136 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. January 19, 1917. MINING EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS. The Board of Trade Labour Gazette for January reports that employment in coal mining continued good during December, but showed a slight decline com- pared with a year ago. There was an increase of 2,632 (or 0’5 per cent.) in the number of workpeople employed compared with the previous month, and of 28,185 (or 5’4 per cent.) compared with a year ago. The highest average number of days worked was in North Wales (6’00 days), and the lowest average was in Northumberland (4’96 days). Average No. of days worked per week by the collieries in fort- night ended Districts. Work- people em- ployed in Dec. 1916* Inc. (i-) or dec. (—) in Dec. 1916, on a Dec. Nov. 16, 25, 1916. 1916. Days. Days. 44.685.. .4’96...5’05.. 85.764.. .5 28...5’35_______ 7,330...5’89 ..5’73...5’87. 64.491.. .5’75...5 83.;.5’86.. .5’79...5’65 ..+0’03... 1-0T7 .5’78...5’83...-0’08...-0’13 .5’81.. .5’82...-OTO. ..-0’11 .5’66. .5’41. ..-0’06... +0’19 .5’86...5’88...+0’05...+0.03 Df c. 18, 1915. . Days. .5’37... .5’56... Tinplate.—The number of mills working at the end of December showed a decrease of 34 compared with the previous month, and of 133 compared with December 1915. For the first three weeks in December the number of mills in operation was about equal to the number at the end of November, but at the end of December many of the mills had not started working after the Christmas holidays. Restriction of the supplies of steel bars and difficulties in obtaining sulphuric acid and nitre cake continued to be reported. Steel and Galvanised Sheets.—The number of mills working at the end of December was four less than at the end of November and 32 less than a year ago. Time was lost at the end of December on account of holidays. Tubes.—Employment with tube workers continued very good throughout the Midlands, and a scarcity of skilled men was reported. Wire.—Employment generally was good, and overtime was frequently reported. At Glasgow it continued fair. Disputes.—One new dispute, affecting 5,000 persons, occurred in the coal mining industry in December. This began in Blaina, on December 7, and ended by the timbermen’s demands for more pay being conceded. Work was resumed in Rhondda after a dispute lasting five days regarding the prosecution of certain men. Wages.—In South Wales and Monmouth under- ground and surface workers received an increase of 15 per cent, on basis rates, and male surface workers in Scotland received an increase of 8d. per shift to those earning over 3s 6d. per shift, and of 4d. per shift to those earning 3s. 6d. and under. Accidents.—In mines of all kinds 110 persons were killed (116 in the previous month and 109 a year ago). had the small converter process for the manufacture of . • steel castings had a greater development than in Belgium. There were, at' first glance, no obvious reasons why that should be so, but the fact remained, that before the war the Belgian foundries were able to import haematite from this country, convert it into steel castings, and under-sell the British foundries in their own markets, although the freight cost of the material both ways constituted a handicap of 30s. a ton. In 12 years, from 1900 to 1912, the manufacture of steel cast- ings in Belgium more than quadrupled itself, and as the result of careful study of the Belgian steel casting industry, by personal observation and’ enquiries in that country itself , he came to the following conclusions as regards the causes that led to its success :—The excel- lent organisation and equipment of the steel foundries; the suitability of the small converter for making small and medium weight castings, as shown by the fact that the output of steel castings in Belgium had quadrupled itself in the last 12 years; the advantage of no arti- ficial restraint of the production on the part of the tirade unions, i.e., 'the advantage of ’working piecework instead ’of day work; the fact that small converter castings required smaller easting heads and runners than with the open-hearth process; the castings required less . annealing; and, finally, that the Belgians had an abundance of cheap natural moulding sand, particularly suitable for the small converter process. Month ago. . Days. .—0’09.. .—0’07.. .+0’16.. . — 0’08.. England Wales. Northumberland ... Durham ......... Cumberland ............. South Yorkshire ... West Yorkshire... Lancs. & Cheshire... Derbyshire __........ Notts and Leicester Stafford shire ..... Warwick, Worcester and Salop....... G-lo’ster & Somerset North Wales __....... South Wales & Mon. 103,509... 5’38 . 5’58...5’84...-0’20. 25.482.. .5’82. 51.440.. .5’70.. 33.375.. .5’71.. 31,032...5’60.. 27,029...5’91. 8.398.. : 5*80.. 4.998.. .5.88., 8.996.. 6 00.. Year ago. Days ;-0’41 .—0’28 .+0’02 , -O il .5’86...5 84...-0 06...-0’04 ,.5’87...5’90...+0’01...—0’02 .5’90...5’90 4-0’10...+0’10 0’46 _______ Total.........496,529.. 5 52 . 5’61 . 5’72...-0’09 . -0’20 Scotland. West Scotland ____ 20,928 5’37...5 32...5T8...+0’05...+ 0T9 The Lothians ...... 2,569 5’65...5’45...5’49...+0’20...+0’16 Fife ............... 25,171 . 5’55...5’25...5’44...+ 0’30...+0’11 Total ...... 48,668...5’48.5’29...5’33... + 0’19... + 0’15 Ireland ............ 447.. 5’92 5’71...5’92... +0 21.. — ______________ DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANUFAC- TURE OF STEEL CASTINGS. _________________________________________ Notes from the Coal Fields. [Local Correspondence.] South Wales and Monmouthshire. Total, U.K_____ 45,644.5’52...5’58...5’68...—0’0 ...-0T6 * At the collieries included in the table. Compared with either a month ago or a year ago employment showed an improveihent in Cumberland, West Yorkshire, Staffordshire, North Wales and in Scotland, but a decline in Northumberland, Durham, South Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire, Derbyshire, .Warwick, Worcester and Shropshire, and in South Wales and Monmouth. In Leicestershire employment showed an increase in consequence of an improvement in the supply of railway wagons, and was better than a year ago. The other districts showed little change. Description of coal. Work- people em- ployed in Dec. 1916* Average No. of days worked per week by the pits in fortnight ended Inc. (+) or dec. ( —) in Dec. 1916 on a Dec. Nov. Dec. 16, 25, 18, 1916. 1916. 1915. __________ Month Year ago. ago. Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. Anthracite __.......... 4,950...4’67...4’89...5’53...-0'22...—0’86 Coking .:............ 25,818...5’69...5 75...5 79...-0 06...-OTO G-as................. 34,603...5’16...5'29..5’53...—0’13...—0’37 House.............................. 49,960..5’67...5’61 ...5’66... + 0’06... +0’01 Steam............ 193,411...5’45...5 57...5’72...-0’12...-0’27 Mixed............... 236,902...5’60...5’62...5’68...-0’02...-0’08 In the course of la paper on “ Some Notes on the Development of the Manufacture of Steel Castings,” read at a. meeting of the Manchester Association of Engineers on Saturday last,1 Mr. Ernest F. Lange said that, through the courtesy of. Mr. G. C. Lloyd, the supervisor of the statistical bureau of the Iron, Steel, and Allied Trades Federation, he was able to put before the members interesting and valuable statistics dealing with the subject of the paper. In the following table the statistics of steel production for the years 1913, 1914, and 1915 (as far as they were available) were grouped together, so as to show the total outputs of the British Empire, of our Allies, of the Central Powers, and of the United States. Roughly speaking, the enemy production was about equal to our own and our Allies combined. The production within the British Empire was increasing, and doubtless the, figures for 1916 would show a still further improvement in our position. The output of the United States was about equal to the rest of the world combined. The ad van-, tage which we possessed through our friendship and trade' with them was therefore very obvious. Summary of Steel Production. All descriptions... 515,644,..5’52...5’58...5’68...-0’06 . -0’16 * At the collieries included in the table. Compared with both a month ago and a year ago employment showed an improvement at pits producing house coal, but a decline at every other class of pit. The decline was was most marked at anthracite, gas and steam coal pits. Iron Mining.—At iron mines employment continued very good, and was better than both a month ago and a year ago. It was good at shale, tin and lead mines. Returns received for each of the three periods named below, relating to the same mines and open works in each case, show that 13,633 workpeople were employed in December 1916, an increase of 21 (or 0’2 per cent.) compared with November, and of 469 (or 3’6 per cent.) compared with a year ago. Work- people Districts. em- ployed _____________ ___________ in Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec. M Ypar 1916. 16, 25, 18, lvJ-ontn Iear 1916. 