January 19, 1917.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

137

advanced its price from 6J to 7 dols. per box, but cannot
promise any suyw1” for six months hence. Present dealings
are . at 7| to 8 dots. '

At the Aberdare County Court, a curious compensation
question was raised in respect of a sum of £80 paid . on
account of the death of a collier. Claim was put forward
by John Roberts and his wife, the deceased having been the
i'Legitimate child of the latter, and there was no question as
to these two being dependants of the deceased within the
meaning of the Act. The point raised was whether another
illegitimate child of the woman was entitled to share, and it
was stated that the Act provides that a parent.or grand-
parent is entitled to compensation, and also the child of an
illegitimate; but it was not clear whether collaterals, such ais
brother or sister, were included. The judge took, time to
consider his decision, meanwhile making an order for the
mother and her husband to receive 5s. per week.

The Anthracite. Miners’ Association, at Swansea on
Saturday discussed the question of unemployment, fearing
an increase owing to the . difficulty of securing ships. The
men’s agents stated that they: were working only an average
of four days per week at the present time, taking the district
as a whole. At Blaen-cae-Gurwen, half the men were idle;
at Gurnos, one - third ;'at two or three other collieries notices
were being worked out; and at Amman the men were on
day to day contracts. The collieries of Swansea district were
suffering more from want of tonnage than, those which
shipped from Cardiff or Newport. It was resolved that
Mr. J. D. Morgan,, the agent, with a deputation of work-
men, should ask for. an appointment with the Government
Committee regulating tonnage, so that the serious situation,
owing to stoppage of work in the anthracite collieries, might
be fully set out, and facts be given as to alleged preference
in respect of shipping given to other areas over Swansea.
.The meeting resolved also to make application to the execu-
tive council of the South Wales Federation, with a view to
obtaining financial aid to the men who are out of work.

The executive of the Cardiff Local Committee for the
Supply of Coal to France and Italy met on Thursday week,
and dealt with both the freight and tonnage questions, with
a view to securing a better supply of vessels for the export
trade. After full discussion, it was decided to send on
recommendations to the Board of Trade, and these have been
duly drafted and forwarded.

The difficulties surrounding the export of coal multiplied
with the new year to a-serious degree, and it'became obvious"
that some change must take place if the trade were to secure
release from the present hindrances. It is not a matter
only of lack of shinning, Or of limitations in price and rates
of freight, for, in addition to these, there comes the objection
to the new regulation compelling application to the Board of
Trade for permission to charter neutral tonnage. As soon
as the scheme for allocating tonnage had been in operation
for only a few days, it proved lo be unworkable.

About a • month back a meeting was held to consider the
existing conditions, and especially to deal with the situation
created by limitation of freight rates. It was decided at that
meeting that exporters who had chartered tonnage at higher
rates than those fixed in the limitation,.scheme should be
penalised; that from January 1 all tonnage that came into
port, and had been chartered at rates higher than the maxi-
mum, should be allocated to other shippers for use in the
French and Italian trade. As a consequence, strong objec-
tion arose, and much confusion. The matter went to the
Chairmen’s Committee in London, who discussed it' last
week, and fresh developments have since made the confusion
worse confounded. The root of the difficulty seems to be
that, whereas British vessels are compelled to work at limi-
tation rates, foreign craft have been able to earn much
higher rates of freight; and they also had greater freedom
in taking charters. Hence the idea of allocating tonnage..
The foreign owner is obliged to charge a higher rate of
freight because, as he is carrying contraband, his ship runs
special risk, and does not enjoy the advantage of that Govern-
ment' insurance which applies to British vessels alone. It
seems that the practice,, therefore,, of the foreign owner hate
been to insure the vessel at full value, and full value to-day
may be anything up to £30, or even £40 per ton; whereas
before the war steamers could be built at something like one-
fourth this figure. The suggestion that foreign craft should
be granted the benefit of Government insurance which now
applies to British vessels is impracticable, owing to inter-
national complications which might arise.

The feeling amongst British ship owners is that, the maxi-
mum rates of freight under the limitation scheme should be
increased, and thus attract neutral tonnage for the business
to which the limitation rates apply; in this way securing
relief for the collieries owing to the speedier shipment that
would be obtained. It has been suggested that 10s. per ton
should be added to the French port .rate—bringing this up
to 44s.; and that £1 should be added to the Mediterranean
rates—bringing Genoa up to £3 19s. 6d.; while time-charter
rates for vessels over 2,500 tons should be at 56s.

