December 1, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

1063

part of the coal industry, they claim the right to have
the controlling voice in the wages which they receive
for their labour and the terms and conditions of employ-
ment. He thought that the policy of the Government
was a mistaken one, and considered that before the
Government issued the proclamation placing the coal-
field under Government control they should have
informed those who had been conducting negotiations
with them for two days.

Mr. T. Richards, M.P., said they were going back
to Wales very disappointed that they had no decision
upon the wage question which they came up to London
to discuss. Until they had that decision he was not
prepared to discuss the future methods for regulation
of wages. That was the question of importance to
them, and not who owned or controlled the mines. If
the Government controlled the mines the men would
still have to know what was going to be done with
respect to wages.

Other members of the executive expressed similar
views.

Our correspondent adds: Though the Government
decision came as a surprise to the men’s representatives,
it can hardly have been unexpected by those who
regarded the South Wales coal crisis from a broad
national point of view. The men had warned the Board
that any failure to secure the concession of the 15 per
cent, advance by December 1 was likely to mean the
stoppage of the coal field. At the same time they
raised all manner of difficulties in the path of any
settlement which would set up safeguards against
further claims within a few months. This was obviously
the determining cause of the Government’s action in
deciding to control the coal field.

It may be said now that the coal owners, as was the
case in the agitation of July 1915, had placed them-
selves unreservedly in the hands of the Board of Trade,
expressing themselves willing to accept any settlement
which might be effected.

The step which has now been taken is irrevocable.
There can be no going back upon this decision, as
was done on a former occasion. Therefore it is
all important, for the success of the drastic action
which has now been taken, that the relation of work-
men’s wages to owners’ profits should be frankly faced
and courageously solved. That is an essential to any
measure of success for State-controlled mines. There
prevails throughout the South Wales coalfield the
belief that the owners are making excessively large
profits out of the war. This feeling has bred the
thought among the miners that they are entitled to a
share of the plunder. Therefore it is of the first im-
portance that the Inter-Departmental Committee which
is to regulate wages should make it incontestably clear
to the workmen that whatever may be the price for coal
the pre-war ratio of workmen’s wages to owners’ profits
has been scrupulously maintained. That is the price
of industrial peace, even under a regime of State-con-
trolled mines.

In consequence of a communication from the Board
of Trade, the South Wales coal owners attended
yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the Inter-Depart-
mental Committee appointed to advise the Board of
Trade under the new Order of the Defence of the Realm
Act. The coal owners included Lord Rhondda, Sir
Clifford Cory. Mr. W. H. Mewton (chairman of the
South Wales Coal Owners’ Association), Mr. Nicholas
(vice-chairman), Mr. Finlay Gibson (secretary), and
Mr. F. L. Davis (chairman of the South Wales Concilia-
tion Board). The members of the Inter-Departmental
Committee present were:—Mr. W. F. Marwood (chair-
man), of the Board of Trade; Sir Richard Re dm ay ne,
Home Office; and Mr. W. St. D. Jenkins, Admiralty.
At the close, Mr. Finlay Gibson stated that owing to
the workmen’s representatives not being present, no
discussion of the application for a change in the general
wage rate took place. The owners, however, handed to
the Committee a statement of their case for a reduction
of 10 per cent.

THB AMERICAN COAL TRADE.

Prices sagged materially after the recent high-levels,
but the market is stid much above the normal. The
tone is inclined to be buoyant (according to the Coal
Age).

The prices in Philadelphia per gross ton, f.o.b. cars at
mines, are about as follow:—Georges Creek Big Vein,
7-00 dols to 7’25 dols.; South Fort Miller Vein, 7 00 to
7'25; Clearfield (ordinarv), 6’75 to 7'00; S merset
(ordinary), 6’50 to 6'75 ; West Va. Freeport, 6'25 to 6'50;
Fairmont gas, lump, 6'50 to 6'75; Fairmont gas, mine-
run, 6'45 to 6 55 ; Fairmont gas, sla<-k, 5 75 to 6 ; Fair-
mont lump, ordinary, 6'40 to 6 5<>; Fairrm nt mine-run,
6'30 to 6'40 ; Fairmont slack, 5’75 to 6’<»0 dols.

