February 8, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

287

pick and choose very much—the next man said, “ Well,
he gets the same money as me, and I’m not going to do
any more than him ” ; the next man took up a similar
attitude; and in that way they had had a very sad
experience. At the loading station they had filled up
to two tons per minute, or three tubs, but they found
that at that speed they did not get tubs with more than
about 8 cwt. in, because the coal came down in lumps
and small, and was coming down at such a speed that
it was absolutely impossible to set it in order in the
tubs. This was not the average speed, but the best.
Sometimes they did not fill more than a ton a minute.
With regard to the figures of tonnage per man which
Mr. Jenkins had given in the paper, he should like to
know if those tons included all the work on the face.
Many people were apt to say that they got six or eight
tons a man, but they did not take into consideration
any of the bye work in connection with moving the
. conveyor up and looking after it. It was very mis-
leading if people told them that they were doing 10
tons a man, but forgot to put in that they had possibly
four men moving the conveyor over, which work should
always be taken into consideration in calculating the
number of tons per man. The question of packing and
timbering had also to be borne in mind. He should
very much like to know whether Mr. Jenkins’ figures
did include all the work in connection with the work-
ing of the face and the working of the conveyors on the
face. He added that he thought that at a future date
his firm would probably place a paper before the insti-
tute on their experiences of a conveyor installation in
a thick seam.

Mr. M. W. Waterhouse said that the subject was a
huge one, and it was obvious, from the figures given in
the appendix, that there was room for great develop-
ment in the use of conveyors. He noticed that in the
list of intermittent conveyors, the Scottish ones—the
Thomson and the Bolckow—were not mentioned. He
had seen them at work in Scotland, and they appeared
to be doing very well. He was at one with Mr. Walker
in the opinion that jigger conveyors were not suitable
for adverse gradients. That being so, there would be a
danger in adopting them for circumstances which were
suitable to-day, as in six months those circumstances
might become unsuitable. It had been his experience
to have gradients change considerably, and, had he
fixed a jigger conveyor on a practically level face, he
might have been faced with an adverse gradient a few
months later. Mr. Jenkins had stated that he had
some belt conveyors at work without frames, but did
not say how the coal, when it had been loaded, could
be prevented from falling over to the other side.

Mr. Walker said the dish of the rollers and of the
belt was sufficient for this.

Mr. Waterhouse said, of course, if the belt was
sufficiently dished for loading, it would be sufficiently
dished to stand driving. Mr. Jenkins had given par-
ticulars stating that No. 1 conveyor did so many
thousand tons in so many months, and so on, but the
paragraph was not quite clear as to whether that was
the total done by that particular belt. If not, he
should like to know what was the total, what was the
working life of the belt, and how many tons it would
handle. He would also like similar figures with regard
to jigger conveyors; and the relative air consumption
for the turbine machines and the reciprocating engines
for the same date would be very interesting. He
would also be glad to know the minimum size of the
drums of the belt conveyor. He was interested to note
that at one point dirt was taken in first by one con-
veyor, and then the conveyor was changed to deliver
that. If that point could be elaborated, it would
greatly add to the usefulness of the paper. The ques-
tion he referred to was that of gob stowing with con-
veyors. He was much interested in Mr. Simpkin’s
references to the Somersetshire method of conveying,
which he saw at work some 27 years ago; but he was
rather surprised to hear the method described as
economical. He himself would be rather inclined to
back Mr. Jenkins’ conveyors. He would like to know
what class of jigger conveyors were adopted in the
installation which Mr. Smith had described.

Mr. Smith said they were the Eickhoff.

