December 29, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1277

INDIAN AND COLONIAL NOTES.

Africa.

Transvaal Coni Trade.—A. striking feature of the South
African coal trade is the impetus given by the war to
bunkering and export, and to all appearances this improved
demand for coal is likely to continue for some time after
the war is over. The diversion of the Suez shipping traffic
via the Cape is also likely to be more permanent than at
first expected, and already arrangements are being made at
Table Bay to put down an up-to-date coaling equipment,
which the altered state of affairs has rendered necessary.
Delagoa Bay is, of course, the natural coaling port for the
Transvaal collieries, but the favourable railway rate
arranged some time ago by the South African railways for
the carriage of coal overland from the Transvaal to Table
Bay has brought Capetown within easy reach of the
Transvaal collieries. So strong has the position of the
bunkering trade at Capetown become that the recent
increase in the railway rate of 6s. per ton has had practically
no effect on the demand, and it is to be hoped that the
Transvaal collieries will devise some means of obtaining
better prices for bunker coal. Natal prices have advanced
to a far greater extent than the Transvaal pit top prices,
and if the bunkering trade can stand an additional railway
rate of 6s. per ton, surely the Transvaal coal owners ought
to benefit also in the altered conditions of the coal trade.
It is not, however, an easy matter to bring about an
immediate improvement in Transvaal coal prices, and the
recent attempt in this direction with regard to the new
loco contracts last July will not soon be forgotten. With
the bulk of the collieries in the Coal Owners’ Association,
it might be expected that the task of raising selling prices
would be a comparatively easy one, but the number and
capabilities of the non-associated collieries are gradually
increasing, and any attempt to obtain better prices at once
causes enquiries to be diverted to the non-associated
colliery concerns, many of whom are glad to obtain
additional orders at prices less than those quoted by the
Association. Then, again, the Coal Owners’ Association
has arranged contracts for periods extending over three
years, and in these circumstances it becomes impossible to
take full advantage of any sudden change for the better in
the coal trade. Notwithstanding the fact that the Trans-
vaal coal trade is in a healthier state than for some time
past, and the output has obtained record dimensions, there
are few new collieries being opened—certainly not
more than sufficient to counterbalance the closing down
of exhausted concerns, and to maintain the steady
progress in output tvhich has always characterised the
Transvaal coal trade. The Clydesdale Collieries, it is
true, are opening a new colliery in the Middelburg district,
which is likely to turn out a fair amount of coal, but this
will take the place of the worked out Clydesdale Colliery at
Springs. The new Tweefontein Colliery will replace the
Premier Colliery now closed down, whilst the new Cassel
Colliery will take the place of the exhausted Landau
Colliery. The other new concerns in the Middelburg
district are principally small and of little importance, so
that on the whole theie is not likely to be an overflooding
of the market with Middelburg coal. With regard to the
outside districts, which may now be said to be all the
districts with the exception of Middelburg, there is not
much activity noticeable. In the Ermelo district several
new collieries have started and others are spoken of as
likely t© start, but during the last 12 months the expansion
of output has not exceeded 50,000 tons. The Breyten
collieries, by far the most important coal producers in the
Ermelo district, have all along found it necessary to open
additional collieries in order to enable them to maintain
their output, owing to coming in contact with unexpected
faults, dykes, and the thinning out of the coal seam, so
that under these conditions any marked expansion can only
with difficulty be obtained. The Townlands Colliery is still
worked on tribute, and the output remains stationary.
With regard to the new Spitzkop Colliery, of which such
great things were expected, 'they had no sooner started
mining operations when they came in contact with a dyke
wrongly diagnosed at first as a “ washout/'’ and which for
the last 12 months has prevented any progress being made.
On the whole, therefore, the new collieries in the Ermelo
district do not seem destined to add materially to the
Transvaal coal output, and as few collieries are starting
elsewhere, the most that can be expected will be an annual
increase of roughly 10 per cent, which has for so many
years past been characteristic of the Transvaal coal output.

Australia.

