August 13, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

335

fives, with reference to the suspension of the Eight Hours
Act, or the giving up of weekly or fortnightly holidays, the
Coal Supplies Committee should meet to consider the matter,
with a view to arranging for a joint meeting of mine owners
and miners’ representatives. It is understood that the Com-
mittee will shortly be called together by the Government.

The possibility of labour troubles in Somerset and the
Forest of Dean, arising from difficulties in obtaining new
'wage agreements, were reported to the meeting.

The attention of the president having been called to
threatened trouble in the Yorkshire coal field by the introduc-
tion of Belgian miners as underground workmen, Mr. Smillie
said, in his opinion, the introduction of Belgian miners into
British pits was a direct breach of the undertaking given by
Mr. McKenna, when the Home Secretary, in answer td a
communication sent to him by the Belgian Refugees’ Employ-
ment Committee, stated that it'would be dangerous to employ
Belgian workmen underground.

The sitting was concluded on Wednesday. The meeting
was mainly occupied with the business to be brought before
the annual conference of the Federation at Nottingham in
October. It was unanimously agreed that, while proposals
should be submitted for discussion at the annual conference,
and all the necessary preparations made for dealing with
them, the Federation should refrain from asking for any new-
mining legislation or any amendment of’ the existing Mines
Act during the period of the war. A resolution w*as passed
to the effect that, in the opinion of the executive, there is
no necessity for compulsory military service at present.

OBITUARY.

The death has occurred of Mr. Thomas Townrow, at his
residence, Longlands, Chesterfield. The deceased gentleman }
was interested in several colliery concerns, including the
Staveley Coal and Iron Company Limited, the Bolsover
Colliery Company Limited, and the Carlton Main Colliery
Company Limited. Until quite recently he was chairman
of the directors of the Hatfield Colliery Company, and cut
the first sod of the new pit about two years ago. He was
also a director of the Annesley Colliery Company.

Qmr.-Sergt. Alec Sanderson, of the 5th Battalion
Manchester Regiment, who is officially reported killed in
action in the fighting in the Gallipoli Peninsula, was 24.
years of age, and had been employed at the Walkden offices
of the Ellesmere Collieries for ten years, where he was
greatly respected by the officials. The flag at the offices
was hoisted to half-mast last week, when the officials
were informed of his death.

Sec.-Lieut. J. M. Kent, of the 3rd Battalion Durham
Light Infantry, whose death from wounds is reported, was
formerly in the service of Messrs. Ridley, Son and Tully,
Newcastle Quayside, more recently with Messrs. A. T.
Watson, coal exporters, and latter still with the Frachtcontor
Gesellschaft, coal exporters, Guildhall Chambers, Newcastle,
of which,t at the outbreak of war, he was manager. Mr.
Kent had* been to the front since January, but was home
three or four weeks ago on short leave, returning to the
front a week later. He was about 30 years of age, and a
popular figure on Newcastle Commercial Exchange.

Exports and Imports of Coal Tar Products.—During July
there were no imports in to the United Kingdom of coal
tar dyestuffs. The values of the coal products exported in
July and the first seven months ended therewith were as
follow :—.

July.	Jan.-July.

1914.

Coalproducts, not dyes— <£
Aniline oil & toluidine 3,013
Anthracene ............... —

Benzol and toluol.... 14,391

Carbolic acid ..... 10,996

Coal tar, crude .... 1,868

,, refined & varnish 6,519

Naphtha :........... 1,562

Naphthalene ........ 1,801

Pitch ............. 14,114

Tar oil, creosote, &c... 34,999
Other sorts ....... 23,984

1915.	1914.	1915.
«£	£	£
3,237...	18,476...	61,381
159...	288...	1,173
34,559...	136,985...	. 199,140
23,053...	79,361...	156,694
322...	7,306...	2,967
7,122...	39,623...	32,878
2,432...	14,747...	13,320
7,085...	18,445...	29,384
6,624...	595,013...	240,604
75,655...	373,045...	403,299
46,501...	173,393...	227,632

Total ..............113,247...206,749...1,456,682...1,368,472

Coal tar dye stuffs......... 12,748... 21,191... 110,888... 120,958

The following quantities of the above products were
exported in July :—Coal products, not dyes : Aniline oil
and toluidine, 77,181 lb.; anthracene, 66,1581b.; benzol and
tpluol, 633,367 gals.; carbolic acid, 16,761 cwt.; coal tar,
crude, 1,366 cwt.; ditto, refined and varnish, 236,629 gals.;
naphtha, 40,349 gals.; naphthalene, 10,577 cwt.; pitch,
87,121 cwt.; tar oil, creosote, etc., 3,942,330 gals.; other
sorts, 62,237 cwt. ; coal tar dyestuffs, 3,131 cwt. The values
of sulphate of ammonia(exports were as follow :—

July.	Jan.-July.

