THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 943 May 19, 1916. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MINING EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS. The Board of Trade Labour Gazette states that employment in coal mining continued very good during April, and showed little change from either a month ago or a year ago. There was an increase of 4,331, or 0-8 per cent., in the number of workpeople employed com- pared with the previous month, but a decrease of 9,463, or 1-7 per cent., on a year ago. Of the 537,806 workpeople included in the returns, 265,647, or 49*4 per cent., were employed at pits work- ing 12 days during the fortnight to which the returns relate; while a further 212,190, or 39-5 per cent., were employed at pits working 11, but less than 12, days. The highest average number of days worked was in Gloucester and Somerset (5-97 days), and the lowest averages were in Nottingham and Leicester (5-42 days), and in Ireland (5-07 days). Districts. Average No. of days worked per week by mines in fortnight ended Increase (+) or decrease (—) in April 1916, on a Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. 5,586 . 5’59...5’60...6’00...-0’01...-0’41 4.537.. .5’92,..5’94...5’95 . -0'02...-0’03 715...5 93...5'71...5'26 .. +0'22... + 0'67 2.197.. .5’96...5'65...6’00...+0’31...-0'04 Districts. d &.r-l CC"rg 2 3 Average number of days worked per week by the collieries in fortnight ended _______________ Inc. (+ ) or dec. (—) in April 1916 on a Ord <-1 CT +5 1Q England and Wales. Northumberland... Durham ......... _____________________ d o CD O/j ce Days. Days. 47.239.. .5*49...5’47...5’46...+ 0’02...+0’03 86.725.. .5’55...5’54...5’54... +0’01... +0’01 Days. Days. Days. Cumberland ________ 7,432...5 89...5’84 ..5’82...+0’05...+0’07 South Yorkshire.... 62,014...5’87...5’86...5’78... +0’01... +0’09 West Yorkshire .... 25,615.. 5’77 . 5’68...5’76 ..+0’09...+0’01 Lane, and Cheshire... 47,790...5’89...5’84...5’82... +0’05... +0’07 Derbyshire ......... 37,448...5’84...5’85...5’75. .-0’01...+0'09 Nott and Leicester .. 35,910...5’42...5’53...5’42...—0’11... — Staffordshire......... 27,403...5’86...5’75...5’80... + 0’11... + 0’06 Warwick. Worcester and Salop ................ 8,090 5’82 5’86...5’64...-0’04.. +0’18 Gloucester & Somerset 6,195...5’97...5’97...5’91 .. — +0’06 North Wales......... 9,605...5’76...5’91.. 5’91... -0’15...-0’15 South Wales & Mon. 90,603...5’87...5’89...5’97...-0’02...-0’10 England & Wales..492,069...5’73...5’73...5’72... — ... +0’01 Scotland. West Scotland...... 18,993.. 5’48 . 5’44...5’15... +0 04... +0'33 The Lothians ...... 2,345...5’48...5’45.. 5’43... +0’03 + 0 05 Fife .......... 23,925...5’48...5’52...5’50...-0'04...-0 02 Scotland........... 45,263...5’48...5'48...5’35... — ...+0T3 Ireland ........... 474. ..5’07. ..4'95. ..4’42... + 0’12... + 0’65 United Kingdom...537,806...5’71...5'71 5’69... — .:.+0’02 Compared with a month ago, employment showed an improvement in West Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Ireland, and a decline in Nottingham and Leicester, and in North Wales; in the other districts there was little or no. change. In the Leeds district difficulties in getting supplies, owing in part to a scarcity of carters, were reported; the demand for steam coal continues to be very good, but that for household coal is falling off. Shortage of labour was reported in the Huddersfield and Bradford, Pelsall and North Staffordshire districts; in the latter district overtime was worked in some cases. Some time was lost in the Glasgow district on account of a breakdown of machinery. Compared with a year ago, employment showed some improvement in the Northern counties, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire, and in Derbyshire. In the Nottingham and Leicester district it showed no change. In Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, and Gloucester and Somerset there was an improvement, especially in the Bristol coal field. In North Wales and in South Wales and Monmouthshire it showed a decline. In West Scotland employment showed a considerable improvement, and improvement occurred also in the Lothians. In Fife there was some decline. The number employed in mining various descriptions of will be Description of coal. found tabled Average No. of days worked per week by the pits in fortnight ended below. Increase (+) or decrease (-) in April 1916 on a ____________ ______________________ Cg o Anthracite______ Cleveland ........ Cumberland and Lancashire .... Scotland......... Other districts.... All districts ... 13,035...5’79...5’74 . 5’95...+0 05 -0T6 The weekly average number of days worked by the mines, and open works included in the returns was 5-79, compared with 5-74 a month ago, and 5-95 a year ago. Compared with a year ago, there whs a marked decline in Cleveland, the principal district. In Scotland there was an improvement on both a month ago and a year ago. Shale.—According to the returns received, there were 3,088 workpeople employed in the fortnight ended April 15, 1916, at mines which worked on the average 6-02 days per week, compared with 3,097 workpeople in March at mines working 5-93 days per week, and 3,217 workpeople a year ago at minesrworking 6-00 days per week. Pig Iron.