1174

THE COLLIERY GUARDI Am.

December 15, 1916.

THE LONDON COAL TRADE.

Thursday, December 14.

The past week’s trade has shown the shortage of free coal
on the market to be more pronounced, but the stocks at the
various depots and the current daily arrivals of railborne and
seaborne coal met pressing demand from all sides, and the
outlook for the -winter is decidedly more hopeful. The dread
of the rush of orders, and the pressure for coal in antici-
pation of the colder months, lias to a very large extent been
overcome. The main demand invariably takes place in the
three first months of the winter, and now that the time has
to a very large extent gone by, the bulk of the merchants find
themselves with a good serviceable stock in hand, so that
after Christmas it will be necessary to ease off orders to
the colliery companies in order to pick up the stock on the
ground, but the recognised cold months after Christmas
make it still necessary to press for every available truck
or vessel for the London supplies. The attendance on the
market has been unusually good on each market day, and
any .small quantities of screened house or steam coal have
been readily bought, but the unscreened varieties have been
somewhat neglected owing to the serious difficulty with the
loaders and carmen at the various depots. Good quality
slacks have improved in demahd considerably, but the
cheaper grades are still somewhat neglected, although prices,
especially for forward delivery, show no tendency to ease.
The reports from‘the depots show that more orders have come
in from the general public, and the difficulty of executing
them is not so much from the actual supplies of coal, as
from the shortage of labour for prompt delivery. ‘ The
Christmas orders are not so heavy this year as in former
years, which points conclusively to the fact of winter supplies
having been arranged for much earlier than usual wherever
householders caa take in a fair stock. The difficulty is that
many of the London houses are so arranged (particularly in
regard to flats) that only small quantities can be accommo-
dated, and the weekly or fortnightly visit of the coal vain is
an absolute necessity. Empties at the colliery end have at
times been very short, and threatens to be more acute before
the month is out. The seaborne market has suffered con-
siderably from the scarcity of boats; 13 vessels were reported
as arriving in the Thames for Monday’s market, and 25 for
Wednesday, but all were contract cargoes. No quotations
have been published throughout the whole year for seaborne
coals; all the supplies have been for contract coals, no free
coal being on offer. The Tyne reports show a great reduc-
tion in available boats, but the Humber reports are a little
more favourable. Prices are slightly easier. Best South
Yorkshire hards are quoted at 28s. per ton f.o.b. ; Derby-
shire hards, 27s. 6d.; gas coal, 27s. Steam coals have been
very difficult to obtain in London, and kitchener cobbles and
bakers’ nuts are scarce. Slacks have been plentiful, but
double-screened nubs and peas are in strong demand. South
Yorkshire hards are 18s. pit; Derbyshire hards, 17s.; Derby
brights, 18s.; house nuts, 17s. 6d. to 18s.; kitchener cobbles,
16s. 6d. to 17s.; bakers’ nuts, 16s. 6d. to 17s.—but owing to
the reduced outputs the quotations are largely nominal, and
colliery representatives are compelled to decline further book-
ings. The loaded wagons have come forward with fair
regularity, notwithstanding the heavy fogs. An increased
tonnage by railways has been noticeable during the week,
doubtless owing to the difficulty in obtaining suitable craft
for shipping orders.

From Messrs. Dinham Fawcus and Company’s Report.

Friday, December 8.—The seaborne house coal market
was unaltered to-day, with no sales reported. Cargoes, 17.

Monday, December 11.—Seaborne house coal was in good
demand to-day, but no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 131

Wednesday, December 13.—There were no available sup-
plies of seaborne house coal at to-day’s market, and no sales
reported. Cargoes, 25.

Proposed Removal of French Import Duties on Iron.—
A Bill has been laid before the French Chamber of Deputies,
for immediate discussion, proposing to suspend the import
duties on cast and wrought iron and steel. The project is
based on the necessity for immediately constituting stocks of
these materials, which are essential to the production of
munitions, it being asserted that the existence o!! the duty
is a serious obstacle to making adequate provision for the
national defence. The objections raised against the pro-
posal are that the duties form part of the State revenue, and
that their abolition would entail a considerable and direct
loss, and that the price at which the finished products are
sold to the State would not be reduced by anything like the
amount of the duty, -if at all.

