238 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 1, 1918. WIGAN MINING AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE. The annual distribution of prizes, medals, and certi- ficates to the successful students attending the Wigan and District Mining and Technical College was held on Friday night of last week in the Assembly Hall of the college. Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., the Parliamentary Secretary of the Local Government Board, who is an old student of the college, distributed the awards, and delivered an address on the various aspects of educa- tion and industry. Mr. J. T. Gee (chairman of the governing body of the college) presided over a large attendance. The Chairman, on behalf of the governors, and also on behalf of the general public, thanked Mr. Alfred Hewlett, J.P., for his continued interest in the college. Mr. Hewlett was chairman of the college governing body for a great many years, and when he retired, it was not to get rid of any responsibility at all, but after retiring he took upon himself even greater finan- cial responsibility, and at present Mr. Hewlett was contributing towards three day mining scholarships. They also thanked Mr. Hewlett, not only for his per- sonal contributions, but for his influence in inducing two other gentlemen to make contributions for scholar- ships—Mr. Richard Christopher and Mr. George Brad- shaw—both of whom had provided funds for day mining scholarships of £50 per annum for three years, and both of whom also had been formerly connected with the Wigan Coal and Iron Company Limited. The work of the college during the past year had been of far greater importance than in any previous year. Mr. S. C. Laws, the Principal, presented the annual report on the work of the college during the session 1916-1917, which stated that the educational work con- ducted during the year under review might be briefly summarised in the statement that in spite of the large and increasing number of students who were away on war service, the total result of the college activities again show a substantial increase over that of the previous sesiosn. Mine managers’ certificates had been gained by R. Potter, P. C. Clayton, W. Heys, A. M. Stone, and A. B. Underwood; under-managers’ certificates by H. Hind- ley, J. Pimblett, H. Sharpies, T. Barton, H. Bates, T. Howard, N. Irving, J. Sharrock, B. Smith, and R. Walsh; and surveyors’ certificates by C. C. Cowling, E. M. Green, J. Jackson, F. Cookson, and R. Potter. There had been three examinations for colliery fire- men’s certificates under section 15 of the Coal Mines Act conducted by the college during the year, as a result of which 210 colliery firemen’s certificates and two shot-lighters’ certificates were issued. Medals, Scholarships and Certificates. There were, in accordance with particulars set out in the report, more than 500 certificates for distribu- tion, and awards of medals and scholarships included the following for the past two sessions: — Session 1915-1916. — “Knowles” gold medal, J. Lowe (mining). “ Percy ” memorial medals, H. Ashurst (mining). Governors’ silver medals, H. H. Winstanley (engineering), J. S. V. Brown (electrical), J. H. Dowswell (chemistry), R. A. Crispin (building). City and Guilds of London Institute (bronze medal for carpentry and joinery), R. A. Crispin. Union of Lancashire and Cheshire Insti- tutes (coal mining course, third year), 1st place, J. Rutter. “Alfred Hewlett ” mining scholarship (£52 per annum for three years), A. Winstanley. “ Osbeck ” mining scholar- ships (£10 10s. per annum for three years), J. Rutter, J. Worswick. Session 1916-1917.—“ Knowles ” gold medal, H. Ashurst (mining). “ Percy ” memorial medal, H. H. Winstanley (engineering). Governors’ silver medals, F. H. Liptrot (mining), N. Smith (electrical). “ Peace Memorial ” (Trustees) mining scholarship (£52 per annum for two years), J. H. Armitstead. “ Peace Memorial ” (Alfred Hewlett) mining scholarship (£52 per annum for three years), L. H. Buxton. “Richard Christopher” mining scholarship (£50 per annum for three years), F. G. Atherton. “ George Bradshaw ” mining scholarship' (£50 per annum for three years), J. Hewitt. Mr. Stephen Walsh remarked that the latent oppo- sition of the British people to all education, and parti- cularly to technical education, undoubtedly handi- capped us in the competitive struggle with other nations. The unrivalled supremacy we held for so many years in respect of coal production, in the manu- facture of iron and steel, in machinery, in the great textile industry, had been seriously challenged, and we had had in several cases to admit defeat. He did not say for a moment that other causes had not operated. The inventive genius of Stephenson had given us a