1202

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

December 10, 1915.

The president of the Federation (Mr. Winstone) and Mr.
Alfred Onions, its treasurer, resisted even the suggestion of
fixing an . equivalent, because they thought that to fix it
under existing abnormal conditions would operate pre-
judicially against the interests of the workmen over a
subsequent period. The employers would, they contended,
be able to make out a strong case now because of the high
cost of all necessaries; whilst if prices dropped suddenly,
the men would be bound by the high equivalent under the
terms of the present agreement. They held that the
equivalent should be dealt with from time to time, according
to circumstances which may prevail; and argued that under
clause 28 of the agreement they were entitled to make this
demand.—A long discussion took place, and ultimately the
workmen’s representatives handed in a memorandum which
stated :—

Having regard to the last paragraph in clause 28 of
the agreement, we are of opinion that to fix an equivalent
to operate for an agreed period would violate both the
letter and spirit of the agreement; and respectfully decline
to be parties thereto. Further, the question of an
equivalent should be discussed each time a change in the
general wages rates is under consideration.

The last paragraph in clause 28 to which they refer reads
as follows :—

Nothing shall prevent the independent chairman in
determining the future alteration of wages from con-
sidering what is a fair equivalent average net selling
* price of large colliery screened coal ascertained as afore-
said from the said minimum.

In view of this refusal of the men, the proceedings had
to terminate without any decision being arrived at. The
present agreement, it should be stated, will run for six
months after the close of the war.

The workmen of the Park and Dare collieries in the
Rhondda have resumed work after three days’ stoppage on
account of non-unionist trouble; but in several parts of the
district the difficulty has continued, the most objectionable
feature of the whole business being the very small proportion
of men—in some cases not more than a dozen or twenty—
who have occasioned the stoppage of hundreds. It was
stated, for instance, at a meeting of the Merthyr district,
where the delegates present represented 4,000 workmen,
that the number of non-unionists and men in arrears was
between 100 and 150. In this case it was decided to leave
the matter in abeyance; but if the conditions had not
improved by the new year, that notices should be tendered
on January 1.

After a stoppage of four days on the non-unionist question,
the men at Abergorki, Treorky, resumed work on Saturday;
and at Blaengarw notices which would have expired on
Saturday were withdrawn, those concerned having come into
line with the demand of the majority.

For the position of secretary to the Dowlais district of
miners, Mr. W. J. Edwards has been elected; and as sub-
agent, Mr. Evan Evans secured 1,911 votes against 1,060
cast for Aid. C. H. Griffiths, who has held the sub-agency
for two years.

Trouble has arisen in the Caerphilly district regarding the
settlement of compensation cases. At a meeting on
Saturday, Mr. Hubert Jenkins, J.P., the agent, reported
on a number of disputed cases at the Windsor collieries,
stating that repeated efforts had been made to have these
settled by mutual consent, but without success. The amount
of compensation was small; but the men were concerned
with the principle involved as to the recognition of the
workmen’s doctor. There ought, he said, to be an inde-
pendent Government medical man; and he expressed fear
that, unless proper recognition were afforded, drastic action
would be taken.—A resolution was passed that the agent
should again visit the management; and failing this a mass
meeting be called with a view to appealing to the executive
council for permission to tender notices terminating con-
tracts, as a protest.

North of England.

Recent decisions of the executive committee of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association include the following :
The authorities of Armstrong College, Newcastle, are to be
interviewed regarding an arrangement of a sum to be paid
for the use of the Burt Hall; the Coal Owners’ Association
is to be asked to grant an interview regarding the decision
of certain colliery companies to cease making allowances of
rent and coal to soldiers’ widows, whose husbands have been
killed on active service; the secretary, Mr. Straker, has been
instructed to write to the manager of Walker Colliery in
connection with his threatened action respecting rent and
coal allowance to soldiers’ wives, in case the men do not
work more regularly.

Federated Area.

