758

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 11, 1913.

“ That it is the opinion of this meeting that it
would contribute greatly towards the safety of the
mines, and of the lives of the workmen, if a code of
rules, bearing on the subject of the prevention of
accidents, were provided by the owners at each
colliery, applicable to the particular state and circum-
stances of such mines, to be observed by the persons
entrusted with the management thereof, and by the
workmen employed therein.”

It has been emphatically stated, on good
authority, over and over again, that a large
proportion of accidents are preventable, and
due to carelessness in the observation of rules.
Only last week Major Cooper-Key, H.M.
■chief inspector of explosives, in the discus-
sion which followed Prof. Vivian Lewes’
paper on “The Testing of Safety Explosives,”
read before the Royal Society of Arts, said
dihat on the question of care in firing shots, he
(Maj. Cooper-Key) was convinced that most of
the accidents that had occurred could have been
avoided, and that carelessness led to accidents
rather than the use of unsuitable explosives.

It cannot be denied that the introduction of
rules has largely conduced to the reduction
which has taken place in the number of acci-
dents, but it must be admitted that their
multiplication, due to the development of coal-
mining methods, has rendered them complicated
and involved, and that their re-organisation as
regulations under the new Act is ideal—time
alone will show if it is practicable. If,
however, General Regulations are to be
effective they must be workable, and they
must not entail unreasonable restrictions upon
the development of the industry. The
General Regulations recently proposed by the
Home Office have been carefully considered by
both the employers and the men, and reasoned
objections have been lodged by both sides.
Elsewhere we give an analysis of these objec-
tions, which have been issued as a White Paper.
It is to be hoped that the Government will
approach these temperate objections in a serious
and conciliatory spirit, and by so doing help to
allay the irritating friction which has arisen
between the employers and the men as a con-
sequence of the legislation of the last few years.

Trade Summary.

The London coal trade for the past week has been
unusually firm and steady. Orders, both from the general
public and from merchants, have been plentiful, so that the
wharves and depots have been kept busy. Very little coal
has gone into stock, and the large coal centres are still
short.

The market at Newcastle is healthy, and the prices of all
classes of fuel are steady.

The Durham coal trade is firm in all departments, and
supplies are scarce.

There is a moderate call for Lancashire house coal. All
other varieties are in strong request.

In West Yorkshire there is a firm tone all round, and
stocks are light.

South Yorkshire steam coal is scarce. Small coals are
dearer. House coal continues firm.

The Derbyshire coal trade is steady in all branches.

At Cardiff the outlook is most promising, and the demand
is well ahead of the supply. Coke is easier.

In Scotland there is a brisk demand all round.

THE TIN-PLATE TRADE.

Liverpool.

About a hundred mills are now idle. Prices have not
improved, however, and there are still many eager sellers
at very low figures for quick specification. The forward
trade continues slow. Current quotations may be called:—
Coke tins: I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 14s. per box; I C
28 x 20 (112 sh.216 lb.), 28s. to 28s. 3d. per box; IC 28 x 20
(56 sh. 108 lb.), 14s. 4|d. to 14s. 6d. per box; I C 14 x 18f
(124 sh. 110 1b.), 14s. to 14s. 6d. per box; I C 14 x 19|
(120 sh. 110 lb.), 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d. per box ; I C 20 x 10
(225 sh. 1561b.), 20s. 3d. to 20s. 6d. per box; I C squares
and odd sizes, 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d. basis. Ternes rule
-easy at 24s. 6d. for IC 28 x 20. In unassorted bright finish
charcoal tins are in moderate request, and are quoted
16s. 3d. and upwards according to tinning. Coke wasters
are in quiet demand. Quotations run:—C W 14 x 20,
13s. per box; C W 28 x 20, 25s. 9d. per box ; C W
14 x 18f, 12s. 7|d. per box; C W 20 x 10, 18s. 3d. per
box—all f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent.

Cambrian strike and the national strike, not more than
£17,000 being in hand. These figures have, however, to
be regarded in the light of several influences which have
combined to bring about the result. If a true perspec-
tive is to be reached of .the present condition of the
union, it will not do to take figures alone as fairly
indicative of the situation.

The endeavour of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce to
secure an alteration in the practice as to clearing coal
cargoes has been successful; at any rate, so far as
regards the Argentine Government, and the action in
this instance is expected to ensure other governments
following suit. It has been desired that the foreign
consuls should clear vessels upon statement of an
approximate quantity of coal cargo, instead of waiting
until the actual weight of coal on board has been
definitely ascertained. The concession already obtained
in respect of Argentina applies to about two million tons
of coal annually; and in some instances it will lead to
the vessels being able to get away a day earlier than is
the case at present.

The long-drawn-out conflict between the South
Wales Miners’ Federation and the Association of
Enginemen and Surface Craftsmen has now taken the
form of negotiation. A conference took place last week
between the executives of both bodies; and although
the executive of the Enginemen and Stokers’
Association stated that they had not received the
needful authority to make any agreement, they never-
theless invited proposals from the miners. These
proposals took the form of an invitation to join the
Federation, the officials of the Enginemen’s Association
becoming agents under the Federation, but employed in
the different areas solely attending to the interest of the
special class now dealt with by them. On the other
side, the representatives of the enginemen, &c., suggested
another form of amalgamation, whereby their interests
as a separate class should be recognised and continued,
rather than that they should be merged into the
Federation. Subsequently, the enginemen’s executive
held a separate meeting, and it was decided to submit
the matter to the members of the association, a sub-
committee being appointed to draft a scheme for
amalgamation.

