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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

October 27, 1916.

The Midlands.

Secretary's Long Service—Electricity in Mine Haulage—
High Percentage of Absenteeism.

Mr. Daniel Jones, of Wolverhampton, who has been secre-
tary of the South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire
Mining Accident Fund since February 23, 1878, notified the
committee that he proposed to resign office in .December. In
his letter, Mr. Jones, who is over 80 years of age, stated his
health was failing.

At the monthly meeting of the South Staffordshire and
East Worcestershire Colliery Under-Managers’ Association at
Dudley on Saturday, Mr. F. Lane (Brierley Hill) lectured
on “ Mechanical Mine Haulage,” illustrated by blackboard
sketches and actual specimens of rollers and grips. He
observed that although compressed air was a good medium,
its loss in many instances was as much as 50 per cent, of
its available power. Electricity was, therefore, more
universal, and could be adapted with ease to the majority of
mines.

The iNorth Staffordshire Colliery Owners’. Association have
prepared statistics showing the high rate of absenteeism
among miners in the local coal field. In the period July 17
to December 25, 19.15, the greatest number of shifts lost
in one week was 21,623, giving a percentage of shifts lost
of 22-31; and the smallest number of shifts lost in one week
was 12,986, giving a percentage of 10*84. In the period
January 1 to September 9, 1916, the highest number of shifts
lost in one week was 25,521, giving a percentage of shifts
lost of 21-12, while the lowest number of shifts lost in one
week was 14,454, giving a percentage of 11*39.

Kent.

At Tilmanstone Colliery last wTeek, 2,464 tons of coal were
raised, being the largest amount in any week since the colliery
was re-opened. The manager, Mr. A. Wroe, who has been
away for a month’s holiday to recuperate after an accident,
has returned much improved in health, and resumed his
duties.

The deep sinking in'No. 2 pit at Snowdown Colliery last
week was taken down a further 26| ft.—from 2,611ft. to
2,637J ft.—this being by far the best result achieved in any
one week for months pa-st. The sinking was through easier
ground.

A considerable section of the East Kent Light Railways,
built in connection with the collieries, has now been opened,
sanction having been given by the Board of Trade. In addi-
tion to coal and goods, these railways are also carrying
passenger traffic. The line opened is from Shepherdswell
(on the main South-Eastern and Chatham Railway), through
Eythorne, Tilmanstone (where the East Kent Colliery is
situated), Eastry, Woodnesborough (where colliery works
were started, but have been held up owing to the war), Ash,
Staple, and Wingham (where there is also a colliery site).
There are three passenger services each way, and the railway
is a great advantage to the countryside generally.

Scotland.

In recognition of his services as under-manager at Fernie-
gair Colliery, Hamilton, Mr. Alexander Laird has been pre-
sorted by the • officials and workmen with a handsome
drawing-room clock and umbrella. Mrs. Laird was also
made the recipient of a pearl and sapphire pendant.

The opening meeting of the West of Scotland branch of
the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers will be held
on Saturday evening, October 28. Mr. J. B. Thomson,
mine manager to Messrs. John Watson and Company Limited
—the new president—is announced to deliver an address.
The programme for the session includes the following papers :
“ Maintenance of Underground Plant,” by Mr. Matthew
Baird, junr.; “Modern Switch and Fuse Gear,” by Mr.
Alexander McPhail; and “Electrical Converters,” by Mr.
C. S. Buyers.

There is a prospect of the usefulness of the Fife Mining
School being extended in the direction of training discharged
and disabled soldiers for work at power 'Stations. The sub-
ject was introduced by Mr. W. Low at a meeting of the Fife
and Kinross Educational Committee, in view of the difficulty
in getting men for power stations. It is proposed that the
course be taken at the mining school, then practical experience
at the power stations.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

When the Rhondda miners met on Monday, one of their
representatives on the executive spoke of the employers’
refusal to agree to a joint audit of their books in order that
the costs of production might be ascertained. He said that
the men’s representatives had reason to believe that items
were included in the cost of production which should be
placed to capital account. The difficulty, he said, must
be got over some way or other.—Another speaker, referring to
proceedings at the forthcoming conference of miners, said he
hoped the lodges, when arranging the agenda, would pay
particular attention to this matter.—In the course of the
meeting complaint was made of the practice at certain
collieries of sending an excessive number of trams of rubbish
into the working places for unloading; and it was decided
to bring the matter before the central executive, with the
request that it should be discussed at the conference, to the
end that some general principle should be laid down cover-
ing the whole of the collieries.

