March 1, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

447

right as British subjects, and it was therefore agreed to
grant exemption; but as the National Service representa-
tive dissented, the tribunal granted leave to appeal.

One of the cases, from the United National Colliery,
involved a singular issue. The workmen’s representative
sought to obtain a certificate of exemption in the case of a
lad who at present is in a sanatorium, but the tribunal
decided that a certificate could not be granted because the
lad was not actually engaged now in coal mining. Further
application will be made to the court after his discharge
from the sanatorium.

Some striking facts were mentioned at the meeting of
shareholders in the chief coal-carrying line, the chairman
of the Taff Vale directors stating that new engines which
were on order would cost £7,000, as contrasted with a
pre-war price of £2,300. During the year they had
carried two million fewer passengers than in the preceding-
twelvemonth, but the increased fares made their money
receipts <£21,000 higher. The increase in wages amounted
to =£83,000, and as since then another rise had been given,
the accountant estimated that the current year would
entail <£220,000 in wages above the pre-war standard, with
=£36,000 more on materials and stores. Mr. W. North
Lewis (of Insoles and the Windsor Collieries) had been
appointed a director, and his wide business knowledge
would be of great benefit to the company. Mr. Beasley,
who had retired from the position of general manager, had
also joined the board, becoming deputy-chairman. His
place has been taken by Mr. Prosser, manager of the
Rhymney and of the Cardiff railways and docks, and that
appointment would prevent overlapping and would improve
the general traffic facilities.

The coal shippers’ section of Swansea Chamber of Com-
merce has decided to overhaul the organisation in order
that it may become more compact and responsible; and
Mr. Chubb Jones has been appointed its honorary secre-
tary. The panel of six members for the Trimming Board
are : Messrs. W. E. Wynne, R. Hopgood, R. Ingram,
P. Rogers, P. Cocks, and W. Kellerman. Mr. T. P. Cook
has been obliged by business pressure to resign the chair-
manship of the section. The new horn secretary is con-
nected with Lysberg and Company.

A solicitor, in applying to Judge Hill Kelly at Polity -
pool County Court on Wednesday of last week for an
apportionment of compensation money paid in respect of a
son’s fatality at the Tirpentwys Colliery, said the funeral
expenses totalled <£61. The judge said it was lamentable
to see compensation money wasted in that way.

Owing to the difficulties created by short-time working
at the collieries, the Coal Controller, it will be remem-
bered, appointed a Commission of Enquiry. A scheme for
allocation has been before the Controller this week.

The Institute of Shipbrokers at Cardiff, at their meet-
ing in the Exchange on Tuesday, resolved to support the
merchants and coal exporters in their protest against the
transference of their one-third of 5 per cent, brokerage on
freight, which it is proposed shall go in future to colliery
companies shipping the coal. The meeting discussed also
a scale of agency fees which will abolish the old competi-
tion, and establish for brokers a fairer rate of remunera-
tion. For tramp steamers arriving oversea at Cardiff, New-
port, or Port Talbot in ballast to load outwards, the
charges—beginning at 500 tons—are 2gs., rising to 10 gs.
for vessels from 7,000 to 10,000 tons, and an additional
2 gs. for each 2,000 tons for vessels above 10,000 tons dead
weight. Vessels discharging cargo will pay the same fees,
plus bank commission of Is. 6d. per cent, on the gross
freight collected. Where oversea cargo steamers arrive
for bunkers only, or take only bunkers after discharging-
inward cargo, the scale will be 3 gs. for steamers not
exceeding 2,000 tons dead weight, ranging up to 8 gs. for
steamers between 7,000 and 10,000 tons dead weight, with
an additional 2 gs. for each 2,000 tons above 10,000. Liners
and steamers calling for repairs will not be subject to
these rates, but will be under special arrangement. The
charges are exclusive of out-of-pockets, telegrams, etc.,
and ship owners will pay 1 per cent, commission upon
brokers’ disbursements. The rates for sailing vessels
will be 50 per cent, above those stated. Approach is to be
made to the Shipping Controller so that Admiralty agents
may be instructed not to take less than scale rates for
owners’ businesses.

It is announced that the Blaenavon Company, which
recently issued 75,000 new ordinary £1 shares, is again
increasing the capital by £100,000.

At Swansea on Tuesday, the Committee for the Supply
of Coal to France and Italy passed a resolution in favour
of the continuance of existing powers of control for six
months after the war, with further half-yearly extensions,
if necessary, subject to Parliamentary approval.

Mr. Horatio Kendrick, coal exporter, of Cardiff, has
been appointed a joint secretary, with Mr. F. A. Gibson,
to deal with arrears on coal contracts.

