706

THE COLLIERY GUARDIA^.

April 5, 1918.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The colliery examiners’ executive met on Monday in
Cardiff, and passed a resolution requesting that the new
Conciliation Board should meet to decide upon a demand
for a general wage-rate and uniform conditions of
employment.

With regard to the clerks under Messrs. Guest, Keen
and Company, Dowlais, Cardiff, the Committee on Pro-
duction has decided that their claim to receive a total
war bonus of 25s. a week had not been established, and
it should be noted that during 1917 these employees have
received two increases of wages.

A joint conference of employers’ and men’s representa-
tives in the tinplate trade has been held in the Metal
Exchange, Swansea, in order to consider the proposals
for calling out tinplate men to the Army. It is stated
that as many as 1,000 men will be withdrawn from that
particular industry, but not all at once; not more than
300 at the present time. The joint conference will have
supervising duty in respect of the withdrawal of the
men.

The colliery examiners have agreed with the employers
of South Wales and Monmouthshire as to the establish-
ment of a new Conciliation Board to deal with the
particular questions affecting this class of employees.
There will be ten representatives from each side; and at
the first joint meeting Mr. B. Nicholas presided over
the employers’ representatives, and Mr. W. R. Williams
over the representatives of the examiners. The agreement
pledges each side to avoid difficulties and disputes as
far as possible, and that, when difficulties do arise, the
management, together with the examiners’ officials, will
endeavour to settle the questions at the collieries
respectively affected, but in the event of failure the issue
will be referred to the joint board, whose decision is to
be retrospective. No notice terminating contracts is to
be given until the board has failed to agree, nor can
any collective notice terminating contracts be put in
during the currency of the agreement, which is termin-
able only upon three months notice.

An agreement has been reached between the colliery
owners and the Miners’ Federation in order to expedite
the investigation and settlement of disputes. The matter
has been discussed from time to time, and it came up
finally at the Conciliation Board last week, when Mr.
F. L. Davis occupied the chair. A report was presented
by the joint sub-committee which has been entrusted with
the consideration of suggestions from the workmen’s side,
and decision was reached. Its most important feature is
that each side undertakes not to give any support in
the case of stoppage on account of disputes until a new
joint committee which has been set up shall have had the
matter brought before it. The new committee consists
of seven representatives from each side, and will meet
regularly, once a week being fixed upon at present, in
order to talk over all questions where the managers and
the workmen! have failed to settle on the spot. The com-
mittee will report in due course to the Conciliation Board.
A number of summonses have been issued in different
parts of the coal field through, breaches of contract by work-
men who stopped without notice, and, as has been reported,
more than once the employers have had to complain of
these illegal stoppages, and they have had to meet requests
from the workmen’s representatives that the summonses
should be withdrawn, a request they could not comply with
because their only remedy lay in prosecution. The old
complaint of dilatoriness in dealing with disputes and
bringing the points at issue to a settlement has been made
over and over again, especially by the workmen, and
the expectation now is that the appointment of the new
committee will extinguish this grievance and will at the
same time go a long way to prevent sudden and illegal
stoppages because those who take part in them will have
no support from their organisation.

The Conciliation Board has had before it the sugges-
tion from the Federation to reinstate in their former
employment those men who had volunteered for the Army
and other national service, and this has been referred to
a sub-committee of the employers who will report upon it
in due course.

A question arose with regard to the clerks engaged
under the Tredegar Company, but the Committee on
Production have decided adversely to their claim for a
further increase, it being* pointed out that large advances
have been made already.

Proposals are being submitted to the employers’ organ-
isation and to the different trade unions so that an
Industrial Council may be set up for the Welsh plate
and sheet trades.

North of England.

A special meeting of the Cumberland Coal Conciliation
Board was held at Workington last week, Mr. R.
Steel (Whitehaven) presiding. The miners demanded an
advance of a shilling per shift for all workers continuously
working on the night shift. The masters declined to
give any advance, and it was decided to refer the question
to a neutral chairman, to be appointed. The men also
demanded an advance of Is. per day on the present
standard rates for shot firers. The employers made an
offer, which was rejected, and this matter was also referred
to neutral judgment. Another issue was the interpreta-
tion of the latter paragraph of Sir W. J. Collins’s award
of February 20. The matter was not settled, and it was
agreed that a meeting of the Minimum Wage Board should
be held on Tuesday to consider the whole of the award.

