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THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

June 15, 1917.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Suggested Increase of Dock Dues—Mor fa Relief Fund—
' 'Alleged False Returns—Localising the Goal Supplies
—“ Unrest ” Commissioners from the Coal Trade—
C om/pensation Case—Purchase of a Mineral Estate.

The question of increase in the dock dues at the different
South Wales ports has been considered by the local Dock
Owners’ Association, and there is a probability that action
will be taken. As to the greater part, they stand in alto-
gether different positions from docks in the north which
ship coal, the South Wales undertakings being in almost
every instance connected with railway companies. At
Newport it is the Alexandra Dock and Railway Company;
at Cardiff it is the Cardiff Railway Company; Penarth
docks belong to the Taff Vale Railway Company; and the
docks at Barry are similarly owned by the railway com-
pany, and so are those at Port Talbot. Swansea, with its
Harbour Trust, stands on a different footing.

The Morfa Relief Fund Committee held its annual meet-
ing at Aberavon, and received a report that at the end of
last year there were still 23 widows and six dependants in
receipt of relief from the fund; and that during the year
ending April 20, £363 had been distributed in relief. The
receipts to the fund were £472, which included a balance in
hand of £215, a dividend of £90, and the proceeds of the
sale of £300 (nominal) Consols.

The case in which Mr. W. H. Edwards (proprietor) and
Mr. D. Edwards (manager) of the Duffryn Steel and Tin-
plate Works, Morriston, are concerned, came again before
the Swansea justices last week; and after two days’ hear-
ing the magistrates decided to commit defendants for trial
at the next Assizes, bail being allowed. The charge against
them is that they failed to obey directions given by the
Ministry of Munitions concerning work carried on, and
that they had made false returns. In defence, it was
pointed out that there had been only technical offence; and
counsel on their behalf submitted that they could not pos-
sibly profit, for they had carried on the works during part
of the year for the benefit of the Government, and not for
themselves. In his evidence, Mr. W. H. Edwards said he
knew he would not be entitled to a penny more profit than
be had earned during 1916, and that every farthing made on
four private contracts in December went to the Treasury.
Since April of last year all profits at the works had gone
to the Government.

Mr. F. Gibson, who is secretary of the South Wales Coal
and Coke Supplies Committee, has issued a statement
referring to the intimation by the Coal Controller as to
re-distribution of supplies from the collieries—this intima-
tion being, as already reported, a scheme for shipping coal
at the nearest port, and supplying each district from its
own collieries. The governing idea, of course, is to limit
transport work, and thus render railway trucks more useful
and at the same time minimise labour and expenses in
haulage. Air. Gibson states that his committee have
expressed their readiness to co-operate with the Con-
troller’s Department in giving effect to his proposals, and
have asked that at least a clear month’s notice should be
given before it is to be put into force, so that necessary
arrangements may be made. Referring to a notification
from the Coal Controller that no more house coal will be
allowed to be brought into Monmouthshire and South
Wales from the Forest of Dean and Midland coal fields, he
states that his committee fully appreciate the urgency of
economising transport facilities, and have contemplated
taking steps to arrange local supplies for those in this dis-
trict who have been consumers of Forest of Dean and
Midland coal. But he states that those arrangements have
not yet sufficiently matured to permit of giving immediate
effect to them, it being necessary for the committee to
obtain further information from the consumers as to their
requirements. The committee are also in correspondence
with the clerks to borough and other councils; and he
invites local communication with himself as to the monthly
quantity which each area has purchased from other coal
fields.

The handling of railway trucks under the later practice
has caused considerable difficulty to coal merchants, and
the South Wales Coal Factors’ Association is taking steps
to relieve its members as far as possible, especially in view
of the fact that their liability in respect of wagon rents
has become so very heavy, partly owing to the delay in
return. As yet no clear understanding has been arrived at.

The Commissioners to enquire into labour unrest in Wales
and Monmouthshire are Mr. Lleufer Thomas (stipendiary
of Pontypridd), who will be chairman; Mr. Thomas Evans,
of the Ocean Coal Company, employers’ representative;
and Mr. Vernon Hartshorn, workmen’s representative.

