December 22, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1231

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Government Control—Wagon Shortage—Large New Works:
Projected—Lord Rhondda Retires from Colliery Director-
ships—High Wages Paid to Colliers and Iron Workers
—Generous Gift for Technical Instruction.

A rumour attributes to the Government the intention of
establishing unity of operation as between the mines, rail-
ways, docks, and shipping. It is said that there will be
established, probably in Cardiff, a central office, with an
adequate staff, under one of the leading business men of the
country, and that the whole of the local undertakings specified
are to be worked in co-ordination by him. The idea that the
wagons will be pooled in future is associated with this antici-
pated unity of control.

Coincident with this is the expectation that allocation of
wagons is to be made; not pooling generally , but pooling as
applied on separate railways, each line having a total allo-
cated for distribution to collieries and to other purposes as
needed.

The very serious position which exists owing to lack of
shipping, with the congestion of railway sidings at South
Wales ports, where hundreds of thousands of tons of coal
awaited shipment, has been brought directly before Parlia-
ment by a question. The evil has become intense. Unfor-
tunately, the suggestion contained in the question which Mr.
Edgar Jones, M.P., put to the Prime Minister would not
remedy the evil. Even though practicable, the sending of
colliery wagons from South Wales inland might entail an
even greater delay, ultimately, than that which is caused by
lack of shipping. The course of business in this coal field
during normal periods is that the trucks run the short dis-
tances to port; are promptly emptied into ships; and
returned to the collieries (hours only being occupied), and the
rolling stock thus being readily available to keep the collieries
going. But if the trucks were sent inland, especially if their
destination were at any material distance, the time occupied
in unloading and returning would cause a far greater
stoppage than is now occasioned in the shipping.

The question of colliery stoppages due to- wagon shortage
has come up at miners’ meetings. It was referred to on
Saturday in Swansea, where report was submitted that a
number of anthracite men had been out of work or on short
time; and opinion was expressed that this matter should be
brought to the attention of the Government. Detailed parti-
culars will be gathered from each colliery, so that a full
statement of facts may be submitted; and the speakers in
the meeting made a comment as to the outcry against absen-
teeism at a time when whole collieries were idle, and others
were working irregularly through lack of wagons.

The Western Miners’ Association also met in Swansea on
Saturday, and discussion took place on the same subject—so
many men having been idle because of the hindrances to
work through want of wagons. Claims for out-of-work pay
arising out of the stoppages are to be submitted to the Feder-
ation executive.

The Avon Valley miners—that is, those who are in the
area behind Port Talbot—are also complaining as to idleness
which has been due to the non-supply of wagons; and it was
stated that within the last six weeks some collieries had been
idle for 31 days. Mr. Jenkins, the agent, said that practi-
cally all the collieries in the district had suffered from this
cause, and he hoped that the Government would take imme-
diate steps to remedy the difficulty, and to obtain for all
collieries equal treatment.

Considerable discussion has taken place on Cardiff
Exchange as to the decision to allocate tonnage for France
and Italy — this allocation to come into operation from
January 1. The idea of allocating to Swansea one-third of
the total quantity available to South Wales was strongly
opposed—the demand for other ports being regarded as much
greater. Shipments at the present time are made only with
difficulty, and the proportion of free tonnage becomes ever
less, though the past few days mark an improvement upon
last week. More prompt shipment has had its effect on
market prices, which came up to limitation rates, as com-
pared with the temporary drop of 4s. to 5s. a ton, which
was accepted in order to get wagons freed.

Before circulation of the rumour mentioned above, it was
believed that the Order of the Board of Trade as to taking
possession of privately-owned railway wagons, “ and to use
these wagons in such a manner as they think best in the
interest of the country,” would not very much affect South
Wales. Private ownership of wagons in respect of the
different collieries is an ordinary practicebut, in addition,
there are wagon companies which lend rolling stock on hire,
and builders by whom the same class of business is carried
on. Whatever may happen, though further developments by
the Board of Trade should take place, it is unlikely that any
interference will be made with South Wales collieries,
because their wagons are at the present time almost entirely
on Government service, or, at any rate, immediately avail-
able for such service.

