664 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 27, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week September 15 to 21, 1918. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. 14° + 4h.-6h. 14° + 6h.-8h. 14° + 8h.-10h. i 14c + 10h.-12h. 14° + 12h.-14h. 14° + 14h.-16h. 14° + 16h.-18h. 14° + 18h.-20h. i 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., Sept. 15 0 48’0 46’5 46’5 41’5 46’5 52’5 55’0 52’5 49’5 49’0 48’0 45’0 48’5 Mon., „ 16 2 43’0 42’0 46’0 45’5 45’0 50’5 53’5 51’0 49’0 49’5 43’5* 46’5* 47’0 Tues., „ 17 1 46’5 47’5 48’0 44’5 45’0 52’5 57’0 56’0 50’5 47’0 45’5 45’0 48’5 Wed., „ 18 1 47’0 47’0 51’0 54’0 50’5 50’5 52’5 51’0 48’5 46’5 1 44’0 44’5 49’0 Thurs., „ 19 2 43’5 42’0 41’0 i 47’5 51’0 54’0 56’5 53’5 49’0 45’0 42’0* 46’5 47’5 Friday, „ 20 1 47’5 48’0 47’0 49’0 47’0 53’0 53’0 50’5 48’5 46’5 46’0 44’0 48’5 Sat., „ 21 2 47’5 48’0 50’0 49’5 51’0 56’0 57’0 56’5 49’5* i 47’5* 1 i 47’5* 42’5* i 50’0 Mean value for Diurnal i n e- lh. 2h. 3h. 4h. 5h. 6h. 7h. 8h. 9h. lOh. Uh. 12h. 13h. I4h. 15h. 16h. 17h. 18h. 19h. 20h. 21h. 22h. 23h. 24h. month. quality (i.e., Sep. 1917 -1’2 -1’5 -1’8 -2’1 -2’4 -3’4 -5’0 —6’0 -5’1 -2’2 + 2’6 +5’5 + 7’1 +6’5 + 4’9 +3’2 + 2’0 +1’1 + 0’5 +0’1 -0’2 -0’6 -0’9 -1’2 14° 58'’4 Sep.’17 departure from Aug.1918 -1’2 -1’3 -1’5 -2’5 -3’7 -4’6 -5’1 -4’9 -3’2 -0’4 + 3’1 +6’0 + 7’5 +7’1 + 5’6 +3’5 + 1’5 -0’1 -0’8 -0’5 -0’7 -1’4 -1’3 -1’1 14°49’0Aug.T8 mean value for Aug.1917 -1’5 -1'8 -1’7 -2’2 -3’6 -4’8 -5’4 -5’3 -3’6 -ro + 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 day) The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 21 h. (midnight) G.M.T. Character 0” means a day wholly free from any but small disturbances. Character “ 133 means a day part or all of which is moderately or considerably disturbed. Character “ 233 means a day pirt 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 “ 03’ declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character i( 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. * Large disturbances during this interval. Meteorological Office, September 25. setting up pit committees. A resolution was unanimously agreed to, regretting that the members could not see their way to approve of the method adopted by the Coal Con- troller for increasing the output of coal, and refusing to approve of the draft proposals submitted because it was believed a much better scheme could have been instituted. In the course of the discussion general dissatisfaction was expressed that the association, whose members were really in a position to advise the Controller of Coal Mines as to the best practicable methods to be adopted for increas- ing the output of coal, had not been consulted at the conference where the principle of setting up pit com- mittees had been conceded. The feeling of the members present was that the public in Scotland should be in- formed, in view of the shortage of coal, of the absenteeism prevalent amongst miners, and of the disinclination of the latter to work additional time on Saturday afternoons to obviate the necessity of Sunday labour. It was further complained that in many districts throughout Scotland miners- could not be persuaded to work with regularity on Saturdays, a step which seemed to be imperative in view of the shortage of coal throughout Scotland. On Saturday morning a fourth body was recovered from Arbuckle Pit, Stanrigg Colliery, Airdrie. It was that of George Templeton (38). The coal shipped from Methil for the past week was 23,055 tons, as against 27,599 tons in the previous week. From Burntisland the output was 9,550 tons, as compared with 10,890 tons last year for the same period. The Household Fuel and Lighting (Scotland) Order comes into force on October 1. A period of 28 days is allowed for registration of merchants and 42 days for the registration of consumers. The allowance to be taken as coal for the year must not be less than 2 tons 12 cwt. Shipments from the Clyde last week totalled 102,973 tons, as against 93,527 in the corresponding week of last year. From the Forth the tonnage was 19,000, as com- pared with 15,564 tons, and from the Fife ports 34,669 tons, as compared with 33,553 tons in the corresponding week last year. COASTWISE SHIPMENTS IN AUGUST. According to the returns issued by the Commissioners of H.M. Customs and Excise, the following quantities of coal were shipped coastwise from the United Kingdom during August:— From Total cargo. Total bunker. Bristol Channel ports • North-western ports North-eastern ports ........ Humber ports Other ports on east coast Other English ports Total from England and Wales Ports on east coast of Scotland Ports on west coast of Scotland Total from Scotland Irish ports Total from United Kingdom ■ 1917. 1918. 1917. 