August 23, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 401 MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week August 11 to 17, 1918. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. 14° + 4h.-fih. 14° + 6h.-8h. 14°+ j 1 1 8h.-101i. 10h.-12h. 14° + 12h.-14h. 14° + 14h.-16h. 1 14° + 16h.-18h. 14° + 18h.-20h. 14° + 20h.-22h. 14° + 22h.-24h. 14° + i Mean for day. 14° + i 14 “ + Sun., Aug. 11 1 Min. 46*0 Min. 47*0 Min. 45*0 I 1 Min. 43*0 Min. 45’0 Min. 49’5 Min. 57’0 Min. 55*5 Min. 53’0 Min. 49*0 Min. 48’5 Min. 47’0 Min. 49’0 Mon., ,, 12 0 47*0 47*5 47*5 • 45*5 - 46’0 51’5 55’5 55*0 51’5 50*5 49’5 48’5 49'5 Tues., ,, 13 0 47*5 46*5 45*5 J 45*0 46’5 50’5 54’5 55’0 51’5 49’0 47’5 45’0 48’5 Wed., 14 1 46’0 46*0 45’5 | 44*5 46’5 52’0 55’0 55’0 51’5 49’5 46’0 47’0 49’0 Thur?., ,, 15 2 47’5 47*5 46’0 ! 44*5 45’5 52’0 56’5 57’5* 58’5* 53*0* 48’0* 42’5* 50*0 Friday, „ 16 2 45*0* 51*5* 49*0 46*5 49’5 55’0 57’5 54’5 50*0 48’0 49’0 49’0 50’5 Sat., ,, 17 0 48*5 47*0 45’0 45*5 46’5 50’5 55’5 55’0 51*0 50’5 49’5 48’0 49’5 Diurnal ine- quality (i.e., Aug. 1917 lh. 2h. -1*5 -1*8 3h. 4h. -1*7 -2*2 5h. 6h. -3*6 -4*8 7h. 8h. -5*4 —5*3 9h. -3’6 lOh. -1’0 llh. 12h. + 3’0 +6*5 13h. I4h. + 8’5 +8’1 15h. 16h. + 6’0 +3’4 17h. 18h. + 0’8 —0*5 19h. 20h. -0’7 -0’7 21h. 22h. -0’8 -1’0 23h. 24h. -1’0 -0’8 Mean value for month. 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 *18 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 14° 59'’1 July *17 day) The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 24h. (mi Inight) 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 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.” On a day of character “0 *’ declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character i( 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 curves. * Large disturbances during this interval. Meteorological Office, August 21. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The district meeting of the anthracite miners decided at Swansea, on Saturday, that the men at the Tirydail Colliery should resume work, and that men* of the other collieries who had struck in sympathy should also return. The difficulty which arose was as to payment of the hauliers, and the Controller has suggested that these shall be paid day wages pending a settlement of the dispute. The strike has lasted six weeks, and on the later days has affected 2,000 men, It is urged on behalf of the hauliers that before the strike took place they had expressed their readiness to work on the standard rate pending settlement of a new tonnage agreement. Mr. T. Davies, of Dowlais, presided on Saturday at a meeting of the council of the Association of Colliery Managers, South Wales branch, held in Cardiff. The council discussed the question of the new Joint Committees which will have to deal with output, especially in their relation to colliery management, and decided to endorse the position of the central executive in regard to the whole question. The Pitwood Importers* Association has been before the Committee on Production with regard to the wages of dock labourers, and South Wales dock companies have also had the same question dealt with. The men claimed that all time-workers should share in the benefit of the award made on May 3, and that the piece-workers should have an increase of 30 per cent, on existing rates. The award of the Committee now made is that where the time-workers are getting 5d. an hour as a war advance, this shall be increased to 7d.; and that where the war advance is less than 5d an additional 2d. shall be paid day-workers ; and those paid by the week are to receive a proportionate advance to those paid by the hour. The piece-workers and men paid on tonnage rates are to receive 5 per cent, increase on their base rates. The Brynmawr and Blaina district of miners held a meeting for appointment of a secretary and sub-agent in the place of the late Mr. D. Minton. Mr. W. Bey non was elected secretary, pro tem.; but i he question of sub-agent was deferred for settlement at a future meeting. > Amongst other matters dealt with was that of the price list for the old coal at Stones Pit, and it was stated that this question had been satisfactorily settled. Mr. F. Gibson (secretary of the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committee) has drawn attention to the action of the men in striking while the matter in dispute was under the consideration of the Conciliation Board representatives— especially as the men did not wait for the report and decision of these representatives, although it would have applied retrospectively. A Conciliation Board meeting of the Welsh Engineers and Founders* Association, sitting at Swansea, agreed that advances, to date from July 14, should be granted on the scale which was arrived at by the Tinplate Conciliation Board. The advances, which are subject to sanction by the Ministry of Munitions, will include engineers, roll turners, moulders, etc. The Central Trimming Board for South Wales ports met in the Cardiff Exchange on Tuesday, and dealt with an application of the coal trimmers for increase of their war bonus by an additional 40 per cent above pre-war earnings. It.was decided that as from August 26 the bonus should be increased by 20 per cent making 80 per cent over the pre-war rate. • North of England. The workers at the Barrington, Bedlington, Bomarsund, Sleekburn and West Sleekburn collieries, of the Bedlington Coal Company, Limited, have unanimously rejected the owners* offer with reference to putters’ wages. It was stated at the meeting at which this rejection was resolved upon, that, in addition to the original offer of 2d. per score on present prices, a further concession of 4d. to 5d. per