changed the
rate of payment to deputies just prior to the award (of
course, less in value than the award), and such a practice
has added to the confusion. He continues that Askern,
Brodsworth, Yorkshire Main, and Monckton are among those
who have paid the full 15J per cent, upon gross earnings.
Frickley, Houghton, and Mitchell’s collieries are among
those who have paid an advance of Is. per day. Womb well
Main has paid lOd. ped day, or 9 per cent. Hoyland Silk-
stone is among the group who have paid no advance at all.
Among the number of collieries already mentioned, it may
be said that Monckton, Mitchell’s, Womb well, Houghton,
and Hoyland Silkstone have previously risen and fallen in
the same ratio as the miners.

At the conference of the National Amalgamated Union of
Labour in Sheffield on Tuesday, Conn. A. J. Bailey explained
the position with regard to the war bonus for colliery sur-
face workers. He said that misconception might arise from
the reports given of a meeting of the Yorkshire Miners’
Association, from which it might be taken that the war
bonus granted in the Yorkshire area would only be given
to those attached to the Miners’ Association. He explained
that, as representative of the National Federation of Colliery
Surface Workers, he took part in the drafting of the per-
centage advances, as compared with the advance of miners’
wages. The Conciliation Board’s decision on the recom-
mendation of Lord Coleridge clearly indicated that the bonus
was intended to apply to all workmen above or below ground,
no matter what organisation they belonged to, so long as
that organisation was strong enough to secure the advance.

The North Warwickshire Colliery Owners’ Association
have agreed w’ifh the representatives of the miners the
basis on which the 15} per cent, war bonus shall be calcu-
lated. The men are to be paid the wages due on the last
making-up day, plus a sum equal to 15J per cent, on their
earnings since May 5, from which date the war bonus
accrues to them. The war bonus applies to all men who
manipulate coal. About the pit, however, there are other
men who do not fulfil that qualification, and the owners
have decided to grant them 10 per cent, on their wages.
The enginemen receive the 15} per cent.

A Joint Board meeting took place on Saturday at the
Wigan office of Sir Thomas B. Batcliffe-Ellis, the coal
owners’ secretary, between representatives of the Lanca-
shire and Cheshire Coal Owners’ Association, and delegates
representing the Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales
Enginemen and Boilermen’s Federation, when the question
as to the war bonus to be granted to the workers concerned
within the Federated area was considered and decided upon.
After discussion, the following agreement was arrived at :—
“ (1) That an advance be made to all surface engine-
men and stokers on the wages now paid of 15} per cent, to
meet the circumstances arising out of the war as and from
May 5, 1915; the first payment, with arrears as and from
May 5, to be made on the pay day in the week ending
June 5 next if not already paid. (2) The conditions pre-
scribed in the agreement made by the Board of Conciliation
for the coal trade of the Federated districts dated the 21st
inst. to apply to the said 15} per cent, advance.”

Scotland.

A meeting of the executive of the National Union of
Scottish Mine Workers was held last week at Glasgow.
Mr. David Gilmour reported regarding a strike at Cadzow
Colliery, Hamilton. The company, he said, had failed to
carry out the terms of the agreement with reference to
tonnage rates, and, in consequence, the men, with authority
of the executive, struck work, and were still idle. About
500 men were affected. A committee was appointed to deal
with further .negotiations. Mr. Doonan, West Lothian,
-stated that a dispute had arisen at Loganlea Colliery, West
Calder, the surface workers having claimed that they should
share in the recent advaflce of 18| per cent. The matter
was held over for consideration of the executive.

The Scottish Coal Trade ■ Conciliation Board on Tuesday
considered an application by the miners for an increase of
the. wages of underground workers to the extent of 50 per
cent, on the 1888 basis. The present claim for a 50 per
cent, advance, should it ultimately be granted, will include
the 9d. awarded under the Prime Minister’s decision, so
that the fresh claim represents a net sum of Is. 3d. per
day. The meeting of the Board was held in the North
British Station Hotel, Glasgow. Mr. Adam Nimmo,
chairman of the coal owners’ section of the Board, presided,
and Mr. .Bobert Smillie, president of the National Union
of Scottish Mine Workers, occupied the vice-chair. At the
close of a sitting lasting two hours, an official statement was

issued to the effect that Mr. Smillie stated the reasons for
the application and why an advance should be granted,
while Mr. Nimmo put forward reasons why no advance
should be given. As no agreement could be arrived at, it
was decided to adjourn the meeting till Tuesday, June 15.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The secretaries to the Board of Conciliation and Arbitra-
tion for the Manufactured Iron and Steel Trade of the
North of England have issued the report of the accountants
for the two months ended April 30 last, which announces
that in accordance with the sliding scale arrangement there
will be an advance of 6d. per ton on puddling, and 5 per
cent, on all other forge and mill wages, to take effect from
May 31 last. The average net selling price per ton of
manufactured iron for the two months ended April 30 is
certified to have been £7 11s. 10-41d., as compared with
£7 Is. ll-80d. for the previous two months.

