1200 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN December 10, 1915. Notes from the Coal Fields. [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. Exorbitant Rates of Freight: Newport Chamber Discuss Relief—Alleged Insufficient Mines Inspection—Home Grown Timber—Curious Pit Ponies Prosecution— Repairers and the Sunday Night Shift. Mr. D. A. Thomas, chief of the Cambrian Combine, has returned from America, where he has discharged .important duties connected with the Ministry of Munitions. In addi- tion, Mr. Thomas rendered service in relation to the £100,000,000 loan which was raised in the United States. With regard to the shortage of ships, it may be pointed out that about 4,250 of the vessels in British registry are engaged in foreign trade; and if it be true that more than 2,000 have been taken by the Admiralty, the reason for shortage is fully explained. Foreign tonnage has served to supply the deficiency to a certain extent, perhaps about one- quarter of the required amount; but if a net number of, say, 1,500 vessels are withdrawn from service it is quite easy to understand why the shipper has to face so much heavier a price for the carrying of his cargoes. Whether or not it would be possible for the Admiralty to release some of the vessels now under charter for Government purposes, and could do so by more expeditiously utilising those which are in Government service, is the question of the moment. Certainly in the interests of the foreign trade and the enhancement of exports, which serve above all else to keep the rates of exchange steady, this is a question which needs very careful and full consideration. It is impossible to add to the number of vessels; but it may be quite possible to make better use of those that are withdrawn from the general trade so as to release a portion for ordinary business, which is really national service in another form. The persistence of high rates of freight has become even more strongly marked during the past few days, and it is noted that a sum of more than £3 per ton was paid on Thursday last week for carriage of coal to Alexandria, and a similar sum since for Italian ports. When it is borne in mind that on a 5,000-ton cargo this represents £15,000, and that the new fixture was no less than 10s. a ton above the previous highest, the condition of the freight market will be more clearly realised. Concurrently with this, the contract prices of coal are up about 5s. a ton, and the outlook is for maintenance of the high rates. The fortunate fact is that so far as regards freights, America will be in an even worse position, and therefore competition from across the Atlantic will be to that extent limited; and inasmuch as Belgian and German coals are shut off the market, the injury to British trade, which in normal circum- stances tends to be excessive, will be averted. That the continuance of high prices is practically certain is the generally-accepted opinion on Cardiff Exchange, one conse- quence being the eager demand for colliery shares with consequent material rise. Ebbw Vales, for example, rose half-a-crown during the week, from 16s. fid. to 19s., and other local investments have had an equally good demand. The Marseilles rate for coal has recently reached 75 fr.; and Alexandria to 67s. 6d., a further advance of 6s. 6d. Speaking at Newport Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Mr. Felix S. Budd dealt with this question, arguing that the Government may with advantage release a big pro- portion of the ships now in their hands. He said also, that greater facilities should be afforded for granting licences to ship coal, there being at present considerable delay in this respect. Promptitude was needed, both in regard to grant- ing .and refusing of licences.—Mr. A. Hay (of Messrs. Houlder Brothers) thought there was not much hope of any improvement in releasing shipping.—Upon the question of the grant of licences, Mr. Heard said the Chamber might ask that instead of centralising the grant of licences in London, the local Customs or Board of Trade officials should have the right to make the grant, final decision being reserved for the London -authorities if necessary. Coal owners might deposit a bond as a guarantee that the cargo was genuine, and would be sent to the firm arranged. His firm had given a bond of £100,000. Why should not coal owners do so? With regard to the requisitioning of ships for Government purposes, that also should be decentralised. Why were not experts consulted? If ship brokers and ship owners were called in, matters could be so arranged that the Government could have all the ships they required in 24 hours. In this way a larger number of vessels would be released, and freights would return to their proper level.— The chairman referred to a strong feeling in shipping circles that neutral shipowners should be taxed, say 10 to 15 per cent, on their freights; but he said that in conversation with Sir Clifford Cory, that gentleman had pointed out that that would require a good deal of consideration, .as neutrals might retaliate on British ships. The chairman added that half the cargoes in the Bristol Channel at present were on neutral ships.