1918. Tons. 86,210 165,754 489,794 28,730 7,882 4,524 Tons. 121,161 130,287 225,929 20,889 12,927 9,042 Tons. 6,690 38,508 16,117 2,846 2,795 2,232 Tons. 7,552 33,776 14,032 3,644 2,026 1,514 782,894 520,235 69,188 62,544 46,670 217,766 42,756 173,947 6,732 23,003 5,822 16,936 264,436 216,703 29,735 22,758 — — 1,767 808 1,047,330 I 736,938 100,690 86,110 The destination of cargo shipments was as follows :— To ports in Aug. 1917. Aug.1918. r Tons. Tons. England and Wales........ 618,185 ... 371,509 Scotland................... 30,367 ... 19,467 Ireland ................... 398,778 ... 345,962 Italy to Localise Coal Distillation.—At a recent meeting held at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Chemical Industry Committee resolved that the State should order all public or private concerns not to con- sume imported coal unless a substitute cannot be found, so that the largest possible quantity may be reserved for distillation ; that metallurgical coke should only be made in the country by utilising existing plants to the full; and that the maximum of caking coal should be imported for distillation coupled with the most complete recovery of by-products. THE AMERICAN COAL TRADE. The output of bituminous coal continues to decrease (according to the Coal Age, August 29), owing to an insufficient supply of cars and slacker labour. Many producing districts have been forced to suspend for periods ranging from half a day to four days because they were given no cars to load. Pay day at many mines is still followed by an increase in the percentage of absentees. Market conditions are quiet. Delays occur at loading ports owing to the fact that there are not enough berths to accommodate all the ships wanting coal. Limits are being set to the amount of coal which business establishments may store for their own use. The steam coal trade in Philadelphia shows no sign of change, all sizes being quickly cared for. The prices per gross ton f.o.b. cars at mines for line shipment are as follow:—Broken 4'90 dols., egg 4’50, stove 4*75, nut 4'85, pea 3’45, buckwheat 3*40, rice 2’90, boiler 2’70, barley 2’40, and culm, 1’25 dols. Oven labour conditions appear to be more satisfac- tory, but the drain of coal from the Connellsville region to operate by-product ovens recently completed, is such that beehive ovens are hardly able to maintain their former rate of production, which in April, May and June was about 340,000 tons a week, and in July rose to about 350,000 tons. As matters are now aligned, an output of about 325,000 tons a week seems to be in prospect. The market remains quotable at the regular set limits: furnace 6 dols.; foundry, 72-hour selected, 7 dols.; crushed, over f-in., 7’30 dols. per net ton at ovens. A brick manufacturing concern has decided upon an investment of 500,000 dols. to develop Wisconsin peat beds. Experts hold that a good quality of coke can be produced from peat, as well as the regular coal by- products, such as gas, ammonia, etc. Wisconsin peat beds are almost inexhaustible. To Prevent Coal Wastage.—Four hundred experts have been appointed by the Coal Controller to consult with and advise steam power users how to eliminate waste. As the result of an enquiry by the Coal Control Technical Depart- ment it is clear that great wastage of coal is going on. There are 45,000 users of steam plant in Great Britain. Up to the present, reports on 364 firms have been care- fully scrutinised, and it is estimated that a saving of approximately 106,000 tons will result. British Metal Exports to France.—A representative meeting of British importers of machine tools and machinery in France was held recently at the offices of the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris. A report was made by Mr. Beazley, chairman of the metal section, on the representations which he had made to the authorities in Great Britain and France in connec- tion with the very serious situation created by the forma- tion of certain French Government groups who will exclusively control all imports. The members present expressed the desire that British interests should be repre- sented at the sittings of these organisations, and a reso- lution was unanimously passed to that effect. The matter is of such vital importance to the export trade of Great Britain that the chairman arranged to go to London to confer with the British authorities on the subject. