340

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

February 15, 1918.

recognition of the need to improve circumstances at the
collieries. The fixture of a rate of exchange will also
benefit shippers, and to this extent also an improvement is
being anticipated.

The second question which came up before the central
executive was that which caused so much discussion locally
—namely, the allocation of tonnage between different South
Wales ports, in order to secure more equal working at the
collieries—notably in the western area, and it is believed
that an allocation committee on which the coal owners
will be represented will be set up in order to bring about
what is desired.

At the Celynen Colliery, owing to failure of the
mechanism, the cage with 20 men in it raced to the bottom
and although, owing to immediate action by the engineer,
some amount of retardation was effected, seven men were
injured, one of them having his leg broken.

Throughout the coal field a ballot is in progress for selec-
tion of miners’ Parliamentary candidates. In the
Rhondda East division no fewer than six names are being
balloted upon, and there are five in the Caerphilly district
and two in Merthyr.

At the Meiros Colliery, near Llanharran, difficulties have
arisen in regard to the occupation of the company’s houses.
Over 60 workmen are waiting for houses, and the company
decided to eject two tenants who had left their employment
in order to provide accommodation to that extent. The
Ogmore and Gilfach district of the Miners’ Federation
met on Saturday and discussed the evictions, passing a.
resolution of protest against the action of the company,
and, it being stated that there were nine cases of ejectment
still pending, they pledged the support of the district for
any action that might be taken in resistance. One sug-
gestion was that if the ejectments were proceeded with
there should be a stoppage of work. As a result of
approach to the manager, however, the evictions are being
suspended, and it is understood that the trouble is at an
end.

In the Cardiff Exchange Buildings, on Tuesday, a
meeting took place of coal exporters to France, to con-
sider the suggested uniform scheme for allocation of orders.
Sir T. Watson, Bart., presided. It was agreed to accept
the following recommendations, and to communicate them
to the central executive for final adoption. The meeting
of the executive will be on Thursday of next week, when
the decision of other districts in South Wales will also
be dealt with : “ That where an individual importer is
the exclusive client of a particular exporter, as defined in
the scheme, from the district in question, the authorisa-
tion to that particular exporter shall be approved. (2) That
where an importer does business with two or more exporters
from the district in question the local committee shall see
that this business is fairly distributed among those ex-
porters who have done business with that importer in the
past. (3) Authorisations to groupments to be apportioned
by the local committees to those exporters previously
entrusted with the supply from the district in question, to
those importers now included in the groupments and in
the proportion supplied by them previous to the establish-
ments of groupments. (4) In the case of new business
the local committee shall decide whether the same shall
be given to the exporters who are named in the authorisa-
tions or otherwise dealt with.” This decision of the
Cardiff meeting is contrary to that of Swansea exporters,
for whereas the former have agreed to depart from the
practice which prevailed up to May 1916, Swansea exporters
have decided to adhere to it.

The exporters of coal to France, who met in Cardiff, on
Tuesday, discussed also the question of the withdrawal of
one-third of 5 per cent, brokerage, and passed a resolution
of strong protest. It was resolved to take united action
with other districts in resisting the proposal.

Among the disturbing influences affecting the coal trade
is a statement circulating in Cardiff Coal Exchange as to
intended combination of wagon building and repairing com-
panies, whereby the leading undertakings in the country
will unite, and in so doing effect for themselves a con-
siderable saving in staff and office expenses. By the elimi-
nation of competition a command of the market will be
gained, which, it is feared, may maintain high prices,
seeing that the new combine starts at a period when quota-
tions are very far above the normal.

During the sitting of the South-West Wales colliery tri-
bunal, at Swansea, on Monday, Captain H. Williams
announced that the National Service Department had issued
instructions as to the enlistment of lads employed in or
about coal mines who had attained the age of 18. It was
ordered that : “ A lad working in or about a coal mine
will not in future be served with a calling-up notice to
report for service on a date earlier than that on which he
attains the age of 18 years and 8 months.” • Applications
to the colliery recruiting court, or certificates of exemption
may, as from January 9, 1918, be made by, or on behalf
of, lads as soon as they attain the age of 17 years and
9 months, and the certificates may be issued prior to their
attaining military age, and will be regarded by the
National Service Department as valid, although so issued.
The court should grant exemption if the lad was working
in or about a coal mine prior to attaining the age of 17
years, and should refuse if he did not begin work in or
about the coal mines until after attaining the age of 17.
If it is refused, the lad will not, in fact, be called up until
he has attained the age of 18 years and 9 months. As
attempts may be made by lads to enter the industry from
other occpuations in order to get the additional 8 months
allowed by paragraph 1 before calling up, the Controller
of Mines has issued instructions to coal owners that they
are not to take into employment any lad coming from
some other employment who has attained the age of 17
years and 9 months unless he can show some good and
sufficient reason for entering the industry—for example, ill-
ness or accident, or that his father has been habitually
engaged in coal mining.

