February 22, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 393 sion should be final, he had no jurisdiction. The claim was dismissed, but notice of appeal was given. Representatives of the Northumberland Mine Workers’ Federation and the Northern Section of the British Medical Association have conferred respecting the application of the colliery doctors of the county for an increase in fees from 9d. to Is. per fortnight. The application was based on the increased cost of drugs, which, it was stated, had advanced from 300 to 400 per cent, since the war started, and on the general increase in the cost of living. Asked whether it was intended to revert to 9d. per fortnight after the war, the doctors said it was impossible to forecast the conditions, but that the matter could be raised at that time. The Federation has decided strongly to recommend the lodges to agree to the doctors’ requests. Nominations by the Northumberland Miners’ Associa- tion to fill the positions of four Parliamentary Labour candidates have now been collected from the lodges and issued to be voted upon. Returns are due at the Burt Hall by March 2. Thirty-one of the best-known members of the association, and Mr. Robt. Smillie (president of the Miners’ Federation) have been nominated. It is intended to have a list of six probable candidates in readiness, including Messrs. Wm. Straker and John Cairns, who have already been selected for the Wansbeck and Morpeth Divi- sions respectively. Yorkshire. Some figures were given in the Doncaster West Riding Police Court last Saturday as to the extent to which miners are shirking their duties in some of the collieries of South Yorkshire. The present high rate of wages was advanced as one of the causes of this slacking. The Askern Main Colliery Company prosecuted James Horne, miner, Norton, for neglecting his work, and claimed <£7 damages, at the rate of £1 per day, for seven shifts he had missed out of 11. Mr. F. Allen, solicitor, who prosecuted, said the com- pany found that claiming nominal damages from the men was no penalty. The miners simply paid off so much per week when the collector came, and thought no more about it. The Bench ordered defendant to pay <£7 damages. The magistrates then heard 14 summonses taken out by the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company against employees for neglecting work. Only two of the men appeared. Mr. Allen said the position was becoming more serious every day. In the time of the absentee boards the percentage of absentees at the pit was 9 per cent. ; to-day it was 16. Mr. Smith, manager of the Denaby Colliery, gave evidence as to the great amount of trouble caused by the men, and remarked that the absentee question was a very serious danger. The amounts claimed from the men varied from <£5 to <£10 apiece, and the magistrates made orders for its payment in each case. Mr. H. Smith, who presided at a special meeting of the council of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association at Barnsley, said the association regretted to hear that, after the fixing of prices dating back to 1916, and the further claim early in 1917 to improve the wages of surface workers generally, the coal owners of both the South and West Yorkshire associations had been negotiating with other associations which had agreed to accept considerably worse wages and conditions than the Yorkshire Miners’ Association were prepared to accept. The other associations could not do anything for banksmen, pit-top men, screenmen, yardmen, until after the expiration of the present Conciliation Board agreement. It was the association’s intention to go on organising these workers, so that when the association met the coal owners they could speak for all mine workers. The lowest minimum wage paid for surface workers of 22 years of age, including percentage and war bonus, was 9s. 3d. per day in South Yorkshire, and only a few coppers less in West Yorkshire. Where double shifts were worked, the hours for banksmen and screenmen were eight hours, and in cases of single shifts nine hours, including time for meals in both cases. Overtime was paid after eight or nine hours, as the case might be. The surface workers, Mr. Smith said, had realised their position was inside the Miners’ Association, and they were joining in large numbers. Notts and Derbyshire. The South Derbyshire Miners’ Association has waited upon Mr. J. B. Marsden-Smedley, C.C., the Food Commis- sioner for Derbyshire, with reference to alleged grievances in connection with food distribution, and urging the appointment of miners’ representatives upon the Central Food Committee. Mr. Smedley promised consideration of the request. , Kent. The question of the export of Kent coal from Dover