278

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

February 11, 1916.

It is expected to reach the hard seam in the Snowdown
Colliery deep sinking in a fortnight. The last return showed
the shaft is sunk to 2,156 ft. and bricked to 2,101 ft.

The holders of the £90,000 of bonds in the Kent Coal
Concessions and allied companies have been notified that a
further instalment of 20 per cent, is due on March 1. A
further call of 12J per cent, has been made on the second
mortgage debenture stock of the East Kent Colliery
Company.

Forest of Dean.

Coal Banquet Abandoned.

The chairman of the Dean Forest House Coal Owners’
Association, Mr. T. H. Deakin, J.P., has lately been asked
by members of that body to accept a handsome silver service,
in acknowledgment of much appreciated help rendered. Mr.
Deakin has served the association for some years past, but
he has laid the members under great obligation to him by
reason of the great measure of success attending his appeal
to the Home Office, who, through his efforts, have made
certain concessions to the Forest colliery concerns under the
recent Act which governed the price of coal.

The Office of Woods and Forests has announced through
Mr. Westgarth Brown, of Cardiff, Deputy Gaveller for the
Forest of Dean coal field, that for the duration of the
war the half-yearly banquet which takes place at the Speech
House, at the conclusion of the rent paying, will be sus-
pended. Usually the spring meeting has been timed for
about the middle of February, and the coal trade was looking
forward with much interest to Mr. Brown’s report on the
output of coal during 1915 ; there was expectation that a
record had been established since such is stated to be the
case at some of the leading collieries.

Scotland.

Railway Traffic: Alleged Preferential Treatment —
Interesting Presentation—Road Repair and Electric
Cables: Scottish Custom.

Bartonholm Pit, Kilwinning, which was shut down two
years ago, has been re-opened.

In the Second Division of the Scottish Court of Session on
the 3rd inst., judgment was given in an appeal from a
decision of the Bailway and Canal Commission in an appli-
cation by the Anglo-American Oil Company Limited, London,
against the Caledonian and North British railway companies,
for abatement of an undue preference afforded by the railway
companies to the Scottish shale oil manufacturers, to the pre-
judice of the applicants. The rates charged to the applicants
for the carriage of oil, naphtha, and motor spirit -were con-
siderably higher than those charged to the Scottish oil manu-
facturers for similar traffic under similar circumstances. The
Commission found that there was an undue preference, and
granted the order asked by the applicants. The railway com-
panies appealed to the Court of Session upon a question of
law. They contended that the Commissioners, in arriving at
their decision, had proceeded upon an erroneous construction
of the siding agreement between the applicants and the Cale-
donian Bailway Company, and that on a sound construction
of that agreement the railway companies were entitled to
impose the charges of which the applicants complained.—The
Division decided that the construction put upon the agreement
by the Commissioners was the correct one, and the effect of
the clause upon which the railway companies founded was
merely to bar the applicants from claiming rebates, but did
not entitle the railway companies to charge full station rates
if that resulted in an undue preference.