Mr. G. A. Spencer (president) was in the chair at the
council meeting of the Nottinghamshire Miners’ Association
on Saturday. The question of the minimum rate of wages
to workmen employed at the Cinder Hill Colliery of the
Babbington Company was discussed, and the matter was
left in the hands of the agent (Mr. J. G. Hancock, M.P.)
and the local committee to deal with. With regard to
Christmas holidays, the council recommended that the
minimum stoppage should be Saturday and Monday. It
was reported that the Leen Valley owners’ proposals with
reference to surface workers’ agreement had been considered,
and at a public meeting the men decided that the proposals
should not be accepted. The council recommended that a
levy of 6d. full member, and 3d. half member, should be
made to pay the extra Is. 6d. per week which is being
given to old age pensioners.

The Black Country Miners’ Association have not been
very successful in the matter of the recently issued mani-
festo on the non-union question. In accordance with the
terms of that manifesto it has been decided to now approach
the employers, whose 'assistance is to be asked in order to
press those outside the union into their ranks.

The agent of the Old Hill Miners’ Association (Mr.
Samuel Edwards) has issued a statement to the men, in
.which he points out that the advance of 5 per cent, in wages
recently granted is to be paid upon the basis rate of
December 1911, which is 6s. 3d. per day for pikemen, and
5s. for loaders. The new advance works out at 3fd. peir day
for pikemen, and 3d. per day for loaders; but at a confer-
ence the coal owners’ association agreed to pay the pikemen
4d. and the loaders 3d. per day. It is in addition to the
15| per cent, war bonus granted to the men some months
ago, and brings the full wage of the pikemen in the South
Staffordshire and East Worcestershire districts to 8s. 5d.
or 8s. 7d. per day, and that of the loaders to 6s. 3d. or
6s. 6d. per day, these figures being the highest on record
in the local mining industry. The increase to the surface
workers represents about 2d. to 2|d. per day, and their full

wage, which is now 5s. 3d. per day, is also the highest
known in the district. The advance is to be paid this week-
end. Mr. Edwards calls attention to the fact that the fire
clay miners are not included under the new award, but
he has communicated with the secretary of the Fire Clay
Miners’ Joint Board for the purpose of calling a meeting to
discuss the position, and he is hopeful that the same increase
will be conceded to them.

Scotland.

At the request of the Colliery and Public Works Surgeons’
Committee for Scotland, the Scottish Miners’ National Union
have agreed to put before the miners’ associations throughout
Scotland a proposal that an increase of Jd. per week be paid
per miner for medicine in the cases where this is supplied.

At some collieries in the West of Scotland a claim has been
put forward by the owners for a greater reduction from wages
for the use of electric safety lamps. The union resent the
claim, the feeling being strongly expressed that free light
should be provided, and that it is a duty on the owners to
introduce the best class of lamps.

A conference was held at the request of Fife and Kinross
Miners’ Association between representatives of that body and
representatives of the Fife and'Clackmannan Coal Owners’
Association, in the Royal Hotel, Dunfermline, on Tuesday,
to discuss various proposals of the men as to the working of
the collieries during the continuance of the war. Counter
proposals were made by the coal owners. After discussing
very fully the numerous points raised, both sides agreed to
give the questions careful consideration, and to take the
views of their respective constituents on them.

At a meeting of the men’s representatives held after the
conference, it was decided to recommend the men to observe
Saturday and Monday, January 1 and 3, as the New Year
holidays, and to resume work on Tuesday, January 4.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

In accordance with the Midland Iron and Steel Wages
Board’s Sliding Scale arrangements, the wages for puddling
during the months of December 1915 and January 1916 will
be 12s. 9d. per ton. These wages will take effect as from
Monday, December 6, 1915. In addition to the puddling
rate of 12s. 9d. per ton under the sliding scale, there will be
6d. per ton bonus given to the puddlers by resolution of the
Wages Board. The bonus applies to puddlers only, and will
make the total puddling rate 13s. 3d. per ton. At a meeting
of the Board held in September 27, it was unanimously
agreed that on this and all future ascertainments the full
advance on wages shall be paid to each workman, less 6d. per
week war bonus for each 2J per cent, increase under the
sliding scale. In accordance with this resolution, the addi-
tional 10 per cent, advance now. declared entirely merges the
whole of the war bonus in the wages of all workmen whose
pays—either directly or indirectly—are governed by and
fluctuate with the sliding scale ascertainments.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

