July 9, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

81

BOOK NOTICES.

Mechanical Drawing, with special reference to the needs of
mining students. By Joseph Husband. 79 pp.;
11 in. x 8| in.; 230 fig. London : Edward Arnold.
Brice, 3s. net.

Work in the drawing office at a colliery is generally
associated with the plotting of surveys in conformity
with the law, and the fact is sometimes overlooked that
almost every colliery can give full employment to a
capable mechanical draughtsman. Indeed, mechanical
drawing is an accomplishment which every mining engi-
neer may turn to good account. Under the modern
educational system it is possible for anyone to obtain
instruction in this subject, but the drawings put in by
mining students at examinations betray a native
ingenuity rather than methodical training, which is
regrettable, because method and accuracy commonly go
hand in hand. It is a mistake, however, to assume that
the standard methods that apply to mechanical engi-
neering in its general aspect are those which can be
best adapted to the variegated machinery that makes
up the equipment of a mine; the mechanical engineer
at a colliery who has been brought up on a course of
engine and machine tool construction will find it neces-
sary, as his experience grows, to adapt his knowledge to
the peculiar conditions that appertain to mining prac-
tice; for there is no branch of industry in which the
vagaries of nature more persistently combat the efforts
of the engineer to reduce everything to an exact science,
and the equipment of almost every mine embodies some
mechanical detail that could be covered by a patent.
The records of the Patent Office, indeed, show the great
variety of small inventions that have their origin ‘ ‘ in or
about ” a mine. When we consider that almost every
colliery has its own particular winding controller or
signalling device, the scope for the exercise of draughts-
manship is apparent.

Thus Mr. Husband’s book, which treats more especi-
ally of selected examples of colliery engineering,
obviously fills a void, and it is certain that the mining
student will apply himself more assiduously to the study
of machine drawing if he has to deal with examples, such
as are contained in this book, which are directly asso-
ciated with the practice of mining.

At the beginning the author gives brief instructions
as to the selection and use of instruments and certain
general principles which should be followed by the
draughtsman. Hints are also given in the text accom-
panying the examples as to which details are suitable
for elementary practice, and which should be deferred
until the student has attained some degree of profi-
ciency. Dimensions are given very clearly—an impor-
tant point, in view of the fact that it may always be
necessary to reproduce drawings on a smaller scale—and
many details, the shape of which might not be readily
appreciated from their projections, have been illustrated
by perspective views.

A Treatise on Hand Lettering. By Wilfrid J. Lineham.
xii. -f- 282 pp.; 12|in. x 8| in.; 117 pl. Price, 7s. 6d.
net. London : Chapman and Hall.

This is one of the “ Directly-Useful ” technical series
edited by Mr. Lineham, who is head of the engineering
department at Goldsmiths’ College, University of
London. The books in this series are intended to
occupy a midway position between the theoretical
treatise and the so-called practical work. The book
now before us certainly fulfils these conditions, for we
have often seen, in the course of our experience, clever
and accurate designs spoilt by clumsy and illegible
lettering. In each profession to which the drawing
board is an accessory, the practice of lettering may vary
somewhat, and these distinctions have been kept clearly
in view by the author, but he has endeavoured to stan-
dardise the practice according to the best traditions.

A short account of the process of zincography has
been added, and the printing processes in use in draw-
ing offices are described. This is a wise precaution, for
we have found that capable draughtsmen sometimes
have little knowledge of the limitations of process work,
notwithstanding that their time may be largely occupied
in drawing for reproduction.

We are convinced that a large circle of students will
derive benefit from this book, which is excellent value
for the money.

The By-Products of Coal Gas Manufacture. By K. R.

Lange, Ph. D. Translated from the German by Chas.
Salter. vi. + 155 pp.; 7| in. x 5 in.; 13 fig. Price,
5s. net. London : Scott, Greenwood and Sons.

The by-product side of gas manufacture had been
rapidly acquiring an increased importance before last
August, but the war has served to throw it into still
greater prominence. The publishers are, therefore, to
be congratulated for their alacrity in issuing this timely
translation of a standard German work.

