242

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

February 2, 1917.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Pooling the Wagons of Private Owners ‘. Serious Effect Upon
Colliery Working : Meeting of Railway Managers—
Swansea's New College—Serious Position of the Miners'
Permanent Provident Fund—“ Combing Out " Colliery
Workers: Action by Coal Owners' Association and by
Miners' Federation—Mr. Hugh Bramwell on Colliery
Equipment.

A meeting took place, in Cardiff on Friday of last week,
representatives attending from the management of the
different railways serving South Wales. The proceedings
were strictly private; but it is understood that • the main
subject discussed was the pooling of privately-owned wagons.
The idea of pooling privately-owned wagons—especially those
of the colliery companies—is generally deprecated by those
who will be affected, it being argued that nd pooling arrange-
ment could be operated as successfully for each colliery as
the manager of the colliery operates .his own ‘trucks. Cer-
tainly an outside, authority, it is contended, could not deal
with the work even so effectively a.s a committee of wagon
owners ; and the suggestion, is. that just as the Railway
Executive Committee operates the pooling of railway-owned
rolling stock, so, if any pooling of private wagons be neces-
sary, it should be arranged and -carried out by'a. committee of
the owners themselves. On the one hand, of course, the
pooling wTould minimise the work of the railway companies;
and it is a fact that some difficulty is already experienced in
handling the traffic, owing to the need of running the trucks
separately to each particular colliery. The idea in the pool-
ing suggestion is, of course, to save shunting and empty
haulage; but there is a vast, difference between a scheme of
this sort applied to general traffic on a long line of railway,
and the circumstances of South Wales, where the run to port
is short, and almost the whole of the traffic is of one descrip-
tion. The South Wales railways are generally recognised
to be mineral lines first, and only afterwards to be general
traffic lines. At present, the huge lettering on the wagons,
and the fact that they usually come in full trains from the
collieries, and are similarly returned, really expedites sorting
and transport ; but if all these wagons are to be dealt with
by label, there is certainly risk of confusion in shipments,
smoky coal being delivered for transport to a. war ship, and
confusion created in other respects. Then, again, there is a
difficulty as to colliery equipment. Certain collieries cam put
only 10-ton trucks under the screens, and at some, of the
older tips in the docks no truck of a larger size than these
can be handled. The colliery office is aWare of all these
facts, and others that might be mentioned; and the traffic is
regulated accordingly. It is very questionable whether under
a pooling arrangement, which simply deals with a. truck qua
truck, would really bring about any increase of shipping
facilities. Of a surety, before decision is arrived at, the
matter should be very carefully considered, and no hasty
change should be made.

A proposal has been made at the sitting of the. .South-West
Wales munition tribunal for the pooling of labour in the tin-
plate works—this being due to the effect of irregularity in
the supply of steel required in tin-plate manufacture. An
employee appeared before the tribunal seeking a. leaving certi-
ficate because, he was working only three days a week. The
chairman of the tribunal referred to the fact that men from
tin-plate works were asking for leaving certificates on the
ground of irregular employment, and he suggested that the
employers’ association should consider a scheme whereby all
available labour might be pooled, so that when one works,
with a full supply of material, had a scarcity of labour, men
not in full employ elsewhere could be transferred. He con-
sidered it. obviously unfair to keep men working only a few
days a. week, earning only small money, and to. prevent them
from taking employment elsewhere to the. national benefit.

A case came before the Newport County Court, wherein the.
parents of a boy, 16 years of age, claimed from the Bed was
Colliery Company compensation for his death, he having met
with an accident whilst working as 'a collier’s helper. The
mother stated that the deceased gave her on an average Hl a
week, and that she had on one or two occasions received as
much as Hl 6s. 9d. from him; and she estimated that, after
allowing for his keep,'she gained 10s. a. week from his earn-
ings. An award of H45 was made.

The Right Hon. Donald Maclean, Deputy-Chairman of the
House of Commons, who is head of a firm• of • solicitors in
Cardiff, and acts as legal adviser to the South Wales
Freighters’ Association, has been appointed president of the
Cardiff Law Society for the forthcoming year.

Mr. Charles Bowen, assistant superintendent of the Cardiff
division of the Great Western Railway, who being stationed
at Bridgend has had chief responsibility for the heavy coal
traffic from the Llynvi, Garw, and Ogmore valleys, etc., has
been appointed superintendent of shipping and railway trans-
port to colonial imports—the appointment having been made
by the Director of Army Contracts on behalf of the War
Office. Mr. Bowen entered upon his new duties in London
yesterday (February 1).

