1090

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

June 8, 1917.

stated that deceased had gone to the second north-west
landing for the purpose of putting. When he arrived there
he found there were no limbers on his pony, and the deputy
in charge instructed him to go to the main endless flat,
where he would find a pair. The lad left, and proceeded
in the direction according to instructions, but, apparently,
with a mistaken view of shortening the road, he took a
turn to the right and crossed over a fence, through some
doors, and then over a further fence which was marked
“ dangerous.” He was due to leave the pit at one o’clock,
and, not arriving home when expected, an alarm was raised.
Search parties were organised, and later in the afternoon
deceased was found lying dead in the disused place as the
result of gas poisoning. The coroner said the case was a
very sad one. He thought there was no one to blame.
The jury found a verdict of “Death from misadventure,”
and that there was no reflection upon anyone.

Gateshead Town Council had under consideration on
Wednesday a letter from the Controller of Coal Mines
suggesting that a committee should be appointed to ’aid in
the regulation of household coal supplies. Mr. J. C.
Batey remarked that the matter was largely in the hands
of the public. There was no shortage of coal, but people
would be well advised to see that, before the winter actu-
ally set in, they placed themselves in a position to get
stocks of coal where storage facilities were available. The
required committee was appointed.

Cleveland.

Although no official report, has been issued, it is under-
stood in Cleveland that the results of the interview
between the representatives of the Ministry of Munitions
and a deputation from the Cleveland mine owners and
miners on the subject of substantially increasing the output
of ironstone are very satisfactory to those concerned with
the industry, and that no difficulties are now likely to be
encountered in fulfilling the wishes of the Government.
The principal suggestion oh which the miners and the
employer^ were agreed are, it is understood, accepted by
the Ministry of Munitions. An effort is to be made to
secure the release of the larger proportion of experienced
ironstone miners now with the Colours, and those who
cannot be released have their interests protected by a
promise that work will be found for them in their, own
districts when demobilisation comes. There are some
details yet to be settled, but during the next few months
there will be gradual additions to the number of men
employed in the Cleveland mines by the introduction of
colliers from other areas.

Messrs. Hanson, Brown and Company Limited, of
Middlesbrough, state in their June trade circular that
several changes in production of iron took place during
May, the result of which has been the addition of one
furnace on special iron to the total, and the transference
of one furnace from haematite to Cleveland pig iron. At
the end of the month the number of furnaces in blast in
the North of England was 78, of which 35 were on Cleve-
land pip,' iron, 29 on haematite, and 14 on special kinds of
iron. The total in April was 77, of which 34 were on
Cleveland, 30 on haematite, and 13 on special iron. The
May shipments from Middlesbrough showed a very grati-
fying increase over those for April. The shipments of pig
iron, both coastwise and foreign, amounted to 59,915 tons,
as against 37,297 tons in April, and 53,545 tons in March.
Those of manufactured iron amounted to 1,501 tons, and
of steel 31,814 tons, as against 2,577 tons 'and 17,655 tons
respectively in April.

Yorkshire.

Ambulance Work at, Bullcroft, Colliery—Housing Question
near Doncaster—Bradford Coal Al er chant s' Associa-
tion.

An effort is being made to improve the ambulance work
at Bullcroft Colliery, and it is understood the colliery com-
pany will assist. It has been decided to first of sll raise
funds to start a brass band in connection with the move-
ment, as it is felt this^ would be a great help, and aid
materially in the direction desired.

Important developments are in prospect after the war
in connection with the housing, town-planning, and general
laying-out of colliery districts in the new Doncaster coal
fie]d. Houses are badly wanted, and many schemes will
probably then be brought to fruition. In the Adwick-le-
Street district more houses are urgently needed for the
employees of both the Brodsworth and Bullcroft collieries,
and the local Urban Council is being urged to proceed
with a housing scheme. At Stainforth, the construction
of a model village for the Hatfield Colliery Company’s
employees will be undertaken ; and at Armthorpe, on the
borders of Doncaster, where the new Markham Main
Colliery is to be sunk immediately the war is over, plans
have been prepared for a Markham garden village, with
1,000 houses on the site. The scheme has been approved
by the owners, by the Town Planning Committee, and by
the Rural District Council.