The author not only gives a simple and direct account
of the circumstances leading to the separation of
by-products, but deals concisely with the various pro-
cesses of purification and their objects. Separate
chapters are devoted to coke, retort graphite, gas tar,
gas liquor, purifying agents, crude liquors, potassium
ferricyanide, the cyanogen pigments, and sulphuric
acid.

We have received from the Business Statistics Com-
pany Limited, of Cardiff, a copy of their Northern Coal,
Iron and Steel Companies, 1915. The booklet com-
prises in a handy form information continually asked
for by investors, including summaries of the last issued
balance-sheets, profit and loss accounts, profits made
during the last few years, dividends paid, amounts
placed to reserve, depreciation, etc. Each company is
treated separately, and the booklet is published at Is.,
post free Is. Id.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Negotiations for a New Working Basis—Men Require
Stated Period Beyond War—Over 50,000 Men Idle Last
week—Opinions of Miners' Leaders upon the Board
of Trade Proposals—Threats of Stoppage—Huge Profits
of Coal “ Tramp ” Vessels—Lady Mackworth as Mr. D.
A. Thomas's Deputy.

Negotiations for a new agreement, through the President
of the Board of Trade, have been in progress again this
week. Whilst the other points have been fully debated, it
soon became manifest that an essential requirement of the
miners was that some term of continuance after the war
should form part of any agreement entered into, and that
the non-inclusion of such a condition was, from their point
of view, a fundamental defect of the list of proposals sub-
mitted by Mr. Runciman last week and voted upon by the
conference of delegates at Cardiff. A majority of only 11
accepted those proposals, as the basis for further negotiation,
feeling being very strong; but it should be pointed out in this
connection that a delegates’ conference does not so clearly
reveal the mind of the mass of men as will be done by a
ballot vote, and there is strong probability that such a vote
will be taken as a final stage in these proceedings. This is
regarded as highly desirable. The ballot brings out the men
who do not attend lodge meetings, in which delegates are
selected; the quieter, elderly men, some of whom object to
public-houses, many having objections to individuals, and
most of them well pleased with present-day conditions. To
these the ballot gives opportunity of effective action; and the
leaders are fully conscious of that fact, as well as of the
further fact that they are steadfast Federationists, whose
views and opinions are entitled to consideration.

The summary of terms accepted by the conference was as
follows :—

1.	Surfacemen : Increase to 3s. 4d. the standard rate of
surfacemen who are below 3s. 4d., and add 50 per cent, to
such rates.

2.	Night men : Six turns for five throughout the coal field.

3.	Hauliers employed on afternoon and night shifts shall
be paid the same rate of wages as those on the day shift.

4.	The standards of 1877 or 1879 to be raised to the new
1915 standard—namely, 100 plus 36 per cent, on 1877, and
100 plus 50 per cent, on 1879.

5.	No maximum wage rate and no minimum.

The abolition of the maximum was according to original
demand, but strong objection was felt to abolition of the
minimum, which had been proposed at 10 per cent, above
the new standard—equivalent to 65 per cent, above the old
standard, that being 5 per cent, more than the old maximum.
Such a demand as making the new minimum 5 per cent,
above the old maximum was advocated on the ground that
coal prices would never again go back to anything like former
figures. But the employer, having to face such heavy
increase in working costs other than wages, could not enter-
tain the idea of the new minimum. Hence, “ no minimum ”
in.the proposals; and around this a close contest has been
waged during these fateful days.