A notice was issued to Cardiff coal exporters last week that
neutral ships up to 1,000 tons may be time-chartered at a
rate not exceeding 49s. 6d. per ton, d.w.; insurance above
1 per cent, is to be for charterer’s account, and the valuation
for war insurance is to be the lowest possible—not exceeding
£35 per ton. In the opinion of exporters, this increase—
which is 7s. to 8s. per ton higher than the maximum fixed
last summer—is not sufficient to attract the desired neutral
tonnage. ■

The Cardiff and Bristol Channel Pitwood Importers’ Asso-
ciation passed a resolution that on and after, February 1 all
sales of pit wood should be subject to payment by net cash
at 14 days after date of delivery. Previously the term was
30 days, and the decision now announced brings the practice
into consonance with that of the coal trade.

The Swansea Technical College ha.s been inspected by a
deputation from Llanellv—it being desired that the latter
town should join with Swansea to get the college recognised
as a constituent of the Welsh University for degrees in
applied science. It is intended to extend the college at a
cost of H35,000, and in the new structure to place chemical,
metallurgical, mining, and other departments. Dr. Varley,
the principal, explained the intentions of the promoters,
stating that they had an 'engineering department equal to
Cardiff, and that, they had everything that Sheffield.possesses,
and intended to specialise in regard to steel, tin-plate, and
copper. The idea at Llanelly is to specialise in the tech-
nical school of that town in metallurgy and mining, and then
Send on. the students to Swansea for completion of their
studies.

Nine, workmen were summoned by the income-tax collector
at Newport for failing to pay quarterly instalments, and the
clerk of the court, addressing a. coal trimmer, 20 years of
age, pointed out that that man. owed £5 5s. 9d. for one
quarter* adding, “ You must have earned good money to. be
liable for that amount in one. quarter.” One of the magis-
trates said, “I know something about what, coal trimmers
have been earning lately. It would stagger some people if
they knew.”

At; Bl-aina last week,. 59 miners were summoned for absent-
ing themselves from work, and damages were claimed against
them. Their solicitor applied for an adjournment on the
ground that he had been instructed only the previous night—
there having been anticipation that an amicable arrange-
ment would be -arrived -at; but Mr. Kenshole, who appeared
for the prosecution, opposed the application, stating that the
summonses were served six weeks ago. It was a very serious
matter, particularly at the present time, when coal was so
urgently required. There was no dispute with these men,
buf they had come out in sympathy with men at a neigh-
bouring colliery. There bad been no fewer than 46 stop-
pages at the Griffin Collierieis during the year. The hear-
ing was adjourned for a month.

The new deputy director of docks and engineering depart-
ments on the French coast is Mr. J. D. Couper, hitherto engi-
neer on Newport docks. He will hold the rank of lieutenant-
colonel in the Royal Engineers. Mr. Couper went to New-
port originally as resident engineer for Sir John Wolfe Barry
and Partners, who were engineers for the dock extensions.

Lord Rhondda, chief of the Cambrian Combine, addressing
a deputation from the municipal authorities and the medical
profession who waited upon him as President of the Local
Government. Board, said it was his great ambition to make,
that office the great health department of the country.

At the annual meeting of the Park Slip Explosion Relief
Fund Committee,’held in Bridgend, it was stated that the
investments of the fund were now scarcely more than 60 per
cent, of their original value; and the chairman drew atten-
tion to a motion which appeared on the. agenda, “ to pay the
income of the ascertained surplus' of H3,000 to the Miners’
Permanent Relief Fund.” This is an ordinary item which
has appeared among the agenda, for many years past, but
the chairman now pointed out that, instead of having an
actuarial surplus of H3,000, the whole of the investments of
the. fund were valued at only H3,869, and there were still
29 dependants. He thought it would be well, on this occa-
sion, to pay the income of H3,000 for the next six months to
the Permanent Fund, and that, in the meanwhile, the finan-
cial and legal position should be investigated by a sub-com-
mittee. Another speaker stated that owing to depression of
stocks the Miners’ Permanent Provident Fund had lost over
H40,000, and that the question of considerably reducing the
allowances to the dependants was under consideration, and
he therefore, hoped the Park Slip Committee would do their
best to help the Permanent Fund, which was really in a
desperate state. A sub-committee was appointed to ascer-
tain the actuarial position of the Park Slip Fund, and
whether the committee had the right to reduce the payment
to the Miners’ Permanent Provident Fund. The usual pay-
ment of the income on an actuarial surplus will be paid for
the next six months to the Permanent Fund.

