January 11, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

83

of 3,400,000 tons, which will be about 700,000 tons less
than in 1916, and 2,000,000 tons below that of 1913 (which
was a record year). In the annual report of the shipping
section of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce, it is stated
that the membership has increased, and the members feel
that the coal exporters’ section could be ifiuch strengthened,
and that the two sections could work together much more
effectually to mutual advantage. No fewer than 560 claims
have been dealt with by the Coal Trimming Disputes Board.
The Chamber has obtained the appointment of a naval
transport officer—thus saving loss of time involved through
captains having to attend in Cardiff for navigation orders.
Attention is once again drawn to the grievance felt as to
Swansea not obtaining a fair share of Government shipping
business, and now that most of the ships bring Govern-
ment cargoes under charter, in which the cost of discharge
is not fixed, it is found to be even more difficult to settle
what proportion of the consolidated rate should be charged
to the ships. The opinion of the members is that the Har-
bour Trust should fix the rates. The services of the acting
secretary (Mr. A. Moffatt) are cordially recognised, and he
has been heartily thanked for his services. With regard
to the shrinkage in coal shipments, part of this loss has
been made up by increase of home requirements, especi-
ally to works in the South Wales coal field.

The income tax collector of Cross Keys, Monmouthshire,
in a case heard at Newport against a collier for non-payment
of tax, stated that he should require his train fare to be
allowed him, as hitherto he had paid it out of his own
pocket. Out of three cases he had been obliged to enter
against colliers, two of them had settled, and in the one
now before the court the defendant did not appear. The
Bench ordered payment in a week, and agreed to the
collector’s train fare being allowed.

As showing the enormous change wrought by the war in
the rates of freight for coal, it may be pointed out that,
whereas the average rate for 1914 for Alexandria was a
little above 10s. per ton, during 1917 it touched £10 per
ton, the lowest rate from South Wales having been 85s.
Port Said and other Mediterranean ports show a similar
record, as, for example, Genoa, which did not reach an
average of 9s. in 1914, rose to £8 10s. per ton, the lowest
figure being 59s. 6d. To South America the rates were not
proportionately so high, but the increase was enormous.
Where the average for 1914 Plate was little more than 14s.
per ton, it rose to £6 10s. last year, and never went below
£5. Barcelona is, however, the most remarkable, for
whereas the average for 1914 is only 9s., it touched as
much as £17 10s. last year, and the lowest rate was £3.
Chiefly, of course, the profit has gone to the foreigner, for
the limitation scheme operated against the British ship
owner. The neutral owner had greater freedom, one of
the arguments for this being that the British had the
advantage of Government war insurance, whereas the
foreigner had to insure independently. About nine-tenths
of the British tonnage is requisitioned by the Government
at Blue Book rates, and it will be noted that there is a
probability of an increase of these rates now being
‘ arranged.

When the war is over, more will be heard of the great
work of Welsh miners on the Western front, their bravery
and determination being widely recognised. Stories are
drifting homeward as to the circumstances in which the .
men have had to work, but it is yet too early to give
these publication. When the embargo is removed, some
very ;rtirring tales will be told.

The Carnegie Trustees are making an allowance of 12s.
per week for one year (with probable renewal) to Mrs.
Thorne, widow of the late Mr. Edward Thorne, instructor
at the colliery rescue station, Brynamman, who lost his
life while trying to rescue a member of the brigade at the
Duchy Colliery, Pontyrhyl. Mr. Dryburgh, manager of
the Glanavon Colliery, who was working with the rescue
men at the time, brought the case to the notice of the
Trustees.

On Tuesday, a meeting took place of the Commission
which the Coal Controller has appointed to deal with short
time in the South Wales coal field. With Mr. F. A. Gibson
(coal owners’ secretary) and Mr. T. Richards, M.P. (work-
men’s secretary) were Mr. I. J. Anthony and Mr. A. H.
Phillips. Evidence was tendered by representatives of
colliery companies who had found it necessary to terminate
contracts with their workmen. A final meeting takes place
tO-morrow (Saturday). The Commissioners will prepare
their report for the Controller, and decide upon what
recommendations they will make to him.

In the course of a meeting of seamen and firemen at
Newport on Friday of last week, Mr. W. Rudd spoke about
the number of members of their trade union who had been
out of employment, and he stated that when the Coal Con-
troller was appointed they were promised that two-thirds
of Monmouthshire coal should be shipped at Newport. But
instead of this having been done, two-thirds were shipped
at Cardiff and the other one-third at Newport. Mr. Rudd
further alleged that the Controller had said he would never
allow a full cargo of Monmouthshire coal to be shipped at
Cardiff and Barry; but nevertheless this was being done.
That very day on which he was speaking there were 150
trimmers in Newport who had not struck a blow. They
did not want an ounce of Glamorgan coal shipped in New-
port, and they did not think it fair that Newport coal
should go to Cardiff. The matter was not serious to
trimmers alone, but also to the tradesmen of the town.
Numbers of their coal trimmers had not done any work
during the week. Another speaker pointed out that it
would be better for the railways if the coal were brought
to Newport, seeing that there was a shortage of labour on
the line.

