August 20, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

385

Notes from the Coal Fields.

["Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Difficulty in Arranging Agreement Terms: Reference to the
Board of Trade — Conferences in London — Very
Important Points at Issue—Striking Developments—
Export Troubles: Business Gravely Interfered With—
The Home Sales Committee and its Work—Conditions
of Supply—Great Improvements at Bute Docks—Miners
and Recruiting.

The most important event of the week, its effect reaching
out far beyond the circumstances of the day, because it
involved decision upon fundamental principle, and, indeed,
brought into operation another principle hitherto strongly
opposed by the workmen, has been the Conciliation Board
meetings in London under the President of the Board of
Trade. More than questions of labour and wages are at
stake. The whole method of regulating industrial opera-
tions, even to the point of suspending existing law or framing
new legislation, will ultimately be found involved; and also
compulsory arbitration, which the men have emphatically
condemned for so long. Details of a new agreement or con-
cessions made from either side may prove to be, in reality,
of less permanent consequence than the joint resort to the
Board of Trade, and the practical admission of Mr.
Bunciman’s power of decision. It is in this light, more
than in that of present-day terms, that the meetings—which
were held in the Home Office owing to lack of accommoda-
tion in the Board of Trade premises—have to be regarded.

Following the strike which was ended by Mr. Lloyd
George’s intervention at Cardiff, the men returned to work
pending settlement by the Conciliation Board of several
points that were left outstanding, and a sub-committee of
the Board set to work preparing a draft agreement. They
failed to reach conclusion, and their difficulties were trans-
ferred to the full Board; but at the Board meeting last week
it was found that no decision could be arrived at, and there-
fore a reference to Mr. Runciman was arranged. One of
the chief matters as to which the two sides failed to agree
was an initial question—Are we amending the old agreement,
or drafting a new one? The employers considered that the
new terms should be added to the old agreement; but the
men’s representatives held the contrary view—that an entirely
new agreement had to be framed, their contention being that
the old one had expired by effluxion of time and formal notice
given.

This was one of the first issues submitted to Mr. Runciman
at Tuesday’s sitting. Both parties had held separate meet-
ings in London during Monday; and when the joint gather-
ing took place next day, the representatives were :—For the
employers : Messrs. F. L. Davis (chairman), E. M. Hann,
VC. Scewart, and Joseph Shaw, with Mr. Gascoyne Dalziel
(secretary). For the workmen : Messrs. J. Winstone (acting
president), T. Richards, M.P., Onions (treasurer), Hartshorn,
and others. The whole business was controversial, even to
the foundation, for one point raised was whether Mr.
Runciman was empowered to consider and decide any matter
that had not previously been put before him, or raised
during the negotiations in which he had taken part; whether,
in point of fact, he should do anything more than fix the
interpretation of terms arranged in the basis of settlement
arrived at by Government action a month ago. The
employers were understood to hold that he should not; but
the workmen held that he had wider authority, even as to
deciding upon the inclusion of new terms. Another very
important subject, collateral with that as to agreement old
or new, was whether the old standard of 1879 was utterly
abolished, the men holding that it should be ended, and the
new standard (50 per cent, higher) substituted; whereas the
employers argued to the contrary.

Minor points, yet important ones, were discussed. The
old method of settling disputes being regarded by the men as
too dilatory, they sought to have it altered. The practice has
been to endeavour first to settle locally, then go to the Con-
ciliation Board, who appoint two representatives to enquire
and arrange; and if these do not settle the matter within
three months, they report their failure to the Board. Months
have passed in some cases, and strikes have resulted, whilst
frequently there has arisen serious irritation among workmen
because of delay; and their representatives now seek the
institution of some more expeditious method. Another
request was that there should be a uniform working day of
8J hours for surfacemen; that meal times should be half-an-
hour instead of 20 minutes; that house coal allowance should
not be restricted to householders, but should be granted to
men in apartments, and to those who are ill or injured; and
that no alteration in weighing practice shall be made except
by mutual consent.

The conference at the Home Office was continued on
Wednesday afternoon, when the points at issue were further
discussed, and it is anticipated that Mr. Runciman will take
a few days before announcing his decision.

