April 5, 1917.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

673

SOUTH WALES INSTITUTE OF
ENGINEERS.

The 59th annual general meeting of the South Wales
Institute of Engineers was held at Swansea on Tuesday,
March 27, Mr. Hugh Bramwell, the president, in the
chair.

The following were elected to the institute:—As
members: Messrs. Samuel Beamand, Port Talbot;
John Cecil Davies, Gowerton; Robert Bowden Fisher,
Ammanford; Thomas Daniel Morgans, Blaenavon;
Rupert Harold Pratt, Crumlin; George Palgrave
Simpson, Ministry of Munitions, Cardiff. As associate
member, Ralph Douglas Thomas Davies, London.

On behalf of the institute and the South Wales Coal
Owners’ Association, the president handed to Dr. H. K.
Jordan, F.G.S., cheques for nearly £1,300 in recognition
of his geological services (as reported in last week’s
issue of the Colliery Guardian).

On the motion of the President, seconded by Mr.
H. T. Wales, the financial statement for the session
ended December 31, 1916, was adopted. It was agreed,
on the proposition of the President, seconded by Dr.
H. K. Jordan, to re-elect Messrs. McDonald and
Rpes, auditors; the manager of Lloyds Bank, Cardiff,
treasurer; and Mr. Martin Price, secretary.

On the motion of the President, a vote of congratu-
lation was passed to Mr. J. Dyer Lewis (vice-president)
on his promotion to divisional inspector of mines in
South Wales, and to Col. Pearson, who succeeds Mr.
Dyer Lewis in charge of the Swansea district. The
president said they all sincerely hoped that Dr.
Atkinson, ex-divisional inspector of mines and a former
, president of the institute, would long enjoy his retire-
ment. (Applause.)

Mr. H. Spence Thomas read a paper on “ The
Melingriffith Machine,” which was discussed by a large
attendance of tin-plate manufacturers, managers, and
overmen. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to
Messrs. Spence Thomas and Davies, joint inventors of
the machine.

Aerial Wire Ropeways.

Mr. J. W. White (Widnes) gave a summary of his
paper on “ Aerial Wire Ropeways,” which was repro-
duced in last week’s Colliery Guardian He added that,
unfortunately, in the early days of ropeways the
engineer was not called to the assistance of the
inventor, with the result that ropeways were erected
that were not properly designed for the purposes for
which they were required, and for a long time this
met lied of transporting materials was under a cloud.
Within comparatively recent years, however, aerial
ropeways had been designed and constructed upon
proper engineering lines. They might now fairly
claim to be one of the best forms of mechanical
transport of materials over long distances, and an
exceedingly. good arrangement for the carrying of
materials over even short distances. An order had been
recently placed under the auspices of the Ministry of
Munitions with instructions to speed up a complete
installation of an aerial wire rope conveyor on what
was known as the double-rope system, which, although
only a short length, would have to deal with 3,000 tons
of ore every ten hours. In other words, it had to take
the ore from the steamer as fast as the vessel could
deliver it—the charter-party rate was 300 tons an hour
—and to take the ore and automatically tip it on to the
storage ground within that time.

The Secretary read a letter dealing with Mr. White’s
paper, from Mr. J. Pearce Roe, London. With regard
to compensation or balance beams, Mr. Roe stated that,
in practice, these run from one beam carrying a pair of
sheaves to a series of -compensating beams, so arranged
as to automatically divide rope curvature and pressure
over as many as 16 sheaves. The number of sheaves
varied very considerably on different trestles when
passing over hilly or rough ground. From the paper it
would appear that each trestle would carry four sheaves
on the full side and two on the empty, irrespective
of the weight supported on that trestle due to span
or other causes. Actually the rope pressure on each
side of a trestle would be accurately calculated, and
sheaves allowed for each side accordingly. For example,
it might happen that one trestle would require four
sheaves on either side, while an adjacent trestle might
need only two sheaves on one side and a single sheave
on the other.

With reference to the “fixed clip” type of ropeway,
these ropeways were considerably used for fight
capacities and slow rope velocity, as in certain
circumstances they were less in first cost than other
constructions up to limited lengths, say up to 1,500
yards, after which a “ detachable carrier” type of
ropeway would be more economical by reason of the
higher rope velocity of the detachable carrier type. It
was really a matter of choice based upon the conditions
to be fulfilled.