A deputation from the Miners’ Federation executive
attended in London on Friday last week, by invitation of
the Inter-Departmental Committee, with reference to the
State control of the South Wales mines. Mr. James
Winstone (president), Mr. T. Richards, M.P. (secretary),
Mr. Alfred Onions (treasurer), with Mr. Nicholas (solicitor
to the Federation), formed the deputation. The conference
lasted nearly two hours, and is said to have been so far
successful that a number of important points have been
cleared up.—The deputation reported to the executive council,
at a meeting in Cardiff on Tuesday, that they received inti-
mation of the desire of the Inter-Departmental Committee
that the contractual relations between employers and miners
should be maintained in all matters of administration under
the Conciliation Board. The procedure in regard to wages
questions, so that recurrence of crises might be avoided, was
being considered; and further communication on that sub-
ject would be made to the Federation secretary later on.
As to instructions for the auditor, who is to enquire into
costs of production, the Federation has to supply the Com-
mittee with further particulars of the views held by the
men’s representatives.

The secretary of the South Wales District Coal Supplies
Committee has addressed a letter to the clerks of the different
municipal councils in South Wales and Monmouthshire,
wherein he states the arrangement for supplying house coal
during the first quarter of 1917. All colliery companies will

be instructed to supply the same quantities of house coal to
the same merchants as they supplied during January 1915;
February supplies are to be as those in November 1915; and
March supplies as those in December 1915. Mr. F. A.
Gibson (secretary of the committee) states in his circular
letter that this is considered to be the best course to adopt,
as each colliery company will then know to whom, and what
quantity, they have to supply each month. The merchants
will know also howT they stand. The scheme has received
the approval of the Board of Trade, and must not be deviated
from by the merchants. The circular expresses the hope that
local committees, and also coal merchants, will impress upon
householders the need for strictest economy.

It is believed that large new works are to be established
on the extensive flats lying between Cardiff and Newport,
works of such an important character that employment will
be found at the outset for several thousands of men, and ulti-
mately for 10,000 to 12,000. Enquiries are being made both
at Newport and Cardiff as to what accommodation can be
obtained as lodgings for the men who will be occupied in
the preliminary work of laying out the land. An area of
more than two square miles is spoken of as the “ taking ”—
1,000 acres being already indicated. The initial work neces-
sarily includes the provision of roads and drains, as well as
the erection of workshops, etc. The area lying between
Cardiff and Newport — a level patch reclaimed from the
Severn estuary as far back as the time of the Romans—
extends over 10 miles between the two towns. The Great
Western Railway runs through the centre. On the east is
Newport docks and railway, and on the west is the Taff
Vale Railway with the docks branch of the Great Western,
and also Cardiff docks. Two main sewers—one giving outlet
for the colliery valleys of West Monmouthshire, and the other
for the Rhondda Valley, in Glamorgan—discharge into the
estuary, and thus afford ready means of draining the new
site. It is understood that the new undertaking will be
connected with the metal and manufacturing trades; and
inasmuch as the site is singularly favourable in respect of
railway and shipping, also for cheap coal and material, the
enterprise, which foreshadows the establishment of a new
town of 30,000 to 35,000 inhabitants, is regarded with great
interest locally. In addition to this, it is anticipated that
new steel works will be put up in the immediate vicinity of
Cardiff; and at Newport operations are actively in progress
for the new Mannesmann Tube Works.

M. Turck, acting-Consul for France at Cardiff and New-
port, has presented to Mr. W. Jenkins, Assistant-Director
of Navy Contracts, a handsome bronze. The presentation
was made on behalf of the Administration of the French
Marine, in recognition of services rendered the French
Government in the matter of coal supplies during the past
two years that Mr. Jenkins has been in Cardiff, great appre-
ciation of Mr. Jenkins’ work under the difficult war condi-
tions being expressed.

In a meeting at Ebbw Vale on Saturday, Mr. F. Mills,
managing director of the Ebbw Vale Steel and Iron Com-
pany, who presided, referred to the necessity of full work on
the part of the wage earners. He said that the man who
did not work when he was capable was as much a traitor
to the country as the soldier who would not fight in the
presence of the enemy. Mr. Mills dealt also with the very
important subject of the conscription of capital; and his
remarks have secured special attention because of the striking
statement which appeared in The Times money article on
Friday last, to the effect that a scheme is being discussed
whereby the new Government should suspend further bor-
rowing, and substitute a tax on capital—it being thought
that such a tax, at 6 per cent., would produce 1,400 millions
sterling. No indication was given as to how such a tax
could be imposed.