Following their conference in Cardiff, the South Wales
Miners’ Federation executive journeyed to London on Friday,
and had a long interview with Mr. Runciman and certain
officials of the Department. They desired to have the pro-
posals formulated into an agreement, so that agreement
might be arranged for a definite period beyond the conclusion
of peace. After discussion, Mr. Runciman desired that their
requirements should be reduced to writing so as to avoid
misunderstanding ; and another meeting of the executive was
called for Saturday, in order that this might be done. Further
concessions were asked for, as well as the interpretation of
several of the clauses in Mr. Runciman’s proposals; and it
was after these explanations had been given, that a decision
to set them out in writing was arrived at. Hitherto the
men’s representatives had insisted on the selfing price of coal
being equivalent to the minimum percentage; but this
demand does not appear to have been insisted on. The
period for the agreement to last after, the war was suggested
as six months, with an additional three months for notice;
or for 12 months. It is stated that the members of the
executive who met the President of the Board of Trade
■ informed him that although there was a majority, the pro-
posals of the Government had not been accepted, the actual
decision being that the men should work on for 14 days to
give further time for negotiation. If no better terms could
be got, then the executive would advise the men not to
accept the proposals as a final settlement, for the terms
tentatively suggested were insufficient.—Mr. George Barker,
one of the Monmouthshire leaders, informed a Press repre-
sentative that they should press for an agreement. If they
did not get an agreement, there would certainly be a stoppage
of work.

The coal owners’ representatives were again invited this
week to meet Mr. Runciman; and on Tuesday that
gentleman had before him the considered draft of the
workmen’s proposals. At the time of writing no communi-
cation had been received from the President of the Board of
Trade.

It is estimated that at least 50,000, and probably
as many as 60,000, men were idle on Thursday of
last week, and work had not been fully resumed on
Friday. The abstention on Thursday was due to lack
of instructions from the conference in Cardiff, this having sat
so late the preceding night that there was not time to com-
municate with the districts. In the Pontypool area, it was
said that telegram delays accounted for the lack of intima-
tion, the local post office being closed at 8 o’clock, and the
conference not concluding until 10. The conference had been
informed that arrangements would be made whereby post
offices in the colliery areas concerned should be kept open for
the transmission of telegrams during Wednesday evening;
but apparently this instruction was not everywhere carried
out. In some districts, however, instructions were got
through from the delegates at the conference, and the men
were back at work on Thursday morning. This was the case
at Blackwood, in the Sirhowy Valley, but other collieries in
the same district were idle. In one case, some Rhondda men
held a meeting after descending the pit, and decided not to
work but to return to the surface.

In the course of an interview, Mr. John Williams, M.P.,
another of the miners’ leaders, said that the workmen had,
through the intervention of the Government, scored heavily,
seeing that there were certain proposals submitted which
would never have been granted by the employers except after
a long struggle.

The workmen of the Ferndale and Tylorstown collieries,
in a resolution passed after discussion of the terms, made
“ serious protest against future eleventh-hour settlement,”
and they also instructed their secretary to write and advise
the executive that any new agreement should be so arranged
as to end co-terminously with the agreements in other coal
fields. A similar resolution as to co-terminous ending was
passed by the colliers of the Naval Pit, Penygraig.

Mr. J. Winstone, acting president of the South Wales
Miners’ Federation, explained to a mass meeting of the
Tirpentwys men the situation arrived at during last week’s
conference. Reviewing the negotiations which had taken
place, he said that the responsibility for the present state
of affairs rested entirely with the employers. As to the
proposals which the conference had accepted, the men must
not under-estimate their value. The surfacemen had long
been living on a wage little short of inhuman, but now they
were to receive the standard rate of 5s. per day. In the
eastern valleys of Monmouthshire they would get very little
or nothing out of the concession of six turns for five, but in
other districts there were men who had to work from Sunday
to the end of the week without any bonus, and in the pro-
posals now accepted that condition of things would be wiped
away. The men’s representatives had been trying, and
would try again, to get the bonus turns divided into fifths,
as was the case at some of the collieries, for it was mani-
festly unfair for a man to be stopped working on one shift,
and to lose two shifts pay for it. The merging of the old
standards into the 1915 standard, with the 10 per cent, added
to the latter, really meant an increase of nearly 5 per cent,
in the men’s wages. For the first time, the members of the
executive had been absolutely united. In answer to an
interrogation, Mr. Winstone said that they would tell Mr.
Runciman that unless the men were met fairly there could
be no guarantee of the South Wales miners continuing to
work.

