136

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 21, 1916.

Peach, ciheckweighman of the ' Low Main seam at the
Bentinck pit, alleging that on November 6, 8, and 9, Peach
encouraged two miners named Gore and Dudley to disobey
the orders of the manager, and that he procured the miners
engaged at the pit to absent themselves without notice.
The case for the manager was that Peach, following upon
an order by the under-mana ger for Gore .and Dudley to see
Mr. Day for sending up bad coal, told the men not to see
the manager. The under-manager asserted that he heard
Peach tell the two men not to work, and that he also said :
“ If you don’t let them work, I shall call a pit head meeting
and stop the pit.” The pit was stopped for two days. In
the witness box, Mr. Day said that when he had an inter-
view with Peach and other representatives of the men, he
told the checkweigher that they very much resented his
unjustifiable interference, and that the matter had been
placed in other hands. Peach replied, “ I expected it.”
Peach, giving evidence, declared that he did not encourage
the men not to work, and denied advising Gore and Dudley
not to see the manager. He further denied saying “ I
expected it ” to Mr. Day, and asserted that he had never
taken any part in the men’s meetings, but, on the other
hand, had tried to get them into communication iwith the
Nottinghamshire Miners’ Association, through whose instru-
mentality the pit was restarted.—Mr. Hancock, check-
weigher of the Deep Soft seam, stated that Peach’s attitude
was not hostile to the management, and that Peach advised
the men at the meeting to return to work. The magistrates
held that in view of. the conflicting nature of the evidence,
the case had not been established for the removal of Peach.
They considered that the colliery company were justified in
bringing the matter forward. No order was made as to
costs.

The Midlands.

Local Organisation of Output—Remarkable Coal Stealing—
Railway Rates—Progress at Deepfields—Home Office
Prosecute Management of Pennant Hill Colliery.

In view of the pronounced scarcity of fuel supplies, great
interest is being taken in the new Board of Trade scheme for
a better organisation of colliery output with a view to increas-
ing the available supplies. The colliery associations in
Staffordshire and Cannock Chase and Shropshire districts
are now taking steps to form committees of colliery pro-
prietors in each district who will endeavour to so organise
the disposal of the pits’ outputs that manufacturers engaged
on Government contracts in particular, for which urgent
delivery is required, shall be assured of adequate fuel supplies
without further delay. These committees will operate under
the supervision of the Board of Trade, and if they encounter
any insuperable difficulties they are assured of Government
advice. One provision which is regarded with much satis-
faction as likely to make for the more successful working
out of the scheme is that if the coal owners’ committee in
any one district find that they cannot arrange the delivery
of sufficient fuel for manufacturers’ needs they .are
empowered to communicate with any adjoining area with a
view to increasing the available supply.

A remarkable statement was made.in a South Staffordshire
police court, on Tuesday, as to the extent of coal stealing at
the present time. It was stated that in consequence of so
many men having enlisted, colliery railways could not be
. adequately supervised, with the result that between 25 and
30 tons of coal were stolen from trucks per week. In some
instances a whole wagon had been cleared out.

An important railway rates case of Brunner, Mond and
Company Limited v. North Staffordshire Bailway Company
and others, which engaged the attention of the Baiilway and
Canal Commission Court in July 1914, was mentioned to the
Hon. A. E. Gathorne-Hardy and Sir James Woodhouse at
the Law Courts on Monday. On behalf of Messrs. Brunner,
Mond and Company and certain colliery owners in North
Staffordshire, Mr. Bowland Whitehead, K.C.; appealed from
an order of the Begistrar postponing the resumed hearing
from February 7 next until March 15. The case involves a
question of alleged increased rates, and, counsel said, the
plaintiffs were anxious to have the matter completed as soon
as possible. He contended there was not sufficient justifica-
tion for the postponement,' as February 7 was the date
originally fixed. The Court allowed the Begistrar’s order
for March 15 to stand.

