864

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 25, 1913.

Thera is a good call for Derbyshire house coals, and fuel
for manufacturing purposes is in strong request.

Business at Cardiff is active, and stems are full. Small
coal is steady, as are Monmouthshire coals. Rhondda
bituminous coals are, if anything, stronger. The coke
^market is easier.

The Scottish coal trade is active in all branches.

THE DRAFT GENERAL REGULATIONS.

Joint Conference of Coalowners and Men.

A joint conference of the Mining Association of Great
Britain, representing the coalowners, and of the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain, representing the miners, was
opened at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, yesterday,
to consider the draft regulations and rules drafted by the
Home Office for the administration of the Coal Mines Act,
1911, and the objections and amendments lodged thereto by
the coalowners and miners, with a view of settling some of
the points of difference and of reducing the matters which
will have to be decided by the referee appointed under
section 117 of the Act. The Mining Association was repre-
sented by about 50 coalowners, and the Miners’ Federation
by its executive. Mr. F. J. Jones, Yorkshire, chairman of
the Mining Association, presided, with Mr. Robert Smillie,
president of the Miners’ Federation, as vice-chairman, and Sir
T. Ratcliffe-Ellis and Mr. Thos. Ashton as joint
secretaries.

The full list of amendments to the draft regulations have
been carefully considered and revised by the Mining
Association on behalf of the coalowners, and by the Federa-
tion on behalf of the men, and as a result of yesterday’s
conference an agreement has been come to on quite a
number of the amendments. This will substantially reduce
the work of the referee in deciding on the various disputed
amendments.

There was disagreement between the parties as to the
.Mining Association’s propose! addition to Regulation 5 as
to the workman’s responsibility for examining his place.
' The parties are also in dispute on the Mining Association’s
proposal to add to Rule 22 “ or negligently,” to “ no person
shall wilfully do anything likely to endanger life, or limb,
or any property in and about the mine.” The coalowners’
contention is that it is necessary that protection should be
given against negligent as well as wilful acts likely to
endanger life or limb or property, and the amendment
brings the regulation into accord with the corresponding
• one in existing special rules.

The Mining Association’s amendments to Clauses 52 to 57j
■relating to the duties of winding enginemen, are opposed by
the men.	'

On the important Regulation 79, the list of exemptions
from the provision requiring two main intake airways, the
parties are in direct conflict.

CONTINENTAL MINING NOTES.

Austria.

Coal Market in North-west Bohemia.—Though business is
•quieter than during the first three months of the year, this
is due to normal conditions, and the rest is a welcome
change to most producers. Industrial consumers are
enjoying earlier delivery now that the arrears have been
worked off. The reduced demand in consequence of the
Balkan war, the decline in the house coal trade, and other
• causes, are enabling the pits to cater for the water-borne
traffic, which, however, is impeded by the strike among the
?river men, and freights are going up.

Belgium.

The general strike, which has now practically ended, has
-caused but little inconvenience to consumers of fuel. At
its outset the railways were credited with having about
50 days’ supplies in stock, and with the reduction in traffic
resulting directly from the stoppage of all the important
industrial establishments in the country, this period might
easily be extended to 70 days. Although it is not easy to speak
of the consequences of the strike upon trade, it is generally
admitted that the disturbance has been very small.

The following table shows the imports and exports
during the first quarter of the present year :—

Imports.	Exports.

1912.	1913? ^1912.	1913?

Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons.
■Coal............. 1,970,145...	2,336,462... 1,177,871... 1,245,412

Coke................ 208,616...	331,978... 238,050...	257,205

Briquettes........	98,336...	127,633... 150,986...	129,887

There is a notable increase in the imports of German fuel—
viz.: Coal, 1,275,361 tons (+199,002 tons) ; coke, 297,662
tons .( +108,947 tons); briquettes, 125,582 tons ( + 37,731
tons).	_____________________

Germany.

Ruhr Coal Market.—It is still difficult to predict whether
the advance in coal and coke prices will have any adverse
effect on the state of business ; but the opinion in Syndicate
circles is that the favourable situation will continue. This
view seems to be confirmed by the busy state of the iron
industry, the pig iron market especially being very active,
••so that a continuance of the demand for corresponding

grades of fuel may be anticipated. The fact that deliveries
can now be made more promptly is due to the absence of
any transport difficulties, a full supply of railway wagons
being available. There is, naturally, less doing in house
coals, anthracite nuts in particular, but gas and flaming
coals are still in very good request. The export trade keeps
large, consumers in the north of France and in Belgium
having great need of fuel and readily paying the advanced
rates. In South Germany, business continues satisfactory,
and, though large consignments are going forward, occa-
sional scarcity is experienced, for instance, in the case of
large coke. The traffic in industrial coals is smaller, but
cannot be considered bad. The offers of English coal are
few, the high prices preventing any extensive business.

