July 31, 1914.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAS*.

267

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—July 23.
Minerals and the Valuation of Land.

Mr. Dundas White asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether there were instances in which the Commissioners of
Inland Revenue, in making valuations under section 25 of
the Finance (1909-10) Act, 1910, had valued the land lower
than they would otherwise have done because of the presence
in it of minerals which were being worked or were likely
to be worked; and, if so, whether the reason for taking that
course was that the working of the minerals, or the prospect
of their being worked, was considered as detracting from the
value of the surface.

Mr. Lloyd George said in reply : The answer to the first
part of the question is in the affirmative. The question
whether land falls to be valued lower than it would other-
wise have been because of the presence in it of minerals
which are being worked or likely to be worked depends upon
many considerations, and the governing principles will
shortly be raised before a referee.

Safety Lamp Test.

Mr. Brace asked the Home Secretary if, in arriving at
the standard for miners’ safety lamps, the test laid down
by the Home Office at their testing station was not one of
sensitiveness to detect gas, but if the lamp could with
safety be used in gas; and, if so, what action was he pre-
pared to take to ensure that miners’ safety lamps should
not only be safe instruments to be used in gas, but possess
the maximum capacity for detecting the presence of gas.

Mr. McKenna said the purpose of the tests was to determine
the safety of a lamp for use in gassy mines, and that was
all, as he understood, that he had power under the Act to do.
Fie might say, however, that the detection of gas by the
“ cap ” on the flame did not depend on the design or con-
struction of the lamp, but on the character of the flame,
which again depended on the nature of the fuel burnt in
the lamp.

Unemployment Insurance : Saw Milling Enquiry.

The Marquess of Tullibardine asked the President of the
Board of Trade what had been the cost to the Government
of the abortive enquiry as to whether members of the saw
milling industry should be included in the unemployment
section of the National Insurance Act; and if he was able
to give an assurance that those engaged in this industry
would not be included.

Mr. Robertson said the enquiry in question stood
adjourned at present in consequence of an expression of
opinion by the Commissioner that the proposed Order would
be ultra vires on a purely technical point. Proceedings at
the instance of the Board of Trade were now pending in the
High Court with a view to testing the legal question raised.
In these circumstances it was obviously incorrect to describe
the enquiry as abortive. The cost of the enquiry was not
at present ascertainable.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS.

The Editors are not responsible either for the statements
made, or the opinions expressed by correspondents.

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

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.

INERT STONEDUST.

Sir,—This correspondence began on the question of
free silica and its dangers to respiratory organs. 1
believe your correspondent has a great knowledge of
this phase of the dust question as it applies to potteries;
it would have been expedient had he kept to this phase
of the subject.

He is entirely wrong in his conclusions on fullers’
earth. This fullers’ earth is not a silica bearing dust,
and Mr. Simcock will have a difficulty in finding any
free silica therein. Finely ground dust is recommended
in the Fifth Report; experiment 225 states plainly that
fullers’ earth will raise in suspension on equal terms
with the coal dust—a most important feature which
should have recommended itself to Mr. Simcock rather
than otherwise.

Ordinary silicate alumina may be injurious—but there
is a vast difference between that and this fullers’ earth
—as are also the different circustances of factory con-
ditions and coal mine haulage, and the attendant dusts.

I have it on good authority that stone dusting has
been conducted for some years in certain pits without
any inconvenience. Consequently Mr. Simcock is
assuming a grave responsibility in raising a prejudice
against the adoption of a known suitable and convenient
remedy.

The number of grains calculated as being present
in 7 cwt. of fullers’ earth is altogether wrong—that
number of grains quoted would be quite useless as a
deterrent of inflammation.	L. G. Hill.

5, Oxford-road, Acocks Green,

July 22, 1914.

Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces
the dissolution of the following partnerships :—J. W. L.
Hepton and A. E. L. Hepton, brass founders, Hunslet-
lane, Leeds, under the style of William Hepton and Son,
so far as concerns J. W. L. Hepton; W. J. Adams and
W. H. Fox, electrical engineers, High-street and Ladbroke-
terrace-mews, Notting Hill Gate, under the style of Adams
and Fox; H. Osborn and J. P. Osborn, carrying on business
as general ironmongers at High-street, Daventry, North-
amptonshire, under the style of H. and J. P. Osborn; G.
Horne and A. Doubleday, carrying on business as tin-plate
workers at Cambridge-roadfc Bethnal Green, Middlesex,
under the style or firm of W. Appleby and Company; J.
Woodward and W. J. Modley, carrying on business as
marine and general engineers, at Plymouth, under the
style of J. Woodward and Company.

Notes from the Coalfields.

[Local Correspondence |

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Home Office to Appeal Against Senghenydd Decisions—
Serious Subsidences ip the Rhymney Valley—Check-
weighers as Workmen's Examiners—Sale of a Llanelly
Colliery—Home Office Prosecution at Blaina—Presenta-
tion to Powell Duffryn Chairman: A Brilliant Record
of Progress—Sequel of the Glynea Explosion.

In their meeting at Southport, the Miners’ Federation
of Great Britain decided to communicate with the Home
Secretary in order that legislation shall be promoted for
bringing before a county court judge, instead of local
magistrates, prosecutions like that relating to Senghenydd
explosion. The conference passed a resolution expressing
indignation at failure to hold the company responsible, and
at the small amount of fines imposed where breaches of the
Act had been proved. The announcement has been made
that the Home Office has decided to appeal in respect of
certain of the summonses, against the Senghenydd officials,
dismissed by the magistrates.

The president of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce (Mr. T.
E. Watson) makes protest against “ the way lawyers and
governments are interfering with business,” and instances
the Bill dealing with the shipping trade, and also the
draft code internationally governing contracts relating to
carriage of coal.

Serious subsidences are reported from the upper part of
the Rhymney Valley, where the railway as well as buildings
are affected. It is necessary to give constant attention to
the line in one part of Pontlottyn, this having needed
restoration of level on several occasions during the past few
months ; whilst close by it has been necessary to bring up
the level by 2 ft. or 3 ft. A large public house is in a
deplorable condition. Walls have cracked badly during the
past few weeks, and much concern exists as to imminent
and more extensive damage. Water pipes, etc., also are
suffering badly.

About 30 mining students have returned from a tour in
Germany, under the guidance of Mr. H. Davies, director
of mining instruction for Glamorgan. They are to report
upon their experiences in the Fatherland, and will in all
probability make special reference to the practice of taking
a bath at the pithead.

Whether a checkweigher can act on behalf of the men
as underground examiner is the question in Atkinson versus
the Cwmaman Company, before the Aberdare Court; but
as the issue has been raised in the high court and an appeal
is pending, the Aberdare case is adjourned sine die, awaiting
the decision in that appeal.

The Ffosfach Colliery, at Bynea, near Llanelly, has been
sold for .£1,200, as a going concern, to Mr. Percy Morris,
Llanelly. Its area is about 190 acres; held on differing
leases, and negotiations have been in progress for an
additional 50 acres. Fixed and loose plant, stores, etc.,
were included. Mr. H. E. Poole was the auctioneer, the
sale taking place at Swansea. Part of the holding is for
80 years and part for 60 years, from 1908, and the plant
included two hauling engines.

Several important mining cases, the Home Office
prosecuting, have been before the magistrates at Blaina, the
sittings entending over several days, and an adjournment
till to-morrow (Saturday) having been ordered. Mr. C.
Edwards, M.P., represented the Home Office; and the pro-
prietors of No. 3 South Griffon Colliery (Lancaster and
Company), with the manager, agent, and a fireman, were
summoned for alleged breaches of the Act. Largely, the
evidence was of a- technical nature, as to means adopted for
clearing gas, the amount of ventilation, the inspection, etc;
and among the witness called for the defence were Mr.
W. Stewart, manager of Powell’s Tillery Colliery, Mr. A. F.
Tallis, general manager of Tredegar, and Mr. Leonard W.
Llewellyn, manager of the Cambrian Combine. At an
earlier hearing, evidence had been given by miners, who
deposed to the existence of a considerable volume of gas in
a hole in the roof; and Dr. Atkinson, chief inspector, with
other inspectors, submitted testimony that proper means
had not been adopted for ventilating the cavity. Decision
of the magistrates is deferred till all the cases have been
heard.