	1914.	1915.	1914.	1915.
To—	£ £	£	£
Germany		2,328... — ...	. 42,100...	—
France .			5,166... 4,002...	. 25,139...	93,710
Spain and Canaries		61,082... 63,308..	. 576,440...	582,548
Italy 		9,493... 3,520 ..	40,649...	72,760
Dutch East Indies 		52,274... 184,226..	. 396,042...	617,417
Japan 		95,985... 7,108...	716,564...	105,771
United States of America	30,109... 4,811..	. 273,481...	145,982
British W. India Islands			
(including Bahamas) and			
British Guiana		8,184... 23,361...	. 81,377	100,870
Other countries 		28,953... 57,481..	. 241.847...	667,448
Total	293,574... 347,817. .2,393,639. .2,386,506			

The following were the quantities exported in June •.—
France, 298 tons; Spain and Canaries, 4,559 tons; Italy,
255 tons; Dutch East Indies, 13,713 tons; Japan, 529 tons;
United States, 335 tons; British West Indies, 1,643 tons;
other countries, 4,287 tons—making a total of 25,615 tons,
as against 25,686 tons in July 1914. The following quan-
tities have been exported in the first seven months of the
year, the total for the corresponding period of last year being
shown in parentheses :—Germany, nil (3,346 tons); France,
7,089 tons (2,083 tons); Spain and Canaries, 44,770 tons
(46,173 tons); Italy, 5,596 tons (3,074 tons); Dutch East
Indies, 48,514 tons (31,996 tons); Japan, 8,706 tons
(56,232 tons); U.S.A., 11,820 tons (21,724 tons); British
West Indies, 7,551 tons (6,684 tons); other countries,
51,549 tons (18,818 tons)—total, 185,595 tons (190,130 tons).

Notes from the Coal Fields.

TLocal Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Operation of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act—Separate
and Joint Meetings at Swansea and Cardiff—Deputation
to Government Committee—New Tips at Barry—How
Swansea Trade is Injured—Income Tax on Colliers—
The Foreign Office Explanation which does not
Explain—Half-year's Shipments at Cardiff Docks Com-
pared with Corresponding Period of 1914.

Coal owners and salesagents in the Swansea district met
last week to discuss the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, and
to make arrangements for the drafting of a working scheme
to ensure that there will be a sufficient supply of coal for
local requirements without the prices for export being
materially diminished. The meeting, which was private,
decided to form a committee for the Swansea and Western
district; and an undertaking was given on behalf of 60
owners that there should be an adequate supply of coal
locally for the works and home consumption. Twenty-one
gentlemen were chosen from Swansea to prepare a scheme
for submission to the special committee which has been
appointed by the Coal Owners’ Association. The meeting
was not confined to coal owners, for the Swansea district
is much affected by the new proposals, and the gathering
was representative of all interested in the trade in the
western district.

At Cardiff on Friday a meeting was held of the committee
of the eastern district, Mr. T. E. Watson (of Messrs.
Pyman-Watson) presiding. This meeting also was private;
and it gave careful consideration to a suggested course of
action which had for its object the serving of the trade
as a whole with, at the same time, strict regard to the new
Act. Both sections of the coal field have therefore met and
discussed the matter from the strictly local standpoint, and
a joint meeting was held on Tuesday to co-ordinate the
reports before approaching the Government.

