June 6, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1213

Letters to the Editor.

The Editor is not responsible either for the statements
made, or the opinions expressed by correspondents.

Al communications must be authenticated by the name
and address of the sender, whether for publication or
not . No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations.

Asrepliesto questions are only given by way of published
answers to correspondents, and not by letter, stamped
addressed envelopes are not required to be sent.

PROPOSED INSTITUTION OF MINE
SURVEYORS.

Sir,—At a meeting of mine surveyors of the counties
of Durham and Northumberland, held at the Armstrong
College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on Saturday, 24th inst., it
was unanimously agreed to form an independent
national institution or association of mine surveyors,
with branches in different centres, the objects of such
an institution being to raise the status of the profession
and to serve its interests generally.

Before proceeding further, it was thought desirable
to ascertain the views of surveyors in other parts of the
country.

It would greatly assist the movement forward if
members of the profession in other counties would
convene meetings similar to the one we have held, and
forward their views to the undersigned.

We shall be glad to furnish further information to
any person undertaking to convene these meetings.

18, Gordon-terrace, Wm. B. H. Lockerbie,
South wick-on-Wear.

11, Helen-street, Dawdon, Geo. R. Innes,

Seaham Harbour.	Joint Secretaries.

May 31, 1913.

NOTES FROM SOUTH WALES.

[from our own correspondent.]

Notice of Revision, in Colliery Rating—Schedule of
Rates for New Work—Abnormal Places: New
Method of Decision—Opposition to Increased Coal
Rates in Cardiff Docks—Prosperity of Port Talbot—
More Mining Teachers in Glamorgan—Magistrates
Order Removal of Checkweigher — Steam Coal
Developments in Porest of Dean.

The threatened revision in the rating of collieries
does not appear to be generally favoured, though the
proposal has not yet been abandoned. As a result of
the conference held in Neath during March, called
specially to consider the question, communication was
made with all the poor-law unions affected; but both
Newport and Pontypool replied that they were satisfied
with existing conditions. One resolution at the con-
ference was to substitute the imperial ton for the “long ”
ton in assessment. At Pontypridd, last week, one
member of the authority gave notice of a motion
instructing the clerk to notify the colliery companies
that on June 30th the existing agreements would be
terminated, so as to permit of changes in the mode of
rating being effected. The matter will not, however, be
dealt with until after considerations and report by a
•committee.

The Association of Colliery Enginemen, Stokers,
and Surface-men belonging to South Wales, has met in
Cardiff to consider the advisability of joining the
Miners’ Federation.

The Federation schedule of wage rates for new
work comes before a general conference of the men
shortly; and, as has been already pointed out, if
approved by that conference (which is almost certain to
be the case), it will be the only wage basis upon which
negotiations in respect of new colliery work will be
carried out, or of any new seam in old collieries. It has
been specifically declared that the object of the new
proposal is to put the wage payment on the same basis
;as the payment to landowners; and that—just as a
landowner can hold up any development until his terms
in respect of royalties, &c., are conceded—so the colliers
through their Federation shall be able to hold up
future developments by their demand for the new wage
rates.

The schedule has this week been distributed among
the lodges, and, as previously set forth in this column,
the standard for colliers, timbermeu and repairers will
be 5s. 4d. per day; pitmen, 5s.; rippers, masons, &c.,
4s. 9d.; roadmen, hauliers, timber drawers, &c., 4s. 6d.;
trammen, electricians, &c., 4s. 6d.; labourers, ostlers,
Ac., 3s. 9d.; boys, from 3s. 3d. to Is. 9d., according to
age, rising 3d. each year in weekly wage. The foregoing
are the underground rates; and for surface workers the
rates are as follow.-—Banksmen, 4s. 9d.; assistants,

4s. 3d.; brakesmen, trimmers, &c., 3s. 9d.; all others,
3s. 6d. There is, of course, an addition of the per-
centage—now standing at 60—to all the above rates.

Beyond this, and perhaps even more important, is
the indication that, once the new schedule has become
applicable to new work, an endeavour will be made to
bring payments for old work up to the same level. The
afternoon and night shifts are, it is desired, to be paid
for universally on the basis of six shifts for five. The
design is that there fehall be separate payments for each
item of labour, in order to prevent any payment for
dead work being included in the cutting price ; and the
limitation of hours to eight per day is to be made
applicable to all surfacemen, as well as to the men
employed underground.

It has to be noted that the rates set forth in this
new schedule exceed most of the highest rates now paid
in the coalfield, and that they are above the minimum
rates which were fixed under the Minimum Wage Act.
Taking the whole of the underground workmen together
—all grades, including colliers—at least three-quarters
of them receive wages at rates lower than those of the
new schedule, and if the colliers are excluded, the pro-
portion runs as high as probably nineteen-twentieths
for whom an increase of wage will be sought under this
scheme.

Besides this, a list of rates will be drawn up for
dead work. One other feature is that district dealing
with rates will be abolished, centralised control for
maintenance of the new rates being established. As to
abnormal places, the desired rate for these is stated at
5s. 4d. per day plus percentages; and the assumption as
to an abnormal place is to be that if a collier in any new
seam or colliery fails to make 5s. 4d. per day plus per-
centage—“in every case it shall be assumed that the
failure is due to causes over which the workman has no
control, unless the management can prove the contrary.”
It would, therefore, no longer be necessary to prove that
a place is abnormal; failure to earn is, according to this
new schedule, to be the sole determining feature.

The Cardiff Railway Company’s Bill, which seeks
to raise the charge for coal-tipping from 2d. to 4d. per
tou, and also to add 50 per cent, to the wharfage charge,
came before the Examiners of the House of Commons
and was advanced the formal stage upon proof of com-
pliance with Standing Orders. Petitions against the
measure have been deposited by the South Wales and
Monmouthshire Freighters’ Association, the Cardiff
Chamber of Commerce, the Cardiff Shipowners’ Asso-
ciation, the Monmouthshire Coal and Iron Freighters’
Association, and the Rhymney Railway Company.

