320

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

August 18, 1916.

trade union movement in Germany, which had failed to
instil into the German workman’s mind the idea of the right
of citizenship. Mr. Frank Hodges, miners’ agent, said that
the Welsh miners had for the last two years fought for the
rights of citizenship, because the war had not succeeded in
destroying class-antagonism. He wished their guests to go
back to France and assure the workers there that the Welsh
miners would carry on the struggle for industrial rights
whilst they were making sacrifice for their country.

Among the visitors to this district during the past few days
is the Hon. D. Watkins, secretary and Whip of the Labour
party in the Australian Legislature. Mr. Watkins is a
miner,.the son of an emigrant who formerly worked as a
miner in South Wales; and in the Commonwealth Parlia-
ment he represents Newcastle of the Antipodes. He has
come over with nine other Australian representatives on the
invitation of the Empire Parliamentary Association to meet
representatives from other self-governing States of the
Empire, in order to discuss problems arising out of the war;
and, as guests of the Home Government, he and the other
visitors have paid a round of visits to the munition factories,
the Fleet, to the army in France, and elsewhere.

It has been decided by the local committee for supply of
coal to France that a levy of a farthing a ton shall be made
for administration expenses. This charge will be divided
between the colliery proprietor, the exporter, and the ship-
owner, and the levy will date as from July 1, and be appli-
cable to all shipments that have been made to schedule
reports. The local committee had a meeting in Cardiff on
Monday, and drafted certain instructions for the guidance of
the members in carrying out their duties.

On Monday, at Tredegar, nearly 50 workmen were
summoned for absenting themselves from work without
notice, but the facts of the case were not gone into, because
the men agreed to pay a certain amount which would cover
their own cases and also those of 400 men involved in a
recent stoppage. It was the old question of stopping work
upon occasion of a fatal accident that had given rise to the
prosecution. All the men wish to leave the pit on such an
occasion, but the management object, and it was stated in
court that an agreement had now been come to whereby, in
future, when a fatal accident takes place, only the men
employed in that particular district shall leave the pit. It
was said on behalf of the prosecution that the management
gave the men permission in the one district, but that the
men had insisted that all in the pit should cease work.

Mr. Daniel Pryce, formerly a colliery proprietor, of the
firm of Bevan and Pryce, Newport, who died on April 12, left
an estate valued at £233,419, and after specific legacies the
bulk goes to his nephew, Mr. R. J. Pryce Jenkin.

The employees of Bedwas Colliery have contributed £70
to the funds of the Welsh hospital for soldiers at Netley.

The high price of pit timber gives special interest to the
announcement that the German Minister at Stockholm has
issued a revised list of contraband, but although Sweden’s
timber trade loss owing to the war is estimated at several
millions sterling, there is no prospect of greater freedom,
for it is stated that the Germans will sink all ships bound
for enemy ports and carrying contraband—which would
include pit props.

Local ship owners met on Friday at Cardiff to fix rates
for such of the smaller French ports as are not provided for
in the schedule, and it was agreed to fix them propor-
tionately to the schedule. Among the places named are
Gravelines, Duclair, Morlaix, Arcachon, and L’Orient. The
proposals have to be submitted to the French committee
before coming into effect.

There is to be a certain amount of restriction in the supply
of pig iron to steel makers, and South Wales manufacturers
have been in consultation with the Ministry of Munitions
on this subject. The demand for pig iron in South Wales
is all the greater because of the extensions "which have been
made in the different steel works.

Swansea Harbour Trustees have decided to increase the
port charges as from August 1. At their meeting on
Monday they adopted the report of the executive committee,
by which the schedule rates for discharging and storing pit-
props will be increased to 5s. per load, and for delivering
from store to junction to Is. 6^d. per ton, plus in each case
20 per cent. In respect of all work for loading and dis-
charging cargoes there will be an increase of 10 per cent, in
the trustees’ consolidated rates and charges.

Mr. W. R. Hawkins, secretary of the Cardiff local com-
mittee, has received an intimation from Baris, which states :
“ Warn local committees that, owing to difficulties of rail-
way transport caused by military operations, it has been
necessary to reduce considerably, and until further orders
the -shipments of coal to Dunkirk and Calais, unless for-
supply of public service.”	'

Further progress has been made with the negotiations
between dock and harbour representatives and the Govern-
ment Departments as to the amount of dues which are pay-
able, and an early conference will take place upon specific
proposals which the Departments have now submitted for
consideration.

