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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

June 29, 1917.

LABOUR AISD WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Colliery Enginemen and Stokers' Association execu-
tive council met in Cardiff on Friday of last week, and
passed a resolution to send a deputation to the secretary
of the Coal Owners’ Association, asking for a meeting of
the Joint Board at an early date. It is then their inten-
tion to submit what they regard as outstanding grievances
of the most important character regarding members of
their association who are, they consider, being coerced
into joining the Miners’ Federation.

There has been a keen contest in the Pontypridd and
Rhondda district of miners for the position of sub-agent
to the men. Originally there were nine candidates. At
the first ballot these were reduced to three; a second ballot
brought them down to two; and on Saturday the result of
the third ballot was announced—Mr. D. Lewis Davies,,
mines examiner, of Treforest, being elected by 4,317 votes
against 3,627 for his opponent.

The Miners’ Federation executive, sitting in Cardiff on
Monday, received a statement as to the result of the inter-
view with Sir George Askwith concerning the dispute as
to alleged non-unionists at Llanerch, Varteg, and Blaen-
sychan collieries; and they resolved that the men at those
collieries should be desired to withdraw their notices. A
report was presented by- a sub-committee which had been
appointed to consider evidence for the Industrial Unrest,
Committee on behalf of the Federation; and it was decided
that the sub-committee should complete the evidence, and
tender it to the Commission.

Sir George Askwith has received a representative depu-
tation from the employers and the workmen with regard
to non-union labour in the coal field; and it is stated that
as a result the employers will make certain enquiries
locally, and that Sir George Askwith’s decision is to be
regarded as satisfactory. Its precise terms have not yet
been disclosed.

North of England.

Mr. Wm. Straker, corresponding secretary of the North-
umberland Miners’ Association, has sent out the follow-
ing circular to the members :—“ I am instructed by our
executive committee to inform you that they had an inter-
view yesterday (June 19) with the representatives of the
National Service Department and the coal owners of
Northumberland, and also with the Cleveland miners’
agents, regarding the wages and conditions to be given to
men volunteering from the coal mines to work in the iron-
stone mines of Cleveland, and that our executive regret to
learn that, owing to the Government departments con-
cerned not having consulted the Miners’ Association of
Cleveland before sending out the statement of wages and
conditions, there is a considerable amount of misunder-
standing, and therefore our committee cannot advise any
of our men to volunteer for such work until that mis-
understanding is cleared up. We are assured, by the Cleve-
land representatives that men going from coal-getting to
ironstone-getting will not be able at piece rates to earn
anything like the average wages of skilled men until they
have had a good deal of training and experience. This
being so, there ought to be, during the period of training,
a guarantee of an agreed-on wage. The Cleveland miner's
also want a guarantee that, when they are training
unskilled men, they will not, in consequence, suffer in
wages. There are other matters which want clearing up,
and, also, our committee want to make quite sure that, in
connection with volunteers for ironstone mines in Cumber-
land, there are no similar misunderstandings, and have
instructed me to write the Cumberland Ironstone Miners’
Association regarding the matter. So soon as these
matters are settled, a new statement relating to wages,
etc., will be sent to our branches.”

At a recent meeting, the executive committee of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association decided to inform
one of the branches that, in its opinion, if a member living
in a house owned by the colliery company was paying rent
for it, he ought to receive both rent and coal allowance
from the colliery while he was working. The executive
has called the attention of the coal owners to the fact of
lads under 18 years of age receiving Army calling-up
papers, and has asked the Coal Owners’ Association to
instruct colliery managers to return such documents to the
military authorities, and to inform the workmen’s local
colliery court representatives whether they intend to apply
for exemption certificates in the cases of young men reach-
ing military age. In the case of a colliery which has
refused to compensate a boy suspended on 'a charge of
having caused a breakdown on the ropeway — a charge
unproved, according to the executive—the matter has been
placed in the hands of the association’s solicitors, with a
view to taking legal proceedings for the recovery of lost
wages.

The Northumberland miners’ agents last Saturday
decided to recommend the county miners to forego the
usual Race Week holidays this week, and to meet their
managers and arrange to work on the same terms as they
did last year, the need for coal being just as urgent now
as it was a year ago.