On the occasion of his retirement from the mineral factor-
ship of the Hamilton Estate, a position he had held for the
long period of 35 years, Mr. James Barrowman (formerly
secretary of the Mining Institute of Scotland) was on
Wednesday afternoon of last week entertained by the mineral
tenants on the estate, and presented with handsome gifts.
A representative company was presided over by Mr. J. T.
Forgie, of Messrs. Wm. Baird and Company, Bothwell, and
he was supported by Mr. Adam Nimmo, chairman of the
Scottish Coal Conciliation Board; Mr. Thomas H. Barr, of
Messrs. Wm. Barr and Sons, coal masters; Mr. D. M.
Mowat, general manager of the Summerlee Iron Company;
Mr. Thomas Arnott, general manager of the United
Collieries Limited; and Mr. Walter Buchanan, of Messrs.
James Dunlop and Company, coal masters. Mr. Barrowman
was presented with a mahogany bureau and a cheque for
.£150, while Mrs. Barrowman was the recipient of a silver
tea service and silver kettle of chaste design. In acknow-
ledging the gifts, Mr. Barrowman pointed out that there
had been many changes during the 35 years he had watched
over the mineral interests of the Hamilton Estate.
Altogether there were about 30 mineral tenants, and while
a. number of firms who were tenants in 1881 were still
tenants under the same firm name, there was no single firm
now consisting of the same members as in 1881. In a
review, from the factor’s standpoint, of the history of the
minerals during his term of service, what struck him as
outstanding was the great influence that coal-cleaning and
coal-cutting machines had had on the revenue and resources
of the various collieries. As the forward working of the
coal of the thick seams got advanced, and the working out
of the pillars became general, the proportion of dross in the
output greatly increased, until it was a drug on the market,
due in great measure to the large admixture of impurities
in it; but the adoption of the washing machines to separate
out the impurities saved the situation, and produced fuel of
various grades, clean and suitable for all kinds of industrial
purposes, at the same time benefiting all concerned. About
the year 1900, it seemed as if the maximum output of the
collieries, not only on the Hamilton Estates, but in Lanark-
shire, had been reached, and that there would be a rapid
decline of output, with consequent loss of employment for
colliery and other workmen, and shrinking revenues; but
the enterprise of the coal masters and their adoption of
electrical power again saved the situation, and coal-cutting
machines were adapted to the working of deeper and thinner
seams, which would, but for these machines, have been
unprofitable to work for many years. In 1901 the output
in Scotland of coal worked by coal-cutting machines was
about 1/67th of the whole .output. It rapidly increased
until in 1910 it had risen to about l/5th, and now it was
about |. The proportion of machine cut coal to the whole
output in Lanarkshire was much greater than in Scotland as
a whole, it was approximately half of the whole output.
The practical effect of this was that the output of coal in
Lanarkshire which in 1909 was fully 17 million tons, had
been maintained about that figure yearly until now, not-
withstanding the exhaustion of the upper and thicker seams
in many collieries. Employment, therefore, had been given
to hundreds of men who would otherwise have been obliged

to seek work elsewhere, while the collieries on the whole
had prospered, and the revenue to the proprietors had been
well maintained.

In Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Sheriff Shennan
heard evidence in two charges of alleged contraventions of the
Coal Mines Act brought against Bobert Hutchison and
Andrew Shaw. The prosecutions were the sequel to a fatal
accident which occurred in the Bardykes Colliery on August 17
last, and the complaint bore that a fall of stones, blaes, and
debris having taken place in No. 3 level of the main haulage
road in the Pyotshaw seam on August 16, and an unarmoured
electric cable having been brought down and covered by the
debris, the accused negligently and wilfully asked and allowed
several workmen to clear and redd the fall while the electric
current was still in the cable, whereby the lives of the men
were endangered, and one of them, John McDougall, miner,
made contact with the cable, and was killed. Accused were
also charged with having failed to report the fall. A plea of
not guilty was tendered in each instance. — Wm. Garvie,
brusher, the first witness called, stated that he was instructed
by Hutchison to go to No. 3 level to redd up a fall. On
going there he found that the electric cable had been brought
down by a fall, and Hutchison warned the men to be very
careful, as the current was on. In cross-examination, witness
said he did not anticipate any special danger in the work
unless something came away while they were engaged. The
cable could easily have been cleared without touching it if
caution had been exercised.—John McKay, pit repairer, gave
similar evidence, and said that if the current had been
switched off in the present case, the coal cutter would have
been stopped, and the section would have been thrown idle.—■
Wm. Smith, head electrician to the Summerlee Iron Com-
pany, explained that the coal cutter was working at a pressure
of 500 volts. The reports entered by Hutchison, the fireman,
contained nothing about the fall, the cable, or any defect in
the roof. Cross-examined, witness declared that the cables in
the colliery were swung in terms of the regulations, so- that
they would come down if there was a fall. As a matter of
practice, the current was not switched off when a fall took
place. There was no difficulty in clearing away a fall with
the current on, if ordinary precautions were taken. It would
impede the work of the pit if, on the occasion of a fall, the
current was switched off, as electricity was used for ventila-
tion and pumping purposes.—For the defence, Hutchison, the
accused, stated on his own behalf, that he instructed the men
to clear away the debris. The coal cutter was going, and
that led him to believe that the cable was intact. He
examined the cable on both sides of the fall, and found no
defect. He did not mention the fall in his report, as he
did not think it would be a source of danger. It was not
customary in Lanarkshire pits to- mention falls in reports, so
long as they did not release noxious gases or impair the
ventilation and general safety of the miners. — Mr. Wm.
Agnew, manager at Bardykes Colliery, also gave evidence,
and bore out Hutchison’s statement that it was not customary
in Lanarkshire to report falls which the fireman did not con-
sider were a source of danger.—The case against Shaw, whose
shift as fireman followed that of Hutchison, was next taken.
—Sheriff Shennan said that as the prosecutions involved a
somewhat important point of law, he would issue a written
judgment in due course.

