March 14, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

551

The United States last year exported
18,148,767 tons of coal, an increase of 716,014
tons as compared with 1911, notwithstanding a
decreased export to Canada. The exports due
to the stoppage in Great Britain are placed at
777,063 tons.

A meeting of the South Staffordshire Institute
was held at Birmingham on Monday, when Mr.
Hubert Bradshaw read an interesting paper on
colliery development, with special relation to
the surface. An important discussion on
valuation methods followed.

Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who acted recently
as independent chairman of the Scottish Coal
Trade Conciliation Board, issued his decision
last week in connection with the application of
the Scottish miners for an increase of wages.
The workmen claimed an advance to the extent
of 25 per cent, on the basis of rates prevailing
in 1888, and Lord Balfour has awarded an
advance of 12J per cent on that basis, to take
effect from the 7th inst.

The first meeting of the Commission appointed
to take evidence on housing in Scotland was
held in the board room at the Commission’s
offices, 20, Melville-street, Edinburgh, on Tues-
day, Sir Henry Ballantine, of Minden, Peebles
(chairman), presiding. Mr. Macpherson, legal
member of the Local Government Board for
Scotland, was the first witness called.

The annual report of the Railway and Canal
Commission covering the year ended Decem-
ber 31 [Cd. 6651] states that under the Railway
and Canal Traffic Acts 53 applications had been
made to the Court. There were four applica-
tions for working agreements.

The Glamorgan Coal Company successfully
appealed, on Wednesday, from a decision of the
Pontypridd stipendiary magistrate, who had
decided an important case in favour of a miner
named Amos who claimed damages in lieu of a
month’s notice. Mr. Justice Channell said as
far as could be seen that agreement was not
terminated when the man received his day’s
notice.

The annual meeting of the Association of
the Chambers of Commerce has been held this
week at the Whitehall Rooms, under the
presidency of Sir Algernon Firth. The latter,
in his address, dealt at length with the advance
in food prices and wages. Amongst the resolu-
tions passed was one calling for the repeal of
the Trade Disputes Act, whilst resolutions on
the related subjects of railway rates and
demurrage were carried ; but a resolution calling
for a Royal Commission to enquire into the
working of railways was defeated. The Board
of Trade was asked to prepare a report on the
trade with countries affected by the opening of
the Panama Canal.

In the Scottish Justiciary Appeal Court, the
appeal of Wallace Thorneycroft, managing
director of the Plean Colliery Company Limited,
and Peter Inglis, manager of the East Plean
Colliery, against a decision in the Sheriff Court
of having infringed the Eight Hours Act by
employing pit road repairers below ground on a
Sunday “ for meeting danger or apprehended
danger” has been dismissed. It was proved
that these emergencies arose constantly, and the
Lord Justice-Clerk said that in order to bring a
case under the exception there must be some-
thing abnormal or serious as distinguished from
the ordinary working of the pit. If amendment
of the law in respect of the Sunday interval
were desired, that could be done only by
Parliament.

This week, at Swansea, an enquiry was
reopened under section 79 of the Factory
and Workshops Act, 1901, which had been held

at Cardiff and Swansea in June 1911 as to the
draft regulations for the manufacture of patent
fuel. For the Home Office, Mr. Llewellyn
Williams stated that, as regards the prevalence
of eye trouble, since the last enquiry an experi-
ment had been made at the Graigola Works at
Swansea of handling the pitch under cover, which
had turned out to be very beneficial. Other
experiments made with respect to goggles, soap,
and lotion had been fairly satisfactory. As
regards the skin affection, precautions had been
adopted, including at 10 works the encasing of
machinery conveying mixtures of coal and dust.
As to washing, he said Swansea witnesses seemed
to derive no great benefit from it, while at Cardiff
men had said they would rather give up the
work than endure the punishment of having
to wash when their skin was inflamed with
the effect of the dust. Experiments have shown
that some varieties of pitch are more harmful
than others.

That malingering is steadily
Malingering, on the increase is beyond a
question ; also that this increase
is largely due to the trend of modern legislation-
The subject is, however, fraught with difficulty,
partly from a natural disinclination to impute
wilful fraud to an employee who alleges that he is
suffering, and partly from the inherent difficulties
in diagonising symptoms which are largely
subjective. Sir John Collie has done a real
service to the community at large and to
colliery owners as large employers of labour,
by the publication of his recent work
on malingering.* The author’s exceptional
opportunities of experience render this a work
of more than usual value, especially as it arrives
at a time when legislation in the form of the
National Insurance Act may be expected to add
a new factor to the problem. Sir John Collie,
alluding to the interesting question which arises
as to how far the incidence of malingering will
be affected by the passing of this Act, points out
that some twelve millions of workpeople will be
compulsorily insured under its provisions, and
that it is to be feared that malingering must
necessarily become more frequent.