A special meeting of the Cumberland Miners’ Associa-
tion was held at Workington on Tuesday, Mr. J. Dickinson
presiding. There was a representative gathering. The
following resolution was passed unanimously : “ That the
question of excessive Sunday work that has become so
acute in the country be immediately taken up by the
council, to be put before the Conciliation Board, and
that only work be done on Sunday that is vital to the
working of the collieries on Monday.” A resolution was
submitted with reference to the advancement of the stan-
dard rates for all surface employees. It was decided to
make immediate application, and Messrs. J. Howard, W.
Mossop, and J. Barker, with the agent, Mr. T. Cape, were
appointed a sub-committee to draft the proposals to be
submitted to the coal owners. Mr. T. Cape submitted his
report on the Miners’ Federation conference in London
last week, confining his remarks chiefly to the question
of the recruiting of miners. It was decided to support
the nomination of Mr. Robt. Smillie as president of the
Federation; Ml Jas. Robson, Durham, as vice-president;
and Mr. T. Cape as auditor. The agenda for the forth-
coming annual conference of the Miners’ Federation was
exhaustively discussed, and the representatives of the
association were instructed how to vote on the various
resolutions.

At the quarterly meeting of the Cleveland Ironstone
Miners’ and Quarrymen’s Association, held at Middles-
brough this week, a resolution was carried instructing the
executive committee to make a claim on the mine owners
for a further increase in the war bonus paid to members
of the association, and the executive were also instructed
to press for an arrangement with the employers for the
payment of uniform extra rates for working on holidays
during the period of the war, and for dealing with the
hours of surface workers on those days.

Federated Area.

Active propaganda work is being carried on amongst the
pit brow lasses of Southern Lancashire—they now number
about 3,000—with a view to forming a trade union of their
own. Meetings with this object in view were held in
Wigan and Leigh districts last week and at the beginning
of this week.

Scotland.

A re-start has been made with work at Bedlay Colliery,
Lanarkshire, where the miners have been on strike for eight
weeks. Local men are to be reinstated in those places
where employment had been found for outsiders, the
absentee committee has to be abolished, and the practice
of having to report to the management the reason for
absence at work is to be abandoned. The question relating
to the alleged excessive “ dirt ” scale has not yet been
settled, and is to form the subject of a future conference
between representatives of the masters and men.

An arbitration—at the instance of the Ministry of
Labour—has been concluded in London with regard to
the claim of the Leadhills miners for an advance in wages.
Mr. Willis acted as arbiter, and the case for the miners was
stated by Mr. David Gilmour, miners’ agent. The arbiter
has awarded an advance of 3s. per week to all adults
employed in or about the mines at Leadhills.

The arbiter in the dispute at Udston Colliery, Hamilton,
has issued his award, which gives the men a fixed tonnage
rate of 6s. Any miner not able to earn 12s. 3d. per day
with that tonnage rate is to have the difference made up
to him.

Mr. George Gibb, general manager of Messrs. James
Nimmo and Company Limited, who was arbiter in the
dispute at Cadder No. 17 pit, Lanarkshire, has awarded
an advance of Is. 3d. per ton to the men employed in the
getting of ironstone.

There is still no settlement of the dispute regarding
wages affecting the surface workers and char fillers at
Cadder pit, belonging to the Carron Iron Company
Limited. The matter has now been taken up by the Coal
Controller, who is arranging for a meeting between the
representatives of the masters and the men.

The underground firemen in the ironstone pits through-
out Ayrshire are pressing for an increase of wages. They
asked to be paid at the same yMe as firemen in the coal
section.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—June 25.

Electric Power Supply Committee.