Sir Griffith Thomas, chairman of the Swansea Harbour
Trust, has decided to resign this position, which he has
Jield for no less than 18 years. His term of office has been
conspicuous for the successful carrying out of the new
King’s Dock, at a cost of nearly two millions sterling. It
was at the opening of the dock by the late King Edward
in 1904 that Sir Griffith received the honour of knighthood.
The value of this dock to the coal trade of Swansea in the
additional facilities which it provides is inestimable.

At Aberdare on Wednesday, two timekeepers and clerks
at the Llettyshenkin Colliery were charged with obtaining
money by false pretences from the Powell Duffryn Com-
pany, the sum of £134 being the total. The money was
obtained by representing that men had worked, when actu-
ally they were not at work. One of the defendants was a
youth of 19, and he had made a full confession—offering
restitution to the extent of £70. He was ordered to pay
10 gs. costs, and was bound over as a first offender. With
regard to the older man, it was found that he had been
drawing money in respect of workmen who had left the
company’s employ, and he was fined £20, or three months’
imprisonment in default.

Mr. D. R. Llewellyn, whose colliery interests in the
Aberdare district have of late years been steadily extending,
has been in negotiation with other gentlemen to acquire

the Cwmaman collieries; and it is understood that agree-
ment has been reached, and that transfer from present pro-
prietors will be carried out at an early date.

Northumberland and Durham.

Tyne Shipments—Retail Prices in Wallsenci—Military
Decorations—Housing in South Shields—Report of
Northumberland Miners’ Association—Electric Power
Supply.

During 1917, the quantity of coal shipped from Tyne Dock
was 4,512,113 tons, and of coke 308,269 tons, decreases,
when compared with the shipments for 1916, of 634,024 tons
of coal and 28,556 tons of coke.

Wallsend Retail Coal Prices Committee have fixed the
maximum retail price of best coal (other than for the
descriptions of coal which have already been fixed and
specified by public notice) at 26s. per ton delivered at
customers’ premises, and 20s. 6d. per 15 cwt. delivered.
The price for seconds is to be 2s. 6d. less than the above-
mentioned figures.

Mr. T. Taylor, treasurer of the BedHngton branch of the
Northumberland and Durham Miners’ Permanent Relief
Fund, who has just been re-elected, has completed 35 years
in that capacity. Mr. James Laity, who is now in his
80th year, has filled the secretarial post for 30 years.

Capt. Clive W. Beckingham, R.F.A., who has been
awarded the Military Cross, is the son of Mr. J. H.
Beckingham, late managing director of the Broomhill
Collieries Limited, and brother to Mr. E. L. Beckingham,
the present managing director.

Lieut. W. B. Nisbet, R.G.A., who has been awarded a
decoration for zealous service in aircraft work in this
country, is the son of Mr. E. T. Nisbet, of the Lambton
and Hetton Collieries Limited.	•

Mr. John Mathieson, of the commercial staff of the
Consett Iron Company Limited, has been elected first pre-
sident of the Shipbuilding, Engineering and Steel Commer-
cial Staffs Association.

About 900 men have joined up from Easington Colliery
since war broke out. Of these, 16 have gained distinction
—one D.S.M., one D.C.M. and Russian Order of Merit,
one M.M. and bar, 11 M.M.’s, and two minor decorations.
Each man has been presented with a gold watch, watch
guard, and pendant by his old comrades at the mine and
by other residents. Mr. T. A. Lishman, manager of
Easington Colliery, presided over the gathering at which
the presentation was made by Mr. T. H. Cann, general
secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association.

The Marsden lodge of the Durham Miners’ Association
has adopted a resolution impressing on South Shields Town
Council the absolute necessity of doing its utmost to relieve
the inadequate housing accommodation of the borough.

Newcastle Corporation has decided to oppose the New-
castle and Gateshead Gas Company’s Parliamentary Bill
seeking powers to increase the maximum price of gas by 6d.
per 1,000 cu. ft., and to raise the standard dividend pay-
able to shareholders from £3 10s. per cent, to £4 6s., the
effect of which would be to give the company parctically a
free hand in its charges, and to abolish the present sliding-
scale whereby as gas prices are increased, dividends must
be reduced. The opponents of the Bill are charging the
gas company with having made the public pay more for
worse illuminating gas. It is pointed out that, in 1916, the
cost of purification fell considerably, in spite of a greater
output, and that the yield of sulphate of ammonia was less
per ton of coal carbonised than in the two preceding years,
with the result that, although the revenue from the sale of
sulphate of ammonia fell, the company saved in wages and
increased the yield of gas per ton, to the detriment of the
consumers.

