346 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN August 16, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week August 4 to 10, 1918. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. 14°+ 4h.-6h. 14° + 6h.-8h. 14° + 8h.-10h. 14c + 10h.-12h. 14°+ 12h.-14h. 14° + 14h.-16h. 14° + 16h.-18h. 14° + 18h.-20h. 14°+ 20h.-22h. 14° + 22h.-24h. 14° + Mean for day. 14° + Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Sun., Aug. 4 0 48-5 47’5 45’0 <44’5 48*0 54*0 57’5 55*5 52*0 51*0 49*0 47’5 50’0 Mon., „ 5 1 47’0 45’5 44’5 44*0 47*5 54*0 57’5 54*0 50*5 47*0 47*5 48’0 49’0 Tues., ,, 6 0 49’0 47’0 42’0 42*5 48’0 53’0 58*5 55*0 49*5 48*5 47*5 47’0 49’0 Wed., „ 7 1 48*0 47’0 45*0 44*0 48’0 53*0 56*0 54*0 52*5 50*0 48*5 51’0 49’5 Thur?., ,, 8 1 48*5 47’5 46*5 45*5 47*5 52’5 58*0 55’5 50’5 47’5 48*5 - 44’0 49*5 Friday, „ 9 1 47’5 17*0 41’0 43’0 46’5 51*5 55*5 55*0 51*0 49*5 48*0 47’5 49’0 Sat., ,, 10 0 47’5 46’0 46*0 45’0 45’5 49’0 53’5 55*0 52’0 49*5 1 46*5 45’5 48’5 Mean value for Diurnal i n e- Ih. 2h. 3h. 4h. 5h. 6h. 7h. 8h. 9h. lOh. llh. 12h. 13h. I4h. 15h. 16h. 17h. 18h. 19h. 20h. 21h. 22h. 23h. 24h. month. quality (i.e., Aug.|1917 -1’5 -1’8 — 1*7 -2*2 —3’6 -4’8 -5’4 -5*3 -3*6 -1*0 + 3’0 +6*5 + 8*5 +8*1 + 6*0 +3*4 + 0*8 -0*5 -0*7 -0’7 -0*8 -1*0 -1*0 -0’8 14° 58'’3 Aug.’17 departure from July 1918 -1-1 -1-3 -2’0 -2*7 -3*9 -5*2 -5*2 -4*7 -3'4 -1*1 + 2’1 +4*9 + 6*3 +6*5 + 5*6 +4*2 + 2*5 +1*2 + 0*1 -0*4 -0*3 -0’5 -0’7 -0’9 14° 50' '4 July T8 mean value for July 1917 -0*2 -0’4 -0’3 -1*2 -3’3 -5’2 -6’5 -6*7 -5’6 -3’0 + 0’8 +4*6 + 7*1 +7*9 + 6*2 +3*9 + 1*7 0’0 -0*4 —0*1 + 0 2 +0’4 + 0’3 -0’1 l4°59'’lJulyT7 day) The day is counted from 0 h. (midnight) to 24. h. (mi (night) 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 “ 233 means a day p irt 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 “2.33 On a day of character “0 ” declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character “ 133 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 “ smoothing33 the curves. ■ Meteorological Office, August 14. We are endeavouring to establish within the next few weeks joint committees at all the collieries to lessen as far as possible unnecessary absenteeism, and the work' of those committees will not be confined merely to making enquiry as to why individual workmen are not attending regularly at the mines, but they will go fully into the question, when it arises, as to why loss of out- put takes place, whether it is through the fault of the workmen or the management. A Strong Appeal. We appeal to all our members to assist us in carrying out loyally the pledge which the executive committee gave to the Government that, so far as they were con- cerned, everything possible would be done to maintain and, if possible, to increase the output of coal, and, with this object in view, we would urge every miner to work every day on which the colliery is open for work, if health and circumstances permit. (Signed) Robert Smillie (president), Herbert Smith (vice-president), S. Roebuck, J. Hoskin, J. H. Cann, Wm. Whiteley, V. Hartshorn, J. Winstone, G. Barker, J. Tonner, S. Hynds, F Hall, C. Bunfield, S. Finney, M.P., J. A. Sutton, M.P., W. Cape, Wm. Buckley, Right Hon. Thomas Ashton (secretary), executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, August 8,1918. PRODUCTION OF FUEL OIL FROM HOME SOURCES. The report of the Committee appointed by the Minister of Munitions to consider the report rendered by the Petroleum Research Department on the pro- duction of fuel oil from home sources, states that the daily production of cannel coal is in the neighbourhood of 2,000 tons (not 12,700 tons, as foreshadowed in the Petroleum Research Department’s Report), and that practically the whole of this amount is sold mixed with other classes of coal oris sent to gasworks for gas enriching purposes. The cannel coal mined with and despatched from the collieries mixed with ordinary coal would have to be sorted, a process entailing time and labour. Increased output could only be obtained at the expense of the output of ordinary coal and the output of cannel coal per man would be less than the output of coal per man. To recover the “ jacks ” and “ batts,” additional labour would be required, which labour is not now available. It is considered, therefore, that the amount of cannel coal and kindred substances which could be obtained cannot be said to approach the figure mentioned in the Petroleum Research Department’s report. The recommendation that batteries of low tempera- ture retorts should be erected either in the neighbour- hood where cannel is or can be mined, or at centres where it can be easily brought together, is considered to be attended with serious objections, because the low temperature carbonisation of coal has not yet been proved industrially, and consequently the erection of large units of retorts to carbonise cannel coal and kindred substances could not be justified until success had been demonstrated on a reasonably large scale ; a considerable period of time must elapse before the necessary retorts could be completed and brought into operation; the expenditure involved in carrying out the scheme would be out of all proportion to the quantity of oil which could be produced; and the