January 14, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

81

PARLIAMEHTARY IHTELLICEKCE.

HOUSE OF COMMON.—January 6.

Coal for Troops in France.

Maj. Hunt asked the Under-Secretary of State for War
whether he was aware that the amount of coal supplied to
the Third Army in France had been lately very seriously
reduced; was he aware that this had caused discomfort to
these troops at the front; would he say whether this reduc-
tion of. coal supplies had been caused by the coal owners
putting up the prices against the British Army; and, if so,
what he proposed to do' to enable soldiers at the front to
have their former and necessary supply of coal.

Mr. Tennant, replying, said no report had reached the
War Office in the sense of the first part of the question.

Standard Coal Prices.

In reply to a question by Mr. Byrne, Mr. Pretyman
stated that pit head prices of coal for consumption in the
United Kingdom were (except in the coal raised in Ireland)
restricted by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. In view of
the differences in the cost of conveyance between the pits and
the localities where the coal was consumed, no “ standard ”
prices could be fixed for the whole country. Replying
further, Mr. Pretyman said that the local authorities had
no power to fix prices, but they could negotiate with local
coal merchants for a voluntary agreement.

January 10.

Trade After the War.

Mr. Hewins moved “ That with a view to increasing the
power of the Allies in the prosecution of the war, his
Majesty’s Government should enter into immediate consulta-
tion with the Governments of the Dominions in order with
their aid to bring the whole economic strength of the Empire
into co-operation with our Allies in a policy directed against
the enemy.” Mr. Hewins said the German Government had
already taken action, and in resolutions adopted at a secret
congress at Vienna, had insisted upon the importance of
not waiting until the war was over, but of acting at once. -

The President of the Board of Trade, replying to the
discussion, remarked that so far this country had succeeded
in living through a year and a-half of hostilities without
any serious break in either financial or industrial strength.
We had a right to demand that in the recuperation of
Germany nothing should be allowed which would make
either Italy, Prance, Russia or Great Britain suffer. Mr.
Runciman then dealt with the question of the capture of
German trade during the war, and went on to say that
one of the first necessities of this country, if. she was to
hold het own during times- of war and when war was over,
was improvement in research methods, the technical educa-
tion of the people. No attempt should be made to economise
on the money now spent on technical colleges and modern
appliances. The next quality necessary in order that we
should hold our own was that we should be adaptable. He
also agreed that the patent system ought to be overhauled,
and also, if we were to do more in the future our banks
should be more adventurous. The Government were anxious
to prosecute the war to a successful end, but they we' $ also
looking ahead. Certainly, the co-operation of the Doi .nions
should be asked for. Investigation into the contra. of oil
should be carried further, and it must be seen to That the
control of coal within this country or within the Dominions
did not pass out of British hands. He agreed that in
shipping it was necessary to overhaul the position. At any
rate, said Mr. Runciman, Germany at the end of the war
should not be given a chance of reconstructing her com-
mercial position.

The question was then put, and agreed to.

Goal Supply of Yorkshire.

Mr. Sherwell asked the President of the Board of Trade
if he was aware that the action of the Government in inter-
fering with the supply of coal to manufacturing industries in
the West Riding of Yorkshire was greatly accentuating the
scarcity of coal already due to the shortage of mine labour
and the lack of adequate facilities for railway transport, and
that unless immediate steps were taken to remove or to
modify the Government regulations, many important indus-
tries engaged on Government and export work would be com-
pelled to close down, and large numbers of workers would
be thrown out of employment. He asked the President if
he was aware that in the West Riding of Yorkshire coal
owners were being instructed to withhold the supply for the
execution of their coal contracts in the interests of the manu-
facture of coke and the residuals of coal.

Mr. Runciman said that if he was furnished with parti-
culars of the cases, he would look into the matter. The
Board of Trade had on particular occasions requested coal
owners to give a preference to public utility undertakings and
munition works, and they had called general attention to the
necessity of maintaining adequate supplies to by-product coke
ovens, but he was not aware of any regulations such as
suggested.

