768

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 20, 1916.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

In an award issued by Sir George Askwith, Sir George
Gibb, and Sir David Harrel, the application on behalf of
150,000 shipyard workers for an advance of 15 per cent, in
wages has been refused.

A critical situation has arisen in the engineering trade
of Blackburn and district. Recently the employers notified
their workmen of their desire to revise the basis of pay
for night shift work. This led to a conference, which had
no fruitful result, and the whole question was referred to
the central executives of the two parties. Even here no
agreement has been arrived at. Mr. Gotten, secretary of
the Engineering and Allied Trades Federation, stated on
Saturday that the present arrangement for night shift work
had been in operation nearly 30 years, and the new proposals
would mean .a reduction of something like 7s. per week to
night workers. The employers desired to standardise pay
to time-and-a-quarter all through, and this the workmen
would not accept. The question affects between 2,000 and
3,000 men.

In his monthly circular to the Boilermakers’ Society, Mr.
John Hill, general secretary, says he wishes to make clear
that in his opinion there is no grievance that can justify
cessation of work for a single day while our national
existence is at stake. He felt quite sure that any man
who advocated or took part in a strike at this time did not
realise the gravity of our position. He had talked to
hundreds of trade unionists in the trenches, and he had
never spoken to anyone who advocated a stoppage of work
on munitions. They could not strike and win the war.

Mr. Henderson, M.P., addressing a trade union confer-
ence at Glasgow, referred to the need for more merchant
ships, and strongly urged the acceptance of the principle
of dilution of labour under proper safeguards for shipyard
trades.

The Government Production Committee have awarded
Manchester engineers an advance of Is. a week. The men
asked for an advance of 4s. a week on day wages, and an
equivalent for piece rates.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Wide	Fluctuations—Tramway Difficulty—Freights	and

Submarines—Neutral Ship Owners—Bedwellty Popula-
tion—Solving a' Transport Question.

The wide fluctuations in the price of coal respond very
closely to the variations in rates of freight. To have seconds
coal above 40s. in price, even though only for small parcels,
is an unprecedented condition of things; and it is concurrent
with the decline in rates for shipping. Taking Genoa as a
mark, this has fallen back from £o to £3 15s. within a few
days. The chief reason for decline of freight rates, however,
is, of course, the preponderance of tonnage, which exceeds the
amount of available coal; and prices have been rushed up by
the demand of buyers who wished to get their requirements
supplied before the holidays. It is another instance of the
long-noticed law that a small excess makes an entirely dis-
proportionate effect upon prices and rates. When tonnage was
scarce three or four months back, and coals were superabun-
dant in relation to the facilities of shipment, coal prices had,
of course, to be lowered in order to secure empty trucks. As
soon, however, as tonnage preponderates, and coal is not equal
to the demand, a huge variation in price takes place. It
cannot be too often repeated (and even emphasised, in view
of the use which Labour leaders make of high quotations) that
the quotation of very high prices in the day’s market does
not show the actual position of affairs, for only a very small
part of the shipments is at high rates, the greater quantities
being supplied upon contract terms which are very much
lower.

The Rhondda Tramway Company, who have, as a large
part of their business, the carriage of colliers to and from,
work, have communicated with the local Urban Council,
stating that the labour question has become particularly acute,
and that unless there was an improvement in this respect,
the tramway service would have to be considerably curtailed,
thus seriously inconveniencing colliers, and probably also
hindering materially the output of coal. The present service
was only maintained by the goodwill of the motormen, who
worked very long hours. The Ministry of Munitions had
been requested to certify the occupation as reserved, but did
not consider it of sufficient importance. The letter, therefore,
asked that the Council would help to bring pressure upon the
Ministry of Munitions through the miners’ representatives.
The Urban Council decided to refer the letter to the Rhondda
district of miners. In this connection, it has to be noted that
colliers subject to income-tax seek to have their expense in
railway and tram transit deducted from their estimate of
income which is liable to tax.

As bearing upon the important question of rates of freight
and the present submarine activity, which is so seriously
reducing the available tonnage, it has to be noted that one
calculation places the total of British losses alone at over 2|
millions of tons; and to this must be added a very large
amount for allies and neutrals. This emphasises the necessity
for the more careful handling of vessels requisitioned for
Government service, so that the greatest possible quantity may
be left free for general work, and especially for the coal trade.

