770‘

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

October 11, 1918.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

A joint meeting took place at the Enginemen’s Insti-
tute In Cardiff, on Monday, between representatives of
the colliery proprietors and the Enginemen’s and Stokers’
Association, which includes craftsmen. The meeting was
called to discuss the demand of the men that the eight
hours day should be extended to all collieries in the
district, and the Miners’ Federation joined in this de-
mand on behalf of craftsmen who are members of that
organisation. The owners refused to accept the proposal,
which in their opinion would bring about a reduction of
output at a time when the country requires the largest
possible amount of coal. Further, they held that the ques-
tion is a national one, and is now being dealt with by the
Controller of Coal Mines.

Following this the men’s representatives decided to call
a conference of the coal field. They at the same time
decided to issue an appeal to their men to continue at
work,, until after the conference.

At meetings held in the Pontypool district on Sunday
addresses were given by representatives of the British
Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, and it was stated
by Mr. Griffiths, who is Labour candidate for Parlia-
mentary representation of that district, that the Cbn-
federation was carrying through a campaign, it being
desired to organise its unions on similar lines to the
organisations of miners, railwaymen and transport
workers.

Further difficulty has arisen with regard to colliery
clerks becoming members of the Miners’ Federation. One
clerk who had taken a prominent position was dismissed
by a i local colliery company, and the matter was brought
before the Coal Controller, with the result that an agree-
ment for reinstatement was arrived at. Mr. Ablett, the
miners’ agent at Merthyr, has now complained to the
Controller that the management has not carried out their
part of the arrangement, and in reply the Controller has
sent v a telegram urging that the miners’ leaders should
induce the men to continue at work, he promising to
enquire into the reasons for the company’s failure.

The standpoint of the employers is that it is undesirably
for. a colliery clerk, on account of his close association
with the management and the detail of administration, to
be a; member of the Miners’ Federation. The objection
is not to trade union organisations, for it would not be
felt if the clerks were members of an independent body.
So far, it is understood the clerk in question has not
applied for reinstatement.

The Brynmawr and Blaina district of miners at their
monthly meeting were informed that the Elled dispute
at North Blaina had been settled.

An application will be made to the Controller to make
enquiry as to the amount of small* coal gobbed in the
South Wales collieries, the intention being to compel the
bringing of the whole of the product to the surface, and
a deputation was appointed from the executive to wait
upon him with reference to the question.

The question of changing colliery working hours is
being again argued on the ground that it would cause a
saving in coal. At present men in many collieries work
from 6 a.m. till 2 p.m., and the suggestion is that they
should work from 8 to 4, and this .would save burning
coal between 5 and 7 o’clock each morning. An estimate
as to the saving in the Rhondda Valley is that 500 tons
of coal would be gained each week.

North of England.

At the quarterly council meeting of the Cleveland
Miners’ and Quarrymen’s Association, held at Middles-
brough, it was reported that there had been four members
killed at the mines and one at a quarry during
the preceding three months. It was decided to make a
request to the employers, at an early date, that no youth
under 18 years should be allowed to work at the face as
a miner. In view of the considerable loss of time in the
conducting of arbitration case^, it was resolved to re-
quest. the employers that where any arbitration case took
more than one day for the inspection of the working
places, such inspection should be made on consecutive
days to avoid any unjustifiable delay in obtaining a
settlement. The employers are to be asked to discontinue
the system of deducting ^d. per ton from base rates
when going from whole ground to brokOn, and to return
to the men the money in respect of any such deductions
already made. It was agreed that the question of an
eight hour day for surface workers should bo left to the %
Miners’ Federation to carry through as a national ques-
tion. In view of the increased cost of candles, the em-
ployers are to be asked to make a greater allowance for
candles when, working out the average wages of the
miners. It was resolved to write to the Food Controller,
pointing out that the present supply of fats and flesh
meat is altogether inadequate to meet the requirements
of the workers engaged on heavy tasks in the ironstone
mines and limestone quarries, and that, consequently,
men are compelled to be idle because they cannot keep
up with their work on the food they are getting..