Mr. W. Fairlamb, who for the past 30 years has been
secretary of the Rhymney Railway Company, has retired
from that position.

New rates of freight applicable to coal and patent fuel
exports to the French and Bay ports were issued on
Monday. The change was unexpected, and the new regu-
lation provoked criticism. It applies only to British
vessels, and came into force at once. The rates are maxi-
mum, and ship owners can arrange with representatives
of the French Government for insurance of war risk.
Patent fuel is fixed 5 per cent, above the maximum coal
rate. The alterations are material. Whereas fixtures for
Rouen were made under the old schedule for steamers of
1,000 tons and above at 24s. 6d., the new fixture will have
to be, where steamers exceed 750 tons register—for Rouen,
19s. 6d. For smaller boats the rates rise as follows :—
Between 500 and 750 tons register—Rouen, 23s.; between
400 and 500 tons, 26s. 6d.; below 400 tons, 34s. These
indicate the nature of the alterations; but it is in respect
of sailing vessels that most criticism has been occasioned,

these having a rate of 68s. 6d. for Rouen. Coke rates to
Rouen for steamers over 750 tons are 43s., and range up to
58s. for vessels under 400 tons. Upon time-charter
vessels the rate will be—steamers, 2,500 to 3,600 dead
weight, 25s. per ton gross register per month, the rate
varying until for vessels under 400 tons gross the rate is
65s. per ton register per month—all of these latter inclu-
sive of war risk.

The reports of the local mineral railways are of special
interest this year and they evidence the effect of the
restricted colliery outputs. Cardiff Railway Company,
who own the Bute Docks, report that their trade, inwards
and outwards, amounted during 1917 to 9,667,184 tons, a
decrease of about 1,417,112 tons as compared with 1916,
and the whole of this is attributed to the shortage of
shipping and the reduced output of coal due to war con-
ditions. The dividends of the different undertakings being-
guaranteed, do not show any difference except that that
of the Taff Vale Railway Company is fractionally higher
owing to special circumstances, not due to traffic.

There are one or two very interesting features in the
new schedule of coal prices — especially that as to the
arrangement for payment for cargoes sent to neutral coun-
tries. Scandinavia, Spain, and Holland will make pay-
ment through British Government agents; and an impor-
tant point is that the payment will be in the currency of
the particular country, as to which a fixed rate of exchange
is to be established. The prices show the increase of 2s. 6d.
per ton, which has been made in order to meet the cost of
the miners’ extra war wage; and there is a special provision
that brokerage on freight retained by the coal exporter is
not to exceed 6d. per ton, but that anything beyond this
will go to the colliery; and instead of agents abroad having
a commission up to 4^d. per ton, the amount allowed them
will in future be limited to 25 per cent, of what is received
under the same heading by the exporter.

Northumberland and Durham.

Whilst John Donnison, 51, engine driver, was bringing
a set of loaded wagons from the Maria Pit, Throckley, to
Lemington, last week, the set ran amain, owing to the
greasy state of the rails, and Donnison, in attempting to
apply the brakes on the wagon, was thrown under them
and run over, receiving injuries from which he died almost
immediately. At the inquest a verdict of “ Accidental
death ” was returned, and the jury added a recommenda-
tion that in future less than eight wagons should consti-
tute a load and more efficient brake power should be
provided.

A meeting of Newcastle coal exporters has been held this
week to consider the decision of the Coal Controller to
transfer the one-third of 5 per cent, freight brokerage from
the merchants to the collieries, from which it will be col-
lected for the State. The proposal is not liked, but it has
not been decided to take any action in the matter.

Cleveland.

The accountants to the Board of Conciliation and
Arbitration for the Manufactured Iron and Steel Trade of
the North of England have certified the average net selling
price of iron plates, bars and angles, for the two months
ending December 31 at =£13 14s. 5-70d., as compared
with £13 15s. 4-29d. for the previous two months, and
under sliding scale arrangements ironworkers’ wages for
February and March are unaltered.