—In the pig iron industry employment con- tinued good, and was slightly better than a month ago, but not quite so good as a year ago. „ Returns show that 269 furnaces were in blast at the end of April, com- pared with 264 a month ago, and 272 a year ago. During the month six furnaces were re-lit (one each in Cumberland and Staffordshire, and four in Scotland), and one in Worcestershire was blown out. Engineering, etc.—Work continued at high pressure, with much overtime. Trade unions, with 259,292 members (mostly in skilled occupations) reported 0-3 per cent, unemployed at the end of April, compared with 0-3 per cent, in March and February, and 0-5 per cent, in April 1915. . The only noticeable exceptions to the general state of employment as described above occurred in the cases of pattern makers and iron founders, with whom, in a few districts, employment was only fair. Shipbuilding.—These trades continued to work at high pressure. There was still a shortage of labour, and much overtime was worked.. Trade unions of iron and steel shipbuilders and shipwrights, with 69,249 mem- bers, reported 0-3 per cent, unemployment at the end of April, compared with 0-3 per cent, in March and in February 1916, and with 0-5 per cent, in April 1915. Tin-Plate, Steel, and Galvanised Sheet Trade.—The following table shows the number of tin-plate and steel sheet mills in operation at the end of April 1916 at the works covered by the returns, together with the increase or decrease on a month ago and a year ago. The works to which these figures relate are principally in South Wales and Monmouthshire, and employ about 25,800 workpeople. Steel and Galvanised Sheets.—In this branch of the trade the number of mills in operation was seven less than in March, but one more than a year ago. The manufacture of galvanised sheets was very restricted, the majority of the mills hitherto employed upon galvanised sheets being used to produce heavy gauges of steel sheets. ’ Difficulty was experienced in obtaining sufficient steel bars. Disputes. — The new disputes in April in the coal mining industry numbered 7. These affected 4,327 persons directly and 427 indirectly—total, 4,754. The principal disputes which ended in April included one on April 3 near Ayr (732 workpeople affected). The mem- bers of the miners’ organisation refused to work with enginemen who did not belong to the miners’ organisa- tion. Result, the enginemen became enrolled. On the same date a dispute occurred near Nottingham '(1,147 workpeople affected), in consequence of colliery boys absenting themselves after pay-time on Friday. Work was resumed. At Rhondda, on April 21, the refusal of -employers to allow workmen’s examiners to make a general examination of the colliery on “ measuring day,” led to examinations being arranged so as not to .clash with measuring days. Wages.—In Northumberland hewers and other under- ground and surface workers (with exceptions) obtaine ' an increase, under sliding scale, of 12 per cent., making wages 90 per cent, above the 1879 standard. The increase affected 44,500 persons. The exceptions were mechanics, deputies, enginemen, and firemen, to whom advances were given in May. In the Radstock district, hewers, other underground workers, banksmen, enginemen, and stokers (total, 3,750) received an increase of 7| per cent., making 87J per cent, above the 1879 standard. Hewers, other underground workers, and banksmen (2.350) in the Bristol district obtained a similar advance. Tn Scotland hewers and other underground workers (03,000) obtained an increase of 61 per cent., making 125 per cent, above the 1888 standard. Surfacemen, mechanics, and boiler firemen (18,000) received an increase of Id. per shift. The increase to enginemen (3,000) was to 3d. per shift to winding enginemen, and of varying amounts Io others. Underground workers in shale mmes (4,900) in 'Scotland were granted an increase of 64 per cent, on the 1888 basis, winding enginem-°n and other surface workers (750) increases of Hd. to 3d. ner shift. Cleveland ironstone miners (8,000), increase of 10 per cent., making 60 per cent, above the (standard. Cumberland iron-ore miners (2,000), increase, under sliding scale, of 7d. per shift in the bargain price. Blast furnacemen (5,500) in Cleveland and Durham, increase, under sliding scale, of 7 per cent.; in West Cumberland (1,400), 9J>- per cent.; Derby and Notts (600), war bonus 3s. 6d. instead of 2s.; in North Safford shire (1,000), 13 per cent.; and in South Stafford- shire (1,000), 10 percent. In Manchester, Stockport, Warnington, etc., many of the engineering trades received an increase on piece nates of 24 per cent., and on time rates of Is. per week. Fatal Accidents.—Underground workers killed during April numbered 75 (115 in April last year), and 9 surface workers were killed (15 a year ago). Works open. Mills in operation. At Inc. (+)or At Inc. ( + )or Works. end dec. (—)ona end dec. (—) on a of (—-—*--------' of (----------A----- April Month Year April Month Tear 1916. ago. ago. 1916. ago. ago. Tinplate....... 74 ... - 1 ... + 5 ... 399 ... - 1 ... + 36 Steel sheet ... 12 ... — ... — ... 79 — 7 ... + 1 Total ..... 86 ... - 1 ... + 5 ... 