186

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 28, 1916.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The executive council of the South Wales Miners’ Federa-
tion, sitting at Cardiff on Saturday, considered the draft
scheme for acquiring the Central Labour College by the Union
of Railwaymen in conjunction with the Federation, and the
scheme was approved.

The Enginemen and Stokers’ Association met in Cardiff
on Saturday, and it was reported that there had been an
increase in membership during the past six months of over
a thousand members, the total now exceeding 6,000. A
motion was submitted that the monthly contribution should
be increased in order to augment the central fund, but this
was not agreed to. Mr. Hopkins, the general secretary, sub-
mitted a report, as to negotiations wTith coal owners in respect
of terms and conditions of labour, and the report was adopted,
being regarded as satisfactory. Upon representation that
certain of the colliery managements had not adhered to the
terms of agreement arrived at last November, it was decided
that the officers of the association should seek interviews in
order to have the matter adjusted.

The workmen at the Penallta Colliery met at Ystrad
Mynach on Sunday, and discussed the question of non-,
unionists now working at the Penallta Collieries. Notices
which were tendered on January 19 will expire on February 1,
and the report which was submitted was that (including 'work-
men who had not brought their transfers) there were about
150 non-members at work. Mr. Hubert Jenkins (agent) said
it w7ould be regrettable if it became necessary to stop the
colliery; but if the non-unionists declined to join, and arrange-
ments could not be made for the work to be done by federa-
tionists only, they would be justified in stopping work as a
protest. A resolution was passed to conduct a vigorous cam-
paign of show cards during the current week; and that a
further meeting be .held on Sunday morning, wdien the result
should be announced. A resolution was passed calling upon
the non-unionists to join the Federation, and that if they
did not do so, “ we decline to work after the termination of
notices.” It was stated by the agent that a number of non-
unionists excused themselves from paying the Federation con-
tributions on the ground that they had attested for military
service, and he said that, in his opinion, the best thing for
these men to do would be to enlist at once direct into the
Army.

North of England.

The proxy voting (each vote representing 50 members) of
the members of the Northumberland Miners’ Association on
the decisions arrived at by the recent half-yearly council
meeting confirms, in their entirety, the resolutions come to
by that meeting. Therefore, the county has decided, inter
alia, to seek for a higher basis w7age for all workmen with
basis wage as low as 3s. per shift, so that, if possible, no
basis wages shall be lower than datal stonemen’s basis
wage; that the horsekeepers’ basis wage should be advanced
from 2s. 9^d. to 3s. 6d. per day; that the basis wage of all
underground boys should be raised 6d. per day; that the
association should negotiate with other separate trades’
unions in and about the mines of Northumberland wTith the
object of amalgamation of all these unions ; that a protest
should be made against colliery owners seeking local reduc-
tions during the national crisis.

At a recent meeting of the Northumberland Coal Trade
Joint Committee, Mr. J. B. Atkinson presiding, the owners
of Walker Colliery .asked for a reduction in the hewing
price of the Shaft' and Drift West and Heaton districts of
the Bensham seam, owing to the improved method of
working. The request was sent to arbitration, but the
owners and workmen were recommended to come to an
agreement.

Resolutions, which certainly suggest that the Northumber-
land Miners’ Association would have been wu.se to have
balloted on the question of the new Army Bill, rather than
that the mind of the members should have been left to
the fallible interpretation of the executive committee, have
been passed by .several of the lodges in the county, virtually
throwing over their “ leaders’ ” views and backing the
Government in its endeavour to enlist unattested single
men of military -age and fitness.

The following are a few of the decisions recently arrived
at by the executive committee of the Northumberland
Miners’ Association :—(1) That we secure an analysis of the
explosive used by the hewers at West Wylam Colliery, in
order to ascertain whether or not the fumes from which
so many of them are suffering are nitrous fumes wuthin the
meaning of the Compensation Act; (2) Mr. John Cairns,
financial secretary to the association, is to be granted the
time necessary for the discharge of the duties in connection
with the local court for miners established under Lord
Derby’s scheme; (3) that we instruct our secretary to write
to the Federation committee suggesting the desirability of
a compilation of all wages agreements at present in opera-
tion in all the districts of the Federation, in order to enable
each district to know what these agreements are in every
other district.

Federated Area.

