October 18, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

819

ports, a larger quantity of anthracite to be exported, and
also that greater use should be made of anthracite small
in the form of briquettes for home consumption. Mr.
Gibson states that at the present time no less than
400,000 tons of anthracite duff is banked at the pitheads.
Mr. Gibson makes a strong point with regard to anthra-
cite. He shows that, owing to supplies being rationed,
householders who had used anthracite have discontinued
its use and burn only bituminous coal; and he states
that if anthracite and the waste anthracite converted
into briquettes were excluded from the scope of the Order,
this description of fuel would be willingly consumed. In
this way not only would there be a consumption of fuel
now more or less wasted, but also more regular working
of anthracite collieries. On this point he states that in
the week ending September 21 over 60 coal-producing
shifts were lost, and in the period from July 28 to Sep-
tember 21 no fewer than 267 shifts. The cause of this
loss was the shortage in shipping and delay in wagons
engaged in the inland trade. Complaints, he adds, are
frequent, and serious delays in the despatch, transit, and
return of wagons sent inland, and as the wagon supply
of South Wales is restricted, the delay of return from
inland destinations renders it impossible for the collieries
to deal with coal brought to the surface, and they are
therefore compelled to lie idle, thus intensifying the
shortage.

It is felt strongly in South Wales, Mr. Gibson, con-
tinues, that these difficulties might be minimised if fuller
use were made of local knowledge and experience in the
conduct of the trade, and with this object in view it
has been suggested that South Wales and Monmouthshire
should be excluded from the scope of the rationing of
industrial coal, and also from the Household Fuel and
Lighting Order—certainly the anthracite collieries. The
authorities, however, have not so far seen their way to
adopt the recommendations made to them by the Commis-
sion of Enquiry, but “ the coal owners are satisfied of the
practicability of such proposals, and fear that unless .they
are adopted and immediate steps taken to improve trans-
port facilities the country will continue to suffer from an
avoidable loss of coal.”

Messrs. Cleeves, of the Western Valleys Anthracite
collieries, endorse what Mr. Gibson states, and they add
that the Controller has wisely advocated the use of an-
tracite, but “ for some inexplicable reason he dis-
courages the adoption of this by declining to exclude it
from the rationing scheme. The anthracite coal owners’
appeals have been in vain; deputations refused; and the
Coal Controller persists in adhering to his decision not
even to exclude from rationing the anthracite duff and
clay mixture—a mere waste product in no way interfering
with the output or supply of coal except to considerably
relieve it. What is the consequence of this extraordinary
state of affairs? There is a glut and congestion of an
thracite coal at the collieries which are not working full
time or at highest pressure, as they ought to be in this
crisis.”

A case of considerable importance was heard at
Aberavon Police Court, on Monday, when an official of
the Cynon Lodge of miners, with a collier, had to answer
a charge of persistently following the manager of the
Cynon Colliery from place to place; and the collier was
charged with assaulting Mr. Redshaw, the manager. It
was stated that a dispute existed as to the payment of
extra money to one of the men, the manager holding that
he had been fully paid. On September 10 one of the
defendants said, to the manager : “ You are not going
in there ” (meaning the office) “ until you settle this
dispute”; and he caught hold of the manager and
shouted : “ Up to the fields with him, boys ! ” Then
manager was then pushed to the field beside the colliery,
where the defendant again caught hold of him and threw
him to the ground. The under-manager came to his
assistance, and they went to Pontrhydyfen Station. The
defence was that there had been no interference with
Mr. Redshaw. The magistrates considered the charge
proved, and imposed a fine of £3 upon each* defendant
on the charge of persistent following. Other summonses
were withdrawn.

At Hollybush a flywheel at the colliery burst and a por-
tion was thrown through the roof of the engine house
and fell on the roof of a cottage some distance away.

Sir Rhys Williams, M.P., at a meeting of the Glamorgan
Standing Joint Committee on Monday, referred to a com-
munication which had reached Aid. Mathias from the
manager of the Windsor Collieries in regard to the great
number of men absent from work on Mondays owing to
rabbit coursing at Caerphilly. The absenteeism dislo-
cated working conditions and disorganised railway traffic.
Sir Rhys said that he personally had a horror of that
pastime, and he proposed that all possible steps should
be taken to have the disgraceful proceedings stopped—
at any rate during the war. Capt. Lindsay (chief con-
stable of Glamorgan) stated that representations had
been made to the Ministry of Munitions and to the compe-
tent military authority on the subject during the past
two years. The committee adopted the chairman’s motion.

