May 18, 1917.	 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.	957

been, removed, and the space again filled with resin?
As regards the origin of hydrocarbons which was now
resin, it was extremely likely that it was largely
derived from spores and resins secreted in tissues of
living plants. He saw no difficulty whatever in sup-
posing that the formation of the coal took place under
conditions of heat, which made the hydrocarbon or
resinous substance solid in one condition of vegetation
and liquid in other conditions of vegetation. Another
thing which would have to be considered before they
came to any definite' conclusion with regard to the
value of these researches was the amount of ash. In
his examination of certain kinds of coal, he found that
a very large proportion of the material consisted of a
muddy element which had been introduced, and con-
stituted a considerable proportion of the ash when the
boghead was burned.

Dr. Hickling, in replying, remarked that Mr.
Lomax seemed to have the impression that he implied
that a study of coal sections was going to be of no
practical value as bearing on the commercial qualities
of coal itself. That was exceedingly far from any-
thing he ever dreamed of saying. vVhat he did say
was that there was no indication at all to be obtained
from a study of coal sections that the plants which
entered into the formation of high carbon coals were
in any way different from those which entered into the
formation of low carbon coals. He used the terms
“high grade” and “low grade” coals. It might be
well, in order to make things quite clear, to say that
the idea he had in mind was what would be understood
from his remarks by all geologists, namely—that the
enormous amount of literature which ranged round
coal had concerned itself almost entirely with the
question of whether anthracite differed from ordinary
bituminous coals in consequence of some different
method of change or some different extent of change of
the material, or whether the difference was due to the
nature of the material from which a beginning was
made in each case. What he meant to say—and what
Mr. Lomax, incidentally,! in the course of his remarks,
confirmed—was that among anthracites the same types
of plant remains were found as were found in many
ordinary bituminous coals; they got anthracites which
were mainly formed of lignitoid material, and anthra-
cites which were mainly formed of spores and things
of that kind. Either type of material was capable of
being converted into bituminous coal or anthracite.
Prof. Dawkins’ remarks dealt mainly with the ques-
tions of resins. He (Dr. Hickling) was beginning to
geb rather annoyed with resins. The term “ resin ”
might be said to mean one of two things. When the
ordinary mortal talked about resins, he meant the very
sticky yellow stuxi which was secreted by the glands
of various plants, particularly pine trees and such like.
As he mentioned in his paper, palaeobotanists repeat-
edly emphasised the fact that there was very little,
if any, evidence that carboniferous plants had resin
secreting glands. In that sense, it was very doubtful
if there was any resin in coal. On the other hand, he
could not quite define what a chemist exactly meant
when he spoke about resin, beyond stating that the
term included a large class of organic substances, of
which ordinary resin was an example, and of which
there were some thousands of others varying to a very
great extent. There were undoubtedly resins in that
sense in carboniferous plants, and it was possible that
some of the substances which could be seen in a section
of coal were actually resins. He would like to be
responsible for the statement that they were; the
furthest he would go in that direction would be to
agree with the chemists that they had apparently
found that resinous substances did form a part of coal.
He took their word for it that they were there, but he
was quite certain he could not distinguish under the
microscope what object was of a resinous character,
and what was not. He thought Prof. Dawkins, when
talking about resins, meant simply the various trans-
parent substances which formed part of a very large
proportion of the coal.

Prof. Dawkins: I used the word “resins” in two
senses—first of all, as relating to the liquid material
referred to in the paper; and secondly, in the sense
in which it is generally used by chemists and botanists
as representing the coat of the spores.

Dr. Hickling said that, taking resin in the wider
sense, as meaning the liquid material which, in many
cases, made up at least 95 per cent, of coal, he thought
that there could be no doubt it arose from the decom-
position of vegetable matter. Prof. Dawkins also
asked whether such decomposition of vegetable
material occurred at the present day. He, thought it
did; and the most familiar illustration he could think
of was a mass of decomposed sea tangle on a beach.
If looked at on a hot sunny day, a sticky, somewhat
tarry liquid material would be found running out from
under the mass of tangle. He did not know what the
analysis was.

