January 5, 1917.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

35

plate Conciliation Board, it lias been decided that the supply
of raw material necessary for Government worfk shall be
increased. Another question raised has been as to the grant-
ing of compensation to men not working full time, and this
will be taken into consideration.

Mr. Tom Griffiths, Neath, who is the organiser of South
Wales and Monmouthshire steel smelters, has been adopted
by the executive of the North Monmouthshire Labour Party
as their prospective candidate at the next election, in opposi-'
tion to Mr. B. McKenna.

Northumberland and Durham.

Help for Aged Miners' Homes—Old-Age Pensions—Cost of .
Living—Faulty Weighing Machine.

Various colliery owners have contributed towards clearing
off the bank overdraft of the Durham Aged Mine Workers’
Homes Association, and the help is greatly appreciated.
The following subscriptions have been received :—Consett
Iron Company Limited, and the owners of Holmside and
South Moor Collieries Limited, £105 each; Bell Brothers
Limited, Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited,
Cochrane and Company Limited, Lambton and Hetton
Collieries Limited, Pease and Partners Limited, £100 each;
Londonderry Collieries Limited, £52 10s.; Horden Collieries
Limited, North Bitchburn Coal Company Limited,. Wear-
mouth Coal Company Limited, £50 each; Bearpark Coal and
Goke Company Limited, owners of Pelton Colliery Limited,
Sir B. Samuelson and Company Limited, Birtley Iron Com-
pany Limited, £25 each; Priest-man Collieries Limited,
Byhope Coal Company Limited, South Garesfield Colliery
Company Limited, Trimdon Coal Company Limited, Wash-
ington Coal Company Limited, £10 10s. each; Carlton Iron
Company Limited, Henry Stobart and Company Limited,
Summersans Limited, owners of Hamsteels Colliery Limited,
£10 each; owners -of Edmondsley Colliery Limited, £5 5s.;
W. C. Blackett, Esq., £5; Carterthorne Colliery Company
Limited and Harperley Collieries Company Limited, £3 3s.
each.—Notwithstanding the absence of many members on
military service, the Federated workmen at Byhope have
sent a cheque for £91, the same amount as has been sub-
scribed in previous years. A special contribution of £50
has been forwarded by the Hebburn miners’ lodge, and an
extra £10 from the Harton district scheme. We wonder
whether Mr. J. J. Brest’s reference to the absence of con-
tributions from the royalty owners—those who, as he says,
“ take the first and last bite from the colliery, yet do not
contribute to the war-worn veterans ”—has evoked any con-
tradiction in the shape of cash contributions?

Four large district committees in Durham county,
appointed in connection with the Durham Aged Mine
Workers’ Homes Association, have passed resolutions appeal- .
ing to the Government to grant 2s. 6d. extra per week to
all old-age .pensioners, without any restriction, so as to meet
the high cost of living, and to grant a State pension to every
eligible person on attaining the age of 70 years, any free
house, and fire coal not to be calculated as income. These
committees represent 40,000 members. In his January
circular, Mr. Wm. Straker, of the Northumberland Miners’
Association, remarks that, notwithstanding all the repre-
sentations made to the Government regarding the extreme
hardship now suffered by many old-age pensioners, scarcely
anything has been done.

Lanchester magistrates fined J. Minto, hewer at the
Ushaw Moor Colliery of Messrs. Pease and Partners Limited,
20s., with 5s. costs, for having . assaulted the .manager,
Thos. A. Stobart. It appeared .that Mr. Stobart, accom-
panied by the back overman, J. Trotter, had occasion to
visit defendant’s working place. Minto complained that he
had a bad caivil. Mr. Stobart replied that he did not see
very much the matter with the place, whereupon defendant
struck him on the left shoulder with the pick, the point of
which entered Mr. Stobart’s cheek.

When the Coanwood Coal Company was charged at Halt-
whistle with being in possession of an unjust weighing
machine, it was stated that the machine was found to be
1681b. against the purchaser. The Board of Trade allow-
ance for a 20-ton machine was 101b. For the defence, it
was stated that it had been held more than once that a
machine of that kind, which merely required adjustment,
was not an unjust machine within the meaning of the Act.
That particular machine was adjusted every time before being
used. 'The chairman said that, in view of previous decisions,
the case would be dismissed.