Port Talbot Company, having entered upon the final
month of the half-year, are anticipating a record return.
So recently as 1905 the shipments were considerably
below 1| million tons for the year; but 1913 is expected
to show more than double that quantity. Largely this
will be be due to the extensions that are in progress.
The new belt conveyor, shortly to be completed, will be
capable of loading 800 tons per hour ; and, in addition,
there is to be a new bunkering tip constructed on the
Margam side of the patent fuel works, making the fourth
new tip put up within the past five years.

Glamorgan Education Committee have decided to
appoint two additional travelling teachers to meet the
demand for efficient instruction in mining, the salaries
to commence at £150 and rise to £200 per annum. A
scheme of suggestions is to' be prepared by the director
of mining education, the object being to give practical
effect to the goodwill of proprietors, managers and
engineers with reference to the students in the county
classes.

After hearing evidence lasting between six and
seven hours, the Caerphilly Bench, on Tuesday, ordered
the removal of a checkweigher hitherto employed at
the Windsor Colliery, on the ground of interference with
the men. It was stated that the manager had arranged
with the men to work extra time on specified terms, but
that defendant had induced them not to carry out the
arrangement.

Development of the steam coal areas in Forest of
Dead has joined with other incidents to occasion a
change of circumstances which manifests itself in labour
unrest. As a consequence, notice has been given
terminating the wage agreement next September. The
men complain that, despite good trade, they have not
participated in wage advances, their rate standing at

35 above the standard, whilst in the adjoining coalfield
it is at 63; and they wish also to divide the Wages
Board, making one for the house coal and another for
the steam coal.

Mr. Thomas Bevan, who for 35 years was manager
of the Vochriw pit of the Dowlais Company, died on
May 29 at his residence in Dowlais. He had been
engaged under Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds and their
predecessors for 41 years. One son is Mr. John Bevan,
now manager at Vuchriw.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—May 27.

Mineral Rights Duty.

Mr. Boyds asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by
which branch of the Inland Revenue Department Mineral
Rights Duty is levied; and what is the estimated annual
cost of levying such duty ?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied: The Land
Values Branch of the Secretaries’ Office, London, and the
offices of the Assistant Secretary and Comptroller in Edin-
burgh and in Dublin are concerned with the levying of
Mineral Rights Duty. It is not possible to separate with
any approach to accuracy the cost of collecting this duty
from the cost of collecting Inland Revenue duties generally.

The Presence of Firedamp.

Mr. Thomas Richardson asked the Home Secretary if
his department had enquired into the alleged violation of
the Coal Mines Act at Felling Colliery, as promised on
April 3, 1913; and, if so, what decision had been come to
on the matter ?

Mr. McKenna said, further inspection and enquiry had
been made. The amount of gas found in February was so
small as not in itself to be “ indicative of danger,” and
since then no gas had been found. He was advised that in
the circumstances the provisions in the Explosives Order»
which prohibited shot-firing in the solid coal without proper
holing, could not be held to apply.

June 3.

Mines Inspectors’ Dependants.

Mr. Hancock asked the Home Secretary whether the
Government had rendered, or proposed to render, any
financial assistance to the widows and children of the three
mines inspectors who were killed at the recent Cadeby
Colliery explosion, and, if so, what amounts have been or
are proposed to be given.

In reply, Mr. McKenna said that the following awards
were made by the Treasury :—In the case of Mr. Pickering,
a gratuity of £788 and a pension of £150 a year to Mr.
Pickering’s widow; in the case of Mr. Hewitt, a gratuity of
£479 and a pension of £86 to Mr. Hewitt’s widow, and a
gratuity of £22 in respect of his two children. The third
inspector was unmarried.

June 4.
Experience at the Eace.

Mr. Raffan asked the Home Secretary whether two
years’ experience at the face of the workings of a mine
referred to in Section 15 (1) (a) of the tCoal Mines Act,
1911, meant that the person must have been actually
hewing coal for that period, or whether general experience
about the coal face satisfied the meaning of the Act ?

The Under-Secretary (Mr. Ellis Griffith) said he was
advised that two years’ practical experience at the face, in
whatever class of employment, would satisfy the require-
ment.

Mr. Raffan asked whether a colliery manager had the
right to refuse to sign the certificate required by the
examining institution for colliery firemen’s examinations
on being requested to do so by th? candidate for examina-
tion, although the candidate has had the experience
required by the Coal Mines Act 1911 ?

Mr. Ellis Griffith said he was not sure to what certifi-
cate his hon. friend was referring. If it was a certificate
that the candidate had had the five years’ practical
experience required by the Act, that was not a matter on
which approved institutions were required to satisfy them-
selves before issuing firemen’s certificates. If his hon.
friend would communicate the particulars of the case he
had in mind, he would make enquiry.

A question arising out of a contract for the supply of
coal to the Craigleith Poorhouse has been decided by the
Sheriff, reversing a judgment by the Sheriff-Substitute
(Guy), in an action at the instance of the Edinburgh
Parish Council against John Smith and Sons, coal merchants,
37, Lothian-road, Edinburgh. The defenders, owing to the
miners’ strike and the consequent rise in price, refused to
supply more at the contract rate. The Parish Council
contended that they were bound to supply during the year
whatever quantity was required; but the defenders main-
tained that, on a proper construction of the contract, they
were only bound to supply 1,100 tons more or less, and
having supplied the quantity stated, their contract was
implemented. The Sheriff has sustained the defences, with
expenses against the Parish Council.