As briefly reported last week, the representatives of the
coal trade had an interview in London with the Government
Coal Exports Committee, and submitted the outlines of the
scheme to meet the requirements of the Price of Coal
(Limitation) Act, and of the Order prohibiting exports. The
outline of the scheme has already been published in this
column; and its detail was discussed fully at the interview.
The Coal Exports Committee is said to have regarded the
scheme as one which furnished an excellent foundation for
final arrangement; but they could not themselves undertake
to fix its ultimate form, not being able to do more than offer
suggestions. Mr. T. E. Watson, president of the Cardiff
Chamber of Commerce, explained its points, and also set
forth the steps which had been taken in South Wales to
meet the requirements of the situation; and the discussion
which followed lasted nearly three hours. Amongst those
who accompanied Mr. Watson were Messrs. Vivian Rees,
W. R. Hann, Evan Williams, David Williams, J. McNeil,
R. L. Sails, Chas. Cleeves, and others, with Mr. W. R.
Hawkins, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.

Although the Coal Exports Committee intimated that they
could not give formal approval, their favourable disposition
to its terms leads to the anticipation that such approval will
be obtained; and it is expected that if an arrangement appli-
cable to South Wales be arrived at, some of the other areas
will follow suit by formulating a similar scheme.

As previously intimated, a Home Consumption Sales Com-
mittee has been set up for the locality, so that consumers

at home may obtain adequate supplies of coal at reasonable
prices; and the Committee will also advise local colliery
owners and assist them in negotiation with the Government
upon any point that arises in the operation of the Act. There
will be district committees — one for the eastern area and
one for the western, the dividing line running roughly from
Port Talbot northward to the Bute Hirwain (near Aberdare),
the Cwmavon Valley lying in the western district. Each
colliery owner will make a return of the colliery and of each
description of coal despatched in each half-year ended
December 31, 1913, and each six months subsequently, dis-
tinguishing whether the deliveries were for home consump-
tion, bunkers, for export, or for the Admiralty; and will also
give the prices of contracts made which were uncompleted
on August 1 last. The Committee will endeavour to arrange
that collieries shall supply coal for home use approximately
in the same quantities as they were supplying at the date of
the Act, the particulars to include the destination of the
coal, the period during which and the rate at which delivery
has to be made, and the quantity undelivered on August 1.
Other information will be sought by the Committee from
time, to time, and all information furnished, by each colliery
will be regarded as confidential.

Any consumer or merchant failing to secure supply, or
any coal owner considering himself aggrieved, may apply to
the Committee, which will investigate and deal with the
complaint. Collieries may, at any time, refuse to supply any
consumer or works with more coal than, in the opinion of
the Committee, is necessary for the carrying on of such
works, or for current requirements; and collieries may refuse
to supply coal intended for consumption outside South Wales
and Monmouthshire unless the applicant has, prior to the
war, been obtaining supplies from collieries within the dis-
trict of the Committee. No consignment of less than a full
truck load shall be required from the collieries. The Com-
mittee may enter into an agreement with local authorities,
merchants, or hauliers, fixing the prices of various descrip-
tions for domestic delivery; and in all cases the agreed
prices shall be advertised, or otherwise made public within
the area. The Committee will, as far as possible, arrange
that collieries shall supply coal for home use in approxi-
mately the same quantities as they were supplying coal for
similar purposes at the date of the Act. The expenses of
each committee will be met by the coal owners subscribing
pro rata to their output.

This Home Consumption Sales Committee for South Wales
and Monmouthshire met on Friday, under the presidency of
Mr. T. E. Watson, and further consideration was given to
the detail of the scheme that had been presented earlier in
the week t?> Mr. Runciman. As a result of the. meeting,
Mr. W. R. Hawkins (joint secretary) issued a circular to
colliery owners advising them that the deputation to the
Coal Exports Licences Committee had been informed by the
chairman that the object of that Committee was to ensure,
after Admiralty requirements, that there should be an
adequate supply of coal for home consumption and for the
■^eeds of our Allies. They were therefore informed that,
subject to the attainment of that object, the Coal Exports
Committee were not desirous of placing, any avoidable
obstacles in the way of export of coal to foreign countries, or
to restrict the prices obtainable. That Committee is fully
alive to the inconvenience inseparable from the granting Of
licences, and are anxious to mitigate the inconveniences as
far as possible, and they have under consideration, arrange-
ments that they think will materially relieve those difficulties,
particularly with regard to shipments to allied countries. .