It is to be borne in mind that some owners who have
acquired their vessels at prevailing high prices .are a con-
tinual influence for maintaining freight rates at the highest
point, in order that they may get ,due return upon their
capital invested; and that-this applies to foreign speculators
no less than to British. The limitation scheme drove out
of the trade a free foreign tonnage, upon which the very
heavy insurance rates had to be borne1; and therefore char-
terers resorted to time-chartering.

It is essentially requisite to ensure for this market' the
largest possible amount of neutral tonnage, and any measure
of Departmental regulation which, in its ultimate effect,
drives the free neutral owner out of the ordinary course of
business, is to that extent detrimental to the coal trade, and
consequently to the national interest. It hais been alleged,
on behalf of the neutral owner, that to take on charters at
the Mediterranean rate would have left them at a loss of
15s. to 20s. per ton cargo. •

A later rumour circulating on the Exchange is that devo-
lution will be practised by the Board of Trade, special repre-
sentatives being appointed in South Wales to exercise imme-
diate control. ..As a matter of fact,.control does already exist
in respect of collieries, rah ways, ships, and docks; and there-
fore any scheme which can be devised to co-ordinate these
different spheres of operation, unifying the control in such a
way as to facilitate coal shipments, ensuring employment
to the men, as well as regular course of trade to the mer-
chants, will be welcomed.

The new regulation under the Defence of the Realm Act,
that permission has to be secured for the charter of foreign
vessels, came into operation as from January 12. It ordains
that no person shall, without permission from the Board of
Trade, charter-any ship of foreign nationality for the carriage
of goods exceeding 1,000 tons to and from any port in the

British Dominions or in the territory, of Allies; or for the
purchase of any goods exceeding £1,000 in valine from abroad
on terms which include freight as well as costs. This regu-
lation is understood to appiy to Allied tonnage as . well as
neutral, and the application to obtain. freedom to charter
rests with the owner or broker. Local committees will deal
with the matter, but the full detail of operation has not yet
been disclosed.

The idea that unremunerative collieries in South Wales
may be subsidised by the Government, in order to encourage
production and increase coal supplies, is gaining ground;
and certainly if statements made at some of the workmen’s
meetings are fully justified, the idea is likely to be welcomed.
It is not, .however, so much a matter of colliery profits as a
lack of shipping. For the greater part, all the idleness is
due to inability to secure shipment. Subsidising of unre-
munerative properties is quite a new suggestion, and if put
into practice would have to be watched with very nose
scrutiny. ’	’	■	'

The idea of more closely controlling wagons, so as to avert
the evil of “ stop wagons,” and the consequent loss of output
at the collieries, grows in favour day by day, and it is anti-
cipated that if the present difficulties continui, some direct
and. drastic scheme may be framed—especially as fml parti-
culars are readily available concerning the actual ownership
of. all colliery wagons now in use in the trade.

The provision of a better labour supply to ensure speedier
work .in. the docks, so that vessels may. be discharged and
loaded more expeditiously, has brought about the settlement
of a scheme which comes into operation -in Swansea on
February 1. Dock labour is to be made interchangeable,
and the proposals of the local port committee have secured
the approval of the Board of Trade. An office will be estab-
lished at the dock entrance, where the men will register their
names, and they will then be allocated to work as required.
The scheme has the support of the two labour unions to
which the bulk of the men. belong, and there wid be no diffi-
culty as to interchange between the separate classes. It is
anticipated that the scheme will result in the present supply
of labour proving sufficient, so that no necessity will arise
for introducing.men from outside, the scheme of registration
and adocation preventing that loss oif time which hitherto
has existed through men not being actually in,the position
where their services are needed.

The War Office has requested ■ Mr. Prosser, general
manager of the Rhymney Railway 'Company, to take up the
position of Deputy-Director of Military Train Movements
under Sir Sam Fay. It should be noted that in respect of
this local line, so important to the coal trade, Mr. Prosser
does not resign his position under the Rhymney Company,
but will take up his new duty only temporarily. Mr. Prosser
has passed through every grade of the service, and was for
several years deputy-manager under the late Mr. Cornelius
Lundie before he succeeded that gentleman ais general
manager. He is well known in the Parliamentary committee
rooms as /witness in the different matters relating to coal
trade interests that have from time to time come before
Parliamentary representatives.

Sergt.-Maj. Isaac Jones, mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s
despatch, was prior to the war an official at Ammanford
Oolliqry, and though past the age limit, he opened up a
recruiting office in Ammanford, and subsequently went on
active service.