lead of half a century. We had relied too much upon our great muscular force. We should never get the best out of our people, and the world would never reach the height which he was sure humanity was destined to attain, unless concurrently with the development of muscle we also appreciated the development of mind. Mr. Walsh said he honestly believed that, had we devoted anything like the same measure of attention to the mental and technical improvement of our people during the last quarter of a century that Germany had to her people, the war would have been over long ago. Man for man, there could be no doubt that the Briton was the superior. Science must let the miner know when he goes into the recesses of the earth how effici- ently he can get his labour done, and must inform him of the wonderful agencies with which he has to cope, so that when he comes out of the mine his mind can be refreshed, even though for the time being his body may be exhausted. We must have an intelligent democracy whose faculties, physical and mental, had been educated to the highest standard of efficiency. In this great work of regeneration, he trusted the Wigan Mining and Technical College would play a leading part. He trusted that-the present zeal for education was not merely a passing emotion, though he had, he added, a very strong feeling that harm might be done by forcing education upon a child. So long as we had such records of service as were contained in the report presented by the Principal of the college, so long as we had institutions like the Wigan and District Mining and Technical College, we need not fear for the future. Every Wigan man must be proud of the work done by the Wigan Mining and Technical College, of the responsible positions reached by many of the former students, and of the prospects of greater service in the future. SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. For the week ended January 25 the imports of foreign mining timber were upon a better scale, a total of 9,285 loads being imported, of which 7,320 loads went to the Admiralty Pitwood Committee and the remainder to approved importers. There were no imports from Scandinavia, although supplies can now be assembled from that country under licences. The prices of mining timber are at the maximum levels authorised to be paid by buyers at the request of the Coal Controller. Much difficulty is still experienced in regard to the importation of supplies by consignees, as owing to only 15,000 tons being allowed monthly the different consignments neces- sitate the using up by importers of each other’s licences, and any importer bringing over more than his percentage does so at the expense of another. Owing to the scarcity of home-grown timber an excess importation is expected to be applied for this month. The actual consignments from abroad for the week ended January 25 were as follow :— Cardiff {Barry and Penarth):— Date. Consignee. Loads. Jan. 19 A. Bromage and Co.......... 120 „ 19 A. Bromage and Co......... 120 „ 19 Lysberg Limited......... 2,7tO „ 19 A. Bromage and Co. ........ 96 „ 19 E. W. Cook and Co......... 125 „ 19 Budd and Co............... 730 „ 21 Lysberg Limited......... 2,040 „ 21 Lysberg Limited......... 1,320 „ 21 Lysberg Limited......... 1,200 „ 21 E. Marcesche and Co....... 300 „ 22 Grant Hayward and Co.../.. 120 „ 11 Grant Hayward and Co...... 180 Total..... 9,111 Newport Jan. 22 Budd and Co. Limited...... 174 Home-grown Timber Difficulties. There is an exceptional scarcity of labour in our forests and woodland areas, and the men already there have become disaffected owing to the higher wages offered in other spheres of labour and also to the uneven distribution of food. The scarcity of hauliers and the poor transport facilities led to great delays in the delivery of wood to the various collieries. This has been increased lately by workmen withholding their labour, and the coal trade has been on two occasions faced with the possibility of such a shortage of wood as would cause colliery stoppages. Mr. Finlay S. Gibson, secretary of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Colliery Owners’ Pitwood Association Limited, has drawn attention to the imperative need of maintaining regular supplies of wood to the Welsh collieries. He states that the supplies of home-grown timber have been twice interrupted through the action of the men employed. It was interrupted last December, and now the men have returned to their homes rather than render any assistance in the work of transport. Members of the Workers’ Union have stopped work with only a day’s notice. It is quite possible that the effect of a loss of supply of pitwood on some of the pits will be immediate, while still more serious is the prospect that if the