A general meeting of the Coal Merchants’ sectior. of the
Bradford Chamber of Trade was held on May 31, Mr. J.
Smith (chairman of the section) presiding. The meeting
received a deputation from the Bradford Horse Owners’
Association with reference to the recent applicaticn from
the Carters’ Union for an advance of 5s. per week on the
existing rate of pay. It was reported that the carters had
submitted the matter to the Chief Industrial Commis-
sioner’s Department of the Board of Trade, and letters
from Sir George Askwith to the Coal Merchants’ section
of the Chamber and to the Horse Owners’ Association were
read, asking for the views of the two employers’ organisa-
tions, and enquiring whether or not they would be willing
to submit the matter to' arbitration. The meeting decided
that both organisations should reply, pointing cut the
recent grant of a 2s. advance, which was accepted by the
local men, making the payment now 35s. per week, of
which 9s. is war bonus. In regard to a communication
from the Great Northern Railway Company, intimating
that coal wagon doors must not be propped half-open when
unloading, but must be allowed to drop fully down, to
which the association had put forward a number of sub-
stantial objections, the railway company had replied stat-
ing that the intimation was a renewal of an old order, and
was issued with the object of absolving the company from
responsibility in case of any form of accident. It was
decided to take no further action. Replies were read to
protests made to the Controller of Coal Mines and the
South Yorkshire Coal Supplies Committee in regard to
shortage of supplies to the Bradford district.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

A census of the workers in Lord Ellesmere’s collieries
in the Manchester and Bolton areas up to 43 years of age
was taken last week-end.

Notts and Derbyshire.

The last gathering of the session of members of the
Midland branch of the Association of Mining Electrical
Engineers took place on Saturday. By permission of

the Stanton Iron Works Company Limited, an inspection
was made of the electrical plant at their works at Stanton.
The party were conducted over the works by Mr. M. R.
Scott, electrical engineer, who made the visit both inter-
esting and instructive by giving explanations of the detailed
working of the plant. Afterwards a meeting of the branch
was held. The election of officers for the coming year
resulted as follows :—President, Mr. F. Church, Tibshelf ;
vice-presidents, Mr. A. R. Davies, Bolsover, and Mr. C. J.
Fox, Beeston; secretary and treasurer, Mr. E. R. Hudson,
Ilkeston; auditors, Mr. F. Smith, Pinxton, and Mr. F. W.
Rowley, Eastwood ; branch council, Messrs. F. Cusworth,
East Kirkby, E. E. Beadsmore, Pinxton, J. Higton,
Ilkeston, J. E. Humble, Warsop, W. Wynes, Clipstone,
and F. W. Rowley ; representatives on the general council,
Mr. F. Church and Mr. E. R. Hudson.

In a test case affecting 125 Mansfield miners, which was
heard at Derby County Court on Tuesday, Wm. Horton
sued the Midland Railway Company for Ils. 6d., repre-
senting a day’s, wages lost through the failure of the com-
pany to run the miners’ train, known as “ The Paddy
Mail,” from Mansfield to Pleasley, on the morning of
October 2 last. For plaintiff, it was contended that the
company were guilty of breach of duty in neglecting to
notify that the train would not run until it was too late
for him to avail himself of other means of reaching
Pleasley in time to start work at a pit there. It was also
submitted that there was wilful misconduct in not running
the train, evidence being tendered to the effect that an
engine and coaches'were available. It appeared that
during the night there had been an air raid warning, and
the company’s defence to tlie action was based upon the
consequent disorganisation of their traffic arrangements.
Judge Macpherson entered judgment for the defendant
company. It was intimated that the decision would be
appealed against, the case having been taken up by the
Miners’ Federation.

Mr. Frank Hall, general secretary of the Derbyshire
Miners’ Association, who addressed a meeting of coke oven
and by-product workers at Chesterfield on Saturday, said
they were not seeking members. The returns for the past
month showed that the membership of the Derbyshire Asso-
ciation, apart from the 12,000 or 15,000 men with the
Colours, was the highest on record, and that the income
was greater than in any pre-war period. The by-product
industry was, in his opinion, in its infancy, and he was con-
vinced that in the future coal would not be taken long dis-
tances to be turned into chemicals, but plant would be
erected close to the pit top.

The Midlands.

A considerable increase in water raised from Black
Country mines for last month is recorded in the monthly
reports of the engineers to the South Staffordshire Mines
Drainage Commission, which were presented at the monthly
meeting of that body on Wednesday. The general
manager and engineer to the Tipton district reported that
the rainfall for the last five weeks had' been 3*77 in. The
pumping had been 12,148,800 gals, per 24 hours, as com-
pared with 11,464,400 gals, in April, and 13,060,000 gals,
m the corresponding period last year. The Moat old
engine had worked about half-time, and Gospel Oak Mond
gas-driven plant full-time to assist the new engine. There
was no appreciable diminution in the quantity of water at
the Bradley engine, which was being worked at full speed.
The surface drainage engineer reports the repairing of
several water courses where sunk by mining; and the engi-
neer for the Old Hill district states that the water in the
northern portion remained the same. The reports were
adopted.

