July 12, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

83

WAR WAGES AND SELLING CHARGES.

The Board of Trade has issued Directions, dated
July 5, relating to payments to be made to the Coal
Controller, and also to the wages to be paid to all
classes of colliery workers. These Directions state :

(1)	The owner of every coal mine to which the said
regulation is applied for the time being shall pay to
the Controller of Coal Mines the sum of 4s. per ton on
all saleable coal sold, delivered or otherwise disposed
of on or after June 30, 1918 (excluding coal consumed
at collieries and workmen’s customary allowance coal),
and in preparing and keeping the accounts of the mine
this payment shall be treated as an expense of the
business.

(2)	In respect of any work performed on or after
June 30, 1918, the owner of every coal mine shall pay
for account of the Board of Trade to all classes of
colliery workers who were before that date with the
consent of the Controller of Coal Mines in receipt of
a war wage of Is. 6d. and 9d. a day respectively, a war
wage of 3s. and Is. 6d. a day respectively, as authorised
by His Majesty’s Government, and shall charge the
same to the Board of Trade, and in preparing and
keeping the accounts of the mine this payment shall
not be treated as an expense of the business.

(3)	Accounts with reference to the aforesaid pay-
ments shall be stated and settled on September 30,
December 31, March 31, and June 30 in every year,
and the Controller of Coal Mines shall thereupon issue
his certificate as to the balance due by or to the Board
of Trade, and payment shall be made accordingly-
within seven days of the date of such certificate.

(4)	Failure to obey these directions is a summary
offence against the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

Colliery proprietors have been notified by the Con-
troller that there is a necessity in the national interest
to prevent any avoidable increase in the price of coal.
He desires that where royalties are based on the selling
price of coal the colliery proprietors will endeavour
to arrange with the royalty owners to forego (without
prejudice to their legal rights) any increase in the
royalties consequent upon increase in coal prices; and
it is stated that this consideration applies with par-
ticular force to increases imposed in October 1917 and
July 1918, which amounts in all to 4s. per ton to meet
the cost of the miners’ war wage—these increases in
selling prices having been authorised solely to meet
increased working costs caused by the special war wage.

The Coal Controller has issued a new scale of maxi-
mum prices in the Metropolitan Fuel Distribution
Area, a copy of which is appended:

1.	The maximum prices of coal per ton, shown in
Article 2 of the rules of January 21, 1918, shall be
increased by 5s. 6d.

2.	The reduction in the maximum prices of coal
per ton supplied for resale to licensed coal retailers or
registered coal dealers set out in paragraph 1 of Article
4 of the rules of January 21, 1918, shall be increased
to 5s.

3.	The maximum trolley prices of coal per cwt., set
out in Article 6 of the rules of January 21, 1918, shall
be increased by 4d.

4.	The maximum prices of gas coke delivered shall
be: Unbroken 2s. 3d. per cwt., 44s. per ton; broken
2s. 4d. per cwt., 45s. 8d. per ton.

These increases shall come into force on and from
July 8, 1918, and will apply fo all coal and gas coke
delivered on and from that date.

THE AMERICAN COAL TRADE.

The Coal Age (June 15) points out that only by full
time operation will the mines be enabled to furnish the
minimum of 631,000,000 net tons of soft coal necessary
to keep war industries going and warm the homes
during the coming year. To secure this output it would
be necessary to maintain an average weekly production
of more than 12,000,000 net tons. This tonnage has
not been produced in any single week during the history
of the bituminous coal mining industry. In the week
ended June 1 the output fell considerably more than
one million tons below this average, only 10,774.000
net tons being mined.

So far as trade conditions are concerned, dealers
are making deliveries as fast as they can and
generally are bare of stocks. Demand for all grades
of coal is greater than the supply. The labour question
seems to be the main disturbing factor to maximum
anthracite production. Not only has the anthracite
industry lost more than 32,000 men since America
entered the war, but the military draft is continually
making further inroads. It is hard to see how the
necessary quantity of anthracite can be produced with
the labour force that is now available.

It is evident that two things are essential to a solu-
tion of the coal problem—intensive production and
the strictest kind of conservation.

Bituminous receipts in Boston show a falling off. The
submarine threatenings have a marked effect upon the
movement of coal coastwise. For days at a time
the ports have been closed, and there is talk of
systematic convoy for all coal carriers. Such a practice
would slow up deliveries, and the efficiency of units now
in use would be much impaired. It is expected that
submarine activities off the coast will soon subside.

