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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

June 13, 1913.

however, in very successful operation under roofs of this
character. The essentials are, adequate and systematic
strapping and propping at the face and withdrawal of
hack timber. Roofs of this kind are frequently better
without any support in the goaf, and are usually best
managed by a row of hard wood pillars or a line of
breaker props, to shear oft' the roof and allow it to close
to the floor behind the conveyor.

The most difficult roofs in relation to conveying are
probably the strong and inflexible roofs which will not
bend down into the goaf, and which cannot be induced
to break at the desired times and places. In all such
cases the manageableness of the roof depends largely
upon the character of the floor; the difficulties are greatly
accentuated if the floor is too soft to afford the requisite
resistance to enable the timber to break off the roof in
the desired line. In the thicker seams, in which con-
veyors may be used, the difficulties are also increased
by the size and cost of the timber required and by the
lack of material to steady the roof by packwalls in the
waste, and in the thinner seams by lack of stowage
space and the cost of disposing of rubbish from falls.

An interesting example of treatment of a roof over a
machine-worked seam in Japan may be cited. It was
necessary to advance this face in a direction at right
angles with the cleavage planes in a strong roof, in
which the cleavages were so well defined that the roof
could not be supported over a face parallel with them.
The face was therefore formed in crescent shape; at
the backward projecting sides of the curved face the
roof cleavages are at a considerable angle with the face
of coal, and the main , roof resting upon the sides is
supported as a girder over the centre of the crescent.
The immediate roof over the concave face is thus
partially relieved of crush and becomes manageable.
The Japanese manager of the colliery has designed, but
has not yet put in operation, a conveyor to work on a
curved face.

Timbering.

“ The men will have to be held hard at it to set their
straps and props to suit all purposes, without having to
shift them till their final withdrawal. The roof is very
bad, and this is the whole key to success in the seam.”
That is quoted from the report of an experienced
operator hot from his work, and is a forceful and
pregnant statement which is applicable to every con-
veyor face, and especially to every face where a coal-
cutter and conveyor are jointly employed. Many a
conveyor has failed solely because of loose system or
lack of system in timbering, and many more are
prejudiced for the same reason.

In regard to timber props, the practice of pointing
the props may be mentioned ; the advantages claimed
for pointing props appear to be well founded, but with
the exception of a few large collieries in South York-
shire and the Midlands, the method is rarely adopted.

A notable feature of Continental practice is the very
frequent use of steel straps or bars, and runners for
supporting them. The greater length (frequently 10 ft.
to 12 ft.) of the bars in general use at conveyor faces on
the Continent may be noted as a feature conducive to
regularity in the placing of bars and of the supporting
props, and also to avoidance of much resetting of props,
and to the minimising of disturbance of roof when
resetting is necessary.

(To be continued.)

South Staffordshire Mines Drainage. — At the last
monthly meeting of the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage
Commission, Mr. Veitch, who presided, said that although
during the month there had been a considerable reduction
in the rainfall, which was only 1*99 in., the pumping was the
highest recorded for the last 25 years. Reporting on the
works of the Tipton district, Mr. E. Howl stated that the
pumping had been 13,881,000 gallons per 24 hours, compared
with 13,129,000 the previous month, aud 11,271,000 in the
corresponding period of last year. There had been a further
increase of water at the Moat Pound. The Gospel Oak
Mond gas-driven plant was at present standing owing to a
breakage. To 'help in reducing the water in the Moat
Pound, arrangements had been made to commence tanking
at Castle Mill in order to forecut the water running from
the abandoned limestone workings. The Bradley engine
had averaged 5| strokes per minute for the month, an
ncrease of half a stroke per minute over the previous
month. It was now raising 4.000,000 gallons per day,
working full speed. The Stowheath and Herbert's Park
engines were also working at full speed ; and at the Deep-
fields engine the water had increased and was at present up
o the Thick coal. With regard to Old hill district, Mr. W.
B. Collis stated that the new and larger working bairels
for the Buffery pumping engine had been put in, and the
work involved stoppages amounting to 40 hours. The
volume of the water was so great that it had taken three
weeks to recover the former position. The engines had
been working splendidly. The water in the Saltwells and
Waterfall-lane pounds remained at its usual, level.

OBITUARY.

