806 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 19, 1918. METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE. Mean Magnetic Declination at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week April 7 to 13, 1918. Magnetic character. 0h.-2h. ■ 2h.-4h. 14° + 1 4h.-6h. ; 14° + 14 ’ + Min. Min. Min. Sun., Mon., April 7 2 45*0* 46’5* 48’5* 8 1 51 .•o 50*5 50’5 Tues., 99 9 1 51*5 50*5 50'5 Wed., 9 9 10 1 50'5 50’0 50'0 Thurs., „ 11 2 48-0 475 49'0 Friday, 12 1 46*5 I 48*5 48'5 Sat., >> 13 0 52’0 1 51 '5 50'5 Diurnal in e- Ih. 2h. 3h. 4h. 5h. 6h. quality (i.e.. Apl. 1917 -0*3 -0’5 -0-7 -1-0 -1'7 -2'9 departure from Mar.1918 -1-0 -1*0 -1-1 -1-4 -1'6 -2'2 mean value for Mar.1917 -Fl —1'2 -1-1 -ro -1'2 -1'6 day) Intervals—Hours G.M.T. ! 6h.-8h. 14° + 8h.-i0h 14° + 10h.-12h. , 14° + j 12h.-14b. 14° + 14h.-16h. 14° + : 16h.-18h. 14° + 18h.-20h. 14° + 20h.-22h. 14° + ; 22h.-2»h. Mean for day. 14° + 1 “ ° + Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. | Min. Min. 50'5 51'5 £6'5 01'5 59’5 54-0 ; 52'5 53'0 52'0 i 52'5 48'5 47'5 54'0 59'5 58'u 55'5 i 51'0 51'0 52'5 52'5 48'0 | 47'0 55'0 62'0 58'5 53'5 51'0 49'5 49 '•5 j 52'0 47'0 i 45'5 53'5 59'5 58'5 53'5 i 52'0 52'0 52'0 j 52'0 48'0 ; 46'0 54'5 61'0 60'5 57'0 51'5* 44'5* 42'0* i 51'0 45'0 47'5 I 52'5 55’5 54'5 ; 53'0 51'5 52'5 52'0 ‘ 50'5 47'0 47'0 55'0 59'5 56'0 52'5 ; 52'0 51'5 51'5 52'0 Mean value for 7h. 8h. 9h. lOh. llh. 12h. 13h. 14h. 15h. 16h. 17h. 18h. 19h. 20h. 21h. 22h. 23h. 24h. month. — 4’3 —5’9 -5'7 —3’4 + 0'3 +3'7 + 6'0 +6'1 + 4'5 +2'6 + 1'3 +< '4 + 0'3 +0'5 + 0 4 +0'1 + 0'2 -0'1 15° 1''3 April’17 -3'7 -5'0 -4'6 -2'2 + 2'5 +6'2 + 7'8 +7'4 + 5'4 +3'1 + 0'9 -0'2 -1'1 —1’8 -1'9 -1'9 -1'4 -1'2 14° 53''6Mar. T8 -3'2 -4'7 -4'7 -2'7 + 0’8 +4'3 + 6'0 +5'9 + 4'4 +2'8 + 1'5 +0'4 + 0'1 -0'3 -0'5 -0'6 -1'0 -1'2 15° 3" 2 Mar. ’17 * Large disturbance during this interval. The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 24h. (midnight) G.M.T. Character “ 0” means a day wholly free from any but small disturbances. Character “1” means a day part or all of which is moderately or considerably disturbed. Character “2” means a day part or all of which is highly disturbed. The normal value for an hour is the mean declination for that hour in the month, derived from quiet days only, or from all days excluding those of character “2.” On a day of character “Q” declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character i( 1 33 the departure from the normal will usually not exceed 5', but it may occasionally be as much as 10', or even more. On a day of character “ 2 33 the departure from the normal will seldom exceed 20', but departures of 30' or even on extreme occasions of 1° or more may occur. The above values are obtained from measurements made after “ smoothing33 the curve. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Ebbw Vale steel workers met on Sunday evening and a report was presented by one of their representatives on the Wages Board as to a communication with the Ministry of Munitions on the subject of the hour at which work should cease on Saturdays. It was decided that they would adhere to the present custom of finishing at 1 o’clock on Saturdays. Upon the general wages question it was stated that the sale prices of steel rails showed the men were entitled to a further advance of 2 per cent., bringing the percentage up to 93. It was adjjed that other matters had to come into the audit, one being a subsidy on rails at 15s. per ton for two months, and a further subsidy on rails and tin bars of 35s. for two months; and this should come in on a suplementary audit and should give a further advance. A motion was carried desiring the management to pay 7^ and 12^ percentage to boys who were doing men’s work. On Saturday the council of the South Wales Colliery Examiners met in Cardiff. Part of the business was the reception of a report as to a new district having been formed with 300 members. A resolution was passed to continue efforts for securing an eight-hours day throughout the district. The meeting received a deputation from the South Wales Colliery Officials’ Union, who suggested alliance between the two bodies; and discussion took place on the subject. North of England. At recent meetings the executive committee of the North- umberland Miners’ Association has decided : To refer the whole question of surface workers’ wages to the Associa- tion Wages Committee; to lay before the Coal Controller the claims of Dudley Colliery workmen for war wage, which was refused them by the colliery manager for the day on which the pit was idle, according to colliery custom, being the day following that on which a fatal accident occurred in the evening; to urge the Walker men, in face of the refusal of the National Service Department, to grant the same conditions to them as had been given to miners in the county of Durham who had gone to ship- yards to seek work at the collieries, and, to inform these men that, so far as shipyards were concerned, while the men were at liberty to accept work there, the executive committee could not recommend them to do so; to instruct Stobswood branch that, owing to the action of the manager in refusing the war wage to certain putters for the pay Saturday, owing to their refusal to work on that day, as they had been in the practice *of doing to oblige the manager, the executive committee required all lads and men at the colliery, belonging to any class whose full time was 11 shifts per fortnight, according to county practice, not to