Mr. Joseph Shaw, K.C., chairman of the Powell Duffryn
Company, with which he has now been connected for 26
years, has received a presentation which is probably unique.
The occasion was the celebration of the jubilee of the com-
pany, which in its earlier years had a somewhat chequered
history; the late Sir George Eliot being a conspicuous figure
in its operations, and in the later period it has been
remarkably successful, standing at present in the highest
place among the most prosperous of South Wales enter-
prises. More than 600 officials and workmen assembled at
Aberaman Park on Saturday to take part in the celebration,
and Mr. E. M. Hann, who is general manager of the
Powell Duffryn undertakings, and this year’s chairman of
the Coal Owners’ Association, made a noteworthy speech
upon legislation affecting mining. The presentation con-
sisted of a three-quarter length portrait of Mr. Shaw’, by
S. J. Solomon, and 36 pieces of silver gilt plate; all these
being reproductions of famous early 17th Century designs,
the whole forming a remarkably varied collection illus-
trative of the period, formed with sound taste and judgment.

Mr. E. M. Hann, in making the presentation said that
Mr. Shaw had manifested personal interest which lightened
many a burden, and had piloted them through many
difficulties, producing an esprit de corps that had been
morally beneficial to the officials, and materially advantage-
ous to the owners. The position of chairman in a great
undertaking like the Powell Duffryn required unremitting
attention, and a capacity to weigh in all bearings a vast
complexity of circumstances, as well as the ability to form
correct conclusions, and the nerve to issue decisions, some-
times at very short notice.

Mr. Hann's speech was specially notable for his reference
to recent legislation affecting mines. He said that they
had now had 12 months’ experience of the new Act, which
transgressed over and over again some of the best principles
of English law, and degraded colliery officials, treating them
as criminals who must prove their innocence: and was full
of unpractical, undigested provisions, which its authors
could not tell them how to carry out. It was a disgrace
to the Statute Book. They had the satisfaction, however,
of knowing that their employers fully realised this, and that
they could rely upon having full support so far as their

actions w’ere right and reasonable. He had had occasion
to put to Mr. Shaw propositions that would have staggered
a less courageous man—not only those which entailed heavy
expenditure and great risks, but also expenditure which
promised nothing in return, being only for safety and such
like considerations; and that gentleman had always taken
a broad and liberal view.

Mr. Lloyd, chief accountant, one of the oldest officials of
the company, said that at first the annual output of the
company was little more than half a million tons, but by
the acquisition of new undertakings and new sinkings, it
had increased during the first 30 years of the company’s
existence to one and a half million tons. Still further
sinkings and increased winding power had brought the
output to four million tons, to deal with which required
as many wagons as would reach from Aberdare to Cardiff.
They had a staff of 40 in their offices at Cardiff to deal
with the sale business. From 1889 to the present time
there had been steady and continuous improvement in the
position of the company. The market value of the £1 shares
had gone up so that they now stood at 48s.

Mr. Shaw, in acknowledging the presentation, said he
had been on the board of directors for 26 years, and his
aim had been to get men and officials to wrork together
for the good of the company, he and his co-directors having
always had the interests of the men, and especially of the
officials, at heart. The success of their undertaking was
largely due to the co-operation of the officials, from the
highest to the lowest. When he came to Cardiff as a
barrister 27 years ago, he was told that the shares left
by his father in a colliery undertaking somewhere near
Cardiff, were not worth the paper they were written on;
and the outcome of his visit was the appointment of a
committee of enquiry, and he was appointed to the board
of management. The early history of the company was a
triumph over great difficulties.

It was reported on Saturday at the half-yearly meeting of
the Albion Colliery Explosion Fund Committee that there
remains 33 widows and dependents as beneficiaries, and that
£283 w’as disbursed during the six months.