Mr. Wm. Straker’s January circular to the members of
the Northumberland Miners’ Association is mainly concerned
with social and political issues arising out of the war.
Beporting on a deputation of the Miners’ Federation execu-
tive to the Prime Minister on December 21, he says : “ We
assured him that, unless the cost of living went higher, we
had no desire for further increases in wages, and were willing
to assist the Government all we could in the national crisis.
At the same time, we could -nob agree to any reduction in
wages in consequence of the proposed control, so long as the
cost of living remained as high as it is. The Prime Minister
could say nothing about wages, as they had not had time
yet to fully -consider the question, but 'he thought that, by
Government action which was intended, the cost of living
might be reduced.”

Gapt. (temporary Maj.) T. G. Taylor, who has been
awarded the D.S.O., is a son of Aid. Thos. Taylor, chair-
man of the Northumberland Coal Owners’ Association.
Maj. Taylor is at present temporary lieut.-colonel of the
Gordon Highlanders.

The quarterly report of the auditors of the Northumberland
i Miners’ Association shows that out of 25,130 members, only
266 have sought exemotion from the payment of the political
. levy to the funds of the Labour Party. In the case of 69
collieries, no exemption has been sought. These collieries
include Ashington, with 1,446 members ; Burradon, with
825; Woodhorn, with 857; and North Wylam, with 603.
On the other hand, exemption has been claimed by 128
members out of 224 at EltringLam, by 70 out of 386 at
South Tyne, and by 47 out of 182 at Bomarsund. Three
exemptions have been claimed at Bedlington, seven at Beb-
side, four at Cowpen, one at New Delaval, four at New-
bigffin, and two at West Wylam. It is not without signi-
ficance that 200 out of the total of 266 exemptions are in
resnect of miners in the Hexham division, where orthodox
Liberalism is very strong.

At Durham Quarter Sessions on Wednesday, Geo. Hare,
lessee of a landsale colliery at Dyke Head, near Burnopfield,
annealed against the assessment of the colliery by the
Lanch-ester Assessment Committee at £800. Mr. Mundahl
stated, on Mr. Haire’s behalf, that there had been a. mis-

understanding, and that there was nothing to appeal about.
Although the figure annealed against was ,£800, which was
the only figure for which any demand had been made, the
Assessment Committee was willing to reduce it to £620.
It was agreed between colliery owners and the rating
authorities that payment should be made on a tonnage basis.
On that basis, £314 was the amount at which the colliery
should be assessed. Mr. Mitchell Innes, for the respondents,
stated that, the colliery being a new one, the output for the
first two months was low. From that date there had been
a, substantial and increasing output, and the rating authorities
took the view that it was not fair to the other ratepayers
that they should allow the colliery to bring into its calcula-
tions months during which the output was, practically, not
under way. The authorities regarded £600 as a fair assess-
ment. The court dismissed the appeal, with costs.

Yorkshire.

The Bradford Board of Guardians have appointed Messrs.
Joshua Smith, Bradford, to supply house coal for the next
six months. Messrs. Greenwood, Perkins ‘and Haley have
been asked to submit a recommendation in respect of engine
coal for the same period.

The North Bierley (Bradford) Guardians have accepted
the tender of Messrs. W. Bromwich and Company Limited,
of Halifax, to supply coal for three months.

Mr. H. Triffitt presided over the December meeting of
the coal merchants’ section of the Bradford Chamber of
Trade. Complaint was made of the holding up of trucks of
coal at railway stations short of those to which they, were
consigned, because of the inadequacy of the coal yards at
the latter places to provide sufficient accommodation for all
the trucks sent there, and of the attempt of the railway com-
panies, in such cases, to make demurrage charges on the
merchants. The latter were certainly not to blame for the
delay, and the charge was unjust. If the attempt were still
persisted in, merchants were advised to report to the
Chamber, so that action might be taken.-—In regard to the
recent application bv the Carters’ Union for advanced wages,
Mr. A. Fletcher reported that the award of the arbitrator
appointed by the Chief Industrial Commissioner’s Depart-
ment of the Board of Trade had effected a compromise, the
wages being now fixed at a minimum of 26s. per week, with
7s. war bonus."—After a lengthy discussion on the increased
cost of labour and of horses and feeding stuffs, and also the
cost of repairing wagons—the latter of which was stated to
be more than double the pre-war cost—it was decided that
the trade had no alternative than to advance carting Charges
fid. per load.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Extension at Little Hulton—Improving Partington Tips—
Lady Clerks—Nationalisation of Coal Mines.