Swansea Harbour Trustees at their monthly meeting
this week had before them the completed returns of trade.
These showed that for August there had been a very
heavy deficiency amounting to £7,495, notwithstanding
that the volume of trade (so far as the shipping was
concerned) had been practically the same as in the corre-
sponding period of last year. The decrease was due
largely to the strike which took place, when the works
were brought to a standstill for practically a week.
During August, however, there was an increase of 100,000
' tons in the exports of coal and fuel. The executive com-
mittee recommended a lease to Messrs. Harris Bros, at
the South Dock Pill in order that this may be converted
into a dry dock, they to pay the trustees a fixed rental
of £1,000 per annum, and also a toll of one-eighth of a
penny per ton register, for each tide every vessel remains.

The trade of Swansea last week showed heavy decline,
imports being very quiet, and in the exports the total
shipments of coal and patent fuel were only 57,412 tons.
The total trade was 62,159 tons, as compared with 84,344
tons in the preceding week.

The secretary of the Coal Owners’ Association (Mr.
Gibson) has issued a reply and criticism of the statement
published by Mr. Hartshorn, miners’ leader, with regard
to the eight-hour demand of the surfacemen. He regards
that article as provocative and unfair, and points out
that it has not been caused by any departure of the coal
owners from the terms of the Conciliation Board agree-
ment. In this, as in every other’ 'instance during the
war. the workmen, Mr. Gibson declares, have been the
aggressors. All that the employers ask for is the loyal
observance of the conditions of the agreement. This they
observe themselves, and they e.oect ecu al fidehty from
the workmen and their leaders. Mr. Gibson emphasises
+he fact that a reduction in working hours means a
further decrease in the effective labour, supply at a time

when the country is suffering severely from shortage of
coal; that it would be impossible to make good that loss
by employment of more surfacemen; and that as practi-
cally all the surfacemen are at present working overtime
they would continue to do so under an eight hours day
system, although at increased rates for overtime work.
The employers did not accept Mr. Hartshorn’s estimate
that only 5 per cent, of the surfacemen are affected by the
demand; but even if this were so, the question put is
whether this is a time to press a claim which would further
restrict production.

At Abersychan Council the clerk stated that he desiied
to impress upon miners who received coal from the colliery
companies that for privileged quantities they must obtain
the necessary forms from coal merchants and fill and
return them before October 30, for if they did not do so
they would have no coal; also that every miner who
wished more coal than the quantity specified in the regu-
lation, and also used gas, must apply to the gas company
for forms for the supply of gas. The clerk expressed
his opinion that a notice should be posted up at the
collieries advising the men

Northumberland and Durham.

12U Putters Pay for Absenteeism—New Secretary of
Mineworkers’ Homes Association—Mineral Deposits
at Ettersgill Leased—Tribunal and Coal Exporter—
Coal and Coke Shipments—Fuel Overseer’s Diffi-
culties.

The Castle Eden magistrates on Saturday ordered
about 120 putters at Horden to pay damages at the rate
of £1 per shift to the Horden Collieries Limited for having
unlawfully absented themselves from work, in one shift
in some cases and two shifts in others. Mr. W. H. Bell
said that the putters absented themselves without any
reasonable cause, and as a result the company lost 1,100
tons of coal. The ages of the defendants ranged from
15 to 21 years; most of them were from 18 to 19 years
old. It was to the credit of the hewers and other work-
men that they did their best to make up the deficiency
in the output. The chairman (Col. Burden) said the
Bench had no power to alter the amount of damages, and
defendants were ordered to pay the full sums claimed.

From out of 17 candidates, Mr. G. E. Middleton, of
Mickley, has been unanimously appointed full-time secre-
tary of the Northumberland Aged Mineworkers’ Homes
Association, in succession to the late Mr. John Wilson,
at a remuneration similar to that received by each agent
of the association.

Messrs. Vickers and Stephenson, of Stanhope, have
leased from Lord Barnard the mineral deposits in Etters-
gill, and have opened a new barytes mine at Beck Head,
where the prospects of successful working are very good.

At Newcastle Tribunal the senior member of a firm of .
ship owners and coal exporters, 43 years of age, in
Grade 3, stated that his younger brother had his exemp-
tion withdrawn by that tribunal, but that the Appeal
Tribunal had given him conditional exemption. The
National Service representative stated that the Quayside
Advisory Committee considered that one of the brothers in
the firm should join up. The tribunal agreed, and ordered
appellant to report for service a month hence.