What was described by Mr. G. H. Warne, of Wood-
horn, as “a rank and file movement to spur on the
leaders ” was responsible for a conference of representa-
tives of Northumberland and Durham miners’ lodges held
under the auspices of the Ashington federated group of
collieries in Newcastle last Saturday, Mr. Eb. Edwards
presiding. Mr. Warne moved, Mr. Will Lawther (Chop-
well) seconded, and it was agreed, “That all minimum-
wage rates should be at least county- average, and that
such wage should be paid for days worked, irrespective
of age or idle time regulations.” Mr. Warne next moved
“ That the present war wage should be increased by at
least 100 per cent.” This was met by an amendment
from Mr. John Chapman (Benwell), “ That this conference
calls upon the organised workers immediately to demand
that the Government substantially reduce the maximum
prices of the chief articles of consumption, and that where
the price is not sufficient to cover the cost Of production
such. industries should be subsidised by increasing the
super income tax.” This found acceptance by the meet-
ing. . There was no opposition to motions that the separa-
tion allowance to soldiers’ wives should be £1 per week,
with 10s. each for all children under 16 years of age,
and that the old age pension should be £1 per week at
60, age to be the only qualification.

Scotland.

A dispute at Rosewell Colliery, in Mid Lothian, has
been settled by the company agreeing that a miner taken
to oncost work will be paid not less than 10s. a shift,
while a drawer will receive the wage he earns up to 10s.
a shift.

In connection with the increase of Sunday labour at
some collieries in West Lothian, the agents have been
instructed to press the managers to make such arrange-
ments as will obviate the getting or drawing of coal on

Sundays. It is pointed out by the management that the
chief difficulty arises from the fact that in machine sec-
tions men fail to turn out on Saturday, while others
refuse to work on Saturday afternoons, and if the coal was
not cleared away during the week-end the main body of
men would be thrown idle on a Monday.

A dispute regarding the working time and wages of the
surface .girls at Bardykes Colliery, Blantyre, has been dis-
cussed *by the Lanarkshire Disputes Committee. The
general manager of the Summerlee Iron Company refused
to move in the matter, stating that he was acting on the
instruction of the Coal Controller. The executive of the
Lanarkshire Miners’ Union are arranging to have a meet-
ing with the Controller of Coal Mines on the subject.

The majority of the firemen in the Coalburn district of
Lanarkshire have declined to work because of the refusal
of the local managers to meet them in order to discuss
grievances. The firemen have been asked by the executive
of the union to return to work provisionally.

The miners in the Blantyre district of Lanarkshire are
agitating for what is described as a more equitable dis-
tribution of the food supplies. The pits were thrown idle
for one day during last week, and there are threats to
continue this process of retarding the output of coal so
as to direct the attention of the'Ministry of Food to the
claims of the Blantyre miners.

It should be explained—and the Lanarkshire Miners’
Union is anxious that there should be publicity given to
the point—that the idle days which are being held through-
out Lanarkshire as protests against the quality of the food
rations are totally. unauthorised.

A circular has been sent out to all the miners in
Lanarkshire, in which the necessity for increasing the con-
tributions from 6d. to Is. per week is set forth in detail.
The activity of the union has almost doubled the wages
of the members, and it is argued that the increased cost
of living is felt just as acutely by the union as it is by
the individual member.	_

It • is reported that eleven men in a section in Doni-
bristle Colliery have created a. war-time record for out-
put of coal, having produced 14,000 tons in 100 days.

The Blantyre miners threaten to remain idle one day
per week in orderTo strengthen their agitation for a more
equitable distribution of food.

In. respect, of a. claim by employees of the Tinplate and
Metal Stamping Company at Llanelly, the Committee on
Production have made an award of 3s. 6d. for those who
are over 18 years of age, and Is. 9d. for those under.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

Wages of Consett steel millmen during October, No-
vember and December are to undergo no change, none
being justified by the ascertainment of the average net
selling price of steel plates, with subsidy, for the June-
August quarter.

The award under the sliding scale which operates in the
section of the iron and steel industry in Monmouth and
South Wales shows an advance of one-half of 1 per cent,
as from .October 1. ’This brings the wages up to 103g above
the standard.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

There has been another small lot of neutral chartering
so far as the north-east coast is concerned, the fixtures
being confined to one for Gothenburg at 140 kr., one for
Port Said at 200s., and two for Stockholm—one at 155 kr.,

and the second at 145 kr. The Gothenburg rate shows a
rally of 15 kr. as compared with the lowest of last week.
The Port Said figure is unaltered. Stockholm prices
indicate a very considerable slump' on the 165 kr. paid
a week ago, to say nothing of the 225 kr. at which this
port stood until quite recently. There has been a con-
siderable requisitioning of vessels for scheduled destina-
tions, of course, but particulars of these are never notified
on the north-east coast. At South Wales the bulk of the
business done is for Allied destinations. Outside fixtures
are those from Cardiff to Dakar and Kotonu with patent
fuel at 110s., Gibraltar at 100s., and Port Said at 200s.
No fixtures are reported from other coal shipping centres
of the kingdom.

