June 9, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

1107

Nothing in this agreement or in the rules of procedure
is to preclude either party bringing any matter before the
board or independent chairman, which they consider as
factors bearing upon the general wage question ; but any
evidence brought forward as to the selling price of large
colliery-screened coal shall be confined to the average net
selling price of large colliery-screened coal delivered
f.o.b. at Cardiff, Barry, Newport, Swansea, Port Talbot,
and Llanelly in the three calendar months immediately
preceding the first of the month prior to the month in
which the meeting is held to consider any proposal to vary
the general wnge rate and of large colliery-screened coal
sold during such period of three mop ths into wagons or
otherwise at the collieries, the cost of transit to the
ordinary port of shipment in the last-named case being
added to the actual selling price, workmen’s coal ledng
excluded from this calculation. Nothing shall prevent the
independent chairman in determining future alterations of
wages from considering what is a fair equivalent average
net selling price of large colliery-screened coal ascertained
as aforesaid for the said minimum.

The very serious feature of the situation, that which has
provoked most comment, is that it is a Government depart-
ment which has shown disregard of the agreement — a fact
the-more remarkable because it is the agreement which the
Board .of Trade itself brought into existence last summer.
The resolution of the coal owners shows that they cannot
accept a decision which has been arrived at by ignoring the
Conciliation Board agreement; in effect, setting the men
free from obligations which were imposed upon them by the
Government settlement of only ten months .ago.

A special meeting of the Coal Owners’ Association was
held on Monday, when the employers’ representatives on the
Conciliation Board reported what had occurred, stated that
they would be holding a special meeting to consider the
matter, and recommended that the members should in the
meantime pay the advance of 15 per cent, as from June 1.
The association adopted this recommendation, but passed a
strong resolution of protest against the Government having-
acted without any enquiry having been held. They declared
themselves “ satisfied that the advance is not justified by the
facts. ”

To a mass meeting of miners held in Merthyr on Sunday
the agent reported Judge O’Connor’s recommendation that
ostlers should be paid tne bonus turn, and that turn and a
fifth should be paid for Sunday night shift, 'and the men be
entitled to payment at the rate of six turns for five.

At several meetings of t.he men in different parts of the
coal field, resolutions have been passed that only one day’s
holiday should be taken at Whitsuntide, and the miners’
executive issued posters recon unending this course.

The railway men of South Wales are, like the miners,
insistent upon a material increase of wages—a fact which
has direct bearing upon the coal trade because of its effect
upon rates for carriage of coal, all the valley lines (Taff
Vale, Barry, Rhymney, Port Talbot, Western Valleys, and
others) deriving the greater part of their income from the
colliery traffic. A mass meeting of all grades was held in
Cardiff on Sunday, when a resolution was passed instructing
the executive committee of the union to approach the
railway executive for an increase of 10s. per week all
round.

North of England.

For the first timfc in the history of the Northumberland
Colliery Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Association, the general
officers and Wages Board have been vested with powers of
wages negotiation with the coal owners—a concession which
should make for the more speedy settlement of wages differ-.
ences. This was announced to the owners at a recent meet-
ing, when enginemen received - 7d. per day advance and
firemen an increase of 12 per cent. The association has
raised the monthly rate of contributions of members by 3d.

During last month, 41 steam coal collieries in Northum-
berland worked an average of 5-46 days per week, and 10
house coal collieries an average of 5-45 days per week, a joint
average of 5-45 days per week. The corresponding figures
for April were 5-47, 5-32, and 5-42 days per week respec-
tively.

The Oughterside Colliery, near Maryport, which employs
between 300 and 400 men and boys, was thrown idle one day
last week owing to a .rather unusual dispute. The men
alleged that they were being charged an excessive price for
explosives (Is. IJd. per lb.). On the following day, as a
result of the meeting, the men refused to carry any explosives
down, the pit, and, in consequence, no shots were fired, and
no coal sent up. The matter was referred to the Concilia-
tion Board, and the men decided to resume work pending a
decision.

The Northumberland miners’ executive, in an appeal to
the miners of that county, says :—“ The great issue in this
war will be decided in France, and that issue will depend
almost solely on the ability of the Allies to produce the
munitions of war so urgently needed. The production of
these munitions in France depends almost solely on the quan-
tity of coal that country can get from this country, as the
principal French mines are in the hands of the enemy. The
output of coal in Northumberland is largely sent to France,
so that on the miners of this county rests the tremendous
responsibility of supporting France with the coal required to
produce the absolutely necessary munitions. . . . Every
ounce of coal counts. We must not .desert these comrades
of ours at the moment of their greatest needs.”