The secretaries of the Midland Iron and Steel Wages
Board have issued the accountants’ ascertainment of pro-
duction and selling prices of iron for the two months of
March and April, 1915, and they state that in accordance
with the sliding scale arrangements, the wages for puddling
during the months of June and July, 1915, will be 10s. per
ton, and all other mill and forge wages will be advanced
2} per cent. These wages will take effect from Monday,
June 7, 1915, and continue until Saturday, August 1, 1915.
In addition to the puddling rate of 10s. per ton under the
sliding scale, there will be an allowance of 6d. per ton
given to the puddlers by resolution of the Wages Board,
which met on July 15, 1912. The allowance applies to
puddleds only, and will make the total puddling rate 10s. 6d.
per ton. The accountants certify the average net selling
price to have been £7 16s. 6-43d. per ton.

Becently a claim was made on behalf of the operatives
connected with the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration
for the steam, electrical, and hydraulic services of the steel
trade of the West of Scotland for an advance of wages of
25 per cent, on the ground of the increase in the cost of
living since the beginning of the present war. The
employers declined to grant the advance on the ground that
the increase in the cost of living had been compensated by
the operation of the sliding scale. On the joint application
of. the two sides of the Conciliation Board the Board of
Trade appointed Sheriff A. O. M. Mackenzie as arbitrator.
Sheriff Mackenzie has now issued his award. He finds that
the claimants whose wages are regulated by the sliding scale
have failed to establish their claim for an advance, but that
the wages of such of the claimants as are paid a fixed shift
or weekly wage shall be advanced as follows :—(a) Workmen
whose wage does not exceed per week shall receive an
advance of Is. per week; (5) workmen whose wage exceeds
£1, but does not exceed £1 10s. per week, an advance of
4s.; (c) workmen whose wage exceeds £1 10s., but does not
exceed £2, an advance of 3s.; and (d) workmen whose wage
exceeds £2, but does not exceed £2 10s., an advance of 2s.;
(e) no advance is granted to workmen whose wage exceeds
£2 10s. Should any workman entitled to an advance under
the award have already received an advance of wages in
consideration of the increase in the cost of living resulting
from the war, such advance is to be regarded as forming
part of the advance now granted. The advances are to be
war bonuses, granted in respect of the abnormal conditions
caused by the war.

The South Wales Steel Makers and Steel Smelters met at
Swansea on Tuesday, when the men decided to assist the
masters by working 12 hours, instead of eight, per day, in
case of shortage of labour. Between 4,000 and 5,000
employees are affected.

A special executive committee meeting of the Iron and
Steel Trades’ Federation was held on Saturday at Man-
chester, Mr. James Gavin, of Glasgow,' presiding. The
executive had before them a claim made by the Scottish
steel workers for an increase of wages, and, after hearing
the report of the deputation which had interviewed the
employers in Scotland upon this claim, it was unanimously
decided that power be given to the society affected to tender
notices on behalf of their members.

In the course of a lecture delivered at the Boyal Society
of Arts, Prof. A. Vernon Harcourt, F.B.S., the senior Gas
Beferee for London, made a piquant reference to some of
the so-called fuel-saving powders that have been exten-
sively advertised in the public Press. He described an
instrument which he had devised for readily estimating
the approximate radiant efficiency of a fire, and quoted the
ludicrous results obtained when coal and coke were treated
with the preparations in question. He said : “ The stuff
which was to make a ton of coal go as far as two was
about half a pint of a pink powder, of which a heaped tea-
spoonful was to be stirred in a pint of water and then
sprinkled over three scuttles'full. of coal. It was difficult
to regard this sprinkling seriously. However, it was done,
and has been done for me many times since. But neither
then, nor in subsequent trials, using a grate well adapted for
such observations, could any material difference be found
in the rate of burning with and without powder. "What
difference there is seems to be due to the water. An
analysis of the powder shows its composition to be :—

Per cent.

Sodium chloride ............. 83’85

Calcium carbonate ........... 8 71

Ferric oxide ................  2'88

Silica........................ 0’69

Water ........................ 3’57

99’70

Chemists will agree that the total amount of heat caused
by the combustion of a pound of coal will not be increased
by the addition to it of rather less than a grain—that is,
one seven-thousandth part—of any kind of incombustible
material. But it may be rightly objected that it is not the
total amount of beat which concerns the householder, but
the amount of heat radiated into a room. A large number
of experiments have been made, and the result found is
that coke or coal treated with the powder or untreated
radiate practically the same amount of heat.”