April 4, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

707

and dust. On Monday, at a meeting of the
London section of the Society of Chemical
Industry, Dr. F. Bergius, of Hanover, will read
a paper on “ High Pressure Reactions : The
Formation of Coal and of Hydrogen.”

The Home Office has issued the text of the
objections to the draft General Regulations
issued on January 9. General objections have
been entered by the Mining Association of Great
Britain and the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain, whilst objections from 12 other inter-
ested parties have been raised—notably by the
Cleveland owners and miners (jointly), owners
in South Staffordshire and Bristol, the National
Association of Colliery Managers and associations
of deputies, firemen and enginemen.

The special conference of the Miners’ Federa-
tion last Friday decided to request the transport
workers to prevent, as far as possible, coal
leaving any port in the United Kingdom for any
part of Belgium, and also to stop coal from any
port in the United Kingdom getting into
Belgium during the strike which is threatened
on April 14. With regard to the three-shift
system in Northumberland, it was decided to
assist the Northumberland leaders in further
negotiations. It was recommended that Mr.
Ashton be furnished at once with full par-
ticulars as to the conditions of labour and wages
of surface workers of the various collieries in
the Federation, so that steps may be taken to
obtain a minimum wage.

The reports of the Departmental Committees
on the provision of washing and drying accom-
modation at coalmines and the use of squibs for
shot-firing in naked-light mines have been laid
upon the table of the House of Commons.

The Home Secretary gives notice that he
has made an Order amending the Explosives in
Coal Mines Order of May 21, 1912, so far as
relates to the list of permitted explosives. The
Schedule to the new Order, containing the
names and definitions of the explosives which
have passed the new test for permitted explo-
sives, is substituted for the First Schedule to
the principal Order. The explosives, however,
in the First Schedule to the principal Order,
which passed the old test, are continued on the
Permitted List until December 31, 1913.

Several important questions have been dis-
cussed at the annual conference of the South
Wales Miners’ Federation this week, and
resolutions were passed urging drastic action
against the employment of non-union workmen,
the immediate amendment of the Minimum
Wage Act, applying it to surface workers,
exempting day-wage men from the operation of
the rules, and raising the minimum for all grades.
On the non-union question 50,000 notices were
tendered on Tuesday, but no strike is anticipated.

Last week we gave the text
Hours of of the Report on the Draft
Employment Regulations under the Coal
of vs inding Mines Act, 1911, for the Hours
Enginemen. of Employment of Winding
Enginemen by his Honour Judge
A. H. Ruegg, K.C.

This Report is the result of an enquiry held by
Judge Ruegg, in pursuance of section 117 of the
Coal Mines Act, 1911, at the Westminster Palac^
Hotel, on January 23, 24, 28, 29 and 30 last, to
consider objections made by the Mining Associa-
tion of Great Britain, the Cleveland Mine-
owners’ Association, and others urged during the
hearing. There is a fundamental difference in
principle between the chief objections made to
the Draft Regulations and the position taken up
by the Home Office in the Bentley and Preston-

grange prosecutions under the Coal Mines Act
1911.

In the latter cases there would appear to have
been a wish to read into the Act more than was
originally intended by Parliament. This would
be distinctly unfair to coalowners, for however
much they might disagree with any of the
provisions, still these provisions, as ultimately
settled by Parliament, must be assumed to be
the determined legislation of the country at
large, arrived at by its representatives after
considering the reasoned objections. Such
legislation must, for constitutional reasons, and
for the time being, be treated as definite, and
all concerned must make their arrangements
accordingly. But the worst is known, and any
attempt to strain the provisions of an Act of
Parliament so as to make it cover more ground
than was contemplated by the Legislature at
the time when it was passed, is an injustice to
the public at large.

In the case of the hours of employment of
winding enginemen, the object of Parliament—
whether wise or not is now immaterial—was
clear. Judge Ruegg says in his report: “ In my
opinion, the intention of the Act of Parliament
is that, after a date to be prescribed, the rule
shall be that the hours of winding enginemen
shall be eight hours a day and no more, and
that the general regulations authorised to be
made were so authorised for the purpose of
dealing with exceptional cases, where the strict
application of the statutory rule would be
attended by great and unusual inconvenience or
hardship.” This being the case, Judge *Ruegg
found himself unable to take the view contended
for by Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis, that if a
longer working day than eight hours for winding
enginemen did not result in danger to the men
raised and lowered in the pit, and was not
attended by any serious inconvenience to the
winding enginemen themselves, then, notwith-
standing section 57 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911,
such longer working day should be allowed, at
all events, in the smaller mines, and in cases
where it now exists. Judge Ruegg, however
added the significant statement that if he could
have taken this view he might have acceded to
the contention.

