388

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

August 20, 1915.

Sunderland Chamber of Commerce, the River Wear Watch
and the Local Marine Board. He was also a local director
of Lloyd’s British Testing Company. Sir John, who was a
Liberal in politics, was a county magistrate, and also a J.P.
of Sunderland. He received his baronetcy on New Year’s
Day, 1912. The title will descend to his son, Mr. John S.
Barwick. Sir John married Miss Short, sister of the late
Mr. J. Y. Short, head of the firm of Short Brothers, ship-
builders, Sunderland, and there was a family of two sons
and four daughters. The interment took place at Sunder-
land last Saturday, the funeral being attended by a very
large gathering of Sir John’s business associates and com-
mercial men of the north-east coast.

The death is announced of Col. John Drummond Young,
managing director of the Scottish Boiler Insurance Com-
pany.

Mr. Robert Whitfield, of The Terrace, Longbenton, news
of whose death, in his 92nd year, will be received with much
regret, was for many years overseer at Consett Works before
going to Benton. He was one of the oldest shareholders of
the Consett Iron Company.

By the death of Mr. Alfred Bowen, has been removed a
figure familiar in business circles in Cardiff. Deceased was
manager of the Dowlais Works under the late Mr. E. P.
Martin. He next became manager of the Darlington Steel
and Iron Company’s Works, but responded to an invita-
tion to return to Dowlais as manager, which position he held
until his retirement some years ago. Later he became con-
nected with the firm of J. L. Smith and Company, coal
exporters, Cardiff, and was also associated with Aid. Evans,
of Caerphilly, in the iron branch of his business.

Mr. Robert Russell, a well-known Teesside iron merchant,
died at his residence, The Newlands, Grove-hill, Middles-
brough, on Tuesday, after a brief illness.

At Bridlington on Monday, an inquest was held on the
body of Mr. Hercules Wormaid (74), retired mining engi-
neer, of Bessingby, who was struck by lightning in the
Bessingby Fields, near Bridlington, on Saturday afternoon.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical
evidence.

Much regret was expressed on the Newcastle Coal
Exchange on the news being circulated of the death of Mr.
William E. H. Marshall, who for 47 years had been in the
employ of the owners of Pelton Colliery. Mr. Marshall only
retired from active business through ill-health at the end of
June last.

Miss Lucy Knollys, who was drowned in the Chirk Castle
pool last week in the grounds of Chirk Castle, owned by
Lord Howard de Walden, Chirk, and who was a niece of
Lord Knollys, the late private secretary to the King, for
some time past acted as a checkweighman at a local colliery,
taking the place temporarily of a young man who has joined
the Colours. Much sympathy is felt locally at her untimely
death.

Mr. Wm. Edward Hunter Marshall, who retired, at the
end of June last, after 47 years’ service in the offices of the
owners of the Pelton Colliery Limited, during a consider-
able portion of which time he was head book-keeper, died
at his residence, Beaconsfield-crescent, Low Fell, Gateshead,
on Tuesday last. Mr. Marshall, who was 63 years of age,
had relinquished his office duties because of continued ill-
health.

At the age of 95 the death has taken place of Mr. Richard
Humphreys, Aberdare. Up to the time he was 82 the
deceased worked as a belt supervisor at the Abernant
Collieries. He was very methodical in his habits, and to
this attributed his long life. There are 82 descendants.

LABOUR AMD WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The South Wales miners’ executive met at Cardiff on
Thursday, Mr. Enoch Morrell presiding, in the absence of
Mr. James Winstone. It had been agreed that any
differences arising between the employers and the Federation
in regard to the Government terms should be put into
writing, and a draft letter was considered with points which
Mr. Runciman would be requested to consider. The draft
was discussed, and was ordered to be forwarded to the
President of the Board of Trade, so that he might be in
possession of all the facts ready for the Conciliation Board
meeting in London on the following Tuesday. With regard
to the anthracite workmen’s demand that they were entitled
to a five per cent, advance, Judge Lloyd Morgan wrote that
he could not act as arbitrator, and the Conciliation Board
will have to make another selection. The Tynybedw Lodge,
Pentre, complained that men had been persuaded to work
on August 1 in contravention of the agreement, and the
matter will be discussed by the Board. It was reported that
the Ebbw Vale men who were idle in consequence of a
breakage of machinery had not been stopped for a full week,
and were therefore not entitled to lock-out pay. Applica-
tions to terminate contracts on the non-unionist question
were deferred pending the new agreement; and it was
arranged to see a deputation with regard to the
Enginemen and Stokers’ Association at the next meeting.
The banksmen question will be discussed at the next
Conciliation Board meeting. The Maesteg district, whilst
pledging itself to secure as great an output as possible,
urged the executive to resist any attempt to interfere with
the Eight Hours Act; and the executive expressed their
agreement with the district in this matter.