Although quotations are firm in Baltimore, many
coal men believe a still further break is due. Prices to
the trade at the mines per gross ton are about as follow :
Georges Creek, Tyson, 5’25 dols. to 5 50 dols.; Somerset,
5 dols.; South Fork, 5 dols. ; Clearfield, 4'75 dols.;
Quemahoning, 5 dols. ; Latrobe, 4’50 dols.; Freeport,
4’50 dols.; Fairmont gas, J, 5 dols.; mine-run, 4'50 dols.;
slack, 4'50 dols.

The anthracite market appears to be under better
control, but the technical position is still serious. Egg
and nut sizes are in best supply. The prices per gross
ton f.o.b. Port Richmond for tide shipment are as
follow :—Broken, 4’75 dols.; egg, 5’25 ; stove, 5’60; nut,
5'55; pea. 3'90; buck, 2'90; rice, 2'15; boiler, 2 00;
barley, 1’90 dols.

Export shipments from Hampton Roads are better.
The shortage of cars is still acute, and there does not
seem to be any immediate relief in sight. Stocks are
light, with very little coal in transit. Nearly all shippers
are short. Bunker demands are heavy; steamers loading
at other ports, such as Baltimore, are calling on their

Hampton Roads contractors for bunkers when under
ordinary conditions their supplies would be taken at the
loading port. Shippers are refusing new business daily.
Prices for Pocahontas and New River are as follow:
For cargo shipment, both coastwise and export, 7’50 to
8 dols. per gross ton ; on track for local consumption,
7 to 7'50 dols. per net ton; bunker coal, 7'50 to 8 dols.
per gross ton ; anthracite, 9 dols. per ton delivered.

Freight rates have advanced materially owing to
tonnage scarcity. West coast of Italy is about 24 dols.
to 26’40 and Marseilles 24. Recent clearances include
the “ Antonio D’Ali,” Baltimore to Gibraltar, with coal.

Coke production has decreased, and the market is
firmer. Contract for ordinary coke has been quoted at
the record prices of 7 50 and 8 dols.

THE GERMAN COAL AND IRON
TRADES.

We give below further extracts from German
periodicals that have reached us, showing the course of
the cofd and iron trades in Germany :—

Steel Union Deliveries in October.

The Steel Union reports a total delivery of 230,554
tons (calculated in weight of raw steel) during October,
including 76,384 tons of semi products, 181,447 tons of
railway supeistructural material, and 72,723 tons of
sections.

The Prussian State and the Coal Syndicate.

In addition to the participation and powers allotted
to the State mines administration in the new Syndicate
agreement, the syndicated coal owners have also
agreed to the State being represented on the council of
the Syndicate by a member appointed in accordance
with the wishes of the mines administration, members
being also appointed in the same way to serve on the
permanent and special committees (except that on
briquettes). The Minister of Commerce is to be kept
informed on all matters of general interest with regard
to the operations of the Syndicate and in connection
with its distribution arrangements. Recognition is
accorded to the State mines administration contracts
for the supply of blastfurnace coke, slack and smalls to
certain consumers ; and, during the continuance of the
membership of the administration, it is also to be
represented on all the trading associations in which the
Syndicate is interested, and have the right to use the
loading, unloading, storage and coal-treating plant of
those associations, upon terms. Should the Minister of
Commerce consider it to the public interest, he is
empowered to take over all available fuel supplies and
sell them through the dealers supplied by the Syndicate's
trading associations, the Syndicate having to see that
no immoderate profits are made.

Analysis of the Output of the Syndicated Collieries in 1915.

The following table shows the percentage proportion,
in relation to the total output, of the various grades of
coal raised by the syndicated collieries in 1915, as well
as the proportions of the total consumption at the
collieries.

Percentage Bituminous. Q^flaming. Lean*

Of output ............ 66'04	...	21’80	12’16

Of total deliveries...	58'87	...	28'54	...	12'59

Of pit consumption	74'26	...	14'24	...	11'50

Percentage of < on-

sumption at pit—

For coking and bri-
quetting .......... 77'53	...	7'51	...	14'96	.