Mr. Alfred Onions, treasurer of the Federation, speaking
at Tredegar, upheld the decision of the Cardiff conference.
He said that the executive had unanimously agreed that
the proposals outlined should form the basis of negotiation,
work to be continued on day-to-day contracts until complete
agreement had been reached, and ratified by a future con-
ference. The night men’s demands, and the surface men
and afternoon and night hauliers’ claims, had been conceded,
and a new standard had been created. If the workmen
agreed with them, the proposals would be enforced by the
Government on the coal owners, and would stand during
the period of the war. They had also suggested that it should
last for 12 months afterwards, for no one could foreshadow
what would happen at the end of the war, or what the state
of trade would be.

Mr. Hartshorn, speaking at Nantyffyllon, said he was not
surprised at the men being idle that day, because it was in
accordance with what they had expected for three months
unless the new agreement were entered into. It was also
an indication of the intention of the men to have their claims
met. Mr. Hartshorn said that the demand for 10 per cent,
on the new standard meant 5 per cent, increase on the
present earnings, apart from the war bonus, and it would be
the lowest rate the workmen would receive in the future.
This, however, had not been conceded yet. Last week’s
conference insisted on its being conceded. * The executive
would make it perfectly clear to the Government that unless
concessions were made, nothing that the Government or the
executive could do would prevent the coal field coming to a
standstill at the end of 14 days. If the proposals submitted
to last week’s conference were to be regarded as final pro-
posals, he did not think there was any man among the
leaders who would advise the men to accept them. The
owners had made one very big blunder. They appeared to
think they had only to adopt the high-handed attitude, refuse
to discuss anything, and throw on the workmen the odium
of stopping the collieries during the war; but the men’s
leaders had, for three months, been appealing to the owners
to discuss their proposals. The whole cost of their demands
would be only 4|d. per ton. The average selling price up to
May of this year was higher than it was when the present
maximum was reached in 1913 by 6s. Id. on large coal, and
by 5s. Id. on small coal; and all that the workmen asked
was that out of this increase in the selfing price they should
receive the small sum of 4|d. in addition to the war bonus.

It has, however, been pointed out, in opposition to this
statement of Mr. Hartshorn, that the coal prices he refers to
apply to only a very small proportion of the output, and that
if the average selfing price were taken, the figure would be
very much lower. Further, that in taking into account only
the increased selfing price no right amount can be arrived at,
seeing that, in addition to the wage-rate, colliery costs in
every direction have largely increased. This fact has been
brought out in the speeches of colliery company chairmen
to shareholders, wherein the cost of pitwood and other
requirements has been shown to be largely in excess of what
it was 12 months ago.

The Blaina miners, at a meeting held at Nantyglo, last
week, whilst the collieries were on stop, criticised the
action of the executive, the purpose of the meeting being to
consider their attitude in the present crisis. The executive
were considered to have had a mandate from the districts
not to accept day-to-day contracts under any circumstances;
and because of the recommendation that the men should
work for a fortnight on day-to-day contracts, the decision
was condemned in a meeting of about 4,000 men, which
lasted for four hours.

One of the Cardiff shipping firms, the Tatem Steam Navi-
gation Company, owners of vessels which are chiefly coal
trade tramps, has issued its report, which shows that upon a
capital of £350,000 the year’s working leaves a profit of
4-203,739. This compares with a profit of £93,557 in the
preceding year, and of £352,347 in the year before that. A
sum of no less than £84,700 has been, from this last account,
written off the cost of steamers. The position now is that
steamers originally bought for £660,000 stand in the books at
£350,000, which equals the capital of the company. The
company has cash at bank and investments totalling
£476,447. The dividend is again 15 per cent. As the total
tonnage of the fleet amounts to 145,500 tons, the average, as
against the capital, works out at £2 7s. 6d. per ton—a
remarkably low figure.

Presiding at an executive meeting of the Llanerch Colliery
Explosion Trust at Newport, last week, Aid. Mark Mordey
said that the accident happened 25 years ago. They now
had in hand £13,200 out of the £28,558 which had been
collected. The nine dependants and 20 widows had been
receiving 7s. and 7s. 6d. a week, and it was decided to
increase this by 2s. weekly, and to vote £250 to the Miners’
Provident Fund. They received about £500 in interest, and
were depleting the capital by about £600.