I A meeting of the Cannock Chase miners’ council was held
at Hednesford, for the purpose of considering nominations
for the position of agent, rendered vacant, by the death of
Mr. Albert Stanley, M.P. Three nominations were received,
namely, Mr. John Baker, who has acted as assistant agent
to the association for upwards of three years ; Mr. George H.
Jones, agent to the North Warwickshire Miners’ Associa-
tion ; and Mr. Abraham Clarke, a local miner. Under
the rules the council had full power to make an appoint-
ment, but it w7as felt advisable to take a ballot
of the men on the subject. With regard to the
alleged non-payment of the minimum wage rate to
a number of the men employed at the Brereton collieries,
it was reported that efforts to settle the dispute had proved
futile, and the council decided to allow7 the men wmrking
at the collieries to tender 14. days’ notice. About 500 men
will be affected.

The joint secretaries of the Coal Conciliation Board for
England and North Wales have convened a meeting of the
Board to be held at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London,
on Tuesday, February 1, to consider an application by the
miners for an advance of 5 per cent, on the present rates
of wages. The application affects some three hundred
thousand workmen.

His Honour Judge Moss has issued his awuard in con-
nection with a disputed point which has been raised in
regard to the duties of certain employees, under Rule 17 of
the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Act, which states that
any question arising as to the Interpretation of the rules shah
be referred to the Joint District Board, failing agreement
by them to the independent chairman of the Board, whose
decision is to be final, and who, in the case of North Wales,

is Judge Moss. According to the schedule, experienced
byemen or shiftmen (which includes roadmen, repairers, and
stow7ers) who have been employed not less than two years
underground, and doggies, shall be paid 5s. 6d. per day,
but the men mentioned in the foregoing clause contend
that they have had to do work which is specified should be
done by metalmen, timbermen, rippers, and men employed
packing the working places, who get 6s. 6d. per day. The
awTard of Judge Moss in regard to the duties of these men
has defined same in his award as follows :—Experienced
byemen or shifters (which include roadmen, repairers, and
stowers) are experienced underground labourers paid by the
shift and capable of using the pick and shovel, whose duties
consist in repairing and securing the roads, including replac-
ing broken timber, setting light timber which can be
handled by one man, raising bottoms under rails, chipping
the roof and taking off the sides, clearing falls, stowing-
dirt in waste or packs or old working places, laying rails,
and sundry jobs mostly requiring the use of the pick ami
shovel. ” Doggies ” are men whose work mostly consists
in superintending the traffic passing over a definite -area ;
they have charge of the haulage hands, undertake any minor
repairs on their section (except timbering or re-timbering
the roads) which may require immediate attention, such as
shifting a small fall, chipping the roof to make road for the
pony, re-laying rails, pulling a stone which may show signs
of weakness, or securing it with a prop. Metalmen are
skilled workmen usually engaged by contract driving stone
or metal drifts, having labourers to assist them. They are
also employed on day work. Timbermen are wholly or
mainly engaged re-timbering and enlarging main roads, or
in enlarging branch roads into main roads or pass byes, and
timbering or re-timbering same, and are capable cf taking
charge of any timbering job (thought not necessarily actually
in charge) and of directing any byemen or labourers put
under them. Rippers are skilled woi’kmen engaged on day
work or by contract in ripping the roadways, having-
labourers to -assist them. Men employed in packing the
working places are men who pack out the important cross-
gates and branch main roads ; they may have labourers under
them, and are frequently timbermen, rippers, or metalmen
temporarily employed on important jobs. This award is to
come into operation as from January 24.

Departing from a custom recognised in the North Wales
coal field since the beginning of the war, to work six days
a week, the men employed at Hafod Colliery, near Wrexham,
have intimated to the management their intention in future
to work only 11 days each fortnight. The decision has
already been put into operation. The number employed is
about 1,600.

The council of the North Wales Miners’ Association
decided on Monday to instruct their delegates to vote in
favour of compulsion at the Bristol Labour Conference on
Wednesday.

The South Staffordshire Coal Owners’ Association have
agreed to meet the representatives of the Dudley -and West
Bromwich and the Old Hill mining associations on the non-
union question. It is stated that there is between 20 and
30 per cent, of the miners of the district who are outside
the union.