Decently we referred to the enterprise of Mr. William
Parrish, in purchasing the water-logged Deepfields Colliery,
Coseley, and re-opening the mines. The most modern plant
has been installed, and .already, it is stated, the output is
among the largest of any colliery in the district. When the
plant is fully occupied, it is estimated that employment
will be found for about 400 men. The same colliery pro-
prietor has now purchased the Grace Mary Colliery estate on
the other side of the hill, between Dudley and Oldbury, and
developments of a very great and important character are
foreshadowed. Unlike the Deepfields estate, the Grace
Mary area is not within the district of the South Stafford-
shire Mines Drainage Commission. Well-known authorities,
however, have declared it to be one of the richest areas m
the whole kingdom. It formerly belonged to a family named
Minton, but was closed down some 40 years ago, following a
dispute with other adjacent owners on the question of
sharing the cost of pumping. Being outside the Commis-
sioners’ jurisdiction it, of course, escapes the deep drainage
rate. -The whole area is now practically water submerged,
but the new owner -is confident of making the venture a
success. There are three pairs of shafts on the estate, and
these are to be re-opened, and it is estimated that the cost
of installing modern pumping plants will be about £10,000.
The new proprietor estimates that the seam will last for
40 years. A large area is maiden mine, and the removal
of ribs and pillars in the other part of the estate represents
an abundant output for many years. A valuable seam of
heathen coal is also believed to exist. The venture will
find employment for 500 hands.

In view of the recent pessimistic expressions of opinion
relative to the future of this and the adjoining district, the
announcement of these developments is of particular interest.
It will be recalled that the Mines Drainage Commissioners
recently fixed the maximum rate in respect to the Old Hill
district, which adjoins the Grace Mary estate, and in sup-
port of this decision it was stated that that district had
only another seven years’ existence. It has also to be
remembered that the Commission itself, by agreement with
the Public Works Loan Board, and the Birmingham Canal
Company, ceases to exist in 10 years’ time, and this gives an
added importance to the new venture. The suggestion that
the Old Hill district would be practically worked out in
1923, led to a great diversity of opinion, and in order to
extend the life of the district, suggestions were made that
a drainage board should be formed for the district. The

new venture may lead to a great advance in this direction.
It is probable that the private railway from the colliery to
the Dudley Port (London and North-Western Bailway) will
be re-opened, while there are also canal basins connected
with the main waterway.

Summonses arising out of breaches of the Mines Begula-
tion Act were heard at the Bewley Begis Police Court on
Wednesday of last week. The proceedings were a sequel
to the recent explosion at the Pennant Hill Colliery, owned
by Messrs. H. S. Pitt Limited, when five men were killed.
Horace David Poole, the agent for the colliery, Beniah
Parker,- the manager, and Henry Thomas Walford, the
fireman, were prosecuted. . The latter was summoned (1)
for firing a shot without permission in writing from the
manager; (2) firing a shot without removing from the mine
all the men excepting 10; and (3) for using an explosive
other than a permitted explosive. Parker was summoned
for failing to examine daily and have reports entered in the
book kept at the pit for the purpose of showing the con-
dition of coal dust in the mine, and the steps taken to
mitigate the danger arising therefrom, and for failing to
take all reasonable means to enforce the observance of the
Explosives in Coal Mines Order of September 1, 1913, so
as to prevent the contravention and non-compliance of the
fireman. Poole was summoned for failing to see that the
roads were examined daily and a report entered* as to the
condition of the pit with regard to coal dust and the steps
taken to mitigate the danger. On behalf of the Home
Office, Mr. J. E. Underhill said the explosion took place on
October 22 last, and Walford was among the injured men.
He felt sorry for Walford, and did not ask for severe punish-
ment against him. The manager should have seen that all
the regulations were carried out, especially the one which
provided for the examinations and the reports as to the
presence of coal dust in this pit. Black powder was used
by Walford in firing the shot, and being a non-permitted
explosive, it fired the dust and caused the explosion which
led to the unfortunate deaths of the five men. Had the
dust been cleared away, the explosion could not have
occurred.—On behalf of Parker, Mr. J. W. Harward said
that black powder was generally used in the mines of that
district, and-was a legitimate explosive, except in parts of a
pit which were dustry and dry. The accident occurred in a
haulage road, where an extension of the manhole was being
made for the greater safety of the miners. Such a shot had
been fired but once in four years, and the manager’s plea
was that he quite forgot the regulations. He submitted that
the offences were excusable, having regard to the fact that
a ffianager had to enforce 191 regulations and go through
31 closely printed sheets, and upwards of 70 special books.
The provision of a “ dust book ” was a new regulation under
the Act of 1911, and it was stated at the inquest that there
had been an inspection within a week of the explosion by
responsible officials. He was compelled to admit that no
entries had been made in the “ dust book ” of the firm, as
to the condition of the mine. The keeping of such a book
was regarded in that district as a refinement. The district
was generally considered to be safe, but the books had been
kept since the accident had changed matters. The firm had
been lulled into a sense of false security, due to a miscon-
ception. In the Black Country they had been free from
explosions of that kind, and until that accident it was
generally understood there was no risk in such explosions.—
Counsel for Walford said that this man simply used the
explosive the management provided for him, and he did not
know it was a non-permitted explosive. He admitted having
forgotten the regulation regarding the removal of the men
excepting. 10.—Parker was fined £20 in the first case,
together with £9 6s. 6d. costs, and the second case was
dismissed on payment of 5s. 6d. costs. Walford was fined
£5 in the first case, with 5s. 6d. costs, and the others were
dismissed on payment of costs. The prosecution withdrew
the summons against Mr. H. D. Poole.—At the Dudley
County Court on Friday, it was stated that £1,400 had been
paid into Court, in respect to the deaths of the five miners
killed in the Pennant Hill Colliery explosion.