The proposals which have been drafted by the committee
sitting 'at 'Swansea were brought before a general meeting of
West Wales coal owners held in Swansea on Monday. It
was suggested that a home consumption sales committee
be established, and that there,should be a general committee
with two sub-committees—one for the eastern and the other
for the western part of the coal field. Each owner would be
required to make a return to the committee of the quantity
of each separate description of coal despatched from his
colliery during the three half-years from June 1913 to the
end of 1914, distinguishing home consumption, bunkers,
foreign export, and Admiralty. Particulars are sought as to
quantity in all contracts for home consumption prior to
August 1, 1915, and then uncompleted. It is further
proposed that any coal consumer or anyone who experiences
difficulty as to supply, or on the other hand any colliery
owner who considered himself aggrieved, could apply to
the committee, by whom investigation wcqjd be made and
the complaint dealt with. Collieries -would be at liberty
to refuse supply to any further extent than in the opinion
of the committee was necessary; and there should be no
reouirement to supply coal in consignments of less than a
full truck load. The committee might at any time enter
into an agreement with local authorities, coal merchants, or
hauliers, fixing prices at which various descriptions of coal
should be delivered at houses for domestic uses; and in all
cases the agreed prices should be advertised or otherwise
made public. The committee would endeavour also to
arrange for colliery supplies for home use in approximately
the same quantities as were supplied at the date of the
Act. Expenses of the committee would be met by the
colliery owners pro rata to output. Each sub-committee
would have power to take separate action upon matters
exclusively concerning their respective districts.

The meeting of colliery owners confirmed the draft
proposals; and, as already stated, a further meeting was
announced to be held in Cardiff on the following day, when
representatives from the eastern and western districts would
attend for joint approval of the scheme. This joint meeting
was held in Cardiff on Tuesday; certain amendments to the
draft scheme were suggested; and a deputation was
appointed to wait on Mr. Russell Rea’s committee in,
London on Wednesday, and submit the scheme for official
approval.

The Barry Railway Company are extending the facilities
at their docks; and when the six new tips now in course
of construction are completed they will enable the shipment
of a further one million tons per annum to be made. The
first of these tips was tested last week; and the whole
were to have been delivered by February last, but the
builders (Messrs. Armstrong, of Newcastle) have been unable
to complete owing to war work. The railway company
have had the necessary excavations made for the others,
the railways are laid, and the hydraulic power from the
company’s mains is also ready. The first vessel to be
loaded under the new tips was the ss. “ Sheaf Field,” for
Messrs. Cory Brothers and Company. The tips are of two
types—fixed and moveable—and are so arranged that two
may be working on the same vessel at the same time. If
necessary, trucks of 20 tons capacity can be dealt with; and
this would mean a gross load of 30 tons on the cradle, which
can be lifted at a rate of 180 ft. per minute to a height of
60 ft. By arrangement of the cylinders, the more ordinary
10 or 12 ton trucks can be dealt with at the same speeds,
and with the consequent saving in power. Each has a five-
ton anti-breakage crane fitted with the company’s own
anti-breakage box; and each has also a three-ton small coal
crane for leading the screenings from the deck of the ship
into a wagon on the quay side. Some interesting features
about the new tips, besides their greater capacity, are that
the cradle is suspended by wire ropes working over large
overhead pulleys, which give a very easy and steady move-
ment to the cradle. The tipping is done by another cylinder,
the ram of which operates through wire ropes; and the shute
is operated by a special three-cylinder hydraulic' engine
placed at the top of the tip. The some engine raises and
lowers the top of the shute, and also the nose, which can
be -altered five feet in any direction. All these operations
can be carried out by the engineman engaged at the top
engine. The makers have worked to the specification of the
Barry Company’s engineers; and to ensure promptest
loading, each of the new structures has three feed roads
with the requisite sidings, etc.

Very much criticism prevails in Swansea commercial
circles as to the action of the trimmers and the recent
stoppage of tips. It is stated that vessels are being diverted
from the port because of the difficulty of getting despatch;

and one assertion is that the men set up charges, and delay
vessels if the shippers refuse to meet new charges. The men
are paid according to tariff, with a war bonus of 12| per
cent., but “extras” also are being charged, especially in
regard to steamers taking bunkers. Apparently there is
not an explicit tariff such as prevails in other ports, and
complaint is also made, similar to that prevailing elsewhere,
as to the preference of work which certain gangs of trimmers
enjoy. The difficulties now current are all the more
regrettable because they occasion stoppage of exports of
coal particularly to France, where the coal is so badly
needed; and one effect of the practice which now prevails is
that the docks upon which such huge sums have been spent
for the benefit of the town and district are practically closed
to labour, except such as is approved by the men now in
possession. The call for a tariff clear and simple is based
upon the difficulty of deciding what the discharge or loading
will cost, or how long the work will take, for it is not
only in respect of coal that difficulties have arisen. As to
the coal trade, it is asserted that some of the charges are
so much increased that they are nearly double what was
formerly paid. Demand is made that the practice at
Swansea shall be assimilated to that of Cardiff and Port
Talbot, where an identical tariff is in operation.