The question of joint audit came up at the monthly meet-
ing of Aberdare miners, Mr. Powell, the agent, stating that
the existing agreement for regulation of wages was alto-
gether unsatisfactory, and that they were now moving in an
entirely new direction with the object of taking into consider-
ation the costs of production and the employers’ profits.

The workmen in a number of collieries in the Rhondda
have discussed the question of income-tax, and decided to
press for a return to the old figure of exemption, namely,
£160 per annum. A proposal to this effect will be brought
up at the coal field conference on Monday next.

At the Garw district meeting of miners, -Mr. F. Hodges,
the agent, said that with regard to the general wage rate
the position in the coal field had become more serious, for
the workmen wore relatively worse off under the Conciliation
Board scheme as compared with the owners. They had been
deprived of 124 per cent, in wages owing to the kink in the
constitution of the Board, which permitted the independent
chairman to include costs of production as a factor in deter-

mining the general wage rate. These costs should be audited
by joint auditors, the terms of reference being mutually
agreed upon. In his opinion, they should get that kink out
of the agreement altogether before any further steps were
taken to vary the wage rate.—A resolution was passed at
the meeting to the effect that no further application for vary-
ing the general wage rate should be made under the
machinery of the Conciliation Board until the owners were
compelled to pay the percentages due to the workmen in the
same ratio to profits as under the previous Conciliation Board
agreement, and that on no account must the machinery of
tine Board be again used until the owners agreed to a joint
audit of the alleged costs of production.

Mr. Hodges also criticised the present method of working
the collieries'. On one hand, he said, the Government were
catling a conference to deal with the question of absenteeism,
etc., in order to increase the output; yet in that district there
were collieries on stop for hours, or even for whole days, for
want of wagons. Again, there were collieries in the district
which had succeeded in reducing absenteeism from 12 to 5 per
cent., while, at the same time, clearing at those collieries
was so bad that the effect of the men working regularly was
to reduce the wages to the minimum with no increase of
output—a larger number of men having to share the limited
number of trams.

At the Anthracite Miners’ Association meeting on Saturday,
the men’s agent spoke upon the increased cost of explosives
and its effect upon the earnings of the men. He said that
this point had been brought before the executive of the
Federation, with the result that the Conciliation Board had
agreed to appoint a joint deputation so that the matter might
be laid before the Home Secretary. With regard to income-
tax assessment, he stated that it had been agreed that the cost
of tools, checkweighers’ fund contributions, explosives, and
train fanes would be recognised for abatement.

The Avon Valley miners’ district meeting had before it
on Saturday a report upon the price list at Messrs. Cory
Brothers’ pit, and it was stated that rates for through coal
had been agreed upon, and that, as matters were proceeding
satisfactorily, notices tendered by the workmen had been
withdrawn.

At Swansea on Monday, there was a joint conference
between the South Wales Siemens Steel Manufacturers’
Association and the Steel Smelters’ Union. A number of
questions affecting the wage rate were discussed, but the
employers could not concede the men’s claims for advance.
In all probability another conference will be held.

North of England.

The reports* presented to a joint meeting of representatives
of the Northumberland coal owmers and miners held at
Newcastle on Saturday last, showed that some groups of pits
had reduced their percentages of absenteeism, but that, in
other cases, the percentage had increased to 17 apd 18. The
reports were generally agreed to reveal an unsatisfactory
state of affairs, but it was decided to defer dealing wfith the
situation until after the big meeting held in London
on Wednesday of this week.

