May 25, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 999 the man comes within the Conciliation Board agreement, and is entitled to 5s. a day. Leave to appeal further was granted. Among those mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig is Temp.-Maj. J. Kirkwood, mining engineer, who before enlistment was assistant agent for the Powell Duffryn Company at Bargoed Collieries. Another gentle- man mentioned is Temp.-Maj. Lamonby, who before the war was assistant ag^ent at the Llanbradach Collieries. The Board of Trade has agreed to the nomination of Mr. E. A. Prosser, the new general manager of the Cardiff and Rhymney companies, as chairman of the Cardiff Port Labour Committee. A series of meetings has been held in the coal field addressed by Mr. Clement Edwards, M.P., in order to make clear to the miners the position in regard to the “combing out.” In particular, emphasis has been laid upon the need of single men being recruited before married men, and young men before those'who are older. It was stated at a meeting held in Pontypridd on Friday of last week, that the registration scheme showed 29,000 men of recruitable age in the colliery constituency of East Glamorgan; and that of.this number 12,000 to 15,000 had entered the district from other occupations, having never previously been in colliery work. A resolution called upon the Government to recruit the unmarried men before taking the older and married ones; and, if necessary, to recall married miners from the front in the interests of the supply of coal for the Navy. The reserved judgment of the Divisional Court of the King’s' Bench Division in the case of Jones and another against the Ffaldau Company is awaited with interest on the side both of the colliery manager and of the workmen. Griffiths Jones and James Prior, of Pontycymmer, claimed £14 Is. 6d. balance of wages alleged to be due for work done during four months last year. The seam was the Nine-foot, and the men had worked in it for some time at day rates, so that both parties might have guidance in fixing the price-list for future cutting rates, and it was agreed that the list as adopted should operate as from April 1 of last year. The cutting price of clean large coal per ton was 2s. 6-9d., whilst the price for through coal was Is. 8-6d. per ton; and the plaintiffs claimed payment at the higher rate. The contention on behalf of the work- men was that it was at their own option to select whether payment should be made on “ large ” rate or on “through” rate; but the management, holding the opposite view, con- tended at the original hearing in the county court that the option rested with the employers. The county court judge, however, did not accept either contention, but gave judg- ment for the company on the ground that the plaintiffs had been paid what they deserved. Mr. Justice Coleridge on Monday, in the King’s Bench, asked : “ Has the collier the right to get large or small coal as he chooses ?” and counsel replied that he thought that this was under the collier’s control to a certain extent. As already stated, their lord- ships reserved judgment. The trade of Swansea during last week was again quite unsatisfactory, owing to the lack of shipping, and as com- pared with the preceding week the returns are 26,000 tons lower, whilst they are 34,000 tons lower than in the corre- sponding week of last year. Shipments of coal totalled 45,673 tons, and of patent fuel 21,350 tons. Because of the lack of shipping, and the resulting paucity of orders for anthracite, 14 days’ notice has been given to all employees and officials in certain Swansea Valley collieries, close upon 1,000 men being affected. Two labourers engaged on Monday in clearing a large fall of roof in the Tareni Colliery, God^ergraig, were startled to find beneath it the body of one of the overmen. The deceased man had not been missed. Swansea’s determination to establish a technical college, with the widest range of operation—to include mining, metallurgy, etc.—has provoked discussion as to the exact meaning of a reference made in the speech recently by Principal Griffiths, of the University College of South Wales. The chairman of the Swansea Education Com- mittee expressed himself as not quite satisfied with the scheme of technology which the principal had outlined. He was not content that Swansea should become a mere technological institute, but agreed that industry benefited more from the man of science than from the discoveries of the expert or practical man. He stated that the governors of Swansea College would not be content to confine their labours to a limited field of applied science, it having always been their aim and ambition that the college should be a place where science and applied science should be taught to the fullest extent. Principal Griffiths, whose opinion is of importance because of his close relation with the Royal Commission now conducting enquiry, has since explained that he is whole-heartedly in favour of Swan- sea’s desire, because the teaching of pure science cannot be separated from applied science. The contributors to the Cambrian Employees’ War Relief Fund have held their annual meeting, and received the report showing that 175 women and 372 children are beneficiaries. The fund, which has been in operation since a few months after the war commenced, applies to the wives and men in the Cambrian Colliery who are now in the Army ; and the men still working at the colliery pay 6d. a week and the boys 3d.