434

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

August 27, 1915.

colliery manager, has made an offer to the effect that the
prices should remain as before until the end of this month if
the men return to work, and in the meantime negotiations
could be carried on for the settlement of the dispute. This
offer the men rejected, demanding the absolute abandonment
of the new charges. The firm have offered to allow an
inspection of their accounts and books by the men’s leaders.
They have also offered to submit the matter to the National
Munitions Committee, but all offers have been so far rejected
by the men, who are standing out for the return to the old
charges.

Scotland.

A few weeks ago the miners employed in Bannockburn
district took it upon themselves to forego the usual fort-
nightly “ idle Saturday,” but in this action they have
already repented. They consider they have been misled in
the matter, and give the following reasons for rescinding
the resolution :—1. The system of six days working should
be universal over the country; 2. Recruiting should be
stopped among the miners; 3. With a regular supply of
hutches they would be able to produce as much coal in
five days as is presently done in six.

The Scottish Coal Trade Conciliation Board met in Glasgow
on Tuesday to consider the miners’ claim for a further
advance of Is. per day. The existing rate is 8s. 3d. per
day. Sir George Askwith acted as neutral chairman. Mr.
Robert Smillie, president of the National Union of Scottish
Mine Workers, stated the case for the men, the reply for the
employers being made by Mr. Adam Nimmo, chairman of
the Scottish Coal Masters’ Association. The Board sat for
nearly five hours, and Sir George Askwith intimated 'that
he would forward his award as soon as possible.

A peculiar situation, which is giving rise to much dis-
cussion, has arisen in Stirlingshire. It has been customary
to recognise an 11 days per fortnight policy, the various
collieries being idle every alternate Saturday. Owing to
the pressure of orders consequent upon the war, a number of
the collieries in the Cowie, Millhall, and Plean area a
week or two ago broke away from the usual custom and
decided to work every Saturday. The county union repre-
sentatives suggested to other branches the advisability of
abolishing the idle Saturday during the war. Kilsyth
miners declined to fall in with the suggestion. The sugges-
tion was also made from headquarters to the Banknock,
Longcroft, and Dennyloanhead district miners to work on
the idle day, but these too were idle on Saturday as usual,
a communication having been received from the county
union countermanding the earlier correspondence and
advising the miners to continue the old policy.

The financial statement of the National Union of Scottish
Mine Workers shows a balance of £12,000 from the year’s
revenue, after all expenses have been met. The Parliamen-
tary fund has a surplus of £3,700, after paying all levies
called up by the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain. In
connection with the National Union there is a checkweighers’
insurance fund, which has a revenue of £1,200, after meet-
ing all claims incurred in the year’s working. Each county
section of the National Union has ample reserves, Lanark-
shire and Fifeshire having nearly £70,000.

A special meeting of the miners of Kilwinning to consider
the question of holidays has agreed to have no holidays
owing to the war.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

Sir George Askwith has given his award on the wages of
Midland engineering trades. He has awarded wages on the
basis of the York settlement, viz., an advance of 8s. a week
on time rates, and 7| per cent, on piecework.

Coaling at Panama.—A statement as to the bunker coal
situation at the Panama Canal has been issued by the
Isthmian Canal Commission, calling attention to the require-
ment of additional equipment to meet needs prior to the
completion of permanent plants. The difficulties of coaling
vessels promptly at Cristobal, which have been experienced
as the result of the increasing demands of vessels and the
non-completion of the permanent coaling plants, have been
lessened by the use, in addition to the previous facilities,
of four motor-driven conveyors, or bolsters, which are used
to discharge coal from barges and lighters alongside vessels
into their bunkers. Two 500-ton barges have been fitted
for this service, each with two conveyors. The conveyors
are of the Demay o make, and consist essentially of an
endless chain of scoops, operating in a vertical steel casing
about 25 ft. high, from the top of which the material being
handled is discharged into -a pipe chute, passing by gravity
to its destination. The elevators are suspended by cables
from booms. This regulates their elevation while they dig
into-the coal, and allows their being swung about to reach
any point in the hold of the barge. The first use of this
new equipment on commercial vessels was in the coaling of
the steamship “ Finland ” of the Panama Pacific Line,
which passed through the Canal on her way from New York
to San Francisco on June 24. In the meantime work
is being pushed on the permanent coaling plant for the
Atlantic entrance as rapidly as the material is supplied by
the contractors. It is planned to complete two of the four
unloader towers in September, and, by a modification of their
construction, use them for both unloading colliers and
loading into customers’ vessels from the stock pile. This is
a temporary expedient, for use only until the regular reloader
towers shall be completed, but as the two towers command
a considerable storage space, and each will be capable of
handling about 250 tons an hour, it will in all probability
meet the situation quite satisfactorily until the completed
plant is in service. All four of the towers for the plant
have been erected, but the two toward the outer end of
the wharf are those on which early completion is being
pushed. The two stocking and reclaiming bridges have been
practically completed with respect to the structural work,
but the machinery is yet to be installed. They will probably
be completed by the end of September. The material for
the reloader towers has begun to arrive from the United
States, and their erection will begin shortly. The viaduct
commanding the dry storage space is about 50 per cent,
completed. The dredging alongside the wharves has
advanced sufficiently to allow vessels access to the plant
whenever desired. At the Pacific plant, one of the two
unloader towers.is practically erected, and all four of the
berm cranes, which will be used for stocking and reclaiming,
have been erected. Work has not begun on the two
reloaders, the wharf for which is yet to be built; the sinking
of caissons for this wharf is in progress. This construction
is intimately related to that of the dry dock, as the coaling
plant will form one side of the entrance slip to the dry dock,
and the work is held back somewhat by the need of the
dry dock construction.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