Prof. Dawkins : Suppose you have a mass of spongy
vegetable material, which is undoubtedly the way in
which coal has been gradually formed, and you hand
over that decomposing vegetable -matter to the chemist
for analysis. Will he find anything analogous to the
resinous material?

Dr. Hickling said he believed he would. He
went on to say that Prof. Dawkins also asked whether
it was suggested that the walls or coats of the spores
had had their substance replaced with new material.
There, again, it was impossible to. give a definite
answer, but he thought there probably was a fairly
considerable amount of replacement of material even
in that case. There was also substantial reason for
suggesting that there had been considerably less
replacement in that case than in the case of most
vegetable tissues as would be expected from the
original nature of those spore coals which probably
were resinous, and therefore more resistant to decom-
position than most other vegetable material. The
reason for believing that there probably had been less
alteration in that case was that it was possible to
dissolve out those spores from the coal.

LABOUR AID V^AGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

A joint meeting of employers and employed in the
Siemens steel industry in South Wales took place on
Monday in Swansea, in order to deal with the question of
the wage rate. The men desire an additional war bonus
all round of 25 per cent., and Mr. T. Griffiths (their agent)
submitted their case. Mr. Eccles (chairman of the South
Wales Siemens Steel Association) presided. A long dis-
cussion took place, but the parties were unable to agree,
and it was decided therefore to refer the matter to the
Committee on Production. Incidentally it was agreed that
the men would work through the Whitsun holidays on the
same terms as they did last year.

North of England.

On the request of the local officials of the National Amal-
gamated Union of Labour, the directors of the Tyne Coal
Hulk Company have decided to give a further war bonus
of 3s. per week to the whole of their employees, the increase
to date from the time of the application.

Mr. Charles Alderson has been unanimously re-elected
chairman of the Joint Committee of the Northumberland
coal owners’ and miners’ associations.

A conference of Northumberland coal owners and mem-
bers of the executive committee of the Northumberland
Miners’ Association took place at Newcastle on Monday,
regarding the arrangements of a transference of men from
coal mines to ironstone mines, where there is at present a
shortage of labour. We understand that an amicable
agreement was come to on the points at issue, the
continuance to the miner’s family of the privilege of occu-
pation of the colliery house and the supply of. fire coal
whilst he himself is away working.

Another case arising out of the stoppage of the payment
of compensation on the recipient joining the Forces, occu-
pied the attention of Judge Greenwell at Gateshead on
Tuesday. The plaintiff, Jos. Thornton, applied for the
payment of 16s. 3d. per week as from January 6 by
Messrs. Gordon, Johnasson and Company Limited, colliery
owners, Newcastle. On his behalf, Mr. Heath stated that
the man had been a hewer at Washington, and had suffered
from nystagmus. He received full compensation for two
years, but had been called to the Army, and the compen-
sation had ceased. Plaintiff admitted that he felt better
than before, but he had not done any trench digging, and
stooping aggravated his trouble. Mr. Mundahl, for the
respondents, said applicant had had work at bank at
=£1 12s. 8d. per week. The judge decided to leave out of
consideration the question of the Army, and said that, had
it not been for the Army, applicant could have had employ-
ment at a better wage than before. He allowed compensa-
tion to the end of February, when applicant enlisted, and
granted a suspensory award.

Writing in his May circular to the members of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association, Mr. William Straker
says :—“ We continue to get letters from our branches at
pits that are working very few days per week, suggesting
that, now the coal industry is under a Government con-
troller, a fair share of the available trade should be given
to each pit, instead of some pits getting full time, while
others are scarcely working at all. This is a reasonable
request, and, with a reasonable amount of goodwill, could
be done, except in the case of pits producing a special class
of coal. But the difficulty is to secure that goodwill. Our
executive committee have met the Coal Trade Association,
and had a full and frank discussion with them regarding
this question. The coal owners seemed to regard the pro-
posal as a reasonable one, and capable of being carried out,
even though there were a good many difficulties to be over-
come. They promised to consider what we said, and com-
municate with us again. ‘ We have not, however, had any
further word from them regarding it. I am, therefore,
afraid that, unless there is considerable pressure brought to
bear, either by us or the Controller, or both, the differ-
ences as to methods may prevent the coal owners from
doing anything effective in the matter. However, you may
be sure, the committee will raise the question again.”