—the scale of relief being 8s. a week for each wife, with Is. for each child. The total of contributions has reached <£8,142, of which £8,027 have been distributed. The work of administration is in the hands of a joint committee of officials and workmen, with Mr. B. R. Pryce as secretary. An important deal in shipping became known on Cardiff Exchange during Wednesday, and excited much interest because of the close connection of the Hall line of steamers with the coal trade. Sir Edward Nicholl, manager of the Hall line, has transferred his interest therein to Messrs. S. W. Hansen and A. Vyvyan-Robinson. The transfer affects the remaining eight vessels of the Hall line, having a dead-weight capacity of over 56,000 tons. Five steamers of that line were recently disposed of to Furness, Withy and Company. Tin-plate circumstances are very unsatisfactory, because of both the high price of steel and tin, as well as the high rate of labour. Then, again, there are the difficulties dpe to the certificates and licences which are needed for manu- facture. Men are being transferred from the tin-plate trade to the blast furnaces and other forms of employment; and the proposed dilution of labour which had been arranged is not being carried through with any expedition. Additional war bonuses are being paid to the workmen under the recent decision. On Tuesday an emergency meeting of the Bristol Channel Pitwood Importers’ Association took place, in order that the position might be discussed, one statement current being that pitwood lying at the docks has been withheld from despatch to the collieries. It was also stated that whilst the French Government makes special arrangements for despatching pitwood to this country, our Government restricts the imports, although the vessels taking out coal to France will have to come back in ballast unless they carry the pitwood. The Pitwood Association, at its meet- ing on Tuesday, decided to send a communication at once ’ to Mr. Gibson, secretary of the Coal Owners’ Association, in the following terms :—“ Bristol Channel Pitwood Importers’ Association, viewing with alarm present refusal Government grant licences to import pitwood, anticipate serious effect to collieries in a few weeks time. Urgently suggest your association laying same before Prime Minister. Vital necessity remove restriction imports until home supplies meet requirements. Important draw Prime Minister’s attention to present anomaly whereby French Government insist on French steamers and sailers that dis- charge coal at L’Orient and other similar ports taking pit- wood return voyage, whereas our Government "refuse pit- wood imports. This tonnage, if not loaded with pitwood, return in ballast.” The coal owners dealt immediately with the communication, and forwarded a telegram to the Prime Minister, bringing the circumstances to his know- ledge. Northumberland and Durham. War Relief Fund—Chamber of Commerce Report—Mining Timber—Colliery Customs. Those associated with the Northumberland coal trade are “ doing their bit ” to assist the Lord Mayor of New- castle in raising £10,000 wherewith to place the Newcastle War Relief Fund in an assured financial position for the present year. The donations received from colliery com- panies and “ coal men ’? for last week include the follow- ing amounts :—The Ashington Coal Company Limited, £250 ; Mr. Thomas Taylor, £250 ; Messrs. Beckingham and Company, £150 ; Messrs. F. Carrick and Company, £105 ; Messrs. Tyzack and Company, £100; Messrs. Tabb and Burletson, £100 ; Messrs. Ridley, Sons and Tully, £100 ; Messrs. G. Jenkins and Company, £100; Messrs. W. Mathwin and Son, £100; Messrs. FI. A. Brightman and Company, £50; and smaller amounts from others asso- ciated with the mining industry. The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, which has ren- dered yeoman service to the Tyneside coal trade ever since the advent of war, states, in its annual report :—“ The history of the coal trade of Northumberland and Durham during 1916 is one of maximum worry and disappointment, combined with inflated figures in the first half, and then a sudden alteration brought about by Government action, which culminated in business going through the channels of the local committee. It is needless to allude to the situation which has arisen owing to the latter, beyond say- ing that, on the one hand, the committee process has been much growled at by operatives, who seemed to forget that the members had their troubles too, and that here is such a thing as an unthankful office. The output of fuel has been, naturally, much curtailed by the shortage of labour, but production has varied in quantity. The shortage may be taken as varying from 27| to 37| per cent. Throughout the year 1916 the request for fuel has been enormous, and, of course, it could not be satisfied. The requisitioning of fuel by officials has been large. Allies had to be supplied, and that the Government has seen to. The quantity left for exporters to send to neutrals was, therefore, very small, and then all the troubles of licences and shortage of tonnage had to be encountered. Much more north-country coal has been taken inland than hitherto, but, owing to the great distance of carriage, the quantity despatched has not been large. Locally, the call for extra supplies of fuel has been large, and, despite the great difficulties of the situa- tion, all works