May 24, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

1059

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

House, Coal Prices—A Railway Wagon Case—Colliery
Assessments—The Zone System—Effect of Holiday.

The Coal Controller has before him a request to permit
an increase of the price charged for house coal, this being
now 9s. per ton above pre-war rates at pit’s mouth. It
is noticeable that consumers are ordering and stocking
coal, the suggestion as to probable rationing being the
cause. If, as the President of the Board of Trade has
indicated, both industries and householders are to have
limitation of supply next winter, with a priority depart-
ment to regulate deliveries, after due consideration of
alternative power (gas or electricity), the desired end
would be best attained through local committees, whose
close acquaintance with special conditions would ensure
fairer treatment all round. A loss of 40,000 men from
South Wales mines entails reduced output to the amount
of at least one million tons per month; and men are still
being drawn, so that the reduction will be even greater.
Seeing the very large proportion that has to be diverted
for Navy and general shipping use, as well as for Allies’
service, it is obvious that household needs in the district
will be seriously affected; and the point at the moment
is whether production at to-day’s prices is remunerative.

Mr. H. G. Lewis was before the Cardiff Police Court,
last week, to answer charges by the Ministry of Munitions,
there being ten summonses in all. It was stated that,
without obtaining any permit, he had been letting out
railway wagons on hire, and that since the commencement
of the war the number of wagons of which he was owner
had apparently been steadily increasing. The Ministry
of Munitions were stated to regard this as a serious case
because an Order had been made for the purpose of con-
trolling wagons, so that a shortage should not arise, and
so that the Department might ensure having wagons for
conveyance of war material. There was also the purpose
of controlling the price of hire, seeing that the more intense
the shortage, the greater would be the hire charge. In
some cases the wagons had been re-let at an enhanced
rate. Six cases were investigated, and evidence tendered
in proof that no permits relating to them had been issued.
For the defence. Sir Ellis Griffith, K.C., M.P., contended
that the words in the regulation, “ buy, sell, or deal in,”
were not intended to relate to hire, but the stipendiary
magistrate took a contrary view, holding that there had
been dealing within the meaning of the Order, and
dealing after defendant had been notified that a permit
was required. He imposed a fine of £100. Only one case
was adjudicated upon, because the Public Prosecutor’s
certificate authorised proceedings in one case alone, and
the stipendiary considered that he had no jurisdiction in
the others.

Some strong statements were made at the meeting of
the Merthyr Board of Guardians on Saturday concerning
the assessment of collieries. One of the members of
the assessment committee declared that the assessment of
collieries was a public scandal. The statement was made in
reference to a recommendation that the Board would
authorise the engagement of a valuer, so that certain
collieries might be re-valued, and this the Board of
Guardians decided should be done.

Lord St. David’s has addressed a meeting of coal ex-
porters, colliery proprietors, shipowners and others . at
Cardiff, and a similar meeting at Swansea, in connection
with the scheme for providing employment for ex-officers
of the Army. He described in detail the plans of the
central committee in London, and his suggestions were
very cordially received, it being decided to appoint a local
committee to co-operate With the central organisation.
Expert advice will be at the service of this central com-
mittee, representatives of colliery proprietors and others
being associated, so that the applicants for employment
may be weeded out and distribution made according to
their qualifications and ability. The local committee will
have selected names sent down to them, so that they may
make choice of such as may appear suitable.

Full instructions have now been issued by the District
Coal and Coke Supplies Committee under the scheme for
supplying South Wales coal to the south-western area of
England upon, the zone system. The design is to relieve
railway traffic to a greater extent by the carriage of coal
in small vessels across the Bristol Channel. The south-
western counties are divided into six zones, and in each
of these there will be a representative who is a coal
retailer. To him all orders will have to be sent, and
he will forward the order through the proper channel to
the central office in Cardiff, which will deal with all
deliveries in conjunction with the Coal and Coke Supplies
Committee. Household orders will be executed in train
loads from individual collieries in order to effect economy
of transport, and the old practice of forwarding rela-
tively small quantities separately will be abandoned.
Railway and Government needs are excluded from the
scheme. There will be a uniform price of 25s. per ton
at the pit’s mouth for all South Wales, and Monmouth-
shire household coal, this price becoming operative as
from June 1.

