816 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 18, 1913. use their organisation to bring about uniformity of working hours. Wages and Overtime in the Shipyards. Mr. John Hill, general secretary of the Boilermakers’ Society, states that at the last meeting with the employers the latter complained of the members losing time to attend funerals and football matches, and stated that, as they lost 18*8 per cent, of their time, they could get 18*8 per cent, more wages without an advance if they would only work full time. The employers also stated that there were scores of union members in many of the yards now making an average of £300 a year, in spite of lost time, and that owing to the last three advances, amounting in all to 15 per cent., their work was costing 30 per cent, more in consequence of extra claims made by the members. The council, however, instruct all their members in the Federated area to restrict rigidly all overtime, both on old and new work. They add that should the men not obtain the advance asked for by Thursday, May 1, none of the members in any circum- stances should work overtime on new work. LAW INTELLIGENCE. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE. KING’S BENCH DIVISION.—April 11. Before Mr. Justice Channell and Mr. Justice Coleridge. A Colliery Price List: “ Fast Ends.” Roberts v. Geo. Watkinson and Sons Limited and Collin* —This was an appeal from a judgment of his Honour Judge Moss. At the Chester County Court, held on December 12 and 17 last, a claim was made by two of the coalminers employed at the Elm Colliery, Buckley, against the owners of the colliery for the sum of £16 2s. 6d. alleged to be due to them by way of wages under the price list in force at the colliery. The plaintiffs were Mr. Robert Roberts, of Daisy Hill, Main-street, Buckley, and Mr. John Edwards, of 9, Smelt-yard, Buckley, and the defendants were Messrs. Geo. Watkinson and Sons Limited, the owners of the Buckley collieries, of which collieries Mr. William Collin is the general manager. The plaintiff, Mr. J. Edwards, withdrew before the hearing of the case. His Honour, after considering his judgment, gave judgment for the defendants with costs. The plaintiff, Mr. Robert Roberts, appealed, and after a long hearing the Court dismissed the appeal with costs, thus supporting the decision of his Honour Judge Moss in favour of the employers. Mr. Justice Coleridge, in delivering judgment, said : The only question in this case is as to the meaning in the minds of the contracting parties of the words “ fast ends ’’ limited to a particular seam in the Premier coal, in the Buckley Colliery. “Fast ends" being a technical term, it was necessary to explain what the parties meant by that term in that particular contract. Evidence was received as to what was done in that colliery, and evidence was given that what was done in that colliery was payment upon the footing that “ fast ends ” meant something under 5 yards- The learned judge asked himself the question in his judgment: What does “ fast ends ” mean in this contract ? He answered it to mean fast ends limited to something under 5 yards. There was evidence upon which he could so find, and as he had so found, that is a question of fact with which we cannot interfere. He had evidence to construe a particular technical term, and he applied that evidence to the particular term; and whether or not it is satisfactory so far as other seams are concerned cannot make any difference. The only question we are engaged in is seeing whether or not he had evidence upon which he could arrive at his conclusion in regard to a particular contract in this particular seam. Leave to appeal was granted. SCOTTISH COURT OF SESSION. FIRST DIVISION.—March 18 Before the Lord President and Lords Johnston and Cullen. Coal Company’s Income Tax Appeal. Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company Limited v. W. Crawford.—The Division disposed of a case for the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company Limited on appeal by them under the Taxes Management Act, 1880, against William Crawford, surveyor of taxes, Cupar, Fife. In January 1912 the appellants appealed against an assessment of £60,148, less wear and tear allowance £9,693, for the year ending April 5, 1912. The only point in dispute was as to the admissibility or otherwise of the deduction for income-tax purposes of certain sums, increasing from £22 in 1906 to £720 in 1910, which had been debited in the profit and loss accounts of the appellants in respect of their contributions in the form of levies to the Fife and Clackmannan Coalowners’ Association, of which they were members. The Court held that Conciliation Board expenses, averaging £97 3s. 8|d. each year in the four years ending 1909-10, ought to be deducted, but that subscriptions to the Mining Association of Great Britain, averaging £22017s. 7d. dnring the same period, and a levy of £59 in 1908 for experimenting in coaldust, were not proper deductions. The appellants were found entitled to expenses. CONTINENTAL MINING NOTES. Belgium. So far the general strike, which opened on Monday, has had singularly little effect upon the industrial and domestic life of the country. Practically the whole