February 16, 1917.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

345

4 to things falling from part way down, and 16 to
miscellaneous causes.

The deaths occurring from miscellaneous causes
underground may be divided as follow :—By explosives,
22 ; suffocation by natural gases, 6 ; underground fires,
3; irruptions of water, 9; haulage ropes or chains
breaking, 6 ; run over or crushed by trams or tubs, 224;
other haulage accidents, 36 ; electricity, 4; machinery,
16; sundries, 63.

Of the deaths on the surface 28 were caused by
machinery, 69 by accidents on railways, sidings or
tramways, 5 by electricity, and 47 by miscellaneous
accidents.

Under the Metalliferous Mines Act.—The following is a
summary of the accidents and deaths under this Act:—

Separate
fatal Deaths,
accidents.
Explosions of firedamp ......... nil	  nil

Falls of ground ................. 12	  13

Shaft accidents .................. 1	  1

Miscellaneous underground ......	5	...	5

On surface ....................... 4	  4

Total, 1916............ '	22	.... 23

Total, 1915............... 19	.... 21

One fatality was due to explosives. Total nuipber of
deaths in the Northern division 12, in the Midland and
Southern 9, in Scotland 1, and in Lancashire and North
Wales 1.

GERMAN PATENTS FOR EXTRACTING COAL
PRODUCTS.

In our issue of November 10 last we reported an application
in the Patents Court, under the Temporary Rules Act, 1914,
by Messrs. Bagley, Mills and Company Limited, of London,
for licence from the Board of Trade to manufacture coke
ovens under five of the patents of Carl Still Germane .

In the Patents Court yesterday it was announced that
the Board of Trade had decided to give Messrs. Bagley,
Mills and Co. a licence to manufacture under these patents.
The applicants further applied for licence to use two other
patents (22862 and 23459 of 1910) in connection with the
treatment of coal for the extract of by-products, mainly
benzol and hydrocarbons. After hearing Mr. Bloxam
on behalf of the applicants, and Mr. Justice for the patentees,
Mr. Temple Franks, the Comptroller of Patents, > aid the
case was clearly one in which a licence should be granted
on the same 5 per cent, terms as before. He should recom-
mend the Board of Trade to take that course, and Messrs.
Bagley, Mills and Co. would hear from them with the least
possible delay. The importance at the present time of
apparatus of this kind was well understood.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The South Wales organisation of enginemen, stokers, and
craftsmen have been invited to send representatives to a
conference which will be held -in Manchester on Tuesday
next. They' will consider the attitude taken up by the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain towards other unions
who have members employed in and about the collieries.
The conference will also consider the decision of the Govern-
ment in respect of the control of the mines, and it will
consider “ what steps can be taken to secure from the
Government an undertaking that the position of the repre-
sentative societies will be recognised, and that the agree-
ments respecting wages and conditions of work now in
existence in the different coal fields will be honoured; and
that in the event of the Government finding it necessary to
confer with the representatives of the men employed in and
about the mines, the societies represented in the conference
shall be given the right of representation.” It is con-
sidered important that there should be common action by the
different societies in order to protect their position, and any
differences which have existed between them should be
“ swept aside and a solid front presented to those who
would seek to dictate to us whether we should exist or not
as societies representing colliery workers.” It is stated
that there is no desire to be antagonistic to the Miners’
Federation, but rather to come to a practical working under-
standing in every district; “ but we are determined to claim
the right to exist as societies representing colliery workers.”

An important intimation was made at the monthly meet-
ing of Tredegar miners on Monday, it being stated that word
had been received from the Inter-Departmental Committee
controlling the coal industry that they propose to proceed at
once with the audit of costs of production. One of the
speakers at the meeting urged that the Government control
had altered the whole basis of financial relation between
employers and workmen under the Conciliation Board agree-
ment; and that whilst the men had no objection to Govern-
ment control in the interest of the nation, they objected to
having their wages regulated by the arbitrarily fixed price
of one commodity, quite regardless of the price of other
necessaries of life. The workmen would not agree to reduc-
tion in wages while the cost of living remained at its pre-
sent high standard; but if the cost of living went up, they
would apply for an increase of wages.

