542

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

March 16, 1917.

sultation between the representatives of the Miners’ Federa-
tion of Great Britain, the War Office, and the Home Office,
an agreement was arrived at. It was arranged that men
who had not already joined up, but who had been medically
examined and had their certificates withdrawn, were to have
two months’ grace. The Army authorities will endeavour to
obtain, by voluntary enlistment, 20,000 men from the mines
of the kingdom ; and if this number is so obtained, none of
the men at present under notice are likely to be called up
at all; but if there be failure to secure the 20,000 in two
months by voluntary enlistment, those men who have had
calling-up notices will have to join the Army. In regard to
this matter of voluntary enlistment, Home Office sanction
will have to be obtained.

The Swansea Harbour Trustees on Monday discussed the
question of limitation in freight rates, as well as several
other important topics, in a review of the trade of 1916
which was made by Mr. W. T. Farr. That gentleman said
that collieries and patent fuel manufacturers had been fully
supplied with orders, which they were unable to execute
because of the scarcity of tonnage; and yet coal was urgently
needed, both by British consumers and by our Allies. In
his opinion, the limited rates of freight were too low to
attract tonnage, owing to the heavy cost of insurance; and
exporters carrying out the scheme have been unable to
charter vessels which would, in normal conditions, have
loaded at Swansea. Since the commencement of November,
when the limitation scheme was extended to Italy, not more
than half a dozen cargoes had been sent to that country
through the ordinary business channels. Out of 3,860
vessels visiting the port in 1916, of a total tonnage of
2,315,208, as many as 2,180, of 1,484,713 tons, were
foreigners, and only 1,680, of 830,495 tons, were British.
This showed an excess of 500 foreign ships and 654,218 tons.
The gradual increase of foreign tonnage had been going
on for some years, and was a serious menace to the
supremacy of this country.

It was agreed that the Atlanta Patent Fuel Company
should have permission to lay a storage siding near the
North Dock basin, the company to pay £35 rental and a
wayleave of Id. per ton above 8,400 tons during any year.

Another speaker (Maj. Harries) directed attention to the
patent fuel trade and the quantity of small coal available.
He said that in the interest of the patent fuel industry, and
of our Allies, who so largely used this fuel, it was important
that the Controller of Shipping should release more vessels
for its shipment. There was a considerable glut of small
coal in South Wales, owing to large coal only being taken
by the Admiralty; and the amount of small coal that was
left seriously hampered the work of the collieries. Were
this converted into patent fuel and shipped to France and
Italy, it would prove most valuable.

A conference took place in Swansea on Tuesday between
representatives of different trade unions and also repre-
sentatives of the Ministry of Munitions and the Welsh Plate
and Sheet Makers’ Association of employers. The question
considered was the transfer of tin-plate workers now unem-
ployed to steel works where their labour is needed. It was
decided to appoint a joint -committee in order to deal with
the matter.

Messrs. Holman, coal exporters, Cardiff, in an action at
the Glamorgan Assizes, claimed damages from the Nant
Bhondda Colliery Company for alleged breach of contract in
delivery of coal for shipment, and judgment was given in
their favour for £133.

At the annual meeting of the Coal Owners’ Association,
in Cardiff on Tuesday, Mr. B. Nicholas, of the Tarpentwys
Colliery Company, Pontypool, was elected chairman for the
coming year, and Mr. Howell B. Jones vice-chairman.

The following gentlemen were elected for the district
boards Cardiff district : Chairman, Mr. Westgarth Forster
Brown; vice-chairman, Mr. David Arthur Williams. New-
port district: Chairman, Mr. Arthur S. Tallis; vice-chair-
man, Mr. F. A. Smith. Swansea district : Chairman, Mr.
Thos. Gray; vice-chairman, Mr. John Waddell. It was
reported that the outputs in the different districts during
1916 were as follow :—Cardiff district : Output, 28,913,203
tons; assurances, 30,306,830 tons. Newport district:
Output, 9,966,835 tons; assurances, 10,226,737 tons.
Swansea district: Output, 4,647,596 tons; assurances,
4,725,825 tons. The total of the outputs was 43,527,634
tons, showing an increase of 1,166,534 tons, or 2-7 per cent,
upon the outputs of the previous year. The assurances
totalled 45,259,392 tons, showing an increase of 1,212,964
tons, which also represented 2-7 per cent. Mr. D. B.
Llewelyn and Mr. D. F. Davies were appointed new mem-
bers on the owners’ side of the Conciliation Board in the
place of two gentlemen who have retired.