Yorkshire.

The subscription list of the Yorkshire Coal Exchange to
the Y.M.C.A. has been closed, the sum raised being <£1,345.
The members of the Hull market have subscribed <£580.

There was a large attendance last Saturday at a meeting
at Sheffield, of the recently formed Yorkshire branch of
the Midland Counties Colliery Under-Managers’ Associa-
tion. It was stated the association is not a trade union,
and that its main objects are to improve and safeguard
the status, economic position, and conditions of employ-
ment of members. The association intends to do all it can
to increase educational facilities.

At a meeting of the coal merchants’ section of the Brad-
ford Chamber of Trade, last week, it was reported
that members of the section had received a circular from
the local coal executive officer, stating that unless the
forms recently issued—asking for various particulars of
stocks of coal, names of collieries supplying the district,
number of men engaged, etc.—were returned by February
9, he would take legal proceedings. It was decided to
reply to the effect that the necessary information had been
given and that the executive officer was now asking ques-
tions not justified by law. The section decided to contest
the case if proceedings were taken. A discussion was
raised on the subject of the remuneration to be paid to
“ nobbiers ” in the yards, it having been found that some
of these men had gone about from merchant to merchant,
alleging that they could get higher pay from others than
that offered, and demanding a similar figure. On con-
sideration by the meeting it was found that these state-
ments were not in accordance with the facts and a definite
scale for the protection of the merchants was, therefore,
mutually agreed upon.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

The annual meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Col-
liery Firemen’s Association was held, last week, at Man-
chester. Some of the resolutions dealt with the non-
unionist question, it being stated in the annual report that
the non-unionist deputy was as great a danger as the non-
unionist miner, and that the matter had been submitted
to the Coal Controller, whose decision was being awaited ;
the abolition of overtime, and the application for holidays,
clothes and coal. The shot-firers’ question was deferred.
It was mentioned in the secretary’s report that at present
a person of any age could be appointed a shot-firer, the
opinion being expressed that a shot-firer should at least
possess a fireman’s certificate and be of the same age. A
resolution in favour of Parliamentary representation was
carried, and a sub-committee was constituted. The fol-
lowing officials were elected for 1918 :—President, Wm.
G. Miller; vice-president, J. Powell; treasurer, W. Smith ;
secretary, P. Derbyshire.

The Midlands.

A monthly meeting of the South Staffordshire and East
Worcestershire Colliery Under-Managers’ Association was
held at Dudley, on Saturday, the president (Mr. B. Haynes)
occupying the chair. It was reported that all the associa-
tions had made representations to the Coal Controller for
greater consideration respecting remuneration.

Kent.

At the Tilmanstone Colliery, last week, the output was
2,802 tons, and at Snowdown Colliery about 2,700 tons.

Important negotiations are now proceeding in connection
with the rapid development of the Kent coal field immedi-
ately conditions become favourable. The probabilities are
that the whole of the Kent Coal Concessions and other

areas, in which many millions of tons of coal and ironstone
have been proved, will come under one control, in which
very big northern colliery and iron interests are concerned.

The shareholders in the Ebbsfleet Coal Syndicate, whose
area is in East Kent, have received an invitation from the
directors to deposit sums of money with them to a total
of <£3,000 for the purposes of the syndicate. An appli-
cation was recently made to the Treasury for sanction to a
small debenture issue, but this was declined.

Scotland.

Major Cranston, of the War Office, was present at a
largely attended meeting of the Scottish Mine Managers’
Association, held in Edinburgh, on Saturday, to discuss
regulations to prevent the miscarrying of detonators and
explosives from mines. Mr. Wm. Stevenson, Cleland,
the president of the association, explained the nature of the
regulations mutually agreed upon by Mr. W. Walker,
H.M. inspector for the Scotland Division and the local
owners of Scotland for voluntary application during the
period of the war. Major Cranston stated that up to the
present time he had interviewed something like 200 colliery
managers in Scotland, and he found they were entirely in
favour of the object which the War Office had in view,
namely, the prevention of obvious leakage of explosives
from the mines. He admitted that there was some diffi-
culty in getting the managers and officials to concede that
the following clause in the regulations could be made opera-
tive from a practical point of view :—“ Every shot shall
be charged and stemmed under the supervision of a reliable,
person appointed in writing for the purpose, and such
person shall keep a daily record of the number of shots
fired and the number of cartridges in each pit.” The
meeting agreed to recommend that the right to search work-
men should be embodied in the regulations, and that the
Explosives Order, 1915, should be withdrawn for the
duration of the war, and a reversion made to the Explosives
Order, 1913. The President announced that in the majority
of coal pits throughout Scotland the advance of £75 per
annum on managers’ salaries had been generally conceded.
Steps were also being taken to ensure that the advance was
given to managers of shale and fireclay mines. It was
intimated that Mr. Robert McLaren, who recently retired
from the inspectorate of mines in Scotland, had been
appointed mining expert and adviser to the association, and
that the council was at present considering a scheme for
the superannuation of Scottish colliery managers.