A New Situation: The Runciman Award—Chamber of
Commerce and Cardiff Docks Scheme—Price of Coal
(Limitation) Act and Licences for Export—War Trade
Department Statement — Home Consumption Sales
Committee—Future of Swansea Coal Field—Main
Colliery Company Meeting—Prices of House Coal.

A fresh and critical situation has arisen in the South
Wales coal field during the past week, through the decision
of the miners’ executive council, which met on Tuesday, and
refused to sign the terms of Mr. Runciman’s aw’ard, which
was to have been done at the meeting of the Conciliation
Board on the following day. At the time of writing there
does not appear to be any real danger of stoppage, because by
agreement the terms must be submitted to a miners’ con-
ference, and this conference will be held on Tuesday next,
'lhe two points on which the men express dissatisfaction are
the exclusion of enginemen, pumpmen, and mechanical staff,
etc., from the operation of tne bonus turn, and the fact that
the award does not contain any clause making the increased
wages retrospective. A deputation is to again wait on Mr.
Kunciman, iv±r. .Lioyd George, and Mr. Lienderson, with a
view to placing these claims before tnem, and securing the
alteration of the award in these particulars, if this can be
carried out, Tuesday’s conference will probably agree to the
award being accepted, but should these concessions be refused
a serious situation may arise, as the men contend that they
were promised these points during earlier negotiation. The
deputation will be Mr. James Winstone (president), Mr. T.
Richards, M.P. (secretary), Mr. A. Onions (treasurer), Mr.
George Barker, and Mr. Vernon Hartshorn.

The Conciliation Board met on Wednesday, but stands
adjourned, the owners having refused to consider the ques-
tion of advance until the agreement is signed, and not seeing
their w’ay to pass the agreement with the exception of the
bonus turn clause, as was suggested by the men’s leaders.

The Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, at their meeting on
Wednesday, discussed, and decided to support, the scheme
suggested by the Cardiff Railway Company for improving the
shipping facilities at Cardiff Docks. The scheme aims at
establisning single control in the working of the docks traffic,
the reason being that the practice of mixing coals necessi-
tates supplies being on hand earlier. Further siding accom-
modation is thus rendered necessary, and, as stated last week,
it is proposed to lay a further 30 miles of sidings with new
hydraulic plant, etc., to cost, in all, about £250,000. Col.
Denniss, the general manager of the Cardiff Railway Com-
pany, points out in the proposals that the Taff Vale, Rhymney
and Great Western companies now convey coal over the lines
of the Cardiff Railway Company to the staith sidings, and
re-convey the empty wagons from the staith sidings over the
Cardiff Railway Company’s line to the junctions of these
railways by their own engines. His suggestion is that the
engines of the Cardiff Railway Company should handle the
traffic on the dock, returning the empties to points where
the various railways would receive and remove empty wagons.
The companies concerned, it is stated, agree to the principle
of the proposals, but the Cardiff Railway Company would,
of course, require payment for this service, and this, it is
suggested, would not fall on freighters, but would be met out
of the railway rate. The coal would be released when the
Cardiff Railway Company were ready to receive it, and would
be placed in reception sidings, the Cardiff Railway Com-
pany’s engines undertaking the remainder of the work. The
collieries would be required to remove the empties from the
reception sidings in 24 hours under penalty. Such a scheme,
Col. Denniss estimates, would considerably facilitate export,
increasing shipping by 50 per cent. The two new groups of
sidings proposed are at Roath Basin junction, for 2,521
wagons, and at the Queen Alexandra Dock, 7,030 wagons—
a total of 9,551 wagons. The Roath Basin group would
necessitate the re-construction of lines to the Great Western
Railway tips, which, it is suggested, might be taken over,
and would be sufficient for the coal conveyed by the Rhymney
Railway, and for a portion of the Great Western and Taff
Vale traffic,' the Queen Dock sidings dealing with Great
Western and Taff Vale traffic. The new sets of sidings
would provide sufficient storage for about two days’ ship-
ments. The company, if assured of the support of the
Chamber of Commerce and of the freighters using the docks,
are prepared to ask Parliament to authorise the scheme,
provided those supporting would give evidence in favour
before the Parliamentary Committee. Should the freighters
not support, the company would probably not proceed. At
the meeting of the Chamber on Wednesday, the president
(Mr. T. E. Watson) said he regretted to hear that the
genera]) managers of the other three companies concerned
were not altogether in favour of the principle. It was
deplorable, he said, that the progress of the port should be
checked by jealousy and rivalry between the’ various com-
panies. Eventually it was agreed to pass a resolution sup-
porting the scheme, provided (1) there was a reasonable pro-
bability of its effecting the improvement anticipated; (2) that
the proprietors of the Bute Docks and the railway com-
panies serving the docks would not increase the rates nor
reduce existing facilities; and (3) that the terms of the Bill
were approved by the Chamber. The Ship Owners’ Asso-
ciation of Cardiff have also decided to support the scheme.

The president of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce (Mr. T.
E. Watson) referred at Wednesday’s meeting of that body to
the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. When the Government
were increasing labour cost by adding to the wages, he said,
they had passed a hasty and ill-considered measure limiting
prices at wThich coal owners might sell for home consumption.
This was done without giving the local colliery owners any
opportunity of stating their position, but the Act imposed no
obligation on the owners to sell at any particular price, and
the Government then attempted to remedy this defect by an
Order prohibiting exports except to British possessions.
When a deputation had pointed out the unfairness of this,
the Government agreed to grant licences if the coal owners
formed among themselves a mutual scheme for giving an
adequate supply for home consumption, and such a scheme
was now in preparation. He described the modus operandi
for the granting of licences as being full of red tape and
obstruction. After paying a tribute to Mr. Russell Rea as a
gentleman who knew the coal trade, the president said he
could not understand why that gentleman should not be
allowed to deal.with the matter direct. Mr. Vivian Rees
referred to the importance of coal exporters communicating

with the newly-formed committee in the event of any trouble
arising, and, on Mr. D. R. Ambrose stating that the local
Customs would not allow the boat to be loaded on receipt of
telegraphic intimation that the licence was to be granted, it
was agreed that the council of the Chamber should consider
the point.

Mr. Russell Rea, M.P., chairman of the Coal Exports
Committee (London), has made answer to some comments
upon the condition of affairs with regard to the issue of
licences for export. He states that the apprehension of
increased difficulties to shippers of coal are groundless; that
exporters will consign their cargoes to responsible agents as
heretofore, and that upon this shippers will incur no addi-
tional responsibilities, and that limitation of exports is
designed, as has been previously announced, to ensure suffi-
cient supplies for the home market; and one idea mooted is
that the trade should organise for export purposes, and avoid
competition between merchants. This is the old idea of Mr.
D. A. Thomas, brought out in his pamphlet published a few
years ago; that gentleman, who is the chairman of the
Cambrian Combine, and now at work in America on behalf
of the Munitions Department, having compiled statistics and
worked out fully a scheme whereby competition between coal
owners should be restricted, and the highest price gained for
export, rather than that the present system of competition,
with consequent reductions of price, should be continued.

It is estimated that, in addition to ensuring home supplies
at satisfactory prices—and it has to be remembered that one
estimate of the reduced prices due to the licence system puts
the amount of reduction at between 7s. to 10s. per ton—our
Allies will also be enabled to procure sufficient quantities, the
suggestion being made that France will require considerably
increased supplies, probably double the normal quantitv, this
being, of course, partly due to the holding of the coal-bearing
area by the enemy, as well as to direct war requirements.