Mr. Booth asked Mr. Runciman if he was not aware that
the Government were pressing manufacturers of coke very
strongly for the need of benzol, and there was a great deal
of difficulty in obtaining the slack to keep ovens going, and
so producing the by-products indispensable for high
explosives.

Mr. Runciman answered in the affirmative, and said that
was the ground on which some communications had been
sent out by the Board of Trade to some districts. The
necessity of by-products from some sorts of coal, of course,
was always present to his mind.

Railway Rates (Increased Charges).

Capt. Stanier asked the President of the Board of Trade
whether his attention had been called to the sum that was
outstanding to the railway companies from merchants and
traders who refused to pay the extra 4 per cent, the railways
had charged under the 1913 arrangement; and if he could
say what sum this amounted to, -and if he proposed to
enforce the payment of this sum?

Mr, Runciman said that traders who had lodged complaints
with the Railway and Canal Commission against the
increases in rates referred to appeared to be entitled to with-
hold payment of the additional charges if they so desired,
pending the decision of the Commissioner. One such com-
plaint had recently been before the Commission,' but
judgment had not yet been given. He was not aware what
the amount involved amounted to.

Railway Wagons Shortage.

Mr. Hogge asked the President of the Board of Trade
whether he was aware that two Scottish railway companies
urged as an excuse to a body of traders in Scotland for
delays in transport that 10,000 wagons were out of com-
mission; whether he was aware that the same state of
affairs obtained on many English railways; and whether
nothing could be done to devise even a temporary expedient
to secure their repair and placing in commission again.

Mr. Runciman said his attention had not previously been
called to this statement by Scottish railway companies.

Mr. Hogge asked, further, if he would make enquiries
of the Caledonian and North British railway companies, who
offered as an excuse for the non-delivery of goods that 10,000
wagons were out of commission, and would he make some
effort to put these wagons into commission in order that the
traders of Scotland may get on with their work.

• Mr. Runciman said he was afraid that he could not say
whether the figure was correct or not, but he was in com-
munication with the executive committee of the railways
on the subject of rolling stock. They laboured under con-
siderable difficulties, owing to a considerable proportion of
their works being taken for munition purposes, and for the
moment they could not part with the skilled workers employed
in the'making of munitions.

January 11.
Miners and Enlistment.

Mr. Wing asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if
he would state what means the Government place at the
disposal of workmen such as miners who were receiving
compensation for accidents, which were a disability for coal
mining, yet did not affect their enlistment as soldiers, but
on return to civil life, on discharge from the Army, were
refused pre-war conditions of compensation, or light employ-
ment, from their previous employers,, and what remedy the
Government proposed to provide to prevent the evasion of
pre-war conditions and responsibilities.

Mr. Tennant asked for information of the particular cases
Mr. Wing had in mind.

Admiralty Coal Charterers’ Commission.

Sir Joseph Walton asked the Parliamentary Secretary to
the Admiralty whether he could state the rate of commission
per ton paid to the Admiralty charterers on coal shipped, and
the total amount that had accrued since the outbreak of war
under the contract.

Dr. MAcnamara, replying, said one firm undertook the
whole of the Admiralty coal agency. The total amount of
salary and commission accruing on Admiralty account from
the beginning of the war to December 31, 1915, was about
£21,000. As against that figure, it must be remembered that
the agents have been put to great additional expense during
the war, having had to open for the transaction of Admiralty
business a number of new agencies and .sub-agencies at ports
in the United Kingdom. They had submitted their books to
examination by officers of the Department, and he was
satisfied, from the reports received, that their profits from
Admiralty business had been moderate. The whole matter
was receiving very careful consideration.