For power. &c...... 64 04	...	21'93	...	14*03

At own ironworks...	73'92	...	21’91	...	4’17

MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY
SERVICE.

The Monmouthshire colliery tribunal has had before it a
question concerning men who return to collieries from the
Army without exemption certificates, and Mr. G. Davies
(H.M. inspector), who presided, stated that the Home Office
informed him that such certificates were not required, but
yet as the men wanted something to produce, the War Office
thought it weil that exemption certificates should be issued.
In cases where the military representative and himself were
satisfied that men had been released from the Army to work
in a colliery, certificates would be issued.

The mining tribunal for the western area of South Wales
dealt with the position of lads of 18. The chairman said it
should be understood with regard to all lads reaching 18
that application for exemption must be made within 30 days
after each had attained his birthday. It was, however,
pointed out that with regard to those who had reached 18
before June 24, they were not subject to the 30 days limita-
tion, but came within the category of other miners. Refer-
ence was made to men who went from colliery to colliery,
and the president (Mr. J. Dyer Lewis, H.M. inspector of
mines) remarked that these seemed to travel about like pack-
men, and it would be well if some of them were sent to the
Army for a wzhile. They ought to remain at the same
colliery.

The case of a man who was a surface ’worker was brought
up. He had made a personal appeal, and got temporary
exemption, which had now expired. When his name was
first submitted, the employers did not appeal for him, because
the colliery was not then working full time, and he was not,
therefore, indispensable. Since then, work had become very
brisk, and they wanted him, and therefore now appealed.
His period had expired, but he was still working, the
employers contending that they were complying with the
Home Office Order that no more men must be taken from
the mines for the Army. Exemption was granted; but
appeal is probable.

Upon application as to working the thin seams of Pem-
brokeshire—it being desired to secure the exemption of boys
—statement was made as to the shortage of men and boys.
In a thin seam, boys were used to push trams where horses
could not travel. Reference was made in this connection to
the shortage of tonnage. The military representative agreed

that it would be only fair to send some miners back from
the Army, and send out other men to take their place.

At Easington Rural tribunal meeting, the cases of 17 coke
workers employed at the by-product works of the Horden
Collieries Limited at Shotton Colliery came up for review.
Mr. C. E. Morris, from the Explosives Department of the
Ministry of Munitions, appeared, and said it was not desir-
able that any men should be taken from coke works unless
they could be substituted, as the need for benzol and toluol
was so vital. In reply to the chairman, as to why the men
had not been badged, Mr. Morris said he believed it was
due to a wrong idea, in the early days, that, as they were
attached to a colliery, the men came under the same condi-
tions as a collier. They wzere being badged now as soon as
possible. They could, however, be de-badged again, so as
to come under a substitution scheme.' It wras stated by a
representative of the works that he could obtain substitutes
for six of the men. It was agreed that six of the men should
go forward, and that conditional exemption should be given
to the others. It was further decided to ask the military
authorities to try to get substitutes for the latter at an early
date, the matter to be reported upon as soon as possible.

Mr. Norman Nisbet, agent for Messrs. James Joicey and
Company Limited, applied to the Annfield Plain tribunal
for the exemption of a chief colliery clerk. He stated that
the official was absolutely necessary for the conduct of the
business. He understood that there was some arrangement
by the Home Office that, where an employer and the military
agent agreed, questions of colliery clerks could be referred
to the inspector of mines for advice. The chairman replied
that the reference could be made for advice only, but so far
as the consideration of the case is concerned, colliery clerks
come under the local tribunal, and not the colliery courts. Mr.
Nisbet pointed out that the Government were pressing the
collieries for the supply of coal, and that if the mining
industry was to be kept going, it was surely necessary that
it should be equipped with men able to conduct it. The
tribunal, however, considered that Mr. Nisbet had had ample
time given him to get someone to fill this man’s place, and
the clerk was ordered to go.