score, according to the conditions at poor flats, had been offered. The men have decided to ask permission of the Northumberland Miners* Association to take a strike ballot. About 2,500 men and lads are involved. A statement circulated by a news agency to the effect that a partner in a large colliery had stated that the great majority of coal miners are quite content to work only three or four days a week has elicited a denial from Mr. J. Patterson, secretary of the Dean and Chapter Lodge of the Durham Miners’ Association. He states:—“ Our total of coal hewers is 619 and, for the week ending August 10, 1918, their time was: 493, full time; off sick and injured, 41; 68 lost one day, 12 lost two days, four lost three days and one lost four days. In the last three cases, it can safely be assumed that most of these men were not well enough to work but did not take the trouble to send in doctors’ notes, hence it is put down as lost time. You will note by the above figures that 534 have virtually put in full time and, as this is one of the largest collieries in the North of England, it can be taken as a criterion that other collieries are doing likewise. The statement that two and three days a week are lost is so utterly absurd and ridiculous that it shows the author has the slightest know- ledge of the conditions prevailing in mining and cannot realise that absentee committees have long been in existence at all collieries to investigate all cases of lost time ** Recent decisions of the executive committee of the Northumberland Miners*Association include the following:— To advise the men at Netherton Hall Colliery to send to the Joint Committee a claim that hewers should be paid consideration for inconvenience and increased cost by taking down the stone caunch in their own places owing to the change in the character of the stone; that, as it has not been the practice at the Netherton Hall Colliery for hewers to stay after “ loose ’* to draw timber, the executive objecting strongly to lads doing that work, instructs the branch to refuse to allow either hewers or lads to do so; that, as complaints have reached the executive of disabled soldiers and sailors and men under Bl, who have returned from the Army and Navy, not in some cases being found work at the pits to which they belong, and in other cases not paid adequately, and not yet made clear as their pensions, the branches and groups of branches should be advised carefully to look after the interests of these men; to inform Preston branch that the fact of shipyard workers being on holiday whilst young miners were being combed-out for the Army was one over which the executive had no control; to ascertain from Seaton Burn branch full particulars regarding war-wage of men returning home without going inbye, owing to a breakdown on the haulage roads; to inform Hartford branch that the executive cannot agree to allow the members of that branch to come out on strike because of the exemption of a pick-sharpener from military service ; to forward to the Food Commissioner of the county a complaint from the Ashington group of pits as to a short supply of meat, and to inform him that the complaint is general at the pits in the county ; to express satisfaction at the reinstatement of the Netherton Hall branch secretarry, dismissed for carrying out the executive’s decision regarding men and lads drawing timber, the matter being one that might have led to a stoppage of the pit; to point out to Wallsend branch that individual deputies cannot be taken into the association, the decision having been to admit the deputies only as a body; to point out to the same branch that the association has no jurisdiction in dealing with questions between deputies and the Coal Owners’ Associa- tion ; to inform Newbiggin branch that, according to the Trade Union Act, no exemptions from payment of the political fund levy, except in the case of new members, can be granted save during January of each year; to enquire into hewers being requested to work extra shifts at Stobswood ; and to seek extra payment for extended packs consequent upon wider gateways at Throckley Colliery. Further news with reference to the putters’ dispute at the Bedlington group of collieries is to the effect that the decision of the miners to demand a strike ballot was by no means unanimous —a considerable number of the men regarding the company’s offer as good enough. It is said that the terms offered by the company, in addition to the first offer of 2d. a score, ran up to 5d. in some cases, according to the conditions of the flats, and for putters above 21 years Is. for starting is offered, and above 22 yOars 2s. Lads were offered 3d. a score extra. At the Doctor Pit hewers called back were offered 8s., plus 73*25 per cent. There appears to be some misunderstanding as to precisely what has been offered, for Mr. James Routledge, secretary of the Sleekburn A Pit, declares in a letter to the local Press that if the management had increased its original offer of 2d. per score to 4d. per score for putters, there would have been no dispute. The council of the Durham Miners’ Association con- sidered, on Saturday, suggestions, by the Coal Controller and the Durham Coalowners’ Association, that female labour should be employed about the pits, so as to relieve men, now engaged at bank, for work underground, thereby increasing the output of coal. After discussing this matter, the council adjourned until Monday, the delegates meanwhile reporting to their constituents and taking the opinion of the latter on the proposal. At the resumed meeting, the delegates reported practically unanimously against the introduction of female labour. A recommen- dation made by the executive committee that the