552 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. March 14, 1913. PITCH CANCER. Home Office Enquiry at Swansea. The Home Office enquiry under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, as to the draft regulations for the manufacture of patent fuel and the prevention of diseases alleged to arise therefrom, which had been adjourned from June 20 1911, for the purpose of making practical trials of regula- tions and the use of appliances in various works in the industry, was resumed at the Town Hall, Swansea, on Tuesday, before Mr. Alfred Herbert Lush, the Commissioner. Any objectors to, or persons affected by, the regulations, were invited to appear at the enquiry. Mr. Llewelyn Williams, K.C., M.P., appeared for the tHome Office, and Mr. Frank Gaskell (instructed by Messrs. Downing and Hancock) for the manufacturers of fuel. *' Mr. Llewelyn Williams said the enquiry was adjourned on June 20,1911, after 14 or 15 sittings, at Cardiff, Swansea, and London, in consequence of suggestions made by the learned Commissioner, who thought some experiments should be made in order to ascertain what regulations could fairly and properly be made. The Commissioner had made a report dated August 15, 1911, which was a very complete summary of the proceedings so far. There were two kinds From Total cargo. Total bunker. 1912. 1913. 1912. 1913. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bristol Channel ports 444,001 290,304 21,594 18,861 North-western ports 284,099 234,913 67,725 63,601 North-eastern ports 808,052 715,989 44,333 27,699 Humber ports 250,899 203,578 14,500 11,084 Other ports on east coast 10,736 9,557 8 505 7,439 Other English ports 2,916 3,293 4,362 4,074 Total from England and Wales 1,800,703 1,457,634 161,019 132,758 Ports on east coast of Scotland 107,442 91,453 18,976 20,459 Ports on west coast of Scotland 150,998 93,241 37,635 30,758 Total from Scotland 258,440 184,694 56,611 51,217 Irish ports — — 3,486 4,409 Total from United Kingdom 2,059,143 1,642,328 221,116 188,384 of trouble from which the men engaged in the patent fuel industry chiefly suffered. The first was with regard to the eyes. Nearly all the men engaged in this department at the Graigola Fuel Works, Swansea, when the learned 'Commissioner visited it, complained of the eyes. He was told that since then the Graigola Company had tried an experiment which had turned out to be a beneficial one. They now had all their pitch under cover in a shed built for the purpose, and the men employed worked under cover. All sorts of experiments had been tried at various works with regard to goggles, the use of various kinds of soap, and a certain solution which was found to be fairly efficacious. Witnesses would be called to give evidence as to the result of these experiments. The Com- missioner would be fairly satisfied, he thought, that the experiments with regard to the eye trouble had been fairly satisfactory. But the eye trouble was not so dangerous with regard to life as the other affection, which was the formation of warts on the body, which, it was alleged, on passing through a second and a third stage, gave a distinct liability to cancer. Since the last enquiry there had been no less than 19 cases of disease in patent fuel works certified in Swansea alone, and one patient had died. In addition, there were some cases at Cardiff, although at present he had only certificates of two. Other experiments had been carried out since the last enquiry. In 10 works parts of the machinery or elevators for the conveyance of mixtures of coal and pitch had been encased, and in ■one or two works the ventilation had been improved. Baths and lavatories had been put in in certain works. Evidence would be tendered as to the effect produced. A certain amount of punishment or suffering was experienced, continued Mr. Williams, as the result of the washing on those parts of the body not covered, and thus subsequently exposed to the air. Some Cardiff employees said they would rather give up the] work altogether than continue the washing. Dr. Rose, who would be called, had been making general investigations into the origin of cancer, and seemed to indicate in a recent article that the pitch produced from Scotch splint coal was less deleterious than pitch made of the ordinary bituminous’coal used in South Wales. He had also come to’the conclusion that there was a difference between blastfurnace pitch and gasworks pitch, the latter only being deleterious. Dr. Legge, of the Home Office, then detailed the results noted, on his visits to the works, of the various precautions adopted. The bathing had not been carried on long and thoroughly enough to enable opinions to be formed, except at the Crown