Federated Area.

In the Bristol area the coal owners have granted the
application of the minors for a 5 per cent, increase of wages,
and a similar advance has-been arranged in the Somerset
district.

A meeting of the council of the Yorkshire Mirers’ Associa-
tion, at Barnsley, discussed the proposed rules for dealing
with absenteeism, etc. Mr. Smith, who presided, said the
officials were meeting the representatives of the South York-
shire Coal Owners’ Association on Whit-Monday, to ratify
the proposals, with perhaps one slight alteration. The ques-
tion of handing in notices at the Woodend coal and ganister
mines, Loxley Valley, was left in the hands of the officials,
and the branches are to decide whether the men at the New
Darton Main Pit are to be allowed to tender notices, efforts
having failed to settle the dispute.

At branch meetings of miners employed at Lord Elles-
mere’s, Messrs. A. Knowles and Sons, Clifton and Kersley
Coal Company’s, and New. Moss Colliery Company’s pits
last week, resolutions were passed in favour of adopting
drastic measures in order to compel non-union workers in
coal mines to join the union. They complain that these
outsiders are reaping benefits and enjoying privileges which
union miners have fought for during the past 25 or 30
years.

At a meeting of the executive council of the* Lancashire
and Cheshire Miners’ Federation, held last Saturday, it was
reported that several grievances relating to working condi-
tions, which had arisen at certain collieries in the Man.
Chester and Bolton areas, had been amicably adjusted.
Acting on instructions from various branches, the council
announced its intention of taking strong measures to compel
non-unionists in the collieries to join the union. It was
also reported that large numbers of miners in South-East
Lancashire, at their branch meetings, had voted in favour of
starting work at 7 instead of 6 a.m., and finishing at 3
instead of 2 o’clock.

The Lancashire and Cheshire Wages Board has suggested
that not more than two days’ holiday should be taken at
Whitsuntide. The executive council of the Lancashire and
Cheshire Miners’ Federation has accepted the suggestion.

Scotland.

Monday was observed as a holiday at all the mines in
Fifeshire, the occasion being the annual “ gala ” day.
Generally, two days are taken, but in view of the present
circumstances, only one day was officially given.

The Kirkintilloch and Twechar Miners’ Association have
deliberated upon the altered circumstances brought about by
the Daylight Saving Act, as a result of which it was stated
that miners lost one or two hours’ sleep. It was decided to
approach the management of the district collieries to alter
the hours to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

In the June report of the Associated Iron Moulders of Scot-
land, Mr. John Brown, the,general secretary, states that the
income for the month ending with May 13 was £2,162, and
the expenditure £1,679, showing a gross increase on the four
weeks of £483. The income represented a decrease of £27
as compared with the previous month, and the expenditure a
decrease of £154. The membership was 7,566, being an
increase of 13.

The iron founders of the Liverpool district have made a
claim for an advance of 2d. per hour in their wages, and the
question has been referred to Sir George Gibb.

At Newcastle, the north-east coast engineering employers
met representatives of all trades in the engineering industry,
relative to an application by the men for an advance in wages.
The application was referred to the central conference to be
held at York in the early part of this month.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.

REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Cory (Wm.) and Son Limited.—The’ report of Wm. Cory
and Son for the year ended March 31 states .that the net profit,
after providing for excess profits duty and charging all
expenses and cost of maintenance, and making ample and
special provision for further maintenance charges and depre-
ciation, is £453,136, which, with £58,230 brought forward,
makes £511,367. After providing for interest on mortgage
debenture stock and debentures, and writing off the loss on
conversion of Consols into War Loan stock, there remains a
balance of £461,048. The directors recommend that £100,000
be applied to the reserve account; that £30,000 be carried
to the staff pensions fund; that £25,000 be set aside as a
special war fund, to be used to the extent considered neces-
sary in the discretion of the directors; a final dividend of 6 per
cent, on the ordinary shares and on the employees’ shares
ranking for dividend for the full year, making 10 per cent,
for the year, together with a bonus of 5 per cent. : a dividend
at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, together with a bonus
at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum on the employees’ shares
ranking for dividend for the three months ended March 31,
1916; and carrying forward £88,970.