To the committee of the Great Western Colliery Accident
Fund it was stated that £120 had been distributed since
the previous half-yearly meeting.

Bedwellty Board of Guardians discussed at its ordinary
meeting the reported action of Powell Duffryn Company of
deducting rents from the compensation money due to work-
men who occupy company houses; and it was stated that
one man, to whom 15s. per week was payable as compen-
sation, had 5s. 3d. deducted, while another had 2s. 6d.
deducted from 12s. 4d. Strong expression of resentment
was made by certain speakers; but it was pointed out that,
if protest were made, the tenants might have to leave the
houses.

A case which occupied the Assize Court at Swansea for
four days had reference to the Glynea explosion.- It was
an action by the widow of a collier, who claimed damages
for the loss of her husband at the colliery of the Glynea and
Castle Coal Company on October 18, when seven other men
lost their lives. On behalf of the plaintiff, it was argued
that the explosion was due to neglect and breaches of statu-
tory duties by the defendants, one part of the case being
that there was no ventilation in the heading, although
ventilation could easily have been arranged. Defendants,
who denied neglect, submitted, in the alternative, that if
neglect or breaches of duties existed, it had been on the
part of fellow employees of the deceased. They submitted
also that the plaintiff had already exercised her option by
claiming compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation
Act. After lengthy hearing, and evidence by H.M.
inspectors and others, four questions were left to the jury,
and the verdict was in favour of the plaintiff, with damages
of £200 to the widow, and £50 to each of two children.

A peculiar case came before the Tredegar magistrates on
Tuesday, the offence charged being one that might have had
very serious consequences. Two youths w’ere summoned for
interfering with the electric power lines, of the Markham
Colliery; and the prosecuting solicitor described the case as
most serious. In a field near the colliery are transmission
wires carrying a very high voltage. The two defendants
were flying a kite, to which was attached a long copper
wire, and the kite was so handled as to make, the wire touch
the transmission line belonging to the company. Contact
being established, there were sparks, and a tremendously
loud report; and the electric power at the colliery was
stopped for 15 minutes. Nearly 200 men were in the mine
at the time, and the fan wras brought to a standstill. The
voltage of the transmission line was over 6,000. It was
alleged that the defendants were experimenting to see what
would be the effect of their action in touching the trans-
mission line; and the prosecuting solicitor said that they
were endangering their own lives, for, if one of the defen-
dants had kept hold of the wire, he would have been
electrocuted. Defendants were ordered to pay £1 each
towards the cost of the prosecution, and also the court fees.
No conviction was recorded, for the bench considered
defendants were experimenting, and did not realise the effect
of what they were doing.

Northumberland and Durham.

Old Age Pensions and Rent—Cost of Legislation—False
Description of Coal—Tar Distillery Contemplated at
Bankfoot.

Messrs. Bell Bros. Limited, owners of Bowburn Colliery,
placed a tender, which has been accepted, with the Cassop
Parish Council for the electric lighting of Bowburn, Pit
Laddia and Heugh Hall, at a charge of 45s. per 50-candle
power lamp per annum. It was decided to ask the firm
to light Tursdale Colliery, Clarence Villa, Cassop Village,
and Quarrington Hill. The colliery company erect and
provide all poles and lamps for the lighting.

The overcrowding at Spen is to be dealt with by the
Blaydon District Council, and at the last meeting it was
decided to advertise for land to build 40 cottages for the
miners working around the Spen district. It was stated
that 120 miners were on the lists waiting for a house.

Messrs. Pease and Partners propose building 40 houses
at Low Job’s Hill, near Crook.

Mr. R. Y. Batey has just completed 50 years’ service
as a fitter in the coal trade, and to mark the occasion
lie has been presented with a silver rose bowl by his
colleagues of the Stella Coal Company.

The committee of the Durham Aged Miners’ Homes
Association is making a protest to the" Pensions Committee
against the practice, when assessing the income of
applicants for the old age pensions who are occupants of
miners’ homes, of adding a certain sum in lieu of rent. The