It is proposed by the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union that
North Lanark should be contested in the Labour interest
at the forthcoming General Election. A ballot vote is
being taken on the following gentlemen :—Messrs. Duncan
Graham, James Murdoch and Joseph Sullivan. The
nominee securing the highest number of votes will be
adopted as the candidate.

When the Coal Controller granted the special war wage
to the miners as from September 17 last, he pledged him-
self that this wage would not be taken into account in
arriving at the amount of partial compensation which a
man at light work received. It was found in practice that
many difficulties had to be overcome before that pledge
could be implemented, but so far as the Scottish Mine
Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association is concerned he
trouble is now at an end.

At Methil the coal shipments for the week show a
decrease—24,021 tons as against 27,855 being set out. At
Burntisland, 11,630 tons were shipped as against 8,660 tons
in the same week last year.

Coal royalties payable to Dunfermline Corporation for
their collieries for the year amount to £2,532, made up as
follows :—Townhill, £1,768 ; Muircockhall, £416 ; King-
seat, £251 ; and wayleaves, £97. The total represents a
decrease of £1,685 from last year.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The movement for an eight hours day for surface
workers is being energetically prosecuted by the Tredegar
Valley miners, who have resolved to initiate an agitation
throughout the coal field in its favour, and at their meeting
on Monday a deputation was appointed to wait on the
Federation executive and endeavour to secure support. In
the course of the meeting one of the representatives on
the executive spoke against any sectional strike, and said
that any strike, to be successful, should be on a scale large
enough to make, not the employers alone, but also the
general community feel its effect. Employers and their
officials must undertand that the days of absolute owner-
ship and control were over, and that undertakings were
run jointly by employers and workmen.

The Monmouthshire Western Valley miners are calling
for a conference of the whole coalfield, in order that the
suggestion for a five day week may be discussed, the object
being to ensure more equal distribution of work.

The Rhondda district of miners decided to approach the
Federation executive, seeking permission for men to tender
notices at a number of the leading collieries, such as Fern-
dale, Albion, Penrhiwceiber, etc., because of non-payment
of war wage to men engaged on the Sunday night shift.

The National Union of Cokemen and By-product
Workers have submitted to the Committee on Production
a claim for payment at the rate of time and a half on
account of week end work, as well as for overtime and
holidays. Mr. Winstone brought forward the claim of the
men employed by the Blaenavon Company, contending that
they should be raised to the level of payment made to
similar workmen in other South Wales undertakings. The
decision of the committee was not announced.

The Coal Controller, as a result of an interview with Mr.
Winstone (acting president of the South Wales miners),
has undertaken to make enquiry into a statement submitted
that a number of the South Wales coal owners decline to
pay war wage on the sixth turn, although the miners
regard the previous decision of the Controller as having
been favourable to this.

The chairman of the West Wales munition tribunal (Mr.
J. Vaughan Edwards) has conducted an enquiry into a
strike of about 300 men at the Llandebie Colliery, and the
enquiry lasted for seven days, Mr. Edwards sitting as
arbitrator. Solicitors appeared for the employers and the
workmen. The question at issue was as to the action of
the company’s weigher, complaint having been made both
by the workmen and by their checkweigher. Evidence
was given on behalf of the men, and rebutting evidence on
behalf of the management, the men having called for the
removal of the company’s weigher. The strike had lasted
for about a month, when it was agreed to resume work
pending the investigation, which has now concluded. At
the final sitting the arbitrator announced that his award
would be given in due course.

Mr. J. D. Morgan (chief agent of the anthracite miners)
has been called to London in order that he might consult