722

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 14, 1916.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

An Admiralty prosecution against 15 coal trimmers was
heard at Newport on Friday, the defendants having struck
work whilst loading on Admiralty account the ss. “ Caradoc.”
They demanded Id. per ton extra, and also that escape holes
should be cut in the deck. They returned to work, but
owing to their stoppage a delay of 42 hours had taken place
in the sailing of the vessel; and another charge against them
was that, owing to the unsatisfactory trimming, the vessels
went to sea about 450 tons short of her full capacity. It
was stated during the hearing that the men were engaged
under the trimming tariff of the port, subject to provisions of
an agreement whereby any dispute or difficulty should be
referred to the Conciliation Board; but they had not adhered
to this part of the agreement. The Bench dismissed the case
against one man, but inflicted a fine of £5 upon each of the
other 14.	...

Upon the question of the Easter holidays, an important
letter has been sent by the Admiralty, bespeaking the special
effort of the miners in. regard to the' holidays. The letter
states that it would help matters enormously if work were
not stopped at the pits for' more than one day, say, Easter
Monday. The council of the Federation therefore issued a
circular setting forth these considerations, and requesting the'
men not to take more than one day’s holiday.

The anthracite men, at their monthly meeting, also dis-
cussed the Admiralty’s request, and delegates to the coal
field conference were instructed to support the proposal. ■

At a meeting of the Avon. Valley district of miners on
Saturday, reference was made to the proposal that boys under
14 yeaxs of age should be introduced for wTork underground,
and strong opposition to' the idea was manifest,, as also- to
any effort for bringing woman labour to the pit top.

Representatives of the coal trimmers and tippers attended
at the Admiralty Office in London on Friday, and there met
representatives of the Port and Transit Executive Com-
mittee. They reported that agreement had been arrived at,
suspending in the Welsh coal ports, for the duration of the
war, the practice of ceasing work at 1 o’clock on Saturdays,
and stated that the men would work up to 8 p.m. on mer-
chant tonnage which could be completed by that time. The
new arrangement commences to-morrow (Saturday). The
Port and Transit Executive Committee place on record that
‘‘it is clearly understood that the concession is not to preju-
dice in any way the position of the trimmers and tippers
after the war.”

The Enginemen, Stokers’ and Craftsmen’s Association of
South Wales held a meeting to deal with the question of
merging a bonus turn into the new standard, it being under-
stood that the owners, whilst willing to pay the bonus turn
of men on afternoon and night shifts, were not willing that
it should be included in the standard. A joint meeting wTith
the owners’ representatives afterwards took place, but this
matter was not decided.

The Rhondda miners at their meeting on Monday had
before them a complaint as to delay in settling matters that
arose out of the new agreement, and a resolution was passed
recommending the executive council not to enter into agree-
ment in future until all details had been completed, no
points being left for settlement after resumption of work.

The discontent amongst a section of steel wmrkers in South
Wales is not likely to lead to any immediate action, because
those under the sliding scale, and it is these who have raised
the question, have to give six months notice, and this cannot
be given until June. About 20,000 men are affected—
Blaenavon, Tredegar, Dowlais, Ebbw Vale, and Cardiff—
and they desire, in view' of the very high price to which
steel has gone, that their maximum as fixed by the sliding
scale should be altered, and that they shall be able to get a
higher wage rate.

To minimise the difficulties connected with the work at
the Swansea Docks, -a suggested registration scheme is
being considered, the employers, the dockers’ union, and
the military representative coming into conference on the
matter. One of the points is that the employers are desired
to agree that only members of that trade union should be
engaged as transport workers at Swansea Docks.

The executive council of the Miners’ Federation, at its
sitting on Tuesday, discussed an intimation wdiich had been
received from Lord Muir Mackenzie, the independent chair-
man of the Conciliation Board. This was to the effect that
the employers and workmen should consider whether they
desired him to continue in that position. The decision of the
council wTill be made known at next Tuesday’s meeting of
the Conciliation Board. A resolution was passed desiring the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain committee to make appli-
cation that, in assessing workmen’s wages for income-tax, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer should make allowance in respect
to fares paid by the men when proceeding to and from work.
The question of the wage-rate of workmen employed at coal
washeries came up, and it was decided that action should be
taken to enforce the payment to these men of the sums due
under the Conciliation Board agreement.