present labour shortage would not permit of the mining and bringing together of cannel coal in suffi- ciently large quantities to ensure adequate supplies for lar^e units of retorts. The Munitions Mineral Oil Production Department, after careful enquiry, decided that no scheme which required the erection and equipment of entirely new carbonising works could be entertained; but enquiries have shown that cannel coal could be satisfactorily carbonised for oil production in vertical retorts at gas works with only a small expenditure of money, labour and materials, and the system can be—and is—being gradually brought into operation. Since the vertical retorts already existing at the gas works in the country have sufficient capacity for carbonising all the available cannel coal and kindred substances, and the small altera- tions necessary for the adaptation of vertical retorts already existing at many gas works would be easier to effect than the construction of entirely new batteries of retorts, it is considered that the Ministry of Munitions were justified in declining to carry out the recommenda- tions contained in the Petroleum Research Depart- ment’s report. However, in view of the limited quantity of oil which can at best be produced from British cannel coal, it is not recommended the utilisation of existing vertical retorts at gas works should be extended on any large scale until its general economic conditions have proved satisfactory, because of the difficulty of increasing the output of canneloid materials, and of transporting them to carbonising centres at gas works outside the coal transport areas concerned, to say nothing of the decrease in the production of town gas and in the output of coke available for industrial and domestic purposes. In view of the estimate that the carbonisation of raw coal, as a preliminary to its use for industrial and domestic purposes, would furnish, for every 20 million tons of coal carbonised, from 1 to II million tons of fuel-oil carbonised, the Fuel Research Board of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is enquiring into the technical and economic possibilities of this source of supply. The utilisation of the known extensive deposits of Kimmeridge shale would become important if their use could be fitted into any wide scheme of carbonisation for the provision of fuel-oil for the Services and of fuel-gas for industrial purposes. The economic possibilities of the utilisation of the extensive peat deposits in the United Kingdom are also receiving careful consideration by the board, and a report is at present under consideration. PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—August 8. Coal Supplies. Sir J. Ainsworth asked what steps the President of the Board of Trade was prepared to take to increase the coal output, and whether the Coal Controller would supply the necessary coal in the way that the Food Controller had provided food. Mr. Wardle stated that every effort was being made to diminish the decline in the output of coal which must inevitably result from the withdrawal of 75,000 miners from the mines for the Army. The Army Council was engaged in releasing 25,000 miners of medical categories B 2 and B 3 now serving at home. The Miners’ Federation of Great Britain had given the Prime Minister a pledge to take every step in their power to improve the output, and this pledge was to be carried out by means of joint pit committees at every colliery and by means of mass meetings and addresses by the miners’ leaders. The executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain were issuing a manifesto on the subject. For the present the B 2 and B 3 men were being recalled as rapidly as possible. Nb steps were being taken at present to get the B 1 men back. Col. Wedgwood asked whether the remainder of the 7,000 men called *up recently would be retained in the pits, and Mr. Wardle asked for notice of the question. Col. Royds asked whether coal would be provided for the many sets of steam ploughing tackle at present idle through lack of coal. Sir R. Winfrey said that the Food Production Con- troller was represented on the Coal Priority Committee, and had independently consulted the Coal Controller. A tentative agreement was made which would meet the full requirements of agriculture, without interfering with the ordinary channels of trade. Any person not obtaining his full requirements would be supplied on the recommendation of the Agricultural Executive Committee, which would act directly with the district officers of the Coal Controller. Dr. E. W. Paul has been appointed certifying surgeon under the Factory and Workshop Acts for East Notting- ham. Dr. J. M. Wilson has been similarly appointed for Aberdare. Mr. Jas. M. Herring, who died suddenly whilst on a holiday at Belford, Northumberland, last week, was a native of Sunderland, but had lived during most of the past 25 years in Chili, where he had a flourishing business as a shipbroker, timber merchant and coal exporter. Inland Reconstruction Council. — The council’s half- yearly report observes with regret a tendency among employers in certain quarters to restrict the function of joint bodies to what are known as “labour questions,” and the report expresses the opinion that