1200

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

December 6, 1918.

sible by extending the workings and by other means, in
order to provide employment for the men as they came
from the Army and Navy. The workmen’s representatives
stated their willingness to consider the proposal, and
undertook to give a reply within a few days so that the
Joint Sub-Committee which has already been appointed
by the Conciliation Board could promptly meet and
arrange details. It is stated that the rate of release of
miners is now 1,000 per day, to be increased to 5,000 per
day within a fortnight.

A reply has been made to the request for continuance of '
work at Cyfarthfa steel works, Sir Edward Jones having
been informed that the mill is not, according to modern
methods, suitable for producing commercial bars except at
a loss so considerable that the Government could not,
in justice to the taxpayers, undertake continuance of the
war time arrangement.

The position of the market for coals at the present time
is very difficult. Steady demand intensifies because of
the decrease in output that must take place during the
Christmas holidays. This market has seen an acceleration
of demand owing to a peculiar feature previously drawn
attention to—that the controlled price for Cardiff steam
coal was 50s., whilst Newcastle was fixed at 70s. The
result, of course, was a transfer of orders for the superior
coal which was listed at the lower price. A few days
ago it was reported that the Controller had realised the
mistake, and that a correction of the quotation would be
announced.

New rates of freight came into operation on December 1.
There is an anomaly in the new arrangement which has
provoked much criticism, inasmuch as it leaves steamers
under 400 tons gross with a higher rate of freight than
the sailing vessels. This is the third revision which has
been made, and it still leaves great advantage to neutral
owners, for the limitation applies only to British and
Allied craft.

Prizes have been distributed to members of the Amman-
ford Colliery Ambulance Class, who at a recent examina-
tion reached 100 per cent, in the awards.

As a result of cessation of Army demand, more steel
is being released for tinplate works and for sheet manu-
facture, and it is anticipated that, in addition to exten-
sions of works now operating, there will be the re-start of
some which have been idle through lack of raw material.

The work of re-opening the.Park Slip Colliery, which
has been undertaken *by North’s Navigation Company, is
proceeding successfully. The pumps are now at work
clearing the mine of water, and it is hoped that coal will
be cut pretty early in the new year.

Northumberland and Durham.

Presiding over the annual meeting of the shareholders
in the Broomhill Collieries Limited, held in Newcastle
last week, Capt. J. E. Rogerson moved the adoption of
the annual report. He stated that in the first seven
months of the year under review, ended June 1918, some
disadvantageous circumstances prevailed which had set in
during the latter months of the previous year. The com-
pany was faced with dislocation of trade and transport,
both on land and sea, which resulted in much lost time
at the colliery. War wages to men, extraordinarily high
prices of materials and provender, and extra carriage
caused high working costs, which had to be met by the
selling prices fixed by the Coal Controller. In the latter
months of the year the convoys of steamships were more
frequent, voyages were quicker, and the supply of tonnage
was more plentiful. It was thus possible to work the
colliery regularly. Prices were increased to meet the
higher war wages, and a happier state of affairs existed,
giving more employment to the men and a better margin
on the sales.

Mainly by withdrawing the rebates on river dues on
ships and goods as from November 1917, and increasing
these dues by 50 per cent, as from March last, the Tees
Conservancy Commission has increased its revenue by
<£14,912 on the year. Now that the end of the war is
jeopardising continuance of the permission to levy these
extra imposts by reason of the Defence of the Realm
Regulations ceasing, as is probable in the near future, to
have statutory power, it is proposed to seek further legal
authority to continue the increased rates. Sir Hugh Bell
informed last Monday’s meeting of the Commissioners
that a measure was being prepared which would give port
authorities means to make such charges as would enable
them to meet their obligations.

Mr. William Clough, for 28 years engineer at Tursdale
Colliery, is taking up a similar position at Park Pit,
Skelton-in-Cleveland.

For health reasons Mr. George Hedley, of Witton-le-
Wear, for 15 years manager of the Harperley Collieries,
has resigned his position and is being succeeded by
Mr. Parkin.

Mr. Joshua Ritson, check weighman, of the Monkwear-
mouth Lodge of Durham Miners’ Association, has been
chosen as Labour candidate for the Durham Division, in
succession to Mr. Thos. Neville, resigned. Mr. Ritson is
a member of Sunderland Town Council.

Yorkshire.

