September 20, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

611

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Coal Owners and Steam Coal Prices—Suggestions Regard-
ing Anthracite—A Black Powder Case—Managers
and Men—Price Lists Criticised—Question of Extra
Profits—Mr. V. Hartshorn on Coal Shortage—Utilising
Small Coal.

At a meeting of colliery proprietors, on Tuesday, further
discussion took place as to the application to the Admi-
ralty for improvement in price of the best steam coal.
This is considerably below the schedule of prices allowed
in respect of sales to ordinary purchasers. An interview
has taken place between the Admiralty representative in
London and representatives of the leading collieries, among
them being Mr. Hann (Powell Duffryn), Mr. T. Evans
(Ocean), Mr. T. J. Callaghan (Cambrian) and others, they
emphasising the fact that the price at present paid is
insufficient. The 30s. per ton which was previously
allowed was increased by 4s. on account of the war wage
advances, and at the meeting on Tuesday it was stated
that the authorities have conceded 6d. per ton (as from
July 1), this being regarded as equivalent to the commis-
sion which in ordinary business the colliery shares in
respect of independent shipments, and a further 6d. per-
ton will be granted as from September 1 to meet the
increase in dock charges. This does not meet all that
is required, and further apnroach is to be made in regard
to the price allowed for large. Concerning small coal,
it is understood that 2s. per ton additional is proposed,
to date from the commencement of 1918, but this amount
is not regarded as satisfactory.

The suggestion is made that, because of the hindrances
to colliery working occasioned by lack of shipping, the
anthracite coal, at any rate, should be dumped at the
docks of Swansea, Llanelly, and Port Talbot. It would
not run the risk of breakage to the same extent as the
more brittle steam and softer qualities, and the rapid
clearance thus effected would permit of continuous opera-
tions at the colliery.

The agent and manager at the Cawdor Colliery,
Garnant, were prosecuted at Ammanford, on Monday,
for permitting black powder to be used in contravention
of an Order of September 1913, to the effect that “In
all coal mines wherein inflammable gas has been found
within the previous three months in such quantities as
to be indicative of danger, no explosive other than a
permitted explosive shall be used or taken into the seam.’'
Col. Pearson (H.M. inspector) stated, in reply to the
Bench, that black powder was more liable to flame than
the permitted explosives, and this was the reason for pro-
hibition. In defence, the agent stated that he left the
matter of explosives to his manager. Safety lamps were
used in the mine, which was damp, and the same explosive
was used in the surrounding collieries working the same
seam. The men preferred the black powder, and com-
plained of dizziness and sickness when using permitted
explosives. A fine of £5 upon each defendant was
imposed.

Mr. Ben Davies, miners’ agent in the Pontypridd dis-
trict, has endorsed the declaration of Mr. Vernon Harts-
horn, and he expresses his opinion that there must be
close co-operation between the managers and the work-
men at the collieries. Mr. Davies denies that voluntary
absenteeism exists to the extent that has been asserted.
His idea is that if a conference were summoned at which
a full statement of the coal trade situation were put
before the men’s delegates, and if afterwards meetings
of men were held in the various localities for the same
purpose, the miners would do their part to increase the
output. Mr. Davies states that it is difficult to get men
of low medical category returned from the Army, and
that if such men be released immediately they would
render material help in improving the situation.

The Lord Mayor of Cardiff brought before the City
Council this week a letter from 'the Controller as to the
serious shortage of coal, and his lordship proposed that
a public meeting should be called, whereat responsible
officials should give an explanation of the whole position.
Other speakers dwelt upon the needs of our Allies in
respect of fuel. It was decided to refer the matter to a
special committee on which the council would have nine
representatives, there being six other members.

In order to increase the output, several suggestions are
being discussed, but that to which most attention has
been given is the adverse criticism of existing price lists,
with the proposal that extra payment beyond the list
terms should be made so as to induce the men to work
harder. It is stated that a large proportion of the price
lists are obsolete, not applicable to these days of an
Eight Hours Act, they having been framed when the
periods of work were longer. The men, it is stated, find
that on the price list they are not so well off as under
the minimum rate, and they are content to earn “ the
minimum ” rather than to work on the price list, seeing
that the financial result is not equal to the extra strain.
It is therefore suggested that a tonnage allowance should
be added to the price lists, and that it should be a sub-
stantial increase, so that the men may be induced to
work harder.