Writing to the Durham Chronicle, Mr. Robt. Hunter, of
Hough ton-le-Spring, states, with reference to allegations
against miners in respect of absenteeism :—“ We have a
small minority of men who do absent themselves from work
on certain days when, with a little extra effort, they could
have rallied to duty; but they do not lie idle with the wilful
intention to prolong the war. . . . When a manager gives
the percentage of lying idle at a colliery . . . his statement
does not include information regarding the number of men
on compensation and. the number of men off through sickness,
who hand into the offices sick notes to claim rent allowance.
Even these two items would greatly reduce the percentage.
There are, however, other causes. There is the cause of
bereavement, when a man has to lie idle through the death of
wife or child, or the loss of a son, or even two sons, as has
happened in some instances. I have in mind one particular
colliery where they have stopped the only part of the seam
where men could get, on an average, nine bubs per man. It
has never worked for 21 months. They are working the
hardest class of coal in that seam because of the high percen-
tage, and this practically prevents men from being on the
minimum wage. These and other matters should receive
special attention of the Government committees appointed to
try and increase the output. There is the scarcity of heavy
timber in high seams, the timber, we quite agree, being diffi-
cult to get at the present time. There is the scarcity of
rails and plates in seams that are extending. This is a
chronic cause of complaint. Men hewing in hard places,
alter they have fired their juds, have to cast their coals for
several yards before they are able to fill them, which is
useless waste of time to the miner.”

Ordering Robt. Wood, miner, in the employ of Messrs.
Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited at Dene Bank
Colliery, to pay £5 8s. for unjustifiable absenteeism, Capt.
Apperley, chairman of the Durham City magistrates, told
defendant on Wednesday last that he wyas an absolute dis-
grace to the country. He had probably done nothing during
his life to help his country in any way, and now, when a
greater output would be of national benefit, he idled himself,
and came before the magistrates to 'be looked upon as a man
really not fit to exist. Such men should be put in the
trenches, and, if they were got rid of, perhaps it would be
better for the country. Such men cared nothing about those
who were losing their lives to protect them, and the magis-
trates only wished they could order them to pay 10 times the
amount claimed. It was stated by Mr. Proud, who prose-
cuted in this and two other cases of men in the same
employ, that defendant had not worked one shift in three .
weeks. The colliery had suffered greatly from absenteeism,
and the only remedy was to take these proceedings. Con-
sidering the fact that a ton of coal was of the utmost import-
ance at present, he (Mr. Proud) thought that imprisonment
would not be too great a punishment. The truth was that
these men were earning so much money in four days that
they could afford to be idle for the rest of the w*cek. The
two other defendants, John Brown and Martin Livett, were
each ordered to pay £2 14s. Brown said he had “ slept the.
caller,” and Livett produced four doctors’ certificates, wrhich
the chairman dismissed with the remark. “ This certificate
says ‘Rheumatism,’ but not how bad; I suppose the next
will be for gout, through drink.”

Recent decisions of the executive committee of the North-
umberland Miners’ Association approve the action of the
association agents in requesting members of the Rising Sun
branch to withdraw the notices to cease work in order that
grievances may be dealt with in the usual way, and that the
manager at Throckley be asked to assist in inducing non-
unionists in the colliery to join the union. Several branches
have demanded State control of the food supply and the

abolition of income-tax on wages. The executive decided to
seek another interview with the management of Hartford
Colliery regarding the stonemen’s prices; to write to the
manager of Netherton Colliery regarding the basis wages he
is paying to certain boys; and to seek an interview regarding
the complaint of putters at Burradon that the manager
refuses to make their wages up to county average when they
are unable to earn such wages.

Federated Area.

At a meeting of the executive council of the Lancashire
and Cheshire Miners’ Federation, held last Saturday at
Bolton, it was reported that various grievances relating to
working conditions which had arisen in the Manchester,
Bolton, and Leigh coal fields, had now been amicably
adjusted. It was further announced that the miners and
coal owners of Lancashire and Cheshire wrere now taking
joint action (as reported in last week’s Colliery Guardian)
with a view to minimising absenteeism at collieries in
Lancashire and Cheshire.

Scotland.

Complaint has been made that foreign labour has been on
the increase for some time at Messrs. A. G. Moore and Com-
pany’s Blantyre-ferme Colliery. The following is a result
of the census taken : 250 British, 60 Poles, 24 Spaniards,
two Africans, and one German. The manager has agreed to
employ no more foreign labour meanwhile.