Another special meeting of the Conciliation Board was
held at Workington last week, under the chairmanship
of Mr. J. Dickinson, of Aspatria, vice-chairman. The
question of forming local committees for the purpose of
the comb-out was discussed, and at a subsequent meeting
of the-miners’ delegates, the following resolution was
passed . unanimously “ That we set up committees at
each pit,. and that such committees be left with power
to deal with every case upon its merits.”

The Northumberland Coal Owners’ Association has
dealt as follows with requests from the Council of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association:—“With reference
to the request for rent and fire coal allowances for all
married surface workers, the owners state that they are
willing to negotiate with the workmen for the abolition
of free houses and coal. So long as the present custom
continues they are not prepared to agree to any extension
of the privilege. The owners consider that the request
that they should agree that part compensation men doing
light work be allowed to work not less than five days per
week when the pit was working slack time, should be
discussed with the management of collieries. The owners
have agreed to pay 2s. instead of Is. 6d., in addition
to railway fares, as expenses to men who have to attend
Newcastle for medical examination at the request of the

colliery owners. A recommendation that the scale of
basis wages for datal lads be according to age is not
approved by the owners, who do not consider it desirable
that wages should be fixed according to age, irrespective
of capacity and work performed. The owners state that
they cannot see their way to consent to the elimination
of the following paragraph from Clause 1 of the Eight
Hours’ Act Agreement :—“ The selection of the scheme
and the number of shifts to be worked shall be at the
option of the management at any time without limitation
and to suit the circumstances of the different collieries.”

Scotland.

At Milnwood Colliery, Bellshill, Lanarkshire, a dispute
arose last week, the allegation being that the girls
employed at the picking tables, being few in number, were
overworked. Douglas Park, Parkhead, and Milnwood
Collieries, all belonging to the Wilsons and Clyde Coal
Company, were thrown idle. On the advice of the
executive of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union, work has
been fully resumed pending a settlement of the grievances.

At Greenhill Colliery, Newarthill, Lanarkshire, trouble
has arisen regarding the method of working the places.
The executive committee of the union deputed Mr. James
Law to make an examination of the places before deciding
upon any definite line of action.

A point of difficulty regarding the payment of war
wages to certain of the workmen employed at Ballochney
Colliery, Airdrie, was recently remitted for adjustment
to the Coal Controller. The latter has issued an award
entirely favourable to the workmen.

At Carnock Colliery, Stirlingshire, points relative to
working arrangements are meanwhile the subject of
negotiation between the union officials and the manage-
ment. A settlement is anticipated without loss of work.

The question of men working on the recognised idle
Saturday in cases of urgency, and its effect on the payment
of war bonus, has caused trouble in the Bannockburn
district of Stirlingshire. Negotiations with every prospect
of a satisfactory settlement are meanwhile in progress.

In East Lothian some disappointment is being felt by
the miners employed at Prestongrange Colliery, Preston-
pans, because of the irregularity of employment,
particularly in the back shift, where the miners are
employed in many cases only two or three days per
week. The cause is attributed to the want of empty
wagons.

An endeavour is being made by the Ayrshire miners'
agents to fix up a workable dirt scale at Moorhouse Pit,
Hurl ford, belonging to Messrs. Howie.

A drawing scale, mutually satisfactory to both masters
and men, has been introduced at No. 1 Bank Pit, Ayr-
shire, belonging to the New Cumnock Collieries Limited.

Idle time is feared at Streethead Pit, Galston, belong-
ing to Messrs. Littlejohn, Ayrshire, in consequence of a
complaint from the men in the stone section that they
are working under wages.

At Loganlea Colliery. West Lothian, a section of the
men are demanding a higher rate of wages.

The miners and other workmen employed in the Honey-
burn district of West Lothian are dissatisfied with the
present arrangements for medical service. The subject is
being dealt with in conferences between the medical
practitioners and representatives of the men.

Irregular employment is the complaint of the miners
working at Carron Colliery in Stirlingshire. While the
railway companies are pooling their wagons it is claimed
that the local coal owners are not pursuing the same
arrangement. The result is that one colliery may be
working steadily, while another colliery in the same
neighbourhood is experiencing an excessive amount of idle
time.