LABOUR AMD WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The position of colliery surveyors in reference to their
wages is at the present time a subject of discussion, the
argument being that if they were to combine, .as do the
colliery managers or other officials, they would .secure much
better conditions. A contrast ha.s been drawn between the
position of a manager and that of a surveyor, wherein the
latter has to serve a term of apprenticeship whilst the former
can get a living wage up to the time he obtains a certificate.
A proposal is made from the Rhondda that the colliery
surveyors should take some steps towards organising them-
selves in order to secure better terms; and in reply to this,
a suggestion has been made that they should join the
National Union of Clerks, wdiich has a section for draughts-
men and surveyors.

Coun. Owen Powell, Cwmaman, has been elected miners’
agent for the Aberdare district to succeed Mr. C. B. Stanton,
M.P. Eor the last 14 years Mr. Powell has been check-
weigher at the Fforchwen Colliery of the Cwmaman
Company, and he is an arbitrator under the Minimum "Wage
Act.

It has been expected that Sir Lawrence Gomme would
open on Thursday last the enquiry into the anthracite miners’
” lost 5 per cent.,” he sitting .as arbitrator with three repre-
sentatives from the employers’ side and three from the
Miners’ Federation. Unfortunately, Sir Lawrence has been
seriously ill, and could not attend, so that postponement
has become necessary.

North of England.

The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’
Association decided, at a recent meeting, to appoint a
deputation to interview the Old Delaval Colliery manager
with a view to protesting against his alleged action in
“ violating the well-established custom in our North-Eastern
district, including the Delavals, of paying 2s. a week rent
allowance to men in rented houses irrespective of the
number of days worked.” At the same meeting the question
of securing pay for men who had lost gear in Morpeth Moor
pit, now closed owing to an influx of water, was left for
the present in the hands of the agents of the association.

Representatives of the Cleveland miners met the Cleveland
mine owners at Middlesbrough on Monday, when the rate
of wages to be paid for the ensuing three months was dis-
cussed. The men sought a substantial advance. It was
eventually agreed that the advance should be at the rate
of 3J per cent., the increase to take effect from January 24.

A meeting of the Cumberland Coal Conciliation Board was
held at Workington, on Tuesday. With regard to the
recent 5 per cent, advance, Messrs. ,T. Cape and T. P.
Martin were instructed to write to the several districts in
the Midland Conciliation Board’s area to -ascertain the date
of the advance coming into operation there, with a view to
the adoption of a similar date in Cumberland. It was
decided to set up committees to be jointly appointed by the
respective associations to investigate absenteeism and other
cases of loss of work. The question of searching men was
referred to the managers for further consideration.

Federated Area.

The workmen’s section of the Coal Conciliation Board for
England and North Wales has made application for a further
advance of 5 per cent, in miners’ wages. The last advance
of 5 per cent, was made on November 18 last, and was
payable from the first making-up day in December. An
advance of 5 per cent, is about equal to 4|d. per day, or 2s. 3d.
per week on coal hewers’ wages.

A meeting of the council of the Notts Miners’ Association
took place at Nottingham on Saturday, to consider what
should be their attitude towards the Military Service (No. 2)
Bill. By a large majority it was decided, after a lengthy
discussion, to recommend lodges to support the Bill.

The council of the Derbyshire Miners' Association, meeting
at Chesterfield on Saturday, decided, by 44 vote's to 12, to
oppose the Government’s Military Service Bill.

At. a special conference at Bolton on Tuesday of the
Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Association delegates, voting
on the Government Bill for Compulsory Military Service
resulted as follows :—Against the Bill, 31,226; for the Bill,
22,792.

The council of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association on
Tuesday, instructed their delegates to vote against the
Military Service Bill.

Scotland.

The executive of the Scottish Aline Workers’ Union met
at Glasgow on Tuesday. The secretary reported that he
was not yet in a position to say what action had been taken
in the districts with regard to fortnightly pays. Mr. Brown
also reported that he had a letter from Air. Robert Alain, the
general manager of Ardeer Colliery, at which a dispute has
been pending for some time on the question of non-unionism.
Mr. Alain declined to meet Mr. Brown and Mr. Smillie, on
the ground that he did not think any good would come of
such a meeting. In view of the fact that everything possible
had been done to endeavour to secure a peaceful settlement of
this dispute, the executive decided to give power to the Ayr-
shire agents to bring the colliery on strike if necessary.