Speaking at Ruspidge, Dean Forest, on Tuesday, Mr.
G. H. Rowlinson, the local trades unionist lagent, said their
appeal to the coal owners to help them deal with the non-
unionist difficulty had not met with the success it deserved;
the -association had expected better things of the employers.
It was causing a great deal of friction in the coal field, but
be was quite sure that the refusal of some 300 men to join
up would not be alkrwed by the Government to be an excuse
for stopping coal-getting there. He informed the meeting
that representatives of the owners -and of the men’s associa-
tion had been called to London, and. an effort would have
to be made to get this vexed question settled.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

On Friday last, the Prime Minister received a deputation
of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain on the subject
of the Military Service Bill and old-age pensions. In regard
to the latter, Mr. Smillie explained that they had asked Mr.
Asquith to receive them so that they might bring befoie him
the great hardships caused to old-age pensioners by the rise
in prices, which had made it impossible for these old people
to exist on so small a sum as 5s. a week. They asked that
the amount might be increased by half-a-crown a week. Mr.
Asquith gave a sympathetic reply. He realised the need of
these old people, but the difficulty with which the Govern-
ment was faced was that of money. The matter was in
other hands than his own, and though his sympathies were
with these old people, he was unable to give the deputation
any promise to meet their wishes.

The Prime Minister also spoke on the Military Service
Bill, and assured the deputation that the Government had
only accepted it as a military necessity for the period of the
war. There was nothing in the form of industrial con-
scription intended on the part of the Government, and the
safeguards which Labour had suggested had been introduced
into the measure. The Home Secretary made a statement
dealing with the application of the Bill to the mining
industry, and with the amendments which have been inserted
in -the Bill by the House of -Commons to remove the possi-
bility of industrial compulsion.

A special conference of the delegates from the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain who were to attend the Labour
Party Conference was held on Tuesday at Bristol. Mr. Robt.
Smillie (Scotland), the president, was in the chair. The
primary purpose of the meeting was to determine the policy
of the miners on the different resolutions which appear on
the agenda of the Labour Party Conference for decision. It
was decided to oppose a resolution from AbertiHery, South
Wales, protesting against members of the Labour Party
accepting office under the Coalition Government without first
consulting the rank and file. It was decided also to support
the members who had assisted the Coalition Government and
the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee.

Firemen, Examiners, and Deputies.

The General Federation of Firemen’s, Examiners’, and
Deputies’ Associations of Great Britain held their annual
conference last week-end at- Hanley. The president, Mr.
S. Coulthard, Newcastle-on-Tyne, took the chair, and in
his remarks said theirs w7as a vocation which carried with
it great responsibility. They had placed upon them by
the Mines Act of 1911 great authority, great power, and
great responsibility. That Act made it more than ever
binding upon colliery firemen that they should clearly and
intelligently understand their duties. Upon no section had
there been greater responsibilities thrown than upon the
firemen, deputies, and examiners. The main object of fire-
men was to effect a diminution of accidents in coal mines,
and he believed they had ahvays been -actuated by the

highest possible motive—the safety of their fellows. While
they had modern machinery and all the necessary appliances
and improvements, there were bound to be difficulties wdien
they remembered that they were getting coal from a depth
of 800 to 1,000 yds. One of the things he was looking-
forward to was the time when they would co-operate with
those in authority, in order to get coal w7ith the least
possible risk to life and limb.—Dr. W. Ludford Freeman
said the Federation . had done very well indeed. They
started in a small w7ay with five associations and 5,000
members, and now they had 10 associations and 13,000
members.—Mr. Frowen, the secretary, stated that the
membership had increased in spite of enlistments. He
spoke of the recognition which had been obtained in the
various counties, and said he w7as pleased to know that
the North Wales and the Lancashire and Cheshire associa-
tions had been able to obtain recognition. Cumberland and
South Wales, he regretted, had not yet succeeded in gaining
recognition, and at an interview with the coal owners in
these counties, the latter expressed their surprise at what
they were told had been accomplished in the Midlands and
the Northern counties. The secretary went on to say that
it w7as pleasing to record that they had been able to gain
recognition as a. Federation from the Government on many
occasions during the past year. So far as the area w7as
concerned, they were covering the whole of Great Britain,
except Bristol, Somerset, and the Forest of Dean coal
fields and the Warwickshire area. A discussion followed,
and the position of the deputies in Scotland was mentioned,
it being stated that they had been very unjustly dealt with.
It was decided that Messrs. Coulthard and Frowen should
go to Scotland and render what assistance was possible by
way of propaganda work to improve the position of the
deputies there. The question of the unorganised areas came
up for discussion, and it w7as decided that the case for
Nuneaton and Warwickshire should be left in the hands of
Messrs. H. Gill, J. W. Sumnail, and W. Frowen, who wrere
asked to institute -a scheme of organisation. A long dis-
cussion then took place on the advisability of the affiliation
of the Federation with the Trade Union Congress, and it
was finally resolved not to do so. Considerable time was
taken up in considering the advisability of a standard rate
of wages for deputies or firemen throughout the whole of
Great Britain.