The Minister for Mines is having a mine in the Maitland
district investigated by the Government geologist, with a
view to establishing a second State enterprise there.

The coal export from Newcastle for the nine months
ended September 30 shows a falling off of 628,175 tons, and
a decrease of 1306,108 in value, as compared with the
corresponding period last year. The trade with the Far
East and India is fast falling out of the hands of Newcastle
merchants. The total only reached 142,408 tons, which is
240,000 tons less than the figures for September last year.

Neto South Wale;> State Coal Mine.—The State coal mine
has been officially opened. The cost of establishing the
mine is estimated at <£100,CO J, but this will probably be
exceeded owing to the war having increased the cost of all
materials, whilst the cost of cartage will be heavy until a
railway is constructed to the mine.

Canada.

Output in Alberta. - The output of the coal mines in
Alberta for the present year is estimated by Mr. J. Stirling,
ohief mine inspector, at from 4,250,000 to 4,500,000 tons,.
cr approximately an increase of 1,000,000 tons over the
production of 1915. There has been a largely increased
development in the coal areas tapped by the Canadian
Northern Railway. Mr. D. B. Hanna, third vice-president
of the company, states that for the six months ending
October 31 the road has moved in round figures 200,000
tons of coal from the mines in the Cardiff and Drumheller
districts alone, as compared with 100,000 tons for the
corresponding period of 1915. The coal is of a semi-
bituminous character, and is marketed in the prairie
provinces to points as far east as Winnipeg, where it meets
the competition of anthracite from Pennsylvania. In view
of the uncertainty of deliveries from the American coal
fields, owing to car and labour shortage, this development
is of importance to western consumers.

Extensions in Nova Scotia.—The Nova Scotia Steel and
Coal Company, of New Glasgow, in view of extensive orders
both for war munitions and its ordinary lines, will largely
increase its capacity. Arrangements are being effected for
a considerable addition to the number of its coke ovens.
President Thomas Cantley has just returned from the
United States, where he has placed large orders for the
necessary equipment.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Swansea Chamber of Commerce has had before it a
claim from the tippers at the docks for an additional war
bonus, the matter being brought up by a letter from the
local railway companies. The men, who are already in
receipt of 12| per cent, bonus, ask for another 25 per cent,
to date back to November 23. It was decided at the meeting
not to deal with the matter because it was one between the
railway companies and their employees ; and, in the course
of the discussion, it was stated that already double charges
were imposed upon neutrals, whose vessels represent 80 per
cent of Swansea’s trade.

The Blaina miners held their monthly meeting on
Tuesday and dealt with the question of non-unionism
relating to the men in the brick-yards of Lancaster’s
collieries. It was reported that the men had now joined
the organisation and that there was not likely to be any
further trouble. It was decided that a deputation should
meet the Brecon military authorities because of the
difficulty of the Brynmawr men as to their military
exemption.

North of England.

At the December meeting of the Northumberland Coal
Trade Joint Committee claims on behalf of night-shift men
at Cowpen, who alleged that they were kept down the pit
longer than necessary after breakdowns on February 2,
December 1, and December 13, were rejected. The hewers
at Walker Ann Pit applied for payment when putting wet
and for payment when helping up when wet. It was
agreed that hewers, when putting- wet, should be paid for
each shift pro rata to the putters’ weekly rate. The claim
in respect of wet when helping up was rejected.

Mr. William Straker, corresponding secretary to the
Northumberland Miners’ Association, circularising the
members with reference to the necessity of absenting
themselves from work only on Christmas Day and New
Year’s Day, states that Sir Richard Redmayne has written,
on behalf of the Government, urging the miners to forego
their seasonal holidays owing to the continued urgent need
for coal. He adds : “ I am further instructed to warn our
members against the belief that, because some of our pits
are working short time, there is no such urgent need for
coal. These pits are idle because of the shipping difficulty;
therefore, when ships are available, not a single man should
bo absent from work, in order to get the coal at the earliest
possible moment ”