—The Chamber passed a resolution urging the extreme desirability of facilitating the release of tonnage and the issue of licences for export. Some further discussion has taken place -as to the better utilisation of coal, in view of its exceptionally high price; and once more the idea of its being burnt in dust form has been revived. It is pointed out, however, that its use as dust would be dangerous, unless proper care were exercised, because of the explosive nature of a mixture of dust and air. This difficulty has been got over in certain circum- stances, notably in some manufactures, such as cement making. It is stated that the Government are satisfied with the tests made with anthracite dust balls, and the probability is that the trenches in France will be heated during the winter with this fuel. Addressing the Pontycymmer miners on Tuesday evening, Mr. Frank Hodges, the local agent, said that the question of safety was causing a good deal of concern, for the district examiners were bringing in a budget of alleged breaches of the Mines Regulations Act every week. The workmen could not initiate proceedings against -the colliery companies, the only persons who could do so being his Majesty’s inspectors; and, out of 12 inspectors for South Wales, four had enlisted. The general inspector for Bridgend had gone, and one inspector now had to do the work of two, with the result that the inspection of collieries was more irregular. Then, again, the enlistment of so many repairers was causing a general decline in the maintenance of collieries. It is highly probable that as a result of the action of Mr. Sidney Robinson, M.P. for Breconshire, some further steps will be taken to encourage the planting of trees suitable for pit wood and mining timber. The Board of Agriculture gave a very favourable answer to the question of the hon. member in the House of Commons; and the difficulties which have arisen on account of the war have led to enquiry as to the practicability of utilising the many thousands of acres which -are quite bare. A striking feature of the scenery, both of the colliery districts and elsewhere in Wales, is the great -area of barren land, and the frequent interposition of large areas whereon plantations flourish splendidly. The difficulty is in the slow return upon any investment on planting; and the suggestion is that land owners who may be unwilling, or who may not be in a position, to lay out the necessary capital for planting, should have advances made by the Government—loans at low rate of interest—the burden to be borne by the community, whilst ultimately not only the collieries, but other spheres of industry would be enormously benefited by the timber grown. It is recognised, of course, that only those areas to which the railways give access could be profitably utilised, but in South Wales, with its numerous small lines, the practica- bility of planting is generally recognised, no transport difficulties existing. One suggestion made is that from the West Coast of Africa huge quantities of timber could be obtained in close proximity to the rivers, by which the rafts could be floated down to the sea. A curious case came before the Aberdare Court recently, the agent and manager of one of the local colliery companies being prosecuted for not continuously ventilating certain underground stables, and keeping them in a satisfactory sanitary condition. The local inspector of mines (Mr. Davies) prosecuted, and said there wras no complaint as to the con- dition of the horses, but the stables were so infested with flies and beetles that it was impossible for the horses to obtain proper rest. In defence, it was stated that the particular district wa^ practically closed, and the stables there- fore not required, and that it was contrary to instructions that three horses were still there in October last. A fine of £10 was inflicted, the Stipendiary magistrate describing the offence as -a serious one. At Pontypridd the Stipendiary magistrate had before him a case which raised the question of the Sunday night repair- ing shift at the Albion Colliery. Five men were summoned for breach of contract by absenting themselves from work on Sunday night, September 26; and the company claimed £1 damages against each. The prosecuting solicitor said it had been the custom for 24 years for the repairers to work a Sunday night shift of eight hours, and it was absolutely necessary that this should be done, otherwise there would be inter- ference with the work of the ordinary shift on Monday morn- ing. All customs and conditions existing after December 1910 were preserved by the new Conciliation Board agree- ment; but early in August the nightmen had a discussion, and they made a demand for payment of a turn and a-half for working Sunday night. This was refused. The colliery agent, giving evidence, said that the particular defendant before the court had always worked the Sunday night shift, the number of men engaged on Sunday night being about 180, as against 250 ordinary nights. The reason for this was that many of their men lived a long distance away, and there were no travelling facilities on Sundays. It was of vital importance to the colliery that the work should be done on Sunday night; and he had never regarded the night shift on Sunday as an optional one. In cross-examination, he said that the Saturday night shift had been stopped from motives of economy. They paid the men time and a-half on the Saturday night; but at that time the company were losing £500 per week. No overtime was paid on Sunday night, because it was a regular shift. — For the defence, it was argued that the men thought the Sunday night shift optional; and the solicitor applied for an adjournment in order that he might inspect the company’s books to see if the men who always absented themselves on Sunday night were the same, or whether they were a fluctuating body.