When Norman Fannon (19), and Horace Beaston (20),
putters, were charged at Castle Eden with having com-
mitted a breach of the Mines Act by fighting in Shotton
Colliery, it was stated that the former was before the court
last March on a similar charge. On that occasion he had
permanently injured another lad. He was fined 40s., and
bound over for 12 months. Beaston was fined 10s.

Lieut. W. H. Davies, Durham Light Infantry, who has
been awarded the Military Cross, was serving his articles
as a mining engineer at Medomsley prior to joining up.

The quarterly report of the Northumberland Miners’
Association shows a membership of 25,651 men and 4,329
youths. The number serving with the Forces is 11,617.
The number exempted from payment of the political levy is
298, as against 123 for the previous quarter.

Mr. R. Y. Batey, secretary and fitter to the Stella Coal
Company Limited, who has been seriously ill recently, is
reported to be making good progress towards recovery.

In justification of its action in increasing the price of
gas by 9d. per 1,000 cu. ft., the Stanley Gas Company has
informed the local Urban District Council, through Mr.
J. T. Burn, that the advance is absolutely necessary owing
to the increase in the cost of labour, coals, etc. The
owners have not had a penny of interest or remuneration
for their services. The workers are asking for more wages,
and, if the increase be granted, gas will cost still more.
Mr. Burn has offered to allow the company’s books to be
inspected to show that no profit has been made since the
w’ar commenced.

Darlington Town Council is up in arms against the pro-
posals contained in the interim report on electric power
supply in Great Britain of the Coal Conservation Sub-
Committee. The Council has appointed a committee to
take the necessary steps to protect the interests of muni-
cipalities which own electrical undertakings, in order to
ensure that, if such electrical undertakings are to be
handed over, they shall not be handed over to private enter-
prises, but to a National Committee, with the interests of
the community safeguarded. That proposal which appears
to have raised the ire of the Quaker town most particu-
larly is indicated by the terms of appointment of the
committee.

At Newcastle on Tuesday, Mr. C. C. Leach, manager
of Seghill Colliery, and his chauffeur, were charged with
having infringed the Motor Spirit Restriction Order by
having used petrol or petrol substitute to drive a motor-
car except for a purpose especially authorised by the Order.
Mr. Leach was stopped when entering Newcastle by car.
He informed the police that he was going to a meeting at
the Coal Trade Offices. When asked if he could not have
accomplished the journey by train, he said he had other
work to do. Mr. Leach informed the Bench that he had
to do business in connection with the colliery both at
Seghill and at Newcastle that morning. His house at
Seghill was about a mile from the station, and it took him
nearly as long to go to the station to catch a train as to
go by car into Newcastle. None of his subordinates could
have attended the directors’ meeting in Newcastle. The
charge was dismissed.

Cleveland.

During last year, 525,430 tons of pig iron were shipped
from the Tees, as compared with 627,540 tons in 1916,
428,727 tons in 1915, 926,596 tons in 1914, and 1,246,884 tons

in 1913. In addition, however, about 350,000 tons were
despatched by rail to Scotland. The foreign shipments last
year, as compared with those for the two previous years,
were as follow : Holland, nil, as against 3,210 tons in 1916,
and 10,902 tons in 1915; France, 434,584 tons, as against
429,962 tons and 108,481 tons respectively; Italy, 45,835
tons, as against 70,355 tons and 71,571 tons; China and
Japan, 7,549 tons, as against 27,967 tons and 32,969 tons;
Sweden and Norway, nil, as against 28,948 tons and 101,309
tons ; and North America, 6,013 tons, as against 20,684 tons
and 14,128 tons. An increasing proportion of the output
was used for the manufacture of iron and steel in the dis-
trict in which it was produced.

Reviewing the Cleveland iron trade of 1917 in the January
issue of the Middlesbrough Monthly Circular, Messrs.
Hanson, Brown and Company Limited remark that the
advance in the price of coal on September 17, and the
consequent advance in coke prices, necessitated the read-
justment of pig iron prices. “All concerned shrank from
the confusion that would be caused all round by altera-
tions in pig iron prices, with the necessary corollary, a rise
in all finished descriptions. In the end, a sort of compro-
mise seems to have been arranged. Cleveland No. 3 aud
the other qualities were each advanced by 2s. 6d. per ton,
this apparently having no relation to the fuel factor.”
Coke was in adequate supply during the year.

