October 20, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

765

settlement, have now pressed for a ballot to be taken as to
whether notices shall be handed in, and this step has been
assented to by the miners’ council for Derbyshire.

The Midlands.

Sequel of New Union—Staffordshire's Deplorable Absen-
teeism—Fire in Old Workings.

A case .relating to two miners’ unions was heard at Walsall
last week. Abraham Clarke, a miner, sued the West Can-
nock Colliery for 14 days’ wages in lieu of notice. It -was
stated by counsel for the plaintiff that on the death of Mr.
Albert Stanley, M.P., secretary of the Cannock Chase Miners’
Association, friction arose, which resulted in a new associa-
tion, called the Mid-Staffordshire Association, being formed,
and plaintiff was the secretary of the new body. He now
claimed wages in lieu of notice, on the ground that when he
and a friend presented themselves for work at defendants’
colliery, they were stopped, the general manager asking them
“ not to play the fool,” but to stick to the parent union.
They were not allowed to work again, and were joined by
five other men, making a total of seven, who were not
allowed to work. A show of hands was taken at the pithead
against the men going down. The judge ultimately found
that plaintiff left his work on his own account, and gave a
verdict for the defendants, with costs. In the second case
a similar judgment was given, and the other cases were not
proceeded with.

Speaking at a meeting of miners’ delegates in the Old Hill
district, the agent, Mr. Samuel Edwards, referred to the fact
that absenteeism in the mines in the centre of Staffordshire
was the worst in the country, reaching as high a figure as
17 per cent. Fortunately, that regrettable state of things
did not refer to the mines in South Staffordshire and East
Worcestershire. Having the power to visit and inspect
mines, he had gone thoroughly into the question, and he
could assure them that there were more difficulties to con-
tend with in their area than in any other coal field in Great
Britain. The high percentage of absenteeism was not all
the fault of the men, much being due to bad management, as
well as bad conditions. If the men had the same conditions
as some other districts, he questioned if there would be more
than 5 per cent, of absenteeism. A resolution was passed
urging miners, in view of the nation’s necessity, to regularly
attend theitr work, so as to prevent the introduction of further
legislation for the alteration of the age limit of boys employed
in mines.

An outbreak of fire occurred in some old workings of the
Newdigate Colliery, Bed worth, and two men—John Brown,
deputy, and William Randle, overman—died from carbon
monoxide poisoning when engaged in rescue work. Apparently
they thought they had returned to fresh air on seeing the
lights at the base, and unscrewed the mouthpieces of the
annaratus they wore. They were seen to drop on their knees.
Assistance was given as quickly as possible, but the two men
soon succumbed. At the inquest last week, reference was
made to previous fires in these old workings, and Mr. J.
Pattison, manager, said that fires W’hich existed had been
bricked off, but they were not sufficiently bricked off. “ It’s
the sins of our forefathers for.which we are suffering to-day,”
he added.

Kent.

The amount of coal raised at Tilmans'tone Colliery last
week was 2,404 tons. This colliery has now overtaken the
output of the Snowdown pits.

Bricking was continued throughout last week in the deep
sinking at Snowdown Colliery, 76 ft. more of the shaft being
lined—from 2,539| ft. to 2,606J ft. Sinking has now been
resumed from the 2,610 ft. level.

Scotland.

A New President—Colliery Stoppage—New Pits at Whit-
burn—Question of Medical Attendance—Wage Increase
Problems.

Mr. M. Brown, general manager of the Shotts Iron Com-
pany, has been elected president of the Association of Mining
Electrical Engineers. Mr. Brown was for three years presi-
dent of the West of Scotland branch of the association. Prior
to receiving his present appointment with the Shotts Iron
Company, he was general manager of the Banknock Coal
Company.

The new colliery of Kinglassie, owned by the Fife Coal
Company, has been worked by a greatly .reduced number
of men since the war broke out. Intimation has now been
made by the management that a further stoppage of the
working of the coal field will take place immediately. It is
understood that only one machine run and a few stone mines
are to be kept going.

Mr. J. Sharpe, under-manager of one of the Lindsay pits
in Fife, has taken up a similar position in the Bishopbriggs
district, near Glasgow. Prior to his departure from Fife,
both Mrs. Lindsay and he were the recipients of gifts from
the workmen.