was under discussion at a special meeting of Dover Chamber of Commerce. Aid. Prescott, who is a representative of the Corporation on the Harbour Board, suggested that the present difficulties might be overcome by building several jetties out from the North Wall into the Commercial Har- bour, where vessels could load for French or other oversea ports at any state of the tide. The expense of construct- ing such jetties, he stated, would not be very heavy, and a great quantity of coal, up to a million tons yearly if necessary, could be exported from Dover in this way. The aiderman promised to keep the matter before the Harbour Board. Scotland. At a meeting of the West of Scotland branch of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers, in the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, on Saturday, a paper on “ Steam Turbines as Applied to Colliery Work ” was read by Mr. P. J. Pliven. He said the advantages of the turbine became quickly apparent at an output of 700 kw. and above. Below that output it would appear that the engine had advantages, although these were to some extent discounted by the fact that the design of the impulse tur- bine was such that only negligible increase in consumption takes place after years of running with little attention; whereas the engine requires constant attention and over- hauling if its original efficiency is to be approached. Fire broke out on Sunday last at Dalkeith Colliery, which is worked by Messrs. A. G. Moore and Company Limited, Glasgow. The outbreak occurred in the electrical engine house, and considerable damage was done. A lecture on coal oils was delivered by Mr. J. Drum- mond Paton, Manchester, at a meeting of the Scottish Centre of the Institution of Automobile Engineers in Glasgow on Saturday evening. Mr. Paton put forward a strong plea for the utilisation of “bastard” or low-grade coal in the production of oil. He did not, he said, propose to touch the higher grades of coal now used for industrial purposes, but there were, it was estimated, about 30,000 tons of waste coal raised per annum. By means of low temperature and distillation, large quantities of petrol, paraffin, and heavier oils would be recovered. The Scottish Mine Managers’ Association have appointed Mr. R. McLaren (late H.M. inspector of mines) to be mining expert to the association. Mr. McLaren is pre- pared to advise members on all matters pertaining to the Mines Act, and to defend them when -necessary in cases of prosecution. A sequel to a breach of the Coal Mines Order was related in Linlithgow Sheriff Court, when a charge was made against Daniel Cochrane and Robt. Sinclair, electrician and machineman respectively, of having at Braehead Colliery, Fauldhouse, on December 22, failed to comply with the section of the Order which requires that a defec- tive electric cable must not be repaired underground, but taken to the surface. They pleaded guilty. The Pro- curator-Fiscal said it was rarely that a breach of this particular part of the Order was heard of in that court. The object of this provision, he took it, was to prevent tinkering with these cables underground. Each was fined <£2. A superannuation scheme is being considered by the executive of the Scottish Mine Managers’ Association. It is proposed to lay the same before the Scottish coal owners, who are to be asked to contribute. The fire which took place at Lochgelly Collieries in a coal seam in the winding shaft has now been got under. The seam was the Lochgelly Splint, the same seam in which a similar fire broke out at Donibristle Colliery- at the same time. The affected portion has been built off. A meeting of the West of Scotland Iron and Steel Institute was held in the Technical College, Glasgow, on Friday of last week, under the presidency of Mr. George Beard. A report, in the form of a paper, was submitted by Dr. C. H. Desch on “ Improvements in the Puddling Process.” A paper on “ Some Useful Testing Machines ” was submitted by Messrs. H. S. and J. S. G. Primrose. The shipment of coal from Methil for the week showed a substantial increase, totalling 22,113 tons, against 17,289 tons in the previous week. At Burntisland the shipments were 10,730 tons, as against 9,870 tons in the same week last year. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late tor inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last White pages. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Clitheroe, March 6.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, Clitheroe. East Ham, March 1.—Coal and coke (6 or 12 months) for the Corporation. Forms from the town clerk, Town Hall, East Ham. Larne, February 28.—House coal for the Urban Dis- trict Council. Forms from the clerk, Council Offices, Larne, Ireland. London, N., February 26.