work oh pay Saturdays in future without the consent of the executive committee; to ask Woodhorn branch for further particulars as to the reason for men working on Sundays, who were claiming the war wage for that day each week ; to pay lock-out benefit to men idle at Walker owing to the closing of the pit and refusing to accept work in the shipyards at wages less than those paid to other miners under the National Service scheme. The men’s sides of the minimum wages boards in the Northumberland and Durham coal trade decided, at a conference in Newcastle on Saturday to appoint a com- mittee for the drafting of proposed amendments to the existing rates and rules obtaining in the two counties. These rates and rules are, at present, almost identical and the systems of working are very much the same. It is stated that the miners of the two counties are much dis- satisfied with the operation of the Minimum Wage Act locally, and contend that they are unfairly treated as com- pared with their fellows in other large coal-mining districts. Mr. Harry Dack says, in his quarterly circular to the members of the Cleveland Miners’ and Quarrymen’s Asso- ciation : “ One of the first questions the miners will be involved in after the war will be the construction of a new Minimum Wage Act, when it is hoped that many of the so-called safeguards, which might be better termed irksome conditions, will be removed, and when, what is more impor- tant, it is hoped that the new Bill will be wide enough in scope to take in all mine workers, whether above or below ground. For all other purposes, our surfacemen are subject to all the governing principles of our industry, and I fail to see how Parliament or any other authority can justify themselves in excluding surface workers at the mines from the operation of the Mines (Minimum Wage) Act. Then there is the question of an eight hours’ day for surfacemen; a new and improved Workmen’s Compensation Act; the establishment of definite and improved base rates for all classes of men employed in and about the mines; the establishment of an annual holiday for each workman and boy, with full wages paid ; a more generous old age pension for our worn-out comrades, to commence, say, at 60 years of age instead of 70, and to pay 10s. per week at least. These and many other ques- tions will invite your attention, and it rests with working men, very largely, as to whether they are to be longer delayed or to be an early realisation.” Scotland. Aitkenhead Colliery, in the Rotherglen district of Glasgow, has been closed, and over 200 men have been thrown out of employment: A singular state of matters has arisen in the Gartshore district of Dumbartonshire. The miners there have refused to pay a war wage to the checkweighers, and the latter have refused to work unless it is conceded. The extra cost of explosives, where large quantities are used by the miner, has been under discussion at Armadale Colliery, West Lothian. The management has agreed to pay an increased rate, equivalent to the additional charges for explosives. The miners employed at Broomrigg Colliery, Denny - loanhead, have been on strike since April 2 over the question of contracting for coal getting in common places. A conference has been arranged. The Coal Controller has forwarded a communication to the executive of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union, in which several proposals are made for the settlement of disputes between the management and the workmen before idle time takes place. At quite a number of collieries in Lanarkshire similar machinery to that suggested by the Controller for obviating idle time is at present in operation with satisfactory results. At a conference of Midlothian and Haddingtonshire miners’ delegates, the reports showed that the coal industry was exceedingly active. Large orders were booked from manufacturers, mill owners, and other large users. There was considerable disappointment, particu- larly at two collieries, that working had frequently to be suspended for the afternoon shift, with consequent loss of output and diminished earnings. The wagon supply was satisfactory over the district generally. METROPOLITAN COAL PRICES. The Controller of Coal Mines has issued an Order, dated March 22, in which additions are made to the Order of January 21 regarding the maximum prices of coal in the Metropolitan Coal Distribution area. The additions are specified below :— Schedule A. Is. 6d. per ton ; Id.per cwt. Deptford M.B., in respect of such portion of the borough as lies south of the New Cross-road and Lewisham High-road. Schedule C. 6d. per ton. Lewisham M.B., in respect of Blackheath only. Is. per ton. Godstone R.D., in respect of such part of the district of Whyteleafe as may be determined by the local coal overseer. Footscray U.D.. in respect of Black Fen-road. Also Id. per cwt. additional to trolley price only in respect of best selected house coal and Silkstone or seconds house coal supplied in Dartford U.D., Dartford R.D., Bexley U.D. 2s. Id. per cwt. (maximum). Parish of St. Paul’s Cray, Orpington (except the Carnwell Wood Estate, Chelsfield Lane, Petting Grove and Skeet Hill, which must not exceed 2s. 4d. per cwt.) 2s. 2d ( maximum). St. Mary Cray, North Cray, Farnborough, Mot ting- ham. 2s. 3d. per cwt. Heston (except Leaves Green, which must not exceed 2s. 6d. per cwt.), Hayes, West Wickham, Knockholt. 2s. 4d. per cwt. Downe, Chelsfield. 