February 4, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

233

Notts and Derbyshire.

Mr. Frank Hall, general secretary of the Derbyshire
Miners’ Association, has been appointed a magistrate for the
borough of Chesterfield.

The Midlands.

Monthly Drainage Commission Report — Application of
Electricity to Coal Mining.

The heavy rainfall of December has resulted in a consider-
able increase in the pumping of the South Staffordshire Mines
Drainage Commission. The engineers’ reports, presented at
the monthly meeting of the Commission at Dudley on
Wednesday, showed that the rainfall for the last four weeks
had been 1-85 in. The general manager and engineer for the
Tipton district (Mr. E. Howl) stated that the pumping had
been 10,701,600 gals, per 24 hours, as compared with 9,823,900
gals, last month, and 10,506,000 gals, in the corresponding
period last year, or an increase of 880,000 gals, per 24 hours
compared with last month, and '200,000 gals, compared with
a year ago. With regard to the Moat pound, the water was
still held up at the Tibbington by-pit of the Empire Colliery,
and it had not been necessary to work the Moat old engine
or Gospel Oak Mond gas-driven plant more than a few turns.
At Bradley the water had increased considerably. The engine
was at present working at one stroke per minute less than
full speed. At Decpfields it was now necessary to work the
new engine at full speed, compared with three-quarter speed
a month ago. The Park Lane Mond gas-driven print was
now working at full speed, and was sinking the water very
slowly. There was little change at the other engines. , The
underground level men had been engaged in repairs to Park
Lane engine shaft, and in cleansing bottom level of the
Moat engine. — The surface drainage engineer (Mr. S. B.
Priest) reported that pulsometers for surface drainage had been
fixed at Blakeley Wood and Park Lane. The raising of
the Boggv Arm course, where swagged by mining on down-
stream side of Gospel Oak, had been continued during the
month, and some cleansing had been done on Elwell Street,
Denbigh, and Cop Hall courses. The repairing of mining
damage on Shavers End and Old Dock courses had also been
continued, while the puddle of basin at Windmill End engine
wharf had been raised. A piped course for surface drainage
was being laid at No. 26 Salt wells.—The engineer for the
Old Hill district (Mr. W. B. Collis) reported that owing to
the winter rains, the water at the Windmill End pumping
engine had increased from L.f to 54 strokes per minute during
the past month, but it had not required the assistance of the
Buffer? pumping engine. The Buffer? level was in good
order, while the Saltwells and Waterfall Lane pounds stood
at their usual level.

An interesting lecture was given to the members of the
Wolverhampton and District Engineering Society last week
by Mr. C. Jones. A.M.I.E.E., chief electrical engineer,
Cannock Chase Collieries, and vice-president of the Warwick
and Staffordshire branch of the Association of Miming
Electrical Engineers, on the question of the application of
electricity to the mining industry. In his preliminary
remarks, the lecturer traced the history of fits introduction for
shot firing, signalling, and lighting. Pie dealt chiefly with
its application for power purposes, such as winding,-hauling,
ventilating, coal cutting, and pumping, and showed how by
its adoption great economies had been secured, in some cases
even to the extent of making the working profitable, whereas
by any other methods the working costs would have been
so excessive that the pit would have had to be closed down.
The relative advantages of electricity, steam, and com-
pressed air for the transmission of power were dealt wTith,
and this led to <a lively discussion. The ever-recurring
question of reciprocating pumps versus centrifugal pumps
was also raised, and proved a most interesting topic. The
lecturer dealt with the question of the generation of
electricity, his extensive experience in the South Wales and
the Cannock Chase coal fields enabling him to handle the
subject in a convincing manner. He gave illustrations of
exhaust and mixed-pressure turbines utilising the exhaust
steam from winding and air-compressing engines, and also
referred to gas engines utilising the surplus gas from coke
ovens.

Kent.

Miners and Coal Dues.

At the Snowdown Colliery, last week, 2,600 tons of coal
were raised from the Beresford seam, this being a record
week’s work at the colliery. Tilmanstone Colliery output
for the week was 1,626 tons, the largest since the colliery
was re-opened. The deep sinking in No. 2 pit at Snowdown
Colliery has only about 60 ft. to be sunk to reach the
Snowdown Hard seam. A connection between Nos. 1 and 2
pits will then be made with the object of working the Hard
seam. The sinking to the still deeper seams will also be
continued.