A case of considerable importance came before the Aber-
gavenny County Court on Monday, the judge dealing with
a very interesting and important point concerning compen-
sation. A man, now in the Army Service Corps, who had
formerly been a collier at Blaenavon, claimed for continu-
ance of compensation from the Blaenavon Colliery Com-
pany in respect of an accident while in their employ in
1913. Until January of this year, when he was taken into
the Army, he had had light work, first as a colliery
labourer; and during that time had received compensation
at the rate of 6s. 7d. per week. The judge decided in
favour of the claimant, and ordered continuance of the pay-
ment of compensation, remarking that it was peculiar to
see that an able-bodied man who was taken into the Army
had to be content with the Army rate of pay, while men
who had been in receipt of compensation would continue to
receive compensation as well as the Army rate. That
seemed to be a hardship on the able-bodied.

Much interest is evoked in this district by the work of
Welsh miners for the Army at Messines. Recruiting for
this duty was very active throughout the district last year.
Capt. Gill, one of the miners’ leaders, who has been a
member of the South Wales executive, and afterwards was
severely wounded, made a special recruiting campaign
throughout the coal field, he being accompanied by Capt.
R. Gibbon, son of the late Mr. J. P. Gibbon, who was
chief manager of North’s Navigation Collieries. Emphasis
is laid on the fact that the men who did the tunnelling on
the Messines Ridge were not soldiers, but were working
miners recruited for that purpose, and they went direct
from the coal pits to their task on the field.

It was announced in the western area that the Controller
of Mines is making arrangements which will enable
collieries in the anthracite district to be kept going.

At an auction sale in Cardiff on Saturday, Mr. W. H.
Mewton, of Locket’s Merthyr Colliery, purchased for
£15,000 the freehold estate at Cilely upon which a colliery
is situated. The estate is more than 100 acres in extent.

A matter of much interest to South Wales is brought to

the front by the announcement that the United States
Government has now placed an embargo upon the export
of tin-plate.

• A conference of the South Wales miners commenced in
Cardiff on Tuesday, the delegates having been summoned
to consider a draft of new rules from the Federation execu-
tive, and also a large number of amendments which the
lodges proposed. There were over 250 delegates, repre-
senting 145,892 members. The draft of the executive con-
tained 50 rules, but the lodges had sent in considerably
over 200 amendments. To the description of the objects
of the Federation “ to- secure complete organisation of all
workers employed in and about the collieries,” one of the
lodges proposed to add that “membership of the Federa-
tion should be a condition of employment,” whilst another
lodge wished to add the phrase “ with a view to the com-
plete abolition of capital.” The proceedings were con-
ducted in private, no representatives of the Press being
admitted. The foregoing suggestions were approved, as
was also another that the Federation should “ regulate the
relationship between members and their employers, with a
view to increasing the members’ control over the conditions
of employment ”; and another proposal was carried that
the Federation should “ secure to members a guaranteed
livelihood, irrespective of all cessation of work when such
is the result of causes beyond the immediate control of the
members.” Resolutions were passed in favour of abolish-
ing the double shift except for the purpose of ventilating
or where otherwise unavoidable; also opposing sub-con-
tracting ; and there were several extreme propositions, such
as that for nationalisation of the mines. It was decided to
further the interests of the members by securing represen-
tation in Parliament and on local governing bodies, and
“ to employ the funds of the union in securing such repre-
sentation.” Conferences are to be summoned for discus-
sion of probable Labour legislation in order that Labour
members of Parliament may be instructed. An address
was given by Mr. J. Prowle upon the subject of assess-
ment of collieries; and he dealt also with other properties
and their assessment. The meeting decided that this
matter should be brought before the various lodges.

At the sitting on Wednesday, most of the amendments
were rejected, with the result that the original draft of
the executive was adopted, except on minor points, so that
the constitution remains unaltered. Among the rejected
propositions was that which would have prevented miners’
agents or salaried officials from serving on the executive,
and also an extremist suggestion that only “ workmen
from the working face ” should be eligible for election to
that body. There were the usual ideas ventilated as to
nationalisation of all industries. The chief alteration in
prospect is that the policy of the Federation has to be
determined hereafter by specially convened conferences,
the executive’s powers in this respect being limited. The
conference re-assembled on Thursday.

Fire broke out on Wednesday at the Treharris pit of the
Ocean Company, a lamp room and timber shed being
destroyed. The employees kept the fire from- spreading to
an underground petroleum tank, using the extinguishing
appliances of the colliery; and the Merthyr fire brigade,
which was summoned, completed the work of overpowering
the flames.

Northumberland and Durham.

