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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

October 15, 1915.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Collieries Stopped Because Shipments are Impracticable—
The Grave Position Occasioned by Lack of Shipping-
Prospects as to Tonnage in the Future—British Craft
Developing Opposition Coal Trade in America—
Unwarrantable Strike on Account of Funeral Custom—
The Miners and the Parliamentary Vacancy at Merthyr
—Cardiff Traders Protest Against Change in Credit
Terms—Dock Accommodation—Recruiting Miners in
the Rhondda.

As a result of the scarcity of tonnage, several collieries
have been seriously hampered in their operations during
the past week. The Marine Collieries, and the Red Ash and
Marine Washery at Cwmcarn, and the Abercarn collieries of
the Ebbw Vale Company have been stopped for a period,
3,000 men being involved. At the other end of the coal
field some pits in the Avon Valley were also stopped because
of the shortage of shipping at Port Talbot; and these are
only a few instances out of a number. The necessity of
clearing the trucks and getting empties for the collieries
has had a material effect in regard to quotations for prompt
sales, and the prices in the market have been in many
cases little more than nominal.

The great subject of general interest just now is the very
unsatisfactory condition of business, due primarily to the
lack of tonnage, also to some extent to licence difficulties.
A Swansea rumour concerning the latter point, circulated
during Exchange hours on Tuesday, was that further
restrictions upon the export of anthracite were probable;
there having been pronounced tardiness of late in the issue
of licences. Cardiff Exchange conditions are dominated by
the shipping, as to which, despite the exorbitant rates of
freight, the supply is still so far below demand, and the
steady decrease in vessels, due to war wastage, makes it
certain that no improvement is to be looked for until peace
releases the German “ tramp ” craft now interned in
different ports. Upon this, it may be worth mentioning a
suggestion that, seeing a bankrupt Germany could not pay
any adequate indemnity, there should be payment as far
as possible in kind—merchant ships to form part of the
surrender; and the question is asked, Why should Germans
be allowed to retain ships by which they could earn high
freights, and in that way secure direct profit from their
destruction of British boats?

In connection with this matter of the supply of tonnage,
both immediately and in the future—a matter of so much
importance to the coal trade—it may be noted that the latest
shipbuilding returns show that during the quarter ending
September 30, there was a total of more than 1J millions
of tons under construction. This compares not at all unfav-
ourably with normal times, wherein the highest figures did
not reach much more than two millions of tons; and it
is all the more remarkable seeing how busy the yards are
with war work. In the pre-war period of 1914, the figures
ranged around 1| millions. But whilst “ under construc-
tion ” figures are not so very unfavourable, the return as
to “ tonnage launched ” has a very different aspect; and
coal shippers look rather to these when considering the
probability of any early effect upon the freight market.
Less than 150,000 tons is the total during the quarter ended
September 30—only about one-third of the normal. Similar
unsatisfactory conditions exist as to new work commenced,
this being approximately two-thirds below the normal.
These circumstances have suggested speculation as to
whether Japanese tonnage would not be attracted westward
by the extremely high rates of freight now ruling and in
prospect; but there is no indication of relief to the market
from that source. Meanwhile, coal shippers and colliery
proprietors are sustaining serious loss, felt more severely in
South Wales than anywhere else, because of the far larger
proportion of output which has to be exported.

The diversion of tonnage from South Wales is operating in
a doubly injurious way to the coal trade. British-owned
vessels have been taken off the home market, and are
working between North American ports and the Argentine
and other destinations, carrying American coal into districts
which formerly were supplied from Wales or other parts
of the United Kingdom. The matter is one for the
Admiralty, who have a certain amount of control over British
shipowners, and should, in fairness to all of them, take some
steps to ensure that the different shipping firms are bearing
a proportionate amount of the burden of public service. It
is not fair that certain firms should have their vessels
requisitioned by the Admiralty, and that because these
vessels are taken off the market the owners of others should
be making exceptionally high freights whilst the first-
named have to be content with what the Admiralty pay.
In certain cases, as is only natural, the Admiralty called
upon owners of the best-equipped steamers, so that they
may obtain the advantage of every f acility in discharge;
and thus it comes about that those who have vessels not
so well fitted are able to keep on the market, and pocket
the high rates of freight—the owners who have shown the
most enterprise and have the best craft having to meet the
national requirements. One estimate of the increase in
American exports makes it close upon double the quantity
of the corresponding period of previous years, and it is
indubitable that the increase has been gained largely at the
expense of the British colliery proprietor.