have been well attended to. Business in contracts—such as railway and gas works supplies—lost all interest, as all prices became regulated by the limitation of prices scheme. Foreign contracts have long since dis- appeared, and hitherto large customers in neutral countries have been taking only such quantities as those for which they could obtain licences month by month.” The report adds that, during the year, the advisory committee—which was largely superseded in May 1916—had under its con- sideration such matters as the requisitioning of ships, the question of coal shipments to Allies, the export of coals to Sweden, the congestion of shipping, pre-war contracts, and the coking coal question. With reference to mining timber, the report says : “ The freight market on pitwood has fluctuated greatly during the year, and, at present, rates are ruling higher than ever. This is due to the sink- ing of neutral ships by German submarines, and the neces- sary increase in the cost of insurance of vessels and cargoes, particularly so in respect of pit timber cargoes, because these goods were declared contraband by the Germans. The felling of home-grown timber has gone on vigorously, and made a distinct contribution to the timbering of the mines of this country. Fortunately, therefore, the require- ments of the collieries have been fully met. With respect to the new year, it is quite impossible to make am fore- cast, because the conditions will necessarily be ruled by the duration of the war.” The annual report of the Northumberland and Durham Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund shows a membership of 164,856, a decrease of 22,047 on the year, and of 44,733 since the pre-war year 1913. The members’ contributions during 1916 amounted to £188,922, an increase of £19,833. Interest, etc., has yielded £16,657, and honorary subscrip- tions and donations £69. The total income was £205,648, and the outlay for benefits and management £205,984, showing a deficiency of £336. The society’s capital amounts to £460,736. The number of fatal accidents to members was 228. The death rate per 1,000 members was 1-38. The number of non-fatal accidents involving charges on the minor accident department was 31,962. In super- annuation benefit, £84,156 was disbursed last year. The year was, with one exception, free from any serious explo- sion or disaster. The total membership is now 84,000, of whom 23,000 are on active service. A Home Office letter has been received by Mr. Thomas Ashton, secretary of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, as follows :—“ With reference to your letter with regard to the decision of the magistrates dismissing the proceedings instituted by the Home Office against the manager of the Woodhorn Colliery for contravening the provisions of section 29 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, I am directed by the Secretary of State to inform you that notice of appeal has already been given, and that the necessary steps for prosecuting it are being taken.’’ The Federation will be represented at the appeal proceedings by Mr. Robt. Smillie, the president, and Mr. Harry .Roughley, of the Lancashire Miners’ Association. The disaster, in respect of which the proceedings against the manager were insti- tuted, was that whereby 13 men lost their lives. It was alleged that the manager had neglected to provide adequate ventilation. ’ Lord Joicey, the vastness of whose mineral possessions qualifies him to speak with authority on the coal trade, occupied the chair at the annual meeting of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. Commenting on his pet aversion, Government control, he referred to its huge development in recent months, and said it meant the everlasting harassing of the industries affected. In his own experience, the men who were expected to look after the development of the mines and the safety of the miners, now spent the most of their time in getting out statistics —many of which would be, in his judgment, of very little use. That representatives of the coal trade occupy a very influential position in the counsels of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce is evident from the gentlemen who were elected to official positions at Wednesday’s annual meeting. Lord Joicey was re-chosen as president, and Mr. J. H. Beckingham, managing director of the Broomhill Collieries Limited, as vice-president. The 10 members of council who were elected included : Mr. E. P. Martin, of the firm of Messrs. H. A. Brightman and Company, coal merchants and exporters, who has done very valuable work as chairman of the Chamber’s advisory committee; Mr. M. M. Mein, head of the firm of‘ Messrs. Hall Brothers, ship owners, coal exporters, and timber merchants; Mr. B. Burletson, of the coal exporting firm of Messrs. Tabb and Burletson; Mr. W. H. Parkinson, fitter to the Harton Coal Company Limited; Mr. R. J. Thompson, of Messrs. Furness, Withy and Company Limited, who have consider- able interests in collieries and coal exportation; Mr. A. W. Carrail, of the firm of Messrs. Nielsen, Andersen and Com- pany, coal merchants and exporters; Mr. Cecil A. Cochrane, M.P., chairman of the Newbiggin Coal Company Limited, iron master and owner of collieries in Durham and ironstone mines in Cleveland; and Mr. Thos. Hodges, agent in Newcastle to the Consett Iron Company Limited. Colliery customs were pleaded by women who appeared before the Northumberland