According to the returns of coal exports for the month of
July, Bristol Channel ports shipped 1,554,973 tons, which
compares with 1,280,725 tons in the corresponding month of
last year. Bunker coals shipped totalled 227,260 tons, as
compared with 267,847 tons. The shipments of cargo coal
at Cardiff “ port ” (which includes Penarth and Barry) in
the month exceeded three-quarters of a million tons.

It is stated that the Rock Wood Colliery at Taff’s Well has
now been acquired by Mr. D. R. Llewelyn, of Aberdare. The
taking adjoins, at Nantgarw, that which is held by Mr.
Taylor, and the coal worked at present to the extent of about
200 tons per day, is reported to be of excellent quality.

The annual meeting of the Cardiff Exchange and Office
Company was held on Tuesday, Mr. Stallybrass in the chair.
The balance to credit of revenue account was stated to be
£2,525, and the directors recommended the dividend.of 3
per cent.—which, with the interim paid in January, makes
6 per cent, for the year—leaving a balance of £1,625 to be
carried forward. Mr. Charles Thompson and Mr. John
Elliot were re-elected directors.

Before the Tredegar county court, on Tuesday, came a
case of two colliers who claimed payment of 5s. 4d. for
setting two pairs of timbers. The chairman of the colliery
lodge deposed that for many years working at the particular
colliery in question had been on the “ splitting ” system,
but that in 1913 the management decided to do away with
that system. The workmen objected to the alteration, and
in May last a resolution was passed that they would adhere
to it, and the claim was now made under that old system.

The judge pointed out to the parties that this was a matter
which ought to be brought before the Conciliation Board,
and, finally, both sides adopted this suggestion, and the
case was withdrawn.

There was an interesting function at Burry Port on Satur-
day, when the directors of the newly-formed company, the
Ashburnham Collieries Company, who recently acquired the
Cwm Capel Colliery, witnessed the first journey of coal being
brought to the surface. The company, which was recently
formed, intends to develop the Kenrhos and Caerhedyn veins,
which are better known as the Rhondda No. 3. Satisfactory
progress is being made under the supervision of Mr. W.
P. Thomas. The present gear, -which is temporary, will
haul two to three hundred tons per day, and a modern
electric plant has been purchased. A new power station
will be erected and the work is w^ell in hand.

The South-wTest Wales Munition Court had before -it the
application of a man who wished to leave the service of the
Swansea Harbour Trust and go into employment at a local
patent fuel works. It was stated on behalf of the trustees,
who wished to retain the man, that theirs was a controlled
establishment and a certified occupation, and that there was
a shortage of men to the extent of 30 per cent. For the
applicant, it was pointed out that the fuel wTorks also was a
controlled establishment; and the question then was raised
as to which occupation would best serve the national interest.
The president of the court said that the Harbour Trust was
not only itself controlled, but that a large number of other
controlled establishments depended upon it; so that, if the
Harbour Trust were unable to cope wfith its work owing to
shortage of men, other controlled establishments would
suffer, and, consequently, the national interest must suffer.
The fuel works were not of the same character, and the
decision of the tribunal was that the applicant should remain
with the Harbour Trust rather than remove to the fuel works.

Northumberland and Durham.

Colliery Electrification—Steamer's ” Violent Protest ” to
Pirates—The Woodhorn Disaster—Vice-consulship for
Quaysider.

Sorgt. Charles Purvis, of the Yorkshire Regiment, who
was one of the first half-dozen Whitburn miners to join the
Colours at the outbreak of war, has been awarded the Mili-
tary Medal for services on the field on July 1 and 2. He
was already the possessor of the D.C.M.

Mr. R. J. Weeks has been elected to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of his father, the late Mr. J. G. Weeks,
in the representation of Bedlington Council on the Blyth
Harbour Commission. Mr. Weeks is agent to the Bedling-
ton Coal Company Limited, a position formerly held by his
father.

In consequence of a complaint from the Lan,gley Park
miners’ lodge, the Lanchester Rural District Council has
decided to send a deputation to interview7 the Consett Iron
Company with reference to a nuisance alleged to be pro-
duced at Langley Park by the smoke from the by-product
works.