A new point has emerged at Hirst Colliery in the
Salsburgh district of Lanarkshire. The miners decided
to claim that when they were idle through want of work-
ing places they should be employed at other occupations,
such as brushing, etc., before any new hands were
engaged by the firm. The manager refused to concede
the principle and the executive council of the Lanarkshire
miners’ union has decided that the point should not be
pressed.

The Colliery Under-managers Association has been
successful in the appeal to the arbiter with regard to the
interpretation put upon the recent award of the Coal
Controller. The under-managers contended that the full
sum of. £4 should have been paid over and above the
perquisites. The arbiter has decided in their favour.

It appears that the payment of the war wage is a
great source of worry and contention between the mine-
owners and workers. To such an extent is this the case
that the representatives of the miners are arranging to
have the conditions under which the war bonus is to be
paid definitely defined by the Controller of Mines.

Another conference between the Fife colliery doctors
and the miners’ association has been arranged. It is
expected the question of attendance on dependants of
injured persons will be settled.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

A special meeting of the Cumberland and North
Lancashire Federation was held at Workington last week
to consider a dispute that had arisen between the
Cumberland County Association of Colliery Enginemen,
Boiler Firemen and Electrical Workers, and the Cumber-
land Miners’ Association, re the membership of some
of the men employed on the Whitehaven Ladysmith coke
plants. The meeting decided that they could not ignore
a previous decision of the Board, which was to the
effect “ that the dividing line between collieries and coke
ovens shall be the line of demarcation.” They therefore
decided that the power house, being in the colliery yard,
shall be manned by the members of the Colliery Engine-
men, Boiler Firemen and Electrical Workers’ Association,
and that the exhaust, benzol and sulphate plant, being
outside the colliery yard, shall be manned by members of
the Cumberland Miners’ Association, which in this case
takes the place of the National Amalgamated Society of
Enginemen and Cranemen.

The late Mr. William Orme Johnson, J.P., of Abram,
Wigan, colliery proprietor, formerly for many years
managing director of the Abram Coal Companv Limited,
left £19,752.

The Ackton Hall Colliery Company (Messrs. Crooke
and Company, agents) notify that their London address
will be removed on March 21 from 117-118, Leadenhall-
street. E.C., to 59-60. Cornhill. E.C.

United States Steel Prices.—President Wilson has con-
tinued present steel prices until July 1. except that,
beginning on April 1. the prices of basic pig-iron and
scrap steel will be each reduced $1 a ton.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

The outward chartering market has been very inactive
during the week, not so much because of the Easter
holidays, but because of the lack of “free” tonnage
on offer. On the north-east coast, the only fixtures
recorded in the open market are for Scandinavian ports,
Christiania having been thrice done at 150kr., Drontheim
once at 140kr., and Gothenburg once at 155kr. The rates
for Norwegian ports are steady, as compared with recent
similar business; that for Gothenburg shows a distinct
weakening. Any quantity of business is on offer for
Swedish and other neutral destinations, but the tonnage
is not forthcoming, and it is, therefore, unnecessary to
say more than that late rates appear likely to be paral-
leled, at least, by the figures at which new business would
be done. At South Wales, save for a couple of fixtures
for Gibraltar at the even 100s., fixtures arranged are
wholly confined to scheduled ports on the French Atlantic
coast, etc.

Homewards, the River Plate is steady, but quiet, at
200s. to United Kingdom, and 205s. to French Atlantic.
At the United States, coal freights are unaltered, at 125s.
from Virginia to the Plate. Net form tonnage is in big
demand at about 230s. Northern Range to United King-
dom with 260s. French Atlantic, 330s. to 350s. Marseilles
and 360s. to Genoa. For Gulf loading, rates are 30s.
more than the foregoing. Mediterranean ports are firm
for ore and phosphate for United Kingdom, and Bay ports
are taking up as much tonnage for the Bristol Channel
as they can secure.

Tyne to Christiania, 1,250, 2,000 and 2,200, 150kr.;
Drontheim, 1,500, 140 kr.; and Gothenburg, 2,300, 150 kr.

Cardiff to Caen, 1,100, 46s. 6d., neutral; 900, 48s.,
neutral; Gibraltar, 3,500, 100s., Apr.; 3,000, 100s., Allied;
Morlaix, 90, 116s. 3d.; Nantes, 2,400, 61s. 6d., neutral;
Rouen, 1,300 and 1,500, 48s. 9d., neutral; St. Malo, 900,
22s., Allied; and Youghal, 200, 20s.

