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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

December 22, 1916.

COAL CONCILIATION BOARDS.

A meeting of the Coal Conciliation Board for England
and North Wales was held at the Cecil Hotel, London,
yesterday, to consider an application by the workmen’s
section for an increase in wages to meet the higher cost
of living. Mr. F. J. Jones (Yorkshire) presided, with
Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., in the vice-chair. In pre-
senting the men’s case, Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P.,
stated that the application was supplementary to the
existing agreement, following the precedent made at the
time of the South African War in 1900. The men asked
for an advance in wages beyond the fixed maximum, so
as to meet the higher cost of living. It was considered
that the present high selling price of coal would justify
the- owners in giving the advance asked for; and Mr.
Walsh pointed out that the workmen in the other dis-
tricts had secured larger increases, which was causing a
certain amount of unrest among the miners employed in
the English Federated area. The chairman acknow-
ledged the manner in which the application had been
advocated, and said though they were not in a position
by themselves to give an advance, they would submit
the proposal for the consideration of the general body of
coal owners in the Federated area, and then meet the
men’s representatives at an adjourned meeting for the
further consideration of the application.

A special meeting of the Cumberland Coal Trade Con
ciliation Board was held at Workington on Tuesday,
Canon Sutton, neutral chairman, presiding, to hear the
men’s applications for Is. per day increase of day wage
men’s and boys’ standard wages; an advance of Is. per
day in all surface workers’ standard wages; and for an
8s. per day standard for hewers brought from the face to
work at day wage work or in abnormal places. Mr. T.
Cape, of the Miners’ Association, presented the case for
the men; and Mr. T. P. Martin the case for the masters.
The neutral chairman reserved his decision.

SURFACE WORKERS’ WAGES IN SCOTLAND.

Sir George Askwith, Chief Industrial Commissioner,
met representatives of the Scottish coal trade—owners
and workmen—on Wednesday, with reference to the
dispute, about the wages of surface workers in Scot-
land. It has long been the custom to regulate the
wages of these workers on the basis of an advance of Id.
for each 3d. advance made to the underground workers.
The latter have received advances since the beginning
of the war equal to 3s. per day, which means an addi-
tion of Is. per day for the surface workers, besides which
they have a war bonus of a further 3d. per day. The
present average wage of the surface workers, including
war bonus and increase, is about 5s. per day. Both
parties stated their case, and agreed to accept Sir George
Askwith as. sole arbitrator. An early decision was
promised.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—December 20.

The Tonnage Scarcity.

Mr. E. Jones asked whether the Prime Minister was
aware that South Wales mines were being thrown idle
because of the accumulation of loaded wagons of coal and
coke at Newport and Cardiff; whether he would arrange for
returned soldiers or German prisoners to empty the wagons;
and Whether he would appoint a controller of mineral trans-
port for South Wales at once.

Mr. George Egberts -(Parliamentary Secretary to the
Board of Trade) replied that he was aware that a shortage of
tonnage had recently caused temporary stoppages of a
number of collieries in South Wales. The Board of Trade,
the Ministry of Munitions, and the Coal Mining Organisa-
tion Committee had done what they could to encourage the
stocking of coal by consumers and colliery owners in order
to meet the situation as far as possible. He was not aware
of any district at present where it could be said that it was
suffering from a shortage of coal. He did not think that
the appointment of a controller of mineral transport was
necessary. As far as information available showed, there
was nothing abnormal in the existing circumstances, and
every endeavour would be made to meet them.

Replying to other questions, Mr. Roberts said that there
appeared to be nothing abnormal in the existing circum-
stances, but the matter was being closely watched, and
every effort would be made to avoid an interruption of
industry. He was not in a position to make a statement
with regard to the financial arrangements in connection
with the Government control of the South Wales coal field.

Production and Transport.

Mr. Millar asked what further steps had been taken
during the past six months to increase the production of
coal in the United Kingdom, and to provide railway wagons
for the transport of coal from the collieries.