The decision of the Government in recruiting more men
from the collieries has aroused much uneasiness in the coal
field, and both, employers and workmen have decided to
approach the Department through their separate organisa-
tions, in order to present their views. Although it may be
a fact, as is urged from the side of the military authorities,
that the man-power of the coal field is at present, equal to an
output of more coal than can ait present be shipped (owing to
lack of tonnage), it. by no means follows that the coal field is
really over-manned. Without a doubt, more coal is wanted;
and whatever be the inability of shipment, or any other tem-
porary hindrance to distribution, it remains a fact that the
removal of men from the mines interferes seriously with the
industry, whatever substitution of other labour may be
arranged for, as is intended. Originally, the recruiting of
men from the coal field was stopped because the output was
insufficient; and there has even been the project of return-
ing men from the Army in order that the mines might be
more effectively worked. It was stated that arrangements
are being made, to facilitate the supply of substitutes for the
surface, workers who will be called up.

The following telegrams passed between Mr. Finlay Gibson
and the Home Office last week :—

The association are informed that there will be a medical
examination of certain men employed at the collieries com-
mencing on Thursday next. The necessary arrangements
cannot be made in the meantime, and if this proposal is
insisted on it will have the effect of stopping the collieries.
The arrangement to be adopted in regard to obtaining
further men for the Army from the collieries should be
considered between the Home Office and ’ the colliery
owners; otherwise a. large number of collieries may be
stopped through not ha.ving sufficient labour. The coal
owners suggest that there should be an immediate confer-
ence in London between the Home Office, War Office, and
a committee of South Wales colliery managers to discuss
the question in detail.—Finlay Gibson, secretary, South
Wales Coal Owners’ Association, Cardiff.

The Home Office replied :—

Your telegram received. It is of the greatest importance
that the recruits required for the Army should be obtained
without delay, and we regret arrangements already settled
cannot be postponed. The Government relies on the
owners to, facilitate to the utmost of their power the
measures it has been necessary to adopt. The number
now to be obtained from South Wales and Monmouth-
shire. will not exceed 6,000.—Under-Secretary, Home Office.
A meeting of the coal owners’ representatives was held on
Saturday, when it was decided to press for the desired inter-
view suggested in their telegram.

Also, the executive council of the Federation met on
Saturday, and the matter was discussed by them. The
changed policy which the military have adopted, leading to
revocation of the exemption certificates of certain classes of
men at the mines, was considered to be a. serious departure
from the understanding arrived -at between the late Home
Secretary and the. Miners’ Federation in regard to colliery
workers generally; and it was therefore decided to communi-
cate with the present Home Secretary and with the Miners’
Federation of Great Britain on the subject. The opinion of
the executive council was that before any such change in the
system was brought-about, details should first have been
agreed upon by the miners’ representatives. The council
point out that any workmen whose certificate- has been
revoked under this combing-out process has still the right to
appeal to the local tribunal for exemption on general grounds,
and they urge all workmen affected at once to communicate

with the miners’ agent in reference to application being imme-
diately made to their tribunal for leave to. appeal.

Mr. T. Richards, M.P., secretary of the Miners’ Federa-
tion, interviewed when the notice was first issued, stated
that there would be objection on the part of the Federation
to discrimination made with regard to surface workmen, and
there would be difficulty on the absenteeism question as to
what is avoidable and what unavoidable.

The travelling medical board visited the Maritime Colliery
of the Great Western Company on Friday of last week, and
dealt with about 90-men. Dr. Atkinson (H.M. inspector
of mines), with Col. Pearson (H.M. inspector) and Mr.
Vernon Hartshorn (miners’ leader) were present on behalf of
the colliery tribunal; and the colliery company was repre-
sented by Mr. J. W. Davies.—At the Great' Western Colliery,
later in the day, about 150 men were examined; and it is
understood that a good percentage of the whole body were
passed for general service.—The board attended- at the
Glamorgan Colliery offices, and dealt with about 120 men,
most of whom were placed in the higher class. From about
an equal number of men who had been examined at the
Lewis Merthyr Collieries, Trehafod, no fewer than 50 were
placed in Class A.

The examinations have revealed the class of men. who have
entered the mines since war broke out. Quite a large number
of professional men have been discovered, with, of course,
many clerks and shopmen. One man had been a bank
cashier. A large proportion of the men are of good physique,
and at one colliery 60 per cent, were Class A.