A serious question of general importance has been raised
by the men at Markham Colliery, Sirhowy Valley, more than
800 of them having been idle for nearly a week, because they
were not allowed to attend the funeral of a man killed
in the pit. Their desire was that the manager would stop
the whole pit at 1 o’clock on the day of the funeral; but
this he refused, offering, however, that any man wishing
to attend the funeral could leave at 1.30, and special arrange-
ments were made for a train to take them to Tredegar.
The men rejected the offer, and stayed away from work
the whole day. Subsequently, they stayed out other days
upon a complaint that their chairman was entitled to an
apology for something that had been said. On Monday
they returned to work; but the output of coal needed by the
Admiralty had been hindered to the extent of a thousand
tons per day.

Mr. Daniel Evans, part owners of the Tanyrallt Colliery,
Gellynudd, Pontardawe, has been killed by a fall, the
manager, who was with him at the time, having a narrow
escape.

Alriq’s Coal Screening and Crushing Works at Swansea
Docks have been offered for sale by auction, the sale being

under an order of the Court of Chancery. The auctioneer
stated that the property was the only one of the kind in
the kingdom, having been erected by a French gentleman,
the plant including several of his patents. The works were,
he said, bound up wit hthe future of the anthracite industry,
as to which considerable development was anticipated; and
during the war no similar works could be built. The pro-
perty has an unexpired term of 18 years at a rental of £650
per annum, and is understood to have cost .£6,000. There
was only one bid, at a low figure; and no sale was effected.

The Parliamentary vacancy at Merthyr, occasioned by
the death of Mr. Keir Hardie, has aroused rivalries and
criticisms among Labour leaders, especially of the miners.
The seat is one of those ear-marked by the Federation, and
the constituency includes, besides Merthyr Town, the
important ironworks area of Dowlais, also the town of
Aberdare, with large parts of two colliery valleys, and the
several townlets therein. Among the nominees have been
Mr. Smillie, president of the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain, and also Mr. J. Winstone, president of the South
Wales Federation; and this week the names of all candi-
dates have been subjected to ballot, returns to be made this
(Friday) afternoon to Mr. T. Richards, M.P., secretary of
the Federation. Should any name fail to secure a clear
majority, a further ballot will be taken. All this applies
only to the miners’ lodges; and other classes of workmen
have been restive under the assumption that the miners
alone should determine the selection.

The movement in reference to house coal prices is develop-
ing through the district; and in addition to the widespread
suggestion that local authorities should open municipal
depots, there is a proposal to establish coal-buying clubs.
These would purchase wholesale from the collieries, and
undertake carriage both by rail and road ; the expectation
being that retail delivery could be made at 27s. per ton, a
saving of 10s. or more. The chairman of the Food and Fuel
Committee of Cardiff Council said they had had evidence
laid before them which led them to think that a “ ring ”
was arranged 25 or 30 years ago among the collieries owning
the best house coals in the district, and that since then the
prices had been arranged. If they could in any way break
a ring in the best prices, the cost of inferior sorts might be
indirectly affected. As a Corporation, they could not buy
coal and retail it; but individually they might act, and
brotherhoods or benefit societies connected with churches or
chapels, also men in different works, might club together
and buy a truck or two at a time.

In conference with the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
which is .said to have lasted for four hours, the South Wales
coal owners were represented by (amongst others) Mr. Hugh
Bramwell, chairman of the association, Mr. W. North
Lewis, Mr. Evan Williams, Mr. Joseph Shaw, Mr. T. H.
Deakin, and Mr. John Andrews, with Mr. Gascoyne Dalziel
secretary.

There was a large attendance on Tuesday at the meeting
of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, called specially to discuss
the colliery owners’ decision that after January 1 the credit
on sales would be reduced from 30 to 14 days. A resolution
was passed emphatically protesting against the alteration,
which has been made without consulting local buyers ’; and
those present pledged themselves to resistance, appointing a
committee to carry their resolution into effect.