Homewards, there is no change in River Plate rates, and
business is chiefly confined to controlled tonnage. Coal
freights at the United States are unaltered. New York
to Liverpool on net form is listed at 230s., with 260s. for
French Atlantic, 355s. for Marseilles, and 260s. for West
Italy. At the Far East there is a great scarcity of ton-
nage, and rates are well maintained. A steady demand
for mineral tonnage prevails at the Mediterranean and
Bay ore ports. .Bordeaux to Bristol Channel is listed
at 17s., with Bayonne loading for the same destination at
20s. Huelva to Savannah with pyrites is quoted at 40s.
Time charter tonnage is in brisk demand, but very small
supply. High rates . are offering for neutral vessels for
general trading purposes.

Tyne to Gothenburg, 1,600, 140 kr.; Port Said, 6,000,
-200s.; and' Stockholm, 3,000, 155 kr., and 2,800, 145 kr.

Cardiff to Brest, 835, 46s. 6d., neutral; 1,600, 45s.,
neutral; Caen, 700, 48s., neutral; Dakar and Kotonu,
3,600-3,700, 110s., patent fuel, Allied; Gibraltar, 2,000,
100s.; Havre, 800, 47s. 3d., neutral; 1,300, 45s. 9d.,
neutral; 3,600-3,700, 15s., exclusive of war risks insurance,
Allied; Port Said, 6,000, 200s.; Rouen, 1,100 and 2,000,
48s. 9d. neutral; 800 and 900, 50s. 3d., neutral; and St.
Malo, 1,100-1,150, 21s., Allied.

Swansea to Rouen, 600 and 700, 50s. 3d., neutral; 1,400,
48s. 9d., neutral; 2,800, 47s. 3d., neutral; Sables d’Olonne,
1,100, 63s. 3d., neutral; Caen, 700, 800 and 900, 48s.,
neutral; Havre, 1,100 and 1,300, 45s. 9d., neutral; 320-
400, 47s. 3d., neutral; and La Pallice, 2,500/ 61s. 6d.,
neutral.

Later.—The following additional fixtures have been
arranged:—

Tyne to Gothenburg, 2,000, 130 kr.

Cardiff to Rouen, 850 and 950, 50s. 3d., neutral, and
1,500, 48s. 9d.“; neutral.

Swansea to Caen, 1,100, 46s. 6d., neutral; Rouen, 1,100,
1,050, 1,700 and 1,850, 48s. 9d.,. neutral; Marans, 450-
500, 67s. 6d., neutral; and Havre, 820, 47s. 3d., neutral.

Liverpool to Lisbon, 2,500, 100s.

The late Mr. I. Bradley, of the firm of Thomas and
Isaac Bradley Limited, Bilston, left estate valued at
£19,103.

The first oil boring operation in connection with the
Government scheme will be carried out on October 15 at
Hardstoft Heath, near Chesterfield. Messrs. S. Pearson
and Son are boring on behalf of the Ministry of Munitions.

It is stated by the Matin that the saving in coal accom-
plished by the introduction of “ summer time ” in France
amounts to 1,500,000 tons. Summer time in France came
to an end on Saturday.

COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES.

REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS.

Anglo-Spanish Coaling Company Limited.—Interim divi-
dend at rate of 6 per cent, per annum, free of tax, for
half-year to June 30.

Bell’s United Asbestos Company Limited.—The directors
have declared an interim dividend on the ordinary shares
of Is. per share, less income .tax, being at the rate of
10 per cent, per annum, on account of the current year.

Callender’s Cable and Construction Company Limited.
—As the future operations of the company render it im-
perative that further capital should be introduced, the
directors propose to issue 40,000 £5 65 per cent, cumulative
preference shares and 10,000 £5 ordinary shares, the latter
at £7. It is intended to increase the interest on the
existing preference shares.

Canadian Explosives Limited.—A dividend of If per
cent, has been declared on the 7 per cent, cumulative pre-
ferred shares for the quarter ended September 30.

Carlton Mam Colliery Company Limited.—The directors
have declared an interim dividend of 2s. per share, free
of tax. The consent of the Coal Controller has been
obtained.

Low Moor Company Limited.—Interim dividend at the
rate of 5 per cent, per annum for the half-year ended
June 30.