With regard to the inverted V-type clip, Mr. Roe
could not agree with Mr. White’s contention that a
stud should bear on the top of the rope, seeing that it
was an arrangement that would lack efficiency on steep
gradients. The action of the properly shaped projection
on the side of an inverted V-groove clip was to induce
a wedging action, and, with proper formation there was
no tendency to hang to a rope or jam when being
lifted therefrom. It was, perhaps, sufficient to say that
50 per cent, grades (that is 1:2) with greased rop°s were
being worked with the inverted ‘‘V” groove clip referred
to, and wear of the rope due to these clips was absolutely
negligible, particularly as the projections did not
impinge on the crowns of the wires, where, naturally,
w< ar due to other causes took place. Rope wear was,
in fact, determined by entirely different considerations

if a clip was properly constructed, especially having in
view the fact that a well-constructed clip did not move
upon a rope but with it.

The discussion was adjourned, Mr. White being
thanked for having made the journey specially from
Widnes to attend the meeting.

DOMINIONS ROYAL COMMISSION.

FINAL REPORT.

The Commission was appointed on April 15, 1912,
and its enquiries have, therefore, extended over nearly
five years. The sittings ended, as they began, in
London. The Commission has also been able to visit
every capital of every State or Province in each of the
five self-governing Dominions, and has taken
evidence in all the most important cities. After
assembling in the United Kingdom, four tours were
made as a Commission, the first to New Zealand and
Australia, the second to the Union of South Africa,
the third to Newfoundland and Eastern Canada, and
the fourth to Central and Western Canada. In the
course of sittings for the purpose of taking evidence,
161 meetings were held, and 851 witnesses were
examined.

Scope of Investigation. — The method adopted in
carrying out the work was as follows : —In addition to
the statistical material set out in the Commission’s
various reports, separate volumes of statistics were
compiled bearing upon—

(a)	The supplies of food and raw material to the
United Kingdom, with particular reference to the self-
governing Dominions as the source of such supplies;

(b)	The trade statistics and trade of the self-govern-
ing Dominions, in respect of the most important articles
of commerce, with the Mother Country, with each other,
and with the rest of the world ;

(c)	The chief commercial harbours of the Empire and
of foreign countries.

The results of the examination have already been sub-
mitted in part in successive interim reports on
Australia and New Zealand, on the Union of South
Africa, on Newfoundland, and on Canada. It
remains in the present Report to consider more
general problems; in other words, to deal with
Imperial development and trade in their widest
aspects.

Summary of lieport.—Chapters 2 to 5 are historical
and descriptive, showing the leading characteristics
of the self-governing Dominions and the development
.of their trade during the, period preceding the war,
the leading features of that trade from an Imperial
standpoint, and the need for an Imperial post-war
policy. They also analyse briefly the chief resources
of the Dominions and their prospects of expansion,
with special reference to primary production. They
further describe some of the leading measures for con-
trolling and utilising natural resources for the common
benefit which have been taken during the war.

In chapter 6 a policy is outlined in respect of the
scientific development of natural resources for the
future. This policy involves a careful survey of the
resources and production of the Empire in respect of
raw materials, and their relation to Imperial require-
ments.

Chapter 7 deals with the need for scientific research
in connection with the scheme for the development of
natural resources which the Commission propose. The
work of the Imperial Institute is examined with par-
ticular reference to its relations to the self-governing
Dominions. It is recommended that the Dominions
should concentrate their efforts on the development of
their own research institutions, and that the institute
should occupy itself in future with research work for
India, the Crown Colonies, and Protectorates, and
that the Royal Colonial Institute might be placed in
charge of the exhibits now maintained in the Imperial
Institute’s galleries.

Migration, and its intimate bearing on the problems
of development of the Empire, forms the subject of
chapter 8. Special attention is called to the need for
a careful statistical survey of the figures of emigra-
tion and immigration. The present lack of system in
controlling emigration is discussed, and more strin-
gent control recommended.

Chapters 9 to 11 have reference to the vital problems
connected with the communications of the Empire.
In chapter 9 stress is laid on the need for deeper har-
bours and the co-ordination of harbour depths, in
order to facilitate cheap, speedy, and efficient trans-
port. Recommendations are made for developing fast
Imperial services on several of the most important
trade routes of the world. The existing situation
with regard to ocean freight rates and proposals for
their future regulation are considered. The question
of the respective liability of ship owners and shippers
under bills of lading is also dealt with.

Chapter 10.sums up and comments upon the various
matters with reference to the handling of produce
from the self-governing Dominions in the ports of the
United Kingdom, and the distribution of that produce
in the Mother Country.

In chapter 11 the cable and wireless services between
the United Kingdom and the self-governing Dominions
are discussed, and suggestions made for improvement
of services and reduction of rates.

