September 8, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

455

and industrial spheres when we sheathe the sword, he
said that, so far as one could foresee, England and
Germany would, for some time, be the only two
European nations prepared to take any considerable
part in international trade. The development made by
Japan during the war seemed to indicate that it was
Germany, and not Great Britain, that would have to
bear the brunt of Japanese competition. Small goods
and fancy articles which came freely into our markets
from Germany and Austria before the war were now
being made in Japan. Our commercial success would
depend on getting the utmost possible production out
of our industrial equipment. Foreign competition
would almost certainly be greatly intensified. If, under
such circumstances, we indulged in an internal struggle
between capital and labour, instead of bending our
whole energies to retain and extend our,hold on markets,
we should lose an opportunity which was not likely to
return. And yet there was a widespread expectation
among employers and workpeople that the European
war would be succeeded by serious industrial strife.

So far as the commercial factors are concerned (said
Prof. Kirkaldy), we have almost everything in our
favour. We have not outraged the sentiments of
humanity by employing inhuman methods in waging
war. We have retained our position as the headquarters
of the money market. We have our shipping resources
and equipment practically intact. Our merchants and
exporters are keen and ready to carry on their business
with even greater energy than before the war. We have
arrears to make up, but have the will, and, with har-
mony at home, the ability to carry on a more extended
trade. Our capital has not been seriously affected, and
there are no signs that it will be—our financial estab-
lishments and banks are prepared to do their share.
Turning to Germany, there is a most interesting condi-
tion of affairs to study. If beaten in the war, Germany
will be a poor country; the economic position will be
deplorable, but hardly irreparable. Every section of the
community has already felt to some degree the effects
of the war. When peace comes there will be a deter-
mined attempt to regain the old position. A disciplined
people, acting under a Government that will be com-
pelled by circumstances to foster every possible means
for repairing the broken machine of trade, and for
restoring the national wealth, will, without any doubt,
be prepared to make heavy sacrifices to regain what
has been lost-. German goods for export will be cheap,
and the low price will be still further emphasised by the
depreciation of the mark. For so long as the mark is at
a discount, there will be a pro tanto advantage to export
trade, and although the mark may eventually regain its
par value, a few months or even weeks will have an
appreciable influence on re-opening foreign business.

If England were -seething with industrial friction, he
observed, the advantages she possessed would be neutra-
lised, and her failure a certainty. He urged that a policy
■should be devised in industrial organisation that would
remove causes of friction and assure to our industries a
new era of prosperity.

Industrial Unrest and its Remedies.

The committee appointed to consider industrial unrest
presented a report in which they set out among the causes
the desire for a higher standard of living, the desire of
workpeople to exercise a greater control over their lives,
and to have some determining will as to conditions of
work; the uncertainty of regular employment, the
monotony in employment, suspicion and want of know-
ledge of economic conditions and the effects of war
measures. Among the recommendations, dealing with
the general attitude and outlook of employers and work-
men, was a plea for greater frankness on both sides, and
that the fundamental facts and principles of industrial
and economic life should be known by both. The com-
mittee suggested an improvement in both employers’ and
men’s organisations to determine the conditions under
which the industries should be carried on, the setting up
of permanent joint boards and a joint national board to
which unsettled disputes could be referred. National
federations of trades were advocated from which an
industrial federation could be formed.

Prof. Kirkaldy said they felt that nothing could be
more fatal to the future welfare of the country than the
success of the teaching of a class war, which was a
different thing from the healthy discontent and the
impulse by which a higher standard of living was
demanded. Probably the greatest cause of industrial
unrest was suspicion and want of knowledge of economic
conditions, and the feeling among the people that they
were being exploited.

Sir Hugh Bell pointed out that it was impossible to put
forward -any definite suggestions, because the question
was really in a state of flux. One important thing to
remember was that industrial problems which might have
found a gradual solution in normal times would, after the
war, need urgent and immediate solution. The report,
in effect, simply gave indications as to the directions in
which such a solution might be sought. Sir Hugh
emphasised the futility of looking forward to any scheme
of compulsory arbitration, because neither side would
tolerate the imposition of compulsion from above. Just
as, in his view, our unpreparedness for war had been one
of our great safeguards in entering upon it, so he thought
that within certain wide limits our readiness to examine
the industrial question, and not to come to any conclu-
sion upon it, would be found the best way in which wre
could meet the problems awaiting us.

Partnership Dissolved.—The Edinburgh Gazette announces
dissolution of the partnership of Messrs. R. Walker and T.
H. Large, trading as the Phoenix Electrical Company,
Glasgow. The business relates to electrical and machinery
plant, and Mr. Large will continue it under the existing
title at No. 2, Broomielaw. Mr. Walker will carry on
business on his own account at No. 2, Oswald-street, Glasgow.