North of England.

At the recent meeting of the Northumberland Joint Com-
mittee, Mr. J. B. Atkinson presiding, a claim was put in on
behalf of 14 night shift workmen at Cowpen for 2| hours’
pay in respect of having been delayed in the pit after a
breakdown on December 8 last, owing to no official being at
the pit bottom to direct them where to go. The men were
awarded 2s. each. Claims from Blucher Fit men for their
pays to be made up in respect of abnormal place working,
and from Netherton Howard Fit workers for payment for
siding over in fast by management’s orders, were withdrawn.
The award with respect to the Shaft, Drift West, and Heaton
districts of the Bensham seam at Walker was that it was not
desirable to make any change in prices at the present time.

Federated Area.

A correspondent understands that the Clifton and Kersley
Coal Company Limited are employing more females on the
surface at collieries in the KersleyAnd Clifton localities.

Six drawers and three jinney tenters were each fined 5s. 6d.
and costs at Reedley last week, for breaches of the terms of
their employment with Messrs. Brooks and Brooks, colliery
proprietors, who claimed 5s. damages from each defendant.
It was alleged against them that, after a one-day strike on
March 16, they went to the pit but refused to start work,
stating that they were tired.

At a conference of the South Staffordshire Coal Owners’
Association and representatives of the Miners’ Association of
the district at Dudley on the 6th inst.,>it was decided that
the advance and all arrears of miners’ wages be paid up

not later than to-morrow (Saturday), and that the scales,
representing 5 per cent, agreed on at the meeting on
November 26, 1915, be confirmed. The war bonus is to be
proportionately reduced.

The deputies at the Walton Colliery of the New Sharlston
Colliery Company Limited, near Wakefield, struck work
on Sunday night, about 400 men and boys being affected.
The deputies -asked for a basis rate of 8s. 6d. per day, plus
miners’ percentages. They also alleged that the manager
would not recognise the secretary of the Yorkshire Deputies’
Union in considering the position, but eventually waived
this point. The management offered an average on the
three shifts of 7s. 8d., and to this the deputies replied that
they would accept 8s., but the management declined to raise
their figure. At a meeting of the miners on Heath Common
it was stated that they had been asked by the management
to go back to work under new deputies who had been found,
but they refused on the ground that the new deputies were
blacklegging. A ballot afterwards showed a majority in
favour of returning to work.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

At a meeting of the Cleveland Ironstone Mine Owners’
Association and representatives of the miners at Middles-
brough, Mr. H. Dack, on behalf of the men, pointed to> the
increased selling price of pig iron, and said the men felt
they wTere entitled to a higher advance than that which
occurred under the scale. Fie asked for a 10 per cent,
advance. A further meeting was arranged for the 23rd inst.

In the April report of the Associated Iron Moulders of
Scotland, Mr. John Brown, the general 'Secretary, states that
the income for the previous month, exclusive of remittances,
was £3,843, and the total expenditure £2,383. There was
a net increase to the funds of £529 on the four weeks. The
membership in the adult section shows a- slight falling off,
but it is explained that this is due to so many of the members
being called up for active military service.

CONTRACTS OPEnWoR COAL AND COKE.

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

Norwich, May 2.—The Sewmrage Committee of the
Norwich Corporation -is prepared to receive tenders for the
supply of 500 tons of fin. to l|in. best machine-made and
wrashed anthracite beans. Specification and form of tender
may be obtained of Mr. Arthur E. Collins, M.Inst.C.E., city
engineer, Guildhall, Norwich. Sealed tenders endorsed
“ Anthracite beans,” addressed to the chairman of the
Sewerage Committe of the Norwich Corporation, must be
delivered at the city engineer’s office not later than 11 a.m.
on Tuesday, May 2, 1916.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Aylsham, April 17. — 30 tons of steam coal, for the
Guardians. Particulars from H. J. Gedney, clerk.

