May 16, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1023

APPROVED SAFETY LAMPS.

An Order [No. 431] has been issued by the Home
Secretary, dated April 18, 1913, under section 33 of the
Coal Mines Act, 1911 (1 and 2 Geo. 5, c. 50), approving
the Gray-Sussmann electric safety lamps, Nos. 3 and 4,
for use in mines to which the Act applies. The schedule,
specifying the conditions under which the lamps may
be used, is as follows :—

Approved Lamps : The Gray-Sussmann Electric Safety
Lamps, Nos. 3 and 4.—The Gray-Sussmann electric safety
lamp, the general design of which is shown in the
accompanying plate, possesses the following essential parts :

(1.) A sheet-steel case with securely soldered joirits
tinned or galvanised, and enamelled on the inside.

(2)	An electrical accumulator, so constructed as to
prevent escape of the liquid whatever the position of the
lamp, whilst allowing the escape of gas generated by
chemical action in the accumulator.

(3.) A hinged stamped-steel cover, tinned or galvanised,
forming a flame-tight connection with the case, and secured
thereto by

(4.) An efficient locking device of one or other of the
following types:—

(а)	A lead rivet lock.

(б)	A magnetic lock, so constructed that the bolt can

only be withdrawn by applying the pole of an
electro-magnet to the face of the lock.

(5.) An insulated domed base plate of aluminium or
brass, secured to the cover of the case by means of a screw,
and carrying the bulb, switch, and two spring contacts
making connection with the terminal lugs of the
accumulator.

(6.) A flametight screw-switch in the base plate.

(7.) A top plate of aluminium or brass, carried by four
brass pillars screwed to the top plate, and secured to the
cover of the case by nuts on the inside and outside of the
cover.

(8.) A stout protecting glass held in position by the top

The Gray-Sussman Electric Safety Lamps.

FRONT VIEW

SIDEVIEW.

SECTI ON AA

of not less than l*5-candle power over an arc of
45 degs. in a horizontal plane.

(5)	That the lamp has been made at the works of Mr.

W. E. Gray, at 19, Archer-street, Camden Town,
London.

(6)	That the lamp shall have marked upon it its name

and the name of the maker.

NOTES FROM SOUTH WALES.

[from our own correspondent.]

Wages Increased, to the Maximum—Fresh Demands
by the Men—A Fixed Schedule for New Work—
Payment for Small Coal Again Raised—Local
Disputes Boards Suggested — Miners’ Short-
comings as Faymasters—Coal Companies’ Share
Values—Federation to “Declare War” on Non-
unionists.

The arguments put forward by the workmen for a
wage increase of 2| per cent, on the standard, which the
coalowners conceded last week, were based upon the
realised increase of trade, and its satisfactory prospects.
The coalowners acceded to the demand immediately
Mr. Brace, M.P., had introduced the subject; and con-
sequently Mr. Alfred Onions, who had prepared a long
statement in support, said there was no necessity for
him to submit it. It is stated that the Customs returns
for the first quarter of 1913 showed an average selling
price of 16s. lOd. per ton for large coal, whilst the April
price exceeded 17s.; and in addition there had been a
noteworthy advance in the price of small, which was
now selling at over Ils. 6d. per ton.

This advance brings the wage rate to the maximum
under the Conciliation Board agreement, viz.:—60 per
cent, above the standard of 1879; and it is important to
recall that one of the miners’ leaders has specifically

have coal cut unless they paid the terms demanded by
colliers.

The Federation executive met on Friday and drafted
the new schedule. It will have a standard, to which
percentages will have to be added. The standard for
colliers will be 5s. 4d., and timbermen will be paid the
same rate; pitmen, 5s.; repairers, masons, and others,
4s. 9d.; roadmen, hauliers, &c., 4s. 6d.; labourers and
ostlers, 3s. 9d.; boys, 2s. to 3s. 9d. All the foregoing
apply to underground workmen, and the schedule
provides that where a collier is unable to make his
5s. 4d. per day, plus percentages, through causes beyond
his control, he shall receive the difference in the form of
an allowance.

For surface men the standard will be 4s. 9d.; and
for banksmen’s assistants, 4s. 3d.; brakesmen, trimmers,
and others, 3s. 9d.; and the remaining classes of surface
men 3s. 6d., boys getting from Is. 9d. to 3s. 3d. To all
the rates specified (both underground and on the
surface) at the present time the 60 per cent, addition
will be demanded.