The bulk of the collieries in the Manchester and Bolton
districts were closed down on Monday and Tuesday for the
New Yzear holidays.

A Bolton firm- are carrying out boring operations with a
view to opening out new mines and initiating other develop-
ments.

Messrs. E. Bennis and Company Limited are extending
their engineering works in Highfield-road, Little Hulton,
near Bolton.

Further improvements are to be carried out at the Part-
ington tips on the Ship Canal, with a view to facilitating the
handling of coal delivered there for bunker and export pur-
poses. Close upon 200 men and youths are now employed
at these tips.

A correspondent understands that further extensions of
plant are contemplated at Lord Ellesmere’s by-products
works at his Brackley Collieries, Middle Hulton, near
Bolton.

Bumours were current at the beginning of this week in
the Manchester district to the effect that certain local
co-operative societies intended discontinuing giving dividends
on coal purchases.

Owing to depletion of male clerical staffs for military ser-
vice, many more lady clerks are now being engaged by
colliery firms in South and South-East Lancashire.

At meetings of miners employed at Lord Ellesmere’s,
Messrs. A. Knowles and Sons’, and the Clifton and Kersley
Coal Company’s collieries in the Manchester district, reso-
lutions have been adopted protesting against the nationalisa-
tion of coal mines at the present time. The Lancashire and
Cheshire Miners’ Federation, which has a membership of
over 70,000, is backing up the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain in opposing the taking over of the coal mines at
the present juncture.

North Wales.

Mr. H. S. Higginbottom, of Gwastad Hall, Wrexham, and
the well-known Liverpool colliery owner, who at present has
large collieries in the Manchester and Bolton districts, has
purchased the whole of the interest in the large coal field in
the Coed Talon district. This includes the Tyddyn Lodge,
Coed Talon Collieries, and the other pits in the same area
near Mold. Mr. Higginbottom has in view large and exten-
sive developments of his new purchase, and also of the other
coal fields, by means of which several additional pits will
be opened out,, and coal winding commenced. Altogether,
the scheme is a verv bold and large one, as it includes the
unwatering of the whole area. The new coal fields cover an
area of 2,000 acres, and contain approximately about 50
million tons of coal.

Notts and Derbyshire.

The men employed at the Pilsley Colliery had an enforced
holiday on Saturday through an outbreak of fire at the
colliery lamp cabin. It is stated that the fire originated
underneath the cabin, but its cause is at present unknown.
A^out 700 lamps, two lamp cleaning machines, and other
material, was in the building at the time, and these were
all destroyed.

The Midlands.

Mine Drainage—Developments at Cannock Chase.

The monthly reports of the engineers to the South Staf-
fordshire Mines Drainage Commission, issued on Saturday,
show a rainfall during the last four weeks of 2*14 m. The
engineer for the Tip ton district (Mr. E. Howl) reports that
the pumping had been 11,483,700 gals, per 24 hours. The
Gospel Oak Mond gas-driven plant had been worked full

time to assist the Moat new engine, but it had been unneces-
sary to wTork the Moat old engine more than a few turns.
The water at the Tibbington bye-pit of the Empire Colliery
had risen about 2 ft. during the month. At the Bradley
engine the water had diminished to about 3J million gals,
per day, while at Deepfields the quantity of water was
decreasing, but was being dealt with by the new engine
alone. The Stowheath and Herberts Park engines had
worked full speed, and there was no change to report at the
Mond gas-driven plants. The underground level men had
been engaged in repairs to ventilation heading at the
Bradley engine, and in repairs to the level near No. 5 Lower
Bradley.—The surface drainage engineer (Mr. S. B. Priest)
reports that the clearing of Parkfield Brook jointly with the
Coseley Council had been continued. Boggy Arm course
was being raised on down stream side of Gospel Oak road
where swagged by mining. Clearing had been continued
on Church-lane, New England, Battlechain, and Butterfly*
courses, and joint work with. Brierley Hill Council on Bottle
House course had been continued. Further mining damage
on Shavers End course was being repaired. In the Old Hill
district, clearing had been done at the Mudhall, Netherton
and Cabbage Hall courses.—With regard to the Old Hill
district, Mr. W. B. Collis reports that the underground
water in the northern portion had slightly increased during
the month, but had been well kept down by the Windmill
End pumping engine. The underground levels were still
maintained in good order, while the Saltwells and Waterfall
Lane pounds stood at their usual level.