HOW TO OIL MINE CARS.*

By R. C. Merchant.

One-fourth to one-half of the power generated at
collieries is used for hauling mine cars. To make these
cars run more easily is, therefore, a matter worth while
considering, with the ultimate aim of lightening the
load on the power plant and also on the animal and
man power. This is best accomplished by a strict and
intelligent attention to the proper lubrication of mine
car axles.

By “ proper lubrication ” is meant not only the selec-
tion of the most suitable lubricant, but also an econo-
mical application of it. What is known as car oil is
the lubricant mostly used, but is seldom properly applied
in the mine cars. Carefulness in car oiling is well
shown in railroad service where a car will run easily
from 1,000 to 3,000 miles on one oiling. If a mine car
makes 50 miles the colliery feels satisfied. It has been
stated that 50 times more oil is wasted through leakage
and careless handling than is actually consumed in
mine car service. At one colliery a little additional
care in handling and applying car oil reduced the cost
35 per cent.; at the same time, better results were
obtained, because the oil, in s mil quantities, was
placed properly and then held ne> . to the axle, instead
of being allowed to drip out of tne journal box to the
road.

Oiling a Mine Car.

Oiling a mine car axle consists of a little nrore than
the mere pouring (or splashing, as is done in some cases)
of car oil into the journal boxes. It means something
besides taking out an old packing and replacing it with
a new one. Furthermore, dropping a big dirty sponge
or ball of wool waste into a barrel of oil, letting it get
over-soaked, then fishing it out with a long stick or hook,
and, while it is dripping and reeking with an over-
abundance of oil, to slap it into the journal box, scatter-
ing and splashing oil everywhere, is not the proper way
to get economical results. The operation should be
done carefully.

Too much oil in the bearing does not add to the easy
running of a car. The only portion of the oil that is
really effective in lubrication is the very thin film that
lies between the two rubbing surfaces in the bearing
around the axle shaft. The rest of the oil acts as a
reserve to replace this film as it is used up. Too much
of this excess becomes a flagrant waste, for the oil is
either splashed or spilled out of the box while the cars
are in motion, or else it leaks out wdiile the cars are
standing still, and is thus lost before it is given a chance
to do useful work.

Eliminating Dirt.

Another important fact which dilatory car oilers over-
look is that dirt, sand, grit, or coal dust must be kept
out of the journal boxes. The smallest particle of sand
will cut the bearing and add considerably to its friction.
Often dirt will enter the box with a new packing or
through an oil hole. In boxes provided with oil holes
it is not altogether uncommon to find the oil-way so
choked with dirt that the oil does not even reach the
bearing. Oil holes should have a cover to keep out the
dirt; pieces of old belting or canvas answer the purpose
very wrell.

In handling the oil itself great care should be taken
to keep it also free from grit and dirt. The containers
and oil cans should be kept absolutely clean; and before
the packing is soaked in oil it should be examined for
grit. If any is discovered, the packing should be washed
out thoroughly or not used.

Right Kind of Packing.

There are many kinds of packing in use, namely—
Mexican sea grass, discarded Manila rope, sponges,
cotton waste, and woollen waste. The last-named,
perhaps, is better than any of the others. Wool waste
is springy, and will lie loosely in the box with its stray
ends coming in contact with the journal. It absorbs
the oil and lets it out gradually as needed like the wick
of an oil lamp.

Cotton waste is not a good packing, because it gets
soggy and sags down in the box, falling away from the
journal; it also has a tendency to glaze when in contact
with the revolving axle, thus preventing the flow of the
oil. Neither Mexican grass nor discarded rope will
absorb oil; the only feature in their favour is that they
keep the oil from running out of the box. In a short
time the grass becomes chopped up into fine bits, and
must be removed and thrown away, causing a consider-
able w’aste of oil. Wool waste and sponges will last
indefinitely, if old packings are saved and washed out
or run through an oil extractor.

Preparing Journal Packing.

In preparing wool waste packing, first examine the
material carefully and free it from dirt or grit. Then
tear it apart and form into small balls of the proper size
to fill the journal box; or, what is better still, divide the
wool into two or three separate smaller balls (golf size).
Drop these into a saturating tank made of metal, which
should be specially provided for soaking the waste. The
oil in the tank should be warmed to a temperature of
70 to 80 degs. Fahr. This may be accomplished by a
judicious location of the tank near a steam line. But
that is one reason why a barrel is not suitable; the wood
may warp, and thus permit the oil to run away.

A wire screen or wire basket should be fitted in the
tank for draining the wool after it has been thoroughly
saturated. At least 24 hours should be allowed for the

* Lehigh Valley Employes' Magazine.

waste to soak in the oil before it is lifted out on the
screen, where it should lay for several hours in order to
let the surplus oil drain back into the tank. From
the screen or basket the packing is then removed and
put into a pail or bucket ready for use.