Upon the suggestion that employers would co-operate
in increasing output by agreeing that extra profits should
go to the trade union for application to benevolent pur-
poses, the opinion of a number of gentlemen prominent
in the coal trade has been sought; but the general ex-
pression is strongly in favour of returning men to the
mines from the Army, also for suspension of the Eight
Hours Act, or for the provision of better facilities in
respect of clearance, etc.

A strong appeal is being made to the miners by Mr.
Vernon Hartshorn, one of the South Wales leaders, who
has just been associated with the Coal Controller as
adviser on the question of output. Mr. Hartshorn
describes the urgent need of coal, stating that the short-
age cannot be treated lightly, and that if it is not speedilv
remedied it can rob us of decisive victory in the field.
This shortage, he states, “ can render all the sacrifice
we have made, all the blood that has flown from the finest
manhood of our race, all the heroism with which demo-
cracy has sustained this priceless cause, nothing but a
sombre tragedy of high human endeavour ending in com-
parative failure. All this might happen if the British
miners. fail the cause of democracy at a time like the
present.” He declares that material considerations are
of secondary importance, and asks, “ Will any workman
prove a traitor to the cause of democracy for the sake
of material questions or for the morbid satisfaction of
indulging a feeling of resentment for grievances ? ” He
shows the need of France for coal, even for domestic
purposes, and declares that the work of the miner is going
to have a direct influence on the duration of the war.

“ The more coal we have, the quicker will the war be
brought to an end.” Every miner should have the con-
viction in his heart that by increasing his output he
is saving human lives—probaoly the lite of a working
comrade, perhaps the life of a son or brother.

Discussion is current as to the better utilisation of small
coal, of which such vast quantities now remain under-
ground or otherwise unutilised. It has been estimated
that 5,000,000 tons of coal per annum are wasted in South
Wales. The idea is that the small should be brought
to bank with the large, the miner being paid for
“through and through" instead of for the large only;
and this opens up the great question which has for so
many years been keenly discussed between the employers
and Workmen. The export trade of South Wales is an
export of large coal mainly, and until recent years the
small has had a very low valuation. The present phe-
nomenal price of small, however, shows its real market
value; and because prices are so high there is from
different quarters a demand that the small should be paid
for as well as the large.

Another point raised is as to whether the colliery horses
are sufficiently well fed, one statement being that an en-
quiry would prove the rate of mortality among colliery
horses to be on an increase because of either under-
feeding or feeding on inferior food. There is also, of
course, the marked effect which defective feeding would
have upon the amount of work the horses are able to
perform. .

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Windsor Steam
Coal Company, Mr. W. North Lewis said the most serious
factor in the present conditions was the reduction of out-
put occasioned by the loss of men. Their colliery was
equipped for, and was capable of, dealing with a very
much larger output. Prior to the war they employed
about 2,500 men, whereas at the present time the number
at work was only 1,640, and as the men had been taken
for the Army, the output had suffered materially in
consequence. There were no means by which the output
could be increased except than by an increase in the
number of men. If the men worked better and more
regularly it might, of course, be increased a shade, but
that would be infinitesimal compared with the increase
through employing additional men.

In order to correct a misapprehension which has pre-
vailed, Mr. North Lewis has published a letter showing
that the figures relating to output were as to quantities
worked over a period of two years, and in contradiction
of the comment to which he refers, Mr. Lewis states that,
taking the average number of men employed for the
periods covered by the figures given, the results show that
the output per man for the period ending June 1918 is
slightly less than the output per man for the twelve
months ending June 1914, and he adds, “ this only serves
to emphasise the absolute necessity of returning skilled
colliers to the mines as rapidly as possible.”

The South Wales Coal Owners’ Association made an
application to the Controller that the Monmouthshire and
South Wales coal field shall be excluded from the ration
scheme for industrial coal and from the Household Fuel
and Lighting Order. The reason for the application is
that the South Wales coal trade is mainly an export one,
70 per cent, of the output being sent oversea. It has
been impossible at any time in the past to guarantee suffi-
cient tonnage to keep all the collieries at work six days
a week. Because of the difficulty of providing a regular
and adequate supply of shipping, the trade is sub-
ject to sudden fluctuations owing to shipping delays.
Practically all the wagons are owned by the colliery com-
panies, who have only sufficient to deal with the output
from pit to port, and there are no railway wagons avail-
able for conveying coal inland, as in other districts. If
works, merchants and dealers who obtain their coal in
South Wales are limited to fixed quantities under the
scheme of rationing, the collieries would not, in the event
of a sudden shortage of shipping, be able to supply all
available output inland, as wagons would have been for-
warded for only the ration quantities. The trade of
South Wales differs from that of any other district in
the kingdom, and therefore the Coal Owners’ Association
considers it is of the utmost importance that it should
not be fettered by restrictions.