The figures published as to the output of coal in South
Wales last year are liable to a misunderstanding, for although
the decrease was a little over 3^ millions of tons, the improve-
ment that occurred during the year puts a different complexion
upon the case. During the first quarter of the year the loss
was nearly 14 millions, but in the second quarter this was
reduced by one-half; and, whilst the third quarter was less
favourable, the final three months showed only 400,000 tons
lower. The total for South Wales and Monmouthshire was
50,367,000 tons, against 53,880,000 tons in 1914.

Further figures as to local shipping demonstrate even more
clearly the fact that it is neutral owners who mainly reap
advantage from the high rates. During March 85 per cent,
of the vessels from South Wales ports sailed -under foreign
flags, the figures being 753 out of 888; and this is an increased
proportion.' There is, of course, the qualifying consideration
previously mentioned in these columns, namely, that though
in foreign ownership, some of these vessels are under British
time-charter.

In the course of evidence tendered in a case arising out of
pollution of the River Rhyinney, which forms the boundary
of Glamorgan and’Monmouth counties, the clerk to the Bed-

wellty Council stated that the population of their district
alone had increased from 7,500 in 1902 to 15,000 in 1912; and
that above plaintiff’s factory there were now 21 large and 10
small collieries. In 10 years the output of coal had doubled.
Bedwellty authority controls only a small portion of the valley,
which is under four or five councils; and there is a proposal
to unify the whole area, so that it shall come into one organi-
sation, thus facilitating municipal government and lessening
expense. The Rhymney Valley has a future described locally
as that of “ a second Rhondda.”

The shortage of imports of pit wood has caused a remark-
able demand for all the available fir or pine woods of the
remotest Welsh districts during the past year or more, and
there has been active competition amongst Welsh colliery
proprietors and pit wood merchants in buying them up.
Frequently the chief expense and difficulty has been caused
by the inaccessibility and remoteness of the growing woods.
One large Welsh colliery firm, for instance (Messrs.
Glasbrook Brothers, of Swansea), has found a very remark-
able means of transit for woods away in remote West Wales,
viz., by means of the “ mono rail.” It appears that the
only available road into the wood soon collapsed under
the use of a traction engine, and the firm, having used all
the rails they had at their disposal, decided to adopt a novel
arrangement. A single line was laid down for over a mile,
and the vehicles used for the timbers were made to hang
over the wheels on both sides. Right alongside of the
load a horse goes in a pair of shafts, just holding up the
concern so as to preserve the balance, and in this way a
single horse transports two tons of timber at a time.

Northumberland and Durham.

Fines for Offences—Fatal Shot-Firing—Tyne Shipments—
Presentation to Under-Manager—Roll of Honour—
Dispute About Tramway Rails—Absentee Summoned.

At Whitley, three youths employed in the Algernon pit
were each fined 34s. for having lit a safety lamp in the
mine.

Fred. Davies, a brusher at the Maud pit, Backworth,
charged at Whitley last week with having had explosives in
his possession which were not in a proper canister, was
stated to have stored 32 oz. of high explosives about his
clothing. He informed the master shifter that he had
intended taking the explosives home, as there was some-
thing wrong with the kitchen oven flue. The master shifter
informed the Bench that, if defendant had used the explo-
sives, he would not only have cleaned the flue, but would
have shifted the street. Defendant was fined 20s.

In February last, a shot-firing accident occurred at West
Sleekburn, whereby Wm. Hardy, 52, was killed outright,
and Herbert Hudswell, assistant stoneman, was badly
injured, having a drill 2 ft. 8 in. long forced through his
body by the explosion. At the resumed inquest held last
week, Hudswell, manifestly still very weak and far from
well, attended, but his memory was gone. He could not
remember anything at all with reference to the accident.
The jury, therefore, were compelled to return -a verdict to
the effect that, although Hardy was killed by the effects of
a shot which exploded in his working place, there was no
evidence to show how the shot exploded.

At the April meeting of the Tyne Improvement Com-
missioners, it was stated that, during March, 926,728 tons
of coal as cargo, 112,197 tons of coal as bunkers, and
56,905 tons of coke were shipped from the Tyne, a decrease
of 212,259 tons of coal as cargo, and 47,034 tons of coal as
bunkers, and an increase of 32,874 tons of coke when com-
pared with the shipments for March 1914. For the quarter
now ended, the total shipments had been 2,654,030 tons,
352,855 tons and 178,052 tons respectively, a decrease of
360,068 tons of coal as cargo and 73,336 tons of coal as
bunkers, but an increase of 100,292 tons of coke when
compared with the first quarter of last year.