At the adjourned conference of the Northumberland
Colliery Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Association, held at
Newcastle last week, the president (Mr. John Humphrey)
stated that, with reference to the position of trades unions
after the war, for their members and those of other unions,
wages would never go back to what they had been, and
members of that association who had enlisted would not
return to the same condition of affairs as before.

The council of the Durham Miners’ Association decided,
at its meeting in Durham City last Saturday, on the motion
of the executive committee of the association, to request
the executive committee of the Miners’ Federation to seek
a substantial war bonus for the miners of the kingdom, in
order to meet the increased cost of living. A resolution
was carried protesting against the alleged attempts of a
certain section of the Press to bring about general indus-
trial conscription, and instructing the executive of the
association to fight against this proposal in case of the
Government yielding “ to the interested forces that are
seeking to enslave the workers.” It was agreed that the
land, mines, railways, and shipping should be immediately
taken possession of by the Government “ without any of
the financial arrangements at present evidently so highly
satisfactory to the owners.” The agents were instructed
to meet the county coal owners with a view to securing a
continuance of rent and coal allowance to the widows and
other dependants of soldiers fallen in the war, and of all
men discharged from the Army and Navy who were entitled
to such allowances previous to the war, irrespective of what
class of work they might be engaged on at the collieries.
It was decided also to seek an eight-hour day for all sur-
face firemen, and that all pay days should be on Fridays.
The agents and executive were instructed to negotiate for
a county standard of workmen’s fire coal not below the .
unscreened sample at every colliery in the county. A
motion that a levy should be made in relief of the employees
at those collieries which had been working short time was
withdrawn.	.

At a conference of coke workers and miners at Working-
ton, presided over by Mr. J. Dickinson, it was decided that
the agreement recently arrived at between the Miners
Federation and the Iron and Steel Federation with regard
to the manning of the coke oven plants in Cumberland
should operate from May 7.

Federated Area.

Mr. J. Ball, the Creswell miners’ secretary, has received
a letter from Mr. J. Bingley, the agent of the Bolsover
Colliery Company, in reply to the miners’ intimation that
they were prepared to work on the first shift following a
fatal accident. Mr. Bingley states that the company is
prepared to double the levy of the workmen up to Is. per
man. This will confer a great boon upon the dependants
of a man who is killed, as Is. levy per man and boy will
produce roughly =£100, an amount which the company is
prepared to double, irrespective of compensation.

At a council meeting of the Yorkshire Miners’ Associa-
tion at Barnsley on Monday, it was reported that since the
last meeting 166 more members of the association had been
killed on military or naval service, making a total of 2,422.
The branches are to decide whether the men at the follow-
ing collieries are to be allowed to tender notices owing to
disputes : Howden Clough, Stanhope Silkstone, Wentworth
Silkstone, Bullcroft, and Manvers Main. In regard to
Stanhope Silkstone, the employment of soldiers at the
colliery had been discontinued, and the Bullcroft dispute,
Mr. Smith said, related to surface workers’ wages, and
the- management were acting on the advice of the Con-
troller of Mines. The association, however,, felt they had
no alternative but to allow the branches to decide whether
notices should be tendered or not. Permission was given
for notices to be handed in at Hound Hill and Messrs.
Mount and Sons’ pits at Barnsley. The dispute at the
Deepcar Wharncliffe Wood ganister pits has been settled.
With regard to the scheme of voluntary enlistment of
miners, it was reported that the required number had’ not
been obtained, and now men were being called up who had
been before medical boards and colliery tribunals, and
whose exemption cards had been withdrawn. The council
recommended the members to restrict the Whitsuntide
|iolidays to two days.