Bollington, April 29.—Best screened gas coal (twelve
months), for the Gas Committee. Forms from S. Knight,
clerk, Council Offices, Boilington.

Oldham.—Coal (twelve months), for the Gas Works.
Tenders to A. Andrew7, Ga-s Offices, Oldham.

Paisley, April 20.—Coal and coke, for three, six, or nine
months, for the Dykebar War Hospital. Forms from J. C.
Fraser, County Buildings, Paisley.

Rochester, April 19.—21,000 tons of gas coal, for the
Gas Company. Particulars from the general manager, 95,
High-street, Rochester.

Rothesay, April 24.—Gas coal (twelve months), for the
Town Council. Forms from gas manager, Rothesay.

Rhyl, April 25.—5,200 tons of screened gas coal, and
100 tons best house coal (eleven months), delivered f.o.r.
Rhyl, for the Urban District Council. Particulars from
the gas engineer, Paradise-street, Rhyl.

Salisbury, April 29.—Steam coal (twelve months), and
household coal, for the Town Council. Particulars from
the city engineer.

Torquay, April 25.-3,500 tons gas coal or gas slack, for
the. Gas Works Committee. Particulars from the ga-s works
manager, Torquay.

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

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, &c.

Dublin, April 27.—12 steel carriage underframes, for the
Great Northern Railway. Forms from the secretary,
Amiens-street, Dublin.

Manchester, April 25.—Cast iron or steel air pump dis-
charge pipes, valves, and supports, for the Corporation
Electricity Committee. Specifications from the chief
electrical engineer, Dickinson-street, Manchester.

Warrington, April 26.—Boiler plant and economisers,
for the Electricity and Tranrways Committee. Forms from
the electrical engineer, Howley, Warrington.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

Chartering has been moderately active during the greater
part of the past week, and merchants are showing consider-
able eagerness to cover their requirements of tonnage before
the Easter holidays. As we suggested last week, the new7
Board of Trade Order relating to coal shipments to
Scandinavia, has caused some apprehension amongst
shippers, and has quickened orders. Tonnage is in small
supply, but fairly adequate to meet the demand, which
showed a marked falling-off as the week progressed. During
the former part of the period under review, however, owners
were able to take advantage of the urgent nature of the
enquiries to demand higher rates, which were readily forth-
coming. At the time of writing, turns -are badly choked,
both -at South Wales and the North-East Coast, and there is
pronounced easiness in rates as a result. Coastwise, from
the Tyne, London is Is. down on the week. Rates for North
France rose steadily to the level of 47s. to Rouen, but have
slumped to the basis of 40s. for that port or Havre. The
Bay is weaker, and has paid 57-s. 6d. to Bordeaux, 6d.
reduction on the price quoted a week ago. Bayonne has
been fixed at 62s. 6d., and Rochfort at 60s. In the
Mediterranean section, rates advanced to 98s. 6d. -done, and
100s. reported fixed for Genoa, but quotations are now7 based

on about 96s. for Genoa options. The South Mediterranean
is 2s. 6d. higher to Algiers on the week. At Cardiff, loading
turns are exceedingly difficult to arrange, and rates are
irregular in consequence. Rates for North France, however,
are maintaining most of their firmness, and have advanced
to 40s. for Rouen, an increase of 2s. on the top rate paid
during the previous week. Baywards, the market was very
firm earlier in the week, but a weaker feeling now prevails
and rates are easier. Bordeaux has fallen to about 66 fr.,
after having advanced to the level of 70 fr., and Nantes and
St. Nazaire are lower at 59 fr. Rates for Mediterranean
destinations have steadily ea-sed during the week, and now
stand at 85s. for Genoa -and 120 fr. for Marseilles, as against
90s. and 125 fr. respectively last week. The South Mediter-
ranean is 5 fr. down to Algiers. The River Plate is about
Is. decreased at 64s.