State Purchase of Coalfields in Saxony.—In Saxony the
State is reported to be purchasing coal properties in the
north and north-east of the Oberlausitz district, at an
average price of about ^€100 per acre. This extension of
the State coal industry is required for the electrification of
the State railways.

Coal Market in Upper Silesia —The favourable situation
of the market remains unimpaired, the demand even
showing an increase, so that the pits are not able to satisfy
consumers’ requirements completely in good time. Labour
troubles are still threatening, and, whether they spread or
not, will be a source of difficulty at such a busy time. The
demands of the export trade are very large, and though the
Swedish State Railway contracts have been secured by
lower tenders from England, several trial orders for Upper
Silesian coal have been given, with a view to probable
business next year. In other districts, English coals have
proved too dear to compete. Renewed endeavours are
being made to secure a reduced railway rate on Upper
Silesian gas coals to Berlin. In points of detail the trace
remains about the same, industrial coals being in largest
request, including, of course, coking coals. Gas coals sell
well, and there is a fair demand for house coal. In most
grades of coke the output is taken up readily and completely.

Official Coal Prices, Dusseldorf Exchange.—Gas and open-
burning coal : Gas flaming coal, through-and-through,
12’25-13’25 marks per ton ex pit. Bituminous coals :
Through-and-through, 12-12’75 marks ; best mixed, 13-13 50
marks ; coking coal, 13’25-14 marks. Lean coals : Through-
and-through, 11’25-12 75 marks ; best mixed, 13’25-14’75
marks; anthracite nuts II., 22-26 marks. Coke : Foundry
coke, 19-21 marks ; blast-furnace coke, 16 50-18 50 marks
broken coke, I/II., 21-24 marks. Briquettes, 11’50-15 marks’

Saar Coke.—The administration of the State collieries
has raised the price of coke by 1 mark per ton, to date from
1st inst.

Railway Rates.—In the current issue of the Board of
Trade Journal it is stated that from information which has
been received at the Board, from a reliable source, it
appears that the perennial agitation for the canalisation of
the rivers Moselle and Saar has been ended for the present,
by the announcement made towards the end of last year by
the Secretary of State, who declared that the Prussian
Government had decided to abandon the canalisation
scheme, but would offer some compensation by reducing the
railway rates for iron ore, coke, and coking coal between the
Ruhr district, on the one hand, and the Lorraine-Luxem-
burg district, on the other, and would also grant adequate
reductions in the railway rates of the other mining
centres. These reductions will not, however, take
effect until the opening of the Hanover Canal in 1914,
and the relative rates for coke and ore will be as 2 is to 3
and not as 1 is to 2, which was the demand originally made
by Jthe mineowners. The detailed rates have not yet been
published; but, taking the average distance between the
Ruhr and Lorraine districts as 350kiloms. (about 217 miles),
the rate for coke will be reduced by 12 marks (about
14’16d.) per metric ton (2,204’6 lb.) and the rate for iron
ore by 0 8 mark (9 44d.) per metric ton; these reductions
will furnish the basis for the reductions in other mining
districts. Amongst the objeotions to the canalisation of the
Moselle and Saar was the consideration that the waterway
would be utilised for the carriage of a great variety of
goods, to the detriment of the Prussian State Railways.
whereas under the approved scheme of reduced freights on
iron, coke and coking coal the railways will retain their
remunerative traffic in the general manufactures of the
country, and thus to some extent recompense themselves
for the reductions.

Official Coal Prices, Essen Exchange.—Gas and open-
burning coals: Gas coal, through-and-through, 12 50-14 50
marks per ton, ex pit; gas-flaming coal, through-and-
through, 12 25-13 25 marks ; open-burning coal, through-
and-through, 11’50-12 marks ; large coal, 14-15’50 marks ;
semi-screened, 13 50-14 50 marks ; washed nuts, I., II., III.,
14’25-15 marks ; IV., 14 75-14’50 marks ; nuts slack,
0’20/30 mm., 9 10 marks, 0 50/60 mm. 10 50-11’25 marks ;
slack, 8-10 75 marks. Bituminous coals, through-and-
thrcugh, 12-12 75 marks; best mixed, 13-13’50 marks;
large, 14-14 50 marks; washed nuts, L, II., III., 14’25-15
marks; IV. 13’75-14’50 marks; coking coal, 13’25-14
marks. Lean coals: Through and through, 1125-11’75
marks, mixed 12 25-13’25 marks, improved (according to
proportion of large) 13 25-14 75 marks; large. 13’75-16’25
marks; washed nuts I., II., 15’75-19 marks, III., 15 50-20
marks, IV., 12’25-14-75 marks ; anthracite nuts, I., 20’50-22
marks, II., 22-26 marks ; through-and-through slack, 10 25-
11’25 marks; slack below 10 mm. 7 25-10 marks. Coke:
Blast-furnace coke, 16’50-18’50 marks; foundry coke, 19-21
marks; broken coke, I. and II., 21-24 marks. Briquettes
(according to quality), 11’50-15 marks.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—April 17.