Can a miner who is serving as a soldier “ somewhere in
France ” be said to have ceased to reside in the United
Kingdom, so far as the Workmen’s Compensation Act is
concerned? This was the question which Sheriff Shennan,
of Hamilton, had to consider in an action which was brought
before him last week, and his lordship has answered it in
the negative, holding that it is out of the question to say that
the million or two Britons who were out of the country fight-
ing, had, in the sense of the statute, “ ceased to reside” in
the United Kingdom. The Sheriff says it is certain they have
their homes here, and their absence, which was temporary,
and for purposes of State, was no more to be be considered
“ ceasing to reside ” than if they had gone abroad for any
temporary purpose of business or pleasure.

LABOUR AMD WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The workmen at the Ely Pit, Penygraig, numbering about
350, have received notices terminating contracts, for the
reason that, owing to dearth of men, it is necessary to stop
the working. As this pit is under the Cambrian Combine,
the men discharged will be engaged in the other collieries of
the organisation. A very large number of men from the
Cambrian undertaking have enlisted. It is understood that
the colliery will be re-opened on the termination of the war
and at the return of the workmen.

At a mass meeting of men of the Great Western Colliery,
Pontypridd, on Sunday, it was resolved to resist any attempt
to make the Sunday night shift compulsory. The matter was
relegated to the executive of the Federation, with a recom-
mendation that unless a satisfactory settlement be arrived at
within a month, the adoption of a “ down tools ” policy should
be considered. The meeting decided to vote against the pro-
posed levy for motor ambulances for the front.

The men of the Lewis-Merthyr Colliery, Porth, held a meet-
ing on the same day, deciding to adhere to their previous
resolve not to work the Sunday night shift; and recommend-
ing the coal field to vote against the proposed levy for motor
ambulances on the ground that the Government should provide
sufficient for every need.

When the joint committee of workmen at the Ocean
Collieries met at Cardiff on Saturday evening, they discussed
the wages paid to the surface hauliers and the rubbish tippers.
It was decided that unless a settlement be arrived at within a
week from the meeting, the men at all the company’s
collieries should tender 14 days’ notice to terminate contracts.
It was agreed to withdraw the notices already tendered at
the Ton Pentre Eastern Colliery on this question, pending
the result of negotiations with the management during the
week.

It is stated that many colliery firemen in the Eastern
Valleys of Monmouthshire have received a permanent increase
of wages in lieu of a war bonus.

There was a temporary stoppage at the Lewis-Merthyr pits
last week, arising out of a case where a constable found men
asleep at their posts; but after one day the miners resumed
work. The difficulty arose because a police sergeant found
two men asleep in the winding house, and the workmen
resented the interference of the police. About 3,000 men were
idle, and at their meeting passed a resolution, as follows :—
“We protest against the action of the management in employ-
ing police for the purpose of supervising the men when at
work, or in any other way, not in accordance with police
duties as laid down by the Standing Joint Committee.”

North of England.

At a meeting of the Durham Coal Trade Conciliation
Board for the regulation of wages, held at Newcastle on
Friday last, Sir Lindsay Wood presiding, it was agreed that
miners’ wages should be advanced by 3f per cent., making
them 78f per cent, above the basis of 1879, as from Monday,
February 7. Last November the men received an increase
of 11| per cent., 5 per cent, of which was absorbed in the
war bonus granted earlier.

Durham deputies’ wages for the ensuing three months
have been advanced by 3| per cent., making a total of
78| per cent, above the basis of 1879, in accordance with the
advance granted to other sections of mine workers in Durham
county last week.

The council of the Durham Miners’ Association, at a
meeting held last Saturday, confirmed the action of the
executive committee in taking an individual ballot on the
Military Service Bill. It was also resolved that the agents
of the association should meet the coal owners and seek to
have the workmen at all collieries paid on Friday in each
week, instead of alternately on Fridays and Saturdays, as
at present. The trustees were empowered to invest £10,000
in 5 per cent. Exchequer Bonds, and also to invest such
further sums as they might have at their disposal in any
safe and readily realisable investments of a remunerative
character that might present itself during the period of the
war.