Mr. Brace, in reply, referred to the Report which was
issued by the Coal Mining Organisation Committee in
September last. The arrangements made with the War
Office for the release of miners unfit for general service
resulted in the return of over 12,000 men to the mines, and
special measures had been taken to deal with the question
of absenteeism. The last part of the question was a matter
for the Board of Trade.

December 21.

Horses in Mines (Inspection).

In reply to Sir George Greenwood, Sir G. Cave said
that candidates for the post of horse inspector must be
thoroughly experienced in the care and treatment of horses
and other animals in mines, and must have had practical
acquaintance with the conditions under which work is carried
on underground. In 1915 the horse inspectors in England
and North- Wales inspected 916 mines, leaving 96 unvisited.
The corresponding figures for South Wales were 288 and 287.
He was making enquiry as to the figures for Scotland. A

second horse inspector was appointed for South Wales in
October 1915, so that the figures for 1915 did not represent
the present position. Only one mine in Ireland employed
horses, and this was visited by an ordinary inspector.

Boldon Colliery (Overcrowding).

Mr. T. Richardson asked the Secretary to the Local
Government Board if he had yet received the information pro-
mised locally to the medical inspector of his Department re
overcrowding at Boldon Colliery; if so, what was the nature
of the information supplied; and what action his Depart-
ment proposed to take to remedy the evil complained of.

Mr. Beck, in reply, said the information had been received
and showed that a considerable amount of overcrowding
existed at Boldon Colliery, and also in many of the Durham
districts. In view of the necessary restrictions on capital
expenditure, the provision of additional houses at the present
time did not seem practicable, but the Local Government
Board would communicate with the local authorities with a
view to the consideration of the question of providing houses
as soon as possible after the war.—In reply to a further ques-
tion by Mr. Wardle, he promised to suggest the building of
huts.

OBITUARY.

Mr. Edward Johnson, a well-known Black Country colliery
proprietor, died at Coseley, Staffordshire, at the age of 88
years.

Mr. G. Stanley’' Cooper, aged 29, who died on December 15,
was chemist in the service of Koppers’ Coke Oven and Bye-
Products Co. for several years, and recently entered into an.
agreement to act as their technical manager. Meantime, he
had had charge of the new coke ovfcn plant of the Yorkshire
Coke and Chemical Company at Glass Houghton, a position
which he resigned last summer. He had been associated
with the starting of a number of new plants in England and
on the Continent, and was a widely-known contributor to the
technical Press.

The death is announced of Mr. Matthew Barr Baird, of
the firm of Messrs. Archibald Baird and Son, Clyde Steel
and Engineering Works, Hamilton. Mr. Baird, who was
born in 1845, was connected all his life with the iron and
steel industry.

The late Mr. Archibald Colville, who died at Motherwell
recently, was chairman of the well-known firm of David
Colville and Sons Limited, Dalzell Steel Works, Motherwell.
He was a native of Glasgow, and he began his business
career with Messrs. James Finlay and Company, East India
merchants, Glasgow, but joined his father at Motherwell
when the latter started the Dalzell Iron Works. For almost
45 years he was associated with the commercial side of the
great Dalzell establishment. Mr. Colville was chairman of
the Scottish Steel Makers’ Association, and a member of
the Board of Trade Iron and Steel Industries Committee.

The death took place suddenly on Sunday of Mr. John T.
Williams, agent and manager of Messrs. Lancaster’s Steam
Collieries Company, at Cwmtillery. Mr. Williams, who was
58 years of age, was credited with being one of the keenest
business men in the South Wales coal trade.

The death is announced of Mr. C. E. Wood, manager of
the firm of Messrs. F..R. Howe and Company, coal exporters
and pitwood importers. He had been with the firm for 17
years, and previously to his work at Cardiff was engaged at
Newport.