Production and shipments of Connellsville coke
continue at about the same rate as for six or seven
weeks past, about 340,000 tons a week. The market
remains quotable at 6 dols. for furnace, 7 dols. for
foundry, 72 hour selected, and 7’30 dols. for crushed,
over 1 in., per net .ton at ovens.

The sulphuric acid plant at the Newport Ironworks,
Middlesbrough, was destroyed by fire last Saturday,
damage being done to the extent of several thousands of
pounds.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

TLocal Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Assessment Appeal—Gift of <£10,000—New Fuel Order—
Mine Owners Fined—Memorial to Lord Bhondda—
Alleged Breaches of Coal Mines Act—Ambulance
Competition.

At Glamorgan Sessions Nixon’s Navigation Company
appealed against the Assessment Committee of Pontypridd.
The colliery company owns three quarries, which since
1896 had been rated as part of the colliery—all the stone
from the quarry being used for colliery purposes. Pre-
vious to 1901 quarries were rated under the heading oi
■‘lands, workshops, and appurtenances.'7 Ln 1917, when
a number of rating appeals were dealt with, a general
arrangement was made whereby an increase oi 23^ per
cent, was made; and then, the overseers departed irom
the former arrangement, and rated the quarries separately
at £336 gross and £28u net. ihe appellants contended
that the quarries should be regarded as incidental and
necessary lor the working of the mines, and not be rated
separately; but on behalt of the respondents it was stated
that because some colliery companies owned quarries and
others did not it was only just that a distinction should be
made. After hearing expert evidence, the Court decided
that the separate assessment was properly made. On a
second point as to the amount of assessment the Court
decided that the quarries had been over-assessed, and that
reduction should be made to £197 gross and £148 ratable.
No order was made as to costs in the case. -

There was a further appeal before the Court in regard
to the Abergorky Pit, a new sinking; and as to this it
was agreed that the assessment should be £150 gross and
£30 ratable. No order as to costs.

The initial gift of £10,000 by Mr. Seymour Berry
(director of u. Davies and Sons, Gwaun-cae-gurwen,
1N orths, and other colliery companies) in order to provide
a technical training college for Merthyr has been quickly
followed, for it is now stated that Messrs. Guest, Keen
and Co. have subscribed £12,000 towards the same object.

The local authorities of South Wales and Monmouth-
shire have received from Mr. Finlay Gibson, secretary of
the Coal and Coke Supplies Committee, a statement oi the
conditions which will govern the supply of house coal
during the three months ending September. It is under-
stood that the new Household Fuel and Lighting Order,
although applicable from July 1, cannot take practical
effect for at least three months, and the arrangements now
outlined for that period by the local supplies committee
have received the approval of the Controller. These pro-
vide that colliery companies must supply merchants with
30 per cent, less in July and in August than in the cor-
responding months in 1917, and in September next 25 per
cent, less than in September last year. The deliveries of
merchants for retail purposes are cut down in equal pro-
portions ; and merchants are under obligations, as far as
possible, to supply the same householders as in the 1917
corresponding periods. If they have been drawing sup-
plies from districts other than South Wales and Mon-
mouthshire, they will continue entitled to the monthly
quantities allocated to them at the latter end of 1917 sub-
ject to the monthly reductions of 30 per cent, for July and
August and 25 per cent, for September. The maximum
deliveries are those laid down in the Household Fuel and
Lighting Order; and in these new local conditions it is
provided that merchants must not deliver more than two
tons to any house within a period of two months, or
basket men or hawkers more than 3 cwt. in any week to
the same householder. In certain exceptional cases truck-
load orders may still be executed within the restrictions
of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, but in ordinary
cases such truckloads cannot be delivered to private
individuals without the sanction of the committee.

The proprietors of the Argoed Colliery, Pontrhydyfen,
were summoned at Aberavon on Monday for not having
furnished certain accounts for the three months ending
1917 and for January and February of the current year, *
as required by the Coal Controller’s Order. The prosecu-
tion has been instituted by the Controller, and the defence
was that the office had been unable to supply the informa-
tion owing to depletion of staff. A further summons was
for failing to furnish particulars of pre-war profits. A
fine of £50 in each case was imposed, with £20 costs.