Foster (William) and Company Limited.—The report states
that the net profits were £36,118, and £3,317 was brought
in. Dividends at rate of 6 per cent, per annum (7 per cent,
for the 14 months) are recommended on both preference and
ordinary shares, a bonus of 3 per cent, being paid to the staff,
£11,549 placed to a reserve fund, and £19,164 carried for-
ward, subject to directors’ remuneration and excess profits
duty.

Gwaun-cae-Gurwen Colliery Company Limited. — An
interim dividend of 6d. per share has been paid on the fully-
paid ordinary shares, and 3d. per share on the partly-paid
ordinary shares, both free of tax.

Maltby Main Colliery Company Limited.—Dividend of 5
per cent.

Pease and Partners Limited.—The trading profits for the
year ended April 30 were £490,515, and after providing for
debenture interest and other prior charges, adding £5,000 to
the pension fund, and writing £54,555 off plant, the net
profits were £356,467, while £62,243 was brought forward.
Final dividends of 22s. per share on the ordinary and
deferred shares are recommended, making 30s. per share (15
per cent.) on each class for the 12, months, setting aside
£25,469 for special expenditure, and £45,000 for renewals
postponed and reorganisation necessitated by the war, adding
£70,000 to the reserve, and carrying forward £83,241.

NEW COMPANIES.

Alexander (George H.) Engineering Company Limited.—
Private company. Registered office, 34, Waterloo-street,
Birmingham. Registered June 1. Nature of business indi-
cated by title. Nominal capital, £15,000 in 5,000 £1 pre-
ference shares, and £10,000 £1 ordinary shares. First
directors : G. H. Alexander (chairman), 83-84, Coleshill-
street, Birmingham, engineer; H. W. Alexander, 83, Bun-
bury-road, Northfield, Birmingham, engineer; and A. H.
Alexander.

Brealey (W.) and Company Limited .—Private company.
Registered office, Love-street, Sheffield. Registered May 29.
To acquire the business carried on under the style of W.
Brealey and Company, and the business of J. H. Thickett,
Tenter-street, Sheffield ; and to carry on business of general
engineers, metal founders, etc. Nominal capital, £2,000 in
2,000 £1 shares. Directors and subscribers (one share each) :
W. Brealey, J. Kirkmann, and J. H. Thickett. Qualifica-
tion of directors, £250.

Mander and Company Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered office, 125,- Hockley-hill, Birmingham. Registered
May 31. To purchase business of electric and mechanical
engineer carried on at above address; installers and suppliers
of electricity for light, heat, and motive power. Nominal
capital, £2,000 in 2,000 £1 -ordinary shares. First perma-
nent directors and subscribers (one share each) : A. F.
Mander and J. E. Burdall.

Parsons Green Foundry Limited.—Private company. Regis-
tered June 2. To carry on business of brass and iron

founders, mechanical engineers, manufacturers of machinery
and explosives, tool makers, etc. Nominal capital, £4,500
in 4,500 £1 shares. Directors : S. F. Tyler, J. E. M.
Eransccmbe, and H. N. Stowers.

Rapid Construction and Engineering Company Limited.—
Private company. Registered office, 13, St. Helen’s-place,
E.G. Registered June 2. Nature of business indicated by
title. Nominal capital, £10,000 in 10,000 £1 shares. Sub-
scribers (one share each) : E. G. Nisbet and W. H. Priestley.

Regent Shears Limited.—Private company. Registered
June 1. Ito carry on business of manufacturers and suppliers
of sheet metal, working machinery, press tools, etc. Nominal
capital, £2,000 in 2,000 £1 shares. First directors and sub-
scribers (one share each) : J. Flower and F. Mason.

Taylor (W. A.) Limited.—Private company. Registered
May 30. To carry on business of manufacturers of muni-
tions of war, mechanical engineers, boiler makers, tool
makers, etc. Nominal capita], £2,000 in 1.700 £1 founders’
shares and 300 £1 ordinary shares. First directors and sub-
scribers (one ordinary share each) : R. E. B. Trevor and
H. W. Johnson.

This list of new companies is taken from the Daily
Register specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons
Limited company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.G

MINING AND OTHER NOTES.

Sir Geo. T. Beilby, F.R.S., whose knighthood was one of
the recent Birthday Honours, is the discoverer and patentee
of processes which have revolutionised many departments of
industry. Early in his career he patented the Young and
Beilby retort for the manufacture of mineral oil from shale,
which restored the then languishing mineral oil industry of
Scotland to one of primary importance. He holds many dis-
tinctions in the field of science, including the fellowship of
.the Royal Society, the Institute of Chemistry, the Chemical
Society, and the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Mr. George Whitehouse, coal merchant, Wrexham, who
recently'died, has left estate valued at £2,363.