The average net selling price of steel plates at Consett
for the months of September, October, and November has
been certified at a figure which, under sliding scale arrange-
ments raises the wages of steel millmen by 2£ per cent,
for the current quarter, bringing wages up to 65 per cent,
above the standard. This figure constitutes a record in the
history of steel making at Consett, the previous highest
rate being during the brisk period ending December 1900,
when the wages ascended to 27-J, per cent, above the stan-
dard. When the war broke out, the prevailing rate was 15
per cent, above the basis, so that wages have gone up since
by the phenomenal figure of exactly 50 per cent. Wages
have been stationary since March 1917.

Yorkshire.

Outlook in South Yorkshire — Housing Accommodation—
Screenmen and Military Service — Pony Riding in
Pits.

The present year promises to be a very busy one so far
as the colliery industry of South Yorkshire is concerned.
Despite enlistments, numbers have been fairly satisfactorily
kept up. The latest published returns give 2,314 employees
at Brodsworth, 2,100 at Bullcroft, 2,020 at Bentley, and
1,827 at the Yorkshire Main at Edlington.

At the new pits of Rossington and Hatfield the lack of
houses has been a serious drawback to development. The
house shortage is, in fact, being seriously felt all over the
South Yorkshire district. Although great drafts of men
have been sent' to the front, the local population seems as
large as ever, and as there have been no building activities
worth speaking of, the needs of the district are increasingly
great. The district is well equipped in rescue stations, and
the importance of ambulance work has been kept well to
the fore during the past year. The decrease in the supply
of foreign timber has given a great fillip to the home-grown
timber trade, and something like 80 per cent, of the timber
now used in the pits is stated to be home-grown.

At last week’s meeting of the Thorne (South Yorkshire)
tribunal, three colliery screenmen, employed at the new
pit at Hatfield, pointed out the unfairness of their being
called upon for service, they being over 40 and married
with families, while there were a number of young single
men still at the pit. The men’s solicitor stated these men
had been “ combed out ” by the colliery as of no use to
them, but of great use to the Army. The military repre-
sentative enquired what position the Hatfield Colliery Com-
pany was in. The chairman of the tribunal (Mr. Geo.
Dunston, C.O.) replied that the colliery was only just now
being equipped. He should think it would be another two
years at the present slow rate of progress before the colliery
would be fully equipped. The company had now obtained
consent for the building of 50 cottages, as a proportion of
500 cottages, so that the bricklayers’ work was going to
continue to grow for the next 10 years. The tribunal
granted each of the men exemption for three months, and
expressed the opinion that the colliery should send the
younger men, as all three of those who had appeared before
them seemed well capable of doing colliery work.

At Pontefract Police Court last Saturday, Ernest Cooper
and Charles Jordon, pony drivers, of South Elmsail, were
summoned for a breach of colliery rules by riding their
ponies in the pit. It was stated they were riding at a
gallop, and one of the boys dropped his lamp, which might
have been serious, whilst had they not kept their stooping
position both might have been killed by coming in contact
with the roof. Each lad was fined £2.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

The Salford Town Council, acting upon the recommenda-
tion of the Gas Committee, have adopted a resolution pro-
testing against the recent action of the Coal Control Depart-
ment of the Board of Trade in advancing the pitmouth
prices of coal by 2s. 6d. per ton, such advance, in their
opinion, being excessive in relation to the increase in
miners’ wages of Is. 6d. per day, and unjust in its inci-
dence when passed on to the consumer.

Notts and Derbyshire.

On Saturday, Mr. William Sewell, of Halfway, was
elected president of the Derbyshire Miners’ Association, in
succession to Mr. James Martin, retired. Mr. Sewell, who
has been vice-president for some years, still works at the
coal face at Holbrook Colliery. He is also an ex-chairman
of Eckington Parish Council. The council asked the lodges
to consider what action should be taken to recognise the
services of Mr. Martin as president for several years.

The Midlands.

Owing to mining operations, there has been another sub-
sidence in Halesowen-road, Netherton, 100 yds. of the road
having sunk some 15 inches. Many of the houses have
had to be propped, while others have been “ drawn ” con-
siderably, and have had to be abandoned. The tram lines
have also sunk slightly.

The Stour Colliery, Cradley Heath, formerly owned by
Messrs. D. Parsons and Sons, has been closed, and between
80 and 100 miners thrown out of employment. All the
men, however, have had no difficulty in finding work else-
where.

Action is just now being taken in Birmingham to ensure
the exact carrying out of the Coal Controller’s Order
relating to the quality of coal sold retail at fixed prices
under the direction of the local control authorities.
Recently a prosecution occurred in Birmingham, at the
request of the Coal Controller and at the instigation of
the local Retail Coal Trades Committee, for the sale of coal
of a less quality than the customer was entitled to. Arising
out of this prosecution, a conference has taken place