The hearing was concluded on Monday, at the North
Staffordshire Munitions Court at Stoke, of the adjourned
case against 16 members of the National Union of Coke-
men and By-products Workers, employed in various capa-
cities on a certain coking plant. They had been summoned
by the employers for disobeying a lawful order on May 1;
but the court decided that there had been no offence com-
mitted by the respondents, and dismissed the summonses.
It was stated, on behalf of the complainant company, that
the respondents had been • working under an agreement,
which came into operation in 1913, and expired in January
1917. Soon after it expired, they received a letter from
the National Union of Cokemen and By-products Workers,
asking to meet them with reference to the drawing up of
a new agreement. The company replied that they did not
think it would be necessary to make another agreement
during the period of the war, and that the work would be
carried on under the old conditions. For some years it
had been the custom, when the men had not been kept fully
occupied on the coking plant ovens, to employ them on
cleaning work or labouring. On the respondents’ behalf,
it was alleged that ovens were not dealt with as frequently
as they might be, so that the respondents could be
employed on labouring. That, they contended, was what
happened on the day in respect of which they were sum-
moned, evidence being given that while only seven ovens
were drawn on that particular day, 10 could have been
dealt with.	Scotland..

A demand has been made for an increase in wages to
the extent of Is. • per day by the Scottish shale workers.
Altogether about 4,000 men are concerned. They are at
present receiving 10s. per day, and have had their wages
raised.by 40 per cent, since the war broke out.

A complaint has been lodged with the Fife Miners’
Union that the officials at one of the collieries are approach-
ing oncost workers and advising them to join the Colliery
Engine Keepers’ Medical Fund. This is in breach of the
agreement recently entered into between the Miners’ Union
and the coal owners.

The Ayrshire Miners’ Union have entered into an
arrangement with the Scottish Shale Workers’ Union,
whereby each union will accept the clearance card of the
other, and be responsible for all benefits.

The miners at Bedlay Colliery, Lanarkshire, have been
idle for the past three weeks in consequence of a dispute
regarding the removal of certain workmen, and the employ-
ment in their stead of outsiders. Mr. Michael Lee has
been appointed to assist the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union
in negotiating for a settlement.

Because of the difficulty experienced by the local black-
smiths in getting small quantities of steel for the making
and repairing of miners’ graith, the tradesmen have inter-
viewed the officials of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union on
the subject. There is also a scarcity of pick shafts, which
have been trebled in price since the beginning pf the war.
It is stated that if supplies of steel and pick shafts are not
immediately obtained, the miners will be idle for want of
“ graith.” Representations are to be made to the Govern-
ment on the subject.

At a meeting in Dunfermline on Saturday of the execu-
tive Board of the Fife, Kinross and Clackmannanshire
Miners’ Union, Mr. W. Adamson, M.P., the general secre-
tary, reported with regard to the irregular work which
was being experienced by the miners of the counties, and
the steps that were being taken with a view to remedying
the grievance. Mr. Adamson stated that a meeting
between representatives- of owners and workmen was to
be held, at which it was hoped arrangements would be
made for the transferring of at least 1,000 men from the
three counties to England to engage in tree felling, in order
to provide a sufficient supply of prop wood, of which there
was a shortage. He stated that the men transferred would
be paid 7s. 6d. per day for six days per week, with sub-
sistence allowance of 7s. 6d. for single men and 10s. for
married men per week, and that their railway fares would
be paid to and from the district to which they were sent.
Moreover, the military exemption card would hold good
while the men were in this employment.

It is reported that the miners in some of the districts in
the East of Scotland are desirous of having their contribu-
tion to the union funds reduced owing to their small earn-
ings through broken time. On the other hand, the unions
in the West of Scotland wish the contributions to be
increased.	.

Some friction has been caused at Coursington Colliery,
due to the employment of contractors for coal getting.
The executive of the union have appointed inspectors to
visit the colliery to ascertain if it is possible to have the
coal produced in the usual way.

Trouble has arisen at Lochrigg Colliery through the ques-
tion of ton rates. The representatives of the union request
that the ton rates be increased. The owner stated that
rather than do so he would close the mine.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The executive of the Cleveland Ironstone Miners’ and
Quarrymen’s Association have this week discussed at
length the question of increasing the output of ironstone,
and have expressed the opinion that the association’s com-
munication with the Ministry of Munitions as to the release
of Cleveland men from the Colours has not been satisfac-
torily acknowledged, with the result that the officials had
no knowledge as to what was transpiring. A resolution
protesting against other than Cleveland men being drafted
into the district has been adopted, but to prevent an open
rupture in the industry the executive advise members of
the association to go quietly on with their work for the
present, with the assurance that they will be kept fully
informed as to any further developments.	■ :