At Pontypridd, on Wednesday, the agent and the
general manager of the Cambrian Collieries, with a
number of hitchers and winders, were charged, at the
instance of the Home Office, with not using signals at
all times in connection with the winding. The employers
were legally represented, as also were the winders, also
the banksmen and hitchers. Before the case was gone into,
Mr. Porcher (who represented the latter) asked for an
adjournment in order that his clients might explain to
the authorities the reason for their action. The same
signals would be used when men were in the cage as
when coal was raised, and the men, who had been work-
ing for twenty years, considered that the change would
be dangerous. The Bench refused adjournment at this
stage, and the prosecuting solicitor read Regulation 92,
which had occasioned the difficulty. This came into force
in 1914, and he said that the men had threatened to
stop work if the new regulation were carried out. Mr.
Dyer Lewis, H.M. inspector, in his evidence stated that
the officials at the Cambrian Collieries objected to the
new regulation as to signals, they considering the old
code to be safer. An adjournment for two months was
decided upon, so that defendants might carry out the
regulations.

The fine weather of this week, encouraging absence from
work, has led the colliers to abstain beyond the agreed
two days, and the return on Tuesday night and Wednes-
day was much below expectation. The numbers who
attended at the pits ranged from one-half to three-fourths
of the normal. As a consequence, the supplies both for
home and foreign account have been very meagre, ships
being so seriously detained that the District Coal and
Coke Supplies Committee had to take prompt steps for
affording relief. A circular was received by colliery

owners and exporters on Wednesday, pointing out the
necessity of curtailing home deliveries in order that ex-
port requirements should be better met. Individual con-
sumers of house coal are no longer to be served with
whole truck loads, and retailers will sustain 10 per cent,
reduction at once, whilst 20 per cent, will be the re-
duction in June, as compared with the corresponding
period- of last year. Demand for industrial purposes is
also to be supervised with a view to restriction.

Northumberland and Durham.

Compensation Case—Question of Supplementary Rations—
Miners’ Relief Fund,—Criticism Regarding Output—
Decisions of Northumberland Miners’ Association.

At Consett County Court the claim of Mary Jane Connor
for compensation in respect of the death of her husband
Robert, employed as a timber drawer in the Beamish Air
Pit of Messrs. Jas. Joicey and Company Limited was
heard. It appeared that Connor sustained a rupture at
work in June 1915, in respect of which he had received
compensation for 20 weeks, then commencing light work.
He continued for some time, when it was found necessary
for him to be operated on for hernia. The operation was
successful, but the anaesthetic caused irritation internally,
and he died from bronchial pneumonia. For respondents,
it was argued that death did not result from the accident
in the pit. Judge Bonsey found for respondents, without
costs.

A meeting of the Joint Food Control Committee for Ann-
held Plain, Stanley and Tanheld tackled the question of
the classification of mine workers in respect of their claims
to supplementary rations, and found the question very
difficult of decision. Ultimately, however, it was agreed
that all underground workers should be put into Class F
(entitling them to the additional allowances), and that of
the surface workers the following should be so classified :
Banksmen, stone teamers, blacksmiths, strikers, sawyers,
pug-millers, joiners and masons. The advisability of
placing other classes of heavy workers in Class F was
referred to the Food Commissioners.

The Northumberland and Durham Miners’ Permanent
Relief Fund, which, established in 1862, is the oldest
such organisation in the country, and is far and away
the largest, continues to flourish. The annual report, just
issued, shows a membership of 166,441. The income for
1917 was £239,595, of which the contributions of members
accounted for £220,704 (as compared with £188,922 for
the previous year), interest, etc., for £18,816, and honorary
subscriptions and donations for only £73. The total outlay
for benefits and management was £215,381, leaving a
credit balance for the year of £24,213. The society has
an accumulated capital of £484,950. During the year fatal
accidents to members numbered 257, leaving 171 widows
and 298 children chargeable to the fund. The number of
non-fatal accidents constituting charges on the fund was
22,638, as against 31,962 in 1916. Of the 22,638, “ perma-
nently disabled ” benefit was accepted by 597, as against
567 in 1916. The number of members superannuated
during the year was 840, as against 620. At December 31
last there were 1,722 widows, 56 guardians, 1,779 children,
1,773 disabled, and 6,123 superannuated persons perma-
nently on the fund, a total of 11,453, as against 11,484
a year before. The report of the National Insurance De-
partment of the fund shows that there is an ordinary
membership of 67,522, and an Army membership of 20,404,
a total of nearly 88,000. During the year £39,451 has
been disbursed for sickness, £14,987 for disablement, and
£10,422 for maternity cases. The annual meeting in con-
nection with the fund is to be held in Newcastle on
Saturday, June 1.