Chapters 12 and 13 contain the conclusions of the
Commission on various commercial questions of
importance to the future development of inter-
Imperial trade. In chapter 12 the commercial intelli-
gence systems of the United Kingdom and of the self-
governing Dominions and the Consular system in its
relation to the Dominions are analysed. The defects
of the Imperial statistical system are described, and
proposals are made for effecting improvements. The

Commission also deals briefly with International and
other exhibitions. Chapter 13 has reference to the
effect of divergences of commercial legislation on the
development of inter-imperial trade. It discusses the
existing want of uniformity in legislation on patents,
trade marks, etc., and indicates the lines on which
improvement should be sought.

In chapter 14 the past and existing deficiencies in
Imperial organisation are criticised, and a scheme out-
lined for the creation of an Imperial Development
Board, which shall be charged with the duty of caring
for, and promoting, in the various ways described, the
development of the natural resources, trade, and com-
munications of the Empire.

Lastly, in chapter 15, a summary is given of the
conclusions at which the Commission has unanimously
arrived, and the recommendations which it unani-
mously makes.

Conclusions and Recommendations.

The main conclusions and recommendations are as
follow: —

1.	Scientific Development of Natural Resources.—
It is vital that the Empire should, as far as possible,
be placed in a position which would enable it to resist
any pressure which a foreign Power or group of
Powers could exercise in time of peace or war in virtue
of a control of raw materials and commodities essen-
tial to its well-being.

A complete survey should accordingly be made of the
relations between Empire production and Empire
requirements of such materials and commodities. Pre-
liminary facts and figures for such a survey are
presented.

The results of a complete survey would divide
essential raw materials and commodities into three
categories: —

(а)	Materials of which the world’s requirements are
mainly or wholly produced within the Empire.

(б)	Materials of which the Empire’s requirements are
approximately equalled by Empire production.

(c) Materials of which the world’s requirements, and
with them those of the Empire, are mainly produced
and controlled outside the Empire.

Materials within the first of these categories,
instances of which are nickel, asbestos, and jute, form
for the Empire a valuable means of economic defence
and commercial negotiation.

Examples of materials comprised within the second
of these categories are wheat, butter, cheese, and wool.
Certain general lines of action are suggested in order
to promote the exchange of such articles within the
Empire. -In certain cases falling within this cate-
gory, instances of which are zinc, tungsten, and
monazite, the Commission indicate special action in
order to secure the control and utilisation of Imperial
supplies for the Empire’s use.

Most careful enquiry is needed in regard to
materials included in the third category, instances of
which are cotton, petroleum, nitrates, and potash.
In particular, the following lines of investigation are
suggested: —

(a)	The possibility of new sources of supply within
the Empire.

(b)	The possibility of finding substitutes within the
Empire.

Means of preventing waste in existing sources of
supply of all minerals should also be investigated.

The responsibility for a survey and investigations on
the lines indicated above should be entrusted, together
with other functions which are described below, to a
new Imperial Development Board.

This Board should carry out the research work
required for this survey and these investigations in
the following manner : —

(а)	In respect of the- United Kingdom, through the
recently formed Department for Scientific and Indus-
trial Research, the National Physical Laboratory at
Teddington, etc.

(б)	In respect of the self-governing Dominions,
through the now existing scientific departments, and
the Committees for Research which are being set up in
the Dominions.

(c)	In respect of India, the Crown Colonies and the
Protectorates, through the local scientific departments
and the Imperial Institute.

The Commission has refrained from suggesting that
the Imperial Institute should be used for research
work for the self-governing Dominions in connection
with the above scheme, as it is thought that the best
organisation for the future would be that the
Dominions should concentrate their efforts on the
development of their own research institutions, and
that the research functions of the institute should be
limited to work for India, the Crown Colonies, and
the Protectorates.	,

It is suggested that the responsibility for the
exhibits now shown in the galleries of the institute
should be entrusted to the Royal Colonial Institute.

2.	Migration.—The method in which statistics of
migration have been collected in the past, both in the
United Kingdom and the Dominions, is unsatisfac-
tory. Such figures as are available must be studied
with special reference to the sex, the age groups, and
the occupations from which emigrants are drawn, and
not with reference merely to gross numbers. This
study is urgently necessary as a condition precedent
in order to enable the Imperial Government and the
Dominion Governments to deal scientifically with the
problems of migration which will arise after the war.

A far greater measure of control by the Imperial
Government over the agencies in the United Kingdom
for the selection of emigrants is needed than has
existed in the past. In particular, close supervision
is required of passage brokers and passage brokers’
agents, and, as a corollary, of emigration societies.
In order to effect such supervision, the creation of a