The coal and coke shipments from the Tyne during
September were as follow : Coal as cargo, 746,796 tons,
a decrease of 112,502 tons when compared with the figures
for September 1917, and of 768,266 tons when compared
with those for September 1913 (the last full pre-war year);
coal as bunkers, 77,891 tons, decreases of 11,192 tons and
89,778 tons respectively; and coke, 35,028 tons, a decrease
of 32,422 tons and an increase of 5,670 tons respectively.
These made the shipments for the nine months now ended
to have been as follow: Coal as cargo, 6,528,425 tons, a
decrease of 1,257,475 tons when compared with those for
the first nine months of 1917, and of 6,634,955 tons when
compared with those for the corresponding period of 1913;
coal as bunkers, 631,571 tons, decreases of respectively
196,339 tons and 1,047,490 tons; and coke, 383,729 tons,
a decrease of 132,845 tons and an increase of 157,549 tons
respectively.	.

At Willington Urban District Council meeting, last
week, Dr. Brewis .stated that the work of the local fuel
overseer was absolutely at a standstill because there had
been no coal merchants’ supervisor appointed. The fuel
overseer was in great distress about it, and could not even
get the prices. The colliery companies affected—Messrs.
Strakers and Love and Messrs. Bell Brothers Limited
—had been asked to make an appointment, but so far no
reply had been received. If the companies did not make
an appointment, the fuel committee would make one it-
self. Mr. R. L. Weeks (agent to Messrs. Strakers and
Love) protested that he had never been asked. Dr.
Brewis, continuing, said it would be the height of ab-
surdity to ration the district in respect of gas, as that
which was used in the dwellings and elsewhere- was sur-
plus gas. If the authorities would remove any restric-
tion as to the use of gas, it would mean that coal
would be saved by the people using more gas.

At Hetton Urban District Council meeting, last week,
a discussion took place as to the coal output. The chair-
man, Mr. J. M. B. Doxford, quoted the Coal Controller’s
calculation that if the Durham workmen increased their
output by 35 cwt. per week each, that would meet the
shortage as far as that county was concerned. Mr.
Golden stated that at the local collieries if no wagons were
available the miners had to wait for them, instead of
being allowed to make accumulations outside. He
thought the authorities ought first to put their own house
in order. Too much responsibility for the shortage was
being placed on the shoulders of the workmen. Not far
from the council chamber a colliery was idle on the pre-
vious Friday because of transit difficulties. Mr. F. Clish
said that he estimated that 90 per cent, of the men at
their collieries could increase the output by one-third if
the coals could be got away from the face. That was a
responsibility resting upon the management, and yet they
scarcely heard anything said against the management.
The chairman corroborated Mr. Clish’s statement, and
averred that the output could be increased by 50 per cent.
It was decided to write to the Controller, pointing out that
in the Hetton district collieries had been standing idle for
want of wagons, and that instead of tipping putbye, as
in normal times, the pits had been at a standstill until
wagons arrived.

Cleveland.

Having regard to the fact that the town’s gas supply is
a by-product from local works, the Coal Controller has
agreed to raise the eouivalent of one ton of coal from
15,000 to 30,000 cu. ft. in the case of Middlesbrough.
The Mayor (Mr. Jos. Calvert), announcing this to the
council, said he had the greatest difficulty in making the
authorities in London understand Middlesbrough’s pecu-
liar position, but now that concession had been granted
he appealed for the utmost economy in the use of coal.

Cumberland.

Sir Guy Calthrop, the Coal Controller, addressed ;
meeting of coal owners, mine managers and miners
representatives at Workington, on Friday, on the urgent
need for an increased output of coal from the Cumber-
land coal field. Sir Guy Calthrop said the coal pro-
duced in Cumberland did not provide for more than two-
fifths of Cumberland's needs. Their output was down
. by 4,300 tons per week, and he appealed to them to make
that shortage good and to add another 1,500 tons per
week to it. He asked for an increase from every man
in the industry, and he asked for more regular work.
The average of absenteeism in Cumberland in August was
11-06 per cent. For September it was 12-1 per cent.
In proportion to its size, no county had done better in
the way of recruiting than Cumberland. Twenty-five per
cent, of their men enlisted before there was any ques-
tion of conscription, and they had sent altogether 35 per
cent, of the men engaged at the coal mines. Was wilful
absenteeism backing up the men who had gone to fight
for them ? He was told that the way out of the coal
shortage was to release men from the Army. Everything
that could be done in releasing non-combatant men was
being done. It was the Government, and not the owners,
who would benefit by any increase of output.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

A Lancashire correspondent understands that boring
operations for coal are about to be undertaken by a Man-
chester syndicate in the neighbourhood of Culcheth at
an early date.