Lord Rhondda, upon taking up the Presidency of the Local
Government Board, will, it is understood, retire from his
different directorships, which include the Cambrian, Celtic,
Britannic Merthyr, Cynon, D. Davis and Sons, Fernhill,
Glamorgan, Gwaun - cae - Gurwen, Imperial Navigation,
International, Naval, North’s, and Rhymney colliery com-
panies, as well as of trading companies, such as Gueret, also
Lysberg, and Amaral-Sutherland, Anglo-Argentine, and
those of the Taff Vale Railway, Port Talbot Railway, and
other undertakings. It is anticipated that his daughter,
Lady Mackworth, who is already director of certain under-
takings, will succeed Lord Rhondda in several of the director-
ships referred to.

At the meeting of the Cynon Colliery Company, it was
stated by the chairman that Lord Rhondda’s acceptance of
office involved a personal sacrifice of great magnitude, but
that he had readily placed his services at the disposal of the
country. As far as the Cynon Colliery was concerned, the
speaker stated that they had the advantage of Lady Mack-
worth’s presence on the directorate. A lady director of a
colliery company, he said, was something of an innovation,
but her close association with her father in business matters
had proved a source of strength to the company.

At the Bridgend Police Court on Saturday, a solicitor, who
was defending four colliers from a charge of trespassing in
pursuit of rabbits, stated : “ My clients are earning from
£12 to ^014 per week, and it is not at all likely that men
in receipt of such wages would trouble about a paltry rabbit.”
The magistrates, however, considered the case proved, and
fined each man.

In the course of the hearing of a case before the Mon-
mouthshire munitions tribunal, where the Ebbw Vale Com-
pany summoned a workman for absenting himself from work
at the Siemens furnace, it was stated that the man could
earn from £10 to £14 per week, and that he had actually
received £12 18s. Id. per week; whilst a man at another
furnace had been paid £14. Another employee, summoned
for a similar offence, had earned £13 12s. in one week. Some
pig iron carriers, who were summoned for refusing to work,
had been earning about £3 per week.

The Conciliation Board met on Tuesday, when it was
agreed that Monday and Tuesday should be observed as
holidays by men on the morning and afternoon shifts; and
that Tuesday night shift should be regarded as optional—
any man unable to work that night not to be penalised in
the payment of one-fifth bonus for night work.

The Mumbles Council, in the Swansea district, have dis-
cussed their relation with local coal merchants, who refused
to fix a standard price for the coming winter, and some of
the speakers desired that the Council should take strong
action, and fix a price themselves. One suggestion was that
35s. per ton, second quality, in bags, was a reasonable
figure. The merchants were invited to confer with the
Council, and a meeting took place on Monday, all the retailers
being present. It was then unanimously n creed that during
the winter house coal should be supplied at Is. lOd. per cwt.;

larger quantities not to exceed 39s. per ton for best, or 36s.
for seconds.

The Bristol Channel Ship Owners’ Association have had
under consideration certain schemes for the supply of
coal to France and Italy, and they considered particularly
the changes which are sometimes made to be retrospective.
A resolution was passed to impress upon the central execu-
tive “ that no new decision or alteration of terms of charter
shall be agreed upon, except upon the footing that they are
to take effect as from a date subsequent to such decisions
being arrived at; and that under no circumstances shall
such alterations or additions be retrospective in effect; also
that due notice shall be given to those concerned.”

Judgment has now been entered in the subsidence action
which was heard at Swansea Assizes, where Messrs. Cory
Brothers and Company were sued for damages to houses and
shops at Pentre, in the Rhondda Valley—it being alleged
that subsidence was due to the working of the colliery. On
behalf of the colliery proprietors, it was submitted that the
damage was due to a squeeze or slide of the mountain ■, and
not to the sinking of the surface. The jury found in favour
of plaintiffs, and some legal points which were raised have
since been argued. Judgment has now been given in favour
of plaintiffs; but a stay of execution was granted on terms.
Two sums were awarded—one of £330, and one of £200,
with costs.

Notification has been given to the Cardiff and District
Local Committee that shipping licences are not required for
steamers of less than 500 tons gross burden.

Mr. T. Jones, who has joined the board of North’s Navi-
gation Collieries, is a partner in the firm of Jones, Rees and
Company, stockbrokers, Swansea; and also of Emlyn Rees
and Company, coal exporters, of that town. He is already
a director of the Imperial Navigation, of the Gwaun-cae-
Gurwen, and other companies.

