January 10, W13 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 87 ROTES FROM SOUTH WALES. [from our own correspondent.] New Exchange for Swansea—Resistance to Charges for Coal-mixing—Five Thousand Men Idle Because of Fifty Non-unionists—New Seams Struck—The Year’s Returns at Barry and Newport—Minimum Wage Committee and the Award—The Threatened Litigation (upon the Award) Defined—“ Definite, Decided, and Militant Action ”—Police Exonerated in Respect of Cwmtillery Riots—Munificence of Rhondda Coalowner—Miners and Medical Men: Some Insurance Act Troubles. On Friday, the president of Swansea Coal Exchange (Mr. L. G. Jeffreys), by removing a brick, formally commenced the demolition of the old Exchange, and in the course of a subsequent address he dwelt upon the progress of the coal trade in that district and the growth of the port in general commerce, whereby the necessity was created for provision of an adequate building. Among other speakers were Mr. R. L. Sands, Mr. S. Stevens, Mr. H. Goldberg, Mr. C. P. Jones, and Mr. A. Moffat. About eighteen months will be occupied in the work of demolition and construction, and a hand- some pile of buildings will replace the present Exchange at a cost of £22,000, adjacent areas being added to the present site. The membership (which was only 100 when the old Exchange started) has gone up to 300, and is steadily increasing. As further evidence of the industrial progress of Swansea, it may be mentioned that the great Mannesmann Tube Works at Landore are likely to undergo consider- able extension. Negotiations are said to be in hand for acquisition of many acres of land adjoining the present works, and it is believed that the contemplated extensions will give employment to between 1,000 and 2,000 additional men. Action against the new charges for mixing coal at the docks has taken concrete form at Swansea, where shippers have refused to pay the extra imposts, and are handing in their orders under protest. Because of about 50 non-unionists no fewer than 5,000 men in the Maesteg district stopped work this week. Indeed, the difficulty did not affect even as many as 50 non-unionists, for that number included the Federa- tionists who were “ out of compliance.” During Monday a section of these paid up; but still the stoppage continued, and at a mass meeting Mr. Hartshorn declared it to be “ a shame ” that for the sake of so small a minority so large a number should “ have to ” lose their employment. The collieries concerned were Coegnant, Caerau, Maesteg Deep, and Cwmdu. At Bwllfa and Merthyr Dare collieries, Aberdare, notices which affect 2,000 men and boys have been tendered in antagonism to so-called non-unionists, but the real position is complicated by the existence of a separate organisation, known as the Wagemen’s Union, which the Federationists regard as “ non-unionists.” The Tredegar Company have struck the Elled seam at the depth of 460 yards, in their new Markham Colliery, and find it to be 4 ft. thick and of splendid quality. At the Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, in the Avon Valley, a fine seam of steam coal has been found at a depth of only 17 yards from the present workings ; and it proves to be over 5 ft. thick. In the Barrow pits, Bryncethin, three seams have been proved, each of good quality. Both Barry and Newport, despite the coal strike. ’ show, in their returns for 1912, how great is the develop- ment of the coal trade of South Wales; and their figures have to be read in the light of colliery developments and dock extensions now in progress if a true appreciation of their import is to be attained. Barry is said to have lost much over a million tons—probably 1| millions— in shipments through the strike. Nevertheless, coal and coke exports totalled 9,732,606 tons, an increase of about 600,000 tons over 1911, and the total business of the port aggregated 10,371,756 tons, an increase of 555,350 tons. Newport registers a decrease of over a quarter of a million tons in coal, the figures being 4,037,044 against 4,316,162 tons; but, in other respects, trade was good. The minimum wage sub-committee of the statutory Joint Board met on Saturday in Cardiff, and, amongst other business, considered again the issuing of a circular giving decisions arrived at upon various points which have arisen under Lord St. Aldwyn’s award. But it was found impracticable to complete the task, and an adjourn- ment was made. Several disputes were considered and referred to representatives for investigation. A statement by Mr. Watts Morgan, the Rhondda agent, makes clear the points that will be submitted to the Courts in order to test the legality of some of the provisions contained in Lord St. Aldwyn’s award. That award imposes upon a workman the obligation to give notice of his failure to earn the piecework minimum (upon grounds specified in the rules); and what has to be tested is whether failure to give such notice disentitles the workman to the minimum wage under the Act. Another point is the right of employers to take the average earnings of a man for a fortnight, in • order to ascertain his daily rate. The men’s represen-1 tatives hold that the wages earned in one week have nothing to do with the succeeding week ; and they are stated to have obtained counsel’s opinion to this effect. A third point relates to the “daily rate” of pieceworkers on the afternoon and night shifts. The owners divide the total week’s earnings by five, whereas the men contend that inasmuch as six turns are paid for every five worked, the calculation should be on that basis. Upon this latter question a conference is to be summoned; and the men will be asked to take “definite, decided, and militant action.” Mr. Morgan said that the men did not want the old custom of 28 days’ notice to continue, and therefore did not contest the owners’ appeal against the Pontypridd stipendiary’s decision in the 24 hours’ case. They were prepared to agree to seven or 14 days’ notice, but could not accept the conditions it was sought to impose. A committee of Monmouth county has been investi- gating charges made against the police in respect of their action at Cwmtillery during the riots in July last, and has decided that under the circumstances their conduct was reasonable and proper, and that the officers did not exceed their duty. In the course of an article dealing with the present position of affairs in the coalfield, Mr. V. Hartshorn, miners’ agent, Maesteg, declares “ There is not the slightest doubt that the Minimum Wage Act has resulted in a very large money gain to the miners, as a whole,” and that “the benefits which will be wrung out of the measure are