The proposal that all coal traffic round Cardiff Docks
should be dealt with by the Dock Company has come again
before the Chamber of Commerce, the present practice being
that the colliery, companies as well as the Dock Company
handle the wagons. Col. Dennis, manager of the Cardiff
Railway and Dock Company, proposed to the Great Western,
Taff Vale, and the Rhymney managers that the present
practice should be abandoned, and that the Dock Company
alone should handle the traffic, his proposal having to be
regarded in the light of the fact that the Dock Company
intend to make a heavy outlay in the way of additional
sidings, whereby the traffic can be accommodated. Col.
Dennis stated that the present time about 60 engines were
working on the dock lines, and he calculates that they could
do the whole of the work with not more than 30 engines,
probably less; adding that if work now occupying the time
of 60 engines could be done by 30 engines the advantages
on the intricate series of lines would be very great. Col.
Dennis informed the Chamber that the general managers
of the three lines had acquiesced in the principle of con-
centrating the work in one control.—But Mr. E. Ford, of
the Great Western Railway, stated that, whilst the com-
panies agreed to the idea of single control, the scheme which
had been submitted on behalf of the Cardiff Dock Company
did not commend itself in any way to the railway companies.
Mr. Ford considered the scheme to be very crude, not at
all workable, and he thought that the railway companies
who were expected to pay for it should have been consulted
before a scheme was developed. It would not bring about
that single control which had been agreed to in principle,
but in his opinion would actually intensify the working of
railway companies’ engines on the docks lines. This would
be worse in the end than present conditions are. A good
deal of extra expense would be incurred, whilst no benefit
resulted. Mr. Ford pointed out that Col. Dennis had said
the scheme put forward would increase the capacity of the
coal tips by 50 per cent., and if that were so, it ought in
itself to bring remuneration to the dock company, and the
railway companies should not be expected to pay 3d. per
ton, as had been suggested.—Col. Dennis, in reply, sug-
gested that representatives of the Great Western, Taff Vale,
Rhymney, and the Cardiff railway companies (the last
being the owners of Bute Docks) should meet representatives
of the Chamber of Commerce for a round table conference,
in order to discuss the matter in detail. Mr. Ford stated
that he thought the matter could be best discussed outside
the Chamber, between the railway companies and the Dock
Company. No decision was arrived at in the Chamber of
Commerce meeting.

Among the enlistments at the outset of the war was that
of Mr. Watts Morgan, miners’ leader, Rhondda; and he
has been stationed in North Wales with his regiment.
Holding the rank of captain, he has now been commissioned
to raise from the Rhondda a battalion of Pioneers, and
speculation is aroused as to how this will coincide with the
desire of the authorities to minimise recruiting in the mining
area. That the new call for men will not be allowed to
interfere with work in the Admiralty collieries goes without
saying. It is worth notice that Glamorgan has already
contributed close upon 61,000 men to the Army, the large
majority of them being miners. In the neighbouring county
of Monmouth, the Ebbw Vale Company takes the lead,
doubtless because of the liberal treatment accorded by the
company to soldiers’ dependants. The town of Ebbw Vale
has a population of 33,000, and it has yielded with Cwm no

fewer than 5,000 men to the Army, besides nearly another
thousand to the Gwent battalion. At least four thousand of
these were employees of the company, the first week of the
war bringing a full battalion into the recruiting office. Col.
Sir Charles Allen informed the shareholders at their meeting
that within 24 hours of the declaration of war a thousand
of the company’s men had been summoned to the Colours;
and, these having been followed by 3,000 more, considerable
disorganisation was occasioned. During the first 10 months
of the war the company paid £22,000 in allowances to
dependants; and but for this outlay the dividend would have
been 2| per cent, higher. Quite a number of the office staff
now hold commissions.

A peculiar question has arisen owing to the death of the
coroner for Mid-Glamorgan, some of the miners wish to
petition the County Council to appoint a coroner who is
conversant with Welsh, there being a number of persons
unable to give evidence in English whenever an accident
occurs; and it is considered most desirable that the coroner
himself should understand Welsh.

Mr. T. H. Morris, one of the employees of Messrs. Guest,
Keen, and Nettlefold, of the Dowlais Iron Works, is to be
instructor at the Cardiff Munitions School.

The Rev. D. E. Richards, who has been invited to take
pastoral charge of the Congregational Church, Treorky, was
for some years a collier at the Abergorki Colliery. He was
a student at Carmarthen College, and distinguished himself
as a prizeman there.

Northumberland and Durham.

More Homes for Aged Miners.