Mr. Marshall, secretary of the Swansea Chamber of
Commerce, has issued a notice with regard to the supply
of coal to France and Italy. This states that the Bristol
Channel Coal Co-ordination Committee requires weekly
particulars of all ships going to load in the Swansea
district, and that the particulars must include bunkers
as well as cargo. The information is required in order
to facilitate the passing of pre-entries. There has been
an irregularity of distribution—too much coal at one port,
and not enough at others—with the result of delay in
both cases. The co-ordination of shipping facilities with
probable output is the object aimed at.

The extraordinary condition of the freight market has
had demonstration in the enormous price which has been
paid for carrying about 700 tons of coal from Newport
to Carthagena, no less than £21 being the rate of freight.
Therefore the total cost of carrying this cargo comes to
£14,700, and, adding the cost of the coal with other
charges, it will not be less than £24 per ton to the con-
sumer in Spain.

Northumberland and Durham.

A conference of representatives of local authorities, held
at Newcastle on Tuesday, further considered the proposals
of the Coal Conservation Committee with reference to
electrical power generation and distribution, and decided
that if there is to be any alteration of the present system,
that alteration should be in the hands of public bodies,
and not in those of companies.

It was reported to the September meeting of the Tyne
Improvement Commissioners that during August the coal
and coke shipments from the Tyne had been as follow:
Coal as cargo, 662,606 tons, as compared with 959,028 tons
in August 1917, and 1,491,551 tons in August 1913 (the
last full pre-war year); coal as bunkers, 60,134 tons, as
against 99,195 tons and 207,159 tons respectively; and
coke 40,797 tons, as against 76,951 tons and 21,577 tons
respectively. The shipment for the eight months ended
August 31 had been : Coal as cargo, 5,781,629 tons, as
compared with 6,926,602 tons in the corresponding period
of last year, and 11,648,318 tons in the like period of 1913;
coal as bunkers, 553,680 tons, as against 738,827 tons and
1,511,392 tons respectively; and coke 348,701 tons, as
against 449,124 tons and 196,822 tons respectively.

“This is not a colliery; it is a rabbit hole,” declared
one of the delegates to the Newcastle divisional quarterly
meeting of the Co-operative Wholesale Society last
Saturday, when a net loss of £1,447 was reported on Shil-
bottle Colliery, which the Co-operative Wholesale Society
purchased some time ago. The delegate, who declared
that he had a practical knowledge of coal mining, added
that the society had been badly advised in making the
purchase. Mr. Dudley, a director, replied that it was

made clear at the time of purchase that before profits
could be expected the society would have to undertake
developments, and these could not be carried out at
present, owing to the war. He declined to accept the
critic’s estimate of the value of the colliery, and asserted
that it produced some of the finest coal in the world—
an opinion cordially endorsed by the meeting generally.
The loss was not serious, having regard to the cost of
repairs and renewals. Replying to a question from another
delegate, who asked what was going to be done regarding
coal rationing, and argued against the adoption of a
datum period as being bound to cause trouble, Mr.
Dudley said the Coal Controller was bound to have a
basis for working until the position was better under-
stood. At present they were working by theory. The
Controller was going to allow them 75 per cent, of forme?
supplies if the coal were available.

By 279 proxy votes to 98, the lodges of Northumber-
land Miners’ Association have voted in favour of the union
contributing £100 towards the memorial to the men killed
in the Woodhorn explosion. The memorial is to take
the form of a drinking fountain, to be erected in Hirst
Park, Ashington.

Cumberland.

Mr. Thos. Cape, general secretary of the Cumberland
Miners’ Association, has been selected as the prospective
Labour candidate for the Workington division.

Yorkshire.