Mr. Hawkins is therefore inviting firms, with prospective
shipments under contract with Allied countries to place them-
selves in communication with him so that the South Wales
Committee may render them whatever assistance is possible.

The date for further restriction of exports—August 14—
was signalised by the issue of conditions even more stringent
than those originally enacted, and these occasioned grave
unrest on Cardiff Exchange during Friday. In addition to
paragraphs which were merely a matter of course as to
supplying the enemy or any of his agents, these conditions
include one that no coal is to be furnished directly or
indirectly to any firm the name of which is not specially
notified; and also that no coal should be sold or transferred
by one foreign importer to another without express per-
mission from the British licensing authorities; it. being
notified that infringement of such conditions would involve
refusal of further licences.

How it is practicable in the ordinary course of business
for an exporter to guard against a foreign importer making
transfer to another is a problem insoluble; or, how he can
guard against indirect supply of coal to any firrfi of which
he has not specially notified the name. The ordinary course
of business is to ship to a foreign buyer, who in all
probability disposes of part of the cargo before it arrives.
In addition to this, foreign importing firms may be in such
a position as to find it necessary to do what is done regularly
on this side—oblige each other with part of the cargo if
their own particular supplies are insufficient. It was
argued that it should be enough if the exporter acts in good
faith, dealing with old established firms; and that he should
not have imposed upon him the responsibility of their further
dealings with the coal. That he should be penalised for
the doings of a foreign importer over whose action he has
not the slightest control is a very serious matter, and some
of those who criticised the Order laid great stress upon the
fact that it would hinder transaction of business in the case
of firms with whom they have had connection for many
years. Of course, these conditions prevent altogether the
sending out of speculative cargoes--one of the ordinary
methods of business operation in respect of France, Spain,
Italy, and Greece. To Italy, exporters send cargoes for
their agents to dispose of; and it often happens that one
cargo has to be distributed on arrival amongst half-a-dozen
consumers or coal dealers. Under the conditions now pub-
lished, however, the exporter in Great Britain will be held
responsible for what an ultimate purchaser or consumer may
do even in the production of goods or by-products of dis-
tillation of military value which may indirectly get to the
enemy. As a matter of fact, the risk imposed upon export
of coal at the present time is so great that business must be
all but suspended.

Last week we called attention to the new tips which are
to increase the facilities at Barry Dock by upwards of a
million tons per annum, and have now to announce pro-
jected large improvements at the Bute Docks (Cardiff
Railway Company), where the authorities are considering
a scheme to provide additional siding and coal storage
accommodation for nearly 100,000 tons. This would
necessitate further equipment; and new7 hydraulic plant
would be put down. It is said that the company is prepared
to sink a sum of £250,000 in these extensions, and that land

will be secured, if the suggestions are carried out, by filling
in the foreshore and by space economies on the dockside.
Thirty miles of new lines would have to be laid ; and coal
for export could then be brought down to the sidings, being
conveyed to and from the tips by the dock company’s
engines. This method, it is claimed, would largely increase
the present facilities, and meet the needs of merchants who
have been urging the desirability of the city keeping pace
with the development of the trade so far as export is con-
cerned.

It is stated that Mr. L. F. Davis (chairman of the owners’
side of the Conciliation Board), submitted figures during the
recent crisis which show that the average selling price of
large coal for the quarter ended March last was only 3s. 3d.
per ton above the price for the quarter ended March 1913,
and that the price of small coal was only 9d. per ton higher.

It has. again to be pointed out that the return of coal
exports issued by the Customs Department are quite mis-
leading, because they do not show the supplies taken by the
Admiralty. So far as regards the month of July, the whole
trade was disorganised by the strike; and the figures are
therefore no criterion of present day conditions in respect
of business.

The Llandilo Rural Council have had before them the
question as to river pollution, it being alleged that local
collieries .are at fault. The suggestion was made by one of
the speakers at the last meeting that the colliery owners
could run the water from the pits into large reservoirs where
the small coal could be deposited and become useful.
Another speaker said that as orders had been given to write
to the colliery owners, he wished to know whether those
owners could not be compelled to stop the nuisance. There
was, he said, “ too much capitalistic blood flowing through
this Council.” It was stated by the clerk that he had
written to the colliery owners, and had received no reply;
and the Council therefore decided to serve formal notice.