Industrial Research.—At a meeting of the Manchester
local section of the Institution of Electrical Engineers on
Tuesday last, Mr. A. P. M. Fleming delivered an address
on “ Some Aspects of Industrial Research, with Special
Reference to American Research Activities.” He remarked
that, to the manufacturer, research was of the utmost import-
ance, and possibly its greatest field for usefulness lay in the
development of new and improved materials, and of new and
improved processes for cheapening production, in which
respect there was no finality. If we were to compote success-
fully in export markets, our research work must develop on
co-operative lines. The general outline of the plan devised
some two years ago for the encouragement of national
research work in this country was well known, and it was
clear that some means must be taken to try and secure
co-operation of manufacturers in similar industries, and con-
duct research through trade associations. These efforts
could hardly be successful unless backed up very largely by
the manufacturers themselves. Research, to be most effec-
tive, must be carried out on extensive lines, and it was not
possible for each individual firm to expend the money neces-
sary for this to be done. To achieve that co-operative work-,
ing, manufacturers must be prepared to forego some of the
strong individualistic tendency that had been characteristic
of the past, and the growing worker must be educated so as
to keep pace with the advances in manufacturing refinement.
Another important matter in which the workers and
employers were mutually interested was the adaptability to
now lines of 'manufacture, which made for continuity of
employment and all that that meant to the worker, both as
regards his prosperity and the conservation of his handicraft
skill.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The demand of the Cardiff trimmers for an increase of
25 per cent, came before the local Trimming Board, and it
was rejected. The question will now go to the Central
Board, and be dealt with at the same time as similar appli-
cations from the Newport and Swansea trimmers.

Colliery officials are uneasy in regard to their rates of
pay, and on their behalf it is argued that, whilst the colliers
have obtained advances equivalent to 50 per cent., the
officials have not received more than 10 per cent, war bonus.
Hope is expressed that the Government, in taking control,
will improve matters.

More than 2,000 men came out on strike at the Arael
Griffin Colliery, Abertillery, on account of a dispute regard-
ing timbermen’s pay—the question under this heading having
been current for a long time; and efforts to make a settle-
ment, either by direct negotiation, or through the Concilia-
tion Board and appointed arbitrators, have been unsuc-
cessful. The Federation gave the men permission to tender
notices; these expired, they continued at work on day to
day contracts for three days, but finally operations ceased.
The colliery is one of those oyrned by the Ebbw Vale Com-
pany. Operations have, however, been resumed this week;
and this is all the more satisfactory because the stoppage
threatened to extend.

The miners’ executive, at a meeting on Tuesday, decided
that Monday and Tuesday in Christmas week should be
taken as holidays; and a resolution was also passed urging
upon the Government the necessity of taking measures to
prevent stoppage of collieries through lack of wagons and
ships. The executive also spent much time in preparing
their case to lay before the Inter-Departmental Committee
which has taken, control of the collieries.

With regard to the maintenance of beds in the voluntary
hospitals in South Wales, it is stated that the miners are
now maintaining, throughout the whole of the coal field,
about 1,500 beds.

North of England.

James Robson and William Willoughby were each ordered
by the South Shields magistrates to pay £2 5s. damages,
being at the rate of 5s. per day, for absenteeism from Harton
Colliery. Both admitted that they had been drinking. Thos.
Conway, similanly charged, pleaded that he had had a family
bereavement, and had afterwards taken ill. He was ordered
to pay J-3 10s. 6d.

The Houghton lodge of the Durham Miners’ Association
has passed the following resolution :—“ Owing to the high
cost of living, we urge upon our agents and executive to
arrange for an early meeting with the coal owners, with a
view to an increase for our pre-war disabled compensation
men; also asking for an increase or bonus for men who have
been disabled since the commencement of the war, and are
now in receipt of compensation; also for the increase or
bonus to remain until the price of foodstuffs returns to
norm al conditions. ’ ’

By 514 votes to 103, the hewers at the Dean and Chapter
Colliery have decided to reduce the number of their check-
weighmen from three to two.

Mr. R. Smillie (president of the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain) was the principal speaker at a crowded mass
meeting of miners, held in the Co-operative Hall, Maryport,
on Saturday evening. Mr. J. Dickinson presided. Mr.
Smillie said he did not think the suspension of the Eight
Hours Act would increase to any great extent the output of
coal. In some of the mines in Yorkshire and Lancashire,
with a temperature of 86 degs. at the pit bottom, and possibly
90 or 95 degs. at the face, it was impossible that they could
work more than five days a week.