BOOK NOTICES.

Welfare Work : Employers’ Experiments for Improving
Working Conditions in Factories. By E. Dorothea
Proud ; with a foreword by the Right Hon. David Lloyd
George. 363 pp. 8 in. x 5| in. London: G. Bell
and Sons Limited; 1916. Price, 7s. 6d. net.

This book constitutes No. 49 of the series of mono-
graphs by writers connected with the London School of
Economics and Political Science, edited by Hon.
Pember Reeves. The authoress is the senior travelling
lady inspector in the Welfare Department of the
Ministry of Munitions. The object of the book is set
forth by Mr. Lloyd Geoi ge. It is written to promote
the health and well-being of workers. He says :
“Welfare supervision is no new thing, either in this
country, in the Dominions, or in America. Beginning
with a view mainly to the well-being of the employed,
it gradually became evident that welfare supervision was
equally beneficial to the employer, particularly in works
employing women.” Consequently, an organised
system has come into existence, and is rapidly embrac-
ing national factories and ‘‘ controlled ” establishments
throughout the country. Miss Proud has had unequalled
opportunities for acquiring first-hand knowledge of this
kind of work, and the information she provides cannot
fail to be of the greatest use to employers and others
who are interested in promoting the welfare of our
workers. The examples quoted are mainly taken from
English factories, where this movement has been con-
spicuously successful, and is still growing.

In an introduction, the authoress defines welfare work
as consisting of voluntary efforts on the part of employers
to improve within the existing industrial system the
conditions of employment in their own factories. She
. points out that this excludes any operations involving
a fundamental change in the existing system, although
it is not implied that welfare work can only be carried
on under the present system, or that the system itself
is necessary or permanent. Thus, it excludes profit-
sharing and co-partnership, because these would con-
stitute modifications of the capitalistic system. A
chapter is then given to the social function of the
employer in a capitalistic State. This function is
defined to be the demonstration of the practicability of
improved conditions of employment. It is acknowledged
that the best employers have played a fundamental part
in raising the workers’ standard of life. The employers’
influence is traced in respect to factory legislation. It
is pointed out that legislation by experts leaves large
gaps, which can only be filled up by individual efforts
of employers. Miss Proud’s account of the rise and
growth of factory legislation is an interesting study in
social economics. Strange as it may appear at first
sight, welfare work has not always been received with
general favour by the workers themselves, or, rather,
we should say. by the leaders of the various trade unions,
who are afraid lest too much content should bring about
that industrial peace which would weaken the hold of
the unions upon the working classes. A chapter is
devoted to the discussion of this aspect of the subject.
Considerable space is given to the details of welfare
work both in regard to the industrial environment and
also in respect to the physical well-being of the workers,
including health, recreation, food, baths and gymnasia,
housing, and education. The authoress proceeds to show
that even with the best intention, an employer cannot
unassisted care adequately for his workers’ welfare. He
needs the services of an expert, and this welfare secre-
tary must possess business capacity, knowledge of the
work, sympathy, and tact. This secretary, whether man
or woman, is to carry out many important duties, includ-
ing a general supervision over wages and the hours of
workers, superintending all matters concerning their
instruction, health, recreation, and other things, being
generally responsible for discipline in the factory, and,
although appointed by the employer, is to be guide,
counsellor, and friend of the worker. All these things
are discussed at length in this volume, which we com-
mend to the attention of employers generally, whether
in a large or small way of business.

The Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of
Trade, 73, Basinghall-street. E.C., has received applications
from firms in this country who desire to get into touch with
British manufacturers of iron and steel hoops (thin gauge)
for packing cases, and makers of apparatus for producing
liquid air.

Machine Tools as War Materials.—The Ministry of Muni-
tions has issued an Order under the Defence of the Realm
Regulations, which schedules as war material all machine
tools and machinery driven by power and suitable for use in
cutting, stamping, and working metals. These include
lathes, milling machines, drilling machines, planers, shapers,
screw .machines, chucking machines, boring machines, slotting
machines, grinding machines, boring and turning mills,
power presses, punching and shearing machines, forging
machines, cutting-off machines, gear-cutting machines, and
centring machines. The Minister further gives notice (I)
that he permits all persons until further notice to purchase
or enter into negotiations for the purchase of the war material
referred to in the above Order, provided that such purchase
or negotiations are from or with persons holding a special
permit from the Minister to sell such war material, and not
otherwise; (2) that he permits the insurance of any such war
material. All applications for a special permit should be
addressed to the • Director of Machine Tools. Armament-
buildings, Whitehall-place, S.W.