Sneyd Collieries Limited.—The report for the year ended
June 30 shows a trading profit, with interest received,
of £70,492. Net profit, after providing for debenture
interest, debenture sinking fund, directors’ remuneration
and income-tax, amounts to £56,362; £59,581 was brought
forward, making £115,944. Deducting preference divi-
dend and interim dividend on ordinary shares, there is left
£100,194. The debenture debt outstanding has thus been
reduced to £31,200. The expenditure on plant after the *
cessation of hostilities will be considerable, and the
directors deem it advisable to make provision for this by
opening a special expenditure suspense account, to which
it is proposed to allocate £25,000. The directors recom-
mend a final dividend on the ordinary shares for the half-
year at the rate of 20 per cent., making 17^ per cent,
for the year, also a further dividend of 4 per cent, on
the preference shares in addition to thp fixed cumulative
rate of 6 per cent., carrying forward £57,194.

Whitehaven Haematite Iron and Steel Company Limited.
—Interim dividend of 3^ per cent, actual on their ordinary
shares and the usual half-year’s dividend on the preference
shaies.

NEW COMPANIES.

“Arborite” Fuel (Parent) Company Limited.-Private
company. Registered September 30, to acquire or deal
with any patents, licences, and like rights. Nominal
capital, £2,500 in 50,000 shares of Is. each. Directors to
be appointed by subscribers. Qualification of directors,
one share. Remuneration of directors, 25 per cent .of net
profits’ after payment of 25 per cent, dividends. Sub-
scribers : A. T. Filer and D. D. Prosser.

Holmes (Fredk. G.) and Company Limited.—Private
company. Registered office, Lower-road, Northfleet.
Registered October 1, to carry on the business of ammonia
and tar distillers, merchants and manufacturers in any
way of coke, coal, oxides, etc. Nominal capital, £25,000
in 25,000 shares of £1 each. Director: F. G. Holmes
(others to be appointed by subscribers). Qualification of
directors: F. G. Holmes, £1,000; other directors, £100.
Remuneration of directors to be voted by company.

. Midland Coal Products Limited.—Private company.
Registered office : 5, Throgmorton-avenue, E.C. Regis-
tered October 2, to obtain certain information as to lands
likely to contain oils and gases of all kinds, and to
examine and explore the same. Nominal capital, £100,000
in £1 shares. Directors: W. D. Braithwaite, A. L.
Wright, E. Jardine, M.P., and Sir R. P. Ashton. Re-
muneration of directors to be determined by company.

Park Tool and Engineering Company Limited.—Private
company. Registered office, 39, Camp-road, Leeds.
Registered October 2, to acquire and carry on the business
of engineers, tool makers, iron founders, mechanical
engineers, etc. Nominal capital, £3,000 in 3,000 shares
of £1 each. Directors: P. G. Cockcroft, H. R. Cockcroft,
and J. F. Kitchen. Remuneration of directors to be voted
by company. Qualification of directors, £100.

Tutthill Limited.—Private company. Registered office :
Coinage Hall-street, Penzance. Registered October 2, to ’
acquire the business of a coal importer and dealer, now
carried on by J. T. Tutthill, Coinage Hall-street, Pen-
zance, under the style of “ Craske and Company.”
Nominal capital, £2,500 in 2,500 shares of £1 each.
Directors : J. T. Tutthill, J. C. Power, C. E. Morrish, and
B. J. Trewavas.	Qualification .of directors, £50. Re-

muneration of directors, £15.

This list of new companies is taken from the Daily
Register, specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons
Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
tor inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Belper, October 17.—Coal for the Isolation Hospital.

Forms from the clerk, Bridge-street, Belper.

Portsmouth, October 15. — Smith’s coal and coke
(three months) for the Tramways Committee. Forms from
the engineer’s office, Vivash-road, Portsmouth.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can
be received.

Danish Coal Supply.—According to Copenhagen reports
published in the Stockholmstidningen, the Danish coal
supply is rapidly running short. Authoritative announce-
ments confirm the statement that the supply of coals from
Germany during the last few months has been considerably
reduced, probably owing to the internal situation in
Germany.

Iron and Steel Trades Organisation.—A select com-
mittee of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation
appointed to advise on the formation of councils for these
trades. under the Whitley Report has drafted a scheme
which accepts Mr. Whitley’s proposals, and has decided
to lay it before the employers’ association for their co-
operation. The employers in the iron and steel trades have
already given a general approval to the idea.