A return has been issued showing the quantity of coal
raised in the parish of Merthyr during 1916; and the total
is set out at 1,456,931 tons of large coal, and 452,015 tons
of small coal—this being an increase of 32,604 tons large
and 22,586 tons small. The tons are all “ long ’.’ weight.
The ratable value is therefore increased by £2,651 in respect
of large coal, and £839 of small coal. Of large coal, the
Ocean Company Limited raised 206,904 tons at Treh arris pits
and 46,341 tons in the Llanfabon parish; Messrs. Nixon’s
Navigation Company Limited, 364,687 tons at Merthyr Vale
pits, 42,223 tons in the Llanwonno parish, and 11,772 tons
at Cwmcynon (Mountain Ash); Messrs. Hill’s Plymouth
Company Limited, 313,903 tons from the 4 ft., 9 ft., and
other seams, including bituminous coal; Messrs. Crawshay
Brothers, 122,751 tons Castle pit, 93,388 tons Gethin No. 2
pit, and 56,116 tons other large coal; Messrs. Guest, Keen
and Nettlefolds, 141,049 tons from the Bargoed, Fochriw,
Nantwen (bituminous), Abercynon, and Bargoed (Gelligaer
parish) pits; the Thomas Merthyr Colliery Company, 45,095
tons from Waunwyllt, Cwmblacks (Glynmil), and Trebeddau
(through coal) pits; Penydarren Brick and Coal Company
Limited, Penydarren Level (through coal) pits, Penydarren
Level (Brick and Coal Company), 982 tons; and the Powell
Duffryn Company, Llanwonno, 10,820 tons. The chief
increases were shown at the Merthyr Vale pits, 9,741 tons;
at Castle pit, 6,692 tons; and Waunwyllt Colliery, 4,848
tons.

The Controller of Shipping, answering a resolution passed
at the meeting on Friday of last week with reference to
freight limitation, stated in a telegram that the position now
is that the Inter-Allied Chartering Executive of London has
discretion to pay rates necessary for obtaining neutral
tonnage, and that it is not bound by the old schedule of rates.
This telegram is understood to mean that, while the freight
limitation scheme still prevails, the Inter-Allied Executive
has a right, according to circumstances, of paying higher
rates. The difficulty still felt is due to a doubt as to what
increase of rates the Executive is likely to sanction. There

is now no necessity for the deputation to wait upon the
Shipping Controller.

Northumberland and Durham.

Attested Miners — Mr. Straker's New Appointment — Coal
and Coke Shipments—New Shaft Contemplated.

Some years ago, the late Miss Elizabeth J. Forster, a
member of a well-known Durham county family, with very
considerable colliery interests, died leaving estate valued at
about £500,000. Unfortunately, she also left three wills,
and these have been the subject of much litigation. The
law courts have now decided in favour of a will dated 1912,
and a settlement has been arrived at. Under this settle-
ment, it is stated, the Sunderland Boyal Infirmary will ulti-
mately benefit to the extent of £40,000, after the .payment
of legacy duty at the rate of 10 per cent. The Forster family
at one time were practically the sole proprietors of South
Hetton Colliery, and Miss Forster herself was one of the
princip al owners.

Mr. J. H. Penny, who has completed more than 51 years’
service with the South Shields Gas Company, during over
40 years of which he has acted as secretary, has resigned his
position owing to ill-health. He is succeeded by Mr. Arthur
Pickering, who has been his chief assistant for 10 years, and
was formerly accountant and cashier with the Walker and
Wallsend Union Gas Company for about nine years.

In his March circular to the members of the Northum-
berland Miners’ Association, Mr. William Straker details
negotiations between the executive committee of the Miners’
Federation and the Home Office with reference to the fact that
the Home Secretary’s statement that every man who had
entered the coal mining industry after August 14, 1915,
whether working underground or on the surface, would be
allowed two months from the time of passing the medical
examination to being called up, applied only to men who
had not attested. Sir George Cave has informed the miners
that he did not understand that it was sought to apply the
two months to attested men, who were soldiers already in
the Beserve, and liable to be called up by a 14 days’ notice
at any time. With that Beserve he had nothing to do so
far as calling up was concerned. The negotiations did not
result in any further concession.

Mr. Straker refers to his appointment on the Advisory
Committee for the State control of coal mines, thanks the
many individuals and branches who have congratulated him,
and assures them that, while fully recognising the great
responsibility which must of necessity rest on the shoulders
of such a committee, and that, while ever keeping before him
the supreme interests of the country as a whole so far as
the coal industry is concerned, he will never forget the
interests of the mining community.