Mr. A. C. F. Assinder, endorsing Mr. Smith’s
reference to labour, said that if he were going to have
anything to do with putting in conveyors at a colliery,
the first question he would have to ask would be about
the labour conditions there. At some pits, he cer-
tainly would not attempt to put in conveyors in any
circumstances. It seemed to him, as to Mr. Jenkins,
that, from the mechanical point of view of conveying
coal, there was not very much difficulty, but the diffi-
culties they had to encounter were in applying the
mechanical contrivances to operate under the difficult
conditions that prevailed underground. He thought
that, as the interests of the manufacturer were so
closely connected with those of the user, it was up to
the former to become expert on the most suitable kind
of conveyor to put under any particular existing cir-
cumstances. The manufacturers should be in some
sort of a position to offer advice as to whether one kind
of conveyor was more suitable than another. It was
very much against the interests both of the maker of
a conveyor and of those who were going to use it, to
put one in that did not eventually prove a success.
His experience was that, with a bad roof, a conveyor
was not likely to be very satisfactory, but he had
frequently noticed that, when people who were exploit-
ing mechanical contrivances came round, they tried to
get their conveyor in in spite of any conditions that
prevailed. He thought this w’as very detrimental to
the interests of the manufacturer. With regard to
cost, his opinion was that a manager would get hold
of a conveyor and put it into a face, expecting that all
the costs which would be entailed would be those of
filling, ripping, packing, say, two gates, and flitting
over the conveyor. Very often, if the roof was good,
they could run on these lines for a few months, but
eventually the roof came in, and it would sometimes
take two or three weeks to get it up again. While they
had been running under favourable conditions, they

had reduced their cost by about Is. or Is. 6d. per ton,
and naturally thought they were going on getting their
coal at this reduction, but, when they had their face
conveyor standing for two or three .weeks, the costs
were very often brought back to the old level, and
sometimes to a higher one. He would*also like to
suggest to manufacturers that it would be very greatly
to their interest to employ men of good, sound mining
experience to advise upon and instal conveyors. He
thought very much might be done by tapping the
resources of the class of men who were employed as
deputies. He had had some experience with three
kinds of conveyors—the belt conveyor, the jigger con-
veyor, and that type that ran backwards and forwards
along the face, and was generally known as the
Thomson conveyor, or which, at any rate, was the
Thomson conveyor to begin with. From his experi-
ence, he thought there could be very little comparison
between them under favourable circumstances. The
belt conveyor, without a doubt, could do a great deal
better work than either of the others under good con-
ditions. The flitting over, in the case of the jigger
type, cost a great deal more, and, when it was con-
sidered that a conveyor was sometimes flitted over four
or five times a week, this matter of cost became one of
considerable importance. The belt conveyor frequently
met with very great difficulties in a wet seam; for
example, if water poured on to it from the roof, it
would not grip the drum. He also saw the advantage
of applying the jigger conveyor in the case of thin
seams, but otherwise his experience had been that the
belt conveyor was the most satisfactory. The Thomson
conveyor had the disadvantage of having a gap in the
middle, and it ran from one side of the face to the
other, so that one side was practically standing idle,
while the other was filling up the conveyor.

Mr. M. R. Swanson (New Monckton) said Mr.
Jenkins had divided conveyors into two kinds, namely,
belt and shaker. He thought there was another kind
—the Allardice, consisting of an endless chain which
ran round hexagons at either end. He had seen this
conveyor working, and the results struck him as
similar to those mentioned in case No. 2 in the appen-
dix. The height of the seam was* 3 ft. 6 in., inclina-
tion 1 in 18 in favour of the load. The conveyor was
electrically driven, and the output was increased from
four tons per man to 10, the net saving being Is. 2d.
This included the shifting of the conveyor, which occu-
pied four men for one shift; they also brought for-
ward all the chocks. He would like to hear Mr.
Jenkins’ opinion as to the most suitable length for the
pans. In some cases they were . 6 ft. long, and in
others 12 ft. ; and also to have a few more facts about
the Thomson conveyor. The objection to the
Allardice endless chain conveyor was one of secondary
haulage—lack of empty tubs—otherwise the conveyor
was a great success.

Further discussion on the paper was adjourned.