Further details with reference to the concessions to
Northumberland colliery firemen show that the colliery
owners have announced that they are prepared to concede
an eight hours shift to colliery firemen and a basis wage of
3s. 2d., as against 3s., for 10| hours, which marks a big
advance on present conditions, provided that a satisfactory
arrangement can be come to with the firemen that, in the
meantime, they will agree, when necessary, to work longer
than eight hours, so that in no case shall the work of the
colliery be interrupted owing to a possible shortage of
labour. The Wages Board of the Northumberland Colliery
Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Association has undertaken to
arrange this condition with the firemen. The coal owners
have also agreed to a 10 hours day for main line drivers at
a wage of 10s. 3d. per day, locomotive firemen on main lines
to have 10 hours for a basis wage of 3s. 4|d. The request
for an eight hours day for miscellaneous enginemen and
firemen and men on branch work has been declined by the
Coal Owners’ Association.

In his monthly circular to the members of the Durham
Miners’ Association, Mr. T. H. Cann, general secretary,
deals with the Government’s proposal in regard to an
additional 2s. 6d. per week for old age pensioners. He
criticises very severely the conditions which hem in this
grant, and states that hide-bound regulations are reducing
the administration of local committees to a mockery and a
sham

At the joint meeting of the executive and wages com-
mittees of the Northumberland Miners’ Association returns
from branches as to the number of miner non-unionists in
the county were considered. The figures showed a
considerable percentage, but not so many, it was stated, as
did figures for some other counties. As the National Coal
Committee recently advised co-operation between the coal
owners and the men’s unions on the question of non-
unionism, it has been decided to seek an interview with the
Northumberland coal owners on this matter.

The Wages Committee of the Northumberland Miners’
Association this week considered the quarterly ascertain-
ment of the selling price of coal in Northumberland. The
ascertainment showed that the average selling price was
17s. 7'29d. per ton, or Is. 4’52d. less than in the previous
quarter, equal to a reduction of 11 per cent, in the county
percentage on wages, leaving the percentage 120 above the
basis of 1879. Asa result of these deliberations, the Wages
Committee expressed the opinion that the men should not
suffer any further reduction in wages so long as the cost of
living kept as high as it was. The reduction in the average
price of coal was largely due, it was pointed out, to the
Government’s limitation of prices of coal to our Allies.
The committee had no objection to the Government doing
that, even to the extent of supplying the Allies with coal
free, but it did object to the burden falling upon the mining
communities in the exporting districts, rather than upon
the whole country. If the Government took control of the
whole coal produce in the country, the chances were that
prices would fall still lower, with the result that the wages
would continue to go down, unless the miners took a stand
against it. The cost of food had gone up 84 per cent, since
the war broke out and the general cost of living had gone
up 64 per cent., while the actual wages of the miners had
only increased 46 66 per cent. The committee felt that it
could not, therefore, submit to any further reduction in
wages in face of a position like that. The committee agreed
to communicate these views, in the form of a resolution, to
the Prime Minister, the President of the Board of Trade,
Sir Richard Redmayne, Chief Inspector of Mines, the

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, and, also, the Coal
Owners’ Association of Northumberland. It was further
resolved to ask the coal owners of the county to meet the
committee so that the latter mght put the position before
them.

Mr. Tom Wing, M.P. for Houghton-le-Spring, has
requested the Board of Trade to enquire into the circum-
stances attending the occasional stoppage of mines in
Durham, especially those in his own constituency, asking
if some means cannot be found whereby willing workers
may be left in employment at the pits, either by the com-
mandeering of more wagons, the securing of more shipping,
or by storing the coal pending transport facilities being
forthcoming. He has undertaken this request in the
interests of his constituents, and has promised to acquaint
them with the Board’s decision at the earliest possible
moment.

Federated Area.

The council of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association held
their annual meeting at Barnsley, Mr. H. Smith presiding.
The meeting recommended to the distiict that at the next
election a Parliamentary candidate should be run by the
Pontefract Division instead of that of Doncaster, in
addition to the Normanton, HaUamshire, and Holmfirth
Divisions. The council decided to notify the coal owners
that all surface workers, apart from those connected with
the management, should become members of the Miners’
Association. During the month it was reported 119
members of the association had fallen in the war, making a
total of 2,001 members from the commencement of the
war. Mr. John Wadsworth, M.P. (general secretary), was
welcomed upon his reappearance at the meeting after a
long illness.