The Council of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce met on
Tuesday to consider the raising of a memorial to Viscount
Rhondda, who had been connected for nearly 40 years
with the South Wales coal trade. A committee (to con-
sist of all the members of the Council) was decided upon.

The Cedfyw Colliery Company, Glamorgan, with the
manager of the colliery, were called upon at Aberavon on
Monday to answer 17 summonses for alleged breaches of
the Coal Mines Act. Colonel Pearson, H.M. inspector,
stated that the report book was not counter-signed, that
there was no means of reversing the air currents, that
there were no man-holes, that he found a blind horse being
worked, and two horses in an unfit state. The prosecu-
tion was conducted upon only ten of the summonses, and
in a statement for the defence admission was made as to
technical offences, and it was stated that the colliery
worked only about 50 tons a day. The Bench convicted the
defendants, and imposed fines and costs amounting to £41.

The annual competition for the challenge cup, presented
by Mr. Godfrey James, M.E., and the medals given by
Mr. Godfrey E. Jones, Snatchwood, took place at the
Ambulance Hall* Pontypool, on Saturday. The competi-
tion has always been open to all ambulance teams in the
Pontypool and Abersychan districts, and invariably proves
an event in which colliery proprietors, officials, and work-
men take an interest. The Pontypool first team were
adjudged the winners, and having for the third successive
year secured the cup, the trophy becomes their own.

Proprietors of industrial undertakings in the Monmouth-
shire Eastern Valleys invested substantial amounts in
War Bonds on Tank Day. The tank “ Egbert ” raised
£109,309 in the district of Pontypool and Panteg (the
quota being £50,000), £81,674 in Abersychan (quota,
£30,000), and £77,000 in Blaenavon (quota, £30,000). At
Cwmbran, although no tank visited the place, the quota of
£35,000 was exceeded by £7,000. The total at the last-
named town included the following amounts : Messrs.
J. C. Hill and Company £10,000, and their employees
£1,600 ; Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, £6,000 ; and
Messrs. The Star Brick Works Company £1,000. The
Blaenavon Company Limited invested £5,000 and the Com-
mittee of the Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall £1,200.

It is estimated that anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 tons
per day in the output is the loss occasioned in South Wales
from influenza.

Northumberland and Durham.

Wages of Hewers—Parliamentary Candidates—Compen-
sation Cases—Question of Full Output.

Mr. Stanley Russell—son of the late Mr. Charles Russell,
for many years editor of the Glasgow Herald—who has
represented the coal-exporting firm of Messrs. Hull, Blyth
and Company Limited, of London, Cardiff, Newcastle,
etc., in South Wales and, more recently, on Tyneside, is
moving to the London office of the company.

Mr. John Cairns was called upon to state the men’s case
at the adjourned conference of representatives of the North-
umberland Miners’ Association and the county coalowners
for the consideration of rates of pay to hewers called upon
to do putters’ work in consequence of the scarcity of
putters resultant from the recent comb-outs. Already
local arrangements have been made at many collieries in
respect of such transfers, and negotiations are being con-
ducted elsewhere. At Saturday’s conference the miners
asked for a uniform rate of pay in respect of such trans-
ferred men, whilst the owners suggested that the matter
might be left to local arrangement. Ultimately, the
owners submitted certain proposals, which will be dis-
cussed by the miners’ executive, after which another
meeting will be held.

Mr. Thomas Neville, checkweighman at the Bewicke
Main Colliery, Birtley, has been unanimously adopted as
prospective Labour candidate for the Durham Parliamen-
tary Division.

The Miners’ Federation has endorsed the following local
Parliamentary candidatures, and has submitted them to
the Labour Party : Messrs. J. Lawson, Seaham; Harry
Dack, Cleveland; R. Richardson, Houghton-le-Spring;
J. Heriots, Sedgefield; W. Whiteley, . Blaydon; and J.
Batey, Spennymoor.