Mr. North Lewis, chairman of the Windsor Steam Coal
Company, at the meeting of shareholders, on Wednesday,
criticised the methods of recruiting, and said that the com-
pany was suffering very badly from want of men. No less
than 36 per cent, of their employees had enlisted; and they
could at present afford work for the best part of a thousand
men. No doubt, he said, recruiting had been badly mis-
managed from the beginning.

At the meeting of the shareholders of Insoles Limited, the
chairman stated that the Cymmer Colliery had suffered in
company with others through the smaller number of men
employed, and consequent reduced output. So far as he
could see there was little prospect of increased output until
after the war. The Upper Cymmer pit had been closed
since the beginning of the financial year; and the coal seam
would now be worked by a level from the Cymmer Colliery.
He added that the company would have to face considerable
expenditure during the next 12 months in the way of
electrical haulage for coal worked from the Hafod seam, as
well as for the purchase of new lamps to meet the require
ments of the new Mines Act Regulations. Amongst other
statements made it was announced that the company had
subscribed £31,000 to the War Loan.

Mr. Alfred Clarke Jones, J.P., Winterbourne, Glos., for-
merly chairman of the Uskside Engineering Company, and
a director of Messrs. Partridge, Jones and Company, who
died, at the age of 73, on May 27 last, left £73,980, of
which £52,684 is net personalty. He left The Mount to
his son and to his daughters while unmarried, and £500 per
annum for the upkeep thereof, the estate being divided among
his five children.

The ambulance competition connected with the various
collieries of Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefold, took place
last week, when the silver cup was wTon by Abercynon,
Vochriw 1 being second, Vochriw 2 taking third place, and
Dowlais coming fourth.

At Abercynon on Thursday, a temporary fireman at the
Dowlais-Cardiff Colliery (Guest, Keen and Nettlefold) was
summoned for not examining certain places for gas, and was
fined £3 7s. 6d. or 28 days. For the prosecution, it was
said that defendant admitted not having examined a parti-
cular place, because his lamp had gone out, and he admitted
to the court that he thought he could safely let the gas pass,
for he had not found it there before, and it was out of reach
of a lamp. The Stipendiary said it was “ downright
slackness ” on the part of defendant not to have examined
the working place. There were 1,350 in the mine at the
time.

Northumberland and Durham.

Motor Ambulances for the Front—Backstays on Tubs.

Apropos of the gift by the North of England Institute of
Mining >and Mechanical Engineers of £200 to the Red Cross
Society, it is interesting to note that Mr. Bailey, of the St.
John Ambulance Association, accompanied by Mr. C. C.
Leach, agent for the Seghill Colliery, has interviewed the
executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Associa-
tion, and appealed for co-operation in the raising of funds
to equip more motor ambulance convoys for use at the front.*
The committee has promised early and careful consideration
of the appeal.

As the Local Government Board has discouraged the idea
of proceeding early with the housing scheme at Shotton
Colliery, the Easington Rural District Council has decided
to “ hang up ’” the proposal for the time being.

A notice has been posted at Marley Hill Colliery stating
that, on and after August 15, the colliery owners will make
no grants to those who enlist in his Majesty’s forces. This
notice does not apply to those who have already enlisted,
and has been issued, presumably, because, in the opinion of
the owners, enlistments have reached the utmost point con-
sistent with the continuance of the mining industry.

The point as to whose duty it was to see that a “ cow ”
or “ back stay ” was affixed to a tub which, crushing Jos.
Coulson Watson, rolleywayman at Usworth Colliery, caused
his death, came out rather prominently at the inquest. It
appears that the tub got off the way and, whilst deceased
and a data! boy were putting it on again, ran back. The
pin connecting the tub with the limbers broke. Deceased
was crushed between the tub and a prop, and his skull was
fractured. He died from septic meningitis. The datal boy
stated that it was deceased’s duty to see that there was a
” cow ” on the tub, and that deceased told him he had
sent for one. Another witness, a hewer, said that if the
“ cow ” had been in use there would have been no accident.
He. too, thought it was deceased's duty to have seen that a
“ cow ” was there. Mr. Shaw, of the Usworth Lodge of the
Durham Miners’ Association, expressed the opinion that,