In reply to Mr. Gilbert, who asked for the names of the
Departmental Committee on Electric Power Supply in
England, and what interests they represent, Mr. Roberts
said that the members of the Committee as appointed and
the interests they represent were as follow :—The Right
Hon. F. Fluth Jackson (chairman), Mr. James Falconer,
M.P.; the Hon. Sir Charles Parsons, K.C.B., F.R.S., Sir
John Snell, and Mr. James Devonshire, Electrical Trades
Committee; Mr. John Kemp and Mr. C. H. Merz, Coal
Conservation Sub-Committee of the Reconstruction Com-
mittee; Mr. J. F. Crowley, Irish interest; Aid. C. F.
Spencer, of Halifax, local authorities owning electric
supply undertakings; Mr. G. H. Hume, London County
Council; Mr. A. J. Walter, K.C., Ministry of Munitions;
Mr. H. H. Law, Local Government Board; and Mr. H.
Booth, Board of Trade. The chairman had recently
resigned on the advice of his doctor, but steps were being
taken to appoint a new chairman, and also to increase the
representation on the Committee of local authorities
owning electric supply undertakings, and he hoped to be
in a position to announce the names in the course of a
few days. He was unable to say when the Committee
would be in a position to make a report.

June 26.

Coal Distribution (London).

Mr. Rowlands asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether, as a result of the conference of local
authorities held last week, he intended to authorise them
to buy, store, and supply coal to consumers in their
respective areas during the coming winter.

Mr. Gilbert asked the President of the Board of Trade
what London local authorities were represented at the
conference called by the Local Government Board on
June 21, and whether the Coal Controller proposed to
bring forward any proposals in order to prevent shortage
of coal supplies to small consumers during the coming
winter.

Mr. Roberts, in reply, said that the conference was
attended by representatives of six county councils, 21
Metropolitan borough councils, three town councils, and
11 urban district councils. A resolution was passed
urging that local authorities should be authorised to buy,
store, and distribute coal. This proposal would receive
full consideration. The Controller of Coal Mines hoped
to put his scheme for controlling distribution before the
local authorities next week, after which the matter could
be further considered.

June 28.

Coal, Steel, and Potash.

In the course of his statement on the munitions output,
Dr. Addison (Minister of Munitions) mentioned that
among the problems now under investigation was the pro-
vision of cheap power and the utilisation of inferior coals,
in which connection important developments were in pro-
gress. The output of steel had been increased from about
7,000,000 tons per annum before the war to about 10,000,000
tons, and it was hoped to reach 12,000,000 tons next year.
The production of basic steel from home ores had been
improved to the extent of nearly 1J- million tons. Through
the energy of Mr. Kenneth Chance and others, a process
had been discovered whereby very large quantities of
potash could be produced for glass making and fertilising.

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS.

V Any of the following publications may be obtained
on application at this office at the price named post free.

Reports of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for
the Year ending December 31, 1915: (Part B), “Indus-
trial and Provident Societies.” Dated 1917. Price, 5s.
net.

• “ Directions as to the Sale of Coal.” Dated June 28.
1917. Issued by the Controller of Coal Mines, under
No. 9g of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, 1914.

MIMING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY
SERVICE.

The Longbenton tribunal has had under consideration
appeals from two munition workers who have received their
calling-up notices. It was stated that the men left their
work at the coal mines voluntarily in November 1914, in
response to an appeal for men for munition work. Both
are married men, and in course of examination it trans-
pired that single men were still employed in the munition
works, while married men were being “ combed out.” The
tribunal adjourned the cases, and enquiries are to be made
as to the number of young single unskilled workers in
certain munition works. The tribunal also passed a reso-
lution requesting the military authorities immediately to
“ comb out ” all single unskilled workers who have entered
munition works since the commencement. of the war, and
this is being sent to the War Office and the Local Govern-
ment Board.

The chairman of the Rhondda tribunal, Mr. W. P.
Nicholas, referred on Monday to a difficulty which had
arisen concerning colliery workmen—those classed by the
travelling medical board in category A, but who should
obviously be in a lower class. He stated his doubts
whether the Rhondda tribunal or the colliery tribunal had
power to send back to the collieries men who, on re-exami-
nation, were placed in a lower category than Class A, and
to say that the management should find them employment.
That tribunal, however, decided to adjourn all such cases,
and requested the miners’ agent to ascertain from the
colliery tribunal who possesses the power.

At Durham local tribunal, Mr. Ferens appeared on
behalf of a disabled Ludworth miner, who, it was stated,
had been off work since 1913 as the result of a serious
accident and injury to his chest. He had been receiving
compensation for four years, and was not even able to do
light work. He had been passed for B 2, but he could
not work five yards from his own door, let alone in labour
units abroad. Absolute exemption was granted.

