September 24, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

639

the different pits, while complaints were also discussed in
regard to the alleged infringement of the Eight Hours Act.
The contention of the miners is that until the Eight Hours
Act is formally suspended, no infringements of the Act shall
be allowed. The proposal that the coal owners and miners
should raise .£70,000 towards the equipment of a convoy of
motor ambulances was dealt with. The question of increased
output and the complaints of absenteeism, together with the
complaints regarding infringement of the Eight Hours Act,
were left with the miners’ representatives to bring before
their delegates, and after discussion a further joint meeting
will be held, when an amicable settlement will, it is expected,
be arrived at.

The organised colliery engine winders of Lancashire and
Cheshire are now agitating for increased pay. At branch
meetings of engine winders just held in various parts of the
South and South-West Lancashire coal fields resolutions
have been adopted in favour of seeking increased wages, but
so far no formal application has been made to the federated
coal owners. At present the engine winders’ wages average
about 8s. 4d. per day.

Scotland.

A meeting of the Mid and East Lothian Miners’ Board
was held at Dalkeith on Saturday. The' secretary reported
that two fatal accidents had occurred at Mid-Lothian mines
since the last sitting of the board a month ago, and there
had been fully 30 cases of injury among the 10,500 miners
of the 21 collieries of the Lothians. It was intimated that
over £900 had been received by way of levies from the
miners in the twin Lothians for organisation purposes.

A ballot of the Blairhall miners was taken last week on
the question of finishing contracts for the purpose of abolish-
ing the present system of deduction for foreign material in
operation at the colliery. By a large majority the men voted
in favour of finishing contracts, and steps were taken to'give
effect to this decision.

In consequence of the friction caused by the alteration
of pay days at a holiday time, the Fife Miners’ Union are
negotiating with the coal owners with a view to arriving at
some agreement which will prove more convenient for the
workers.

The Miners’ Federation have issued an intimation to the
collieries throughout Mid Lothian and Haddingtonshire that
during the war a uniform working policy of 11 days per
fortnight will be observed at all collieries throughout Scot-
land, and it has been agreed that in the event of any colliery
being idle on a day other than a holiday, Saturday miners
will work that day in order to secure, if possible, 11 working
days per two weeks.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

An important change in iron workers’ wages in the
Midlands, Lancashire, and South Yorkshire results from
Tuesday’s decision of the Midland and Related Districts
Iron Trade Wages Board. It was resolved that in future
the recent war bonus of 5 to 10 per cent, shall be merged
until the bonus is exhausted in any further wages advance
under the standing sliding scale declared by the Board’s
accountants. The decision will relieve iron masters, who
declare that late advances have been too rapid. Six weeks
ago the men received 7| per cent, advance, plus the war
bonus.

Trade Unions in 1914.

As the result of enquiries made by the Department of
Labour Statistics, particulars are published in the Labour
Gazette respecting the membership of trade unions. At the
end of 1914 the total membership of the 1,123 registered and
unregistered trade unions known to the department was
3,959,863, showung an increase of 0'8 per cent, on the
previous year, when the figure attained (3,928,191) was
greatly in excess of any previously recorded. The percent-
age increase or decrease in the mining and quarrying
industry compared with a year ago are shown in the follow-
ing table :—

Inc. (+ ) or			
No. of		Member-	dec. (—) in
unions.		ship.	member-
Northumbe»land, Durham,			ship.*
and Cumberland 		13 ...	228,603	4-5*2
Yorkshire		4 ...	128,397	...	-3*4
Lancashire and Cheshire ...	17 ...	82.246	...	-0*9
Midlands 		26 ...	164,960	...	-1*0
Wales and Monmouthshire	9 ...	176,413	...	-1*5
Scotland ....'		11 ...	101,585	...	-4*2
Other mining and quarrying	10 ...	30,373	...	+0*9

* Percentage increase or decrease compared with 1913.

The 13 unions engaged in iron and steel manufacture had
a membership of 71,457 ( — 10-7); in the iron founding
industry nine unions had a membership of 47,854
( — 2-4); there were 63 unions in the engineering trade, with
296,796 members (+9-1), and 12 in the ship building trade,
with 102,201 members (+3-7).