The Old Hill District Committee recommends that, in
accordance with the arbitrators’ award, a mines drainage
rate for the year to end January 1918 be assessed and levied
upon all occupiers of mines in the northern sub-district after
the rate of 3d. upon every ton of fireclay and limestone and
9d. upon every ton of ironstone, coal, slack, and other
minerals gotten during the year.

Colliery developments are taking place at several points in
the Black Country. One of the most interesting is at Con-
nock Chase, where the West Cannock Colliery Company have
successfully completed at a locality at Flednesford, known as
Brindley Heath, the sinking of a pair of new shafts 400 yds.
deep. The work, which has been in hand for nearly 2^
years past, has been carried out in the face of numerous
difficulties, and the underground workings are now being
driven out. The class of coal expected to be mined is good
household, and the completion of the sinking scheme reflects
credit upon Mr. J. Smithurst, the company’s general
manager. Prominent among the difficulties which have had
to be surmounted has been alike a shortage of labour and
materials arising from the exceptional conditions of the
country. Another Black Country development on the older
side of the district, nearer Dudley, is the re-opening of a
colliery at Shutt End, Pensnett, which has been water-
logged for nearly half a century. The property has been
leased by Messrs. H. S. Pitt and Company, who, at con-
siderable expense, have got the water down, and are now
early hoping to be able to win the minerals. The South
Staffordshire Mines Drainage Commissioners will benefit in
the matter of rate raising capacity from the Shutt End ven-
ture, but from the Commissioners’ standpoint it is unfortu-
nate that they have no authority over the collieries in the
Cannock Chase district, who do their own individual pump-
ing, and are not dependent upon Parliamentary schemes.
Thus the Commissioners will not draw any increased income
from the West Cannock Colliery Company’s extension.

Kent.

Up to last Saturday the deep sinking at Snowdown
Colliery, No. 2 pit, had been sunk to 2,800J ft., the amount
of sinking during the week being 6Jft., the holidays having
considerably interfered with the work.	.

The output of coal at .the Tiimanstone and Snowdown
collieries last week was rather below the normal, as a result
of the holidays.

Scotland.

Relinquishing a Seam—Shale Miners and Military—Colliery
Managers Organising.

Messrs. D. M. Stevenson and Company, coal exporters,
intimate that Mr. B. H. Mungall has ceased to be a partner
of the firm. The business will be carried on by the remain-
ing partners, Sir D. M. Stevenson, Bart., Mr. Allan M.
Wilson, and Mr. W. Lindsay Carlow.’

One of the colliery owners in the Airdrie district has shut
down a seam, which he alleges cannot be worked at a profit
under the maximum selling price scale established by Act
for home sale. The Miners’ Union have called the attention
of the Home Office to the matter, and a reply has been
received intimating that no action can be taken.

The position of shale miners and oil works employees of
military age in relation to the Army has now reached a
critical phase, and with the publication of the latest Order,
which debadges these men or withdraws their certificates of
exemption, an element of uncertainty arises. There was no
doubt heretofore about these men being in reserved occupa-
tions, but the position has now evidently changed. . Whilst
the Admiralty urge that all shale miners and oil workers
should be retained in their civil occupations, the Army
authorities, on the other hand, claim that no men engaged
in the occupation of miners’ drawers, and aged from 18 to
26 and over, should be withheld from the Army. A number
of cases from Linlithgowshire came before the appeal tribunal
held in Edinburgh, and the attitude taken up by that body
appeared to show that a distinction is drawn between men
appealed for by the employers and those making personal
appeals. In the cases in which Messrs. Jas'. Boss and Com-
pany, Philpstoun, were appellants, the court was favourable
to the appeals, which were in consonance with the latest
instructions issued to tribunals as to the exemption of shale
miners. Personal appeals, however, which were lodged by
men employed by the Pumpherston Oil Company, did not
meet a favourable reception, although backed by a miners’
agent. The Admiralty have urged the oil companies to
take steps to retain their men by appealing to local tribunals
for,their exemption, but the. personal appeal of a young shale
miner is not the same thing as an appeal by the employers.

The United Collieries Limited, Glasgow, have secured a
share of the Danish State Bailways contract for B'lackrigg
screened navigation steam coal.

For the year 1916 the shipments of Scotch coal aggregated
10,037,093 tons, representing a decrease of 1,363,071 tons as
compared with the year 1915. The three leading districts
may be summarised : Clyde, 5,767,953 tons; Fife, 2,644,819
tons; Forth, 1,624,321 tons. Glasgow heads the list of