The idea of extending direct taxation to wage earners has
come in for much discussion, seeing how high are the wages
at present being paid to coal miners, more particularly in
view of the fact that a demand for further increase of wages
has been made. Whatever the difficulty in the way, it is
considered that an endeavour should be made to bring all
classes under contribution, according to their income, and
that weekly wage earners should not escape tax whilst the
low salaried men of the clerk and similar classes comes under
contribution. The first point to be determined would be
whether the taxation should go below the present income limit
of H160; and, if this were brought about, the collection of
the contribution would be relatively simple, because it could
be made in the same w’ay as the National Insurance collec-
tion is now carried through. One aspect of the matter
appeals directly to the wage earner himself, namely, that
under the present system of indirect taxation, the married
man, because his family consumes more tea, sugar, and
other taxed goods, is paying far more than the bachelor who
has equal earnings; and that if direct taxation were levied
upon earnings, the bachelor would pay at least an equal
contribution, instead of as at present escaping at lower than
his fellow who is doing the State good service by raising a
family. If it be the case, as has been asserted, that a large
number of the South Wales men are earning £1 and over per
week, we are likely to hear much more of the proposal.

The Foreign Office, having found it necessary to set forth
an explanation of the new prohibition in respect of exports,
might at least have dealt with the question that occupies the
minds of traders rather than excusing the authorities for what
they are not charged with. It is mere verbiage for the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to state that “ the Order
is not designed for any purpose ofz entirely preventing coal
export.” No one believed that it was so designed. What
is desired from the authorities is some attempt to under-
stand the effect of their Order upon business in districts which
depend mainly upon export. The statement of the Foreign
Office is that the Order is “ a consequence of certain domestic
legislation by which the price of coal in the United Kingdom
has been regulated ” ; and what the authorities need to inform
themselves upon, is that there is a grave risk of theii* prohibi-
tion of exports interfering with the trade of the country
without in any way advancing the interests of the home
consumer, seeing that it is impracticable, for reasons pre-
viously explained, to lessen the price of coal in the Midlands
by prohibiting South t Wales exports. Deputations from
Cardiff have explained the position to the London Committee,
but the committee has been dilatory, and coal values are
suffering because of delay, and this at a time when it is
necessary in the national interests to create as much credit
abroad as is possible.

A notable feature of the week’s announcements has been
the report of the Windsor Steam Coal Co., which', after a
long period of unsuccessful work, has recorded a profit, with
the result that the whole of the debit balance has at last
been written off. This is the fourth time that a profit has
been announced, and, in addition to extinguishing the debit
balance, the sum of d£l,879 has been applied in writing off
preliminary expenses. It is very gratifying to record the
progress of this company, and to note that the preference
issues, as to which dividends are far in arrear, have of late
been creeping upward materially in market quotations. The
property is situated in the Aber Valley, and is a taking of
2,600 yds., with an annual output of about half-a-million
tons.

A great area of South Wales on the coast has been scheduled
for liquor trade restriction, Cardiff, Newport, and Barry being
included. . This will have effect upon the handling of coal
traffic, and the question has been raised as to whether the
mining valleys are not likely to be included, at an early
date, in these restrictions—all the risks which have applied
to the shipping ports being more strongly operative in the
valleys.

The half-yearly return of trade at the Bute Docks, Cardiff,
is of special interest, because it discloses the effect of the
war upon the coal trade. It is shown that whereas in the
first half of 1914 the total export of coal and coke was
5.182,707 tons, the quantity had decreased in the first half
of this year to 4,754,553—a reduction of 428,154 tons. In
the case of patent fuel, the export of 360.413 tons had
declined to 261,560 tons—a reduction of 98,853.

Under the auspices of the local education authorities, and
organised by the Navy League, a series of lectures on the
wrork of the Navy in war are to be given throughout the
colliery towns of the Welsh coal field. All centres are to be
visited, and the lectures, which are illustrated by limelight
pictures, will extend on into the winter months. The object
of the tour, which commenced at Pontypridd last week, is
to bring home to the mining population the importance of an
adequate supply of coal to sea defence.

Northumberland and Durham.

A Curious Token Case—River Pollution from By-product
Works—“ Spitting their Death": an old Northumber-
land Custom — Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and
Company's Offer to the War Office—Sabotage at
Cramlington.

When a youth named Jas. D. Campbell was charged at
Durham City with having attempted to obtain, by false
pretences, from the Bearpark Coal Company, the sum of
Is., an unsuccessful attempt was made to plead a colliery
custom. It was stated, for the prosecution, that Campbell