An action had been entered in the Dover County Court
arising out of the dispute between the Kent Miners’ Associa-
tion and .the Dover Corporation,' regarding the payment of
coal dues by the miners employed at the local collieries on
the coal which is given them by their employers, and which
they bring into the town for use in their own homes. The
men had withheld payment of these dues on the contention
that the Corporation had no legal right, to collect them on
such coal. The Kent Miners’ Association also announced
that they were taking the opinion of counsel on the matter
with a view to contesting the Corporation’s claim.. The
opinion of counsel was apparently not in the association’s
favour, as the county court judge was not called upon to give
his decision, the money being paid, and the action therefore
withdrawn.

Forest of Dean.

Mr. W. Carey, who has been manager at Leases Bridge
house coal colliery at Cinderford, Forest of Dean, for a short
period of 10 months, has been presented by the employees
with a handsome divan chair on his departure to fill the
important position of manager of the Dunkerton Collieries,
near Bath, in the Somerset coal field.

Scotland.

Newmains Housing Difficulty — Shot-firing Prosecution —
Methods of Setting Props.

The 'announcement is made that the Military Cross has
been won by the late Second.-Lieut. G. B. Ramsay, Lowland
Divisional Engineers (Territorial Force). Lieut. Ramsay,
who died of fever on his way home from the Dardanelles,

was the only son of Mr. Robert Ramsay, Niddrie and Benhar
Coal Company, and formerly of Chapel, Lanarkshire.

The Coltness Iron Company Limited, who have a number
of collieries in different parts of Scotland, have represented
to the Middle Ward District Committee of the County of
Lanark that there is quite a serious dearth of houses in
the Newmains district of Lanarkshire. They point specially
to the fact that a large number of men employed in their
works at Coltness have to travel long distances to and from
their employment.. Members of the District Committee have
vigorously supported the complaint of the Coltness Company,
and one local representative has pointed to the fact that the
county authorities are losing valuation because of the dearth
of houses. He has specifically mentioned that 400 workers
are residing in the burgh of Wishaw who would take up their
abode in the parish of Newmains if houses could be found
for them. It is expected that the District Committee will
arrange for a local enquiry into the whole subject of housing.

The casualties amongst soldiers drawn from the miners
in the various theatres of war must be very high. So far
as can be ascertained from the districts comprising the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, the total number of
members of the union who have fallen during the past half-
year cannot be far short of 5,000. For that period of time
in Scotland alone the number of miners killed, who had
joined the ranks since the beginning of the war, is close upon
500. Indeed, for the half-year ending December 31, 1915,
the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union has paid out a sum of <£1,000
in death claims to the relatives of soldiers at the front.

Thomas Smith, miner, was charged at the Hamilton Sheriff
Court, before Sheriff Shennan, with having on December 28
last, in the main coal seam of No. 4 pit, Quarter Colliery :
(1) failed to mark on the roof the direction of a shot he
was firing; and (2) failed to send verbal warning of the
firing of the shot to the workers in the main coal haulage
bye, as a result of which one of the men was injured by a
piece of coal blown out of the shot. Respondent admitted
the offence. The Procurator Fiscal explained that the man
who was injured was rendered unconscious, but recovered
in a short time. The section under which the charge was
brought was one of the old provisions of the Explosives
Order. Sheriff Shennan imposed a penalty of £1 or 14 days’
imprisonment.

Messrs, the Wemyss Coal Company Limited, the
Portland Coal Company, Wm. Dixon Limited, Lochgelly
Iron and Coal Company, the Niddrie and Benhar Coal
Company, and the members of the Mining Institute of
Scotland (per Mr. G. L. Kerr, secretary) have all forwarded
cheques for substantial amounts to the Scottish Thick Black
Tobacco Fund, which now amounts to over £640.

At a meeting of the Lasswade District Committee of the
Edinburgh County Council, the sanitary inspector’s report
stated that the colliery villages of Wallyford and Deantown
were in an insanitary condition. It was resolved, after dis-
cussion, to serve statutory notices on the Edinburgh Collieries
Company, calling on them to have the nuisances removed
within a month.