Bishop Auckland magistrates fined John T. Henderson
and George W. Elliot 40s. each for having failed, at West
Auckland Colliery, to put a sufficient number of props in
the roof. It was stated, on behalf of Messrs. Bolckow,
Vaughan and Company, that last October a similar prose-
cution was undertaken, and a very stringent warning that
the rules must be strictly observed was issued to the men.
A nominal fine seemed to be no deterrent.

Seven workers at Easington Colliery were charged at
Castle Eden with absenteeism, and damages at the rate of
10s. per day were claimed from them as follow :—Richard
Bewick, 19, two days; Edward Lloyd, 21, 16 days; William
Huggins, 19, four days; Edward McKeown, 21, four days;
Thos. Moreland, 20, eight days; Jas. Edward Wilson, 21,
four days; and Thos Jefferson, 20, five days. Mr. Edward
Bell, prosecuting, referred to the youth of the defendants,
and pointed out that, but for the fact that they were in a
specially reserved occupation, they would have been in the
Army. Very recently the list of certified occupations had
been revised, but among those still certified were under-
ground workmen, married or single, without limit to age.
The authorities, however, in their report, stated that the
only reason for making these reservations was that the men
were engaged in work of national importance, and that such
reservations were not intended to protect men who had a
record for absenting themselves from work, and that exemp-
tion should not be granted or continued in .such cases. It
was thus quite clear and distinct that, if these men did not
choose regularly to follow their employment, and do what the
country wanted, then they could be taken into the Army.
The Bench ordered defendants to pay the following damages :
Bewick, two days, £1; Huggins, two days, IT ; McKeown,
two days, £1; Moreland, eight days, £4; Wilson, three
days, £1 10s.; and Jefferson, three days, £1 10s.

The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’
Association has decided to ask the association members to
confine their seasonable holidays to Christmas Day and New
Year’s Day only, these being the only holidays for which the
association’s rules provide at this time of year, and, also, to
Observe the necessity of working every day that the pits are
open.

The official report of the recent half-yearly council meet-
ing of the Northumberland Miners’ Association states that,
after having had a demonstration of the “Best” safety
lamp by the inventor, the council meeting agreed “ that it
appears to us to be superior to any other safety lamp we
have seen.”. When the owners’ replies to former requests
of the association were received, it was proposed that dis-
satisfaction should be expressed at the owners’ refusal to
make any concessions, and that the questions should be
allowed to drop until the end of -the war. Mr. Warne moved
an amendment that this should not apply to the house rent
question, as the owners’ reply was not a refusal, but a pro-
posal for discussion. The amendment was defeated by 28
votes to 23, however. The council’s decisions on the several
motions on the agenda are now being voted upon by the

county. The vote is returnable to the Burt Hall by
December 23.

Mr. R. Smillie, speaking at a crowded meeting of Cum-
berland miners at Workington on Sunday, said there was a
considerable amount of unnecessary absenteeism in the
county. Strange to say, that county was not by any means
the worst sinner, though there was room to make up leeway.
Some parts of their districts were worse than others. Mostly
it was caused by a small body of men who were guilty of
habitual absenteeism; 95 per cent, of the men worked as
steadily as he expected. Pleading for co-operation among
wage earners, Mr. Smillie said it was the capitalist system
they would have to face at the end of the war. Capitalism
had neither soul nor conscience, and it would not lie down
with the labour lamb.

Durham City magistrates have fined Peter Swindells,
putter, 25s. for having filled coals off the side at Littleburn
Colliery, and James Hamilton, putter, £5 for having
attempted, by a token fraud, to obtain Is. 9d. by false pre-
tences at the same pit. In the latter case, it was stated
that there had been frequent complaints from hewers as to
the loss of tubs. Defendant was found to have removed two
hewers’ tokens, thus representing that he had both hewed
and putted the coal, whereas he had only putted it. The
chairman (Capt. Apperley) said defendant had been guilty of
one of the meanest and dirtiest tricks a boy could do, and
that but for the need of output he would have been sent to
prison.