Some of the questions that came up for discision by the
Conciliation Board, in addition to that concerning an
advance of wages, relate to an audit of the coal owners’
books, one of the workmen’s complaints- being that they
have not been able, ever since the maximum rate of 60 per
cent, on the old standard became payable, to secure such
an audit and thus discover what is the actual selling price
of large coal. Their assertion is that the employers have,
owing to the rise in prices, been able to make very large
profits which the old maximum clause prevented them from
sharing, and that therefore the demand for a further increase
has been made. This point as to average coal price is only
one of the number that have to be dealt with. Another
point is that the difficulty with regard to bonus turns hinges
on the assertion of the men that six turns for five applies
only to week-day work; and some of them further assert that
the endeavour of the employers is, through the operation of
the Sunday turn, to make the arrangement really seven
turns for six.

Speaking at the meeting of the Rhymney miners on
Wednesday, the agent (Mr. Walter Lewis, J.P.) alleged
that the employers were putting impossible interpretations

on the Government terms, and were trying to turn the six
shifts for five into seven shifts for six. The workmen, he
said, must refuse to admit that Sunday night and Saturday
afternoons were part of the ordinary week’s work. The
Government terms fixed five shifts, and the men should
refuse to work more than this number unless paid time
and a-half. The employers contended that there were grades
of colliery workers not included in the award, and he alleged
that the coal field was “ boiling with discontent.” If, he
asserted, one lifted a little finger to direct a stoppage the
pit would be idle in a few hours, and the owners were a
“ selfish lot of profit mongers ” who were getting higher
prices for their coal each time there was a row in the
coal field.

The Atlantic Patent Fuel Works, Swansea, had a stoppage
over some difficulties that had arisen between the men them-
selves, the shippers and the factory hands not being able to
arrange matters. The stoppage was brief, and the trouble
soon adjusted.

The miners at the North Celynen Pit, Monmouthshire,
have been on strike, having stopped work owing to an
alleged grievance with regard to the treatment of a master
haulier, whom, it is stated, was not put back to his regular
work after having been absent through illness, but was
given work as an ordinary collier. A meeting of the men
was held last week, when it was decided to be guided by a
deputation which would wait on the Federation as to whether
they would return to work or not, pending a settlement.

South Wales and Monmouthshire enginemen and stokers
met at Cardiff last week, Mr. W. J. Wathen (Blaenavon)
presiding. Discussion took place regarding proposals of a
new rate to men earning a base wage of 3s. 4d. and upwards,
by an addition of 4d. per day to the base wage and 50 per
cent, to form a new standard, and a minimum of 10 per
cent, thereon. In regard to a bonus turn for men engaged
on the afternoon and night shifts on Saturday and Sunday,
it was agreed to bring the points forward at the Joint Board.
Lock-out pay was granted to those rendered idle by the
miners’ strike.

There was an extension of the trouble at Swansea last
week, three more tips, in addition to the six, being set idle.
The men’s claim to regulate the working of the tips and
the particular individuals who should undertake the work was
resisted, although it is recognised that if they choose to pool
their earnings, that is entirely within their competence.

At the monthly meeting of the Blaina district of miners, it
was stated that the sub-agent was at present drawing up a
new wage standard for that area. The district, from the
Federation standpoint, was in a sound condition, matters
generally being quite favourable.

North of England.

The quarterly balance-sheet of the Northumberland
Miners’ Association, just issued, shows 25,943 full members
and 4,318 half members.

Northumberland coal owners and miners’ representatives
duly met at Newcastle on Saturday last, under the
presidency of Mr. Thos. Taylor, to discuss the setting-up of
machinery for the settlement of disputes without resort
to labour stoppages, in accordance with the pledge given
by the executive committee of the Miners’ Federation in
response to the exemption of miners from the operation of
the Munitions Act. The Northumberland coal trade is,
however, already well provided with the machinery of
negotiation, and it was jointly agreed that the facilities
already in existence were sufficient.