In the homeward market, the River Plate is decidedly
-stronger. Government merchants are practically out of the
market, -and, with tonnage supplies greatly restricted,
upwards of 155s. to United Kingdom is readily obtainable,
both prompt and forward. The same conditions as regards
tonnage supplies rule at the Northern States, but the demand
is by no means pressing, and rates are lower. In the open
market, barely 14s. 6d.,i-s obtainable for the Bristol Channel.
The extraordinary rate of 28s. is quoted for neutral tonnage
for the French Mediterranean, however. The views of the
Wheat Committee are represented by 13s. 6d. for the Bristol
Channel, and 14s. 3d. for that destination from Montreal.
About 16s. 6d. is the figure indicated for West Italy. The
Eastern markets1 are still very quiet, but rather more activity
is manifested in tonnage from India. The rice ports are
dull, and worth no more than 180s. from Saigon-Haiphong
to two ports French Atlantic or Mediterranean. Indian
ports are represented by about 100s. ffrom Bombay on d.w.
for a range of United Kingdom or Mediterranean ports, and
from 85s. to 87s. 6d. on scale terms from Kurrachee. The
Madras Const is worth 140s. to Marseilles for kernels.
Mediterranean rates are lower on the basis of 55s. from
Alexandria to East Coast, United Kingdom, 60 cubic.

Since the above was written, Bordeaux from the. Tyne
has been done at 52s. 6d., and rates for North France have
eased appreciably.

Tyne to Algiers, 2,000, 80s.; Bordeaux, 2,200, 57s. fid.;
Bagnoli, 4,500, ICOs.; Bayonne, 1,000, 62s. 6d.; Boulogne,
47s. 6d.; 950, 46s.; 1,100, 46s.; 450, 57s. 6d., coke, two
voyages; 800, 47s. 6d.; 1,100, 47s.; Brest, range, 1,800,
57s. 6d., coke; 300, 57s. 6d., coke; Calais, 450, 57s. 6d.,
coke, two voyages; 800, 46s.; 2,100, 46s.; 1,800, 44s.; Cape
Verdes, 7,000, 57s. 6d.; Caen, 1,050, 42s.; Dunkirk, 1,350,
47s.; 1,200, 44s.; Genoa, 98s. 6d., 100, reported; 1,800,
97s. 6d.; Havre, 1,800, 45s.; 1,500, 42s. 6d. ; 850, 40s.;
2,000, 42s. 6d.; Honfleur, 46s.; Las Palmas, 3,300, 45s.;
London, 4,000, l-6s. 6d.; Naples, 3,000, 96s.; Palermo,

2.800,	97s.; Porto Ferrajo, 4,500, 98s.; 4,000, 98s.; Roche-
fort, 2,000, 60s.; 1,500, 60s.; Rouen, 1,500, 46s.; 3,500,
45s. ; 3,000, 45s.; 1,800, 45s.; 1,800, 44s.; 2,000, 4-6s.; 1,100,
45s.; 2,200, 46s. 6d.; 1,800, 47s.; 3,300, 44s.; 1,100, 44s.;

1.800,	40s.; St. Vincent, 7,000, 57s. 6d.; Treport, 1,000,
42s. 6d.

Cardiff to Algiers, 2,250, 105 fr.; Bordeaux, 950, 68 fr.;

70	fr.; 2,000, 70 fr.; 2,300, 70 fr.; 1,000, 66 fr.; Brest, 900,
27s.; Cork, 150, 14s.; Gibraltar, 1,300, 58s. 9d., 500; 5,000,
56s. 6d., 500; 1,500, 56s. 6d., 500, April; Genoa, 3,000, 89s.;
2,710, 90s.; 89s.; 3,700, 90s.; 3,500, 89s.; 5,000, 85s.;
Granville, 700, 31s.; Honfleur, 1,900, 34s.; Havre, 1,300,
34s.; Las Palmas, 3,650, 45s.; Lisbon, 2,000, 52s. 6d., 500;
53s.; 1,200, 53s.; 350, 50s.; 950, 50s., 350; 1,500, 47s. 6d.,
400; 1,500, 50s.; Leghorn, 3,000, 89s.; 3,700, 90s.; 3,500,
89s.; Marseilles. 3,600, 125 fr., voyages ; 2,800, 125 fr.; 4,300,
120 fr.; Monte Video, 4,000, 65s.'; 5,800, 68s., 500; Nantes,
1,300, 59 fr.; 2,500, 59 fr. ; Plymouth, 2,000, 16s.; Roche-
fort, 1,600, 58 fr. ; River Plate, 65s. ; 3,800, 64s.; 3,500, 65s.,
April; Rouen, 39s. 6d.; 1,400, 39s. 6d.; 1,600, 39s.; 200,
40s.; 1,600, 40s.; 1,900, 38s. 6d.; 2,500, 39s.; 2,000, 39s.;
2,000, 40s.; St. Na-zaire, 2,500, 60 fr.; 1,350, 63 fr.; 1,350,
59 fr.; 2,000, -59 fr.; 2,500, 59 fr. ; St. Malo, 1,600, 27s. fid.;
900, 27s. ; Seville, 52s. 6d. ; Savona, 3,000, 89s.; 2,710, 90s.;