At the same tribunal, a Low Pittington grocer and boot
dealer, 28, passed for C 2, appealed for exemption, stating
that he was suffering from, bronchitis and asthma, but
was willing to work in the pits if desired. One month’s
final exemption was granted.

At Sedgefield, in the adjourned appeal for a West Corn-
forth man, aged 30, married, with five children, passed
for general service, it was stated that he held an exemp-
tion certificate granted by Mr. J. R. R. Wilson, inspector
of mines, but that a message had been received from Mr.
Wilson stating that the card was now inoperative. A
letter was read from the manager of Thrislington Colliery
stating that, owing to the shortage of labour, it would
be very difficult to find a man to fill applicant’s place. Six
weeks granted.

The colliery tribunal for South-West Wales — that is,
chiefly the anthracite area—sat at Swansea on Friday of
last week, and Col. Pearson, the chairman, at the com-
mencement of the proceedings referred to appeals that had
been carried to the central tribunal. In regard to two
cases which were before the local tribunal at its last
sitting, the decision of the central court had not yet been
obtained on these, and therefore he said similar cases of
boys would be dealt with on similar lines, pending the
decision of the central body. Col. Pearson also remarked
that sufficient care was not taken in filling up necessary
forms. Colliery managers could read the headings of the
forms, and there was no reason why the thing should not
be done properly. If they followed the instructions, there
would be no trouble or inconvenience; but if the forms
were not properly filled in future the court would not deal
with the cases. In one case, which had occasioned much
discussion, a young man of 18 years of age, who had
worked underground since he was 14, had been put on as a
temporary stoker last'year, but the colliery at which he
had been working stopped. Since then he had been out of
work, and on a waiting list to secure employment under-
ground. Exemption was claimed for him by the colliery
representative as a stoker, but the military representative
commented on the fact that the young man had been out
of employment for three months, and said that there was
no right to appeal before the court, seeing that he was not
a collier. The tribunal disposed of the matter by suggest-
ing to the young man that he should appeal on personal
grounds. Col. Pearson remarked that the Miners’ Feder-
ation had agreed to help in getting 40,000 men for the
Army; and Mr. J. D. Morgan, miners’ agent, a member
of the tribunal, replied, “Yes; it was agreed to help by
getting into the Army, in the first place, men who have
entered the collieries since the outbreak of war, and then
to consider the matter if more men are needed. This
young man does not come in that category.” Subse-
quently the case of a stoker was brought before the court,
he having been for four months out of colliery employ-
ment, and engaged in a controlled establishment. The
enginemen’s agent, who appeared on his behalf, was
informed by the chairman that this was one of the new-
comers to the colliery whom the trade union leaders had
agreed should be released to the Army. Exemption was
refused.

The Swansea tribunal, which had suspended its sittings
in protest against the principle of young men being kept
in reserved occupations, resumed sitting on Friday of last
week after several adjournments.

The Llwynypia miners, at a meeting on Sunday, voiced
complaints against the action of the county appeal
tribunal in sending certain colliery workers into the Army.
It was stated that where the local tribunal had granted
exemption in one case of serious domestic hardship, this
had been reversed; and the meeting decided to bring the
matter before the executive council of the Federation;
also to call a. special meeting for its consideration, and
further to bring the question before the Labour Unrest
Commission which is sitting locally.

Application was made before the Wigan tribunal for
exemption on behalf of a colliery postman, on the ground
that he was better employed in his present situation than
if he were to enter the Army. The applicant was stated
to be 29 years of age, and classed as C 2, and the repre-
sentative of the colliery firm by whom he was employed
explained to the tribunal that it was the duty of the man,
in carrying out his work as colliery postman, to carry the
colliery letters, etc., which frequently contained documents
of considerable value, to the post. It was work, the
colliery representative urged, with which a woman could
hardly be safely entrusted, and as postman he had some-
times to make the journey several times a day in all
weathers, and in the dark evenings as well as in the
light days. The military representative said he thought
the man could do something more active than carrying
letters to the post. The tribunal decided to allow exemp-
tion until July 1.