of the collieries have ceased work in the Mons and Charleroi districts, but consumers had already laid in stocks in anticipation of the stoppage. The fear expressed last week that the first consequence would be the emigration of numbers of the better-class workmen to the north of France has been realised, and there isjno doubt that the termination of the strike will be followed by a scarcity of competent labour. France. It is stated by the Echo des Mines that several French metallurgical companies in the Meurthe-et-Moselle district have acquired options upon coal property in the Kent coal- field. The Orleans Railway Company had to pay 4,000,000 fr. more for their coal last year than in 1910, which is ascribed partly to the strike in Great Britain, and partly to the rise in freights. The company consumes 1,200,000 tons per annum, but the extra cost has been almost compensated by the improved efficiency of locomotive haulage, an economy of 17 per cent, having been obtained in the fuel consumption. The following shows the imports and exports of fuel into and out of France during January and February:— Imports. Exports. Tsi2. 1913? 1912. 1913? Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Coal ........... 2,751,400... 2,898,000... 356,209... 227,< 51 Coke ............ 388,900... 550,500... 27,841... 47,377 Briquettes ...... 204,300... 130,000... 18,987... 30,949 In the two months 1,834,800 tons of British coal were imported, as against 1,700,300 tons in the corresponding period of 1912, 604,600 tons of Belgian coal, as against 527,100 tons, and 407,100 tons of German coal, as against 465,000 tons. From Germany there were also imported 453,500 tons of coke, as against 322,100 tons. The following are the rates applied by the Nord and Pas-de-Calais Collieries from May 1 to April 30,1914:— Gailleteries Demi- gras. Per ton. Fr. 33 . Quart- gras. Per ton. Fr. 32 . Maigres Per ton. Fr. 29 Gailletins (50/80) . 35 . 34 . 31 “ Tetes-de-Moineau ” (30/50) 37 . 36 . 34 Braisettes (20/30) . 33 . 33 . 30 Summer discounts May-June. July. August. By rail .... 20 1’0 0 50 By water .... 2 50 1'50 0’50 Special qualities of demi gras nuts (25/50) are now quoted at 36 fr., which is the quotation also of quart-gras nuts (45/55). The price of boulet-oovide is fixed at 26 fr., with discounts by rail and water of 2 fr., 1 fr., and 1 fr. respec- pectively. For fitnu (flaming) coals obtained from the Maries and Bruay collieries, the following prices have been fixed: Unscreened (30/35), 21 fr. 50c.; ditto (20/25), 20 fr. 50 c.; dry small (40 mm.), 20 fr.; ditto (20 mm.), 19 fr.; ditto (10 mm.), 18 fr. 50 c. The price of blast- furnace coke established in accordance with the formula agreed to by the Pas-de-Calais makers and the Eastern Ironworks is 27 fr. 78 c. for the second quarter of 1913, as against 26 fr. 19 c. during the first quarter of 1913, and 24 fr. 34 c. in the last quarter of 1912. As compared with the previous season, the above prices represent an advance of 1 fr. on demi-gras and quart-gras qualities. The price of braisettes, however, has risen 2 fr., as have maigre coals and boulets. Unscreened maigre coals are raised 50 c., but are subject to revision on October 1, the prices being generally 26 fr. by rail and 24 fr. by water; screened sorts (25 mm.) are 2 fr. 50 c. higher. Lean small coal for producers quoted as follaws:—13/20, 28 fr.; 20/33, 30 fr., without discount. Germany. Ruhr Coal Market.—Up to the present, the increase in the settling prices does not seem to have had any prejudicial influence on business, contracts for the coming financial year having been for the most part completed on the higher scale, and being sufficiently large to ensure the maintenance of the present satisfactory situation for some time to come- The advance of the season has led to a decline in the deliveries of house coals, and these are now being put into stock ; but there is not much falling off in the case of gas coals, the export demand being large. In other kinds as well, the foreign market is making extensive demands, con- signments being very large to the north of France in spite of the rise in prices. Coking coals are in special request, so that it is difficult to obtain prompt delivery. Belgium and Holland are also large buyers, their orders being scarcely affected by the offers of English coals. In South Germany, the demand for house coals has fallen off since the new price list came into operation; but as neither dealers nor consumers have any great stock in hand, a more regular resumption of business may be expected. Deliveries of coke to that district are in arrears. The home market for coke retains its favourable aspect, and neither blastfurnace nor foundry coke can be supplied fast enough. Coal Market in South Germany — Business is very brisk, and the market conditions continue favourable. In spite of the activity in the various producing districts, the quantities of fuel available are below requirements, and shipments to the Upper Rhine are smaller than they should be for the time of year, owing to the large export demand. Belgian competition has almost ceased in the markets of south-western Germany and Switzerland, and very little English coal is on offer. Saar coal finds a ready market among industrial consumers close at home, so that there is no accumulation of stocks; whilst, owing to prospective labour troubles, Upper Silesia is doing very little business in Bavaria. The industrial demand remains at its previous high level, and the house coal trade is very satisfactory for the time of year. Broken coke is not available in sufficient amount to enable all orders to be filled with promptitude. Coal Market in Upper Silesia.