magistrates, at Newcastle on Wednesday, charged with having stolen coal from the pit heap at Dudley Colliery. For the defendants, it was stated that they were entitled to receive coal free from the Cram- lington Coal Company, and it was overdue, when, having bread to bake, they went out to get a pailful to replenish the fire. Each was fined Is. Another case revealing a rather peculiar practice was that in which a Westerhope woman was charged with having sold a miner’s load of coal otherwise than by weight. It appeared that the coal delivered to her was re-carted to a person to whom she had sold it, and was not weighed. The Bench held that an offence had been committed, but as the facts were not generally known, the fine would only be 2s. 6d. There would, however, be heavier fines in the future in such cases, because people when they bought coals had a right to know they were getting full weight. The case raises two points of interest to collieries : (1) The right of consignees of free coal to dispose of any surplus to neighbours; and (2) the question whether collieries supplying their employees with free coal (which, it is generally agreed, furnishes a portion of the remuneration of the miner) should deliver the coal by the load or by specified weight. Notts and Derbyshire. Mr. N. D. Todd, the general, manager of the Blackwell Colliery Company’s A and B Winning collieries, has been appointed general manager of the Teversall, Silverhill, and Butcherwood collieries, belonging to the Stanton Coal and Iron Company, in succession to Mr. Jonathan Piggford, who is retiring. Kent. The annual report of the North Kent Coal Field Limited states :—“ The shareholders will be aware that the times through which we have been and are passing have not been propitious for the rapid development of the Chislet Colliery —which forms the company’s principal asset. A reference to the accounts will show that at a very early date the pro- vision of further funds will be necessary in order to meet the company’s liabilities, and in view of the great diffi- culty at the present time of placing any of the company’s unissued shares, or of realising any portion of the com- pany’s assets at a reasonable price, the directors consider the only alternative will be a reconstruction, with an assess- ment upon the shares to such extent as may enable the present liabilities to be met, and ensure the provision of sufficient funds for carrying on. Should this course be necessary, the directors propose to submit a reconstruction scheme to an early meeting, and the proposals that will be submitted to such meeting will be circulated among the shareholders in due course. As will be known to many of the shareholders, the Chislet Colliery, in which the com- pany has a large interest (vide the accounts), has sunk one shaft to a depth of 193 ft., and is sinking a second shaft which at the present date has reached a depth of 668 ft. Providing the sinking operations are not interrupted, coal should be reached in this shaft within the present year. In August of last year, it became necessary to make pro- vision for the payment of the outstanding liability for calls due to the Chislet Colliery, and arrangements have been entered into for a loan of £16,000 secured upon the company’s assets at 7 per cent, interest, free of income tax, with certain options. The directors have, as in the case of the previous year, entirely waived their fees for the year 1916.” The amount of coal raised from the Tilmanstone and Snowdown collieries continues to be about 6,000 tons weekly, but in one or two instances recently the output has dropped slightly below this, owing to such matters as trucks not being available, and a shift being consequently lost. Notices have been received that a certain number of the men employed at the collieries, are to join the Army. Scotland. Burntisland Exports—New Electric Installation—Idle Time for Miners—Manager Fined. The late Mr. William Lawrie Dunn, coal master, Glasgow, has left public bequests aggregating £20,000. The export trade of Burntisland showed a rise of nearly 2,000 tons of coal on the previous week, and is the best recorded for some time. The shipments amounted to 9,015 tons, all of which went coastwise. A large electric generating installation has been placed at Niddrie Collieries with which to supply the various out- lying pits. Overhead lines are being erected, and it is expected the power will be available in a few weeks. Much .idle time is experienced in this colliery at present. In the Dunfermline district of Fife several collieries are only working two and three days a week, and several pits have been forced to suspend operations. The miners are taking advantage of the several workmen’s trains which run to the larger collieries of the Cowdenbeath district, and large numbers have found work at Rosyth Dockyard. The executive committee of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain have decided that their annual conference will take place this year in Scotland, and Glasgow has been fixed for the sittings, which will be held in the early part of July. Delegates will be present from all parts of Eng- land and Wales and from the Scottish mining districts The officials of the National Association of Scottish Mine Workers are to make the arrangements. A prosecution brought under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, has just been disposed of in Hamilton Sheriff Court. Geo.