Whilst a foreign steamer was in process of shipping coal
at No. 9 staith, South Dock, Sunderland, last week, a
breakage occurred of one of the couplings of a train of
trucks being brought down the line to the drop, and the
trucks ran headlong down the incline towards the vessel.
The two leading trucks plunged on to the deck of the ship,
and a third hung suspended from the drop in momentary
danger of following those which had preceded it. Several
other trucks ran off the metals towards the end of the
drop, where they fortunately jammed. As each truck con-
tained some 20 tons of coal—which, with the weight of the
truck itself, made 28 tons—a total of 56 tons fell on the
deck of the vessel, the bridge of which was destroyed, with
the deck houses, and other considerable damage done.
Fortunately, there was no personal injury.

Geo. Cooper, putter at Auckland Park Colliery, has been
committed to prison for 14 days for cruelty to a pony. The
animal’s nasal bone had been fractured, and part of the
abdominal lining (exhibited in a bottle to the magistrates)
had been torn out. It was stated to be doubtful whether
the animal would recover; at all events, it would be of
no more use down the pit. A severe blow must have been
struck to fracture the nasal bone. The injury to the
abdomen could only have been caused by severe kicking

Sir Hugh Bell, presiding over the annual meeting of
shareholders of Messrs. Bell Brothers Limited, explained,
in moving a final dividend of 5 per cent., less income tax,
that the company was unable to present its full statement
of accounts at that meeting, owing to Government control.
Their position was extremely difficult, because they came
under several quite separate and distinct provisions. Their
iron works were controlled, but the rest of th&ir property
was not. The colliery property came under the Coal Con-
troller. The modes in which the profits would be dealt
with differed in each class of the property. They had not
yet been able to settle with the Government the amounts
due in respect of the Excess Profits Act and the Controlled
Firms Profits Act, and it would be necessary for £hem to
adjourn the meeting to a later date. The appointment of
Mr. Robt. Grant, junr., as a director was confirmed, and
Messrs. A. J. and Chas. Dorman were re-elected to the
board. The meeting then adjourned.

Mr. A. F. Pease, presiding over the annual meeting of
the shareholders in Messrs. Pease and Partners Limited,
held at Darlington on Wednesday, stated that the 17^ per
cent, dividend was only 2^ per cent, less than the highest
dividend paid in 1900, and equal to that of 1901. There
had been an increased output of coal, compared with that
of the previous year, of 32,235 tons, and of limestone
11,192 tons, but a decrease in irontsone of 30,330 tons,
whilst coke showed an increase of 96,219 tons. The com-
pany had never been in such a strong position financially.
Having criticised the result of Government control, Mr.
Pease said that if we were going to be in a position to
compete for the trade of the world, the Government control
must cease at the earliest possible date after the war.
He was not referring so much to the money part of it as
to the constant interference in the conduct of business.
Then there must be co-operation between employers and
employed, and efficient housing accommodation must be
provided for the workmen.

Cleveland.

Conditions to be introduced to assist the Government to
substantially increase the output of ironstone continue to
occupy the attention of the Cleveland mine owners and the
miners’ representatives, who are to hold a further joint
meeting to discuss the question next week. By arrange-
ment with the Ministry of Munitions, large bodies of
Cleveland miners are being released from the Army, and

it is estimated that about 400 have returned to the Cleve-
land district.

Cumberland.

Mr. J. A. Haynes, secretary and general manager of the
Cleator and Workington Railway Company, has been
appointed by the Controller of Coal Mines to represent
him on the Cumberland Coal and Coke Supplies Board.

It is stated that the Blackett Colliery will be closed down
shortly, the royalty being about worked out. A consider-
able number of hands are employed, but there will be little
difficulty in finding places for them in neighbouring pits.

Mr. Joseph Wilkinson has been appointed manager* of
the Harrington Iron Works, which have recently been
restarted by the Workington Iron and Steel Company.

Yorkshire.

At an inquest on a Bentley miner killed in Bullcroft
Colliery last week, through a fall which occurred when he
was loading tubs, the chief inspector of mines for the dis-
trict (Mr. T. H. Mottram) asked a witness if he thought
the stall needed spragging. The reply was “ No; we don’t
sprag straight faces very often.” The coroner said he
thought, whether the stall had a straight face or not, it
wanted spragging. He considered the deputies ought to
see to the spragging, because he dealt with hundreds of
these cases, and almost every one was unforeseen. A ver-
dict of “Accidental death” was returned, and the jury
found that in this particular case no one was to blame.

Mr. T. Reginald Smithson, secretary of the Yorkshire
Main Colliery Company, is leaving Doncaster to become
assistant general secretary of the Staveley Coal and Iron
Company, Chesterfield.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Mr. George W. Hayes, of Worplesdon Hill, near Woking,
son of the late Mr. William Hayes, one of the founders of
the Abram Coal Company Limited, which has a number of
collieries in the Wigan coal field, has made a gift of £1,000
to the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan, for the
endowment of a bed in memory of his son, Second-Lieut.
Harry Urmston Hayes, of the Black Watch, who was killed
in action in France on October 13, 1915, at the age of 19
years.