The quarterly balance-sheet issued by the Northumberland
Miners’ Association for the three months ended December 31
shows that the total number of full members on the books
of the union was 24,267, and the number of haif-members,
3,972. The chief items of expenditure were £145 16s. 8d. for
Federation levies, £387 10s. paid to the Labour Fund of the
Miners’ Federation, and £3,306 paid in death legacies. The
income included £129 3s. 4d. returned from the Miners’
Federation. The political fund shows a credit balance of
£200 6s. Id.

The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’
Association has considered a recent suggestion by the county
coal owners that, in view of the shortage of labour at the
local mines, it might be 'advisable to employ women on the
pit head, and has decided in opposition to the suggestion.
The committee considers that there are numbers of old men,
who have been discarded as unprofitable, who might be
re-employed for the duration of the war. Further, that there
are strong men-employed on the surface who might be given
employment underground, and weak men working under-
ground who might be better employed at bank. If these
suggestions were 'acted upon, the committee thinks they
would meet the present requirements.

The 'annual meeting of the Cumberland Miners’ Associa-
tion was held at Workington last week. Mr. T. Cape
submitted the annual financial statement, which showed that-
notwithstanding the many heavy calls on the funds, there
was 'a balance in hand of £10,983, -and the association
owned over £630 worth of property. Four years ago the
association was £1,800 in debt, which was principally due
to the minimum wage strike, and since then they had had
to finance several large strikes, and to support men who
had been thrown out of employment owing to the stoppage
of several collieries in the district. During the period of
the war they had been paying the contributions of > the
members who were on active service, so that when they
returned to civil life they would be full financial members
of the association. The balance-sheet was unanimously
adopted.

Federated Area.

grievance at the Shireoaks Company’s collieries, con-
cerning the payment of the war bonus to “ compo. ” men, was
discussed by the council of the Derbyshire Miners’ Associa-
tion, at Chesterfield, on Saturday. The company own two
pits in Yorkshire and two in Derbyshire (Southgate and
Whitwell). In the case of men who have been injured, and
are doing light work, and receiving part compensation, the
company, contending that the war bonus constitutes part
of a man’s earnings, are only paying a proportionate amount
of bonus. The difference between a man’s former earnings
and his present rate of pay is, in many cases, considerable,
and it is argued by the association that as at every other
colliery in the county the war bonus is being paid in full,
irrespective of change of work or compensation, the same
practice should prevail under the Shireoaks Company. Hold-
ing that the war bonus is a settled item, the Derbyshire
association decided to bring the dispute before the County
Disputes Board, unless there is a settlement. As the out-
come of a conference between owners’ and men’s representa-
tives, a set of rules was submitted for the settlement of
disputes during the war. These rules were endorsed en bloc,
save for certain minor alterations which were left to the
committee, and subject to a guarantee being given by the
Coal Owners’ Association with respect to the non-union
question. In accordance with the requirements of the new
Coal Mines Act, a new oil lamp, known as the “ double-
gauze ” lamp, has been introduced into- the pits. ■ The
design, it is complained, does not give sufficient light for
working purposes, and in view of general complaints, Mr.
B. Kenyon, M.P., and Mr. F. Hall were empowered to take
what steps they considered necessary to bring the matter
before the Home Secretary and H.M. Chief Inspector of
Mines, with a view to an improvement. The question of
the raising of house rents -in certain parts of the county was
discussed. Instructions were given to the council to obtain
particulars with a view to assisting members in county court
proceedings, if necessary.

A conference took place at Dudley on Wednesday between
the South Staffordshire Coal Owners’ Association and repre-
sentatives of the Dudley and West Bromwich and the Old
Hill Miners’ associations. No decision was arrived at on
the question, of the employment of non-union men in the
mines. The men’s representatives urged the employers to
compel men to join the Federation, failing which they
decided not to descend the pits in the same bands as the
non-unionists. Consideration was adjourned to enable the
men to put the matter again before the respective
associations.

The half-yearly report of the council of the Nottingham-
shire Miners’ Association presented at a meeting on Saturday
last, showed that the membership was upwards of 35,000—
being slightly higher than ever before. The lodges were
in a very satisfactory state, and the contributions—£18,000
—a little ahead of previous periods. The expenditure was
normal, save for the convoy grant out of the general fund.
The number of deaths—22—had been increased beyond
normal by the disaster at the Bentinck Colliery, in which
nine lives were lost. The officials read all the correspondence
they had had with the secretary of the Erewash Valley
owners concerning the proposed wages agreement for engine-
men and firemen. The report was accepted, and Mr. C.