Finding it absolutely useless to sue absentee workmen for
such nominal damages as 5s. per day, the Elswick Coal
Company Limited claimed damages at the rate of 18s. per
day before the Newcastle magistrates on Thursday of last
week, as follow:—Thos. Proud, £9; Wm. Beeby, £7 4s.;
Septimus McKie, £2 14s.; and Albert Saul, £5 8s. Saul was
a. stoneman; the others were hewers. It was stated that
summonses had been issued against seven other men, but
that, satisfactory arrangements having been made between
the men and the management, these had been withdrawn.
Proud’s case was adjourned for the production of medical
evidence. In the three other cases the damages claimed
were awarded.—At the same court, the Walker Coal Com-
pany Limited was awarded the following damages, at the
rate of 7s. 6d. per day : Robt. McGee, £1 17s. 6d.; Alfred
Deardon, £1 2s. 6d.; and Jos. Curry, £1 2s. 6d. In all
these cases the men were ordered to pay the costs also.

Federated Area.

At a meeting of the South Derbyshire Miners’ Associa-
tion at Ashby-de-la-Zouch on Saturday, a discussion took
place with regard to a member who was thrown out of work
owing to his not being in possession of his exemption card.
The agent said such cases were becoming very frequent.
Mr. J. Ife was elected by ballot as president, and Mr. F.
Lakin as vice-president.

Mr. H. Smith presided at a meeting of the executive of
the Yorkshire Miners’ Association at Barnsley. It was
stated that the men at Waterloo Main Colliery had decided
by a ballot vote in favour of handing in notices to secure the
reinstatement of a discharged worker. The officials were
instructed to ask the executive of the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain to take up the question of increased compensa-
tion in cases of accident, to meet the increased cost of living.
The Federation was also asked to urge the need of larger
pensions for soldiers, and to ask that compensation should
be given to parents whose sons are taken for service during
the period of apprenticeship which had involved the parents
in expense. The Federation was further asked to take steps
to prevent the development of the coloured labour move-
ment. Interviews had taken place with the South and West
Yorkshire Coal Owners’ x4.ssociations regarding Christmas
holidays. In the southern part two days were offered, to
be selected at the respective collieries, and in the western
portion, though there was an agreement to work to the end
of the year, the owners agreed to holiday being taken on
the 25th and 26th inst. The miners’ officials recommended
the men to work diligently and well in the meantime, and
not to take more than the two days’ holiday.

Scotland.

Negotiations have been re-opened regarding the claim on
behalf of the surface workers for a special increase of wages,
with the view to exhausting every possible chance of effect-
ing a settlement, and thereby averting any stoppage of work.

The miners at Milnwood Colliery have obtained no relief
as yet regarding the alleged defective supply of safety lamps.
They passed a resolution to stop work, but they accepted the
advice of their agent to continue a short time longer’.

The decision of the arbiter, Prof. Burns, on the dispute at
Hyndsward pit has been received. The owners asked for a
reduction of 8d. per ton on the rate, on the ground that the
roads had been shortened. The arbiter has decided that a
reduction of 3d. per ton should be conceded by the men.

The percentage of absenteeism is greater in pits in which
the six days’ working policy is adopted than at mines
where 11 days per fortnight is the policy.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The Lancashire and Cheshire Colliery Firemen’s Associa-
tion, which has a membership of 2,300, has decided to tender
notices on the question of wages. It appeairs that the asso-
ciation made an application to the Lancashire and Cheshire
Coal Owners’ Association at the beginning of July last for
an increase in wages, and, on the employers refusing to
entertain the application, the colliery firemen decided to take
a ballot of members, and at the same time communicate the
facts to the Board of Trade. A fortnight ago the executive
committee of the men’s organisation resolved to tender
notices, but in the meantime they received a letter from
Sir George Askwith agreeing to receive a deputation, and
promising to use his good offices in order to try to bring
together the parties concerned. The Colliery Firemen’s
Association convened a meeting on Monday of the present
week to consider the position of affairs, and at this meeting
other representatives of the mining industry who were pre-
sent on behalf of trades unions, consented to support the
application of the colliery firemen for an increase in wages,
a sub-committee subsequently deciding to tender notices on
behalf of the men.

At an inquest at Burton-on-Trent recently, the jury
recommended that in the case of pit fatalities, men with
mining experience should be empanelled. The coroner
pointed out that the jury had the benefit of expert evidence
from mining witnesses and of the help of H.M. mines
inspector.