The Home Consumption Sales Committee (South Wales)
met in Cardiff on Friday, Mr. T. E. Watson presiding, and
after report had been given as to the interview with the Coal
Exports Committee in London, the scheme for local opera-
tion was considered in detail. A copy of the draft scheme
should, it was decided, be sent to every coal owner in the
district. Further, a notification was issued to coal con-
sumers that any one feeling aggrieved through inability to
procure supplies should communicate with the secretary, Mr.
W. R. Hawkins, The Exchange, Cardiff.

A scheme drafted by Sir Owen Phillips, and submitted by
circular to coal owners, was brought forward, but the com-
mittee decided to proceed with their own. Outlined, Sir
Owen’s proposals are stated to be as follow :—Adequate
home supplies; colliery owners’ books to be audited quarterly
or half-yearly, and prices that exceed 4s. per ton above those
of June 1914 to be paid into a pool, and then divided amongst
all the collieries in proportion to their output for the period
dealt with; collieries which sold at less than 4s. increase to
receive adjustment to that amount from the pool; all
collieries shall agree to sell for home consumption the same
proportion of output as in previous years, and (should home
demand increase) the committee to fix increase of supply. Sir
Owen claims for his scheme that it will ensure each colliery
bearing equal burden of the Act, whilst not interfering with
established business of any one of them; that there will be
no inducement to limit home supplies, seeing that each wall
have its interests protected by the pool; that the best prices
for export will continue to be obtained; that merchants will
continue to act between colliery and consumer; and that it
avoids necessity for going into past business, as to which
some concerns may have difficulty in distinguishing destina-
tion of sales—foreign, home, bunkers, or Admiralty.

Aid. J. Jordan, addressint the students of the Glamorgan
Summer School of Mining, at Swansea, ventured upon the
prediction that Swansea would in the near future take a
more prominent position in the coal trade. His opinion was
that the Llansamlet district adjoining Swansea would be
full of collieries, for (he said) there was plenty of coal on
that area as good as any to be obtained elsewhere. So far
back as the time of the Romans, coal was worked in
Llansamlet; and in later days there were small collieries
where the men went down into the mine in baskets sus-
pended in a kind of crane, and the coal was brought up in
the baskets. Working with open lights in the dust and
gas caused many accidents; one being so serious in 1816
that the colliery was closed for half a century. Some of the
best veins of coal of the district lay untapped in that area
at great depths; and in future, when other districts had
been worked out, Llansamlet and the neighbourhood of
Swansea would be teeming with collieries. An amusing
statement by Mr. Jordan was to the effect that in old days
women went down into the mine as coal hewers, and that
they cut more coal than the men and earned more money.

At the meeting of the Main Colliery Company at Bristol
on Tuesday, the chairman, Sir George White, Bart., said
that they had been hit probably harder than any other
colliery owners in South Wales, because their coal was not
Admiralty coal. In the early stages of the war it was
impossible to ship because the insurance rate was about twice
the value of the coal, and this with other things, including
holidays, had led to the colliery being idle on an average of
about 75 days during the year. A total of 425 men had
joined the Forces or gone to make munitions. The profit
would not permit of the payment of a dividend, and extra
outlay would have to be incurred. In a colliery cutting
low priced coal, the margin of profit was very small; and
over a period of five years had worked out at 6’76d. per ton,
and on this profit 2|d. was made out of revenue from other
sources. They paid 7s. 3d. per ton in wages, equivalent
to three-fourths of the average selling price of the coal, and
this with other charges left very little for shareholders and
depreciation. In No. 4 pit the men’s price list was unduly
high, and the outp'ut was restricted by the men, who, he
feared, had not yet learnt the lesson as to killing the goose
that lays the golden egg. Unless they learnt it soon, the
company would have to consider the closing of that particular
pit, and 700 men would be affected. Their wages were
subject to the same percentage of the most profitable
collieries in the Rhondda. The report and statement of
accounts were adopted, and the chairman said that no com-
pany could be better served by their officials.

At a meeting of the Cardiff house coal merchants on
Thursday of last week it was decided to reduce the price
to 33s. per ton delivered, this being a reduction of 5s. per
ton. The announcement made from the meeting was that
this resolution had been come to although no definite notifica-
tion had been received from the collieries with regard to
any reduction which would be granted under the Price of Coal
(Limitation) Act, but ‘‘it is confidently expected that the
provisions of this Act will be respected by the coal owners.”
The statement issued by the coal dealers made the further