A number of men who had been employed at the Cwmbran
Collieries were prosecuted at Pontypool on Saturday for
breach of contract through absenting themselves from work.
The cases had previously come before the court in October,
when an adjournment was granted so that Messrs.'Guest,
Keen, and Netti efoxds, the employers, might discuss the
matter with the workmen and reach a settlement. Unfor-
tunately, efforts to this end ■ failed ;. and Mr. Prosser, who
appeared for the employers on Saturday, said that when
they met the trade union agent, the latter put forward such
terms as the company could not possibly accept. The Board
of Trade, however, it was stated, had now put pressure upon
the parties, and the original claim of £200, which would
have amounted to £1 13s. per head from each man, had been
reduced 'to £50, but only £5 had been offered from the work-
men’s side. A consultation took place in court between the
legal representatives of both sides, and it was then announced
that, subject to the consent of the Bench, the whole of the
summonses would be wi th drawn, and a sum of money which
had been agreed upon would be paid. The chairman and
magistrates congratulated the parties, and gave permission
for the withdrawal of the summonses.

It may be noted that the American coal trade periodical,
the Black Diamond, in making reference to the leading men
in the colliery, industry of the United States, puts Lord
Rhondda on a level with, (the late Mr. J. P. Morgan as a
leader in that branch of American industry.

The more extreme section of the miners in South Wales
are antagonistic to the share which Labour representatives
are taking in the Government, and they are uniting with
sections of the Independent Labour Party in other parts of
the country to induce the Labour Conference in Manchester
to condemn the action of those who have joined the Ministry.
It will be remembered that the majority by which Parlia-
mentary representatives agreed to take part in the Govern-
ment was only a small one.

At the Eastern Valleys Association of Miners (Monmouth-
shire), Mr. John Martin, Abersychan, was elected to the
chair for the ensuing year, in succession to Mr. Wm.
Mortimer, Bxaenavon. The agent, Mr. James Winstone,
J.P., acting president of the South Wales Miners’ Federa-
tion, reported that he was giving attention to two important
matters, viz. : (1) The refusal of certain colliery proprietors
to give light employment to disabled .workmen on account
of the high rate of wages they would have to pay; and (2)
the desirability of having the compensation allowances paid
to disabled workmen increased, in view of the higher cost of
living. In his annual report, the secretary, Mr. Thomas
Langley, Pontnewynydd, stated; that during 1916 the mem-
bership had increased by 624, and there .was an actual credit
balance of £2,601 18s. 9d. Ten fatal accidents had occurred
in .the district during the year. There had been no serious
dispute, and the .out-of-work allowances paid (amounting to
less than £100) was due to falls and other minor causes of
stoppages. The report was adopted.

At the annual meeting of the Gwenallt Colliery lodge of
the South Wales Miners’ Federation, which was ’held at
Pontnewynydd, it was reported. that no fatal accident had
occurred at the colliery during the pasit year. Officers were
elected for the ensuing vear, Mr. Abraham Norman accept-
ing the presidency, and Mr. T. Langley the secretaryship.

Mr. N; Roberts Jones, district coroner, investigated on
Monday the circumstances attending a double fatality on
the. siding leading from'the Albion Colliery, Alb ion-road,

Pontypool, last week. The victims were Arthur Gilbert and
Wm. Dent.. The evidence showed that whilst two trucks
loaded with coal were being lowered down the siding leading
from the colliery screens, the brake on one. of them failed to
hold, and both trucks ran into other trucks, which they
“carried” away with them, and eventually collided with
two others, one of which was upset, and in its fall crushed
Gilbert and Dent against a high retaining wall. Gilbert
was killed on the spot, and Dent expired whilst being carried
home. A. plan of the scene of the accident showed, that the
siding dipped 1 in 40 from the direction of the screens. When
the trucks got on the move, they gained speed on account
of a defective brake, despite the efforts made to check them
with stick brakes. Tlie jury returned a verdict of “ Acci-
dental death,” and added a rider recommending the provi-
sion of stop-blocks • and catch points a few yards from the
screens, and a sUpp.y of sprags for use by the men whose
duty it was to lower trucks on the siding.

Northumberland and Durham.

Decline in Blyth Shipments—Retail Prices—A National
Service Appointment—Agreement Regarding Competi-
tion.

The Blyth Harbour Commissioners’ monthly statement
shows that during December the. export of coal from B^yth
totalled 205,499 tons, as. agaiinst 251,717 tons in December
1915...

During last year the Marsden lodge of the Durham Miners’
Association contributed £2,315 to various war and . other
funds. The amount included. £421 to the Aged Miners’
Homes, £454 to the Red Cross Society, and £930 to relatives
of workmen who have been killed or have died on military
service.	. •	'

On the ground that, the 'retail selling price of coal has not
materially altered since the subject wajg last debated in 1915,
the Trade and Commerce Committee of the Newcastle Cor-
poration has decided to take no action in support of the Hull
Corporation’s movement to approach the Board of Trade for
sanction for the establishment of municipal• coal depots at
which fuel may 'be sold at cost price to poor people. .