The men at Oakdale Colliery have been given permission
to tender notices in order to obtain a scale of allowances for
working a section of the seam; and it was reported to the
meeting in Tredegar on Monday, that at the Tytryst Colliery
a meeting of workmen is to be convened on the question
of sub-contracting.

At the meeting of the East Glamogan miners on Tuesday,
the men’s agent referred to the War Loan offer which had
been made to the men by the Windsor Coal Company, and
he described the offer as generous, saying he hoped the
workmen would avail themselves of it; and also that they
would support the various War Savings Associations in the
district. The meetm~ dealt also with the condition of affairs
at the Bedwas Collieries, where it is stated unrest.prevails
owing to increase in the number of Spaniards employed;
and the agent was instructed to communicate with the
Home Office in order that prompt steps may be taken in
the matter.

The coal trimmers of Cardiff, at a meeting on Sunday,
dealt with the question of relaxing the Saturday afternoon
rule on vessels other than those on Government and Allied
service—they having been so requested by the Port and
Transit Committee. It was decided to leave the matter in
the hands of the officials and a Bristol Channel conference.
The meeting considered also the report as to arrangement
entered into between the officials and the ports committees
for better organisation of work and regulation of trimming,
whereby each trimmer will register and a record will be kept
of time work; also an endeavour will be made to ascertain
where there is any surplus labour. The report was approved.

The Avon Valley miners on Saturday were informed that
a price-list had been settled satisfactorily at the Resolven
Collieries of Messrs. Cory, and that the men would start
on the new list immediately. Disputes at other pits would
be dealt with during the next few weeks. It was reported
that several of the collieries in that area were working short
time, because of lack of tonnage ; and it was also reported
that that district compared very favourably with others in
regard to absenteeism.

The Conciliation Board has dealt with the complaint of
the workmen as to soldiers discharged from the Army being
subjected at some collieries to medical examination before
they are re-engaged. The workmen considered that the
employers were guilty of a breach of faith—seeing that
the men were promised reinstatement. The owners’ repre-
sentatives pointed out, however, that whilst they were will-
ing, in accordance with their promise, to re-engage men
discharge from the Army, and to put them, as far as pos-
sible, in the same grade of employment, it had to be borne
in mind that the men have been discharged from the Army
because they are physically unfit, and that, consequently,
some latitude must be given to employers as to what work
the men should be put to. In some cases, it would be to
the.detriment of the men if they were put to work for which
they were not physically fit; and a medical examination
would prevent this being done.—It was decided to refer the
whole matter to a general sub-committee for enquiry.

The executive council of Enginemen, Stokers, and Crafts-
men, at a meeting in Cardiff, received the report of their
deputation who had waited upon the Board of Trade on
February 6 in order to get some understanding as to the
position which the agents of the association would hold in
regard to the wage agreement under the Government scheme
controlling the mines. The deputation reported that they
had been informed that there was no intention of inter-
fering with wage agreements now in existence, and that the
procedure as to negotiations between employers and work-
men would continue as heretofore.

The anthracite miners, at their monthly meeting on
Saturday, dealt with the serious question of unemployment
which prevails in their area. It was stated that only half
a dozen men were left in the Gwys Colliery; 400 men at
Llwyn-on Colliery working out their notices, and that pro-
bably two-thirds or three-fourths would be set idle; and
that 300 men at Diamond Colliery had received notices, and
had been idle for 10 days, although there was a prospect that
probably half of them would be re-started. At Tirbach, 100
men in the lower vein had received notices, although inti-
mation had been received that if they would give conces-
sions, the company would resume. The agent, in regard to
this latter matter, however, pointed out that the conces-
sions suggested were impossible, for a reduction in the
cutting price was desired—filling of large coal instead of
through ”—and that the men should forego the minimum
wage; and therefore the men had brought out their tools.
At another colliery 200 men were idle; and altogether 800
men were out of work, whilst those still employed were not
doing more than half-time. A deputation was appointed to
wait upon the Federation executive, and appeal for financial
support. At a previous meeting, a deputation had been
appointed to wait upon the Coal Exports Committee, because
of the allegation that Swansea suffered more from lack of
tonnage than Cardiff or Newport; and a letter was read
from .Sir Leo Money, of the Ministry of Shipping, stating
that he very deeply regretted the circumstances, but
unfortunately lit was not within the power of the Shipping
Controller to afford relief, and therefore he regretted inability
to receive a deputation, as that would serve no useful pur-
pose. Subsequently, a communication was made to the
Board of Trade, who replied that the matter seemed to be
mainly a question of the relative demand for anthracite and
steam coal by consumers, for whom all available tonnage is
supplied; and that the Coal Exports Committee had not
refused any licences for export of anthracite. The Board of
Trade were, however, communicating with the Central
Executive Committee for the Supply of Coal to France and
Italy.—Mr; Morgan, the men’s agent, has replied to the
Board of Trade, stating that the colliery proprietors had
plenty of orders for coal, but could not get ships.