At the same meeting, the question of explosives was dealt
with. The men’s objections to the present explosives—as
being inferior in quality and higher in price, and more
dangerous to health than those provided before the outbreak
of war—was not contested by the owners, and it was decided
to appoint two representatives from each side to consult with
an expert on explosives with a view to ascertaining whether
the deleterious effects of the fumes cannot be minimised.

A conference of Northumberland miners, called at the
instance of the Ashington federated group of collieries, took
place at Bedlington Station last Saturday to consider the
wages question, and the following resolution was carried
unanimously :—“ That this meeting, representative of the
miners of Northumberland, strongly protests against the
owners withholding the 11 per cent, due under the Prime
Minister’s award; and, furthermore, we urge that the
maximum in our wages agreement be set aside during the
present abnormal period, so that the men may participate
in the high selling price of coal as a set-off against the
increasing cost of living caused by the war.”

A meeting of Durham coal owners and men was held in
Newcastle, on Tuesday, under the presidency of Sir Lindsay
Wood, Bart. The meeting was called for the purpose of
considering the suspension of certain local reductions and
reductions through the Joint Committee during the present
crisis, as well as to consider a number of points with regard
to the minimum wage rules. The latter subject was only
introduced, the discussion being reserved for a future
meeting.

Sir Lindsay Wood presided over a conference of Durham
coal owners and miners held at the Coal Trade Offices,
Newcastle, on Tuesday last, to consider the question of the
suspension of certain local reductions and reductions through
the Joint Committee during the present crisis, and to deal
with a number of points in the Minimum Wages rules. The
latter subject was merely introduced, discussion being
deferred until a future meeting. A report on the earlier
question will be made in due course.

Federated Area.

The workmen’s section of the Coal Conciliation Board for
England and North Wales met at Blackpool on Thursday
last week. Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., presided, and among
those present were Messrs. Fred Hall, M.P. (Yorkshire), W.
Johnson, M.P. (Warwickshire), and Thomas Ashton
(secretary). The principal business was concerned with the
dispute in the South Yorkshire coal field as to the addition
of the percentages of advances to the minimum wage
awarded by Sir Edward Clarke as district chairman under
the Minimum Wage Act. The three advances of 5 per cent,
given by the English Conciliation Board between October
1912 and April 1913 are the subject of the dispute. The
decisions of the Coal Board state that these advances are to
be paid in addition to the wage fixed by the district chair-
man to those workmen whose wages have to be made up
under the Act. The South Yorkshire owners have generally
admitted this claim in the case of miners working on con-
tract, but have refused to pay the extra percentages to day-
wage men and others. The amount in dispute varies from
4d. to 6d. per day. The Yorkshire representatives on the
Conciliation Board reported that negotiations, with the South
Yorkshire coal owners were still proceeding as to the
liability of the employers to pay the three advances of 5 per

cent, upon the wages award of Sir Edward Clarke, and
that a further meeting had been arranged. Though the
negotiations between the South Yorkshire coal owners and
the men’s representatives have been protracted, and this
question of percentages has been the cause of strikes in both
South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, it is stated that the
dispute is now likely to be amicably settled. A clause was
specially added to the new wage agreement for the purpose
of avoiding similar disputes in the future, and it is believed
this will form the basis of settlement. Reports were also
given from several smaller mining districts of differences
between the colliery owners and workmen as to the method
of application of the war bonus given under Lord Coleridge’s
award. These disputes were stated to involve no questions
of principle, and to be capable of local settlement. The
various matters in dispute will be brought before the full
Conciliation Board at an early date.. The meeting had
before it the accountants’ report on the average selling price
of coal at collieries in the Federated area, for the purpose
of determining whether any application should be made to
the Conciliation Board for an advance of wages. The
matter was deferred for further consideration, which means
the holding over of an application, at any rate, until new
figures of selling prices are received.

Scotland.