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Conciliation Board, last week, had before it the application that an eight hours day should be established for all surface workmen and other employees who have not now an eight hours shift. Mr. Winstone (acting-president of the Federation) submitted the claim, and argued strongly that the men’s request should be conceded. He described the matter as “ very serious,” and urged that it was the duty of the Conciliation Board to take all possible steps to avoid trouble—especially as the cost to the employers would be “ infinitesimal.” The employers’ representatives, how- ever, pointed out that the demand was a contravention of the agreement concluded so recently as 1915, and that the matter was one which should be dealt with nationally. They there- fore refused the application. Later on, at a separate meeting, the workmen’s representatives decided to seek an interview with the Coal Controller on the subject. Mr. Winstone subsequently expressed a hope that although a number of men in the coal field had decided to tender notices unless the Conciliation Board settled their claim, he trusted no precipitate action would be taken, but that they would fall in with the general movement. He assured them that the matter must be settled at the earliest possible moment. The Labour Department of the Ministry of Munitions has been in consultation with representatives of the Blast- furnacemen’s Association with regard to the withdrawal of men from the works, it being understood that the enlist- ment of furnacemen has had a serious effect upon the output of the furnaces. As a result, it is understood that further withdrawals shall not take place, except military exigencies render this necessary. The Rhondda miners at their district meeting on Monday discussed the allegation that the number of rubbish trucks placed in the working places had increased, and that this interfered with output. The meeting decided to bring the matter before the Federation executive so that there may be freer opportunity for increasing the output. A deputa- tion from the Glamorgan collieries asked the district meeting to take up the question of shortage in food supply— their complaint being that men had to go to work with only dry bread. During the discussion that ensued it was remarked that unless improvement took place there was probability of cessation of work. The agent was directed to send a telegram to the Food Controller. The meeting decided to ballot for the appointment of six permanent workmen’s examiners for the district.—Female labour having been engaged at the Lewis Merthyr Colliery, this matter has been taken up, and it was reported that the women were under notice and would leave at the end of the week. The monthly meeting of the Western Valleys Miners’ Council took place at Abertillery on Monday, and a resolu- tion was passed deploring the waste incurred by the accumulation of small coal in the gob. It was decided to call the special attention of the Government to the condition of things, so that the small may be brought to bank and thus increase the output.—The shortage of food was another subject dealt with, it being stated that it was serious in regard to butter, bacon, jams, milk and fresh meat; and the Controller will be urged to remedy this, “ otherwise the workmen will not be able to follow up their employment.”—The meeting discussed also a resolution favouring increased pay to soldiers and sailors up to the level of Colonial troops.—With reference to the stoppage at Llanhilleth owing to presence of gas, a resolution was passed declaring that the minimum of 2| per cent, of gas in ventilation was a danger to safe work in dusty and fiery mines and also to the health of men.—The result of a ballot which had been taken as to whether notices should be tendered concerning the hauliers’ dispute at Rose Hayworth and Cwmtillery pits showed 1,740 for tendering notices and 338 against. The Avon Valley district of miners at a special meeting of surfacemen and craftsmen passed a resolution expressing disappointment at the refusal of the employers to establish an eight-hour day; but decided that before taking further action they would await the report of the Federation executive’s interview with the Coal Controller. The colliery enginemen met at Cardiff to discuss the eight hour day, and had before them a report as to the London conference held a few days previously. It was decided to take part in the general meeting arranged at Shrewsbury for Saturday. The Whitley report was also brought forward, and the meeting decided to take steps for approaching the employers as to the enginemen, stokers, and craftsmen being represented on the joint pit committees for increasing output. The meeting at Shrewsbury dis- cussed the position, and then adjourned till Tuesday, when a joint meeting with North Wales delegates was to take place at Hereford, but the railwaymen’s strike prevented any meeting being held at Hereford. East Glamorgan miners’ district meeting took place at Caerphilly on Monday, and they considered a report as to the setting up of joint output committees at the collieries, their agent stating that delay in establishing these com-