June 28, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 1311 MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week June 16 to 22, 1918. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. 14° + 4h.-6h. 14° + 6h.-Sh. 14° + 8h.-10h. 14° + 10h.-12h. 14° + 12h.-14h. 14° + 14h.-16h. 14°+ 1 16h.-18h. 14° + 18h.-20h. 14° + 20h.-22h. 14° + 22h.-211i. 14° + Mean for day. 14° + Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Sun., June 16 1 50*5 48’0 49’0 46’5 46’0 51’0 55’0 54’5 52’5 49’0 49’0 47’5 50’0 Mon., ,, 17 1 47*5 18’5 48’5 46’5 47’0 52’5 56’0 55’5 53’5 51’0 51’5 49’5 50’5 Tues., ,, 18 0 50*0 50’5 47’5 45’5 48’0 53’0 55’5 54’5 53’0 51’5 51’0 51’5 51’0 Wed., „ 19 0 50’0 48’0 45’5 46’0 49’5 54’0 54’5 52’5 52’0 51’0 51’0 51’0 50’5 Thurp., ,, 20 0 51’0 50’0 46’5 45’0 - 48’5 53’5 55’5 54’5 51’0 49’5 I 50’5 48’5 50’5 Friday, „ 21 0 47'5 48’0 44’0 42’0 45’0 52’5 56’5 55’5 53’5 52’0 ! 51’5 52’0 50’0 Sat., „ 22 0 51*0 48’5 45’5 45’5 47’5 50’5 54’5 53’0 51’0 50’5 I 50’5 50’5 i 50’0 Mean value for Diurnal i n e- Ih. 2h. 3h. 4h. 5h. 6h. 7h. 8h. 9h. lOh. Uh. 12h. 13h. 14h. 15h. 16h. 17h. 18h. 19h. 20h. 21h. 22h. 23h. 24h. month. quality (i.e., Junel917 -1’2 -1'2 -1’4 -2’1 -3’8 -5’5 -6’5 -6’4 -4’9 -2’3 + 1’5 +4’7 + 6’5 +7’4 + 6’5 +4’7 + 2’8 +1’2 + 0’3 +0’4 + 0’2 +0’1 -0’2 -0’8 14° 59' ’7 JuneT7 departure from May 1918 -0-7 -DO -1’3 -2’2 -3’2 -4’4 —5’5 —5’3 -3’9 -1’1 + 2’5 +5’3 + 6’5 +6’3 + 4’8 +3’2 + 1’7 +0’4 -0’3 -0’4 -0’4 -0’2 -0’3 -0’5 14°51'’6 May’18 mean value for May 1917 —0’4 -0’2 -0’6 -1’3 -2’9 -4’5 -5’0 -4’9 -3’3 -1’0 + 2’6 +5’0 + 6’4 +5’8 + 4’0 +2’5 + 1’2 +0’1 -0’1 -0’4 -0 9 -0’9 -0’6 -0’8 15° O'’6May’17 day) 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 “ 0” declination at any hour will usually be within about o' of the normal. On a day of character 1” 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” 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 were obtained from measurements made after “ smoothing ” the curve. Meteorological Office, June 26. worked through the county association, with the aid of local delegates. An effort is to be made to resuscitate the shipbuilding industry at Maryport. We understand that negotiations were completed last, week, whereby the shipyard at Maryport has been let, and steel shipbuilding will be restarted as soon' as the necessary arrangements can be made. Some years ago the yard was successfully carried on by Messrs. Ritson, who built quite a number of fine sailing ships, which included several with a carrying capacity of from 2,500 to 3,000 tons. It was afterwards taken over by Mr. Wm. Walker, engineer, and later it was disposed of to an East Coast firm. Shortly after the war commenced it closed down again, and the news that it is to be restarted will be welcomed. It is a matter for surprise that the yard has been idle so long, more especially when the need of ships is so great. Yorkshire. The Bradford Board of Guardians have accepted the tender of Mr. Joshua Smith to supply house coals to the institutions during the next three months, and of Messrs. W. Fletcher and Co. to supply 1,000 tons of engine coal. A meeting of the Coal Merchants’ Section of the Brad- ford Chamber of Trade was held on June 20, under the chairmanship of Mr. Joshua Smith. On request by the United Carters’ and Motormen’s Union, it was decided that Mr. Edward Smith, with Mr. Abm. Fletcher as a deputy if required, should act for the Bradford coal mer- chants on a deputation which the union propose to send to the Minister of National Service on the decertification of coal carters up to 35 years of age. Mr. Fred. Pickering, hon. secretary of the Bradford Chamber and general organiser for the North of England under the Business Preservation Scheme of the National Service Department, informed the members that the tribunals intended that coal trade cases should pass through the hands of the coal trade panels, which must be appointed in each town. In the course of the meeting reference was made to the fact that the trade would very shortly be called upon to nominate a local supervisor under the forthcoming coal rationing scheme. At Bradford West Riding police court, on June 20, Thos. Henry Johnson, coal hurrier, Gildersome, was summoned for a breach of the Coal Mines Act by refusing to hurry for two miners at Greystone Colliery, Drighlington, with the result that they were thrown out of employment and the output was reduced by six tons. The proceedings were taken under section 75 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, the prosecution stating that their object was to maintain order in the mine. The defendant pleaded “guilty,” and Mr. G. E. B. Blakeley, of Dewsbury, conducting the case, said the owners of the colliery did not wish to press the case, in the hope that the man would do better in the future. The magistrates’ clerk disagreed with the section under which the case had been taken, holding that it might be a case for damages. The magistrates ordered defendant to pay the costs, and intimated that, on the legal point, they would communicate with the Home Office. An announcement at the annual meeting of Pease and Partners, by Mr. A. F. Pease, who presided, shows that there is still hope that the Thorne Moorends Colliery may one day become a great Yorkshire pit. It was, said Mr. Pease, at present impossible to proceed with the sinking as they could get neither materials nor labour. The adjoin- ing sinking, however, proved, as far as anything could, that they would not be disappointed in the seams of coal when they were able to complete the sinking. Thus, although it is now some nine or ten years since steps were first taken to establish a colliery on the eastern borders of the new South Yorks coalfield, there is still hope that after the war the many difficulties which had been encountered at Thorne will be surmounted. Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The Notts Miners’ Association, at its monthly meeting on Monday, passed a resolution condemning the action of the boys employed at Watnall Pit, who had caused 11 stoppages of the pit since Easter, pointing out that the grievances should first have been laid before the associa- tion, intimating to the management that the council were prepared to back them up in any action they might take, expressing the hope that the pit would promptly be re- opened so that the men and boys anxious to work should do so, whilst the names of the ringleaders responsible for the trouble should be taken with a view to reporting them to the military authorities. It was reported that a satisfactory settlement of the Cinder Hill price list had been arrived at. The question of the supply of coal to incapacitated miners having been referred to the owners’ association at the request of the New Hucknall and Ben- tinck collieries, and that “body had declined to deal with it on county lines, it was decided that a ballot be taken unless a settlement is come to. Out of five candidates, Mr. G. 8. Spencer was elected as a new official of the associa- tion. On Monday morning a fire broke out in the motor house at Sherwood Colliery, Mansfield, owing, it was supposed, to the fusing of electric wires. In view of potential danger, it was thought desirable to withdraw the men from the pit, which was speedily accomplished with complete safety. The outbreak was confined to comparatively narrow proportions, but a considerable amount of valuable timber was destroyed. The Midlands. . Problems connected with mining were discussed at a meeting of the South Staffordshire Colliery Under- Managers’ Association at Dudley on Saturday. The pre- sident observed that employers and officials should take steps to prepare for the return of normal times. They wanted to lay foundations that would be fair and reason- able. Mr. Henry Garratt (past president) spoke on “ The relationship of colliery under-managers and colliery fire- men in the working and management of mines.” He said that for many years he was an active member of the Miners’ Federation, but his experience had taught him that there came a time when one who was aspiring to become a mine official would find it very difficult and at times very unpleasant to continue an active member of a miners’ union. The fair and reasonable miners realised their position, and were sensible enough to appreciate their presence and assistance; but there were others who took the opposite view, and the attitude towards anyone holding an official position was such as to indicate that such a person was unwelcome. He had pointed this out to miners’ officials, and suggested that colliery under- managers’ associations should be formed in the district • but, notwithstanding many promises, nothing was done, so that it was left to the under-managers themselves. Since its formation the association had been a help and encourage- ment to the members. They had only been aggressive when forced to take up that attitude. The time was not far ahead when the firemen would have to consider how they stood in the matter of organisation. The last award to colliery workers was making matters peculiar for them, as it was stated that it did not include firemen. They should consider whether they ought not to form an asso- ciation on the lines of the under-managers. Kent. The quantity of coal raised at the Tilmanstone and Snowdown collieries last week totalled about 5,600 tons. At Chislet Colliery, near Canterbury, sinking is now going forward in the South Pit as well as in the North Pit, where a good seam of coal was recently passed through. Scotland, Mr. Joseph Young, J.P., who for the last 30 years has been identified with public affairs in the eastern part of Midlothian, has been chosen secretary of the Mid and East Lothian Miners’ Federation. Members of the Kilsyth, Gartshore and Kirkintilloch Miners’ Association have all decided against the Coal Con- troller’s proposal they should work 12 days, instead of 10 or 11, days per fortnight. The shipment from Burntisland Dock for the past week was 14,290 tons, being an increase of 1,370 tons over a year ago. Methil showed a decrease in output, the total being 72,845 tons, as against 29,191 tons in the previous week. The owners of Raith Colliery have agreed to abolish the antiquated method of weighing, and in future the men will be paid gross tonnage rates. At Dalkeith Colliery the winding rope broke while coals were being raised, and the cage crashed to the bottom, wrecking the shaft. The Government are now releasing miners of categories B 2 and B 3 stationed in the United Kingdom from the Army that they may return to the mines. The forms issued so far are only about one-third of the proper number for the Scottish mining districts; but as soon as the remain- ing forms have been printed they will be circulated to the various colliery branches. The ballot has been completed for the second quota of miners required for the Army. Calling-up notices have now been served on the larger proportion of the men chosen. A special conference of delegates of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union discussed the recruiting of the second quota of miners, a difficulty having arisen in regard to married men. It was decided to abide by the instructions originally issued by the Assistant Director of National Service at Motherwell and only those who were unmar- ried prior to November 2, 1915, will be taken. J. Hamilton, miner, Ferniegair, and T. Hamilton, miner, Hamilton, admitted a charge of having been found in possession of a pipe and matches in No. 1 pit, Ross Colliery. A fine of 40s., with the alternative of ten days’ imprisonment, was imposed on each. Oil in Papua.