Owing to the shortage of coal in Sweden, experiments are
.being resumed on the carbonisation of peat, which has for
some years past occupied many men’s attention both in
Europe and America. It is now reported that one of the
Swedish investigators, a M. Rygaard, of Lands'krona, has
succeeded in constructing a new retort capable of extracting
20 per cent, more gas from peat than is obtainable from the
best gas coal per ton. This turf gas has a heating power only
one-fourth less than that of coal gas. It abounds in benzol,
and ammonia can be obtained in considerable quantity. If
the promise can be fulfilled in actual working, on a larger
scale, fuller details will be awaited with much interest. No
particulars have yet come to hand about the method and cost
of drying the material, which has hitherto been so great an
obstacle to the successful embodiment of the idea of making
gas from peat.

The completion of the railway extension from’ Julfa to
Tabreez, Persia, will facilitate the opening up of various
mines, chiefly copper and wolfram, which have not been
developed so far on account of transportation difficulties.
Possibly the line will be extended to Teheran.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department gives
notice in the London Gazette that on May 15, 1916, he made
an Order entitled “ The Safety Lamps Order of May 15,
1916 ” (in pursuance of section 33 of the Coal Mines Act,
1911). . The effect of the Order is :—(a) To approve the
following safety lamps: Best’s “Excelsior” lamp, No. 3;
Best’s “gauzeless” lamps, No. 1 and No. 1a ; “ Brestwich
patent Protector 08” lamp; Rothwell and Company’s
“A3R,” “B3,” “ RC3,” “ D3,” and . “ E3 ” lamps;
Teale’s Mueseler or Thornburry No. 6 and No. 6a lamps;
Teale’s No. 1 miner’s electric safety lamp. (5) To make
certain amendments to the schedules to previous safety lamps
Orders.

Scottish Railway Wagons Pooled.—Commencing June 5,
all open goods wagons and all mineral wagons, with the
following exceptions, belonging to the" three southern Scottish
companies'—the Caledonian, North British, and the Glasgow7
and South-Western—have been made available for common
user stock for the purposes of the three companies. The
following are not included in the pool : All six- and eight-
wheel goods wagons, coke wagons, hopper wagons, pig iron
wagons, mineral wagons plated to carry more than 16 tons,
and North British wagons reserved for certain firms whose
names are lettered on the wagons. The wagons that are
coming into the pool, except those North British wagons
lettered “ For local use only,” may be loaded from any
station of the three companies to any station in Scotland or
England. At docks, collieries, and works served by two or
three companies, each company will, as a rule, supply wagons
for the traffic passing to its own line or to places beyond,
and traders will be expected to use the wagons for the traffic
of the company who supplies them.

Coal Shortage in Brazil.—For the first time on record,
Brazil imported more American than British coal last year.
The tonnage of American coal was 635,711, and of British
coal 525,7'56. In the previous year Brazil imported 260,595
tons of American coal, and 1,266,579 tons of coal from the
United Kingdom. Requirements have been cut down by the
reduction in number of steamers calling at Brazilian ports
for bunker coal, by business depression, and by the substi-
tution of wood and oil for coal. The Central Railway of
Brazil, owned by the Government, is gradually changing its
locomotives to oil burners. Stocks, which were large in
normal times, arc practically exhausted, and consumers are
dependent to a greater extent than ever on steady arrivals
from North America and Europe. The American Consul at
Rio Janeiro says in a report just published “ To under-
stand fully the conditions which governed coal purchasing
here as short a time ago as the first days of March, it is
only necessary to state that a certain buyer who had need
of some 1,614 tons of coal, preferably American of high
standard, found practically not 500 tons of American coal in
the country for sale. To be sure, there were over 20,000 tons
afloat, and expected at Rio de Janeiro at various times during
March, but most of this was already secured to meet pending
orders. Finally, the required purchase was made of Welsh
coal at the unheard of rate of 87s. 6d. (21-29 dols.) per ton,
the best terms that the local market could then afford. To-dav
that price has risen to 112s. 6d. (27-37 dols.) per ton c.i.f.
Rio de Janeiro for Welsh coal, and 99s. to 105s, (21-09 dols.
to 25-55 dols.) for American New River.”