At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Consett
Iron Company Limited on Saturday last, the Chairman
(Mr. Mark Fenwick) referred to the progress of electrifica-
tion of the company’s collieries. He stated that the com-
pany has now one of the largest electrical installations in the
country, and that this had enabled the use of coal cutters
and conveyors to work seams which otherwise would have
been too costly to work, and, generally, to reduce costs,
thus contributing to the financial stability of the firm. Their
coal output had been 3 per cent, less than in 1915, and 25
per cent, less than in the year before the war, w-hilst the
coke output was 9 per cent, greater than in the previous
year. Though men had worked fairly well at some collieries
they had hardly done all the nation might expect from'them
and at one pit the beginning of the week absenteeism totalled
fully 20 per cent, on the average. The limitation of coal
prices from abroad, coupled with the fixed prices for home
consumption, wmuld seriously curtail their profits. Their
by-product plants were -working satisfactorily, although the
Government had taken all their benzol and fixed a price less
than one-third of its present market value—a not too gene-
rous treatment. Tar was unsaleable, and the company was
using it for fuel. He thought that, although the high water-
mark of prices had been reached and they were largely
Government controlled, there was no reason why they should
not have a fairly good year.

The steamer “ Stobart,” of Sunderland (Capt. Stewart),
with 950 tons of coal, bound from Goole to Jersey, was
mined and sunk. The captain and nine men W’ere saved.

A 'Copenhagen paper states that the steamer ” Valborg,”
which arrived at Randers Harbour from Hartlepool with a
cargo of coal, was stopped by a German torpedo boat and
ordered to surrender. The captain, however, made ” such a
violent protest ” that the German retired.

Mr. Claude B. Palmer, wffio recently retired after 22
years’ active management at Felling Colliery, has been the
recipient of a presentation from the officials of Felling
Colliery and other friends.

A disaster, the Like of which has not occurred in the
county of Northumberland since 1863, overtook 13 workers
in Woodhorn No. 2 pit on Sunday morning last and resulted
in the death of every member of the party. The victims
were : David Armstrong, 46, deputy-overman, married, six
children; Thos. Armstrong, 43, middle overman, married,
two children; Robt. Hindmarsh. 46, deputy-overman,
married, three children; Geo. Marshall, 43, deputy overman,
married; Edward Walton, 48, stoneman, married, seven
children; Ralph Howard, 44, deputy overman, married, five
children; Jos. Hodgson, 38, deputy overman, married;
Daniel Harrison, 38, deputy overman, married; Geo. R.
Hudson, 38, deputy overman, married, twTo children;
Joseph Harrogate, 29, wasteman, single; Walter Hughes,
38, stoneman, married, four children; Geo. Blair, 41, stone-
man, married, five children; and John Geo. Patterson, 21,
putter, single. The men had gone to work in the Main coal
seam, which they reached by means of a drift 290yds. in
length from the Low Main seam, which was 30 fathoms
below the former seam. They were engaged, it is stated,
in timbering and fixing iron girders to maintain the roof on
the left side of the cutting, w-hich, at that part of the seam,
is about 9 ft. high. A violent explosion occurred, wrecking
all that had been done in that part of the seam and bringing
down the roof like an avalanche. Eleven of the men were
dead when reached. In the case of Patterson, his body was
not discovered until nearly 21 hours after the accident. The
two remaining men, Harrison and Hughes, were still living
when found, but succumbed the same day to burns and other
injuries. No explanation of the cause of the disaster will be

possible until the inquest has been held. There could not
have been any shot-firing, the work on wdiich the party was
engaged negativing any possibility of shot-firing being
required. The men were all supplied with safety lamps,
despite the fact that the pit was looked upon as so safe that
candles were almost daily in use, and all the lamps found
are said to be properly locked. The pit is one with reference
to the ventilation of which there has never been any com-
plaint. It is pretty evident that there must have been an
accumulation and an explosion of gas, but how the explosion
came about is not yet known.

As is always the case in such disasters, there was no lack
of willing workers for the rescue, if possible, of the victims.
The -work of rescue was directed by the colliery officials, from.
Mr. E. O. Southern, the agent, onwards. The brigades
from the Ashington and Elswick stations of the Durham and
Northumberland Collieries’ Fire and Rescue Association were
early on the scene, and all that human effort could do to
save the ill-fated thirteen was done "well and done promptly.
The work of rescue was attended by much danger, for the
district was wrecked, the heavy girders being crumpled up
and the timbering reduced to matchwood. Unhappily, all
the fine courage exhibited by the rescuers went unrewarded
by the saving of a single life.

The inquest into the circumstances attending the fatality
was opened on Monday afternoon, and, after evidence of
identification had been taken, adjourned, sine die, in order
that the inspectors might have the fullest opportunity of
investigating the causes of the accident.