—House coal (four months) for the Guardians of St. Mary. Forms from the clerk, Guardians’ Offices, St. John’s-road, Upper Holloway. London, N.W., March 5.—Coal dust and ganister (6 or 12 months) for the Great Central Railway Company. Forms from the stores superintendent, Great Central Rail- way, Gorton, Manchester. Macclesfield, March 18.—Coal for the County Asylum, Parkside, Macclesfield. Forms from the clerk. New Hunstanton, Feb. 26.—3,000 tons large, double- screened gas nuts (South Yorkshire), in monthly quantities for the U.D. Council. No forms. Tenders to the clerk, Council Offices, New Hunstanton. Rathmines, March 2. — Coal for the Joint Hospital Board. Forms from the matron, Vergemount Hospital, Clonskeagh, Ireland. Rawtenstall, Feb. 25.—Coal and coke for depots and schools. Forms from the acting borough surveyor, Town Hall, Rawtenstall. Staines, March 14.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from F. Hutchinson, clerk, Ashford, Middlesex. Woolwich, March 7. — Coal and coke for the Guar- dians. Forms from the clerk, Workhouse, Plumstead. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Bacup, March 14.—Various.—Pitch, creosote oil, iron castings, etc. (12 months), for the Corporation. Forms from the borough surveyor, Municipal Offices. Bed was (Mon.), March 7.—Colliery Stores.—Iron and steel castings, bolts, nuts, colliers’ tools, pitch pines, wire ropes, steel rails, etc. (6 months), for the Bed was Colliery Navigation Company Limited. Forms from the secretary, Bedwas. Caister, March 7.—Tar.—16,500 gals, of tar for the Rural District Council. Forms from the Council Offices. Durham, March 9. — Materials. — Tar, etc., for the County Council. Forms from the county surveyor, Shire Hall, Durham. London, N.W., March 5.—Stores.—Firebricks, fireclay, tubing, iron bars, galvanised sheets, nails, oil, tar, rivets, steel billets, steel wire ropes (6 or 12 months), for the Great Central Railway Company. Forms from the stores superintendent, Great Gentral Railway, Gorton Man- chester. Madrid, March 22.—Railway.—Secondary railway from Villaodrid to Villafranca del Bierzo. Estimated cost, 51,165,079 pesetas. Tenders to Direccion-General de Obras Publicas, Ministerio de Fomento, Madrid. Rawtenstall, Feb. 25.—Various.—Pitch, creosote oil, iron castings, etc., for the Corporation. Forms from the acting borough surveyor, Town Hall. Southall (Middlesex), March 11.—Materials. — Coal tar, oil tar (12 months) for the Urban District Council. Forms from the engineer, Town Hall, Southall. Wigan, Feb. 25.—Stores.—Pitch, refined tar, iron tools, etc., for the Corporation. Forms from the borough engi- neer, Municipal Offices, Wigan. Coal Mining in New Brunswick.—A report of mining operations in New Brunswick during 1917 states that the output (estimated) in the first six months totalled 75,000 tons. Within the last year the “ stripping ” method has been used by some of the operators, the plan being to strip off the “ overburden ” by means of steam shovels. It is too soon yet to compare results with the method of shafts and tunnels, but it is expected, in those places where the coal is not very deep, that it will be more economical. LAW INTELLIGENCE. SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE. COURT OF APPEAL.—February 15. Before Lords Justices Pickford, Warrington, and SCRUTTON. Alleged Breach of Contract. Societe Generale de Chemin de Fer Economiques (Societe Anonyme) v. The Cleeves Western Valleys Anthracite Collieries Limited.—The defendants appealed from a judg- ment of Mr. Justice Rowlatt, in the Commercial Court, awarding the plaintiffs, a Paris Company, £6,262 damages and costs for alleged breach of contract for the supply of coal to be shipped for the use of the plaintiffs’ Italian busi- ness in the autumn of 1915. Counsel stated that the plaintiffs wanted the coal for steam tramways in Italy, and purchased from the defen- dants 4,000 tons of Merthyr coal, at 64s. 6d. per ton c.i.f. Savona. The contract called for shipment in October and November 1915, but the vessel which had been arranged for was requisitioned, and subsequently it was discovered that the coal could not be shipped in any vessel owing to Admiralty requirements. Mr. Justice Rowlatt held that the defendants were liable for damages. Their lordships affirmed that judgment, and dismissed the appeal with costs. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE. KING’S BENCH DI VISION.—February 18. Before Mr. Justice Bray. Iron Bar Contract. J. Batt and Company (London) Limited v. Coghlan Iron and Steel Works Limited, Hunslet.