478 ... - 8 ... + 37 Employment in the tin-plate trade was about the same as in Murch,. but showed an improvement on a year ago. Production at a number of works was cur- tailed owing to scarcity of raw materials, especially steel bars and sulphuric acid. At many works the pickling departments were not fully employed. The tinning departments also were not fully employed at some works, owing to the great demand for black (untinned) plates. Compared with a month ago, the shipments to the Netherlands showed an increase, but there were large decreases in the quantity sent to Australia, Norway, China and Japan, France, Italy, and the British East Indies. Compared with a year ago, there was a large increase to France, but marked decreases to Norway, China and Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, and the British East Indies. ________________________ COLLIERY COMMITTEES FOR ABSENTEEISM. The Scottish coal owners and miners have arranged to meet on Monday for the purpose of appointing joint committees to deal with absenteeism, and arrangements are in progress in other mining districts for joint meet- ings to devise machinery for dealing with the matter. It is stated that the plan most generally favoured is that adopted at the pits of the Wigan Coal and Iron Company and at other pits .in Lancashire. The method there consists of the appointment of a committee, con- sisting of an equal number of representatives appointed by the management of the colliery and by the trade union. The management present to this committee each fortnight a return of the number of shifts worked by each man employed at the colliery. The committee choose representatives to personally visit the workmen with the worst average attendance, and they impress upon the w’orkmen the duty at this crisis to work regu- larly and efficiently in the interests of the men at the front. There are, of course, no punitive powers, as is the case with munition workers who are neglectful under the Munitions Act; there is only the moral .suasion. The experience of this system at the pits of the Wigan Coal and Iron Company proves that, if properly worked, it can be made effective, as the average of absenteeism has been brought down from 12 to 7 per cent. In the South Wales coal field the average absenteeism is from 10 to 11 per cent. Yorkshire has also an equally bad record for irregular work, the absenteeism ranging up to 11 per cent. In Scotland the figures are more favourable, the average absenteeism ranging from 7 to 8 per cent., but the practice of a number of districts has been to work only five days per week. It is computed by the trade that 5 per cent, is the unavoidable absenteeism caused by sickness and minor accidents: so that an effective scheme should reduce the present absenteeism by one-half. c3 6 be b-f cS Inc. ( + ) or dec. (-) April March April in April 1916 on a 1916.. 1916. 1915. rMonth ce I 5^ ce C g Days. Days. Days. Days. To- Days. . 6,395... 5’35... 5’04 ..5’78... +0’31 . . - 0 43 Coking.........:................. 27,597...5’75...5’78...5’72...-0’03... + 0’03 Gas .......... 38,080...5’55...5’51...5’55...+0’04... — House ........... 59,077...5’69...5’68...5’64...+ 0’01... +0’05......... Steam ...............186,396...5’76...5’78...5’73... -0’02... +0’03 Mixed .............220,261...5’72...5’71...5'68... +0’01... +0’04 AH descriptions ...537,806...5’71...5’71...5’69... — ...+0’02 Compared with a month ago, employment showed a marked improvement at pits producing anthracite coal; at the other pits there was but little change. Com- pared with a year ago, there was some improvement at all pits except anthracite coal pits, which showed a considerable decline, and at gas coal pits, which showed no change. Iron and Shale Mining.—In the iron mines employ- ment was good, but shbwed a decline on a year ago in the Cleveland district. Shale mines remained busy. The tabulated return is appended. United States ... British East Indies France ........ Netherlands........ Russia.......... Norway ........ Portugal ....... Italy .......... China and Japan... Australia ....... Canada ......... Argentina ....... Other countries ... ago. ago. Tinned plates and tinned sheets. ____________________________________________ Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 45.. . 172... 98...- 127...- 53 2.522.. . 4,058... 4,517...- 1,536...- 1,995 8.391.. .11.149... 5,248...- 2,758... 4- 3,143 2,021... 697... 4,418...+ 1,324...- 2,397 101.. . 260... 97...- 159... + 4 1.105.. . 4,310... 6,342...- 3,205...- 5,237 1,060.. 815... 704... + 245...+ 356 388.. . 2,058... 234...- 1,670... + 154 1.123.. . 3,893... 4,696...- 2,770...- 3,573 413.. . 5,521... 3,832 - 5,108...- 3,419 43.. . 19... 453...+ 24...- 410 6... 609... 707 - 603...- 701 6.119.. . 5,921... 8,789... 4- 198...- 2,670 Total ......... 23,337...39,482...40,135...-16,145... -16,798 Black plates for tinning. Total ......... 15^379... 17,808... 5,222...- 2,429... +10,157 ______________________________ After many .months of experiment, it is stated, Messrs. J. A. and W. P. Heskett, of Melbourne, and Mr. S. E. Fraser, consulting engineer, of Auckland, have succeeded in perfecting their process for the extraction of pig iron from the Taranaki (N.Z.) ironsand. In the new process the crude ironsand is mixed with coal dust and put in coking ovens and retorts. It comes out like a cinder. The material is next placed in an ordinary blast furnace with a suitable flux, and, after the required temperature is reached, and there is^ a sufficient deposit of the molten iron at the bottom, the furnace is tapped, and the pig iron flows out into moulds.