3.700,	90s.; 3,500, 89s.; Spezzia, 2,710, 90s.; 3,700, 90s.;
Treport, 1,700, 38s. 6d.; 2,500, 38s. fid.; 600, 40s.

Swansea to Rouen, 1,500, 38s. 6d.; 950, 39s.; 2,200,
39s. 6d.; 850, 39s. 6d.; 1,600, 39s.; 2,000, 38s. 6d.; 1,550,
40s.; 813, 40s.; Bordeaux, 1,200, 09 fr.; 1,600, 70 fr. coal,

71	fr. fuel; 1,900, 69 fr. ; Belfast, 4,600, 14s.; Treport,
7,500, 39s., tin-plates, free in and out; St. Nazaire, 1,700,
61Jfr., fuel; St. Malo, 700, 28s., three voyages; St. Servan,
700, 28s., three voyages; Gandia, 72s. 6d. coal, 73s. 3d. fuel;
Treport, 820, 40s.; Havre, 950, 35s. ; Honfleur, 950, 35s.;
St. Malo, 300, 26s. coal, 26s. 9d. fuel, 12 voyages; 900,
27s. 6d.; St. Brieux, 300, 27s. coal, 27s. 9d. fuel, 12 voyages;
Charent-e, 1,400, 60 fr.; Havre, 550, 37s. 6d., tin-plates, free
in and out; Genoa, Savona, Spezzia, or Leghorn, 2,100, 80s.
coal, 80s. 9d. fuel; Dieppe, 2,800, 35s. coal, 35s. 9d. fuel.

Newport to Seville, 1,600, 58s.; 1,600, 52s. 6d.; Rouen,

1.700.	39s. 6d.; 1,000, 40s.; Villa Real, 1,200, 80s., 200, Is.;
Gibraltar, 1,300, 56s. 6d..; Marseilles, 3,000, 125 fr., April;
Genoa or Savona, '5,000, 80s.; Nantes, 2,000, 58 fr. ; Vigo,
850, 48s.

Port Talbot to Bordeaux, 1,600, 70 fr. ; Rouen, 1,200,
39s. ; Genoa or Savona, 3,300, 90s. ; Genoa, 3,500, 90s. ;
Bordeaux, 950, 68 fr.

Glasgow to Algiers, 2,400, 74s.; Rouen, 45s.

Wear to Havre, 1,000, 45s.

Seaham Harbour to Genoa, 1,500, 97s. fid.

Hull to Rouen, 1,800, 44s.; Dunkirk, 1,000, 40s.

Leith to Rouen, 1,200, 46s.

Hull Coal Imports. — The return issued by Mr. W. H.
Truman, coal inspector of the Hull Corporation, states that
the coal brought into Hull during March totalled 201,759
tons—241,997 tons by rail and 19,762 tons by river—as against
404,701 tons in the corresponding month of last year. Imports
for the three completed months of the present year amounted
to 800,844 tons, as compared with 1,105,087 tons in the like
period last year. Shipments coastwise in February were
• 22,183 tons, and for the three months 62,823 tons. Exports
for the month totalled 57,293 tons, as against 144,150 tons
in the same month last year. The aggregate for the three
months was 268,178 tons, and for the same period last year
499,461 tons. All figures are exclusive of coal for British
and foreign Admiralty purposes.