At the monthly meeting of the Eastern Valleys (Mon-
mouthshire) district of miners, at Pontypool on Monday,
letters were read from the Tirpentwys and Orumlin Valley
colliery companies in support of the miners’ application to
the Board of Trade to inaugurate a service of workmen’s
trains to the collieries.

A financial statement showing the lodge to be in a satis-
factory position was presented at the, annual meeting of
the Cwmbran colliery lodge of the South Wales Miners’
Federation, which was held at Pontnewydd, Monmouth-
shire, on Saturday. The following officers were appointed
for the ensuing year:—Chairman, Mr. Bert Lewis;
treasurer, Mr. A. Hiatt; secretary, Mr. A. Jenkins; com-
pensation secretary, Mr. E. Laramy, J.P. ; examiners of
abnormal places and scenes of accidents, the new chairman
and secretary. Sixteen members were appointed as a
committee.

North of England.

The employees of the Tyne Coal Hulk Company Limited,
who recently applied for a wages increase of 6s. per week,
have accepted the company’s offer of a rise of 3s. weekly.

John Geo. Makepeace, 28, single, who was ordered by
the Chester-le-Street magistrates to pay £5 to the Birtley
Iron Company Limited for having absenting himself from
work for 10 days, was stated by Mr. T. T. Minns, manager
of the Urpeth “ B ” pit, to be incorrigible. He was making
15s. a day when at work. The chairman expressed the hope
that defendant would be taken into the Army, for he was
not worthy of the name of Englishman !

The dispute' at the Cowpen Collieries with reference to
the use of high explosives for blasting purposes is stated to
have been amicably settled. The management of the Seaton
Delaval Coal Comr^' Limited has notified the men of its

intention to introduce the use of high explosives at an early
date.

The Northumberland coal owners and miners came to an
agreement, on Monday of this week, with reference to draft
rules dealing with absenteeism. The rules will be adminis-
tered by a small committee of employers and workmen at
each colliery, such committees taking the place of the present
rather unwieldy group committees. The miners have
already sanctioned the principle of the imposition of
penalties on chronic absentees.

Owing to the difficulties experienced in the delivery of
household coal in Newcastle by reason of the shortage of
coal carters and team labour, consequent upon military
requirements, Coun. de Loriol, of that city, has undertaken
to organise a delivery service for Saturday afternoons and
Sundays, in supplement to that which obtains for 5J days
of each week. He is now asking for offers of carts, horses,
cartmen, and general carriers, with this end in view. The
pay for Saturday afternoons will be at the rate of time-and-
a-half, and for Sundays at double rates. The local military
tribunal has been asked to refrain for three months from
calling up men connected with the coal carting business.
The tribunal has demurred at the length of exemption sug-
gested, but has agreed that such men should not be called
up before the end of March. The military representative
stated that he had already ceased to call up such men’s
cases for revision for the time being. Under these circum-
stances, there appears a reasonable prospect of the delivery
of coal to Newcastle householders being expedited somewhat.