authorities find it imperative to divert tonnage into the pitwood import trade in order that supplies of coal to the Navy may not be cut off or reduced, then there r»ust be a corresponding reduction in the tonnage available for the transport of food to the country. This illustrates the difficulty encountered in respect of the labour of cutters and transporters. The extra labour has been of a n cst inefficient character. Much waste has ensued by lack of skilled cutters, while hauliers are so scarce that deliveries are very slow, a very large amount of wood lying about awaiting delivery. Furthermore, higher wages in other industries tend to make the men dissatisfied, notwithstand- ing the good terms they have received. In the opinion of merchants, the time has arrived for classifying the trade as National Service and enlisting men for carrying out the most essential work of providing adequate supplies and deliveries of wood. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products. — A matter to which we drew attention recently—the extent to which tar will be available for municipal use during 1918—is understood to have received official attention, but the position is still uncertain, although local authorities employing direct labour and con- tractors who undertake road repairs and maintenance appear to expect good supplies. Tar for the roads is essen- tial, and tenders are being invited in the usual way. It was impossible to maintain road surfaces at their best last year, yet even the patching that went on involved a great consumption of tar. The doubt now existing concerns actual quantities and continuity of transport—the latter having assumed a new importance of late, in conjunction with the labour question. Quotations are unchanged, business in both tar and pitch this week being of an ordi- nary character. Pitch figures in the exports only for exceptional purposes, and it would be useless to prophesy regarding the position in the near future. The tendency of the freight market is to advance, with the result that such a commodity as pitch is seriously hampered. Occasionally shipments are made for near French ports, but Continental users may not care to keep pace with the extraordinary rise in chartering quotations. Solvent naphtha, at unchanged prices, is still in good demand, and naphtha is Well enquired for. Other by-products show no alteration since last week. Full quotations are appended:—Crude tar : London, 32s. 6d. to 35s.; Midlands, 26s. to 28s.; North, 27s. to 28s. per ton ex gas works. Pitch: London, 48s. to 50s.; East Coast, 25s. to 30s. f.o.b.; Liverpool, 22s.; West Coast, 23s. to 24s. f.a.s. Benzol: London, 90 per cent., Is. 0^d., naked; North, 10^d. to ll^d.; 50 per cent., Is. 3^d. to Is. 4^d., naked. Solvent naphtha : Naked, London, 90-190 per cent., 3s. to 3s. 3d.; North, 2s. 9d. to 3s.; 90-160 per cent, naked, London, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. ; North, 4s. to 4s. 3d. Crude naphtha: Naked, 30 per cent., 8^d. to 8^d.; North, 7fd. to 8£d. Refined naphthalene, £32 10s. to £35; salts, 80s. Toluol : Naked, London, 2s. 4d.; North, 2s., 3d. Creosote: Naked, London, 4|d.; North, 3fd. to 4d. (Government price, 72s. per ton, equal to 4gd. per gal. f.o.r.). Heavy oil, 4£d. to 4£d.; liquid, 4^d. to 4^d. Carbolic acid : Crude, 60 per cent, east coast and west coast, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 6d.; crystals, 39-40, Is. 3d. Cresylic: Casks, 95 per cent., 2s. lOd.; 97-99 per cent., 3s. ex works London, and f.o.b. other ports. Anthracene, 40-45 A, 3d. to 4^d.; 48-50, 6d.; B, l^d. to 2d. Aniline oil: Is. 2d., casks free; salts, Is. 2d., drums free. Sulphate of Ammonia. — The business in sulphate is steady, at official prices. The use of basic slag elicited a question in Parliament, apparently on the ground that Irish farmers were enjoying a preference over English farmers. The answer, while denying preferential treat- ment, held out no hopes of a change in the scheme. LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS.—January 28. Before the Lord Chancellor, Lord Haldane, Lord Dunedin, Lord Atkinson, and Lord Parmoor. Vessel in “ War Region.” Dominion Coal Company Limited v. Maskinonge Steam- ship Company Limited. — This was an appeal against a Court of Appeal decision which reversed Mr. Justice Bail- hache’s judgment regarding the chartering of a steamer. Under a time-charter dated November 4, 1909, the appel- lants, who are Canadian coal merchants, chartered the steamship “ Maskinonge ” for seven consecutive St. Law- rence seasons, beginning with the spring of 1912, to be employed in any safe trade, St. Lawrence, Baltic, and Black Sea excluded out of season. When war broke out, the charter was varied by the insertion of the following clause: “ If the steamer is ordered by the Dominion Coal Company Limited (the appellants) to trade in the war region, war risk insurance premium, payable by the owners, shall be refunded to them by the charterers.” After a German submarine sank several steamers off Nantucket lightship on October 8, the respondents effected extra war risk on the vessel, but appellants denied liability for this extra payment, and an action was brought to recover the amount. Mr. Justice Bailhache held that the region of the sinkings was not a war region. The Lord Chancellor supported the view of Mr. Justice Bailhache, and held that the extra insurance rates charged after the five sinkings did not constitute the locality a war region. Lord Dunedin said that, looking at the fact that the pre- miums were increased, and to the comparatively small dis- tance between the scene of the sinkings by torpedo and the route of the vessel, he thought a reasonable man would, at the time when the policy was taken, have called this a war region. He agreed with the Court of Appeal. Their lordships, by a majority, dismissed the appeal. SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE. COURT OF APPEAL.—January 28. Before Lords Justices Pickford, Bankes, and Scrutton. A Strike Clause. Harris v. Ocean Coal Company Limited.—The defendant company appealed from a decision of a Divisional Court reversing the judgment of the county court judge at Bridg- end. The respondent, Wm. Harris, of Blaengarw, brought the action to recover £23 5s. 5d., which represented the difference between the wages actually paid by the appel- lants to him for a period of 47 weeks, from July 22, 1915, to June 17, 1916—the difference between the wages he was actually paid and the wages he said he was . entitled to if he had been paid under the Conciliation Board agreement of 1915. Harris said that he came within some words of the Conciliation Board agreement. The county court judge held that the Conciliation Board agreement was never adopted as a contract between the parties. The Divisional Court held, as a matter of law, that both parties were bound by the Conciliation Board agreement, and that the appellant company were bound to pay Harris the wages under it. Their lordships held that the issue for decision mainly turned upon questions of fact, and that as there was evidence to support the findings of fact of the county court judge, it was not open to the Court of Appeal to disturb the decision of the learned county court judge. Lord Justice Bankes said that even assuming that Harris came within the definition of “ workman ” in the Concilia- tion Board agreement of 1915, it was competent for him by arrangement or by mutual agreement with his employers to say that he preferred to work under his then subsist- ing agreement, under which he had been working for many years, instead of going under the Conciliation Board agree- ment. His lordship thought there was evidence on which the county court judge was entitled to come to the con- clusion at which he had arrived, and that the Divisional Court was wrong in disturbing the decision at which he had arrived. The appeal was accordingly allowed, and the judgment of the county court judge restored. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is nothing new to report on the week. The under- tone is firm, and most makers adhere to the official maxi- mum price, now about 31s. 6d. basis net f.o.t. at works, for coke finish, but business is dull all round. Waster plates in 28 x 20 light substances are in good demand at full figures. Terne-plates continue very slow of sale, and concessions in price would no doubt be made for a favour- able specification. New Schedule of Protected Occupations.—On account of the need of the Armies in the Field for further recruits, it has been found necessary to revise the Schedule of Pro- tected Occupations (M.M.130.), which came into operation on May 7, 1917, and to issue a new Schedule under the title of M.M.130 (Revised). The main effect of the present revi- sion is to render available for recruitment all men medi- cally classified fit for General Service (Grade I.) who had not attained the age of 23 by January 1, 1917, whatever their occupation or the work upon which they are engaged, with the exception of certain classes of men engaged upon hull construction and repair. As this “clean cut” will not by itself provide a sufficient number of Grade I. men for the Army, a higher age has been fixed in certain occu- pations below which Grade I. men will be recruited. Men of military age engaged on Admiralty, War Office, or Muni- tions work, or in a railway workshop, whose occupation is not scheduled, are not entitled to protection on occupa- tional grounds if they are medically classified Grade I.