Kent.

Future Development of the Snowdown and, East Kent
Collieries.

The boards of directors of the Snowdown and East Kent
collieries have had under their consideration questions
relating to the future development of the pits on an important
scale, so that arrangements may be made by which they
would be prepared to go 'ahead in this matter as soon as the
conditions allow. With the war conditions it is difficult in
these practically new collieries to develop to any extent, and
the management have done well to keep the output up to
. about 2,000 tons from each of the collieries. Labour has been
difficult to obtain, and great delays have naturally been
experienced in getting additional plant at a time when so
great a number of works in the country are engaged in pro-
ducing material of war. The question of a briquette plant
for the coal field has been revived >in order to deal with the
top seams, which are rather friable and do not “ carry ”
well. There is a good prospect that this briquetting will
materialise at .a fairly early date, as a good market would
be found in France.

Dean Forest.

Colliery Developments—Proposed Miners' Hospital.

The Flour Mill Colliery, one of the concerns owned by
the Princess Boyal Colliery Company, situate near
Whitecroft, in the West Dean Township of the Boyal coal
field, is being developed with a view to working the Coleford
High Delf seam of valuable steam coal. Normally, the seam
is 5 ft. in thickness, but the more the acquaintance with the
seam is cultivated, so much the more does it seem to become
established that the seam is one of the most irregular in
the coal field. At the colliery mentioned, the workmen are
now developing .a district where the seam measures more
than 20 ft. deep. This means that extra special precautions
have to be taken, and the greatest care and vigilance
exercised in working such an area. In this particular case
the vein rests on rock, and there is a rock roof.

There is a cottage hospital at Lydney designed rather for
the agricultural than the mining area of the Forest of Dean,
but almost all the cases go to Gloster Boyal Infirmary, 16
miles away, and the need for a central institution is obvious.
Following the death of Sir Chas. Dilke, the colliers
determined that they could promote no better scheme to
commemorate Sir Charles’ 20 years’ faithful Parliamentary
services than by the provision of a local hospital, and
dedicated to him. The scheme having taken shape, an
anonymous donor kindly offered a gift of £3,000 in the

event of another £3,000 being raised. Earl Beauchamp,
Lord Lieutenant of the County, chairman of the general
committee, has the valued assistance of Mr. Bowlinson, the
miners’ agent, who was appointed deputy chairman of a
committee to further the cause. Their report just prepared
shows that the projected colliery hospital is practically
assured. The site recommended is near the Speech House,
and not far removed from the “ Fancy ” Lightmoor, Foxes
Bridge, Crump Meadow, Trafalgar and Eastern United
collieries, the Norchard, Princess Boyal, Cannop, and
Albert And Edward collieries being rather farther afield.
It is recommended that the size of the hospital shall be
limited to one of 8 beds, and the committee anticipate that
the Forest doctors will follow their own cases to the hospital.
The Forest of Dean coal owners have offered £200, and
the Office of Woods £150, plus £25 a year for maintenance.
In the view of the committee, £1,500 for building, £300 for
equipment, and £660 for cost of site, water supply, light
and draining ought to suffice. As a final incentive, the
Office of Woods, since they benefit so largely in the enjoy-
ment of the royalties on coal won in the district, have
promised a further £500 when the scheme is finally approved.
With over £4,000 to endow it with, bringing in £160 plus
£25 a year promised by the Crown, as the expected expendi-
ture will be £400 a year, that leaves a little over £200 to
be raised annually, and in the opinion of the sub-committee
this could be very easily raised by a voluntary levy on the
wages of the workers of the Forest. A meeting of the
general committee will be held shortly with the view to the
early commencement of the work.