Works, Cardiff, where he thought it had been successful. Dr. Hugh Campbell Ross, London, stated that he had been engaged in researches into cancer, and since 1911 with a u specific view to this enquiry. His experiments showed that blastfurnace pitch did not produce cancer as gasworks pitch did. He believed the harmful qualities in pitch were ' leaning against a prop on which was fastened an electric not derived from the process of manufacture, but primarily ! lamp, when he received a shock and died. The lamp was by decayed vegetation. Experiments had been made with a not hanging in its proper position after the accident. view of separating the harmful substances by washing the pitch, and from an experimental point of view this was successful, but it spoilt the pitch commercially. Though he had not been able to satisfy himself beyond doubt that he could extract the deleterious substances or destroy them the experiments were so promising that he believed with further investigation a satisfactory solution would be arrived at. Dr. Jabez Thomas, Swansea, said 19 cases of pitch cancer had been certified at Swansea since the last enquiry, the patients numbering 14. He believed that if the warts were treated at an earlier stage, the epitheliomatous growths would not be seen as they were now. The enquiry was adjourned. COASTWISE SHIPMENTS IN JANUARY. According to the monthly coal tables the following were the quantities of coal shipped coastwise during J anuary:—• The destination of cargo shipments was as follows :— Jan. 1912. Jan. 1913. Tons. Tons. 1,517,618 ... 1,220,802 90,367 ... 82,201 451,158 ... 339,325 To ports in England and Wales Scotland.......... Ireland .......... The quantity shipped to London totalled 738,395 tons. COLLIERY ACCIDENTS. Houghton Main. An inquest was held on the 6bh inst., at Houghton, on the body of Joseph Bain, 26, who was killed instantaneously by an electric shock whilst working a coal-cutting machine at the Houghton Main Colliery, on the previous Saturday morning. Deceased and two other workmen were together in the Melton Field seam, and deceased told his mate to switch the current on for the machine. This was done, but as soon as deceased took hold of the machine handle he cried out “ Oh! ” and died immediately. His mates also received shocks. Deceased wore rubber gloves. Alfred Ogley, electrician, spoke to having examined the machine in question at the beginning of the shift, it having been reported from the previous shift that there had been a slight fault. He examined the machine twice, and could not find anything wrong. It was tried with the power on, and it was all right when he left it. Mr. Robert Nelson, chief electrical inspector, questioned witness, suggesting that the examination made was not adequate, and observed that the tests made by Ogley did not eliminate all the possibilities. It was a very high pressure machine, being worked at 650 volts. Mr. Nelson said the voltage was too big, and the conductors to earth were of too high a resistance. With such a machine anything might happen. But even with conductors on several joints, loss of life would be improbable—in fact, danger would hardly exist, if they had the voltage at 200, with which it was possible to work coal-cutting machines. Referring to the use of rubber gloves, the inspector said it was not necessary to use them. The apparatus which required gloves was obsolete for mining work. The jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death.” They did not attach any blame to anyone, but they hoped the management would adopt the suggestion of the inspector if possible, and reduce the voltage, and also adopt the other means of safety suggested in the matter of lower resistance conductors. Mansfield Woodhouse. An inquiry was held at Mansfield Woodhouse by Mr. D. Whittingham on the 7th inst. in regard to the death of Benjamin Bettridge, aged 14, employed at the Langwith Colliery as a pony-driver. Evidence was given to the effect that deceased was Mr. T. H. Elliott, the manager, stated that the insulated cable had been tested since the accident, and it was found that the insulation was very good, as the lamp was found hanging after the accident, but on putting it in the position it was before being displaced they found the possibility of a leakage of electric current from the cable to the casing of the lamp holder, on which latter they found slight evidence of fusing. Questioned as to the means of testing insulation, witness said the general insulation was tested by an ohmmeter. There was, however, a further safeguard, and that was by connecting the metal parts of lamps to earth, but such safeguard was not applied in this case, although it was generally applied in the