The Minimum Wage Act.

Mr. John Taylor asked whether in a district it had been
decided that a mason’s labourer working regularly in a
mine did not come within the scope of the Coal Mines
(Minimum Wage) Act; and whether, in view of the
conflicting opinions on the matter and the fact that masons
labourers in other districts come under the Act, any
guidance could be given on the point or any steps taken to
secure uniformity of administration ?

Mr. Robertson replied: I have not seen the decision
referred to, but, as my hon. friend is no doubt aware, the
definition of “ workman ” for the purposes of the Coal
Mines (Minimum Wage) Act is contained in section 5 (1) of
the Act. The Board of Trade have no authority in regard
to the matter, which would appear to be ultimately one for
the decision of the Courts.

Aid Certificates.

Mr. Keir Hardie asked the Home Secretary the date
upon which the Glamorgan County Council first memo-
rialised him, asking that their first aid certificates should
be recognised by him for the purpose of the requirements
of the Mines Act; and what were the reasons which had
led to the delay in coming to a decision, particularly as
these certificates are recognised by the Board of Trade and
the War Office ?

Mr. McKenna said: The Glamorgan Council applied in
April last year that the certificates which they were pro-
posing to issue might be recognised for the purposes of the
Rescue Order. It was explained to them that this would
require an amendment of the Order, and they were asked to
submit details of their scheme for consideration, but these
were not received till the end bf November. It has been
necessary to examine carefully the whole question of the
recognition of the certificates of bodies other than the
principal ambulance associations, and this question is not
yet ready for decision; but, in the meantime, the Board for
Mining Examinations have decided, with a view to pre-
venting any hardship, that a candidate for a certificate of
competency who is desirous of sitting at the examination
next month, but has not yet obtained the first aid certificate
required, shall be allowed four months after the examination
in which to obtain it.

April 23.
Collieries and Income Tax.

Sir George Younger asked whether the Chancellor of
the Exchequer’s attention had been called to the Darngavil
Coal Company case, in which deductions were claimed from
income tax assessments in respect of payments made by
that company to a wagon company under a hire-and-
purchase agreement for a supply of wagons; whether, in
terms of a circular recently issued by the Secretary to the
Inland Revenue, surveyors of income tax were instructed to
discontinue the practice of splitting these payments and
allowing as deduction in charging the income tax such part
as was thought fairly to represent hire ; and whether he was
aware that, in deciding the case against the Inland Revenue,
the Lord President of the Court of Session commented
adversely on the practice of issuing such circulars without
taking the advice of law officers ?

Mr. Lloyd George said his attention had been called to
the case referred to. In May 1909, when the circular
referred to was issued, it was the general (but not universal)
practice not to allow any deduction in respect of the
payments referred to, and the circular issued to surveyors of
taxes endeavoured to secure uniformity of treatment of
assessments by the District Commissioners of Taxes on
colliery proprietors and others. When issuing circular
instructions to their surveyors, the Commissioners of Inland
Revenue took legal advice where deemed necessary, but it
would not be practicable to submit al] such circulars to the
Law Officers.

Workmen’s Compensation Act: Contracting out.

Mr. Theodore Taylor asked the President of the Board
of Trade whether his attention had been called to the case of
Howarth v. Knowles, decided by the judge of the Salford
County Court on April 9, in which it was proved that a
scheme officially certified by the Registrar of Friendly
Societies as not less favourable to the general body of
workmen and their dependants than the provisions of the
Workmen’s Compensation Act wTas in fact so much less
favourable that the plaintiff and other workmen who
had accepted and were dependent on the scheme were
left without compensation or remedy for the rest of
their lives; and whether it was proposed to take any, and,
if so, what, steps to amend section 3 of the Act so as to
ensure that a scheme certified by the Registrar of Friendly
Societies, and on the faith of which contracting out is
permitted, could be relied on by those dependent on it as a
trustworthy substitute for the provisions of the Act of
Parliament.

The Home Secretary said the case raised a point of law
which was quite new, and was undoubtedly important, and
he understood there was likely to be an appeal from the
learned judge’s decision. So far as regards future
cases, the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies
informed him that practically all the existing schemes
under the Act expired on June 30 next, and that in
considering the grant of certificates of renewal he would
take steps to ensure, as far as practicable, that provision
was made in the schemes for meeting the point raised in the
case referred to.