Satisfactory progress is being made with the work of
laying down plant and machinery at the new pits near Whit-
burn, belonging to Messrs. Dixon Limited. At the same
time, preparations are being made for the erection of a large
number of workmen’s houses, and already a number of these
are nearing completion. Once the pits are sunk and fully
developed, employment will be assured to a considerable
number of men.

In connection with the outbreak of fire at Hamilton Palace
Colliery, where the winding engine was completely destroyed,
temporary arrangements have been made, with the approval
of the mines inspector, for maintaining the output. The
proposal is to use one of the shafts as an escape, and to
double-shift the other pit. By this means it is hoped to keep
all the men at work, and to maintain the normal output of
coal until a new winding engine is obtained.

At a joint meeting of the Colliery and Public Works
Surgeons Committee for Scotland and the executive of the
Scottish Colliery Engine and Boilermen’s Association in
Glasgow, the following finding was arrived at in connection
with the rate for medical attendance :—It is agreed between
these committees that the rate for medical attendance upon the
dependants of the members of the Scottish Colliery Engine
and Boilermen’s Association should be at the rate of 3d. per
week per worker, inclusive of medicine, and 2|d. per week
per member, exclusive of medicine. That the question of
medicine be determined in this wise, namely—that where it
is the custom in an area (as in Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire,

Dumbartonshire, Stirlingshire, West Lothian, and East
Lothian) for the doctors to supply medicine, the dependants
of the association’s members resident in these areas will be
supplied with medicine, and the rate shall be 3d., and that
in all other areas, namely, Clackmannan, Kinross, Fife, and
Midlothian, the rate shall be 2|d. per week, without
medicine. If the mechanics employed at collieries desire to be
included, they shall obtain the benefit of this agreement.

The Dunfermline burgh assessments for 1915-16 show a
heavy reduction over 1914-15. In 1914-15 the amount from
royalty of the coal worked belonging to the burgh was 1-3,862,
whereas only 1-2,117 was got in 1915-16.

An interesting case has just been decided in Ayr Sheriff
Court. The action was at the instance of an Auchinleck
miner against Messrs. Wm. Baird and Company Limited.
Two important points were decided :—(1) Whether from
benching to mining was a change of grade; and (2) whether
the pursuer was entitled to benefit by the increases in miners’
wages. The pursuer contended that both questions should be
answered in the affirmative, and the Sheriff has upheld his
contention on both points. In the course of his interlocutor,
the Sheriff-Substitute says that- the wages of miners had
increased considerably since the date of the accident, and the
pursuer appeared to be a steady workman, and, if uninjured,
would have earned much more than the average rate of
increase. There was thus a change of circumstances justi-
fying an increase in the amount of compensation during the
second period of total incapacity.

The record was closed by Sheriff Neish at Dundee in an
action dealing with the price of coal. The North British
Anthracite Company, Glasgow, sued Jas. S. Hood and Com-
pany, coal merchants, Dundee, for £290 18s. 6d., being price
of 44 tons 4 cwt. of treble nuts at 17s. per ton; 8 tons 11 cwt.
Dewish coal at 22j. per ton; and 278 tons 16 cwt. Blairhall
house coal at 17s. 6d. per ton, sold and delivered by pursuers
to defenders. The defenders aver that these coals were
bought at the pit mouth, and that the transactions referred
to fall under and are ruled by section 1 of the Price of Coal
(Limitation) Act, 1915, and that the coals were sold and
bought subject to the conditions of that Act. The defenders
state that in or about April 1914 the price of treble nuts was
12s. per ton, Dewish coal 17s. 6d. per ton, and Blairhall
house coal 12s. 6d. per ton, and, consequently, in terms of
said Act, the highest prices defenders were bound to pay were
16s., 21s. 6d., and 16s. 6d. per ton respectively, being 4s.
in excess of the corresponding price. The defenders admit
owing £271, which they say is the price of the coal supplied
calculated in terms of the said Act, and this sum they have
paid.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Conciliation Board on Monday had before it an appli-
cation from the workmen’s representatives, their desire being
that the joint audit of the coal owners’ books should be
widely extended. At present, the audit is confined to the
question of prices received for the sale of coal; and because
their recent applications for increase of wages have not been
successful—the employers establishing against them a strong
case upon the increased cost of production—they wish to go
into the detail under this heading so that their own accountant
may give his figures as to the difference in the cost of pro-
duction. The contention of the men before the independent
chairman was that, by the figures on the actual sale, they
were entitled to an advance; but the case for the employers
was stronger, in that they demonstrated the cost of produc-
tion to have increased so much, that those higher prices did
not justify an addition to the wage rate. Mr. F. L. Davis,
chairman of the owners’ side, stated that they could not agree
to any such extension — the members of the Goal Owners’
Association objecting to an audit of their books by the work-
men’s accountant. Moreover, at the present time, it would
not be possible to agree to joint audit, as the same collieries
and the same items must be taken into account on each
occasion for the purpose of comparison.—Upon another ques-
tion which came before the Board, the owners agreed with
the men, namely—that a joint deputation should approach
the Government in order to secure supply of explosives for
the workmen at a cheaper price.—Another application by the
workmen’s representatives was that workmen employed at
the Standard Colliery should not be prosecuted in respect of
the recent stoppage; but the employers replied that, after
careful consideration, they could not accede to this request.