An important meeting of the executive committee of the
Miners’ Federation of Great .Britain was held in London on
Wednesday, when deputations were received from the Amal-
gamated Society of Engineers and the Association of Colliery
Enginemen, with reference to the friction which has arisen
between the three trade unions in various mining districts, as
a result of the miners’ determination that all men employed
in and about the mines must be members of the miners’
organisation. The question in dispute raises the important
issue as to craft versus industrial organsation. In most of
the mining districts the colliery enginemen have their own
separate organisation, and make their own agreements with
the managers of the collieries. The colliery mechanics also
belong to their own trade unions. Some time ago the
Miners’ Federation decided that all the men employed in and
about the mines must belong to the local branch of the
miners’ organisation; and in the recent dispute in South
Wales the miners insisted on acting for the colliery engine-
men. This has caused a considerable amount of friction
between the branches of the Miners’ Federation, and the
other trade unions affected by the decision. For the Amal-
gamated Society of Engineers, Mr. Robt. Young and Mr.
T. S. Button pointed out that they only asked for mne who
had served their apprenticeship, and were skilled engineers,
the right to continue their membership of their own trade
union. It was a matter of much importance to engineers
who were employed in collieries, as the Amalgamated Society
of Engineers paid valuable superannuation and other benefits,
which these men might be forced to surrender. . Mr. Smillie
stated the position from the miners’ point of view, and the
importance which the districts of the Federation attached to
all the men employed in and about the mines belonging to the
same trade union organisation. A general discussion followed,
and subsequently Mr. Smillie promised the deputation that
the miners would give the matter their earnest consideration,
and send an official reply to the Amalgamated Society of
Engineers, and, should it be necessary, would arrange for
another joint meeting. In the afternoon the miners’ executive
received the deputation from the colliery enginemen. It was
agreed to adjourn the question, and, in the meantime, both
executives will further consider the position.

Grimsby Coal Exports.—The coal exported from Grimsby
during the week ending December 3 consisted of the
following :—Foreign—To Dieppe, 927 tons. Coastwise—
To Dagenham, 1,640 ; and Great Yarmouth, 560 tons. Total,
927 tons foreign, and 2,200 coastwise; against 15,677 tons
foreign, and 840 coastwise during the corresponding week
last year.

Russian Coal Production. — Preliminary statistics by the
South Russian Mining Industrialists’ Bureau show that
in the first nine months of this year in South Russia,
1,151,840,000 poods of hard coal were mined, against
1,232,670,000 poods produced in the corresponding period of
1914, that is a reduction of 80,830,000 poods, or 6*8 per cent.
The hard coal produced totalled 934,680,000 poods; the
anthracite, 217,160,000 poods. The coke produced was
188,240,000 poods, or 18,770,000 poods less than in the pre-
ceding year, corresponding period.—In the Ural district,
during the first six months of the present year, the total coal
output was 37,731,807 poods (803,000 poods less than the
corresponding period of 1914), 728,952 poods being from the
Ust-Uswen collieries, 3,137,771 poods from the Lunjewsk
collieries, 365,079 poods from the Werchne collieries,
24,350,925 poods from the Kiselowski collieries, 240,000 poods
from the Tschussow collieries, 7,980,000 poods from the Bogo-
slowski collieries, and 929,180 poods from the Tugaikul
collieries.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Beckenham, December 13.—2,000 tons of Midland slack
coal, for the Urban District Council. Particulars from Mr.
J. E. Tapper, engineer and manager, 45, High-street,
Beckenham.

Dunshaughlin (Ireland), December 14.—30 tons of best
screened Grrell or Wigan coals, for the Guardians. Forms
from Mr. F. Morris, clerk of Union.

Great Yarmouth, December 20.—House and steam coal,
for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk.

Hatfield.—Good steam coal and coke, for the Hertford-
shire County Council. Forms from the county surveyor,
Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

Heckington, December 15.—40 to 60 tons of coal, best
brights or best cobbles, for the Trustees of the Heckington
Coal Charity. Tenders to Mr. Oilerhead, Heckington.

London, S.W., December 20.—Coal and coke, for the
Cancer Hospital (Free) (Incorporated under Royal Charter).
Forms from Mr. F. W. Howell, secretary.

Morpeth, December 15.—Coal to the County Asylum,
Morpeth, for the Visiting Committee of the Northumberland
County Asylum, Morpeth. Forms from the clerk and
steward at the asylum.