Expressions of sympathy and condolence with the rela-
tives of the men who loot their lives have fiow-ed in from all
sources. The ini erment of six of the victims on Wednesday
was the occasion of a great gathering of members of the
mining community, both masters and men, to pay a tribute
of respect to the dead.

It is worthy of note that for over fifty years Northumber-
land has enjoyed practical immunity from such disasters.
Not since March 6, 1863, has there been a parallel to that
which occurred on Sunday last.

On Tuesday, the members of the council of Newcastle and
Gateshead Chamber of Commerce and other Quayside friends
entertained Mr. W. R. Heatley, a well-known coal exporter,
to lunch, as a send-off on tiie occasion of his appointment as
British vice-consul at Odense, Denmark, a post he is to
occupy temporarily. They presented him, through Mr.
George Renwick, with a rose bowl, and gave him a cheque
with which to purchase a present for his wife. Mr. Heatley,
who is a Newcastle Quaysider of 38 years' standing, a
member of the Newcastle City Council, and vice-chairman
of the Corporation Trade and Commerce Committee, stated,
in response, that he was going to a foreign country, but not
to a strange land.

If the financial contribution made by the coal-owning
community in response to the appeals for funds in connection
with war charities could be computed, it would probably be
found that coal had contributed exceedingly generously when
compared with any other industry in the country. A scheme
for Y.M.C.A. huts had scarcely been mooted in Newcastle
the other day, when Sir Wm, Stephenson, who is head of
the Throckley Coal Company Limited, put himself down for
£1,000, whilst Mr. F. Priestman subscribed £500, the
Ashington Coal Company £600, and the Priestman Collieries
£600. Concurrently with this fund is being run an appeal
for a new home for the ” Wellesley ” training ship boys,
whose old vessel was destroyed by fire over two years ago.
Although the connection between such an institution and
coal-owning interests is not one of the most obvious things
in the world, the coal owners have come down handsomely.

Cumberland.

The Cumberland Coal Trade Conciliation Board, which
met at Workington last week, under the chairmanship of
Mr. W. Graham, of Moresby, was unable to agree regarding
the demand of the miners for the provision of explosives free
of cost, and the matter has been referred to Canon Sutton,
the neutral chairman, for settlement.

During an early morning fog last week the steamer
" Skernahan,” owned by the Whitehaven Colliery Com-
pany Limited, came in collision with another boat off Holy-
head and was sunk. All hands were saved. The. ” Sker-
nahan,” formerly known as the ” Cape York,” and 530 tons
register, was built by Messrs. R. Williamson and Son,
Workington. At the time of the collision she was on her
way from Limerick to Whitehaven, light.

At the Allerdale Coal Company’s by-product coke oven
plant at Great Clifton Colliery, near Workington, last week,
a colliery labourer named John Wilson, 54, of Seaton, sus-
tained scalding injuries, from which he died later. The
man was cleaning out the mud drop of a boiler, wThen a
sludge cock had been inadvertently left open, -with the result
that when the boiler attendant came to sludge another boiler
Wilson received the full force of the steam.

Yorkshire.

Neto Mine Projected—Rossington Sinking Practically Com-
pleted—Progress at Hatfield Main.

Notwithstanding the conditions imposed by the war, there
is reason to believe that operations wTill soon be commenced
for the sinking of the Firbeck Main Colliery, on Sir Archi-
bald White’s estate at Wallingwells, near Carlton-in-
Lindrick, Worksop. The sinking at Rossington is practi-
cally completed, and thus a large body of sinkers will be
relieved for the work at Firbeck. The new colliery will be
served by a light railway, to be constructed by the companies
concerned in the South Yorkshire Railway, which now serves
Dinnington, Maltby, Thurcroft. and other neighbouring pits,
and a model village is contemplated w’hen peace comes. The
Dinnington Main Colliery Company are concerned in the
project, and it is further reported that the Harworth Colliery,
which was in process of construction by a German syndicate
up to the outbreak of war, has been taken over by an English
company, and that operations will soon be resumed.

At the Doncaster West Riding Police Court last Saturday,
three pony drivers—Robert Jones. Elijah Sharp, and Thos.
Burke—were prosecuted by the Denaby and Cadeby
Colliery Company for a breach of the Mines Act Regulations.
It was alleged they deliberately started a fall of roof
in the Cadeby Colliery, not only endangering their own
lives, but those of other workmen in the mine. Burke made
Hie excuse that as the roof was loose they pulled it down, as
the material might have burned them. He was reminded
by the chairman that it was his duty to report and not to
touch the roof, and that lads must not take upon themselves
the responsibility of running the mine. It was stated the