Swansea to Caen, 800, 48s., neutral; Rouen, 1,400 and
1,500, 48s. 9d., neutral; 2,900, 47s. 3d., neutral; Dieppe,
900, 48s. 9d., neutral; and Havre, 1,300, 45s. 9d., neutral.

Youghal to Cardiff, 200, 23s., pitwood.

Llanelly to Rouen, 50s. 3d., neutral.

Later.—The	following additional fixtures are

reported:—

Tyne to Gothenburg, 2,300 and 3,000, 160kr.

Cardiff to Gibraltar, 2,800, 100s., neutral; Havre, 1,300,
45s. 9d., neutral; Nantes. 1,700, 61s. 6d., neutral; and
St. Malo, 950, 22s., Allied.

Swansea to Caen, 900, 48s., neutral.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Edinburgh, April 8.—Gas coal (12 months) for
Edinburgh and Leith Corporations Gas Commissioners.
Forms from A. Masterson, 15, Calton-hill, Edinburgh.

Melton Mowbray, April 8.—Coal for the Melton and
Belvoir Hospital Committee. Forms from the clerk,
Melton Mowbray.

Yeovil.—Screened gas coal and nuts (12 months), for
the Yeovil Gas Department. Tenders to the Engineer,
Gasworks.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can
be received.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, Ac.

Dunstable, April 15.—Tar.—4,000 or 5,000 gallons of
dehydrated and prepared tar, for the Corporation, delivered
at Dunstable station. Tenders to the Borough Surveyor,
Town Hall.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

‘ The Just Claims of Italy—The Question of the Trentin,
of Trieste and the Adriatic,” by Whitney Warren,
Membre de 1’Institut de France, price 50c. ; “ The
Naturalist” (No. 735), April 1918 (London: A. Brown
and Son, 5, Farringdon-avenue, E.C. 4) ; “ Transactions
of the Institution of Mining Engineers ” (Vol. 55, Part
1), March 1918 (London : Published at the offices of
the Institution, Albany Buildings, 39, Victoria-street,
Westminster, S.W. 1), price 6s.; “Monthly Bulletin
of the Canadian Mining Institute” (No. 71), March
1918; “ The Journal of the Monmouthshire Colliery
Officials’ Association” (Vol. 5, No. 1), March 1918;
“ The M. and C. Apprentices’ Magazine ” (Vol. 2,
No. 5), April, price 3d. ; “ Cassier’s Engineering
Monthly ” (Vol. 53, No. 4), April 1918 (The Louis
Gassier Company Limited, 33, Bedford-street, Strand,
London, W.C. 2), price Is. ; “El Cuerpo de Ingenieros
de Minas y Aguas,” 1917; “ Bole tin del Cuerpo de
Ingenieros de Minas del Peru No. 84”; “Bulletin et
Comptes Rendus Mensuels de la Societe de 1’Industrie
Minerale—3e livraison de 1917—Table des Matieres.”

CATALOGUES AND PRICE LISTS RECEIVED.

W. T. Henley’s Telegraph Works Company Limited
(Blomfield-street, London, E.C. 4).—The net price booklet
which has been issued is the third edition of the publica-
tion dealing with the company’s trade prices. This
booklet is a simple, direct guide to the information which
every buyer wants, and the calculations are worked out
clearly in each instance. The goods mentioned consist
of wire and cables for the Henley wiring system, acces-
sories, flexible cords, solid rubber cables, etc., but as
details of all accessories cannot be given in one booklet,
a copy of the price list will be sent to any contractor.

“ R.E.P.” Engineering Company (47, Langsett-road,
Sheffield).—A leaflet draws attention to the all-steel
“ R.E.P.” chuck for hammer drills and picks, an
appliance which displays ingenuity and for which a patent
has been applied. The principal merits which are claimed
for it are rapidity in changing drills and efficiency in
withdrawing them, coupled with perfect operation. The
hardened loose collars are the only parts subject to wear,
and they can be replaced at small cost. The chuck,
which is made in two sizes (light and heavy) can be
supplied for any type or make of machine on the market,
and can be fitted to existing drill case fronts. Alterna-
tively, new fronts with chuck combined in one piece can
be supplied. The other goods manufactured by the
“ R.E.P.” include air and suction hose, mining steel,
coal-cutter bits, and many other colliery requirements.