It would seem, therefore, that alleviation can
only be obtained by an amendment of the Act
itself, and it is worth while to remember, in this
connection, that the restriction as to the hours
for winding enginemen was not included in the
original Bill, but was added to it as an amend-
ment in Committee, and carried there against
the advice of the Government by 18 votes to 12.

Notice has been given-by the Home Secretary
prescribing June 30 next as the date after which
a winding engineman may not be employed for
more than eight hours in any one day, except as
provided by the General Regulations.

There remain the General Regulations for
mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, which
were proposed by the Secretary of State on
January 9 last. These Regulations consist prin-
cipally of regulations under section 86 providing
generally for the prevention of accidents and the
safety, health, convenience and proper discipline
of the persons employed, and will take the place
of the general codes of Special Rules at present
in force in the different districts; regulations on
the installation and use of electricity; regula-
tions as to rescue and ambulance ; regulations as
to surface lines and sidings ; and regulations for
sinking pits.

General objections to these proposed General
Regulations have been made by the Mining
Association of Great Britain and the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain. Other objections

have been made by the Cleveland Mineowners’
Association and the Cleveland Miners’ Associa-
tion, jointly; also by numerous bodies repre-
senting owners, officials, enginemen, boilerinen
and others.

Trade Summary.

The London coal trade for the past week has been brisk
and a good deal of buying has been done. The returns after
the holidays show an enormous block of empties at the
colliery end and trade fairly vigorous. Prices remain
unaltered and no change in public prices is anticipated.
Manufacturing qualities are very firm. Stocks at the depots
and wharves are low. Small coals are still in strong
demand.

There is quite a boom in steam coals at Newcastle,
supplies being short and a keen demand from the Baltie
having sprung up. Gas coals are rather weaker. Coke is
in improved demand.

Durham coals are scarce in all qualities.

The Lancashire house coal trade continues quiet. Other
varieties are in strong demand.

Trade in West Yorkshire is active in all departments,
particularly the manufacturing branch.

All classes of coal vended in South Yorkshire are in active
request.

There is a well-sustained demand for Derbyshire house
coal, and fuel for manufacturing and steam-raising purposes
is in active request.

The market at Cardiff is very strong, and supplies are
scarce.

The demand for shipping coal in Scotland is fairly good.
Splint coal is rather more plentiful.

LABOUR AMD WAGES.

North of England.

The Wages Board of the Northumberland Colliery
Enginemen and Firemen’s Association met the coal-
owners in Newcastle on Monday to consider the
quarterly application for an advance of wages. After
some discussion the owners offered 2d. per day for
enginemen and 3 per cent, for firemen, which was
accepted. The advances take effect with the pays
commencing April 1 and April 7. The matter of
the modified claims of the men with regard to the
general question of hours and wages, which was
presented to the coalowners some months ago after a
ballot of the men had been taken, was mentioned, and
the owners promised a reply shortly.

Representatives from the Northumberland Deputies'
Association waited on the coalowners at the Coal Trade
Offices, Newcastle, on Saturday, with a view to an
advance in wages. After considerable discussion the
deputies’ wages were advanced 2d. per day, making
6s. lljd. per day, the advance to commence from pays
March 31 and April 7. A similar advance was given to
the mechanics.

Federated Area.

A meeting of the Surfacemen’s Federation was held
at Leeds, on Monday, to consider the demand for a
minimum wage for West Yorkshire surfacemen, and
reports were received from each society connected with
the Federation on the question of taking a united ballot,
with a view to forcing the employers to give collective
recognition to the surfacemen and their unions, and for
the settlement of applications made in October 1911,
for a reduction of hours and a minimum wage for
surface workers. It was agreed to call a special meeting,
to be held at Sheffield, of the whole Federation, and to
request delegates attending the meeting to come with
full power to decide as to whether South Yorkshire
should.be brought into the movement, and a vote taken
with a view to a general stoppage of the whole county
to enforce the same terms for the surfacemen in West
Yorkshire as is already enjoyed by those in South
Yorkshire.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

The special conference of the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain, meeting at the Westminster Palace
Hotel, London, on Friday, under the presidency of
Mr. Robert S millie, considered several important
matters. The most serious was the agitation which
is proceeding in the Northumberland coalfield for
the abolition of the three-shift system of working.
The conference, while pledging itself to support the
Northumberland miners in any action they may take to
secure the abolition of the three-shift system, decided to
make a further effort to obtain a peaceful solution of the
difficulty. An instruction was given to the officials of
the Federation—Mr. Robert S millie (president), Mr.
W. E. Harvey, M.P. (vice-president), Mr. W. Abraham,
M.P. (treasurer), and Mr. Thos. Ashton—to assist
the Northumberland leaders in any future negotia-
tions with the coalowners if invited by the parties.

The pending national strike in Belgium on tho