—A Committee which was recently ap- pointed to report on the possibility of obtaining oil in various parts of Australia and Papua has issued a recom- mendation that development and prospecting work should be prosecuted. The sum of £64,000 has already been spent in prospecting. The Committee also recommend that in- vestigations as to supplies of well oil throughout the Commonwealth, and that the shale of deposits of the Commonwealth should be developed without delay. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. At the Groesfaen Colliery some of the workmen have joined the General Workers’ Union; and the Federation executive have passed a resolution for the management to enforce the provisions of the non-unionist agreement that these men must connect themselves with the Miners’ Federation. On Wednesday between 300 and 400 employees put in their notice at the Great Western Company’s colliery, Lian twit Vardre, owing to dissatisfaction at delay in settling a price list. The executive council of the South Wales Enginemen and Stokers’ Association held a meeting in Cardiff on Wednesday and considered a report of the general secre- tary upon his interview with the Coal Controller. This matter will come up at the next half-yearly conference, shortly to be held, when the executive will also submit rules relating to the political fund. North of England. It having been stated that the miners at some of the collieries, mostly those in the Gosforth Park district, had decided, despite the plea of the Coal Controller, reinforced by that of the executive committee of the Northumber- land Miners’ Association, to take holiday as usual during the present week, the coalowners and the executive com- mittee of the Miners’ Association decided last Saturday that meetings should be held at the collieries on the follow- ing day, each to be addressed by a representative of the owners and a representative of the miners, urging the men to continue work. The speakers included : Cram- lington group, Mr. John Morison and Mr. John Cairns; Backworth, Mr. R. Spence and Mr. Wm. Straker; Burra- don and Hazelrigg, Mr. Glanville Reah and Mr. William Weir; Seaton Burn, Dinnington and West Moor, Mr. R. S. Barrett and Mr. W. Hogg; and Preston, Mr. R. Summer- bell and Mr. Ogle. It is probable that the usual annual demonstration of the Cleveland miners and quarrymen—fixed for July 3 this year—will not be held, arrangements having already been made for some of the miners, at least, to work on that day. It is understood that they will receive a bonus in consideration of foregoing their holiday. A dispute regarding the minimum wage at the Eden Colliery of the Consett Iron Company Limited, whereby 500 men and youths were laid idle for a week, was settled on Sunday, when the men, after having been addressed by three of the agents of the Durham Miners’ Association, resolved to resume work on Monday morning, the point in dispute to be the subject of negotiations with the employers. Under these circumstances, the employees at the company’s other collieries did not tender their notices, as had been their intention, on Monday. Negotiations between Messrs. F. O. Kirkup, P. E. Small- wood, and C. F. Scott, on behalf of the Consett Iron Company Limited, and representatives of the Eden Col- liery miners have resulted in* the dispute regarding the minimum wage being amicably settled, only minor details being left over for adjustment. Scotland. At Blackhill Colliery, Maryhill, friction has arisen because a squad of brushers have been refused payment of a war wage to which they allege they are entitled. The executive committee of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union has been asked to deal with the difficulty. At Rosehall Colliery, Coatbridge, the union have decided to make a claim for the reinstatement of a workman and to insist at the same time that the provisions of the Eight Hours Act shall be scrupulously observed at the pits. Representatives of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union and the coalowners held a conference in Glasgow to discuss the question of contracting for coal getting. A satisfac- tory arrangement was reached. At Handhill Colliery, West Lothian, complaint is made that the men are asked to fill what is known as “ cundie ” coal without additional payment. The management con- tend that the rate paid is sufficient for stripping the places and allowing fair wages to be earned. Bannockburn miners in the Stirlingshire area have agreed to fall in with the arrangements suggested by the Coal Controller in regard to holidays. On the other hand, the question of a working policy of 12 days per fortnight- will be referred to a ballot. A committee representing the Scottish coalowners and the Scottish Union of Mine Workers have held meetings recently in Glasgow to devise a scheme for preventing un- necessary loss of time at the collieries. Under the pro- visional scheme which has been adopted the miners are strongly recommended to endeavour to adjust their grievances locally before any idle time is taken. Where this proves ineffective the County Disputes Committee are to intervene. It is announced that the Japanese have virtually ac- quired control of the entire development and output of the rich Fenghuangshan iron mine near Nanking, which is estimated to contain 50,000,000 tons of iron ore.