Mr. Finlay Gibson, secretary of the. Coal Owners’ Asso-.
ciation, issued a statement with regard to the new procedure
in calling up more miners for military service. This points
out that the coal owners do not wish to interfere with such
military measures as the Government may consider neces-
sary in the national interest; but, on the contrary, they are
ready to place .at the disposal of the Government any service
of which their organisation and their local mining experi-
ence are capable. But they view with apprehension the
enforcement of arrangements made by the military and Home
Office authorities, without any consultation with those to
whom the State looks for maintaining the coal production of
the country. Mr. Gibson then recites the action which had
been taken by the Coal Owners’ Association in telegraphing
to the Home Office -and suggesting a committee of managers
to discuss the detail, and also the reply that arrangements
were already settled. He adds that the coal owners are pre-
pared to give the fullest response to. the -appeal; that they
will facilitate to the utmost of their power the. measures that
have been adopted to obtain more recruits; but that they are'
convinced that the only method by which they can give imme-
diate and effective assistance Jis 'along those lines which their
practical knowledge and the. varying degrees of labour indis-
pensability enables them to suggest to the military authori-
ties. “No uniform steps,” he states, “ in the matter of
recruiting are practicable. The proportions of men to be
withdrawn, and the. classes from which the recruits may
safely be called up, must differ at practically every colliery,
and the surest way of settling these important details, on
which depend the continued working of collieries in the most
vital of the coal fields of the country, is by consultation and
agreement with the colliery managers.”

In London, on Tuesday, -a deputation from the South
Wales Federation had an interview with officials from the.
Home Office, and a.s a result, the actual calling up of men
has been suspended, but the work of the travelling medical
boards will be continued. Mr. Winstone, president of the
Federation, was accompanied by the Right Hon. W.
Abraham, M.P. (“ Mabon ”), Messrs. Vernon Hartshorn and
George Parker, and they pointed out to the Home Secretary
that they considered the. sending of the travelling medical
boards into South Wales to. be a breach of. the understand-
ing between the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain and the
Home Office; and that if any alteration h-ad become neces-
sary, it should not have taken place without first consulting
the representatives of the Miners’ Federation of Grea.t
Britain. They mentioned to the Home Secretary the case of
men who had been employed in'the mines for long periods
prior to the war, but were now working on the surface, who
had had their exemption certificates cancelled; some .of them
physically unable to. work underground, but who had been
given, light work on the surface, being included in that
number.

The report of this deputation was presented on Wednesday
to the executive council of the South Wales Federation, and
further consideration was, deferred till Monday, in expecta-
tion that by that time arrangements will have been made
which are more satisfactory to the workmen.

A section of the coal owners of South Wales will be
organised into a new association for the acquisition of home-
grown. timber, now so badly required for pitwood. Owing to
the lack of shipping, the supplies have fallen seriously; and
prices have risen, until, at the present time, the quotation is
not far short of three times what prevailed at an earlier date.
A circular has been issued by Mr. Gibson, secretary of the
Coal Owners’ Association, which states that a committee of
coal owners have had the question of home-grown timber
under consideration, ‘‘ especially in view of circular letters
issued by the Home Office lately, calling attention to the
gravity of the situation which will arise unless provision is
now made for future supplies; and this committee has decided
that the best way of dealing with the matter will be to form
an association for the purchase in bulk (either through the
Home Office, Home-Grown Timber Association, or other-
wise), and this association will regulate the distribution to
its members. The intention is to prevent undue competition
amongst coal owners when buying timber; and the organisa-
tion, it is expected, will assist in regulating prices, and will
also deal with the question of railway freights for carrying
the timber. The committee are of opinion that this question
of future supplies is an important one for all colliery owners,
requiring very serious consideration, ‘ and there is the further
fact that prices have been steadily rising, and are likely to
continue to rise,’ whilst such an association as is suggested
might be the means of procuring supplies at a. fair price. The
different colliery proprietors are therefore invited to join the
proposed association, and to furnish particulars of the
-amounts and sizes of pitwood that would be required. A
meeting of those who determine to join the -association will
be held in Cardiff on February 8, to appoint a committee
for carrying out details.” With the circular which Mr.
Gibson issues is a copy of an undertaking to join the asso-
ciation. . At an early stage of the war, the supply of pit-wood
to Admiralty collieries was -arranged by an organisation
specially formed, and thus far this organisation (in
which Messrs. Lysberg. Limited and Messrs. T. P. Thomas
and Company take prominent part) has been successful in
maintaining supplies. The new association will, of course,
.act independently, -and it indicates a. notable departure from