980 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 8, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week October 27 to November 2, 1918. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-4h. 14° + 4h.-6h. 14° + 6h.-8h. 14° + 8h.-10h. 14° + 10h.-12h. 14° + 12h.-14h. 14° + 14h.-16h. 14° + 16h.-18h. i 14° + i ’ 18h.-20h. 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., Oct. 27 0 46*0 46*5 47*0 46*0 44*5 48*5 51*5 50*0 48*0 47*5 46*5 45*5 47*5 Mon., ,, 28 2 47’0 47*0 46*0 45*5 44*5 49*5 55*0 53’5 48*5* 48*0 46*5 46*0 48*0 Tues., „ 29 0 46*5 46*5 46*0 45*0 44*5 48*5 51*5 50*5 48*5 47*0 44*5 42*0 46*5 Wed., „ 30 0 46*5 47*5 46*0 45*0 44*5 49*5 52*0 50*0 48'0 47*0 46*5 42*5 47*0 Thurs., ,, 3 1 43*5 44*5 45*0 48*0 49*5 51*5 54*5 520 48*5 43*5 43*0 47*0 47’5 Friday, „ 1 1 46*5 47*5 46*0 44*5 44*5 49*0 52*0 50*0 48*5 47'0 ! 44*0 46*0 47*0 Sat., „ 2 1 47*5 48*0 47*0 ! 45*0 1 45*0 49*0 51*0 50*0 47*0 47*0 ? 1 46*0 45*5 47*5 Mean value for Diurnal i n e- Ih. 2h. 3h. 4h. 5h. 6h. 7h. 8h. 9h. lOh. Uh. 12h. 13h. Uh. 15h. 16h. 17h. 18h. 19h. 20h. 21h. 22h. 23h. 24h. month. quality (i.e., Nov.1917 -0*9 -1*0 -0*6 -0*3 -0*7 -1*2 -1*9 -2*8 -2*9 -1*5 + 1*4 +3*1 + 3*3 +3*2 + 2'8 +2’0 + 0*8 +0’3 0'0 -0*1’ -0*7 -0*9 -0*8 -0*9 14° 56'*6 Nov.T7 departure from Oct. 1918 -1*4 -1*5 -1*3 -0*9 -0*7 -1*1 -2*1 -3*1 —3'2 -1*3 + 2*0 +5*0 + 6*0 +5*8 + 4’6 +2*6 + 1'1 +0*4 -0*6 -1*6 -2*3 -2*3 -2*4 -1*9 14° 47" 7 Oct. ’18 mean value for Oct. 1917 -1*5 -1'4 -1*1 -0*8 -0*8 -1*8 -3*5 -5*1 -4*7 -2*2 + 1*5 +4’4 + 5*5 1-5*5 + 4*5 +2*9 + 2*1 +1*3 + 0*5 -0*1 -0*7 -1*2 -1*5 -1’8 14° 57'*5 Oct. H7 day) The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 24 h. (mi I night) 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 part 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, November 6. Notes from the Coal Fields. [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. Graigola-M erth/yr Reorganisation—N orth-country Coal at Higher Price than Welsh—Miners and National Kitchens—The Joint Committee Difficulties—Agent for Dowlais—Surfacemen's Hours. It is now announced that the new board of directors has been formed for the undertaking which Mr. D. R. Llewellyn recently carried through at a cost of <£2,000,000 sterling whereby the Graigola-Merthyr Company, with its French connections, etc., were acquired. Mr. Llewellyn himself is to be the chairman of the new company, with Viscountess Rhondda (who, it is stated, has a large interest in the new venture) as deputy chairman. Mr. H. Seymour Berry, who is director of several Welsh collieries as well as of other undertakings, joins the board; as also does Mr. Ernest Plisson (of Lysberg Limited), chairman of the Plisson Steam Navigation Company. Other directors are Messrs. Percy Miles and Louis Bielski (of Morgan, Wakley and Co., one of the largest coal exporting firms) ; also Mr. H. H. Merrett, of the Ynisarwed Collieries, and partner in James Llewellyn and Merrett Limited. Another director is Mr. F. W. Mander (Aberdare), of the Bwllfa and Merthyr Dare, and the Cwmaman collieries. Forecast is made of extensive developments, particularly in manu- facture of patent fuel. It is a remarkable fact that, contrary to all market experience, the Coal Controller has fixed the price of north country coal for neutrals at a higher figure than that of South Wales. In pre-war days there was a wide difference in favour of South Wales—probably to the extent of 40 per cent. Under the control system a closer approach was made, but right up to the present time South Wales has held the lead—the difference approximating 2s. 6d. a ton. Under the latest fixture, however, the market figures show that shipments on the Tyne, whilst still below South Wales rates when the cargo is for Allied pur- chasers, give a far heavier figure for the sales to neutral buyers. The Food Controller has written to one of the South Wales miners’ leaders upon the demand for increased rations, and he states that if he could go further in making special provision for miners and other men doing heavy manual work he would gladly do so. He points out, how- ever, that when he proposed earlier this year a scheme for supplementary meat rations to heavy manual workers he consulted responsible trade union leaders and the