The development of technical instruction in South Wales
proceeds rapidly—Cardiff having drafted a big scheme;
Swansea having raised a magnificent fund; and now Llanelly
has had an offer from Mr. Beaumont Thomas, managing
director of several steel and tin-plate works, who suggests
the establishment of a technical college in that tin-plate
town. Mr. Thomas attended a meeting of the local Educa-
tion Committee, and pointed out that the colliery authorities
were considering the advisability of opening a college in their
district, and that it was still an open question where it
would be located; but he did not think there would be any
difficulty in getting the money, and although he could not
make any definite promise that evening on behalf of his
firm, he believed that a substantial sum would be forth-
coming from them if the matter were taken in hand. They
should teach steel making, for they were very ignorant in
this matter; and at present, with regard to tin-plate manu-
facture, there was very little that was scientific in that work,
it being mostly rule of thumb. The processes in different
works were absolutely contrary. They should also have
engineering tuition. The committee resolved to invite the
Royal Commission to hold an enquiry in Llanelly, and also
to ask the Carmarthen County Council whether they would
delegate to Llanelly their powers in regard to a technical
college.—It has been stated that Messrs. Thomas’s contri-
bution will amount to £5,000.

The owner of a small colliery on the northern outcrop was
summoned at Tredegar Court for employing a boy under 14
years of age. The lad was fatally injured in September by a
fall of roof, and it wap notice of the accident that led to the
discovery of age. Defendant’s excuse was that the deceased
had come three or four times seeking employment, and that
as he was one of a large family, he was given work. A fine
of 20s. was imposed.

Northumberland and Durham.

Dennis Bayley Fund—Miners' Allotments—Homes for Aged
Workers—Compensation Case.

The Northumberland miners have now subscribed £4,000
to the Dennis Bayley Fund for providing motor ambulance
convoys for the front.

Col. T. E. Jobling, of the Bedlington Coal Company
Limited, who died recently, left estate sworn at £49,933
gross and £49,637 net.

The Backworth Collieries Limited have granted to the
miners of Algernon pit the use of a piece of land for garden
allotment purposes. The whole of the allotments have been
speedily taken up.

A special delegate meeting of the Northumberland and
Durham Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund is to be held
to-morrow (Saturday) in Newcastle, to consider a suggested
scheme for assisting recipients of “ aged benefit.” The
project has already been carried by 542 votes to 208, 229
votes not being recorded, but th© management committee
considers that the result was not sufficiently unanimous to
warrant the scheme being proceeded with.

Further contributions towards the extinction of the bank
overdraft on the Durham Aged Mine Workers’ Homes Asso-
ciation are as follow :—The South Moor Colliery Companv
Limited, £105; Messrs. Bell Brothers Limited, £100; the
Wearmouth Coal Companv Limited, £50; the North Bitch-
burn Coal Company Limited, £50; the Bearpark Coal and.
Coke Company Limited, £25; the owners of Pelton Colliery
Limited, £25; Birtley Coal Company Limited, £25; and
Sir B. Samuelson and Company Limited, £25. Craghead
miners’ lodge has decided to pay Id. per member and Id.
per half-member per week towards the funds, instead of Is.
per full- and 6d. per half-member per annum. Shildon
miners’ lodge has sent on an extra contribution of fid. per
full- and 3d. per half-member.

The figures as to November coal and coke shipments pre-
sented to the Tyne Improvement Commissioners’ meeting in
Newcastle last week, showed that 863,742 tons of coal as
cargo, 191,452 tons of coal as bunkers, and 64,302 tons of
coke were shipped from the Tyne—decreases of 89,964 tons
of coal as cargo and 3,289 tons of coal as bunkers, and an
increase of 16,554 tons of coke, when compared with the
shipments for November 1915. When compared with figures
for November 1913 (the last full pre-war year), a decrease
of 589,786 tons, a decrease of 61,948 tons, and an increase of
39,011 tons respectively were shown. The figures for the
11 months now ended, as compared with the respective
periods of 1915 and 1913, were as follow :—Coal as cargo,
10,750,551 tons, decreases of 600,710 tons and 5,506,741 tons
respectively; coal as bunkers, 1,230,805 tons, decreases of
85.694 tons and 795,254 tons respectively ; and coke, 793,879
tons, increases of 443,519 tons and 512,140 tons respectively.

On August 4 last, Matthew Donkin, a worker in South
Pelaw Colliery, was knocked down by a full tub and crushed