The president of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association,
speaking at Pontefract in support of the candidature of
Mr. Isaac Burns (Lab.), said that a colliery owner in that
district had offered to reinstate slightly disabled returned
soldiers at the standard rate less the pension, and persisted
until a threat was made to stop the pit. They would
stop all the pits in Yorkshire where such an attempt was
made to use disabled soldiers to reduce wages. If the
Yorkshire miners were prepared to vote for coal owners
or other capitalists, they could pay some one else, and not
himself, to go cadging for votes.

At a meeting of the Doncaster Corporation, the Council
in committee reported having considered the terms of
the proposed lease to the Markham Main Colliery Com-
pany of seams of coal additional to the Barnsley seam,
and recommended that the corporation should lease to
the company in addition to the Barnsley seam all other
mines, beds or seams of coal lying under the same land
as that comprised in the lease of the Barnsley seam, the
term to be 105 years from June 1, 1908, at the following
royalties : <£25 per ft. thick per acre for the Haigh Moor
seam and the Dunsil seam, and £20 for any other
secondary seam, with a minimum rent of £750 per annum,
not to become payable until half a year after the lessees
have actually begun to work the additional coal. The
surface damage rent is <£5 per acre.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

After managing Messrs. T. and H. Scowcroft’s Tonge
Colliery, Bolton, for 31 years, Mr. Wm. Norris has retired.

Mr. John Allen Parkinson, J.P., C.C., who has been
adopted as the Labour candidate for Wigan Borough on
the nomination of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’
Federation, is the miners’ agent for the St. Helens dis-
trict of Lancashire.

Scotland.

The shipments of coal from the Clyde last week totalled
74,961 tons, as against 72,269 tons in the corresponding
week last year. From the Forth the shipments were
16,778 tons, as compared with 17,591 last year, and from
the Fife ports the total was 18,105 tons, as compared with
34,223 tons for the corresponding week of last year.

New companies in Scotland include Fordel Mains (Mid-
lothian) Colliery Company Limited, Dalkeith. The capital
is <£19,500 in <£1 shares. This is a private company, and
the subscribers are Jas. R. Wilson, colliery owner, Bank-
park, Tranent, and Thos. J. Lindsay, coal merchant,
Leith.

The coal shipments from Burntisland for the past week
were 5,650 tons, a decrease of 2,140 tons on last year’s
figure. From Methil the shipments from the port were
12,554 tons, an increase of 1,569 tons on the previous week.

At a largely attended meeting of the Lothians Branch
of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers held
in Edinburgh, a practical paper was given on “ The
Running and Maintenance of a D.C. Concentric System,”
by Mr. A. Thomson, Fauldhouse.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Wagon repairers at the Great Mountain Colliery claimed
advances of varying amounts, but were offered by the
firm a weekly rate of 36s., plus war advances of 21s. 6d.
a week, with a bonus of 12£ per cent, on earnings. The
Committee on Production has made its award granting
the 36s. a week, plus war advances of 21s. 6d., and have
stipulated that the bonus of 12^ per cent, shall not apply
to workmen as part of the time rates. They further
stipulate that the award shall not apply to any workman
in receipt of an award or bonus other than one dependent
on keeping time, or to any who have an allowance or
bonus less favourable than the 12^ per cent., in which
case the existing allowance shall merge in the 12^ per
cent.; nor shall the award apply in respect of advances
given to assist in meeting the cost of living. Piece
workers are to receive a bonus of 7£ per cent, on earnings.
The award takes effect as from the first full pay day in
August last.

Application was made to the Committee on Production
in respect of the Ebbw Vale Company’s clerks, the
National Union requiring that all who are eligible should
become members, and that membership of the Union
should be a condition of employment in future. After
hearing representatives of the parties at an interview on
November 21, the Committee have decided that the claim
has not been established.

The Tinplate Conciliation Board held at meeting at which
it was arranged that the 62^ per cent, war bonus to
employees earning under £1 per week should be raised
to 80 per cent., but although the two parties on the board
had reached this agreement official sanction was refused
at first, and for the time being the matter was placed in
suspense. It has since been decided that the rise shall
become operative as from November 4.