Mr. Robert Smillie, addressing as president the annual
conference of the National Union of Scottish Mine Workers
at Glasgow, on Monday, said a misunderstanding had arisen
on the question of their working policy. The national con-
ference called in London a short time ago at the instance
of the Government was, it was clearly understood, not
called to deal with the question of the suspension of existing
legislation in order to increase the output by that means.
These points, it was understood, would be left for a joint
conference between the mine owners and the miners’ repre-
sentatives which was likely to be called at an early date.
There could not be any controversy on the main point for
which the London meeting was called : that was to make
an appeal to the miners, in view of a proved absenteeism,
that upon the days on which the collieries were working
there ought to be as full an attendance as possible. He
was very glad to know from the statistics that the miners
represented in the Scottish Union were working very
steadily on those days recognised by the men’s working
policy as working days. He had known some pits opened
for work on the Sabbath Day. He never would suggest
for a moment that every miner should be on the Sabbath
Day at pits open for work, neither did he suggest nor
intend to suggest that men should be at the pits on a day
that was a recognised holiday. But he was still of opinion
that it was possible to secure a considerably increased output
if men worked more steadily on the days on which they were
entitled to work. In some counties of Great Britain he
understood that the percentage of absentees amounted to
20 and even 30 on some days of the week. A considerable
number were absent from physical unfitness, and others
were absent because of certain conditions underground which
made it quite impossible that they should accomplish a full
week’s work. To thosfe he did not appeal, but he did
appeal to others who might absent themselves from what
might be regarded in normal times as a good motive.
Before the men could give up their weekly or fortnightly
idle day . in any part of the country they were entitled tc
ask their employers and the nation for some little
guarantees. He believed an opportunity would be given
within a very short time to discuss this. The men wanted
to know whether the employers would go into this question
in the same, spirit, as the miners, viz., with a desire to do
everything in. their power to improve the output of coal
during the crisis. He recognised that the question of a
working policy affected Scotland more than any other part
of the British coal field. That being so, he thought a
national conference was not in a position to decide that
particular question; that would have to be left for the
Scottish mine owners and the Scottish men’s representatives.
But it was. essential that a national joint meeting should
take, place if they were to discuss the possibility of a sus-
pension of the eight hour day. To him the question of
female labour on the pit bank was abhorrent, and though
the national crisis made it necessary to discuss certain
matters, this was an idea which he did not like at all.
However, he hoped they would not be afraid to face the
question and to present their own views. In reference to
future mining legislation, he said much was desired and
much needed, but they felt that in present circumstances
such legislation would have little chance. Sir John Simon
had said—whole-heartedly, he believed—that nothing done
to secure a greater output of coal should be allowed to
interfere with the safety of the men underground. He
homologated that. But he feared that the mining legislation
now in existence was. not being carried out as it ought to
be.. The number of inspectors had been reduced owing to
their members enlisting; and the law courts in some cases
did not seem to take a serious view of breaches of regula-
tions at the present time. He thought it wmuld be foolish
if the law courts took up that position. He had always held
that the number of inspectors was not nearly sufficient, and
the present reduction made things a great deal worse. In
the observance of the provisions of the Eight Hours Act
there was considerable laxity, and he did not think inspectors
should lend themselves to such breaches. Mr. Smillie, who
was reappointed president, in acknowledging a vote of
thanks, alluded to the coal question as affecting home con-
sumption and export, and declared that it would not be
fair for the Government to allow the middle man to buy
at a fixed price and sell at whatever price he cared to ask
of the poor consumers. The suggestion that any of the
workers of this country were in the pay of Germany he
characterised as a brutal and outrageous lie. The conference
afterwards sat in private, and decided to hold quarterly
conferences of the union.

Representatives from the 21 colliery branches of the Mid
and East Lothian Miners’ Association met at Dalkeith on
Saturday. Reports showed that the miners were obtaining
very steady work, although there had again been some incon-
venience caused in the despatch of shipping orders by the
delay in procuring the necessary permits from the Coal
Export Committee. The meeting resolved that the present
working policy be strictly adhered to meanwhile by every
section of mine worker, in view of the joint meeting* of coal
owners and miners’ officials arranged to take place shortly
in London.

A claim by the Scottish miners for an increase of 25 per
cent, on the 1888 basis, which is equivalent to Is. per day,
was under discussion at a meeting of the Scottish Coal Trade
Conciliation Board held on Friday last at Glasgow. The
demand came before the Conciliation Board at a meeting