Splitting of Coal Seams by Dirt Partings,

Prof. P. F. Kendall’s paper, “ On the Splitting of
Coal Seams by Dirt Partings—Part I. : Splits that
Re-join,” was also on the agenda as open for discus-
sion, but no further remarks on it were offered.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Conciliation Board met on Friday of last week, Mr.
B. Nicholas in the chair. A number of matters in dispute
at different collieries came up for consideration, and in
most cases were referred to a representative from each side
for investigation, with a view to settlement. A joint sub-
committee was appointed to consider and take action in
preparation for demobilisation after the war. There having
been more stoppages of workmen without notice, the
employers drew serious attention to the fact, pointing out
that they had agreed to the appointing of a joint sub-com-
mittee which should prevent stoppages by devising better
methods of dealing with questions as they arose. Noting
with regret that stoppages without notice still continued,
they had decided that it was necessary to resume issue of
summonses. The workmen’s representatives strongly
urged that no proceedings should be instituted until the
joint sub-committee had completed its report. They were
willing to join in a strong representation to the men against
such stoppages, and promised to draw special attention to
the matter at the next district meetings. On this under-
standing, the employers’ side consented not to take imme-
diate action in respect of recent strikes; but stated that
it must be clearly understood that immunity from prose-
cution is not to apply to any fresh stoppage. Men at some
collieries in the Rhymney Valley having raised a question
as to payment of the war wage, a joint deputation will
interview the Coal Controller on the subject.

An award has been given in respect of an application by
moulders employed by Guest, Keen and Company, the
Committee on Production having decided that where a man
fails to work a full week owing to certified sickness or by
leave of the management, his overtime payment shall be
calculated in that week as if he had actually worked the
lost time. The claim of the moulders’ trade union that the
war bonus of 5s. per week should be merged into a per-
manent increase on the standard rate has not been
allowed.

In respect of an application by the Iron Founders’ Union
on behalf of employees of the firm, the Committee have
decided that the request of the employers to have 2s. per
week advance awarded in September merged in an advance
now claimed has not been established. Further, that men
18 years of age and over shall receive an advance of 5s. a
week and over, and apprentices 2s. 6d.; to date as from
the first full pay in December last; these to be regarded
as war advances.

As to an application from employees of the Ebbw Vale
Company, the Committee grants 6d. per day to men rated
up to 4s. 9d. per shift, and 4d. per day to men rated above
4s. 9d. per shift; these increases to be regarded as war
wages, and to date from December 31.

Affecting the loading of coal at the docks, it has to be
noted that the Committee on Production has dealt also with
a claim by the Labourers’ Union, and have decided that as
from the first full pay following January 28, the war bonus
of 37^ per cent, now paid to riggers and boatmen of Cardiff
and Penarth shall be increased to 50 per cent.

The Blaina district of miners, at their meeting, had a
report as to action taken by the agent in an endeavour to

arrange for equal distribution at Lancaster’s Collieries. It
was stated also that the district will be balloted for a
miners’ nominee as Labour candidate for the Abertillery
Parliamentary Division.

Labourers at the steel works who had stopped work,
demanding a general wage rate of Is. 3d. per hour, have
returned. Meanwhile, as a result of the steel works stop-
page, tin-plate works have been short of raw material, and
to-morrow (Saturday) between 200 and 300 summonses will
be heard in the Munitions Court at Swansea, men being
charged with absenting themselves from work.

North of England.

The Coal Controller has sanctioned the amended scale of
minimum wages agreed upon between the Northumberland
coal owners and the miners, to come into operation as from
the last pay in January.

On Friday of last week, the Conciliation Board for the
Regulation of Wages in the Durham Coal Trade met at
Newcastle, Sir Lindsay Wood presiding, and decided that
wages should remain unaltered, at 107^ per cent, above the
basis of 1879, for the ensuing quarter. They have under-
gone no change now for 15 months.

The Walker Coal Company Limited has withdrawn its
notices to the workpeople at Walker Ann pit to terminate
their employment, it having been decided that work at the
colliery shall continue as usual. The earlier intention was
to close down the pit altogether.

Northumberland colliery chargemen have decided to
approach the coal owners with a view to getting the same
rate of wages as is paid to deputies.