The first fatal accident that has occurred at the Delight
pit, Dipton, was the subject of an inquest at Newcastle-last
week, when the circumstances attending the death of John
Thos. Gairbutt, hewer, were enquired into. Whilst deceased
was working in the south flat of the Busty seam, a stone,
about 8 flt. 6 in. in length by 9 ft. across, weighing about
three tons, fell from a pot-hole, and fractured his spine.
The deputy expressed the opinion that the fall was caused
by the stone being worked by a small quantity of water
behind it. A verdict of “Accidental death ” was returned.

Mr. Johnstone Wallace, a wed-knoWn Newcastie' coal and
iron merchant, has'accepted the unpaid position of Deputy-
Director of the Trades Section of National Service, under
Mr. Neville Chamberlain and Sir John Hewitt. Mr.
Wallace^ has been Sheriff and Lord Mayor of Newcastle.

Pte. A. Y. Summers, formerly .putter at Bebside Colliery,
and Pte. R. G. Bloomfield, formerly assistant traffic manager
at the same colliery, both the sons of working miners there,
have been granted commissions, on the recommendation of
their commanding officers, for meritorious service in the
field.

Thos. Trotter, miner at Byers Green, was ordered by. the
i Bishop Auckland magistrates to pay the costs on. a charge of
caking explosives into the.mine otherwise than in a secure
case or canister. He' had had three cartridges in his waist-
coat pocket. For' the defence, it was pointed out that it
was hardly conceivabxe that a man of 35 years’ experience in
the mines "should so far forget himself as to commit such an
offence. Defendant’s explanation was that when he got into
the cage he had to stoop and the - cartridges dropped out of
the box through its being too full. He picked them up and
placed them in his waistcoat pocket because,' owing to his
cramped position,- and the fact that there were eight men in.
the cage, he could not get them back into the canister;

At a private meeting of coal exporters and ship brokers,
held at Newcastle Commercial Exchange on Saturday last,
we understand that an announcement was made with refer-
ence to the new regulations as to chaptering and export busi-
ness, and that the meeting-was officially informed that in
future no competition will be ahowed in the coal export trade.
No firm will be allowed to transact business which .it has
not been in the habit of transacting; in other words; business
must run along the lines of each firm’s established business
connections. In regard to the question of allocating tonnage
on time-charter, the meeting was informed that all boats
which were taken on time-charter prior to Friday, January 4,
will not be allocated. This decision will have little practical
effect, as it happens, because for some days before the date
mentioned the allocation of time-chartering boats had been
suspended.

At the ■ monthly meeting of the Tyne Improvement Com-
missioners, held at Newcastle, it was reported that during
December the coal and coke. shipments from the river had
been : Coal as cargo, 866,055'tons, a decrease of 99,871 tons
when compared with 1915, and of 660,513 tons when com-
pared with 1913; coal as bunkers, 109,910 tons, decreases
of 4,671 tons and 72,441 tons respectively; and coke, 60,185
tons, increases of 12,895' tons and 34,239 tons respectively.
The totals for 1916 are: Coal as cargo, 11,616,606 tons,
decreases of 700,581 tons and 6,167,254 tons respectively;
coal as bunkers, 1,340,715 tons, decreases of 90,365 tons and
867,695 tons; and coke, 854,064 tons, increases of 456,414
tons and 546,379 tons. The total quantities of coal and
coke shipped at the Commissioners’ docks and staiths during
December were 241,354 tons, making a total for 1916 of
3,115,752 tons.

Whilst John Wilson, 43, miner at West Thornley Colliery,
was working in a coal seam in which there was stone canch,
he agreed to fire the shot necessary in his own place and
that of his neighbour. He should have gone to a safe place
until the explosion was over, but evidently went to his own
place by mistake, and received serious injuries to his head and
face, from, which he succumbed on Sunday. It was stated
at the inquest that it was against the rule of the colliery for
one man to fire another’s shot. The cause of death was
stated to be meningitis, following a fracture of the skull and:
injury to the. brain. A verdict of. “Accidental death was;
returned, and the coroner suggested that the rule with regard!
to "shot-firing should be brought very prominently before-
every man in the pit.

The Seaham Harbour Dock Company has lodged a Bill in
. the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons,, for intro-
duction into Parliament next session, asking Parliament to
authorise an increase of the maximum rates payable to the
company by 50 per cent, in respect of ail vessels entering the
. harbour, and on coal, coke, and culm or stone coal shipped
or unshipped on any works of the company. The preamble
states that the expenses necessarily • incurred by the com-