enormous.” Also “the Act has proved a very great blessing.” But he goes on to argue that it can be nothing more than a palliative of the conditions of “ capitalism,” and that the nationalisation of mines is necessary for the protection both of the wage earner and the consumer. ( It would be well—for themselves no less than for their constituents—if some of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain leaders who are now discussing the Nationalisation of Mines Bill would compile a financial statement of investments and wages, learning therefrom —what has been so clearly demonstrated—that, in the separate class interest of Labour alone, the substitution of official regulation for the speculation of private capitalists could not fail to decrease the demand for labour. Mr. W. J. Thomas, of the Standard Collieries, Ynyshir, in the Rhondda, has been a munificent contributor to the funds of Cardiff Infirmary and other local charities, and he has now added to his bounties by making a very generous offer to the churches of all denominations in the neighbourhood of his Rhondda collieries. To a meeting of the clergy and ministers he is reported to have offered pound for pound if they would raise sums sufficient to clear the debts on then- places of worship. Mr. Thomas is also owner in part of the new Bedwas Collieries near Caerphilly. At Swansea Rescue Station, Mr. Reddiford, hitherto chief assistant at the Porth Station, has been appointed to succeed the late Mr. Painter as superintendent. Mr. W. Abraham, M.P. (“ Mabon”), has been con- fined to his house, owing to a chill, and for some days was ordered to remain abed as a measure of precaution. Colliery developments in the Forest of Dean have necessitated applications to the West Dean Council for provision of houses. On behalf of the Cannop Colliery Company, 200 houses are required because of opening out the deep seams, and at the meeting of the Council on Friday another application was made. The secretary of the Princess Royal Company desired that 50 new houses should be put up for their workmen. A remarkable situation has been created in the Rhondda by the coming into operation of the Insurance Act, particularly in regard to the Glamorgan Collieries The workmen decided to establish a medical fund similar to that of Ebbw Vale and some other places in the coalfield, their object being to secure medical attendance for themselves and families, to provide for widows and orphans, and certain other dependants. Notice was therefore given terminating arrangements with the medical men who have been working under a poundage system. But those gentlemen desire to continue the system, and they issued a circular to the men individually explaining their position, at the same time intimating that the notice given them was not legal. Moreover, they pointed out that during the 10 months of the Cambrian strike, and also during the national strike of last year, they had given medical attendance, but that, notwithstanding promises to be repaid what had been expended in assistants’ salaries and drugs (the appointed doctors themselves not receiving any pay), This promise has not been kept. ... We have been working for nothing since November 1910 (when you came out on strike) up to the present time to enable us to pay the debts incurred in giving you proper treatment during the strike. . . . Now, before paying us back, it is proposed to establish a medical scheme. It is said that the amount owing to the doctors is about £900. Some little disorder arose at a meeting on Tuesday, where the doctors explained their position but eventually a resolution was passed in favour of another ballot being taken. This incident does not stand alone, the Insurance Act having necessitated other rearrangements, and on Tuesday a meeting of medical men with Federation representatives was held at Porth in order to arrive, if possible, at an understanding as to future procedure. Agreement, however, proved to be impracticable. In several other places new plans have been discussed and adopted for carrying through an altered system. OBITUARY. Mr. Francis Hobson, who was formerly a member of the firm now known as Hobson, Houghton and Co., Don Steel Works, Sheffield, has died at Trowbridge, where he had resided for the past 10 years. He leaves a widow and two daughters. A fatal accident occurred last week at the Nantycarfan Colliery, between Crynant and Seven Sisters, in the Dulais Valley, Neath. The manager of the colliery, Mr. Wm. Howell, Penywern, attempted to place a “ sprag ” in a moving truck, but it threw him to the ground and the wheels of the wagon passed over one of his legs and caused other injuries, which resulted in his death. Mr. Humphrey Evans, a well-known West Cumberland pit sinker, died at his residence at Netherton, on Wednesday last, after a prolonged illness. He was 77 years of age. The death occurred, at his residence at Ellenborough, near Mary port, last week, of Mr. John Fawcett, a well-known Cumberland colliery official, in his 69th year. For a number of years Mr. Fawcett was under-manager of the Robin Hood Colliery, near Broughton Moor, the property of the Flimby and Broughton Moor Colliery Company. He was also for many years the president of the Maryport ' Co-operative Industrial Society. Mr. Fawcett retired some I three years ago, and for the last few months has only been in indifferent health. The interment took place on Sunday afternoon, in Dearham Churchyard, in the presence of a very large number of townspeople and sympathising friends. The death is announced, having taken place on Christmas Eve, of a pioneer in the anthracite trade. Mr. W. H. Essery, who passed away at the age of 85, at Caswell, near Swansea, was for half a-century engaged in the export of anthracite. The death has occurred of Mr. George Andrew Hurst, of The Cliffes, Tamworth. Mr. Hurst, who was 53 years of age, was the general manager of the Kingsbury collieries, Tamworth. At an early age he took up the study of mining, and later on became associated with the Dukinfield collieries, where he gained a practical knowledge of mining. After becoming a certified manager, he became connected with the Kingsbury collieries some 25 years ago. He left a wife and family. The death is announced of Mr. Richard Clark, coal merchant, 34, New York-terrace, York, after an illness extending over some three months. The deceased was 67 years of age, and all his life had taken a very keen interest in local affairs. Messrs. Andrew Reid and Co. Limited, of Newcastle, have in the press a work on “ Coal and the Prevention of Explo- sions and Fires in Mines,” by Dr. John Harger, at a price of 3s. 6d. net.