In order to keep in touch with what is going on,
lodge secretaries and miners’ agents are to inform the
general secretary of new pits being sunk or new drifts
being opened; also sinkings to lower seams or driving
of cross headings for the purpose of winning new
seams.

It was decided on Friday that steps should be taken
to prevent coal being worked in new seams until the
new schedule is accepted in its entirety. Miners’
agents will not have the power to agree to any price
list until it has received the approval of a sub-committee.
This schedule has been drafted in compliance with the *
authorisation by the annual conference; and the rates
decided on show—so far as they apply—marked advance
on rates already prevailing in some places. Indeed, it
is said that they are equal in each grade to the highest
rates now paid in any district. Necessarily, therefore,
they make, in those cases where they apply, a consider-
able increase in the wage cost; and, inasmuch as the
adoption of this schedule is put forward by the
Federation as part of a uniform policy (the local option
of miners’ agents being withdrawn), the new scheme
challenges strong opposition by the coalowners. As
yet, however, this new schedule has not been adopted.
It was formally approved by the Federation on Friday,
and has been sent to the various lodges in the coalfield
for discussion, so that it may be brought before the
miners’ conference which takes place in June.

Daywork has still to be dealt with, for the schedule
does not as yet relate to these.

A matter of considerable importance is the sugges-
tion that future price lists, to be arranged after the
termination of the present Conciliation Board agree-
ment, should include payment for small coal as well as
large. In each agreement—whether under the Concilia-
tion Board or the sliding-scale, payment for small has
been excluded, because of the necessity of providing
some incentive to the production of the greatest pro-
portion of large. The argument is that, were the men
paid for the small there would not be so much care in the
production of large; and the answer to those who demand
separate payment for small is that the price for large
contains a consideration for the small. A case was
taken into court some years ago, and legal decision was
in favour of the men’s claim for separate payment; but
the practice nevertheless—by agreement between the
two sides—has been to make only one payment, viz.,
that for the large, and this, as already stated, includes a
consideration for the small.

plate and pillars and forming flametight connections
between the top and base plates by washers of indiarubber
or asbestos.

(9.) Provided—

(1)	That the lamp may be made in two sizes, one of

which shall be named the Gray - Sussmann
electric safety lamp No. 3, and the other the
Gray-Sussmann electric safety lamp No. 4.

(2)	That the total weight of the lamp is not more than

5| lb. in the case of No. 3
and 6 lb. „	„	„ 4.

(3)	That the strength of material and attachments

throughout the lamp is not less than in the
sample submitted to tests on March 4, 1913.

(4)	That the lamp shall be capable of maintaining a

light of not less than 1-candle power all round
in a horizontal plane throughout a period of not
less than nine hours, and also of giving a light

given voice to a feeling which prevails that the maximum
should be abolished, and that at the same time the
minimum should be raised.* Incidentally, it is pointed
out that there is no maximum set forth in the Minimum
Wage Act. This contention, of course, fails to recognise
the powerful influence of a wage increase in reducing
output, with the consequence that higher prices mean
lower profits per ton on the output—an influence which
operates with accelerated effect the higher the per-
centage becomes.

Attention has previously been drawn to the fact
that, in respect of new collieries, the South Wales
Federation has decided to establish, in advance, a price-
list; and the speech of Mr. Hartshorn on May Day
declared that just as coalowners were not allowed to
commence sinking a pit until they paid the terms
demanded by landlords, so they would not be able to

Another important matter dealt with at Friday’s
meeting of the Federation executive was to ask the owners’
side of the Conciliation Board to agree in forming local
disputes boards, which would sit at Cardiff, Swansea
and Newport, in order to give greater expedition in
settlement of disputes. At present there is much
delay, which occasions dissatisfaction, and this delay is
attributed to congestion of work before the Conciliation
Board.

Another resolution of the executive was that there
should be a general “ show-cards ” throughout the coal-
field during the first week in July.

One of the most singular incidents in connection
with the endeavour to make a general increase of wage
rates is the declaration by Mr. Hartshorn that the boys
and’youths are not sufficiently paid by the miners who