The Merthyr district of miners, at their meeting on
Saturday, decided that they would not send representatives
to London for the conference which the Prime Minister will
address on the question of absenteeism — their conviction
being that the plan suggested by the authorities for dealing
with the matter was impracticable. Complaints were
brought to the meeting as to the non-payment of the minimum
wage to boys employed in the local collieries, it being stated
that men employed boys in many instances, but did not pay
the standard rates as laid down by the late independent
chairman. It was decided that in cases where settlement
could not be arrived at, this matter should be taken to court.

North of England.

When Edward Baker, Henry Brown, Hugh McGorrigan,
Jacob Storey, Thomas Scott, and George Walker were charged
at Castle Eden with having absented themselves from work,
Mr. Edward Bell, prosecuting, stated that these men had
absented themselves, notwithstanding the efforts the Absen-
teeism Committee had made to persuade all men at the pits
to do their duty in support of the men who had gone to the
war. Monday was the worst day, and, taking four Mondays,
there were 25 per cent, of the hewers absent. On one parti-
cular Monday, 181 men were not at work. Damages to the
extent of 20s. were claimed from each man. Four defendants
pleaded illness, and another the loss of a son at the front.
The magistrates, however, made an order for the amounts
claimed, with costs, in each case.

In our issue of October 6, we reported in this column the
prosecution of four men employed at Messrs. Walter Scott’s
coke ovens, Trimdon Grange, for having absented themselves
from work. Each man was ordered to pay 10s., and 6s. 6d.
costs. The case had its sequel on Saturday last in the
prosecution of three men and two boys for having wrong-
fully absented themselves from work on the same occasion.
Mr. Geipel explained that the present defendants had not
been charged along with the others because, in that event,
the whole of the coke ovens would have to stand idle. Mr.
C. M. Dix, defending, argued that the complainants could not
split their claim in that fashion. The magistrates decided
that no further action could now be taken.

The Northumberland miners’ application for an increased
war bonus for men earning the minimum wage was duly
put before the county coal owners on Saturday. The owners
intimated that the request should have their consideration.

Coal trimmers employed on that part of the north-east
coast extending from Amble to the Hartlepools have been
conceded an increase in wages of 12J per cent., in response
to an application for an advance of wages of 30 per cent.

Northumberland magistrates at Newcastle on Wednesday,
ordered six miners to pay damages for having absented them-
selves from work at Seaton Burn Colliery on various days.
It was stated that the amounts claimed were only nominal
—being at the rate of 5s. per man per day—and that the
actual damage represented a considerable sum. The men
had all been before the local Absenteeism Committee, which
had power to impose fines. Fines had been imposed, but
apparently without effect, for the men had repeatedly absented
themselves. Their absences had caused a loss of profit, as
well as a reduction of the output. The damages awarded
were as follow :—From Robert Denham, £3 10s.; Charles
Beach, Charles Mason, and Clem Mason, £2 10s. each; John
Tubman, £2; and George Nicholson, £1 15s.—At the same
court, George Wardle, Charles Wardle, Robert Richardson,
Edward Morris, and Samuel Bradley were each ordered to
pay 5s. per day in respect of similar loss of time at Hazlerigg
Colliery. The first four had been absent on October 2 and 3,
and Bradley on September 28. The chairman remarked that
it was disgraceful that men should lie off work in war time.
—On the same day, the Morpeth magistrates ordered Anthony
Russell, in the employ of the Ashington Coal Company
Limited, to pay £4 and costs for absenteeism, and David
Slonsby, in the same employ, £5 and costs for a like
offence. Each of the men, it was stated, had been twice
before the Absenteeism Committee, and had given no satisfac-
tory explanation of his absence.