We regret to announce that Mr. Matthew Habershon,
general manager and director of the Thorncliffe
Collieries of Messrs. Newton, Chambers and Co. Limited
died suddenly at. his residence, St. Mark’s - crescent,
Sheffield, on the 9th inst., from acute pneumonia.
Mr. Habershon came of an old Rotherham family, his
father being Mr. Matthew Henry Habershon, who was at
one time agent for Messrs. Newton, Chambers and Co. in
London, and who was well known as the author of
“ Chapeltown Researches,” “ The Monk’s Grange,” and
other works. His mother was a daughter of the late
Mr. Matthew Chambers, of Barbot Hall, a former member
of the Thorncliffe Company. Mr. Habershon was born at
the Holmes in 1856. He received his early education at
Rotherham Grammar School, and was afterwards at Clitheroe
Grammar School. Coming to London when a youth, he held a
position with Mr. Wilkins, a surveyor and consulting
engineer, and continued his education by attending evening
classes on mining and other subjects at King’s College.
Mr. Habershon first joined the firm about forty years ago,
and for many years was mining engineer. After the death
of Mr. A. M. Chambers, in 1898, he became consulting
engineer, and in May 1912, after the death of Mr. William
Allott, general manager. Three months ago he was elected
a director. In 1909 and 1910 Mr. Habershon was president
of the Institute of Mining and Civil Engineers, with which
institute le had been connected practically from its forma-
tion. He was also vice-president of the Institution of
Mining Engineers. He was a pioneer in the formation of
colliery rescue stations, for long before these were com-
pulsory under Act ( f Parliament he helped to establish the
one at Tankersley in connection with his own and neigh-
bouring colliery companies, and he took great interest in
its work and in ambulance work in the mines. He was on
the council of the University of Sheffield, and 15 years ago
was a lecturer on mining for the Yorkshire West Riding
County Council and Derbyshire County Council. He leaves
a widow but no children.

Mr. Arthur Perkins, underground manager of the Tyne-
wydd Colliery, Pontlottyn, was killed in the mine on the
6th inst. Accompanied by a boy, he visited the return
airway for the purpose of taking measurements, when a
heavy fall of roof occurred, and he was buried under the
debris. Mr. Perkins was a married man, about 44 years of
age.

A sad fatality occurred at Benwell Colliery on the
6th inst., resulting in the death of Capt. W. H. Ramsay,
the chief officer of the Northumberland and Durham
Collieries Fire and Rescue Brigade, who lost his life whilst
experimenting with breathing apparatus. The deceased
gentleman was only 32 years of age, and had held the
appointment as chief of the brigade for 18 months. He
was trained to colliery work, after obtaining his Bachelor of
Science degree at Armstrong College. His late father, Mr.
J. A. Ramsay, a colliery manager well known in the Durham
coalfield, had the training of his son, who served at
Sherburn and Little Town collieries, as well as at Messrs.
Joicey’s Beamish, Tanfield and West Pelton collieries.
Subsequently, the deceased became assistant - manager
at West Pelton and Handen Hold collieries, in which
position he remained for three years, and from 1907 till the
date of his appointment as chief of the brigade he was
manager at South Tanfield. Capt. Ramsay was unmarried,
and lived with his mother at St. George’s-terrace, Jefcmond.
The deceased was a highly respected officer in the
8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (Territorials), and
for some years had acted as secretary of the Durham
County R fle Association.

The sudden death has occurred of Mr. R. H. Robinson, of
Heanor. Mr. Robinson, who for some years had been
suffering from Bright’s disease, was at the time on a visit
to his eldest son, Mr. George Fox Robinson, of Burton-road,
Woodville. The deceased, who was 69 years of age, received
his first post at the Sheepbridge Ironworks. He
entered the surveyor’s office under the late Mr. William
Wild, and remained here for about three years. Securing
employment at the works of the late Mr. Richard Barrow,
which are now known as the Staveley Coal and Iron Works,
Mr. Robinson eventually became mining engineer, and had
charge of most of Mr. Barrow’s pits. Subsequently he was
manager of Monk Wood Colliery, under Mr. C. H. Plevins,
and he left Whittington for the Heanor district, entering
the employ of Mr. Mundy, of Shipley Hall, and living for
many years at Marlpool House, near Derby. He left Mr.
Mundy’s employ and removed to Heanor, where in 1893 he
set up in business on his own account as a mining engineer
and surveyor. His wife predeceased him 15 years ago, but
he leaves two sons and two daughters.