At the Walkden Town Hall, before the Worsley tribunal,
last week, four clerks in the Earl of Ellesmere’s colliery
offices, married, and aged 39, 36, 35, and 34, were granted
conditional exemption on the recommendation of H.M.
inspector of mines. The claims of seven clerks passed in
classes B3, C3, and C2, were adjourned until they were
called up, and one clerk, aged 26, and married, was not
granted a certificate, but will not be called up till January 31.

Application was made to the Dudley tribunal on Thursday
of last week for a bricklayer, who was stated to be engaged
on building and repairing work at an old colliery at Shut
End, Kings winford. The colliery was to be re-opened by
Messrs. H. S. Pitt and Company, after having been closed
for 50 years. Exemption to March 15 was granted.

Triple Alliance Conference. — The Miners’ Federation
executive took part on Thursday in a joint conference of the
Triple Industrial Alliance, Mr. R. Smillie presiding. Among
the resolutions passed was one objecting to the importa-
tion of coloured labour into this country. In view of the
importance of the mining, railway, and transport services
being maintained in a state of efficiency, the conference
demanded adequate steps to be taken to prevent any further
depletion of these services, and protested against mobile
battalions under military control being formed to do civilian
work. It was also urged that the Government should take
measures to reviewT the first paragraph of the first schedule
of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, with a view to increas-
ing the amount of compensation payable to meet the increased
cost of living.

Midland Mining Electrical Engineers. — The monthly
meeting of the Midland branch of the Association of Mining
Electrical Engineers was held at the Midland Hotel, Mans-
field, on Saturday afternoon, December 16. There was a
good attendance of members. In consequence of Mr. A. R.
Davis (Mansfield) having declined to accept the position of
president, Mr. F. Church (Tibshetf) was unanimously
elected. In his presidential address, he alluded to the excel-
lent work which that branch had done towards forwarding
the objects of the association, which were to consider means
for minimising the risks attending the application of elec-
tricity to the industry of mining, and to promote the adoption
of approved methods and devices tending to increase safety,
and also to promote the general advancement of electrical
science in its application to the industry of mining. He
maintained that the revision of the Mines Act, which led
to the recognition of the mining electrical engineer, had been
the meains to a large extent of securing the safer working
of electrical apparatus in mines. An instructive discussion
took place on the report on electric signalling with bare wires
by Dr. R. V. Wheeler and Prof. W. M. Thornton, and
means of overcoming difficulties in connection with same.
Messrs. Davis. W. J. Furse, S. Gentry, F. T. Hanks, E. E.
Beadsmorc, E. R. Hudson, and the president took part in
the discussion. Several appliances connected with elec-
trical signalling, which complv with recent mine regulations,
were exhibited, and explanations given as to the method of
working them.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE.
COURT OF APPEAL.—December 15.

Before the Master of the Rolls, and Lords Justices
Scrutton and Warrington.

A Dowlais Appeal.

Price y. Guest, Keen and Nettlefold Limited.—The com-
pany appealed against a county court decision which awarded
T300 tto the widow on account of the fatal accident to her
husband, who was killed by a fall of roof in March last.
The appeal was based upon the ground that the county court
judge was wrong in holding that for purposes of assessing
the compensation the average weekly earnings of the deceased
man should not be calculated with reference to the period of
his employment prior to July 1915, and the judge was wrong
in assessing the compensation at T300.

The hearing was adjourned to enable the court to have
particulars of -a judgment delivered by the House of Lords.

Arranging a Purchase.

Ford v. Bryn Hall Colliery Company Limited.—The
plaintiff, a Doncaster mining engineer, appealed against a
decision given by Mr. Justice Darling relative to a claim for
T200 commission for arranging a certain purchase.