At a meeting of the Oldbury District Council, it was
decided to proceed with the scheme for the purchase of
600 tons of coal to be retailed to householders in small
quantities next winter in the event of the local coal mer-
chants’ stock becoming exhausted. It was suggested that
the proposed maximum quantity of 5 cwt. was too large,
but it was pointed out that some of the people might have
to go four miles for the supply, and it was unreasonable
to expect them to go for less than that quantity.

Kent.

Shortage of Railway Trucks—Government and Kent Coal
Fields—Coal League Accounts.

Owing to a shortage of railway trucks in one or two
shifts, the output of the Tilmanstone and Snowdown
collieries dropped last week slightly below what has been
the normal average of about 6,000 tons weekly.

Certain steps are being taken with the Government
departments concerning the development of the Kent coal
field, and in this connection it is reported that the Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade has been asked to invite the
managers of Chislet, Snowdown, and Tilmanstone collieries
to furnish particulars as to the maximum possible outputs
obtainable by their respective collieries at the end of six,
12, 18, and 24 months; the extent and nature of the
development of works necessary for such increased pro-
duction ; also if their respective companies were in a posi-
tion to provide the whole of the finance for such develop-
ment operations, and, if not, what proportion could they
provide, and what arrangements they would be prepared
to make to pay the balance if contributed by the Govern-
ment.

The accounts of the Kent Coal League, the approved
society for those employed in connection with the Kent
collieries, shows that, although a comparatively young
society, it is doing some good work. Since its formation
it has expended the following amounts : Sick pay, grants
in necessitous cases, and funeral allowances, <£2,222 16s. ;
medical attendance, <£2,260 16s. ; susberiptions to hospitals,
<£253; allowances for recreation, mining classes, etc.,
<£67 13s. The society has invested <£750 of its T839 surplus
in War Loan. The report and accounts were unanimously
adopted at the annual meeting held at Dover.

Forest of Dean.

Conference Regarding Wages and Compensation—Firemen
and Timber Recovery.

The Forest of Dean coal owners and representatives of
Forest of Dean Colliery Examiners’, Overmen’s, and Shot-
Lighters’ Association held a meeting recently at the Speech
House Hotel, Cinderford, Glos. Mr. T. H. Deakin pre-
sided. Mr. W. Frowen (secretary of the Federation of
Colliery Deputies) stated that there were four matters
upon which they desired to approach the Forest owners :—
(1) They asked for a flat rate to be paid to all the overmen,
examiners, and shot-firers of the Forest coal field, and that
the increase as already submitted to the owners’ secretary
should be paid ; (2) the firemen requested that they might
come under the Compensation Act and not under the
indemnity agreement which existed with the employers and
the miners ; (3) certain charges had been made against the
local secretary of the Forest Association, they asked that

these charges should be verified or withdrawn; (4) intimida-
tion had been used against the members of the association
at the Norchard Colliery, Lydney, for the purpose of com-
pelling the men to withdraw from the Firemen’s Union.
The deputation felt that the Forest owners would hardly
countenance such actions on the part of any managements,
and therefore asked that they would express themselves
upon the same. The chairman (Mr. Deakin) informed the
firemen’s representatives that they were not prepared to
discuss any matter relating to overmen. Regarding the
wages of the persons under consideration, the present pay-
ment appeared sufficiently high, and it was undesirable to
disturb the present arrangement. The question of wages
at the Waterloo Colliery might be settled if Mr. Frowen
would confer with the owner. After some explanation of
the compensation question, Mr. Frowen consented, on
behalf of the men he represented, to fall in line with the
general agreement in the district. With regard to the
charges against the local secretary, after hearing explana-
tions from both sides, the matter was allowed to stand by.
With regard to the intimidation at Norchard Colliery, the
owners had heard the side of the management, and were of
the opinion that no intimidation had been used. The
report of the proceedings will be made to a full meeting
of the Forest Association at an early date, and also to the
conference of the General Federation to be held at Man-
chester this month.