About 1,800 men at the Cwmavon pits ceased work
on Monday, their notices having terminated, and the
stoppage is all the more remarkable because it is
contrary to the advice of the local executive.

A prosecution of an extraordinary, probably unique,
character took place at Swansea on Saturday, when a
collier was summoned for breaches of special regulation
under the Coal Mines Regulation Act. The charge was
that he had tampered with the electric signalling
appliances on March 6 and 8, by twisting the signal
wires, his object apparently being to stop a journey of
trams which he had missed. The defendant denied the
offence; but a fine of £5 and costs in each of the two
offences was imposed.

Some trade union trouble is prevalent at Ebbw Vale
where the majority of steel smelters protest against a
relatively small number who are in a union different
from their own. It is stated that 1,000 men are in one
union and 50 in another. It is noteworthy, as showing
the esteem in which the general manager is held, that
the meeting passed a resolution stating “ It has every
confidence in the declaration of Mr. Frederick Mills
the managing director, that he will not permit any
preference as between rival trade unions.”

A notable incident in connection with the Insurance
Act is the meeting of colliery cashiers in Cardiff on
Saturday, which was a general meeting of those
employed at the collieries in Glamorgan and Mon-
mouthshire. They discussed the advisability of
endeavouring to obtain from the national Treasury
some payment for the duty imposed upon them in
deducting insurance money. This entails considerable
extra time and trouble. No decision was come to, but
another meeting is to be held in a few days’ time.

The Black Vein has been struck at the New
Crumlin Colliery after sinking operations which have
lasted nearly two years; and it is anticipated that the
Meadow Vein will be reached in the same shaft very
shortly.

Other evidence of the growth of the coal trade is
afforded in the statement that the Pentre pit, near
Landore, is likely to be restarted after having been idle
for eight years, the intention being to open out and work
the Three-feet and Two-feet seams.

NOTES FR0H SOUTH WALES.

[from our own correspondent.]

The Notices Against Non-Unionists : Singular
Paucity—General Holiday for “Labour Day”—
The Proposed New “Standard” Rate—Coal Cargo
“Clearances”: New Method — Extraordinary
Offence by a Miner—Colliery Cashiers Seek
Government Payment for Insurance Work—Two
Serious Accidents.

The outlook in respect of the non-unionist campaign
is mixed, the most diverge conclusions being drawn by
observers. The strongest of strong asseverations are
made by Federation leaders as to what will happen at
the end of the month unless all outsiders have joined
the union. Yet, the proportion of notices handed in is,
in certain cases, singularly low; ranging in some
collieries from one-fifth to one-third of the number of
employees. It has even been stated that not a single
colliery shows a majority of the men to have given
notice that they will stop at the end of April. But
appearances are deceptive, whether regarded from the
standpoint of employer or employed; and probably the
market view is most nearly correct—that as a whole the
coalfield will continue at work, though there may be
isolated short stoppages. On the other hand, however,
some of the leaders are condemning any policy of
sectional strikes.

The Federation argument is that not only is there
need to maintain an organisation by which negotiations
with the employers are carried on for fixing the wage
rates, but also that the circumstances arising out of the
Minimum Wage Act, Compensation Act, &c., necessitate
a good central office with skilled staff, as well as also the
existence of local agents in every part of the coalfield;
and that inasmuch as the operations of the Federation,
whether by legal action or on the Conciliation Board,
are for the benefit of all the employees, therefore every
man should be a subscriber. Consequently, they have
taken the drastic action of putting in notices against
the non-unionists, the determination being that at the
end of the month there shall be a stoppage at every pit
where non-unionists are employed.

At a meeting of the Miners’ Executive, the secretary
was instructed to write to the employers’ secretary
informing him that May 1 would be observed as a
general holiday throughout the coalfield.

The suggestion of the miners to establish a new
standard has received comparative little attention,
although the new standard would be 35 per cent,
above the old one, and consequently all future per-
centages would be about one-third greater than the old.
Naturally, when the change comes to be formally
brought before the Conciliation Board there will be
strong opposition from the coalowners. But the feature
of the moment is that the resolution passed at the
annual meeting of the South Wales Miners’ Federation
is practically disregarded—not even discussion following
the proposal.

It will be a mistake to accept some of the statements
which are being made with regard to the position of the
South Wales Miners’ Federation, for, although there
has been a material decline in membership, this is
largely due to temporary causes, which will, in all
probability, be soon overcome. It has already been
pointed out here that the percentage of unionists to the
total number of men employed has been steadily falling
for some years past. But if a true understanding of
the situation is to be arrived at, a new factor has to be
given full weight. That new factor is the growth of
class consciousness, and the determinations of the
workmen to use not only trade union organisation, but
also Parliamentary power for the attainment of their
ends. Even apart from the general strike project, to
which so many of them attach importance, there is the
Parliamentary strength which they hold not merely
through the direct connection with Labour M.P.’s, but
also indirectly through M.P.’s who are not members of
the Labour Party.

So much by way of preliminary caution in refer-
ence to figures which are now under discussion. It is
shown that at the time the persons employed in the'
coalfield numbered little more than 155,000, the Federa-
tion membership approximated to 130,000, being, there-
fore, more than 80 per cent, of the total employees; and
that at that time the accumulated funds were con-
siderable. At the present time, however, with a total
number employed of anywhere from 220,000 to 240,000,
the Federation membership shown in the annual meeting
was only 140,000, equal to about 47 per cent. The
finances, of course, are very much worse, owing to the