Mr. C. A. Nelson, agent of the Wallsend and Hebburn
Coal Company Limited, has been re-elected president of the
North of England branch of the Association of Mining
Electrical Engineers; Mr. J. P. Foster, of Messrs.
Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited, Leeholme, and
Mr. S. A. Simon, Blackhill, have been chosen as vice-
presidents and Mr. T. H. Day, Benton, again as secretary
and treasurer. The new committee is as follows : Messrs.
Jas. W. Bewick, Washington; L. H. Bickell, Ryton;
T. Davis, New Washington; W. Gilroy, Swalwell; F. T.
Hanks, Newcastle; F. E. Harris, New Brancepeth;'
G. W. N. Harrison, Wallsend; T. Paxton, Washington
Station; T. A. W. Smith, Blyth; J. Southern, Heworth;
and A. Lennox, Wallsend; with three others to be co-
opted by the committee. Mr. W. G. Guns, Newcastle, has
been elected as auditor. The president and secretary have
been chosen as representatives of the branch on the general
council of the association.

In his latest report, Mr. Jas. Robson, compensation
agent to the Durham Miners’ Association, refers to negotia-
tions respecting 10 fatal and 20 non-fatal cases; but the
only circumstance worthy of mention is that in connection
with a claim for compensation in respect of the death of
a 15-year-old driver, regarding which the owners offered
funeral expenses and the county court judge awarded £40,
Mr. Robson states : “ We felt that we were due to con-
siderably more than £6 or £10 funeral expenses, but the
owners thought otherwise, and as we, unfortunately, have
a large number of boys’ cases, we decided that the best
interest of our members would be served by having such
a case as this brought before the county court judge.”

In his monthly circular to the members of the Durham
Miners’ Association, Mr. T. H. Cann is inclined to
“hedge” regarding certain remarks made in his previous
letter to the miners, when he commented on the Coal Con-
troller’s request to the men to maintain their production
of coal, despite their depleted ranks. He states that he
did not actually resent the request, although he might
have done so, as it contained the inference that the miners
could do more than they were doing. He did, however,
suggest that, in addition to appealing to the men, some
attention might be devoted to the question whether the
management were, in every case, working their best and
most productive seams or districts of coal. That sugges-
tion was not intended to apply to Durham county alone.
Having been taken to task by the owners at a meeting of
the*Durham Mining Federation Board, he appeals to miners
who have the intimate knowledge of the local circumstances
which he cannot be expected to possess to furnish him with
sufficient data to enable him to prove that the opinion he
expressed was not grounded on imagination. only. In
the meantime, he declines to apologise, assuming that
“ the owners and those for whose management they are
responsible are not absolutely free from weakness that
is more or less inherent in human nature.” All of which
amounts to an admission that Mr. Cann cannot, “ off his
own bat,” justify his allegations against the owners and
managers, and must collect his evidence after he has
formulated his charge.

Cleveland.

Messrs. Hanson, Brown and Company Limited state, in
the July issue of the Middlesbrough Monthly Circular,
after having detailed the activity of the Cleveland pig
iron market during June, that “ Whereas, for months past
until quite recently, anxieties have centred mainly upon
delivery and not upon supply, there has been some little
concern during June with regard to output. This has not
been due to any decrease in the number of furnaces in
blast but to the situation created by the shortage of coke.
The effects of the comb-out at the collieries have been
widely felt and the reduced supplies of coking coal have,
of course, reacted upon the coke market.” The report
states that the supply of tonnage and trucks has greatly
improved, enabling deliveries to Allied and home con-
sumers to be undertaken much more easily. In the foreign
ore trade deliveries have continued to be satisfactory, and
consumers are, on the whole, fairly comfortably situated.
A moderate amount of new business has been put through.
A definite basis rate of exchange with Spain of 19-50 has
been officially arranged. The tendency of all prices at
the mines is still upward.

Mr. A. Varty, manager of the Liverton Mines of the
Cargo Fleet Iron Company Limited, has obtained an
important position with a Cumberland iron mining com-
pany. He will be succeeded at Liverton by Mr. Frank M.
Robinson, manager of the North Skelton mines of Messrs.
Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited.

Sir Hugh Bell, when addressing the shareholders of
Messrs. Bell Brothers Limited at the annual meeting stated
that at the company’s collieries the number of shifts lost
during the year 1917 through neglect was 4,774 and
through illness 9,364, a total of 14,138, and the total shifts
worked were 221,226. He wished he could speak in the
same terms as to the ironstone mines, where, whilst 160,553
shifts were worked, 14,012 were lost through neglect and
11,482 through illness, a total of 25,494. The loss in the
ironstone mines through neglect was estimated to amount
to 93,673 tons of stone, which meant about 30,000 tons
of ore. In spite of the very unfavourable conditions