Par- liamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress, but their view was that discrimination between trade and trade would lead to' trouble, because the workers would insist upon being all treated alike. He concludes : “ The plan therefore was not followed up. I will do all I can, and I jiope the miners will not make our task difficult by ceasing work, if only for a day.” There had been a threat in some quarters that only four days a week should be worked unless the food rations were more satisfactory. The Coal Controller has received deputations in London both from the employers and workmen in regard to the difficulty of forming a joint committee at each pit which shall deal with absenteeism and endeavour to improve the output. Locally, the parties failed to settle, although several meetings have been held, the hindrance being that the workmen claim power to interfere with the manage- ment at each pit. The Controller has now drafted a new clause which he thinks will meet the difficulty, and this will be considered by each side separately. A further conference will take place. In the final ballot for electing an agent for the Dowlais district of miners the successful candidate was Mr. Davies, of Llanelly, who polled 1,245 votes as against 1,142 for Mr. W. Mainwaring. It is noteworthy that the suc- cessful candidate holds the University degree of B.A. The delegate conference of the South Wales Federation summoned to consider the question of the eight hour day for surfacemen sat in Cardiff on Monday and considered a proposal that notice should be given to the coal owners as follows : “ That on and after the 18th of November, 1918, the workmen now engaged at the collieries, who are at present working longer hours than the men handling coal on the surface, shall cease work at the same time as men handling coal, and shall adjust their meal times in accordance with the practice at the particular collieries. Should any difficulty arise with the owners as the result of this action which the council are unable to settle, a further conference shall be called to deal with it.” The matter has been before the Controller, who suggested that the concession should be made, as desired by the men, within six months from proclamation of peace ; but both the Federation and the Enginemen and Stokers’ Associa- tion did not approve of this suggestion. It is argued on the part of the workmen that their pro- posal is really for a day of 8^ hours. They will reduce their meal time from 1J, hours to 20 minutes. During the conference earnest contention was made that an endeavour should be put forth to secure a clean-cut eight hours day ; but the majority of the delegates decided to adhere to the recommendation of the executive council, and finally the council’s recommendation (as above) was adopted unanimously. Upon this question of surfacemen’s eight hours demand Mr. V. Hartshorn issued a strong letter through the local Press which had material influence on the discussion, his chief argument being that the changes desired did not mean a great reduction in the actual working hours of the surfacemen. At the meeting of the executive of the South Wales Federation in Cardiff, on Saturday, Mr. V. Hartshorn was nominated as a South Wales candidate for the post of treasurer of the Miners’ Federation of Great* Britain. The alleged ill-treatment of horses came again before Merthyr Court on Tuesday, prosecution of the agent, the manager, and three horse keepers at South Duffryn Colliery having been instituted by the chief inspector of mines. The inspector of horses for Glamorgan deposed that certain animals he had examined were quite unfit to be worked, and his evidence was corroborated by a Home Office veterinary surgeon. The cases were not concluded, when a week’s adjournment of the hearing was decided on. Capt. Tom White, East Lancashire Regt., who has been awarded the V.C., was employed as a collier at the Llanerch Colliery, Abersychan, before he enlisted as a private in the 2nd Monmouthshire Regt, soon after the outbreak of war. His progress in the Army has been steady and highly creditable. The joint committee of the Conciliation Board which deals with disputes sat in Cardiff, on Tuesday, under Mr. Evan Williams, chairman to the owners’ section. An inti- mation was made to the workmen’s representatives that the employers intended to prosecute workmen for stopping without notice at six collieries in different parts of the district. From the employers’ side complaint was made that the action of pit bottom men in the Glamorgan col- lieries had occasioned reduction of output, and it was stated that the workmen could not get contract rates. The question at issue was referred for local settlement by the manager and the miners’ agent.. Reference to local negotiators was also made in respect of the dispute concerning supply of house coal at Blaenavon. Instruc- tions issued by the committee concerning points of prin- ciple will be referred to the Coal Controller for his ruling. The question of paying war wage for Sunday work and week-end shifts at Llanbradach was decided in accordance with the general instruction of the Controller on the ques- tion of overtime. Settlement was made of the dispute at Wyndham Colliery as to payment of boys, also to the week-end shift at Messrs. Insoles collieries, and the refusal to pay the proportionate part of the bonus turn to men at Evans and Bevans’ No. 2 Colliery, who had worked every shift possible during the railway strike. Mr. F. J. Cartwright, agent to the Blaenavon Company Limited, presided at the annual meeting of the Blaenavon Ambulance Brigade on Friday evening, when certificates, medallions, etc., were presented to the members accord- ing to their degree of proficiency. Northumberland and Durham. The Newcastle Daily Journal of October 31 contained the report of an interview with “ a well-known coal owner representing a large colliery company in the north.” This gentleman affirmed that the reduced output was due not so much to absenteeism, but to wilful slacking, and in some cases to positive restriction under the shelter of the Minimum Wage Act. The slacking he ascribed to “ too much war bonus ” and the system of allowances to men even when not at work. It was a great scandal that the Eight Hours Act was not suspended long ago. As to the complaint that the best seams were not being worked, it ought to be made known that during the war, in answer to the urgent appeals of the Government, the coal owners, in this district at all events, abandoned the harder and more difficult seams in order to concentrate upon the softer and more easily worked districts—a procedure which meant a considerable wastage of the best assets of the colliery companies, and yet the Government, in computing profits, declined to make any allowance in respect of the wastage, although the Finance Act provided for such de- preciation. The Durham miners were not increasing the output to any large extent, despite appeals. The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners' Association has agreed to make a grant of £10 per quarter from the Association’s political fund to any of their Labour Representation Committees having the services of an organiser, the grant to be over and above the Asso- ciation’s usual payment to any such Labour Representa- tion Committee. The executive has decided, also, in reply to a letter from the men dismissed at the instigation of North Walbottle workmen for being conscientious ob- jectors, to say that the period of suspension of benefits, put into operation against the branch for its refusal to obey the orders of the executive to allow the agents to attend a branch meeting for the purpose of enquiring into the facts of the case, has now expired, and that it can now only ask the branch to remove the unjust embargo against the employment of the dismissed men. Members of the Newcastle section of the Society of Chemical Industry last Saturday visited, at the invitation of Messrs. Bowes and Partners Limited, extended through Mr. Wm. Diamond, the Marley Hill coke ovens and by- product plant, of which works Mr. Diamond is the manager. The installation was described in detail on page 1103 of the Colliery Guardian of May 31 last. The outing was the first of its kind held by the section in recent years. Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. At the termination of the war there will be extensive developments in the North Notts coal field. Prepara- tions have been made for the sinking of three new collieries, the leases having already been signed, and it is stated that in three other cases negotiations are in a more or less forward state. The Bolsover Colliery Company have completed arrangements for sinking a pit on the Duke of Portland’s estate at Clipstone. Two pits are to be opened in the Blidworth district by the New- stead Colliery Company. If boring is satisfactory at Allerton and at Bilsthorpe, east of Rufford Colliery, on land belonging to Lord Savile, pits will be worked by the Butterley Company and the Stanton Ironworks Com- pany. It is probable that the Wigan Coal and Iron Company, who have a pit at Manton, will sink another on the Duke of Newcastle’s estate outside Worksop. Negotiations have yet to be opened with respect to Sir Charles Seely’s coal on the Sherwood Estate, including Oxton, and as to the Thornley Estate (Earl Manvers), where the seam is supposed to be good. Kent. The amount of coal raised at Tilmanstone Colliery last week was 2,521 tons, a decided improvement on the previous week, when influenza was very prevalent amongst the miners. The Snowdown Colliery output continues on very much the same lines as Tilmanstone, and Chislet Colliery is raising a certain amount of coal weekly. The second shaft at the last-named colliery is being rapidly got down to the seam. Two postponements of the sittings of the conference at Canterbury with regard to the dispute concerning the wages of the surfacemen at the Tilmanstone, Snowdown and Chislet collieries has been rendered necessary through influenza. Scotland. Mr. Mark Brand, general manager of the Twechar works and pits of Messrs. Wm. Baird and Company Limited, had been transferred to the Lugar works of the same firm. He is to be succeeded as general manager of the Kilsyth and Twechar concerns by Capt. Buchanan. The coal shipped from Burntisland last week amounted to 10,010 tons, as against 7,500 tons in the corresponding week last year. The shipment from Methil was 12,680 tons, against 19,724 tons the previous week. The shipments of coal from the Clyde last week totalled 90,614 tons, as against 95,466 tons in the corresponding week last year. From the Forth the total shipments were 18,084 tons, as compared with 19,031 tons for the corre- sponding week last year, and from the Fife ports 22,788 tons, as compared with 24,165 tons. Middlesbrough Iron and Steel Shipments. — Official returns of the shipments of pig iron, manufactured iron and steel from the Port of Middlesbrough for the month of October are disappointing, the aggregate being but little in advance of the total for the preceding month, which, with one exception, was the worst return since the outbreak of war. Clearances of pig iron amounted to 29,092 tons, as against 29,579 tons in September, and as more iron was shipped coastwise—8,281 tons as against 6,166 tons in September—the foreign shipments, which totalled only 20,811 tons, represent the lowest figure recorded since the war commenced. Of manufactured iron only 173 tons were shipped, but there were 9,357 tons of steel despatched, compared with 6,738 tons in September. The coastwise shipments of manufactured iron and steel amounted to 1,141 tons for the month, whilst 8,389 tons went abroad. Miners’ Demand for Higher Pay.—The executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, which met. in London on Wednesday, decided to press for an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the question of increased pay for soldiers and sailors, higher separation allowances, and pay to dependants. The Chancellor had not yet agreed to meet the Federation, on the ground that "the answer he had given in the House of Commons covered the points raised. This answer the executive regarded as far from satisfactory. The Federation asks for the payment of 6s. per day to all soldiers and sailors, with a minimum separation allowance of 12s. 6d. per week, including each son, even if only an apprentice, and also “ adequate allowances, death grants, and pensions to all dependants.” The executive is seeking to arrange that all members of the Federation who have done service overseas, and have been sent back owing to wounds or sickness, and classified as only fit for home service, should be discharged with adequate State pensions.