2s. Sd. per cwt. Cudham, The above maximum prices apply to all coal included in the class best kitchen, best cobbles or best nuts, or t<> coal in any superior class. Where a single load delivered to one consumer exceeds 10 cwt., the prices above are to be reduced by Id. per cwt. Add to Clause 14. The price of coke loaded into sacks or in bulk into purchaser’s vehicle at a works or depot, other than the works or depot at which the coke is manufactured shall not exceed 33s 4d. per ton. For 281b. loose collected at a shop (distinct from a place at which it is manu- factured), 7d.; 141b., 3^d.; 71b., 2d. Notes from the Coal Fields. • [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. Miners' Conference on the Comb-out—Rush to the Colours —Managers Fined for Defective Lamps—Allocation Scheme—Large Shipments of Patent Fuel. The conference of delegates of the South Wales Miners’ Federation to deal with the question of the comb-out took place in Cardiff to decide “ whether the Federation is to exercise any form of supervision over the workmen called up for military service under the comb-out.” The number of delegates exceeded 300, and they represented 153 members. Upon the motion that the recommendation of the council be accepted, and that supervision by the Federation be exercised, the card vote showed 2,273 votes for, with 763 against—the majority in favour therefore being 1,510. In this card vote each card represented 50 members, so that upon membership the figures are 113,650 for, 38,150 against—this being a majority of 75,500 for. It was decided that the scheme for selection of quota for each colliery should be relegated to the Federation execu- tive. A resolution was passed urging the Government to seize every opportunity for securing peace “ upon the broad lines laid down in the Labour Party’s memoranda on war aims.” The executive council met after the conference had con- cluded, and were addressed by Major Roberts, from the National Service office, he attending the meeting by invita- tion, and as a result of this interview the executive urges all workmen to observe arrangements which are designed. About 10,000 men represent the quota from South Wales, and inasmuch as voluntary enlistment is taking place so freely the question has arisen whether these will be reckoned as part of the 10,000. As a result of further consultation with National Service representatives, the miners’ executive have issued ’instruc- tions to lodge secretaries for their guidance during the comb-out. The enlistment of colliers in anticipation of the comb- out has been still further marked during the past few days —the larger centres, such as Cardiff and Newport, being the scene of what recalls the earlier days oi the war. From all parts of the coalfield young men have been sur- rendering their certificates of exemption, and enlisting on the spot—all parts of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan being represented. The officials at the recruiting offices have been practically overwhelmed, the young men not having waited to be called up even for medical examination. Lord Treowen, who is director for National Service for the Welsh region, has expressed high appreciation of the decision of the miners in reference to the comb-out. He declares that it will be “ an inspiring message to the whole country and an encouragement to those who are fighting the greatest battle of our history.” The cases at Caerphilly Court wherein the Home Office prosecuted the present and the former managers, also the under-manager and lampman, at Llanbradach • Collieries, in regard to the issue of lamps which were alleged to be defective, came on again at a special sitting, Mr. Dyer Lewis, divisional mines inspector for South Wales, having laid the information. In all there were 19 summonses, and the charges were that different defendants had failed to counter-sign the book in which returns were made, that they had allowed safety lamps to be used without prior examination, that a proper record had not been kept as to a man taking out a lamp, and that reasonable means had not been taken, by publication, to enforce the section dealing with safety lamps. . Some defendants were on one charge and some on the others. The manager stated in evidence that he disagreed with the workmen’s examiners in rejecting lamps as unfit, and that this was a matter wherein litigation was now pending; but rather than have any stoppage of the colliery he had got new lamps. The former manager was fined £4 on each of four counts—<£20 in all—with five guineas costs; the present manager £5 on each six counts, with 10 guineas costs ; whilst two under- managers and the lampman were fined £5 each. At the meeting of the Rhondda Council a resolutioii was passed that the Legal and Parliamentary Committee should be instructed to make enquiry respecting the estab- lishment of suitable industries in the distrct. Councillor W. Cooke, of Blaenavon, miners’ agent, is leaving the district to undertake duties in the Coal Con- troller’s Department, London; and Councillor W. C. Watkins has been nominated to succeed him in the district. Owing to the large number of voluntary enlistments of miners it has become necessary to set up special medical boards in South Wales, and on Saturday Dr. B. Edwards, the Commissioner for Medical Service, was in consultation with Major Roberts, Deputy Director of Recruiting, with regard to the arrangements that were necessary for dealing with the rush of men. Nominally, the coal allocation scheme came into opera- tion on Monday, and a circular was issued by the Coal