The Docks Committee of the Tyne Improvement Com-/
mission reported to the March meeting of the Commissioners
that the coal and coke shipments from the Tyne in February
were as follow :—Coal as cargo, 626,796 tons, a decrease of
275,750 tons when compared with the figures for February
1916, and of 770,156 tons when compared with the figures
for February 1913 (the last full pre-war year); coal as
bunkers, 70,795 tons, decreases respectively of 51,689 and
97,475 tons; and coke, 44,275 tons, a decrease of 25,263 tons
when compared with a year ago, but an increase of 20,609
tons when compared with February 1913. Thus far, the
shipments this year have been :—Coal as cargo, 1,487,993
tons, decreases respectively of 239,309 and 1,392,579 tons;
bunkers, 179,225 tons, decreases respectively of 61,433 and
169,637 tons; and coke, 100,806 tons, a decrease of 20,341
tons when compared with January-February 1916, but an
increase of 50,145 tons when compared with January-
February 1913. The shortage of shipping is emphasised by
the fact that the shipments from the Commissioners’ staiths
and docks during February amounted to only 141,331 tons
of Northumberland coal, as against 323,618 tons in January,
and 35,976 tons of Durham coa], as against 74,008 tons. It
would appear from the returns that about 76 vessels, of
about 80,500 tons, were loaded at Dunston and Derwent-
haugh staiths during February, as against about 99 vessels,
Of about 102,000 tons register, in February of last year.

The Co-operative Wholesale Society has entered into a
new sphere of activity—as coal owner—having taken over
the Shilbottle Colliery from the Shilbottle Coal Company,
of Lesbury, near Alnwick. It is stated that the Co-operative
Wholesale Society intends sinking a new shaft near
Alnmouth Station, and that arrangements have been made
with the North-Eastern Bailway Company for the provision
of sidings off the main line. When the society’s plans have
materialised, it is expected that the output will be more
than double, necessitating the employment of many addi-
tional workers, and the provision *of considerably more
housing accommodation. We understand, also, that 'the
purchase of the colliery by the Co-operative Wholesale
Society is likely to be but the first step in the acquisition
of a number of collieries throughout the country. Shilbottle
coals are amongst the very best of household qualities.
Although produced from a comparatively small colliery, their
consumers are to be found in all parts of Great Britain, from
the South Coast up to the Orkney and Shetlands Islands.

Yorkshire.

Botherham Bural District Council decided that Dr. Biddell
(medical officer), who submitted a special report on the sub-
ject of boils amongst miners—a complaint which had become
rather prevalent—should prepare a leaflet for circulation on
the best means of prevention.

Kent

The output at the two Kentish collieries continues to show
a slight increase weekly. About 3,100 tons was raised at
Tilmanstone Colliery last week, this being the first time the
3,000 tons mark has been passed at this colliery. At Snow-
down Colliery the amount of coal brought to bank was also
about 3,000 tons.

Steady progress is still being made with the sinking in
No. 2 pit at Snowdown Colliery to the deeper coal seams, the
distance sunk last week being 21 ft.

The operations at the Chislet Colliery works, near Canter-
bury, are proceeding as satisfactorily as labour shortage, will
allow.

Scotland.

Ambulances for Miners — Riding Pit Ponies — Fatality at
Cambuslang — Subsidences at Motherwell — Conference
at Dalkeith.

The council of the West of Scotland branch of the Associa-
tion of Mining Electrical Engineers have nominated the
following office-bearers for next session :—President, Mr.
H. A. McGuffie; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. Smellie and
F. Anslow; treasurer, Mr. C. E. Hart; hon. secretary
(pro tern.), Mr. D. Landale Frew ; secretary, Mr. D. Martin,

45, Hope-street, Glasgow; councillors, Messrs. James Brash,
Wm. Barr, A. McPhail, and Wm. Thomson.

Since the passing of the new Mines Act, making it com-
pulsory for the coal owners to provide ambulance wagons,
nothing has been done in this way in the Coalburn district,
although the miners have raised the question on several occa-
sions. A conference, however, has now been held between
the coal owners and the miners’ representatives, and at this
meeting the former announced that they are willing to bear
the cost of providing the necessary ambulances, as stipulated
in the Mines Act of 1912. A joint committee was appointed
at the conference for the purpose of carrying through the
work of arranging for ambulances.

It was stated by the Fiscal in Hamilton Sheriff Court that
during the past 12 months there had been 21 cases of riding
pit ponies underground in Earnock Colliery, Hamilton. Six
cases were again before the court last week, and it was
explained that these had all occurred on the same day.
According to the prosecution, there was a wilful defiance of
the regulations in this respect at the colliery. Four of the
accused were fined £2, and a fifth lad was sentenced to pay
a penalty of 20s. The sixth accused stated that he had now
voluntarily enlisted in the Army, and on the understanding
that he was accepted for military service, proceedings
against him were dropped.