At the same meeting, Mr. Arthur Scholefield, making
his annual statement on behalf of the Finance Committee,
said that, last year, the shipments of coal and coke
amounted to 14,145,000 tons, as against 17,513,000 tons
in 1914, a very serious drop, but that, comparing the last
five months of each year, the 1915 shipments were
5,330,000 tons, as against 5,792,000 tons in 1914. They
had suffered chiefly in their decreased shipments to
Germany, 1,828,000 tons; Belgium, 334,000 tons; Russia,
284,000 tons; Italy, 831,000 tons; and Spain, 396,000 tons.
The following increases were shown :—Holland, 110,000
tons; France, 1,248,000 tons; Norway, 368,000 tons; and
Denmark, 116,000 tons. Mr. Scholefield foreshadowed the
probability of an increase of certain of the Commissioners’
dues.

The Voluntary Aid Detachment associated with the
Charlaw and Sacriston Collieries Limited, has succeeded m
raising £100 for the maintenance of a bed in a hospital in
France to be called the “ Sacriston and District Bed.”

Mr. J. H. Mountain, under-manager at East Pontop, who
is leaving to take up the duties of mining engineer at the
William pit, Whitehaven, has been presented by the
officials, workmen and friends at East Pontop with a double
gold albert, with appendage suitably inscribed, and a hall
barometer with massive silver plate and inscription. A
diamond and ruby gold brooch was presented to Mrs.
Mountain. The presentation was made by Air. Geo. Elliott,
the colliery manager.

The part that the Harton Coal Company’s workmen have
taken in the war was stated at a gathering in the Boldon
Colliery Miners’ Hall, on Saturday evening, when a roll
of honour recording the names of all the men connected with
the local lodge of the Durham Miners’ Association who have
joined the Colours, was unveiled by Mr. C. S. Carnes, agent
to the Harton Coal Company Limited. The chairman
(Mr. Summerbell, president of the lodge) stated that the
891 members whose names were on that roll did not include
a single Derby man or conscript. In addition to sending
out these men, the lodge had raised the sum of £1,045 in
aiid of various war funds, and the colliery officials had con-
tributed £71. In his speech, Air. Carnes emphasised the
importance of each man asking, ‘‘Am I doing my bit? ”
They were a mining community, and coal mining was one
of the principal supports of the men in the trenches. They
supplied the coal which made iron -and provided various
by-products for high explosives. Each ton of coal lost and
not brought to the surface was one mark against the
individual who could have got it. The total number of
men who had gone from Boldon Colliery for national
service in the Army and Navy was 1,007. At the outbreak
of war, the Harton Coal Company employed 10,472 men;
of that number, 3,668 had joined the Colours; 97 of these
had been killed or died of wounds. The whole of the men
of military *age at the four collieries, with the exception of

10, had attested and, since the Military Service Act had
been passed, there were only five men employed who were
not miners.

At Bishop Auckland last week, John Graggs, farmer, of
Dicken House, East Hedley Hope, Crook, was charged with
the larceny of a number of tramway rails, valued at- £14,
from the Dicken Hill Colliery, formerly owned by him, but
now the property of the Harperley Collieries Limited.
Sergt. Stephenson stated that, when he served the summons
on defendant, the latter replied that he had a perfect right
to the rails, as they had not been cleared away within a
certain time. He had taken the rails from the shaft of the
pit and from some pit falls, because he feared his mare
would be hurt. Mr. T. Hird, cashier at the colliery, gave
evidence as to the ownership of the rails, but admitted that
there was a difficulty in identifying them, as all colliery
rails were alike. For the defendant, it was argued that
there was no larceny, and that the court had no jurisdiction,
as all the defendant had done was to make a bona-fide claim
of right.' The Bench, holding that there had been no
felonious intent, dismissed the case.

At Houghton-le-Spring last week, Wm. Haswell, hewing
putter at the Lambton D pit, Fence Houses, was ordered
to pay 20s. damages to the Lambton and Hetton Collieries
Limited, for having absented himself from work for five
days. Air. W. H. Bell, prosecuting, stated that defendant
seemed to have been earning too much money. Since the
beginning of the year he had averaged 12s. 9d. per shift,
but had been lying idle when it pleased him, and losing
17*23 per cent, of his time. When such men were absent,
it often caused eight or nine other men to be idle, with a
consequent reduction in output—which, in these days, was a
very serious matter. The management was bound to let
men see that they could not tolerate this kind of thing.
Defendant pleaded that, so far as three of the four shifts
concerning which he was charged were concerned, he was
not “ varry clivvor ”—i.e., he was unwell.