A rather unfortunate mishap took place in the shaft c«f
No. 7 pit, Cowdenbeath, belonging to the Fife Coal Company
Limited. It is supposed that owing to the long-continued
wet weather, the water found its way to the shaft, and dis-
lodged a part of the metals from the side,- with the result
that the men had to ascend by another shaft. The manage-
ment have decided to suspend work in this pit for some time.

The question of propping again cropped up at Dunfermline
Sheriff Court, in an enquiry concerning the death of a miner
who was injured in Fordell Colliery by a fall cf material from
the roof. The Procurator-Fiscal, addressing the jury, called
attention to the method of propping adopted. It was a little
difficult, he said, to realise that a strap completely passing
over and bridging the distance between two preps was not a
more satisfactory and safer arrangement than those two props
with a small piece of wood and a portion of exposed roof
unsupported between these spaces.

Manchester Geological and Mining Society.—The next ordi-
nary meeting of the members of this society will be held at
Queen’s-chambers, 5, John Dalton-street, Manchester, on
Tuesday next, at 4 p.m. The following paper will be read :
“ The Connections Between the North-Western European
Coal Fields,” by Prof. X. Stainier, D.Sc.; and the following
papers will be open for discussion : (a) “ The Coal Measures
of the Croxteth Park Inlier,” (b) “ The Geological Structure
of the South Lancashire Coal Field,” by Dr. George Hickling.

Coal Contract Dispute.—In the King’s Bench Division on
Tuesday, before Mr. Justice Sankey and Mr. Justice Low,
Mr. John Griffiths, coal merchant, of Neath, South Wales,
appealed against a decision given by Judge Gye, in the New-
port and Ryde County Court, Isle of Wight, in favour of the
defendant, in an action to recover the price of coal delivered
to the defendants, the Isle of Wight Smallholders Association
Limited. The plaintiff had sued the defendants in the county
court for the price of the coal delivered, £69 Is. 6d., which he
had contracted with the association to supply. It was said
by the defendants that the coal was to be Forest of Dean and
Monmouthshire coal, to be delivered at Cowes. There was a
dispute about the character of the coal, ending in the action
being decided in favour of the defendants in the county
court. — The appellant’s case was that the Isle of Wight
Smallholders Association Limited was a body of consumers,
who acted as a co-operative society, and entered into arrange-
ments to buy and supply coal to the members at a lower
price than they would otherwise have to pay. The contract
was one in which the appellant undertook to supply coal to
the extent of 33 tons to the association at 22s. 6d. per ton.
Various deliveries were made under the contract, and there
was paid £84 Is. lid. in regard to them.—Mr. Cababe said
the defence was that the coal delivered was rubbish, and not
coal—was little better than dust and refuse—and the asso-
ciation could not take any more of it. The judge in the
countv court decided that they were not to pay anything—the
coal delivered by the appellant was utterly useless for the
purpose for which it was ordered. It was not the coal that
was ordered, and the association therefore rejected it. About
25 or 26 members found it to be perfectly useless, but the
appellant would not take it back.—After considerable argu-
ment, a new trial was ordered by the Court.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

On Saturday, the miners’ executive decided to apply for
an increase of 5 per cent, (on standard) of the wage rate ;
and on Tuesday, the employers gave notice of their intention
to seek a reduction of 3| per cent. Both applications go to
the Conciliation Board. At present, wages are 25*33 per
cent, above the 1915 standard. Owing to the retirement of
Lord St. Aldwyn, no independent chairman is now in office
to give a decision, should the Conciliation Board fail to
agree.

The miners’ executive have decided that a deputation
should interview the Glamorgan Standing Joint Committee,
the desire being to call -attention to certain methods which
it was reported had been followed by colliery (county) con-
stables in connection with workmen who were in receipt of
compensation from employers.—It was stated to the
executive, and they decided to report to a subsequent con-
ference, the failure of a joint sub-committee to settle
differences that had arisen concerning the rates of wages
to craftsmen.

The Colliery Examiners’ Association held -a meeting on
Saturday, and considered a report from the deputation! to
coal owners on the question of “recognition”; and, that
report being unsatisfactory so far as regards the attitude
of the employers, a resolution was passed to approach the
Industrial Committee of the Board of Trade, asking that the
matter should be taken into consideration. The conference
also considered the action of one of the colliery companies
stated to have withheld from their examiners the sum of
£5 (which they had annually presented at Christmas time)
except on condition that the men secede from the -association.
A strong resolution of protest was passed. Reports will be
made to the different lodges, and approval sought for “ any
drastic action ” which the council may deem advisable .in
order to secure withdrawal of the condition imposed; 11 of
the examiners have refused to submit to the condition, and
therefore the conference decided to make a present of an
equivalent sum from the funds of the association.