—The Stipendiary complied with the request; and an undertaking was given on behalf of the men that they would continue to work on Sunday nights until the case had been decided. Mr. Hedley Clarke, colliery manager of the Cambrian Combine, has been invited to represent the employers’ side on the Rhondda Recruiting Tribunal. Mr. J. A. Jones (of Watts, Watts and Company), and Mr. F. W. Gibbins (Neath) will be members of the Board of Referees for dealing with the excess profits tax. Northumberland and Durham. Colliery Company as Retailers. An interesting discussion as to house coal prices resulted, at South Shields Council meeting last week, from a report by the Trade and Commerce Committee. The latter reported that, in accordance wTith the circular from the Board of Trade, enquiries as to local coal prices had been made. It had been .ascertained from Mr. Carnes, the general manager of the Harton Coal Company, that that company not only mined and brought the coal to bank from their pits, but were also large retailers of house coal, and that pit head and retail prices were identical, being now 3s. more for bests than before the war. Mr. Carnes had added that the company -still had a margin of Is. by which prices might be increased and still comply with the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. (Since the interview, the price has been raised to the maximum of 24s. for bests.) Owing to the large number of miners who had enlisted, there was -a scarcity of coal and, in -addition, wages and costs of material had advanced. He could not, therefore, say whether coal prices would further advance during the winter or not. Some of the principal coal retailers in the borough had been interviewed, and had stated that prices there were regulated by the Harton Coal Company, -and that, whether the coal was obtained from that company or brought from outside the borough, the charges made were the same as those by the company. Under the circumstances, the committee did not think it practicable to do anything in the direction of making an arrangement with the principal merchants for the limitation of prices. Aid. Wylie suggested that the Corporation might buy coal at a reasonable price and sell it to the public at a merely nominal profit. He added that South Shields had, in hi-s opinion, been penalised for a considerable number of years by having huge collieries in its neighbourhood. He knew that, when coals were about 20s. per ton there, the very best coal could be bought at Mediterranean ports at about 16s. There was no doubt that the coal companies were exploiting their monopoly and their supply and, af they could not be reasonable, the Corporation should try to stop them. The report was passed. The workers at Hamsterley Colliery have made a very fine response to the call to the Colours; 64 per cent, of those between the ages of 19 and 39 have joined the Imperial forces. In all, over 200 men have enlisted. Capt. A. T. Watson, one of the owners of the colliery, has been attached to the D.A.D.R. for over 12 months. The owners are con- tinuing, to the dependants of all enlisted men, the privileges of free houses, coals, electric lighting and water. A petition from the miners of eight associated collieries in Durham that the district local inspector (Mr. Wm. Cummings, of Burnopfield), who enlisted under Lord Derby’s scheme and has been under training with the troops, should be released from the Army, has been -acceded to by the Secretary of State for War. The miners preferred an -appeal to Lord Kitchener rather than to the local tribunal. The grounds of their appeal were that Mr. Cummings’s services were absolutely essential for their protection and safety in their work, and as provided for by the Coal Mines Act, 1911, section 16. One thousand and seven members of the Seaham Colliery lodge, and others connected with Seaham Colliery, have joined the Forces since the outbreak of war. A roll of honour bearing the names of these men has been unveiled in the Miners’ Hall by Mr. Jas. Robson, committee secretary to the Durham Miners’ Association. Cleveland. Tees Coal Shipping Facilities. Sir Hugh Bell, presiding over the meeting of the Tees Conservancy Committee, on Monday, said that with regard to improved facilities for coal shipment, they had unex- hausted borrowing powers for £112,000, and whilst that would be sufficient for any works at present contemplated, he did not forget that the time might come, -and he thought would speedily come, when the question of considering whether anything could be done to increase the shipment of coal from the Tees might again become an urgent one. In the meantime, ho-wever, it was quite obvious that it would be unwise to consider any expenditure under that head. The great works which they all knew the railway company had in contemplation down the river were suspended for the moment for precisely the same reasons. In regard to the value of their exports, exclusive of coal and coke, the Tees stood quite easily first amongst Northern ports, with exports valued