Iron Steel, and Engineering Trades.

A trade union conference of. representatives of the iron and
steel trades was held on the 7th inst., when consideration was
given to a suggestion for the amalgamation of all the trade
unions whose members are connected with the iron and steel
trades. A committee, composed pf two members of each of
the unions attending, was appointed to draw up a scheme
for amalgamation, which will be submitted to a further
conference to be held next month.

The accountants’ ascertainment of the average net selling
price of No. 3 G.M.B. Cleveland pig iron for the last quarter
of 1915 was 67s. per ton. This means an advance in
.Cleveland blastfurnacemen’s wages of 4 per cent., which will
raise the wages to 44 per cent, above the standard. The
ascertained price for the third quarter of 1915 was 64s. 0-54d.
per ton.

A mass meeting of Consett steel workers decided by an
overwhelming majority on Saturday night to sever their con-
nection with the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration for the
Northern Iron and Steel Trade, with which they have been
identified since its inception 45 years ago. There are at
Consett works over 1,000 subscribing members to the Arbi-
tration Board, and the question of what organisation they
shall join in future will be considered.

By agreement between the National Light ; Castings
Founders’ Association and the Workers’ Union, the wages of
labourers employed in the foundries in Glasgow and district
are to be advanced Is. per week. A war bonus of Is. fid.
per week granted last year has been converted into an advance
in wages. The latest increase brings the minimum wage up
to 25s.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

The executive committee of the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain have had before them representations from
several districts with reference to the condition of aged
miners and others who were in receipt of old age pensions,
stating the terrible hardship under which these persons
were suffering in consequence of the increased cost of the
necessaries of life. It has been agreed to ask the Prime
minister to receive a deputation from the executive on this
matter, and to ask Mr. Asquith to increase the amount of
the pensions from 5s. to 7s. 6d. per week.

In connection with the proposal that the Mines Eight
Hours Act should be suspended at certain fireclay mines,
information was put before the committee on Monday from
Yorkshire to the effect that many of the mine owners in
Yorkshire who were working fireclay mines had stated that
they had not made any representations to the Minister of
Munitions for an increase in the hours of working, or any
suspension of the Eight Hours Act. A statement was.
made by the Yorkshire representatives that the average age
at which the miners died in some of the ganister mines of
Yorkshire was about 40 years, and the early deaths arose
largely from the breathing of silica given off in the working.
It was agreed to ask the Minister of Munitions, through
the Home Office, to meet a deputation from the executive in
order to ascertain definitely whether or not any necessity
really existed for any suspension of the Eight Hours Act as
applied to these mines.

The executive had under consideration the question of the
use of stone dust in mines as a preventative of the spread
of explosions. They also considered the promise made to
the president that the executive should be invited to witness
some experiments at Eskmeals, the Government experi-
mental station, in connection with explosions. It was
decided to ask the Home Office to arrange for the visit to
take place early in February.

Government and Wages Advances.

The deliberations of the Government in the direction of
securing national economy, have led to the following decision,
which has been communicated by the Government Committee
on Production to several trade unions immediately affected,
being arrived at regarding applications for wages advances :—
His Alajesty’s Government have given earnest. attention to
the financial position of the country, to the great and
increasing demands which will still be made upon its
resources to meet the needs of the war, and to the imperative
need for economy in all forms of expenditure and consump-
tion, both public and private. They have also had regard to
the general advances of wages that have already been given
since the beginning of the war, and to the measures already
taken to tax or limit the profits of undertakings. His
Majesty’s Government have come to the conclusion that, in
view of the pressing emergency, any further advances of
wages (other than advances following automatically from
existing agreements) should be strictly confined to the adjust-
ment of local conditions, where such adjustments are proved
to be necessary.