The experience of foreign countries confirms
this view, especially in the case of Germany,
where the amount of malingering has gone up
by leaps and bounds since the passing of their
Insurance Act.

The effect of the National Insurance Act will
be even greater than that of the Workmen’s
Compensation Act, for the latter only refers to
accidents, while the former includes illnesses in
addition—and disabilities arising from illness
are far more easily simulated than those arising
from accident.

Even legislation such as the Eight Hours Act,
and the new Coal Mines Act, will have an
influence in the direction of increasing the
amount of malingering, especially amongst the
older men, for, as Sir John Collie says, in
these days, when the tendency is to speed up the
rate of work, it is small wonder that the
man whose physical powers are beginning to
deteriorate should begin to turn his thoughts to
how he can escape from his daily toil.

Now, more than ever, it will be necessary for
medical men engaged in insurance work to look
for the possibility of deceit or exaggeration, and
for this special qualities are needed. Amongst
these are wide experience of accidents and their

* Malingering and Feigned Sickness, by Sir John
Collie, M.D., J.P., medical examiner, London County
Council, &c., assisted by Arthur H. Spicer, M.B., B.S,
Lond., D.P.H. Illustrated. London : Edward Arnold.
1913. Price 10s. 6d. net.

results; an intimate knowledge of the conditions
under which the working-classes live, and of
the work entailed in their various employ-
ments ; and experiences of the peculiarities and
intricacies of club practice. Sir John Collie
points out that the detection of malingering is
not always so much a question of scientific
knowledge as of the personal equation of the
examining medical officer. He must be indepen-
dent and fearless, and his general alertness must
be past all telling.

The actual extent to which malingering exists,
in its multifarious forms and degrees, is unknown*
as statistics upon this subject are practically
non-existent, but from the experience of large
public bodies it would appear to be very great;
Sir John Collie says that two large public
bodies and some 15 to 20 insurance companies
send sick and injured workpeople to him for his
opinion as to their fitness or otherwise for work.
For some years past he has seen approximately
2,000 such cases a year, and 25 per cent, (one in
every four) were reported to be fit for work.

With a view to the prevention of malingering,
there can be no doubt that the medical examina-
tion of workmen prior to employment would
have a powerful indirect effect as a deterrent.
For example, pre-existing physical defects could
not be worked in to enhance the severity of a
minor accident. In addition to this are
systematic and organised lay inspection ;
repeated periodical, independent medical super-
vision; complete independence of the medical
attendant; some system of registration which
shall make apparent what is the full amount
of sick pay, and other benefits, if any, of which
the patient is in receipt.

The subject is deeply fascinating, and in Sir
John Collie’s hands has a real significance.
The perusal of the book is, however, calculated
rather to disturb even the most optimistic faith
in human nature.

Trade Summary.

The London coal trade continues very slow, especially for
all household qualities. The mild weather is checking the
flow of orders, and the depot trade is weak. Manufacturing
qualities are moving freely, and small nuts and slacks are
also in good demand. The Metropolitan gas companies are
in the market for huge quantities of gas coal for the coming
year. Cokes are becoming very plentiful, and prices are
somewhat weaker. The principal demand is for bakers*
nuts and kitchen qualities. Best coals and brights are
receiving very little attention. No alteration in prices.

The market at Newcastle is increasingly firm, and nearly
all descriptions of fuel are dearer.

The Durham coal trade has developed strength, and
prompt coals are scarce.

The demand for Lancashire house coals is stronger, and
all other varieties are in consistently good request.

In West Yorkshire there is a. strong, steady demand for
all descriptions of fuel.

South Yorkshire steam coals are active. Gas coal is now
being bought largely, and prices are firm. House coal is
steady. The coke demand is quiet.

The Derbyshire house coal trade is brisker, and manu-
facturing coal is in exceptionally strong request.

At Cardiff prices are firmly held. Small coals, however
are rather easier. The market for Monmouthire coals is
very strong. Patent fuel is dull, and coke is less active.

The Scottish coal trade is busy, especially in the inland
branches. ______________________________

Home Office Prosecution in Scotland.—Proof was led in
Haddington Sheriff Court, on Monday, in a complaint at
the instance of the Procurator-Fiscal, with consent of the-
Secretary of State, against the Summerlee Iron Company
Limited, 176, West George-street, Glasgow, to the effect that
being owners of Prestongrange Colliery, in Prestonpans,
in which an explosion of inflammable gas had occurred
in No. 1 Diamond seam, No. 2 pit, Morrisonshaven^
Prestongrange Colliery, on August 12, 1912, whereby
John Pry de, pit repairer, Musselburgh, was injured, and
another explosion of inflammable gas had occurred in
said seam on August 12, 1912, whereby William Low
miner, Cuthill, Prestonpans, was injured, the company did
between August 15, 1912, and January 11, 1913, continu-
ously allow lamps or lights other than locked safety lamps
to be used within the said seam, contrary to the Coal
Mines Act, 1911.