such employers failed to realise the added strength which they could secure by co-operation with Labour in future discussions regard- ing Government activities in connection with their trade. MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE A revised list of certified occupations includes mining, electrical engineering, and the manufacture of firebricks. Men employed therein have not to be called up, nor undergo medical examination, if they were engaged in the same kind of work on or before August 15, 1915, not necessarily with the same employer. The decertified occupations which have been restored to the certified list include engineer- ing. Men of the new age are still wanted for the Army, it is announced; but in view of experience gained by the Ministry it is essential that the trades referred to should not be further depleted. One of the appeals of men combed out came before the Pontypool Court on Saturday, when a collier was sum- moned for failing to report himself for military service. It was declared by the clerk to the Abersychan local tribunal that the man had lodged an appeal, the hearing of which was adjourned so that the decision of the colliery recruiting court might be brought before the tribunal. The National Service representative stated that unless the collier could produce an exemption certificate-or a voucher from the colliery recruiting court he had no defence but was liable to serve. The clerk to the tribunal stated that he was prepared to give evidence on oath that the man had lodged an appeal, which, however, the mili- i;a.iy auihumy stated was out of time. Although the mili- tary authorities had the right of appealing against the ad- journment of the case by the Abersychan tribunal, they did not do so. The magistrates decided to adjourn the case. Another case, somewhat similar in its preliminaries, came before the Pontypool Bench on Monday, where a Garndiffaith collier was charged with failing to report himself for military service. It was stated that the police had been making enquiries respecting the man in order to arrest him, under instructions from the military authori- ties ; but he, on hearing of the enquiries, presented him- self at the local police station. His defence was that he was not an absentee, but held an exemption certificate, and that having been called up on July 30 he lodged an appeal on the following day The magistrates adjourned the case. Durham County Councillor Thos. Wm. Bell, of East Boldon, has been fined 40s. and handed over to a military escort as an absentee. Mr. Bell obtained exemption from military service some time ago, on conscientious grounds, on condition that he undertook work of national impor- tance. Sick visiting in connection with the Northumber- land and Durham Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund was held to fulfil that condition, and he did that work for a considerable time. Some months ago, however, he was deprived of his post, and as he has refused other work of national importance, he has now been ordered to join up for non-combatant service. Mr. Bell, who is 41 years of age, worked as a miner at Croxdale for 20 years, when, being afflicted with nystagmus, he was compelled to relinquish underground labour. At the Risca Tribunal on Monday the chairman (Mr. J. M. Roberts) drew attention to the fact that a number of men who had been refused exemption were not called up by the military authorities. A deputation had visited Newport for the purpose of an interview on this subject, and a letter had since been received stating in regard to one case that the reason the man had not been called up was that the colliery quota was completed before the Risca Tribunal dismissed the case. It was stated on Monday that there were a number of similar cases, and it was questioned whether the letter was accurate in its statement that the quota had been completed, because information had come to hand that it was not yet com- plete, and that men were still needed. Certain cases which came before the tribunal were adjourned until a satisfactory explanation had been obtained. Judge Greenwell, presiding over a session of the Durham County Appeal Tribunal, expressed himself with con- siderable vigour whilst hearing the appeal of the National Service representative against the exemption of a member of the Durham County Council on conscientious grounds. The respondent had been sick visitor under the approved society of the Northumberland and Durham Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund, but had left that employment. He alleged that he had been dismissed therefrom because of his opinions. Five health visitors had been dismissed, three of them, he said, owing to their conscientious objec- tion to war. Judge Greenwell remarked that there was no doubt as to the feeling of the miners on the point. He supposed respondent would not work in a coal mine because coals were used for making ships and guns. Re- spondent replied that he was not prepared to do any work which would release another man for the Army. The judge remarked that it was absolutely monstrous that respondent was not prepared to provide food because he would be substituting some one who had gone into the Army. The National Service appeal was allowed.