The Wigan Trades and Labour Council and the Wigan
L.R.C. have appointed a deputation from the Weavers’
Association to organise the pit brow girls, the submission
being that owing to changed conditions it is very important
that the work and wages of women and girls working on
the pit brows should receive attention. The hope is
expressed that the pit brow girls’ organisation will later
on be incorporated in the Miners’ Federation.

Kent.

A sequel to a fatal accident at Tilmanstone Colliery was
heard at the Petty Sessions held at Wingham, before a
full Bench of magistrates, when Mr. Henry John Wroe,
manager of that colliery, was summoned by the inspector of
mines for having failed to enforce the keeping of an accu-
rate record of the men lowered into the pit and raised on
January 31 last. The Public Prosecutor was represented
by Mr. Pearse, and Dr. Hardman (Deal) appeared for the
defendant, who pleaded not guilty. For the prosecution,
Mr. Pearse mentioned that this case was an outcome of
the fatal accident which occurred in January, when two
brothers, named Davis, were left for four hours in a part
of the Tilmanstone Colliery where the roof had fallen, the
men being “pinned down” as a result of the fall. The
inspector of mines (Mr. H. S. Lea, of Edgbaston, Birming-
ham), giving evidence, deposed that after receiving notice
of the accident, he saw Mr. Wroe in the presence of Ham-
mond, the checker, who admitted that the system of check-
ing the men had not been kept, and that checks had not
been given the brothers Davis. Hammond issued the lamps,
and ought also to have given out the checks. A fine of £1
was imposed.

Scotland.

Dr. R. T. Moore, chairman of the Niddrie Coal Com-
pany Limited, has prepared a reply to the Press in refer-
ence to the criticisms which Provost Brown, Dalkeith,
offered to his address delivered the other week at the
annual meeting of the shareholders of the Niddrie Coal
Company. Dr. Moore points out that the reasons given
by Provost Brown for the reduction in the output of coal
per man employed underground in Scotland from 451 tons
a year in 1898 to 399 tons in 1913 did not carry them very
far. His suggestion, further, that it was because “ thinner
seams are now being worked,” was certainly not right,
because though more thin seams were undoubtedly now
being worked in Lanarkshire, a larger quantity of coal was
being worked from the thick seams in Ayrshire, Fifeshire,
and the Lothians, and the proportion of the output coming
from thick seams and thin seams was in 1913 pretty much
what it was in 1898. Nor was the cause the extra dis-
tance to which the workings extended underground. The
older collieries, from which, after all, the bulk of the output
was produced, had in 1913 the same fields as they had in
1898, and although the output might have come from other
seams the distance hauled was the same now as it was
then. Frankly, he was quite satisfied that the decreased
output, as he stated to the Niddrie shareholders, was
largely owing to trade union policy.

The shipments of coal at Burntisland last week were
6,630 tons, a decrease of 1,640 tons on the previous week,
as against 17,550 tons on the same week last year.

Scottish motor-car owners, particularly commercial cars,
lorries, and ’buses, are interested in the use of coal gas in
place of petrol. The Bath tramways have two ’buses on
the road fitted with flexible gas holders, of a capacity giving
a radius of 21 miles without re-charging, at a rate of 2s.
per 1,000 cu. ft. The gas is taken direct from the mains at
the ordinary pressure. The general manager speaks highly
of results. Running costs are cheaper than petrol.

_________________________

Exports and Imports of Mining Machinery.—The value
of imports and exports of mining machinery during May
is given below :—

May.	Jan.-May.

_______________
_______________

1916.	1917?	1916.	1917?

£ <£ £ £

Imports .......... 17,123 ... 20,402	48,523 ... 77,495

Exports .......... 56,480 ... 76,783 .. 257,274 ...334,156

These figures are not inclusive of prime movers or elec-
trical machinery. The following shows the value of
exports of prime movers other than electrical:—

May.	J an.-May.

_______

1916.	1917?	1916.	1917?

All prime movers £	£	£	£

(except electrical) ... 450,413...348,842...1,783,436...1,633,018
Rail locomotives .... 106,988... 161,031... 527,389... 633,543
Pumping ............	71,591	27,314 .. 211,338... 186,820

Winding ______................ 1,040...	1,272..	4,161...	4,823