At a meeting of the executive of the National Union of
Scottish Mine Workers, held in Glasgow on Saturday, the
secretary reported that a meeting of the Conciliation Board
was being called for Tuesday, October 31, to consider the
claim by the men for a further advance of 25 per cent, in
wages. A letter was submitted from the Lanarkshire Miners’
Association, urging that a national conference should be con-
vened at an early date to consider the increase in the cost
of food, with a view to steps being taken to protect the
workers generally. It was agreed to call a national con-
ference in Glasgow on Monday, October 30.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

Middlesbrough, South Bank, and Grangetown members of
the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, having considered
the recent award of the Committee on Production with refer-
ence to the society’s application for an advance of 2d. per
hour on time rates and 22J per cent, on piece rates—in
response to which an increase of 3s. per week on time rates
only was. granted—have decided to demand a further increase
of 9s. per week on time rates,’ 22£ per cent, on piece rates,
and 3s. per week for apprentices.

OBITUARY.

Mr. Friend Atkinson, coal merchant, Osmondthorpe-lane,
Leeds, died recently at the age of 65 years.

The death occurred last week of Mr. Wm. Barrow Turner,
J.P., D.L., mining engineer, of Ponsonby Hall, Caldar-
bridge. In the commerce and industry of Cumberland and
North Lancashire, Mr. Turner played a prominent part. For
well over 40 years he had been more or less actively asso-
ciated with the iron ore mines and other industrial concerns.
He was in his 76th year.

The death has occurred, suddenly, at Inverness of Capt.
Victor L. Gordon, formerly general manager of the Wemyss
Coal Company. The late Capt. Wemyss, owner of the
collieries, met Capt. Gordon during the Boer War, and at
the close of hostilities appointed him general manager of
the company. About four years ago he removed to Inverness
to look after the interests cf the company in the North.

Mr. David Colville, of the firm of Messrs. David Colville
and Sons Limited, Motherwell, died at his residence,
Jerviston House, in his 57th year. Mr. Colville was seized
with sudden illness while in his office at Dalzell Works.
Undoubtedly his various undertakings imposed a great strain
upon him. Some time ago the works of the Glengarnock
Iron and Steel Company, and more recently the Clydebridge
Steel Works, were taken over. Mr. Colville never spared
himself in the personal conduct of affairs at any time. This
had been particularly the case recently, when he recognised
that so much of his country's welfare depended on the main-
tenance and increase of activity in such well organised works
as Dalzell. Like his father, Mr. David Colville, senr., who
died in 1898, and his elder brother, John Colville, who died
in 1901, Mr. David Colville, out of a generous and kindly
nature, did much for the material welfare of Dalzell workers,
and was highly esteemed both locally and in wider circles.

Mr. Geo. H. BarraclOugh, a well-knowm colliery manager
in Rotherham, died shortly after Sunday midnight. He had
spent the whole of his working life in connection with mining,
and for a number of years was the manager at Aldwarke
Main. He was subsequently transferred to the managership
of Rotherham Main, which also belonged to Messrs. John
Brown and Company Limited, and during his residence at
Whitehall, Brins worth, he interested himself in local
administration.

Brown Coal Discovery.—Brown coal, suitable for factories
and locomotives, has been discovered 15 versts from the
station of Vidinoff. on the Kolonia-Chernovna Railway. The
whole district is said to be favourable for the working of coal
and ores on a large scale.

Coal Loading in London.—The London coal merchants
issued the following notice on Monday :—“ The committee
announce that they have agreed with the Coal Prices Union
as follows : ‘ That on and from Monday, October 23, 1916,
the loaders shall be paid Id. per ton extra for loading coal in
sacks and bulk, and the carmen Id. per ton for delivering coal
in sacks and bulk. No advance to the trolley men other than
the Id. per ton for delivery work. No advance in the present
rates for loading and delivering coke.’

Miners and Food Prices. — The executive of the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain has decided to call a national
conference of representatives of the districts of the Miners’
Federation to deal with the continued serious rise in the
cost of living and the deduction of income-tax from the
wages of workmen. The conference will be held probably
within the next two or three weeks. Mr. J. G. Hill,
F.R.S.A., attended the meeting, and submitted for inspec-
tion a number of samples of finely-ground stone dust for
the prevention of coal dust explosions. Mr. Hill claimed that
the samples were immune from free silica, and would not
be injurious to the lungs of the miners. After answering a
number of questions, Mr. Hill was thanked by the executive.