At the Keighley Town Council meeting on the 10th inst..
the Mayor alluded to the apathy of househelders not
taking the trouble to secure coal rationing forms, and
said that it was imperative that the most rigid economy
should be exercised in coal consumption during the
coming winter. Stocks were so low that the prospect was
creating alarm. The gas stocks were also very low. The
population would have to conform to the various orders
very strictly, otherwise the industries of the town and
district would be seriously inconvenienced and endangered.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

On Tuesday, at Liverpool, the Board of Trade pro-
ceedings against the New Moss Colliery Company, Lan-
cashire, and Messrs. H. S. Higginbottom, coal merchants,
Liverpool, concluded. They were charged on fourteen
informations with having sold or offered to sell coals in
1917 at prices above the statutory limit. The company
was fined £750 and £500 costs, and Messrs. Higginbottom
were fined £1,097, with £500 costs.

More barges are now being built to be used in the
conveyance of coal on the Bridgewater, Leeds and Liver-
pool, Rochdale and Bolton and Bury canals.

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Sir Charles Seely, Bart., M.P., one of the leading coal
owners in Notts and Derbyshire, writing to the Press
from Bestwood Lodge, Nottingham, regarding the antici-
pated deficiency of some 30,000,000 tons of coal this year
required for shipping and essential industries in Great
Britain and for export to our Allies, says the deficiency
is principally due to the enlistment last spring of 75 000
young men who came mainly from the coal face. Men
doing that work, he states, produce from 10 to 15 tons
per week each. Therefore 100,000 men returned from the
Army would produce 1,000,000 tons a week and meet the
whole shortage. Would it not be safer, he asks, to take
100,000 men from the Army for this purpose, which would
only be equivalent to the number of American soldiers
arriving there every ten days, rather than run the risk
of a serious reduction in the production of this country,
France and Italy from inability to obtain coal?

Kent.

Presiding, on Tuesday, at the ordinary meeting’ of the
East Kent Colliery Company Limited, Prof. W. Galloway
(chairman) said that the financial results of operations
during the year 1917 were not unsatisfactory, considering
the withdrawal of men for military purposes and the limita-
tion of selling prices by the Coal Controller. Housing
was at the bottom of the company’s future success. His
policy was to build houses with every penny that could
be spared or acquired on anything like reasonable terms,
to raise the output as rapidly as possible to the highest
limit, and then, but not before, to commence sinking to
a deeper seam. Without minimising the obligation to
sink, he wished to correct some current fallacies. He
had seen and analysed samples from all the seams found
in the Snowdown sinking to a depth of 3,007 ft., and
found them all similar in hardness to the seam now being
worked at Tilmanstone, though the deeper ones were
perhaps somewhat harder than those above. Coal from
the seam now being worked at Tilmanstone could be
produced at as low a cost as any of the other seams,
the same output being supposed in each case. Thus they
were not wasting time in working the present seam.

The output at Tilmanstone Colliery last week was 2,822
tons. Both at Tilmanstone and Snowdon collieries the
amount of coal raised has shown a substantial advance
recently as a result of the response made by the miners
to the appeals to their patriotism.

The statement of the liquidator has been issued in
regard to Kent Collieries Limited, which with the Channel
Collieries Trust, has been merged in the Channel Steel
Company, controlled by northern firms of iron and coal
masters. The liquidator’s statement of accounts deals with
the period down to July 17. He explains that counsel’s
opinion has been taken as to action re outstanding calls,
and details how the Channel Steel Company’s shares have
been issued against the shares and 7 per cent, notes in the
Kent Collieries Limited, which have been cancelled. He
states the provision made at the date of his appointment
will be sufficient to meet the outstanding accounts, that the
conveyances and assignments to the Channel Steel Com-
pany will be executed at an early date, and the stores
and materials will then pass to the company.

A* report obtained currency last week-end that the sale
of Guilford Colliery, near Dover, to the Forges de
Chatillon Company had been completed and the money
paid over to the board of directors of Kent Coal Con-
cessions and Allied Companies, and arrangements made
to complete the sinking of the pits to the coal. The com-
pany’s officials state that the report is inaccurate. An
agreement was made prior to the war to sell this colliery
to the Forges de Chatillon Company for £150,000, but
war conditions have prevented it being carried through.

Scotland.

At a meeting of the Colliery Under-Managers’ Associa-
tion, held in Glasgow, it was stated that the joint secretary
at a general council meeting of managers and under-
managers had been instructed to send a letter to the Coal
Controller protesting against both associations being
ignored ip the appointment of pit committees.

A meeting of the council of the Colliery Under-
Managers’ Association was held on Saturday in the