The annual meeting of the Cumberland Miners’ Associa-
tion was held at Workington on Wednesday and Thursday
of last week, Mr. John Dickinson, president (Aspatria) pre-
siding. The secretary (Mr. Thos. Cape), in submitting the
annual financial statement, said there had been an increase
of 19 half-members and 62 full members, and although the
association had been heavily drawn upon during the last
six months of the year, there was a net gain of £2,942.
The funds to the credit of the association are as follow:
Invested in War Loan, £7,175; deposit account, £11,135;
current account, £2,614; cash in hand, £1—total, £20,925.
The statement was unanimously adopted. The indemnity
balance-sheet, which was also presented and adopted,
showed cash in bank and in the treasurer’s hands amount-
ing to £219. Mr. J. Dickinson was re-elected president. It
was decided to make application to the Conciliation Board
for a shilling per shift advance to all workers continually
working on night shift.

The dispute at Oughterside Colliery, near Maryport, on
the minimum wage question, after lasting for eight days,
has been settled. The men agreed to resume work pending
a decision by Sir Wm. Job Collins, chairman of the Cum-
berland Minimum Wage Board.

During January, 40 Northumberland steam coal collieries
worked an average of 4-5 days per week, and 21 Northum-
berland house coal pits an average of 4-61 days per week,
a general average of 4-57 days, as compared with a general
average of 5-4 days in December.

Teesside quay workers have received an advance in war
wages of from 12s. to 20s. per week, plus 12^ per cent.

Federated Area.

A deputation from the Walkden Miners’ Association,
accompanied by Mr. T. Greenall (president of the Lanca-
shire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation) and Mr. J. E.
Thompson (secretary of the association), waited upon Lord
Ellesmere’s mining agent relative to the proposed forma-
tion of a local joint pits committee. It was agreed that
there should be a system of permits for necessary over-
time work.

Some dissatisfaction exists among the miners of the
South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire area regard-
ing the day for the payment of wages. The men state that
having to be paid on Saturdays does not allow their women
folk time to get in food supplies. The matter has been
before the local Food Control Committees, and one of the
agents (Mr. S. Edwards) is in communication with the
colliery proprietors on the matter.

OBITUARY.

Mr. J. T. Walker, owner, agent, and manager of Hedley
Bank Colliery, Stocksfield, has died at the age of 62 years.

Mr. Lawrence F. Gjers, J.P., a well-known Middlesbro’
iron master, and chairman of Gjers, Mills and Company
Limited, Ayresome Iron Works, Middlesbro’, died on
Monday.

Capt. Stanley B. Kay, Yorkshire Regiment, only son of
Mr. S. R. Kay, Headingley, was accidentally killed on
January 28. He was trained as a mining engineer at Leeds
University, and afterwards went to the Ackton Hall
Collieries. Twice he was severely wounded, and on many
occasions gave evidence of his gallantry. He was well
known in the Yorkshire mining industry.

Indian Coal.—Mr. G. C. Godfrey, member of the Rail-
way Board, who has been appointed Coal Controller in
India, recently explained to the committee of the Indian
Mining Association the scope of the new appointment. He
pointed out that the Government of India believed that
better results would be obtained if the two separate authori-
ties hitherto working on coal distribution and requisition
were merged in one.

Revised Iron and Steel Prices.—The Ministry of Muni-
tions has issued a notice altering the maximum price of
marked bars and limiting extras chargeable on sales of
steel in shell discard quality. With reference to the
general permit of November 1, 1916, as subsequently modi-
fied, fixing maximum prices for (amongst other things) bar
iron and steel, the Minister of Munitions notifies that from
February 1, the general permit shall take effect as if under
the heading “ Maximum basis prices for bar iron,” the
following words, namely—“ Marked bars, £16 per ton net
f.o.t. makers’ works,” were substituted for the words,
“ Marked bars, £15 10s. per ton, less 2^ per cent., f.o.t.
makers’ works.” The proviso in condition of the said
general permit that such condition (relating to maximum
prices) shall not apply to a sale or purchase of material
the export of which has been duly sanctioned, shall not
apply to any sale or purchase of bar iron. No extra for
tensile quality contained in any list of authorised extras
chargeable on steel material shall be charged on any sale
of steel in shell discard quality in addition to the maximum
basis prices set out in the said general permit as subse-
quently modified. In cases where shell discard steel has
been transferred to works other than those of the maker
for rolling down into special small billet sizes in order to
meet urgent requirements, permits for selling such billets
at prices other than those authorised under the said general
permit may be granted if the proposed price is approved.