Northumberland and Durham.

Treasurer Sentenced—Increase of Shipping Charges—
Prospective 'Re-Opening of Pit—Compensation Case—
Rent Overcharges.

At Durham Assizes on Wednesday, Wm. Burns (42),
miner, pleaded guilty to fraudulent conversion of
£119 15s. 4d. It was stated that he was treasurer of the
Ouston E lodge of the Durham Miners’ Association, and
of other funds, including a medical charities fund, of
which latter fund he had converted the amount mentioned
in the charge to his own use. His total defalcations
amounted to £387. He was sent to prison for 21 months.

The North-Eastern Railway Company has given notice
that, as from March 1, the rates, dues,'and charges levied
upon coal and coke shipped at the company’s docks at
Tyne Dock, the Hartlepools, and Middlesbrough, and at
the coal shipping staiths at Dunston-on-Tyne, will be
increased by 50 per cent., and will be lj>-d. per ton upon
all coal put on board any vessel, and 2^-d? per ton on coke
similarly handled. The charges for shipment of coal and
coke—which are included in one lump sum charge with
the railway rate—will be increased by -|d. per ton in the
case of coal, and Id. per ton in the case of coke, these
imposts being in addition to the l^d. and 2^d. afore-
mentioned. In addition, all dock charges at Tyne Dock,
except dock tonnage rates on vessels (other than keels,
lighters, and river craft generally) and labour charges
on goods will be increased by 50 per cent, as from March 1.
Keels, lighters, or other river craft entering or leaving
the dock for the purpose of loading or discharging minerals
or merchandise will be charged Is. each way when carrying-
50 tons or less, and, when carrying more, an additional
Id. per ton beyond 50 tons.

It is stated that there are prospects of Willington
(Sunnybrow) Colliery, which was closed about two years
ago, being re-opened in the near future. The pit is one of
the group of Messrs. Strakers and Love’s collieries. After
the re-start, operations are likely to be on a comparatively
small scale for some time.

Air. W. Rodgerson, who has put in 20 years’ service at
the North Biddick Colliery of the Lambton and Hetton
Collieries Limited, has been appointed as under-manager of
the Newbottle Alargaret pit, owned by the same firm.

John Lumsden, wagonwayman, claiming continuance of
compensation from Messrs. Jas. Joicey and Company
Limited at Durham County Court, stated that, in 1907,
when his wage was £1 12s. 3d. weekly, his left hand was
caught in a rope, and four fingers taken off. He was paid
half-wages up to Alay 1908, and was then put on light
work, feeding and watering ponies, for a day or two, after
which he was transferred to a ropeway, where he remained
for four years, at a wage of £1 6s. 8d., plus 3s. 4d. per
week compensation. . With the advent of. the Eight Hours
Act, he was asked to take up his old work on the wagon-
way. He did so, but had to give up after a few weeks.
He had not worked since. During the interval the com-
pensation paid to him ranged from 3s. 4d. per week to 2d.
He had not received anything since last November. Reply-
ing to Judge Bonsey, he stated that he claimed full com-
pensation. He was able to do some work. The judge
pointed out that respondents could only pay him for the
loss of earning capacity : they could not pay him a lump
sum. At the same time, he was entitled to a declaration
of liability, so that respondents should not be freed from
paying compensation. Capt. Richardson intimated that
the man had been offered work on the screens, but had
declined to accept it. His Honour granted Lumsden a
suspensory award of Id. per week from November 4 last,
and said that claimant had taken the wrong- view as to the
position of a person who met with an injury, and was
entitled to compensation. He was not entitled to compen-
sation now, because he was fit for light work, and had
been offered such work for which he would receive as
much wage, if not more, as he received at the time of the
accident, and would, therefore, sustain no pecuniary loss.
Applicant was strongly advised to try to do the work
offered.

A special meeting of the council of the Durham Miners’
Association, held on Saturday last, decided, after a pro-
tracted discussion, to agree to the proposal to take 50,000
Class A men from the mines under the Alan-Power Act.
It was agreed also that the various miners’ organisations
should assist in the selection of the men. It was unani-
mously decided to decline the offer of the War Office to
give delegates facilities to visit the Western Front.

Air. Jas. Robson’s monthly report of compensation claims
undertaken by the Durham Aliners’ Association indicates
that, in consequence of recent legal decisions, several
successful claims for compensation on behalf of men injured
by falls on ice on colliery premises have been made, and
that similar success has attended claims for continuance of
compensation to men now in the Army. In the latter
■cases, 5s. per week has been the usual award.