1916. 19)5. ag0’ ag0’ Days. Days. Days. Days. Days. 1913. 1914. 1915. Tons. Tons. Tons. United Kingdom........ 7,663,876 ... 7,835,113 ... 8/50,015 Canada ................ 1,042,503 ... 6'4,447 ... 911,013 India.................................... — ... 66,603 ... 103,474 Australia _____________ — ... 24,420 ... 99,000 Total............. 8,706,379 ... 8,620,583 ... 9,663,502 Belgium ................ .. 2,466,630 ... 1,200,000*... — France........................................ 4,635.166 ... — ... — Italy ....................................... 933/00 ... 911,000 ... — Russia .. . ............... 4,837,000 ... 4,732/00 ... 4,018,000 Total............. 12,872,296 ... 5,643.000 ... 4,018,000 Combined totals.. 21,578,675 ...15,463,583 ...13,681,502 United States ...................... 32,321,618 ...24,206,276 ...32,871,036 Germany______............... 18,958,819 ...14,973,106 ...13,258,054 Austria-Hungary_______ 2,625,879 ... 2,160,239 ... 2,674,197 Average No. of days worked per week by mines in fortnight ended Inc. (+) or dec. (—) in Dec. 1916 on a Total_____________ 21,584,698 ...17,133 345 ...15,932,251 * Estimate for first half of 1914. Cleveland........... 5,917 ...5’83...5’62...5’40...+0’21... + 0’43 Cumberland and Lancashire ...... 4,775 ...5’92...5 92...5’80... — ...+0 12 Scotland _____................ 784 ...5’34...5’37...6’00...-0’03...-0’66 Other districts ......... 2,157 ...5’74.. 5’97...5’82...—0’23...—0’08 All districts...... 13,633 ...5’8£..5‘77...5’64... +0’05... +0T8 Mr. Lloyd informed him that the only countries which specified the steel from which the castings were produced were Germany and the United States. In the case of the United Kingdom, only the production of electric steel castings was shown separately, the other figures including both Bessemer and open-hearth steel cast- ings. The production of electric steel castings for 1916 would show a big increase, but no regular returns of steel castings from the United Kingdom had been collected before 1915. Details of recent statistics of the output of steel castings in the United States, classified according to the process of manufacture, were given in the following table :— Pig Iron.—Employment continued good, and was better than a year ago. Output was restricted at a considerable number of works by a shortage of iron ore, limestone and fuel, partly due to difficulties of transport. There was a continued scarcity of labour in many districts. Returns received show that 289 furnaces were in blast at the end of both December and November 1916, compared with 261 in December 1915. During .the month five furnaces were relit, two in Cleveland and one each in South Yorkshire, Lanark- shire and Ayrshire respectively. Five were damped down, one in Monmouthshire, and four (for cleaning and repairs) in Lanarkshire. No furnaces were blown out during the month. Iron and Steel Works.—Employment at iron and steel works continued very good, and was better than a year ago. Complaints of shortage of labour were again general in all districts and in all departments. Production of Steel Castings in the United States. Open-hearth basic __________ „ „ acid........... Total open-hearth castings Bessemer.................. Crucible ____ ____________.. Electric __..............___ Miscellaneous ............ 1913. 1914. 1915. Long Long Long tons. tons. tons 460,161 ... 334.144 ... 333,103 450,055 ... 270,173 ... 402,229 910,216 ... 604,317 ... 735,332 8",506 ... 65,882 ... 92,476 17,571 ... 11,186 ... 14,756 9,207 ... 8,551 ..; 23,064 3,244 ... 3,310 ... 1,196 Total steel castings....... 1,020,744 ... 693,246 ... 866,824 From other figures in the supervisor’s report, it would appear that the German-Austrian-Hungarian produc- tion of steel castings for 1915 was about equal to the United States production, and about double that of the Allied Powers of that year. In the course of an his- torical review, Mr. Lange remarked that in no country Bombshell for Investors—Shipping Difficulties : Nezo Regu- lations—Collieries Stopped Through Lack of Tonnage— Workmen to Approach Government—Suggested Subsidy for Unremuneralive Collieries. The remarkable order affecting colliery undertakings issued by the Board of Trade caused great discussion on ’Changeon Wednesday, its far-reaching effects being quickly recognised. The order is that no dividend shall be paid on profits distri- buted, no loan capital or short-term loans be repaid, without consent of the Department. Seeing that account® are being made up for 