Newcastle-on-Tyne, December 14.—Coal and coke, for
the Tyne Improvement Commissioners. Forms from Mr. J.
McDonald Manson, general manager and secretary, Tyne
Improvement Commission Offices, Bewick-street, Newcastle-
on-Tyne.

Rathmines, December 20. — 500 tons of coal for‘their
electricity works, for the Rathmines and Rathgar Urban
District Council. Forms at the offices of the Electricity
Works.

Stoke-on-Trent, December 17.—Coal and slack, for the
Education Committee. Forms from Dr. W. Ludford
Freeman, Education Offices, Town Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-
Trent.

Watford, December 15. — Coals and coke, for the
Guardians. Forms from Mr. Frederick Wilson, clerk,
Watford.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be
received.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, Ac.

Dunedin (New Zealand), February 9.—Filtering Plant.—
Mechanical filtering and aerating plant, for the Dunedin
City Council.*

London, January 12.—Rails, etc.—About 2,000 tons of
601b. steel rails and 100 tons of fish plates. Specifications
from Messrs. John Coates and Company Limited, 115,
Victoria-street, London, S.W.

* Specifications, particulars, etc., may be seen at the
Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade,
73, Basinghall-street, E.C.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

In recent freight market reports we have hinted at the
possibility of Governmental action in the matter of the
control of shipping, and the regulation of rates of freights.
Although no action has yet been taken on a large scale, the
War Trade Department has this week adopted a course of
procedure by which rates of freight at least will probably be
lowered. The system is not likely to afford much satisfac-
tion to shippers, for the “ scheme ” consists of refusing to
grant numerous exportation licences, thereby causing cargoes
to approximate more nearly to the supply of tonnage offering.
The volume of business done at the North-East Coast ports
during the week under review has again been very small,
and the bulk of the fixtures recorded are for North France.
Coastwise, London has paid the further increased rate of
16s. 6d. from the Tyne, and is firm at that figure. For
North France, coke tonnage is still in demand, and up to
36s. has been paid for Rouen. For colliers, Rouen has been
fixed for at up to 27s. 6d., an advance of Is. 6d. on last
week’s rates, but there are now signs of slight weakness.
Havre is from 6d. to Is. 6d. dearer, and Caen and Dunkirk
are steady at recent rates. The Bay market has been dull
over the greater part of the week and, at the time of
writing, is decidedly easier; Bordeaux having been fixed for
at 37s., a decrease of Is. 6d. on the top rates paid a week
ago. The Mediterranean is practically devoid of interest,
but quotations continue on a high level. There is, how-
ever, no very recent fixture to test the market. Naples at
61s. may be taken as a representative figure for the North
Mediterranean. At South Wales, the scarcity of steamers
is no less -acute than at the North-East Coast, and, on the
whole, rates are very substantially higher on the week’s
work. Just as at the Tyne, however, the first signs of weak-
ness for many weeks have shown themselves. Only a small
business has been done for North French ports, and,
although last week’s rates have been generally maintained,
there is a distinct falling-off noticeable towards the end of
the week. Whilst Rouen is unaltered at from 21s. to
22s. 6d., Havre is barely steady, and Caen is from 6d.
to 2s. reduced. Early in the week, the Bay market was
easy, and St. Nazaire was done at reductions of from | fr.
to 2jfr., but the tone is again very strong, and Bordeaux
has had to concede advances of from 2 to 3 fr. Mediter-
ranean-wards there is a steady request for tonnage for
Italian ports, and rates are increased by from 3s. to 3s. 6d.
to Genoa, and from 2 to 6 fr. to Marseilles, whilst Leghorn
is from 4s. to 6s. up. Alexandria has paid the remarkable
figure of 67s. 6d. In other directions, rates are fully
maintained.

Homewards, the River Plate is strong at about 112s. 6d.
for December-January cancelling, and up to 120s. for
January-February loading. The States market still suffers
from acute want of tonnage, and 13s. 6d. has again been
paid for heavy grain to the Bristol Channel, whilst the
French Atlantic is worth 17s., and West Italy 19s. For
timber, rates are advanced to about 420s. per standard.
Australia has secured further tonnage at 95s., with ore
paying 135s. for Glasgow. The Eastern market continues
to be firm, with Saigon and Burmah based on about 115s.
to United Kingdom. India is a very strong market, and