The Dowlais workmen have decided to hold “ show cards ”
in February, and that notices terminating contracts should
be handed in immediately afterwards if the district is shown
not to be clear.

The conference of miners held in Cardiff on Monday had
before them the question of extending the out-of-work fund,
and also the decision whereby the Albion Colliery men were
compelled to work the Sunday night shift. (Upon the first
question of amending the out-of-work claim, a ballot of
the men will be taken. On the second, that as to the
compulsory Sunday night shift -at the Albion Colliery, a
resolution was unanimously passed that the conference
regarded the action of the employers as a violation of the
spirit of the Conciliation Board agreement, and especially
the threat to take proceedings against workmen in other
collieries in respect of the same matter. The resolution
added that “ the representatives of the Government, by
altering the provision of the 1910 agreement dealing with the
subject made it clear that additional payment was intended
for 'working the Sunday night shift of eight hours.” It was
decided further, “ that the executive council be instructed
to inform the Coal Owners’ Association that the workmen
insist that the shift when worked should either be one of
six hours, or if eight hours be worked, additional payment
shall be made.” Failing a satisfactory settlement, a further
conference is to be called for dealing with the matter. At
the Conciliation Board meeting, formal intimation was made
by Mr. Winstone (Federation president) that the men could
not be advised to work Sunday night shifts unless these were
six hours, or they were paid extra for working eight hours.
The executive council was also instructed to press the matter
of payment of the bonus turn to ostlers, also to press for
revision of the rates to surface craftsmen.

With regard to the anthracite miners and their “ lost 5
per cent. ” enquiry, -a further reference to the Board of
Trade has become necessary. Sir Laurence Gomme was
nominated as arbitrator, but his continued illness prevents
his acting, -and it is his suggestion that the services of another
gentlemen should be sought.

North of England.

A deputation of four representatives of the Northumberland
County Colliery Mechanics’ Association met the Northumber-
land coal owners’ representatives at the Coal Trade Offices,
Newcastle, on Saturday, for the purpose of fixing wages for
the coming quarter. It was decided that, commencing with
the pays on January 31 and February 7, wages should be
reduced by 3d. per day. Five representatives of the North-
umberland Deputies’ Association also met the owners for
the purpose of adjusting the wages agreement, and in this
case, also, a reduction of 3d. per day, making the daily wage
of deputies 8s. 8d., was agreed upon, the new arrangement
to have effect as from the pays on January 31 and February 7.

By 34,715 votes to 26,819, the Durham miners have
declared in favour of the Military Service Bill, thereby
reversing the vote of their representatives at the Miners’
Federation conference recently. About 40,000 Durham
miners now serving with the Colours had not, of course, the
opportunity of expressing their opinions, and, also, about
20,000 workmen failed to record their votes. Three lodges
did not send in any returns.

The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’
Association has issued to the lodges a statement with refer-
ence to the circumstances which causeci the county vote at
the Federation conference to be cast against the Compulsory
Military Service Bill. The report states that there was not
time to secure a direct mandate from the members of the
Association, and that it was decided to instruct the county
representatives to oppose the Bill on the ground that “ the
conscription of young men is only the first step to again bind
the freedom of the workers, that married men will be next,
and then the establishment of industrial conscription, and,
finally, that it is not necessary to establish Prussianism in
this country in order to defeat the Germans.” Resolutions
of protest against the executive’s action continue to be decided
upon by the lodges. On the other hand, the federated group
of collieries at Ashington has, bv 80 proxy votes to 22 (each
proxy vote accounting for 50 members) endorsed the action
of the executive.

At a largely-attended meeting of the miners of St. Hilda’s
Colliery, South Shields, a resolution was adopted in favour
of expelling from the membership of the St. Hilda’s Miners”
Lodge all those who are eligible to attest under the group
system, and have neglected to do so. Although this drastic
resolution will have to come ur> for confirmation or otherwise
at the next meeting of the lodge, it is understood that tho
proposal takes immediate effect.