The lodges of the Northumberland Miners’ Association
have elected the following to represent the association on
the board of governors of the Northumberland Aged
Mineworkers’ Homes Association : Wm. Straker, Burt
Hall, 353 votes; Wm. Weir, Burt Hall, 349; G. E.
Middleton, Mickley, 311; J. S. Dunigan, New Delaval,
219; J. McCowie, Prestwick, 219; J. Carr, North Wal-
bottle, 205; and D. Marshall, Woodhorn, 166. The
runners-up were: G. W. Shield, Haltwhistle, 98; and
G. H. Warne, Woodhorn, 73.

All doubt as to the miners’ attitude towards the Parlia-
mentary representation of the Wansbeck Division has
been set at rest by the nomination of Mr. Ebenezer
Edwards—better known throughout the mining community
as “ Eb ” Edwards—as Labour candidate in opposition
to Mr. Robert Mason, shipowner, the Coalition nominee.
Mr. Edward’s selection was decided upon last Saturday
at a meeting of the Wansbeck Labour Representation
Committee in Newcastle.

At the annual meeting the Council of the Northumber-
land Miners’ Association, the secretary (Mr. Wm. Straker),
at the request of the Coal and Shipping Controllers,
brought before the meeting the necessity of increasing
the output of coal in order to meet national needs. He
stated that there were at present more ships waiting for
coal cargoes than the coal output could accommodate,
and a larger production was requisite. Some of the dele-
gates had complained that all the coal possible was not
being got out of the mines, that , the management of the
collieries might do more to secure greater output, and
that, notwithstanding the demand for coal, a number of
collieries had been idle recently. The speaker had com-
municated these criticisms to the Coal Controller, and
intimated that if lodges had any further complaints on
these matters they should communicate them to him. The
following committees were appointed : Management.—
A. Walton, New Delaval; Eb. Edwards, Ashington;
A. Kinghorn, Barrington; W. Reavley North Seaton;
R. Browell, Blucher; G. Campbell, Woodhorn; H. Dunn,
West Wylam; and W. Ogle, Algernon; the three first-
named to form the Finance Committee. Wages.—G. W.
Shield, South Tyne; J. Chapman, South Benwell; G. E.
Middleton, Mickley; G. H. Warne, Woodhorn; J. Carr,
North Walbottle; R. J. Taylor, Plenmellor; J. Rigg,
Wallsend; W. Dent, North Seaton; J. S. Dunigan,
New Delaval; P. McKay, Algernon; and W. Tap-
son, Ashington; the six first-named to constitute
the men’s side of the joint committee. Trustees.—
G. E. Middleton, Eb. Edwards, J. Chapman, W. Bain-
bridge (Bebside), G. Campbell, P. McKay, J. S.
Dunigan and R. Allan (Burradon). Mr. Straker was re-
elected to represent the association on the executive com-
mittee of the Miners’ Federation. The agenda of motions
(printed in detail on p. 955 of the issue of the Colliery
Guardian for May 10) was then tackled. The council
decided in favour of increased pay for Sunday work,
weekly payments on Fridays, short shifts for night
workers at week-ends and on the eve of holidays, the
reinstatement at pits of miner students, the extension of
the Eight Hour and Minimum Wage Acts to surface
workers, increased compensation allowances, a Labour
holiday on the first working day in May, the nationali-
sation of mines, railways and waterways, strikes without
ballot votes if necessary, the abolition of piece-work in
mines, the inclusion of deputies in the association, and the
complete State maintenance of orthopaedic centres.

At recent meetings of the executive committee of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association it has been decided
further to postpone the taking up of the Ebbw Vale
mining scholarships until more normal times; to inform
Sleekburn branch that they have no power to compel the
colliery manager to allow them to see the books con-
taining the names of surface workers, but to advise the
branch to ascertain, if possible, from other sources who
the non-unionists amongst these workers are; to take legal
opinion as to the right to a claim for damages of a North
Walbottle member who had his hand injured by the
explosion of a detonator which was among his house coal
and exploded as he lifted it out irom among coal just put
on the fire in the grate; that as, under a decision of the
Miners’ Federation, the association is allowed to contest (
three seats in its area under Federation auspices, the asso-
ciation should nominate a miners’ representative for
Hexham Division in addition to Morpeth and Wansbeck;
and to agree with Pegswood branch that the committee
of the local Mineworkers’ Federation should raise the
question of colliery doctors’ fees at the end of the war.

Yorkshire.

A dispute at the Bentley Colliery, Doncaster, over the
non-combing out of men who had gone to the pit since
the outbreak of the war, which had led to over 2,000
miners being idle for eight days, was settled on Tuesday.
Post-war employees at the pit up to 42 years of age are
to receive 14 days’ notice, except discharged soldiers.