In his recently-issued circular to the members of the
Durham Aliners’ Association, Air. T. H. Cann (general
secretary) states that steps taken to recover overcharges in
rent have resulted in the recovery of £187 for 101 mem-
bers of 11 lodges of the association, and, in addition, the
admission of liability to refund £120 to 95 other members.

On the point of the demand for an additional number of
men for the Army, Air. Cann says there is no necessity to
take a ballot of the county, the ballot on the Alilitary Ser-
vice Act having shown an affirmative majority.
° Although,” he says, it may be asserted that, at the
time the ballot was taken, the demand for coal was so
great that recruiting from the mining industry was practi-
cally tabooed, I am certain that Durham miners would
never vote in favour of sending others to do something they
are not prepared to face themselves. The bare possibility
of descending to such a depth of poltroonery is absolutely
unthinkable.” As to the military necessity of further
combing out,” Air. Cann frankly admits that the miners
are not in a position to judge. On the point of co-oper-
ating with the authorities, he is of opinion that the miners
should assist on the conditions stipulated by the Miners’
Fed eration conference.

Cleveland.

A special conference of the Cleveland Aliners’ and
Quarrymen’s Association decided in favour of the miners’
unions of the country taking an active part in the recruit-
ing of men under the Man-Power Act, so as to ensure fair-
play, and that one family is not called upon to make
greater sacrifices than another.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Proposals for inter-connection between the electrical
generating systems of the local authorities in Lancashire
and North Cheshire were discussed at a meeting of muni-
cipal representatives in Alanchester on February 22. A
committee will draw up a scheme for the grouping of
towns, and report to a later meeting of all the authorities.
At a further conference held the same day, Air. Guy
Calthrop, the Controller of Alines, spoke on the need for
further economy in the use of coal by municipal under-
takings.

Air. Thomas Wall work has been appointed manager of
the Ellesmere and Ashton Field Collieries, Walkden.

Notts and Derbyshire.

Prof. W. H. AIcAIillan, lecturing at the Nottingham
University College on Friday of last week on “ Coal
Economy,” stated that at the present time the United
States had nine times more and Germany one and a half
time more coal per head of population than Great Britain.
In regard to price, too, the cost of coal per ton at the pit
mouth in Britain in the period 1886 to 1912 rose 4s. 2|d.
per ton, and in the United States fell 3-^d. This country
must either greatly restrict its exports, which had now
reached an amount equal to one-third of the total annual
production, by re-imposing the export tax, or reduce waste
in what it retained itself. The latter would seem to pro-
vide a much more practical solution. The Coal Conser-
vation Sub-Committee had concluded that the solution of
the difficulty of waste in the generation of power could be
best overcome by installing large central electric power
stations at or near the source of the coal itself. The non-
coking coals, and particularly the slack at present left in
the mine, could be treated in gas producers. Were more
coal treated in that way it would undoubtedly lead to great
economy, in addition to reducing the cost of railway
transport.

At Chesterfield last Saturday, William Warsop (18), was
charged with intimidating Samuel Rawson from working
at Pleasley Colliery. It was stated defendant was the
ringleader of a gang of pony drivers who on several occa-
sions had caused the colliery to stand idle. Owing to the
action of the defendant and other youths, the pit had
been shut down for six or seven days, and was still idle.
The Bench sent Warsop to prison for three months with
hard labour.—Nine youths were then charged with wil-
fully absenting themselves from work at Pleasley Colliery,
belonging to the Stanton Iron Works Company. The lads
refused to work, although every effort was made by the

colliery management and the officials of the Derbyshire
Aliners’ Union to get them to do so, and for three days
there was a loss of output of 2,700 tons. Since the sum-
monses were served they had kept away from the pit, and
the loss of output for seven days was 13.000 tons, and the
loss of wages to the workmen at least £5,000. The lads
were ordered to pay the damages claimed.

Kent.

The amount of coal raised at the Snowdown and
Tilmanstone collieries last week amounted to nearly 6,000
tons. The extent of the mineral traffic afforded by these
two collieries to the South-Eastern and Chatham Railways
was referred to in appreciative terms at the annual meet-
ing of the companies, where it was mentioned that the
amount of Kent coal which had been sent over their rail-
ways during the past year was 260.000 tons ; and Lord
Chilston, the deputy-chairman, who presided, stated that
they looked to a brilliant future for the railways from the
development of the Kent coal field. Sir Robert Perks,
speaking on the same occasion, thought the directors of the
South-Eastern and Chatham Railway should look upon
‘‘ this magnificent coal field within 60 miles of London as
one of the main sources of future revenue.”