Newcastle tribunal granted exemption until January 3 of
the manager of a local coal exporting and shipbroking busi-
ness. It was stated that applicant, who was 30 years of
age, was the only man of military age left with the firm.
The owner’s two sons, the man’s three brothers, and three
other clerks were all ,in the Army. If applicant were taken,
the office would have to be closed.

To the Durham City tribunal, the Durham Miners’ Asso-
ciation applied on behalf of a clerk in their compensation
department. Mr. Forster, head clerk in the department,
said that the clerk in question would be 19 in March, and
exemption was asked for, because of Aid. House’s absence
through illness, till he should have reached that age. Witness
added that £4,000 more was paid in compensation last year
in the Durham coal trade than in the last normal year. More
fatal accidents were occurring, though there were 40,000
fewer men working. Final exemption 'until December 31
was granted.

The Tanfield tribunal has resolved to support the resolu-
tion of the South Shields tribunal that exemptions for single
men under 30 in certified occupations should cease, and that
all single men under the age of 30 be summoned to the
Colours, the responsibility of proving the indispensability of
any man to be placed upon the shoulders of the employers.

It was unanimously agreed at last Saturday’s meeting
of the half-yearly council of the Northumberland Miners’
Association, “ that we protest against what we regard as a
misuse of the Military Service Act by colliery managers who,
in our opinion, are using the Act to get clear of men who
have the courage to claim what is their due.” It -was
alleged in the discussion that managers were also using the
Act to clear out men who were physically defective.

Colliery companies in South Yorkshire are experiencing
the greatest difficulties through the depletion of their clerical
staffs for the Army. It is very difficult to persuade tribunals
that colliery clerks are as essential to the pit as the miners
themselves. The alternative is at once advanced, “ get a
woman to do the work,” the special character of which does
not seem to be appreciated. At the Doncaster tribunal last-
wzeek, the military submitted that the chief sales clerk at the
Askern Colliery was not indispensable. The secretary of the
company .pointed out that it was a grievance these cases
were not dealt with by the colliery tribunals. A meeting
of secretaries of colliery companies was, he said, to be held
to consider such cases, and to make representation in the
proper quarter, as if any more men were taken it 'would
cripple their means of carrying on at all. The chairman of
the tribunal remarked upon the difficulty of proving that a
young man of 18 is indispensable. The tribunal decided to
let the colliery company keep the sales clerk, but ordered a
junior clerk to go as soon as he becomes 19 years of age.

The Middlesbrough tribunal decided that the calling up
of the manager of a coal depot, which was said to be the
largest business in the district, should be deferred until
January 1. A member rmarked that during the winter
nothing would be as important as the coal supply.

At Shiidon, a fruiterer, who had already been granted
temporary exemption, applied for permission to go back to
the mines. He was 40 yeans of age, he said, and had had
22 years’ experience as a miner. The cause of his leaving
the mine was the fact that the man working next to him w*as
killed, a circumstance wdiich gave him a great shock. A
member of the tribunal remarked that no one but the man
who had gone through it could realise what a shock it was
to undergo the experience of the appellant. He thought they
should offer no objection to appellant going back into the
mines, if the military representative agreed. This course
was assented to.

The Home Secretary, by an Order dated November 21, adds
“ Haylite No. 2 ” to the list of Permitted explosives, and
removed “ Duxite,” “ Permon Powder,” “ Superite,”
“ Syndite,” and “ Tutol No. 2” from the said list.

Dr. C. Christophersen, St. Leonards-on-Sea, has been
appointed a medical referee under the Workmen’s Compen-
sation Act, 1906, for County Court Circuit No. 50.

Coal Profits in Scotland.—The Scottish Coal Merchants’
Association has decided by a majority to submit to the Board
of Trade the following 'suggestions with regard to the
remuneration for retailers and other middlemen :—That coal
merchants be allowed a profit of Is*. 6d. per ton after meeting
all expenses; that on all fuel for shipment or for works con-
siderablv less profit be taken: that accounts be paid monthly,
otherwise current bank rate of interest be added; that
salaries of owners or directors of companies be not included
in the estimation of cost; that hawkers and bagmen doing
less trade than 1,500 tons per annum be allowed full wages
in addition to a profit of Is. 6d, per ton.