In no group of trades was the rate of increase so great in
1914 as in 1913, and in several groups there was a decline
in membership. The general labour group heads the list
of increases with 35,000, or 10-7 per cent.; but this increase
was entirely due to the growth of one union—the Workers’
Union—which advanced in membership from 91,000 to
159,600; in 1910 this union had only 5,000 members. The
total membership of all trade unions in 1914 increased by
65-1 per cent, compared with 1910, and by 172-7 per cent,
compared with 1895, when the membership was lower than
in any other year of the period 1892-1914 for which the
department has comparable statistics.

The total membership of the unions in the mining and
quarrying industries in 1914 was 912,577; 1913, 914,989;
1912, 757,351; 1911, 752,527; 1910, 731,370.

The number of federations of trade unions in existence at
the end of 1914 was 119, with a gross membership of
4,791,950, an increase of 8-2 per cent, compared with 1913,
and of 41-9 per cent, compared with 1910.

The Imperial Government has accepted Australia’s offer
of a miners’ battalion 1,000 strong.

The Novoie Vremya reports the abandonment of the pro-
posal to use peat fuel in Petrograd to economise coal. The
Council had intended to spend 680,000 roubles on plant to
produce peat, which it was calculated would cost no more
than 14 copecks per pood (3|d. per 36 lb.). But a special
committee appointed to work the scheme out found that the
peat would cost 25 copecks (6|d.) per 36 1b., and that the
outlay on plant would amount to 1,500,000 roubles. Besides,
the Land Department of the Government was asking from
the town 2,400 roubles (£250) per dessiatine (2'7 acres) for
the peat land. The scheme is dropped.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Keighley, September 27.—The Electricity Committee of
the Corporation are open to receive prices for the supply
of small slack, of good quality, free from dirt, the most
satisfactory size being from f in. to f in. The total con-
tract will be for about 12,000 tons, which will be split up
between several collieries, and prices are to be submitted
based on .a six-monthly or twelve-monthly period. It is pro-
posed to try sample trucks of the coal offered. The latest
date for receiving offers and prices will be Monday,
September 27, 1915. Any further particulars may be
obtained on written application to the undersigned.—Harry
Webber, A.M.I.E.E., borough electrical engineer and tram-
ways manager, Power Station, Coney-lane, Keighley.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Aberayron, October 5.—Coal, for the Aberayron District
Committee. Tenders to Mr. B. C. Jones, clerk, Aberayron.

Abergavenny, September 28.—Coal for the Rural District
Council. Particulars from Mr. A. J. Willcox, district sur-
veyor, Wyndham-road, Abergavenny.

Barnes, September 28.—For the Barnes Council, between
2,000 to 2,500 tons of coal suitable for chain grate stokers.
Forms from Wm. Thos. Goodale, clerk to the Council, the
Council House, High-street, Mortlake, S.W.

Barrow-in-Furness, October 5.—Coal for the Education
Committee. Forms from the Director of Education, Town
Hall.

Burslem, September 30.—Cockshead coals and gas coke,
for the Staffordshire Education Committee. Tenders to Mr.
E. Alcock, solicitor, Burslem.

Bury (Lancs.), September 29.—Coal and coke to the
Florence Nightingale Hospital, the Ainsworth Hospital, and
the Aitken Sanatorium, for the Bury and District Joint
Hospital Board. Forms from Mr. F. Wild, clerk, Cross-
street, Bury.

Chatham, September 28.—About 900 tons of double-
screened good household coals (free from dust), for the
Medway Guardians. Forms from Mr. A. Reynolds Norman,
clerk to the Guardians, Clerk’s Offices, Medway Workhouse,
Chatham.

Colwyn Bay, October 2.—Coal for Colwyn Bay Council
School Managers. Tenders to Mr. H. Lewis, Boys’ Council
School, hon. correspondent.

Douglas (I.O.M.), September 27.—About 420 tons each of
good steam coal, double screened, suitable for the engines
of the cable tramway, for the Tramways Committee.
Tenders to Mr. A. Robertson, town clerk, Town Hall.

Dumbarton, September 28.—Coal and coke required by
the School Board. Tenders to Mr. Alex. Roberts, clerk.

Elham (Kent), September 30.—700 tons of steam coal, for
’the Guardians of Elham Union. Forms from Mr. E.
Lovick, clerk, 29, Bouverie-square, Folkestone.

Exeter, September 27.—Steam (washed bean or pea) coal
to the Exeter Corporation Electricity Works. Forms from
H. Lloyd Parry, town clerk.