Seven colliery teams out of 15 qualified for the final
round of the competition for the Donald Bain Shield, com-
peted for yearly by teams of the Durham Mines Inspection
District Ambulance League, which was brought off in
Durham City last Saturday. The ultimate awards were :—
Browney, 3’01f points, 1; Shildon, 291, 2; Ushaw Moor,
274J, 3; New Seaham, 269, 4; South Brancepeth, 266J, 5;
Leasingthorne, 262|, 6; and Waterhouses,. 237, N. The
Heath Cup for the best stretcher work was won by South
Brancepeth, and the Dillon Cup, for the best team in the
Seaham Division, by New Seaham. Air. J. R. R. Wilson,
H.M. inspector of mines, presenting the prizes, stated that
between 3,000 and 4,000 of the men employed in the
Durham mines inspection district were now doing ambulance
work for the Army.

Fumes from explosives were said to have caused the
death of Edward Woodcock, 51, a shot firer in Hebburn
Colliery. According to the evidence at the inquest, he could
scarcely stand when he returned home on April 6. He was
sick, and said his head felt about three times its size and
that there was a buzzing noise in his ears, that when
wrapping a cable he had got a dose of fumes from a shot,
and that when the cable got fast and he tried to release it
he got another big dose. The master shifter in Hebburn C
pit stated that the explosives had been used for about two
years without complaint. Mr. Fenwick Bell, who repre-
sented the miners, asked for an adjournment, as there had
been several complaints. Dr. Dias stated that Woodcock
told him that he had been overcome by fumes from an
explosive. A post mortem had been held, and in the opinion
of witness death was due to the inflammatory condition of
the lungs as a result of the inhalation of fumes from explo-
sives used in shot firing in the mine. The enquiry was
adjourned.

Cleveland.

A Pig Iron Committee.

At the annual meeting of Messrs. Bell Brothers Limited,
held at Middlesbrough last week, Sir Hugh Bell mentioned
that the firm’s works, buildings, mines, and collieries were
valued at £1,365,473, and their movable stocks at £244,208.
Of the men and officials, 1,191 had joined the Colours, -and
39 had been killed. The number of employees had decreased
from 6,080 to 5,170. He was sorry to have to complain
again of a considerable amount of lost time on the part of
the workmen. The complaints were appreciated by the
men’s leaders, who were doing all they could to diminish
the irregularity. The men complained of were acting in a
very suicidal way from the point of view of their own
interests, in that they deprived the owners of the power to
give the advanced wages asked for.

Yorkshire.

Smokeless Fuel Debentures.

With the consent of the Treasury, the Barnsley Smokeless
Fuel Company is offering to the public £30,000 6 per cent,
first mortgage debentures. The company was formed in 1914
to construct, in co-operation with the Old Silkstone Collieries,
a smokeless fuel plant under the coalite patents, with an
initial capacity to treat 50 tons of bituminous coal per day.
The present prospectus is largely a reproduction of that issued
two years ago. In'the meantime, enemy interests have been
sequestrated. The money is to be devoted to completing the
50-ton plant now in course of erection. The debentures are
underwritten, by the Investment and Conversion Trust at 85..

In a circular to Tees-side iron traders, the Ministry of
Munitions announces that, in connection with the fixing of
maximum prices, a local committee has been appointed in
Aliddlesbrough to control and distribute the imported ore
and pig -iron made on the North-East Coast, and generally
to act on behalf of the Ministry for purposes connected
therewith. . Consumers .and merchants who draw their
supplies of pig iron from the district should submit to the
committee, not later than the 20th of each month, a note of
their requirements for the following month, such note to
be approximately a statement of the actual consumption
for the month. As far as possible all requisitions should be
made against contracts, whether directly with the producer
or. through the agency of a merchant. If no contracts
exist, the committee will allocate the orders among those
makers who can execute them.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Housing at Westhoughton—Mine Surveying Class—Pit
Lasses Presentation—An Interesting Visit.

Owing to the building of important works and the
development of the local coal mining industry, the housino-
problem- at Westhoughton, near Bolton, has become more
accentuated, and in order to meet the difficulty the District
Council is now preparing a housing scheme.