Notts, and Derbyshire.

A meeting was held at Mansfield to consider the question
of the electrical centralisation scheme and the linking up
of Notts, and Derbyshire with the South Yorkshire scheme.
Mr. Gridley, chief electrical officer of the Ministry of
Munitions, addressed the meeting, which consisted mainly
of representatives of the coal, iron and steel interests. The
meeting elected a committee to present a scheme of elec-
trical supply for the district, having regard to the Coal
Conservancy Committee’s report. It was also decided to
engage an expert to draw up a report. The committee
consists of Messrs. C. P. Markham, J. P. Houfton, E. M.
Jackson, F. E. Seely, A. Balfour and Fox.

The Midlands.

Mr. N. R. H. MacGowan, a North Staffordshire mining
engineer, is the recipient of several handsome presents from
the firemen and workpeople of the Norton Colliery. He is
relinquishing the position of agent and manager to take up
another appointment.

Great difficulty is being experienced by the coalowners in
the Black Country district of Staffordshire to make
deliveries adequate to the needs of the iron trade of the
district, and ironmasters are complaining that considerable
quantities of coal are being consumed at date for purposes
of far less urgency than national needs. Staff ordshire
manufacturers who are suffering from prevailing deficien-
cies are agitating for a properly organised allocation of
the manufacturing fuel output from the Black Country
mines. Already some Staffordshire iron works are assured
of more regular supplies than others of coal and slack by
the granting of priority certificates.

Kent.

The second debenture holders of the East Kent Colliery
Company (Tilmanstone Colliery) at their special meeting
approved, by 49 votes to 10, a resolution accepting the
offer of Messrs. Schneider and Company, of the Creusot
armament works, France, to purchase the £75,000 of
unissued second debentures at £105 per £100. A poll was
demanded, but our correspondent learns that it is not
likely to vary the decision arrived at at the meeting.
Some interesting facts in support of the proposal were
mentioned by Col. Standen, who said he had obtained
special leave from the front to attend the meeting and
“put in a word for France.” He said the position in
France was desperate, because 68 per cent, of the coal,
78 per cent, of the coke ovens, and 90 per cent, of the
iron ore of that country are in the hands of the Germans.
France was in need of coal, and the East Kent Colliery
Company were in a position to help the French and at
the same time help themselves.

The output of coal from the Tilmanstone and Snowdown
Collieries last week was about 5,200 tons.

The sinking in the North Pit at Chislet Colliery, near
Canterbury, passed through a seam of coal during the
week, and from tests made of a quantity of this coal it
is reported to be very free burning and harder than the
seams at present being worked in the Kent coal field. This
seam, however, is not to be worked. There is a thicker
seam some 2Q ft. lower, proved by the advance borehole,
which will be reached within the next few days, and on
which a start will be made, but only, of course, in a
limited manner, as the South Pit will have to be con-
tinued down to the seam before working on an extensive
scale can be carried out.

Scotland.

At a council meeting of the Scottish Colliery Under-
Managers’ Association the following officials were
appointed :—President, Mr. Alan Forrest, Lanarkshire;
vice-president, Mr. J. Wilson, Ayrshire; organising secre-
retary, Mr. John Strachan, Lanarkshire. The draft agree-
ment arrived at between the representatives of the Asso-
ciation and the Coalowners’ and Mineral Oil Companies’
Associations was under consideration, and was remitted
back to the agents for alteration of a clause relating to
war bonus.

A deputation from the Scottish Miners’ Union will meet
the Coal Controller regarding the “ Billy Fairplay ” system
of weighing at Raith Colliery, Lochgelly. The complaint
is one of long standing.

The surface workers at the Fife collieries are dissatisfied
with their conditions of employment and wages, and have
again laid their grievance before the Miners’ Union.

The coal trade at Burntisland last week was specially
brisk. The output, 16,500 tons, was the largest weekly
output this year.

Production of Pig Iron.—According to statistics recently
issued in a Special Bulletin by the American Iron and Steel
Institute, the production of pig iron in the United States
in 1917 was 38,647,397 short tons, compared with 39,434,797
tons in 1916.

Exports of Pig Iron.—The Board of Trade returns indi-
cate a substantial decline this year in the exports of pig
iron, which totalled 39,995 tons during April, compared
with 57,738 tons in the corresponding month last year, and
82,976 tons in April 1916. In the four months ended April
30, the exports aggregated 154,720 tons, compared with
258,603 tons a year ago, and 332,881 tons two years ago.
The April imports of pig iron amounted to 15,351 tons,
valued at £309,887.