Aid. John Cheetham, J.P., who is the leader of th?
Labour Party in the Wigan County Borough Council,
and is a working miners’ checkweighman on the pit
bank, has decided to accept the Mayoralty of Wigan.

Kent.

Dover Municipal Electricity Committee decided, on the
recommendation of their resident engineer, to instal the
underfeed stoker system at their works to enable them
to use Kent coal alone. They have been using mainly
northern coal with a proportion of Kent mixed. The
engineer, who had inspected the underfeed system at work
at Folkestone Electricity Works and at Tilman stone
Colliery, said it proved entirely successful with Kent coal.
He estimated the saving by equipping one furnace with
the system at £630 a year, whilst the cost of the. installa-
tion would be £735. This saving would be brought about
by the higher calorific power of the Kent coal, which
the engineer stated was 10 per cent, higher than the
northern coal now being used, and the fact that Kent
coal was 3s. per ton cheaper.

Nearly 6.000 tons of coal were raised from the Tilman-
stone and Snowdown collieries last week, Tilmanstone's
proportion being 2,912 tons.

Coal from the Chislet Colliery is now on sale in that
district and in Thanet. The output is not large, as the
second shaft is not yet down in the seam, but a substan-
tial amount has been raised during the last few weeks.
In order to accommodate miners the company are nego-
tiating for about 300 o-f Ramsgate’s empty houses. This
is the nearest place where houses can be obtained, Canter-
bury being so full that there is not a small house to be
let. The plans of the Chislet Colliery board include the
building of a good sized miners’ village as soon as the
labour and materials are available.

Scotland.

The shipments of coal from the Clyde last week totalled
101,422 tons, as compared with 94,186 tons in the corre-
sponding week last year. The total from' the Forth was
18,983 tons, and from the Fife ports 36,050 tons.

It has been decided in Glasgow by the Fuel and Light-
ing Committee to issue another Order to coal merchants
and the public, limiting the supply to 1 cwt. per week
for dwelling houses, shops, offices and warehouses until
further notice.

At Burntisland Harbour last week 11,330 tons of coal
were shipped, an increase of 3,900 tons on the previous
week, and a decrease of 4,750 tons on the corresponding
week of 1917. From Methil 24,720 tons were shipped,
as against 32,276 in the previous week.

At a meeting of the Scottish branch of the Association
of Colliery Managers it was reported that the coal owners
had met a deputation from the association and discussed
with the members the question of setting up pit com-
mittees. In discussing the State ownership of mines, the
general feeling wasu that, while this piece of legislation
would have some advantages, it was impracticable. A
spirit of indifference, it was pointed out, would grow up
among the wrorkers.

MINERS AND WAR PROBLEMS.

The executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain, at their meeting in London on Wednesday,
Mr. Robert Smillie presiding, decided to approach
Ministers with requests for increases in the pay of
sailors and soldiers, the increase of war pensions, and
an increase in the compensation allowances to men
wholly disabled by industrial accidents. The execu-
tive instructed Mr. Thomas Ashton to write to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer asking him and the
Minister of Pensions to meet the committee in order
to discuss those matters.

It was also decided to ask the Home Secretary to
meet the executive to consider the immediate increase
of the compensation paid to persons wholly disabled
by industrial accidents, on the ground that the 25 per
cent, advance on the maximum allowance recently con-
ceded by Parliament is insufficient to meet the
increased cost of living.

It was resolved to hold a national conference of the
Federation on November 7 to consider the replies of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister of Pen-
sions, and the Home Secretary on these questions.

The question of the increase in the prifce of milk
was raised by certain districts, and it was agreed to
protest against the increase, and to ask the Food Con-
troller to reconsider his decision and to restore the
milk price previously fixed.

It was agreed again to approach the Coal Controller
with respect to the recent increase in the price of
explosives to workmen employed at mines, and also to
draw his attention to the increased price of pick shafts
and other tools.

It was decided that the ballot vote for permanent
officials, president and secretary, should be taken at
all the collieries in Great Britain on November 12, 13,
and 14.