The executive council of the Enginemen and Stokers’
Association met in Cardiff, and the general secretary (Mr.
Hopkins) reported upon an interview which took place in
London between the Mining Association of Great Britain
and the National Council of Mine Workers (other than
miners). He stated that the question of hours to be
worked and the maintenance of a short day on Saturday
was submitted to the owners, and that the arrangement
was left in the hands of local employers and men’s repre-
sentatives. Where there were two continuing shifts of
12 hours this would be changed to three shifts of eight
hours, and this concession is regarded as likely to benefit
a large number of enginemen and stokers. It is stated,
further, that at a subsequent meeting of the executive of
the National Council of Mine Workers they decided to
recommend each affiliated society to accept that offer.

The South Wales miners had a special conference in
Cardiff on Tuesday, dealing with the question of the 8^
hours day for surfacemen. At a previous conference a
resolution had been passed arranging that the new time
limit should come into operation on December 5; but as
the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain at their con-
ference recommended January 1, the South Wales dele-
gates came together, and after discussion resolved to
adopt the same date. The new hours of work will there-
fore come into operation at the beginning of next year.

A number of disputes were dealt with, including that
at the Bedwas Colliery, where the men have been idle
for five weeks owing to their disagreement with the fire-
men. Notwithstanding intervention by the leaders of the
Federation, the workmen still stand out upon their own
contentions, desiring the removal of the firemen with whom
they have disagreed. The men held a meeting at the
colliery on Monday and discussed their grievances with
Mr. T. Richards (secretary) and other Federation leaders—
among them Mr. Vernon Hartshorn and Mr. Noah Ablett
—who advised the men to abide by the recommendation
of the executive. This, however, the men refused, and
their meeting decided to reiterate their demand for dis-
missal of the whole of the firemen.

The Joint Committee upon Disputes met at Cardiff on
Tuesday, with Mr. Evan Williams in the chair. There
has been a claim for payment of the bonus turn to work-
men who returned home owing to false reports of the
signing of the armistice, and this was referred back to
the managers and workmen concerned in order that a
further effort might be made to arrive at a settlement.
A similar course was taken upon the refusal of the Albion
Company to pay half a day’s wages to a number of men
on the occasion of a fatal accident. It was decided that
the prosecution of the Pantyffynon men for stopping with-
out notice, as also of men at Tirydail, should be proceeded
with, but with regard to the prosecution of men at Craw-
shay Castle Pit and of others at Celynen No. 3 Pit, the
matter was referred to the next meeting. There were
several disputes as to payment of war wage for week-end
shifts, and the decision of these was deferred for reference
to the Coal Controller.

North of England.

At the most recent session of the Northumberland Coal
Trade Joint Committee, the award in respect of the Low
Main Seam, Preston Colliery, North Shields, was received.
This stipulates for broken at 5d. per ton less than the
price for whole; and is not to come into operation until
six months after the cessation of hostilities with Germany.
The putting price at the same place is to be advanced
3d. per score, and when the ordinary putter has time and
hews and fills coal, he is to be paid 2s. per ton. In
the Brockwell seam the putting price is to remain un-
altered, but any putters having time to hew and fill coal
are to have their tonnage price advanced to 2s. 6d. The
claim from New Delaval, New Hartley and Seaton Delaval

that the screeners should be paid the current county per-
centage, viz., 120 per cent., on the pre-war rates for all
casting and filling was conceded as regards all such casting
and filling as is done outside pit hours. Seghill workmen
claimed that, according to custom and the award on
March 25, 1913, in filling after coal cutters in the Yard
seam, where the coal exceeded 3 ft. in height, the thick-
ness of the seam above 3 ft. should not be included for
purposes of measurement. This was granted. Considera-
tion of all cases remaining upon the agenda was deferred
until next meeting, on January 11 next.

At a meeting of the Cumberland Coal Conciliation Board
held at Workington on November 18 last, the neutral
chairman (Judge Gawan Taylor) had before him an appli-
cation on behalf of the workmen for increased pay. His
award is as follows: The present standard wages of
labour shall be advanced to 5s. per day, which shall be
the minimum standard wage for this class. The present
standard wages of all other classes of workmen included
in the application shall be advanced 6d. per day. The
minimum standard wage of these classes shall be 5s.
per day. The standard wage of workmen who are recog-
nised as being inefficient from any cause, and who are
now being paid lower wages on that account shall have
their present standard wages advanced 6d. per day. The
present standard wages of youths of 18 years of age shall
be advanced 6d. per day. Should any youth of this age
be sent to do the work of a labourer he shall receive
the labourers’ minimum standard of 5s. per day. The
present standard wages of lads from 16 to 18 years of
age shall be advanced 3d. per day. Boys starting on
the surface shall be paid the following standard wages :
For the first six months, Is. 7d. per day; for the second
six months, Is. 9d.; for the third six months, Is. lid.;
and for the fourth six months, 2s. Id. The present
standard wages of female workers shall be advanced 3d.
per day. The present scale regulating the wages of
apprentices shall continue in force. The provisions of
the award operate from October 26.