miners should adopt a system of working on “pay Saturdays,” and that special attention should be given to the reduction of absenteeism was likewise rejected. So far as can be gathered, the miners have decided against female labour at bank partly because of their natural repugnance to the employment of women on such work, and partly because they feel that, now that the miners w.orking in shipyards have been ordered by the association and the local lodges to return to the mines, and the authorities are sending back to the pits a number of miners of low medical category at present in the army of this country, sufficient labour should be available to meet the necessities of the case without employing women. On the point of absenteeism, the men very largely take up the position that they have already reduced absenteeism to its lowest possible limits. At some of the collieries, whilst the men were opposed to working on “pay Saturday,” willingness was expressed to work one shift “baff Saturday.” At Wearmouth, where such a decision was come to, it was agreed, also, that, where there ai e stacks of coal near the pit mouth, members should be allowed to fill these up at week-ends. His Honour Judge Gawan Taylor sat at the Coal Owners* Association offices at Workington last week, as neutral chairman of the Cumberland Coal Conciliation Board to adjudicate upon the workmen’s claims for various advances. His Honour granted the application for an advance of Is. per shift to men continuously working on the night shift, limiting the word " continuously ” to “ men who have been employed at least one month on such work ” The men claimed that shotfirers should be given an advance of Is per shift on their present standard rate. His Honour’s decision was that he was in favour of the owners’ offer that shot firers in receipt of a base rate of 6s. 5|d. per shift be granted an increase of 2Id., making the base rate 6s. 7|d., but that at collieries where the present base rate is 6s. 7|d or more, there shall be no increase granted. The third claim by the workmen was that all day wage men and boys employed underground be given an advance of Is. per shift on their present standard rate. It was agreed that the boys’ claim should be dropped, and that deputies’ standard rate should remain at 7s. 3d., firemen at 7s. 3d., and shot firers at 6s. 7|d. His Honour granted an advance of 2d. on the standard of the shift men, which before his decision stood at 6s. 2*37d.; an advance of 3d. on the standard* of the shift labourers (5s. 014d.), rolley men (5s. 2*31d.), and onsetters (5s. 0T4d.) Horsemen (standard 4s. 6*68d.), pumpmen (4s. 6*68d.), and engine drivers (4s 6*68d.) receive an advance of 4d.; and oilers and greasers (4s. 4*48d.), an increase of 5d. Federated Area. At a monthly meeting of the council of the Notts Miners’ Association last Saturday, the Babbington miners asked permission to take a ballot on the question of handing in notices on matters regarding overtime, etc., and there was a similar request in reference to a revised price list at Broxtowe Colliery, also with regard to enforcing a revision of the price list at Hucknall No. 1 Pit. Sanction was given in each case. At meetings of miners last week in Boston, Tyldesley arid Manchester districts, it was stated that Lancashire miners as a whole have no objection to the employment of more females on the pit brows, but they objected to German prisoners. At certain meetings the release of more miners of low category from the Army, was strongly advocated. Scotland. At Queenslie Colliery, Shettleston, there has been an understanding for a considerable time that prior to any change taking place in the working conditions or wages on either side, reasonable notice would be given. Inadvertently this arrangement was departed from, on a question of ton- nage rates, and as a consequence the men were idle for a day. Work has been resumed on the understanding that the places in dispute will be examined by the officials of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union. The underground workers at Carneck Colliery, Stirling- shire, object to the system of coal contracting for common places. It has been agreed to make representations to the management on the subject. The executive of the Lothians Miners’ Association decided to press for an allowance of 5s. weekly for each child born into a working man’s family—this endowment to be provided by Government payments. A joint meeting was recently held between representa- tives of* the Scottish Coal Owners’ Association and the Scottish Association of Under Managers to discuss a claim by the members of the latter body for an increase of wages. An offer was made by the owners to concede an advance of 9s. per week and this offer has been accepted. The National Union of Mine Workers decided on Saturday to accept a resolution from the b ife, Kinross and Clackmannan Miners’ Association demanding that the necessary steps should be taken to enforce a demand for an increase in the wages of all mine workers to the extent of 50 per cent, on present rates. This demand is to be exclusive of the war wage of 3s. and Is. Cd. at present being paid to men and boys. The brushers employed at Northrigg colliery claim that they are being paid under the district wage. Enquiries are being made. Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces that (following a dissolution of partnership) the business of T. F. Hosking and Company, coal merchants, Mara- zion and Penzance, will be carried on by the remaining partners, J. F. Hosking and A. J. Hosking. The partner- ship of A. Lawrence and E. L. Hann, trading as Lawrence and Hann, consulting mining engineers, 6, Park-place, Cardiff, has been dissolved by mutual consent.