Glossop, September 29.—Coal and coke, for the Corpora-
tion. Particulars from Town Clerk’s Office.

Henley-on-Thames, September 28.—100 tons of good
house coal and 50 tons of hard loco, coal, for the Guardians.
Forms from Mr. A. R. Lloyds, clerk, 12, Hart-street, Henley-
on-Thames.

Hull, September 27.—250 tons of house coal and 250 tons
of steam coal, for the Guardians. Forms from Mr.
Robert H. Winter, clerk to the Guardians, St. Mary’s
Chambers, Hull.

Hull, October 5.—3,500 or 7,000 tons of steam coal, for
the Water and Gas Committee of the Corporation. Forms
at the Water and Gas Offices, Alfred Gelder-street, Hull.

Kingston-upon-Hull, September 27.—250 tons of house
coal and 250 tons of steam coal for early delivery, for the
Guardians. Forms from Mr. R. H. Winter, clerk, St.
Mary’s Chambers, Hull.

Middlesbrough, October 2.—Approximately 50 tons per
week of best steam coal, for the Tees Valley Water Board.
Tenders to Mr. H. Wilson, clerk, Municipal Buildings,
Middlesbrough.

Newtown (Montgomeryshire), September 30.—Coal for
Montgomeryshire Education Committee. Tenders to Mr.
LI. Phillips, clerk to the committee, County Education
Offices, Newtown.

Runcorn, September 30.—Coal and coke, for the
Administrative Sub-Committee for Education for the
Runcorn Rural Area. Forms from the clerk, 71, High-
street, Runcorn.

St. Marylebone, September 27.—Coal and best gas coke
for the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Maryle-
bone. Forms from town clerk, Town Hall, Marylebone-lane,
Oxford-street, W.

Talgarth, September 30. — Waterloo, Staffordshire,
cobbles, Ocean steam washed nuts, anthracite (egg size), and
coke, for the Breconshire Education Committee. Tenders to
Mr. R. B. Willis, clerk to District Committee, 2, Bank-
terrace, Talgarth.

Walsall, October 5.—Deep and shallow nuts and coke,
for the Staffordshire Education Committee. Tenders to Mr.
A. H. Lewis, clerk to the managers, 29, Leicester-street,
Walsall.

Warrington, October 8.—Coal, for the Warrington Edu-
cation Committe. Forms from Mr. J. M. Murray, M.Sc.,
director of education.

York, September 27.—1,100 tons of hard house coal and
400 tons of hard steam coal, for the York Corporation.
Particulars from Mr. F. W. Spurr, city engineer, Guildhall,
York.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be
received.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, Ac.

Dublin, October 21.—Rails, etc.—Flat bottom rails and
fishplates, for the Midland Great Western Railway of
Ireland Company. Specifications from W. P. O’Neill, chief
engineer, Broadstone Terminus, Dublin.

London, October 5.—Girders, etc.—About 167 tons of
steel bridge girders, and other iron and steel work, for the

Great Western Railway. Specifications from the engineer,
Paddington Station.

Sydney (Australia), November 29. — Machinery. —
Machinery for the manufacture of locking bar pipes.*

* Specifications, particulars, etc., may be seen at the
Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade,
73, Basinghall-street, E.C.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.
REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Apex Mines Limited.—Special general meetings have been
arranged to consider a proposal to distribute the company’s
shareholding in the New Kleinfontein Company. Should the
proposal be adopted, the distribution of these shares will con-
stitute a distribution of capital assets, and a corresponding
reduction in the share capital of the company will be neces-
sary. It is proposed, therefore, that the 150,000 shares in
the New Kleinfontein Company Limited be distributed to
shareholders, one such share being given in respect of every
two shares in the Apex Mines Limited, held by shareholders
registered in the books of the company on November 19 next.
To carry this into effect, if it be resolved upon by share-
holders, application will be made to court for permission to
reduce the capital of the company from £300,000, divided
into 300,000 shares of £1 each, to £150,000, divided into
300,000 shares of 10s. each, and to reduce the nominal value
of the company’s shares to 10s.

Arauco Company Limited.—The directors have declared an
interim dividend on account of the current year of 3 per cent.,
or 6s. per share, less income-tax.

Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited. — The
directors recommend a final dividend of 5 per cent, on the
ordinary shares, together with bonus of 2s. per share, making
20 per cent, for the past year. It is proposed that the reserve
fund of £350,000 and £33,491 out of amount brought from
the previous account, all representing pre-war earnings, be
allotted to proprietors in the proportion of one new fully-paid
ordinary share for every two held.

British Aluminium Company Limited. — The directors
announce a six months’ interim dividend at the rate of 6 per
cent, on the preference shares. Warrants will be posted on
the 30th inst.

Cammell Laird and Company Limited.—The directors have
declared interim dividends on the preference and ordinary
shares of 2| per cent., being 2s. 6d. per share, both less
income-tax.

Cardiff Collieries Limited.—The directors have paid an
interim dividend of 5 per cent, on both the preference and
ordinary shares, less tax, for the half-year ended June.

Coltness Iron Company Limited.—The directors recom-
mend a dividend on the ordinary shares of 8 per cent, per
annum, less interim dividend paid in April, together with a
bonus of 2 per cent.

Curtis’s and Harvey Limited.—The directors announce an
interim dividend of 5 per cent., less income -tax.

Elliott’s Metal Company Limited.—The report for the past
year states that, after paying debenture interest and other
first charges, there remains a profit of £65,799, to which
must be added £3,117 brought forward, making £68,916.
This the directors propose to appropriate as follows :—Divi-
dend at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum on the preference
shares, dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum on the
ordinary shares (subject to income-tax), a bonus of 5 per
cent, on the ordinary shares (subject to tax), to place £30,000
to reserve fund (making a total of £60,000), £7,000 to reserve
for income-tax, and to carry forward £4,066. A special reso-
lution will be submitted, the effect of which will be to split
each ordinary £10 share on which £8 has been paid into 10
ordinary £1 shares on which 16s. will have been paid. It is
the intention of the directors to pass a resolution calling up
the remaining 4s. per share on the new shares, and to meet
this call they propose to distribute among them an equivalent
sum amounting to £40,500 from the reserve fund.

Fleming and Ferguson Limited.—Dividend of 5 per cent.,
free of tax, on the ordinary shares, making 10 per cent, for
the year. After placing £2,000 to depreciation, the sum of
£8,708 is carried forward.

Ibbotson Brothers Limited.—A final dividend declared of
4s. per share, making 7| per cent., tax free, for the year
ended June 30, carrying forward £30,762, including £26,769
brought forward.

Lambert Brothers Limited.—The report for the year ended
June, states that the profit, including the amount brought
forward, is £162,148, and after providing for the managing
directors’ remuneration, directors’ fees, and the preference
dividend for the year, there remains a balance of £140,648,
out of which the directors have placed to reserve account the
sum of £60,000, and propose to pay a dividend at the rate
of 10 per cent, and a bonus of 10 per cent, on the ordinary
shares, carrying forward an amount of £20,648.

Maclellan (P. and W.) Limited.—Dividend of 8s. per share
(less tax) on the ordinary shares.

Nobel Dynamite Trust Limited. — The scheme for
separating the German assets from the British assets in the
above company was discussed at a meeting of debenture
holders last week. Mr. Timothy Warden, presiding, said
the Glasgow company in 1901 issued £500,000 4 per cent,
mortgage debenture stock, which was guaranteed by the
Nobel Dynamite Trust Limited, of London, ’which company
was practically the sole shareholder in the Glasgow company.
The war had precipitated a state of matters which made it
imperative that the Trust Company should be disintegrated
and the British assets separated from the German assets.
The scheme was that the Trust Company surrender to the
German shareholders the works in Germany, and in return
the German shareholders give up a million and a-half sterling
nominal ordinary share capital, the result being that every-
thing which belonged to the Trust Company would be the
property of Nobel's Explosives Limited, Glasgow. The
meeting agreed that the guarantee of Nobel’s Dynamite Trust
be transferred to the Union Bank of Scotland.

Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Company Limited.—
The 42nd annual report states that the profits for the year
ending June 30, 1915, amount to £122,359 5s. 2d., and the
balance brought forward from last year is £21,842 Is. 5d.,
together £144.201 6s. 7d. An interim dividend at the rate
of°6 per cent, per annum on the first and second preference
shares was paid in March last for the half-year ending
December 31, 1914, amounting to .£10,507 8s. 5d. The
directors now recommend that a dividend be paid for the