Federated Area.

The Yorkshire miners’ executive at Barnsley discussed
the new regulations, and it was decided to submit the
whole matter to the district with the object of allowing
the men to tender notices unless a revision of the price
list was agreed to. The officials have asked the repre-
sentatives of the owners to meet them at an early date
to discuss the matter. The district by a large majority
agreed that the men at Newhall and Middleton Collieries
should give notice to leave work on refusing to work
with men not members of the association. The men at
White Lea Colliery were allowed to take the same action
on similar grounds. In support of the demand for the
revision of price listsj at Frickley, Bullcroft, Bentley,
Brods worth, Edlington, Maltby, Rossington and Askern
collieries, the district agreed that notices should be
tendered, but action was deferred pending negotiations.
Wath Main men were granted permission to give notice
owing to the non-union question.

The council of the Nottingham Miners’ Association at
Monday’s meeting agreed to enforce the stokers’ award
at Sutton Colliery. The agent was instructed to press
the coal owners for a meeting within one month at which
to discuss the main road workers’ price list. Action is
to.be taken at certain collieries also to secure a clerks’
price list. Arrangements were made for the president and
six delegates to meet local owners with reference to a
war wage settlement. The men employed at Cinder Hill
pit were given permission to hand in notices unless the
company agreed to remedy their grievances. A levy of
6d. per head was sanctioned to pay the Huthwaite and
Bentinck miners who recently went on strike.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

A meeting of the executive of the Iron and Steel Trades
Confederation was held in London last week, among those
present being Mr. Henry Bowen (Llanelly) and Mr. Percy
Whitehead (Newport). It was decided to endorse the
holding of a conference in Newcastle on December 10 to
consider the application of an eight hours shift for the
whole of the iron and steel trades of the country. It was
also agreed to send representations to the Government
with regard to war munition volunteers, of whom many
are tinplate workers, who have to keep two homes and
have had a subsistence allowance of 17s. 6d. per week
This is to terminate on December 14. The representations
to be made are that while the men have the two homes
to keep they should get the allowance.

The ironworkers in the Midland Iron and Steel Wages
Board’s area, which includes Lancashire and Yorkshire
and South Wales, under the accountants’ return, will
receive a 5 per cent, advance on Monday next. This will
make the rate for puddling 20s. 3d. per ton, which is far
higher than anything ever touched even in the boom
following the Franco-German War. The average net
selling price of iron during September and October was
£16 9s. 7d. per ton, an increase of 8s. 6d. per ton over
the two previous months. The total output by the
selected firms in September and October was 27,290 tons,
compared with 23,739 tons in July and August.

The Committee on Production issued their award in the
recent claim by the Associated Ironmoulders of Scotland
and the Central Ironmoulders of Scotland for a wages
advance to their members of 15s. per week to those over
18, and 7s. 6d. per week to those under 18. The award
is that advances should be granted of 5s. and 2s. 6d.
respectively.

Miners’ Permanent Officials.—Our Mining Correspondent
writes that the votes recorded in the ballot for the elec-
tion of the first permanent president and secretary of
the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, which are now
being counted at Southport, show that only about 50 per
cent, of the 700,000 members of the Federation evinced
sufficient interest to give their votes. This apathy on
the part of the miners in the selection of such important
officials may be attributable to the fact that the ballot
was taken in armistice week, when the majority of the
men were making holiday over the* successful termination
of the war. It may be taken as assured that for the
office of president Mr. R. Smillie will be elected by an
overwhelming majority over Mr. Geo. J. Hancock, M.P.,
the only other candidate. It is a condition of the appoint-
ment that neither the president nor the secretary shall
be a Member of Parliament or a candidate. Mr. Smillie
retired from Hamilton to comply with this condition;
but Mr. Hancock has consolation in his unopposed re-
election for the Belper Division of Derbyshire. There are
eight candidates for the office of secretary, and the elec-
tion is said to rest between S. Roebuck (Yorkshire),
J. Robson (Durham), and Frank Hodges (South Wales),
with possibly a slight preference for the last named.