Trade Union Triple Alliance.

The sub-committee of the triple Trade Union Alliance of
miners, railwaymen, and transport workers met in London
last week to consider what action should be taken' by the
three unions on the Government’s Military Service Bill. Air.
Robert Smillie (Miners’ Federation) presided. According to
the official report of the proceedings, the sub-committee fully
considered the situation. As the reports received from the
various organisations gave evidence of the deep-seated hostility
and determined opposition of the rank and file of the workers
to the measure, it was decided to ask the executives of the
various bodies to consider the whole situation, with a view
to the joint meeting of the three executives being called,
should it be found necessary for such a course to be taken.
It is thought likely, when the Joint Committee is called
together, that a proposal will be made that a preliminary
ballot shall be taken as to whether the members of the three
unions are in favour of the Government’s Bill or not.

OBITUARY.

Among the deaths recorded during the past few days has
been that of Mr. R. Davies, pit wood salesman for the Inter-
national Anthracite Association, Swansea, at the earlv age
of 46.

The death has occurred of Air. J. H. Harries, who had had
exceptional experience in the Swansea steel trade, his later
connection being with the Mannesmann Tube Works. As a
lad he entered the office of the Siemens Steel Company, when
the works were first started at Landore.

The death took place on Friday last at Bolton of Mr. John
Sharpies, 78 years of age, coal agent.

The death has occurred of Sir Francis Ley, Bart., the
head of the engineering concern of Leys Malleable Castings
Company, Derby, the largest of its kind in the world.

The death occurred on Monday of Air. William Alarsh. For
over 20 years the deceased gentleman was under-manager at
the Linnyshaw (Berryfield) Colliery, Walkden, one of the
group owned by Lord Ellesmere.

The death has occurred of Mr. Thomas Whitworth, at
the iage of 84 years. The deceased was formerly prominently
identified with the local coal trade, being one of the pro-
prietors of a -colliery at Runtlings, which was closed down
a quarter of a century ago; and later he carried on business
•as >a coal agent.

The death is announced of Mr. John Eastham, of 30,
Bolney-street, New7 Springs, Lancashire, who had been a
member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Permanent
Relief Society from its establishment in 1872, .and had been
a member of the board of management since 1901. Deceased
w7as in his 67th year, .and had been engaged in pit work
since he w-as 10 years of .age.

Lieut. Harry Ball, of the Royal Engineers, son of Mr.
Ball, colliery manager, Rotherham, and formerly manager of
of Flimby and Broughton Aloor Collieries, near Maryport, has
been killed in action in France on January 13. The deceased,
who was 21 years of age, was a mining engineer by pro-
fession.

The death has occurred of Air. John Edwards, manager of
the Wrexham and Acton Colliery, Wrexham, at the age of
57. He obtained his manager’s certificate at Plas Power
Colliery. He then went to manage a colliery at Trefonen,
returning to Ruabon about 27 years ago to manage the
Hafod Colliery, where he remained for 25 years, succeeding
Mr. Newton at Wrexham Colliery two years ago. For many
years he w-as a teacher of mining in the Wrexham Science
and Art Classes.

On Sunday last a prominent Scottish iron master in the
person, of Air. Andrew Kirkwood M‘Cosh, J.P., died at- his
residence, Cairnhill House, near Airdrie. A native of Ayr-
shire, he migrated to Coatbridge at an early age, and was
engaged by Messrs. William Baird and Company Limited,
Gartsherrie Iron Works, of which firm he eventually became
managing director. The late Mr. M‘Cosh was a director of
the North British Railway Company, and a director of the
Glasgow Tunnel Company. He was chairman of the Coal
Trade Conciliation Board, in connection with which he
rendered important service during the late strike of miners.