The Cumberland Miners’ Association has issued a balance-
sheet, showing that so far £3,947 had been collected from
the miners and officials of the county towards the motor
ambulance scheme.

A joint deputation of masters and men engaged in the
Cumberland iron ore industry was received in conference at
the Ministry of Munitions on Saturday, when questions
relating to production and wages were discussed. The
proceedings were private.

Federated Area.

Mr. H. Smith presided at a meeting of the council of the
Yorkshire Miners’ Association at Barnsley. Satisfaction was
expressed at the fact that a settlement had been come to in
the war bonus dispute at Messrs. Hy. Briggs, Son and Com-
pany Limited’s collieries. Mr. H. W. Hargreaves, the
managing director, had intimated his willingness to remedy
any wrong. Permission was granted to the men working at
Low Stubbin new- pit and at the Stetley and Shireoaks
Colliery to ballot on the question of giving notice to secure
the reinstatement of one man in each case. The men at
Birkenshaw Colliery, Cleckheaton, were granted permission
to tender 14 days’ notice to enforce a settlement of a question
arising on the price charged for house coal. The men at
Monckton Main Colliery are to ballot on the question of
tendering notice owing to a dispute respecting the quality of
house coal. Out-of-work pay was granted to the men at
Rossington Main, owing to a breakdown of machinery, and
lock-out pay was granted to the lads and surface workers
at Rotherham Main, through loss of work owing to the action
cf the underground men.

The council of the Derbyshire Miners’ Association, at
Chesterfield, has decided that out-of-work pay should be
allowed to the men and the boys affected by the dispute at
Bond’s Main Colliery. The council deputed Mr. Frank Hall,
the general secretary, to communicate writh Mr. Charles
Markham, chairman of the Staveley Coal and Iron Com-
pany Limited, stating that the central committee, -which is
composed of representatives from all the Staveley Company’s
lodges, wetre prepared to meet Mr. Markham at his own con-
venience to discuss the Bond’s Main dispute. In the mean-
time, the various lodges under the Staveley Company are to
be given permission to take a ballot of their members on the
question of giving notice to cease work, to enforce a settle-
ment of the dispute at Bond’s Main by submitting the
matter to arbitration.

Scotland.

The executive of the National Union of Scottish Mine
Workers met in the Christian Institute, Glasgow, when the
question of surfacemen’s wages wras under discussion. After-
wards the men had a conference on the subject with the
representatives of the coal masters, but no decision was
reached.

A communication, signed by Mr. Robert Smillie (presi-
dent) and Mr. Robert Brown (secretary) of the Scottish
Miners’ Union, has been sent to the Scottish masters’ secre-
tary, asking for an increase in the miners’ wages throughout
Scotland. On the minimum basis 25 per cent, is claimed,
which is about Is. per day. The present wage in Scotland
is 10s. per shift. The last increase was obtained in August.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The engineers in the Hartlepool district, it is announced,
have applied for a war bonus of 6s. per week.

In his October report to the members of the Steam Engine
Makers’ Society, the general secretary (Mr. W. F. Dawtry)
warns engineers against imagining that it is the employer
who “ is the only real enemy on the skilled worker's
flanks.” Mr. Daw’try continues : “ We need not, however,
be at all pessimistic upon the position as it stands, providing
we do not allow ourselves to be led awTay by empty and
cant phrases in the face of the tactics pursued by such bodies
as the National Union of Railwaymen, Transport Workers,
Miners’ Federation, and the like whenever opportunitv
offers.”

Between 4,000 and 5,000 trade union engineers in the
Bolton district have applied for an increase in wages. Men
employed on regular wages want 10s. per week more, and
those engaged on piecework ask for proportionate increases.
Negotiations have been proceeding between the employers’
and men’s unions, but at the time of writing no settlement
had been arrived at.

Swedish Exports.—An announcement has been issued by
the Swedish Export Association, declaring that Swedish
exporters are now allowed, without regard to prohibitions
in the Swedish Commercial War Law, to sign new special
certificates of origin for goods for Great Britain and the
Colonies. Such certificates are to be had at the British
Legations.