Mr. A. P. Simpson, who for many years has represented
the Ilkeston Colliery Company as salesman, has obtained
an appointment with the Aston Colliery Company, near
Doncaster, and at a dinner at Ilkeston he was made the
recipient of several presents, which were formally handed
over to him by Mr. R. H. Case, who presided. Mr. Simnson
succeeded Mr. Case as hon. secretary of the Derbyshire and
Nottinghamshire branch of the Coal Trade Benevolent
Association, and his departure from the Nottingham
district will be much regretted by his many friends in the
coal trade.

Letters to the Editor.

Th^ Editor is not resnonsibh either for the statements
made, or the opinionpexpressed bv cnrrpsvondprfp.

All communications must be authenticated by the name
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not. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi-
cations.

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

THE INSURANCE ACT CONTROVERSY:
PROPOSED SPECIAL COMMISSION.

Sir,—Whilst the National Insurance Bill was being
discussed in the House of Commons—or rather was
being rushed through willy - nilly, many important
clauses being passed under the guillotine without
discussion—I was engaged in private correspondence
with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in writing to
the Press, urging the necessity for due consideration to
this measure, which everyone realised was of the most
complicated character and very far-reaching in its effects
for good or evil. I have reason to believe that many
Liberal members of Parliament strongly objected to the
Bill being forced through without adequate considera-
tion, and without due and proper regard to the
experience and opinion of those who had intimate
knowledge of the subject. But the Chancellor of the
Exchequer was obdurate, and strained his power to the
utmost to press the measure through, regardless of
consequences.

The Bill having passed, and power being given in the
Act to postpone its operation until January 1913, I
pressed strongly for its postponement, and within a few
days a memorial to the Government was prepared and
signed by many thousands of employers or their repre-
sentatives, including many of the largest manufacturing
and trading firms in the country. But again the
Chancellor would not be gainsaid, and, though he
knew that the numerous organisations which had to
administer the scheme were in a chaotic state with
regard to it, he insisted upon the scheme being put into
operation at the first possible moment permissible by
the Act—July 15, 1912. The Insurance Commissioners
were not ready—thousands of letters, many of them
from society secretaries, were long unanswered, and new
regulations were being issued almost daily, which added
to the confusion. The insured were entitled to receive
sanatorium benefit, &c., but the numerous insurance
committees and public health authorities were unpre-
pared. Even now, nearly 12 months after the Act
came into operation, there are probably thousands of
consumptives insured for sanitorium treatment who
cannot have it because sufficient sanitoria do not as yet
exist. On every hand, even now, there is evidence that
the scheme is not only not “ working smoothly ”—as the
Chancellor and his friends repeatedly declare it is—but
that as regards vast numbers of people the scheme is as
yet a dead letter. The people are having to pay, but
are not getting the benefits in many instances. I
mention these things to show how desirable it was in
June 1912 to postpone the operation of the Act. About
that time I initiated the formation of a deputation to
the Prime Minister consisting of representatives of all
the greatest industries and employers in the kingdom—
it was computed that the capital represented aggregated
£2,000,000,000. Its purpose was to urge postponement
until January 1913. But the Prime Minister declined
to receive the deputation — a colossal blunder, as
subsequent events have abundantly proved.

My case for postponement was that the scheme was
ridiculously complicated, needlessly cumbersome, and
grossly extravagant; and, moreover, that the incidence
of taxation under it was evidently unequal and
inequitable. I urged that time should be taken to
amend and improve the scheme before the vast
machinery—which the scheme, as it stood, involved—
was created, and which it would be difficult to get rid of
afterwards if found unnecessary. But no! The scheme
was forced on. Then the Government got a rude and
unexpected shock when Sir A. A. Haworth, on being
promoted to office under the Crown, was defeated at
South-West Manchester by an amazing turnover of
votes. But the Chancellor still persisted in having his
way, until now such is the state of the public mind on
this question that the very existence of the Government
is imperilled. That surely is the meaning of the writing
on the wall in the by-elections.

Already—when sickness benefits have been payable
for less than six months—the responsible leaders of the
approved societies are alarmed at the grave increase of
malingering and in sickness claims, which they know
full well threatens their institutions with insolvency and
destruction. It is destroying the morale of a people
hitherto noted for* their self-reliance. I warned the