colliery. The explanation he had had given to him was that the rule required that circuits of a voltage of 125 should be earthed, and that the electrician considered this particular circuit to be 110 voltage. They had tested it and found it to be 440. Asked to explain the view taken by his electrician (Mr. Ross), witness said that at a certain point in the pit there was a voltage of 440, and they “ tapped ” it by putting in a series of four lamps. The impression was that the 440 volts (would be divided into four parts of 110 volts each, but that appeared to have been a mistaken belief. William Ewart Ross, underground electrician, said he had assumed that the place where the accident happened was 110 volts. He admitted, however, that taking certain other points in the pit the voltage was much greater. Witness was then questioned by Mr. Robert Nelson as to the liability of the shock from an 110 voltage, and he admitted it was possible to receive it from the cable, but had not thought it possible to receive it from the lamp. Mr. Abel (colliery electrician) said he did not agree that there had been any fusion, but Mr. Nelson, on the other hand, felt convinced that there was evidence of fusion on the lamp. Dr. Palmer, who carried out the post-mortem examina- tion, said the condition of the body, however, was consistent with the deceased having received an electric shock. The ury returned a verdict that death was due to an electric shock accidentally sustained. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is no material change in the situation. There has, perhaps, been a little more buying, the low prices ruling enticing several buyers into the market; there was also a fair amount of bear ” covering. The figures given below are the general run of prices at present quoted makers; some works are asking more money, while here and there sellers are to be found at less:—Coke tin-plates: IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 14s. l|d. to 14s. 3d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112sh. 2161b.), 28s. 3d. to 28s. 6d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 1081b.), 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. per box; I C 14 x 18$ (124 sh. 110 lb.), 14s. 6d. to 14s. 7|d. per box; I C 14 x 19$ (120 sh. 110 lb.), 14s. 6d. to 14s. 7$d. per box; IC 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 20s. 6d. to 20s. 9d. per box; IC squares and odd sizes, 14s. 6d. basis for approved specifications. Charcoal tins are easy at 16s. 6d. basis and upwards according to tinning. Ternes are quiet at 25s. to 25s. 3d. for IC 28 x 20 unassorted. Coke wasters are in moderate request. Quota- tions range as follow.— C W 14 x 20, 13s. 3d. to 13s. 4|d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 26s. 3d. to 26s. 6d. per box ; C W 14 x 18$, 13s. l$d. to 13s. 3d. per box; C W 20 x 10, 18s. 6d, to 19s. per box—all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Relief Society.—The yearly report of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Permanent Relief Society states that on December 31, 1911. the society enrolled 58,760 members; at the close of 1912 the members numbered 60,157, showing an increase of 1,397 The ordinary revenue of the society produced £62,729, and the expenditure amounted to £56,525. The available balance at the close of the year was .£163,917; on Decem- ber 31, 1911, it was £156,619. During 1912 there were 13,119 new cases of accident among the members, and of these there were 2,610 in which only one week’s relief was paid. In 1911 there were 14,517 cases of accident, and 2,959 in which only one week’s relief was paid. During the year 77 deaths resulted from accidents. Thirty-four widows and 61 children were placed on the funds, and during the year 841 widows and 863 children were in receipt of annuities from the society. The report refers to the difficulties the society has had to face, and adds that they have had the Old-Age Pensions Act, and still more recently the National Insurance Act, with its many complications, its costly and clumsy scheme of adminis- tration. While most people expected that the work in connection with the Insurance Act would be fairly arduous, it was beyond all doubt that the extremely severe character of the work had exceeded all anticipations. The detail involved in dealing with the stamped cards, the various entries as to age, rates of contributions, and benefits, and also arrears, involved an expenditure of time and labour somewhat serious to contemplate. Withall their experience officers of approved societies were only able to get through their task by working extremely long hours. Nor did there seem much prospect of the burden of work becoming easier.