Mr. G. Curry, of Cornsay Colliery, has been appointed
second engineer at Murton Colliery, in succession to Mr.
John Brown, who has gone as chief engineer to Hamsteels
Colliery.

The Spennymoor Urban District Council has decided to
take over the Tudhoe Colliery Explosion Monument, and to
accept the offer of the Tudhoe miners’ lodge to pay half
the cost of renovation, tenders of which are now being
sought.

Widespread sympathy will be expressed with Mr. M. H.
Kellett, agent for Eldon Colliery. On Saturday last, Mr.
Kellett, on returning home after a day’s shooting, had his
gun in his left hand when, by some mischance, it went
off and shattered his right hand so badly as to necessitate
amputation.

The Chester-le-Street magistrates last week inflicted
exemplary punishment on John Cook, a hewer at Kibbles-
worth Colliery, for a token fraud, sending him to prison
for a month. It was stated that Cook’s average wages
were £3 5s. 8d. per week, or about 12s. 6d. per shift. The
magistrates expressed regret that there was no falling-off
in the number of such cases, and that, therefore, they would
have to take a more serious view of the matter than they had
taken hitherto.

A group of 10 cottages, erected for their aged workmen
by Messrs. William Benson and Sons Limited, was opened
on Saturday by Mrs. W. J. Benson, of Newburgh Hall.
The homes, which will be knowm as the Benson Homes, are
situated near the Caroline pit, Denton Burn, and were
erected by Mr. W. J. Benson as a memorial to his father,
the late Mr. Thomas Walter Benson. The houses are for
the benefit of the aged miners employed at Messrs. Benson’s
Montagu and Fourstones collieries.

Mr. James Kirkley, of Cleadon Park, opened 48 homes
for aged miners at Harton last Saturday, thus completing
the scheme put into operation some time ago for the erection
of 64 homes for the Harton Coal Company’s employees. The
project was vigorously supported by the Harton Coal
Company, which contributed £4,000 towards the cost of
building the homes, and by the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioners, who made a gift of the site. Sixteen houses have
been erected at Boldon Colliery, and the 48 just opened are
for the benefit of the aged employees at the Harton, St.
Hilda, and Marsden collieries.

A flawed link in the south side main chain at Lyons
Colliery resulted in a full set of 40 tubs coming backwards
“ amain ” and fatally crushing Albert Ed. Greenhow, 16,
a pit landing boy. At the inquest at Hetton-le-Hole, it
was stated that the chain broke on September 15—14 days
before the fatality—and was thoroughly examined and
renewed by being put through the fire. A witness who
examined the chain after the accident stated that he found
the centre of the link was black, as if it had not been
thoroughly welded. It was impossible to have discovered
that from outside examination. A verdict of “ Accidental
death ” was returned.

On Saturday, October 10, at 8.30 a.m., in response to an
urgent appeal, the brigade turned out to rescue a man who
had descended an air shaft over a culvert in Craghall Dene,
South Gosforth. The shaft contained a quantity of carbonic
acid gas, and the man was suddenly overcome, and fell on
to a plank across the shaft 10 yds. from the surface. Prior
to the brigade’s arrival, a second man had been lowered by
means of a rope, but had to be withdrawn on account of
being also overcome. The brigade, on arrival, lowered a
brigadesman wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus
into the shaft by means of a strong lifeline. He secured
a second rope round the man’s body, which was hauled to
the surface. Although the brigade rendered very prompt
service, covering the distance of four miles within 10
minutes of receiving the call, the man was found to be dead.
At the inquest, it was found that the man had been down
over an hour before the brigade arrived. The Coroner
thanked the brigade for their prompt service.

Cleveland.

Colliery Director to be Mayor of Middlesbrough.

Mr. Jos. Calvert, the Mayor-Elect of Middlesbrough,
entered the service of Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and
Company Limited at an early age, and ultimately reached
the position of manager of 'the firm's mineral department.
He then left their service, and became associated with Mr.
(now Sir) Joseph Walton, M.P., in the control of various
colliery undertakings. He still pursues an active business
career, and is director of several important collieries. As
chairman of the Middlesbrough Corporation Gas Committee
he has instituted many reforms which have made for greater
economy and efficiency. The most notable of these, a
scheme for the utilisation of gas coke, saved the Corpora-
tion £17,000 in the first year, it is estimated, a saving
entirely due to Mr. Calvert’s technical knowledge.