Canterbury and District Chamber of Trade have passed
a resolution in support of that carried by the Corporation,
requesting the Board of Trade to sanction the completion
of the Chislet Colliery shafts to the 4 ft. 9 in. seam. The
deputation appointed by Canterbury Corporation on this
question was received in London by Air. R. AIcNeill, ALP.
for the Division in which the colliery is situated. He pro-
mised to use his best efforts to obtain the desired sanction.

Scotland.

The shipments from Aletbil showed a decrease last week,
20,023 tons being sent out. as against 22.113 tons in the
previous week, and 31,423 tons in the same week last year.

A conference of the Scottish National Union of Aline
Workers was held in Glasgow on Friday of last week. The
principal question discussed was the Alan-Power Bill, and
it was decided by a large majority that the union take no
part in providing the men. Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, and
the Lothians are against the proposal, whereas Fife and
Stirling are in favour of it.

At the monthly conference of the Lanarkshire Aliners’
Union held on Saturday last, the results of the following
ballot votes were announced :—Alan-Power Bill : To open
up negotiations for peace, 18,767 : against, 8.249. To assist
in securing 50,000 men from the mines, 10,856; against,
15,283. That branch committees act in selecting the men
desired by the Government, 10.733 ; against, 11,908. In
favour of Air. David Gilmour. O.B.E., continuing to render
National Service, 16,270: against, 17,099 — majority
against, 829.

Sheriff Principal Maconochie has given judgment, and
at the request of both parties notified the case as suit-
able for reference to the Court of Session, in an appeal
which raised important questions relative to the measure-
ment of ships’ cargoes. Pursuers are owners of the steam-
ship “ Use.” of Gothenburg, and they sued Messrs.
Harrower, Welsh and Company, pit prop importers,
Bo’ness. for balance of freights on a cargo of pit props
brought in the “ Use ” from Gothenburg in 1915, of 'which
defenders as consignees took delivery at Leith. It was
found the quantity of pit props was smaller than that given
by the Gothenburg measurement. Pursuers refused to
recognise this measurement, on the ground that defenders
took delivery at Leith without demur. The Sheriff
Substitute and the Sheriff Principal held that the defenders
are bound by the measurement taken at Gothenburg.

Alessrs. Dixon and Company Limited have suspended
sinking operations at Polkemmet Colliery, Whitburn.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The steel and tin workers in this distr ct seek to obtain
an allowance of £11 in their income tax assessments for
wear and tear of clothes ; and they have made protest also
against assessment to income tax in respect of war bonuses,
basing their protest on the ground that these have been
granted specifically to meet the increased cost of living.

At EbbwArale, the annual meeting of the Workmen’s
Sliding Scale Fund members was held on Saturday, and,
after disposing of a complaint as to alleged irregular
delivery of house coal in the steel works district—which
the company will remedy—the question of 20 per cent,
advance in wages was discussed. Mr. G. H. Morgan, the
secretary, said the executive council had decided to press
this matter, and had presented their demands to the
Committee on Production. From the employers’ side,
representations were made that, in their opinion, the appli-
cation for an advance was premature ; three other matters
which were at issue being still unsettled. A special
meeting of the executive had since decided- to leave over
the demand for 20 per cent, until those other matters had
been disposed of. As this stage had now been reached, the
meeting passed a resolution instructing the executive to
proceed with the further demand.

The National Service representative from Alonmouthshire
speaks very favourably of the action of miners within his
own experience. He says that numbers of them are offering
themselves for national service. They come to Newport in
groups, sometimes 30 and 40 at a time, and in one week
he has had as many as 100 miners voluntarily surrendering
their protection cards. He is naturally much pleased with
these men who come forward to join their gallant comrades ;
and, of course, assists the men in their intended enlistment
by facilitating examination at the Aledical Board and in
other ways.

Mr. J. Jefferies, who is quitting the post of general
manager of Lancaster’s Collieries, Blaina, was the recipient
on Saturday of a War Bond for £200, presented to him as
a token of appreciation and goodwill by his local friends.
Air. Caleb Lewis, chief cashier, made the presentation ; and
among the speakers at the meeting were Mr. Bowen,
Mr. J. Evans (Six Bells) and Mr. Britton (Abertillery).

North of England.

At the February meeting of the Northumberland Coal
Trade Joint Committee, Dudley workmen claimed the county
average for certain hewers who were unable to get their shots
fired at the proper time owing to the presence of gas, but this
was not agreed to. Ellington hewers, who, working on county
wages daily, claimed to be found their explosives, were
informed that this was a county question.

At the most recent meeting of the members of the Central
Committee on Absenteeism in the Northumberland Coal
Trade, the question whether the production of a doctor’s
certificate should be insisted upon in all cases in which a
man lost a shift through alleged illness, was discussed. It
was decided that this was a matter in which each local