—Although labour is rather scarce the volume of traffic is large, without being sufficienly so to cope with the demand. The iron industry is most clamorous, and takes over practically the whole output as soon as raised. An extensive demand also prevails for other industrial coals ; gas coala go off well; house coal is in good request for the advanced season, and coking coals cannot be raised quickly enough. Exports are large, and more extensive consignments could be forwarded to both Austria- Hungary and Russian Poland, were it not for the require- ments of the home market. In northern Germany and Berlin there is no serious competition on the part of English coals, the prices asked being too high. The coke market is also in a highly satisfactory condition, it being very difficult to supply the ironworks with all the large coke they need Nuts are in good request for industrial purposes, and the output can be disposed of readily, though the consumption for domestic heating has receded. No stocks of any kind are to be found either at the cokeries or in consumers’ hands. The various miners’ unions have handed in their notices to a large number of pits, owners having declined to discuss the conditions of wages and labour, except with the properly constituted men’s committees. Grimsby Coal Exports.—The following is the official return of the quantity of coal exported from Grimsby during the week ended April 10:—Foreign : To Antwerp, 739 tons; Christiania, 1,215; Copenhagen, 792; Dieppe, 988; Drammen, 1,858; Esbjarg, 215; Gothenburg, 1,217; Gefle, 6,284; Helsingborg, 1,756; Korsoer, 1,326; Rostock, 1,156; Rotterdam, 259; Trelleborg, 2,212; Trondhjem, 1,296; and Warberg, 1,185; total, 22,498 tone. Coastal—To London, 102 tons. Last year at the corresponding period there were no shipments, owing to the coal strike. North Staffordshire Coal and Iroh Workers’ Relief Society.—The annual meeting of this society was held at Stoke-on-Trent recently. The committee of management, in submitting their report for the year ended December 31, 1912, stated that on December 31, 1911, the membership stood at 4,625. At the end of the year under review it was 4,443, being a decrease of 182. There were eight fatal accidents during the year, all being full members, and the death-rate was 1’80 per 1,000. The fatal accidents brought upon the fund six widows, 10 boys, and seven girls. During the year six widows died, and six children (five boys and one girl) ceased to be chargeable, leaving 106 widows, 90 children (44 boys and 46 girls), and four guardians on the fund at the end of the year. Of the children who went off the fund, five had received weekly pay up to the age of 14 years, when they ceased to be chargeable, and one had died. The sum of £1,144 9s. lid. was paid in weekly allowances to widows, children and dependent relatives ; and £145 as funeral benefits during the year. The weekly payments to widows and children showed an increase of £74 7s. 8d. when compared with the amount paid in 1911. During the year l,*092 members sustained non-fatal accidents, and all of these, as well as 159 who had met with accidents in former years, and who were in receipt of the society’s benefits at the beginning of the year, received accident pay. To these 1,251 members the sum of £2,912 Ils. lOd. was paid. Nine members received between them 133 as compositions in lieu of weekly pay. At the end of the year the capital of the benefit account stood at £24,582 9s. 2d., showing a decrease of £698 6s. ll|d. as compared with the previous year. On the same date the capital of the management fund stood at £771 Ils. lid., being a decrease during the year of £150 0s. 5d. This drain upon the capital called for immediate and serious attention, and the society would have to consider whether the time had not arrived for a reconsideration of the scale of contributions if the present benefits were to be continued. Major Sir Lovelace Stamer, Bart., was unanimously re-elected president of the society. Mr. Geen, who was unanimously re-elected secretary, said that notwithstanding the reduction in capital, he was convinced that the society was in as sound a financial posi- tion as it was at the last quinquennial valuation. A discussion ensued on a proposed alteration of Rule 28____ “ Accident shall mean any misadventure causing injury to a member sufficient to prevent him from forthwith continuing work.’’ It was proposed to alter the rule as follows“ That any member meeting with an accident or misfortune which entitles him to compensation shall also be entitled to benefits from the society.’’ The object of the proposed alteration is with a view to include industrial diseases. After discussion it was resolved that the actuary’s opinion should be taken upon the matter.