—The plaintiffs claimed damages for non-delivery of crown iron bars (Hunslet brand) sold by defendants under contracts dated February 18 and 19, 1916. Defendants pleaded that, owing to State requirements, the performance of the con- tracts was impossible, and that they were protected by the Munitions Act, Defence of the Realm Act, and various Orders and Regulations. The Government ordered a cer- tain priority after the contracts had been entered into. His lordship held that the defendants’ operations were interfered with by the Government, and that they were prevented from executing the orders, or any part of them, except the 21 tons delivered. Defendants did all they reasonably could to execute the plaintiffs’ orders. He found in favour of the defendants, and gave judgment for them with costs. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Business done in the outward freight market this week is only of very small dimensions, the volume of neutral tonnage available showing practically no improvement. On the north-east coast, the coal trade has been appreciably aided by the improvement in the amount of coal requisi- tioned on official account, these cargoes being, of course, provided with transport facilities. Apart from this, busi- ness has been very flat. Only three fixtures are recorded —one for Gothenburg at 160 kr., one for Gibraltar at 100s., and one for Stockholm at 175 kr. The Swedish rates, it will be noted, show some ease on the week. There is a good deal of business offering for Sweden, but shippers are not pressing at present, it being anticipated that larger supplies of neutral tonnage will shortly be forthcoming. Since the new fixed rates came into operation, there has been an entire absence of coasting business, presumably on account of the lowness of these rates compared with what was obtainable earlier. Nothing has been done for the Spanish Atlantic, the Portuguese ports, or for Port Said for some time now, and rates are still quoted at 180s. to Bilbao or Santander, 115s. for Lisbon, 125s. for Oporto, and 200s. for Port Said. As to the Spanish Mediterranean, about 400s. to Barcelona represents shippers’ idea of what the rate should be, but owners are asking up to 500s. It is not believed that the Inter-Allied Committee would pass any rate over 400s. At South Wales, fixtures, excepting for three to Gibraltar at 100s., have been confined to French Atlantic ports at the scheduled figures. There is a good enquiry for tonnage for neutral destinations; but “ nothing doing.” Homewards, the River Plate continues dull, at about 200s. from lower ports to the United Kingdom. At the United States, the coal freight from Virginia to the Plate is still mentioned at 125s. On net form basis, Northern Range to France is steady, at 260s., with 330s. for French Mediterranean, and 360s. for West Italian discharge. Medi- terranean ore ports busily book tonnage for United King- dom discharge at firm figures. Tyne to Gothenburg, 2,100, 160 kr.; Gibraltar, 2,500, 100s.; and Stockholm, 2,400, 175 kr. Cardiff to Bordeaux, 2,800, 69s., neutral; Brest, 4,000, 44s., neutral; Caen, 500 and 800, 48s., neutral;'Cherbourg, 1,500 and 1,700, 23s. 6d., Allied; 1,550, 18s. 6d., Allied; 1,500, 18s. 6d., with special war insurance, British; 1,100 and 1,300, 47s. 3d., neutral; Gibraltar, 3,500 and 4,500, 100s.; Honfleur, 750 and 900, 48s., neutral; and Rouen, 1,300, 1,400, and 1,500, 48s. 9d., neutral. Swansea to Rouen, 1,400, 1,450, 1,500, and 1,600, 48s. 9d., neutral; and Caen, 600 and 700, 48s., neutral. Newport to Gibraltar, 3,500, 100s. Methil to Stockholm, 2,000, 190 kr. Mersey to Gibraltar, 4,500, 100s.; and Lisbon, 3,500, 100s. Later.—The following additional fixtures are reported: Tyne to Barcelona, 4,500, 415s.; and Treport, 650, 46s., coke. Cardiff to Bordeaux, 2,300, 69s., neutral; and Rouen, 1,300 and 1,500, 48s. 9d., neutral. Swansea to Caen, 900, 48s., neutral. Glasgow to Gibraltar, 110s. The Tyne Barcelona fixture is especially interesting, so long a time having elapsed since there was any reliable indication of the rate to the Spanish Mediterranean. Freights to Ireland. — The Ministry of Shipping has issued an announcement to the effect that the maximum freight rates recently fixed on vessels engaged in the coal carrying trade from South Wales to Ireland will be increased by 25 per cent, in respect of sailing vessels. When these maximum rates were published, the same rates applied for both steamers and sailing vessels alike. The fixed rates of sailing vessels from the Bristol Channel ports to Irish ports are as follow :—Larne or Belfast, 22s. 6d. up to 500 tons, 21s. 3d. over 500 tons; Belfast, Dundalk, or Greenore, or Dublin, 21s. 3d. up to 500 tons, 20s. over 500 tons; Newry, 21s. 10^d. and 20s. 7^d.; Waterford, 23s. Hd. and 21s. 10^d.; and Cork, 23s. 9d. and 22s. 6d. respectively. To Wexford, 25s. up to 500 tons.