On May 29, the president and secretary (Messrs. W.
Johnson, Durham, and W. Frowen, South Wales) of the
General Federation of Colliery Firemen’s, Examiners’ or
Deputies’ Associations of Great Britain, met the Coal Con-
troller at Whitehall. The interview was held for the pur-
pose of discussing the saving of timber in the working of
the coal mines. By certain sections of the Coal Mines Act,
1911, the firemen are made responsible for the withdrawal
of all the timber that can be reclaimed in the mine. The
Federation representatives laid before the Controller cer-
tain suggestions, among them being :—(1) That a circular,
similar to that issued by the Controller to colliery manage-
ments on March 19, be issued to all the deputies, or at
least to the deputies’ associations, signed by the Controller,
his adviser, Sir Richard Redmayne, and the Federation
officers. (2) That a joint conference be held between the
Firemen’s Federation, the coal owners, and the Miners’
Federation, when, the whole question of the supply and’
saving of timber shall be dealt with. (3) The employment
of timber inspectors (for the period of the war), who shall
visit collieries and report to the Department the extent to
which the suggestions as outlined in the circular are being
carried out. The Controller said he would consider and
see what could be done, after conferring with others.
Messrs. Johnson and Frowen had interviews also with Sir
George Askwith and the Home Office officials, and dealt
with several matters which at present are affecting members
of the Federation in different parts of the country.

Scotland.

Coal Alerchants and Deliveries—Trade Depression in Fife
—Re-Opening of a Colliery—Presentation to Alanager
—Question of Output—Burntisland Shipments.

The council of the Coal Merchants’ Association of Scot-
land, in view of the labour and transport difficulties which
are being experienced in dealing with deliveries of coal,
especially for domestic purposes, recommend that where-
ever possible householders and others should keep up their
supplies to the full extent of the accommodation at their
disposal. By doing so they will reduce in their own cases
the chances of inconvenience and possible shortage in the
coming winter, and also assist merchants in meeting the
requirements of others whose facilities for storing coal are
such that only small quantities can be laid in at a time.

A deputation has been appointed by the executive of the
Mine Workers’ Union to interview the Controller of Mines
in reference to the serious state of the coal trade in Fife,
Kinross, and Clackmannan.

An accident occurred at the Mary pit, Lochore, Fife,
whereby one miner was killed and another injured by the
collapse of the brushing in the working place where they
were engaged. The number of serious accidents which
have taken place in Fifeshire of late has given rise to grave
concern amongst the mining community.

Jawcraig Colliery, in the Slamannan district, which was
closed some time ago, has now been re-opened. At
the Guardrum Colliery, also in the neighbourhood of
Slamannan, the number of miners employed is decreasing
every month. It seems that the coal field there is
approaching exhaustion. The men thus displaced are
finding considerable difficulty in securing other employ-
ment.

Before leaving Auchengeich Colliery, Chryston, to take
up duty as manager to Messrs. Wm. Dixon and Company
Limited, Mr. Wm. Ross, manager, received a presentation
from officials and workmen.

Mr. R. Brown, secretary of the National Union of
Scottish Mine Workers, in answer to the statement of Dr.
R. T. Moore, Glasgow, at the annual meeting of the
Niddrie and Benhar Coal Company, has pointed out that it
is incorrect to say that the miners had hampered the intro-
duction of machinery. The output per man in 1898 was
451 tons, as against 399 tons in 1913, but this was accounted
for by the fact that the thick seams had become exhausted
and thinner seams were being worked, and that the work-
ings now extend in some pits to three and three and a-half
miles from the pit bottom against half a mile 15 years ago.
The actual output per miner at the coal face proper was
greater than ever it had been, but when the deeper mines,
longer travelling roads, and other things were considered—
entailing the employment of more men to get the coal to
the pit bottom—the output divided by the whole of the
workers employed was bound to be diminished. Mine
workers and miners’ officials had not opposed coal-cutting
or any other machinery ; their aim had been to secure a
fair price per ton. The work was mostly done at ton rates
or by piece-work, and the miners had to exert themselves
to their utmost capacity to keep pace with the mechanism.
The latest Government returns show that the number of
coal cutters at work throughout Scotland during 1915 was
535 ; 15 years ago they were a rarity. The miners’ officials
also point out that the output of coal in 1914 was
38,847,362 tons, valued at <£17,487,427, while that of 1915
was 35,596,856 tons, valued at <£21,817,302—a decrease of
3,250,506 tons, and an increase in value of <£4,329,875.

For the month ended May 31, 35,811 tons of coal were
despatched from Burntisland, an increase of 11,351 tons
on the previous month, and as compared with 85,581 tons
May 1916. For the week ended June 2, 8,270 tons were
exported, as against 12,920 tons in the corresponding week.
In pre-war time this harbour was dealing with somewhere
about 220,000 tons of coal a month.

A serious colliery accident is reported from Uddingston.
W. Coulter, miner, was assisting in firing a shot in No. 3
pit, TannochMde Colliery, when the shot was fired pre-