Scotland.

Messrs. A. And G. Anderson’s Blairmuckhill Colliery has
been stopped through a breakdown in the pumping
machinery. The stoppage is likely to continue for about
three weeks.

Mr. Wm. Marshall, manager of the Castlehill Collieries,
Carluke, belonging to the Shotts Iron Company, has been
presented with a handsome testimonial in view of his leaving
for another appointment. The gifts took the form of a
pocket-book well filled with sovereigns, and a gold bracelet
for Mrs. Marshall.

Mr. W. G. Lanyon, oversman at Earnock Colliery,
Hamilton, belonging to Messrs. John Watson Limited, has
secured an appointment as manager at a colliery on Mount
Florida, near Glasgow. . In view of his departure he has
been presented by the officials and workmen at Earnock
Colliery with a clock and side ornaments, together with a
gold wristlet watch for Mrs. Lanyon.

Sheriff Hannay and a jury at Kirkcaldy held an enquiry
into the circumstances of the death of Alex. Martin,
apprentice electrician, who died on December 11 at No. 2 pit
Leven Collieriesj owned by the Fife Coal Company, by being
electrocuted through coming in contact with a live wire.
The evidence showed that deceased, against instructions,
opened the door of the panel in a haulage room, and was
instantly electrocuted. Mr. Hartley, mines inspector, sug-
gested that this panel be in future locked by an automatic
electrical apparatus. A formal verdict was returned, the
jury adding a rider recommending that more stringent pre-
cautions and regulations be adopted, and that the mines
inspector be invited to consider, along with the pit manage-
ment , the employment of some electrical device for protecting
panels containing such high-power currents.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

At the Conciliation Board, on Tuesday, a number of items
in the agenda had relation to disputes which had arisen
at several collieries, notably in regard to the opening of new
seams, when it was decided to refer these to each side for
investigation. In some instances, the management and the
workmen were desired to make further effort to settle
locally. There was some question as to the method of
screening at Ty Trist Colliery, and this was also referred.

The Military Service Bill is still the subject of frequent
discussion amongst the South Wales miners. The Garw
district men held a meeting on Wednesday at which the
question came up of the starring of checkweighers, it being
stated that whilst the company’s weighers were starred, the
check weighers on behalf of the workmen were not starred.
The decision of the meeting was that each lodge should make
application on behalf of its checkweigher to the local tribunal
in order to secure that these men should be amongst those
who were starred. (Since that meeting, however, it has
been announced that checkweighers will be starred, as well
as the employers’ weighers.) Another point raised at the
meeting was the position of trade union leaders, it being
pointed out that unless these were in actual work at the
pit they were not starred, and a resolution was passed
unanimously in favour of application being made on their
behalf. The agent for the district (Mr. Frank Hodges)
addressed the meeting, declaring that the Bill could be used
for industrial conscription notwithstanding the statements
to the contrary which had been made in Parliament.
Exemptions under the Bill were to be either absolute,
temporary , or conditional; and the difficulty was that a man
engaged in work considered “ expedient in the national
interest ” should be exempted, but that if his circumstances
changed he lost the privilege. This meant, he said, that
if a miner was dismissed from a colliery, he would no longer
be engaged in the industry considered expedient for national
interests, and therefore would not be exempt. A strike
would have much the same effect, for the men would be
out of work, and upon each man who failed to report change
of circumstances there would be liability to a penalty not
exceeding £50.

In the Dowlais district it was decided to tender notices
on account of the men outside the Federation or in arrears
with their contributions. Out of a possible membership of
about 3,000, it is believed that 200 to 250 were “out of
compliance. ’ ’

At the East Glamorgan miners’ meeting the agent reported
to the meeting that the arbitrators and the representatives
of the men had dealt with the price list of the Black Vein
at the Bedwas Colliery, and that a further consultation would
be held in which it was hoped to settle the matter. The
price list for the Bock Vein seam at the same colliery had
been approved by the workmen, and it remained only to get
the necessary sanction for signing the list.

The Monmouthshire 'Western Valleys miners’ council met
at Abertillery, on Monday, when it was reported that the
men’s agent had been in negotiation with the manager of
Messrs. Lancaster and Company’s colliery as to the new
price list at the Elled seam at Six Bells Colliery, but