The Master of the Rolls, in giving judgment, said this
was a curious case. Indeed, he had never seen or heard of
one quite like it. As shown by their letters, the Bryn Hall
Colliery Company were minded to purchase the shares and
debentures of the Welsh Coal and Cannel Company for
T3,500, and agreed to pay Mr. Ford 4t200 for arranging the
purchase. Under those letters, what had Mr. Ford to do?
He had to obtain a contract, which he did obtain. The
vendors were perfectly willing to sell for .£3,500, but the
purchasers for their own protection inserted a clause reserv-
ing to themselves the right to say they would not proceed.
It was, therefore, a case in which the principals by their own
act prevented the agent from obtaining the commission to
which lie was entitled. The agent made an offer he was
authorised to make: that offer was accepted. Under these
circumstances it was utterly impossible to hold that because
the purchaser afterwards said, “ We won’t complete, at
least we will reserve to ourselves the right to refuse to
complete within seven days,” that that entitled them to say
Mr. Ford had not earnod his commission.

Lord Justice Warrington and Lord Justice Scrutton
concurred.

Appeal allowed, with costs, and judgment entered for the
plaintiff for 200 gs.

December 21.

Mills y. the Dinnington Main Coal Company Limited.—
The defendants appealed from a judgment of the Worksop
county court judge, who had made an award of <£300 to the
dependants of John Mills, a collier, under the provisions of
the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The defendants appealed
on two grounds—the first, that the learned judge was not
entitled, upon the evidence, to come to the conclusion he did
that the deceased died as the result Of an accident at the
colliery; and the second, that he was wrong in holding that
the employers were not prejudiced by the failure to give
reasonable notice of the accident, he finding that there had
been such a failure. It appeared that the workman Mills
was in the employ of the defendants, and on April 18 he was
trailing a rail along the ground when he knocked up against
a prop, with the result that one end of the rail struck him
on the fleshy part of the leg. He did not think he was
badly injured, and gave no notice of the accident. He con-
tinued working until May 29, when he consulted his own
doctor, who treated him for a pain in the leg. On June 10,
there being no improvement, Dr. Arthur Hall was called in
in consultation, and he diagnosed a rare disease known as
osteomyelitis, or inflammation of the marrow of the bone.
Mills was at once taken to the hospital and operated upon,
but he died the same day.

Mr. A. Parson, K.C., and Mr. Ellison appeared in support
of the appeal.

Their lordships, without calling upon the respondents,
dismissed the appeal, the Master of the Rolls observing that
he could not doubt there was evidence on which the county
court judge was justified in holding that the deceased’s
death was due to an accident arising out of and in the course
of his employment. The second point required more con-
sideration. It was true notice of the accident was not given
as soon as reasonable, but the accident was apparently
regarded as trivial by the workman at the time, and he went
on working for a considerable time afterwards. In this
particular case the nature of the disease was so obscure that
it was hardly possible for anyone to say from what the
man was suffering, and there was nothing to suggest any-
thing could have been done until Dr. Hall was called in on
June 10. He was, in the circumstances, unable to hold that
the employers were prejudiced by the absence of notice, and
rhe appeal would accordingly be dismissed, with costs.

Lords Justices Warrington and Scrutton concurred.

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.

KING’S BENCH DIVISION.—December 15.

Before Mr. Justice McCardie.

Collier’s Agreement.

Harris y. Ocean Coal Company Limited. — In this case,
W. Harris appealed from a decision in the Bridgend County
Court. In consequence of an accident when at work, appel-
lant’s leg was amputated in December 1898. He received
full compensation, and then partial compensation with a
wage. The company contended that Harris, although a
member of the Miners’ Federation, did not come under the
Conciliation Board agreement, and that he had not signed the
agreement. The county court dismissed the claim.

The case was remitted to the countv court in order that the
grounds of judgment there should be stated.

The Minister of Munitions has prohibited, under date
December 20, the sale or supply of any crane (steam, electric,
hydraulic, or hand-driven) except under permit.—Note.—
All persons must forthwith send in to the Director T. M. 4
(Cranes). Ministry of Munitions, Armament Buildings,
Whitehall. S.W., returns of all cranes in their possession or
under their control which may be for sale. Applications for
permits should be addressed to the Director.