A joint conference of representatives of the Triple
Industrial Alliance of the Miners’ Federation, National
Union of Railwaymen, and the Transport Workers’ Federa-
tion, expressed opposition to the introduction of coloured
labour.

Scotland.

The Ministry of Labour has been asked to take a hand in
the claim for an advance in wages by the Leadhill miners.
The company owning these mines has never recognised
trades union organisation amongst its workmen, and this
attitude is very much resented by the men.

The arbiter appointed to decide the ton rates at Messrs.
Waldie and Sons, Hirstrigg, has issued his award. The
management originally claimed a reduction of lOd. per ton,
but offered ultimately to accept 3d. The arbiter has
decided that the management has failed to establish a
claim for any reduction.

The coal owners’ books are being examined by the
accountants appointed by Lord Strathclyde to deal with
the question of increased cost of production, and the report
will be submitted at the earliest possible date. The work,
however, is very complicated, as the items which go to
make up the figures quoted by the owners must be specified
at the next meeting of the conciliation board. Through
the scarcity of vessels the export trade is greatly handi-
capped, and no immediate relief seems likely as export
prices are much higher than the home supplies. The
decreased shipments have resulted in a lowering of the
average realised values of coal within the past two months.

In connection with the Milnwood dispute, the miners
have obtained new terms. The firm agreed to introduce
naked lights in the seam without any reduction in the ton
rate, the miners being asked to draw the tubs for a longer
distance on level roads.

At a meeting of the executive of the Fife and Kinross
Miners’ Association, Lochgelly district submitted a motion
requesting permission to lodge notices against the employ-
ment in the pits of non-unionists. It was reported that in
several districts the coal owners were not carrying out
their promise to assist in eliminating non-unionism, and
that considerable friction was prevalent in these districts.
The board decided to report to the National Union
executive.

MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE.

To the Chester-le-Street tribunal, the owners of Pelton
Colliery Limited applied for the exemption of a wages and
pay clerk, 31, on the ground that he was indispensable
owing to the reduction of staff. Mr. Wilson, H.M. inspector
of mines, had investigated the case, and was of opinion that
the clerk was “ indispensable.” The clerk was given con-
ditional exemption, as was a cokeman employed by the same
company.

At Stockton, a young coal merchant, single, asked to be
allowed to go before the Central Medical Board, and put in
certificates to show that he was unfitted for military service
of any kind. The military representative pointed out that
the tribunal had to be careful in sending such cases forward.
The Mayor (Aid. Harrison) announced that the tribunal was
not prepared to accept the certificates, and that the appeal
would be dismissed—which seems a very high-handed and
arbitrary action for a body of laymen to take with reference
to medical certificates.

Crook Trades’ Council has directed the attention of Mr.
A. Henderson, M.P., to the question of miners transferred
from the Army to work in the pits and the propriety of finan-
cial provision being made to these men under certain condi-
tions. Mr. A. Henderson has replied :—“ I may say that
several cases have come before me in which men have been
released from the Army for work in the mines, and are then
being found physically incapable of undertaking the work.
In such cases, I have always urged that the military
authorities should discharge the men, and that a claim for a
pension should then be considered by the Chelsea Commis-
sioners. Where, however, a man who has been released
from the Army is quite fit to undertake the work, but subse-
quently falls off sick, I do not feel that he has any claim
against Army funds. After all, his position is not rendered
any the worse by the fact that he has been serving in the
Army, and I do not think it would be fair to men who have
suffered serious injury through their Army service if those
who have broken down in civil employment were entitled to
claim compensation from the Army.”

The Home Secretary has announced that the arrangements
made with the War Office for the release of miners unfit for
service have resulted in the return of over 12,000 men to
the mines.