The pithead of Gilbertfield Colliery, Cambuslang, was last
week the scene of an accident which resulted in the death of
John Coyle (62), a miner, residing in Kirkwood-street,
Butherglen. Employed on the afternoon shift, Coyle was in
the act of stepping on to the cage to descend to his work,
when, through some unexplained cause, the winding engine
was set in motion, with the result that the unfortunate man
stepped into the pit shaft, and but for the fact that his foot
was caught by the shaft cover, which descended immediately
after the cage, he would have fallen headlong to the shaft
bottom. The cage struck him on the back in passing. Coyle
died soon after being released.

A meeting of feuars on the Motherwell portion of the Duke
of Hamilton’s estate was held in the Lesser Town Hall,
Motherwell, when Mr. Alexander Findlay, J.P., presided
over a representative attendance. A resolution was moved
by Mr. Thomas Muirie, pledging the feuars on the Mother-
well portion of the Duke of Hamilton’s estate to do every-
thing possible to secure compensation for damage to pro-
perty by mineral workings, and to appoint a deputation to
wait upon the Hamilton Estate Commissioners.

At a conference of representatives of Midlothian and
Haddingtonshire collieries held at Dalkeith on Saturday,
general improvement was reported owing to better railway
facilities, and a great diminution of stoppages. The demand
for coal continued unabated.

The business carried on for over 29 years by the Bridgeness
Coal Company has now been converted into a private limited
liability company, and will be continued at Grange, Bo’ness,
under the name of the Bridgeness Company Limited. Mr.
Geo'. Burr will continue to direct the affairs of the company
as general manager and secretary. The conversion is a mere
formality, no fresh capital being introduced.

LABOUR ARD WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The East Glamorgan miners met at Caerphilly on Monday,
and considered the employment of Spaniards at the Bedwas
Colliery. The agent stated that representations had been
made to the Home Secretary, and that Mr. Greenland Davies
(H.M. inspector of mines) had held an enquiry. It was
further reported that the management had been interviewed
and a suggestion made that the employment of Spaniards
should be discontinued, the desire of the workmen being to
ensure the complete withdrawal of the Spaniards. No com-
munication had been received from the Home Office since the
enquiry. It was further reported that application had been
made to the county court judge at Pontypridd, on behalf of
the widows of victims of the Senghenydd explosion, for a
substantial increase in the weekly amount of compensation
paid, until the actuary presented his report upon the fund.
The. judge had granted the application, but was not able to
fix a definite amount in each case.

The Eastern Valleys miners in Monmouthshire have dis-
cussed whether workmen could establish a claim for com-
pensation for damage done to their clothes by the acid in
electric safety lamps; and the matter was referred to a local
committee for enquiry and report.

It was announced to the Tredegar district of miners, who
met at Blackwood on Monday, that the whole of the disputes
at the Markham Colliery, which had led to the putting in of
notices, had been satisfactorily settled without a stoppage;
as also had been the dispute at the Pochin Colliery as to
unloading rubbish. There was a long discussion as to sub-
contracting, which was stated to prevail in the district, a
public meeting of protest having been called; and it was
decided that every effort should be made to stop the system.
At Oakdale Colliery, the management had made an improve-
ment for the working of thin coal, and the matter had been
postponed so that the question could be placed before the
executive. It was reported that the Controller of Mines had
assured a deputation that there was no intention to interfere
with the trade union rights of the workmen, or with their
position as citizens; and that no steps for reducing wages
would be taken before consultation with the Miners’
Federation.

Mr. George Barker, in his report to the Western Valleys
council of the Miners’ Federation, stated that five members
selected by the. Government had been added to the Coal
Advisory Board, but that these were not nominated or elected
by the Miners’ Federation, though the Miners’ Federation
had endorsed the selection. This matter will be brought up
at the next conference of delegates.

The Bhondda Valley miners met on Monday, and received
from their agent an explanation of the arrangements as to
combing out ” men—he stating, that the number required
from South Wales is 5,000. It was further reported that a
joint committee had been appointed to deal with the question
of re-employing discharged soldiers and their medical inspec-
tion. A resolution was passed calling for an arrangement
whereby the Miners’ Federation should select a reasonable
proportion of jurymen for inquests dealing with colliery
fatalities, and the executive council of the Federation was
desired to take steps for securing such a right. Another
resolution favoured an immediate increase in compensation
to disabled workmen, because of the higher cost of living.

The Association of Colliery Enginemen, Stokers, and
Craftsmen of this district had a meeting of their executive
council to receive an official report as to the result of an.