1916, and that decisions as to dividends are awaited with peculiar interest, no small measure of unrest exists; and one question asked is—Does this foreshadow limitation of dividends? Already, Departmental limit to prices of coal and rates of freight threatens to kill the goose that laid golden eggs for the excess profits tax; and the issue just at this moment of so extraordinary an order might have been designed to hinder investment in the War Loan. On the one hand, the owner of capital is urged to anticipate his income by borrowing from his banker for such investment; but now comes this bombshell, shattering his anticipation of income. It can hardly be -expected that bankers, though they retain the Wair Loan scrip as security, will afford the facilities that would have been available if the normax ability of the customer to save up -and repay them had remained unimpaired. Everything, of course, depends- upon the phrase “without consent of the Department,’’ and it would be well if immediate. interpretation of this were forth- coming. Should the order be directed only against large bonusesj or exceptionally heavy dividends, no intention existing to interfere with dividends that approximate to normal rates, the fact cannot be tco promptly announced. The condition of business has become very difficult owing to the lack bf vessels and the new regulations, also the fear that fresh instructions are likely to be issued which will still further complicate matters. Although the local com- mittee has between 200 and 300 applications for tonnage under the allocation scheme, it has been found impracticable to carry through business on anything like the scale which is necessary, and it is earnestly hoped that, this state of things will be promptly remedied. Otherwise, the position in regard to the collieries will become very unsatisfactory. Swansea’s record for 1916 in respect of iron- and steel has some very interesting features. Exports of steel bars, etc., increased by 128,000 tons, chiefly to France; and pig iron exports, were greater by 306^,000 tons, France again being the principal purchaser—indeed, the French total was 407,000 tons hiffher, other countries showing decrease. Iron ore imports were heavier by over 700,000 tons, but the import of steel blooms, bikets, and slabs decreased by 281,000 tons, the falling-off being in respect of American supplies. Mr. M. Falcon, chief colliery manager, distributed the prizes on Tuesday to the successful students of the Ebbw Va.e Institute, and, in the course of his speech, dwelt upon the value and need of training for efficient work, referring a.so to the requirement of better housing accommodation for wage earners. Mr. F. Mixls, managing director of the Ebbw Vale undertaking, presided, and stated that the insti- tute had a better laboratory than the technical college of South Wales and Monmouthshire. He eulogised Mr.-Falcon on account of his achievement in bringing the company’s collieries to the level of the foremost fin the district. The company’s gold medal has been won by Mr. Raymond Watkins, clerk in the offices. At the annual meeting of the Park Slip Colliery Explosion Relief Fund, to be held on January-25, a statement of the committee to be presented shows that there are now 29 benefi- ciaries receiving help. Out of total receipts for the year of £612, a sum of £244 was paid out for relief during the year. The officials and staff of Powell’s Tillery undertaking made a presentation of a silver tea and coffee service on Saturday to Mr. W. Jones, who had been 19 years at Aber- tillery, and now goes to Ebbw Vale as chief accountant. A switchboard attendant, 18 years of age, was summoned at Tredegar for b ein or asleep whilst in change of the board; and the evidence of the under-manager was that he tried to ring up defendant, but, failing to get a reply for 10 minutes, he went to the switch room, and saw defendant lying on his back on a bench asleep. Defendant denied on oath having been asleep., and the summons was dismissed because the Bench considered there was a doubt in the case. - It is, stated that, as a result of representations made by a deoutation-of tin-platers to the authorities, 48 per cent, of the normal supply of steed will in future be obtained by the tin-plate works. Hitherto, the allocation has been about 35 per cent., and there was uneasiness as to the probability of even.this being reduced. It should be noted, as showing the position of the tin-plate trade, that the American Trust has