The annual meeting of the Cumberland Colliery Surface-
men’s Association was held at Workington, Mr. J. Dickin-
son (chairman) presiding. Messrs. J. Tunstall (Buckhill),
J. Clark (Ougbterside), T. Banks (Old St. Helens), J.
Howard (Clifton), W. Mossop (Whitehaven), and f.
Williams (Micklam) were elected to represent the surface
workers on the council of the Cumberland Miners’ Associa-
tion; and Messrs. E. Winter (Aspatria, No. 4) and W.
Graham (Whitehaven) were appointed representatives on
the executive committee of the Miners’ Association. Mr.
T. Cape reported on the arbitration recently before the
neutral chairman on the wage question generally.

Federated Area.

The financial stability of the Notts Miners’ Association
was emphasised by some interesting facts and figures
reported to the last meeting of the association council.
During the six months ended December 31, membership
and contributions had slightly increased. Nearly £4,000 had
been paid to old-age pensioners, £1,000 to the Federation,
£400 in out-of-work pay, £12,550 had been invested, and
£20,000 worth of Exchequer bonds have been purchased by
the trustees. The association’s investments, bank balances,
etc., now amounted to over £200,000.' Complaints that the
employers were not paying surface workers according to the
recent award were deferred for investigation, and informa-
tion is to be sought concerning the hours worked and the
pay made to those who worked Saturday afternoons and
Sundays. The Brierley Hill non-unionist dispute was con-
sidered. The workmen have decided to try the suggestions
of the Coal Organisation Committee for three months. A
donation of £500 to the Devonshire Hospital, Buxton, was
approved. Mr. J. H. Hankin (Underwood) was elected
vice-president for the ensuing year.

At the monthly conference of the Lancashire and Cheshire
Miners’ Federation, held last Saturday at Bolton, Mr. Thos.
Greenall presiding, the following were elected to represent
the five divisions of the two counties on the Joint Wages
Board : Messrs. Guy Rowson, J. A. Parkinson, Wm. Ken-
nedy, J. E. Thompson, and F. Prowe. Mr. H. Twist gave
an interesting report on the visit of the miners to the front,
and said that the cheerful way in which the men were
doing their work in the trenches spoke volumes for their
stamina and good spirits. He had heard men singing-
under heavy shell fire.

Scotland.

A complaint is made by the miners employed at Bridge-
ness Colliery regarding the illuminating power of the safety
lamps supplied. They desire a more powerful light. The
matter has been brought to the notice of the manager, who
is ■ sympathetic, but points out that, under present condi-
tions, it is very difficult to secure the kind of lamp which
would meet with general approval.

At the Glasgow Iron Company’s Parkneuk Colliery, the
management have intimated that free explosives will not
in future be allowed. An increase of Is. per ton in the
rates is offered as an equivalent, but this has not been
accepted.

A somewhat curious complaint is made by the workmen of
No. 14 pit, Callander. The workmen contend that, owing
to their not being allowed to have in their possession suffi-
cient detonators, they are prevented from putting forth
their best efforts. The shot-holes are bored by the work-
men, and the fireman visiting the places issues detonators
only to those men ready to fire their shots. If the work-
men are not readv with their shots, they have to await the
fireman’s next round of inspection, and in this they state
much time is lost. The question had become so serious
that a large number of workmen returned home one day
during the week. Later on, the manager was interviewed;
and, after fully considering the question, it was thought
that the use of powder might, on the whole, be to the
advantage of all concerned, and this the manager stated he
would endeavour to obtain.

At a meeting of Fife and Kinross Miners’ Association,
the amalgamation with Clackmannan Miners’ Association
was agreed to. Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed’
by several districts with regard to the refusal of certain
companies to employ miners who had left other collieries in
the county without a clearance card. The executive con-
sidered that the practice was the introduction of what is
known as the “ block system,” and an endeavour is to be
made to stop it.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

A conference between the Cleveland ironstone mine
owners and representatives of the miners was held at
Middlesbrough this week, Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., presiding.
It was agreed that wages at the mines be increased by 21
per cent, from the 22nd inst.

Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited have
decided to subscribe £500,000, all new money, to the War
Loan.

Appointments as certifying surgeons under the Factory
and Workshops Act are vacant at Harefield (Middlesex) and
Rickmans worth. Dr. H. B. Ellison has been appointed at
Frodsham, and Dr. T. Jones at Amlwch.