1262 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 21, 1918. enjoyed by deputies, has been assented to by the Northum- berland Coal Owners’ Association. Consideration of a request for a better supply of fire coal has been deferred by the coal owners. Several other requests put forward by the miners have been refused. A meeting of Northumberland coal owners and miners’ representatives was held in Newcastle last Saturday to consider proposals for the transference of men from hewing to putting, to make up for the dearth in putters caused by so many youths having to join the Army. A long discus- sion as to the rates of payment to such transferred men ensued, and the meeting adjourned for a week. The Northumberland Miners’ Association has received, for circulation throughout the county coal field, a copy of a letter addressed to the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain by Sir Guy Calthrop, the Coal Controller. Sir Guy points out that the quota of 75,000 Grade 1 recruits from the coal mines since January 1 this year is nearly made up, and that therefore the industry will have an opportunity to recover from recent dislocation. More coal is greatly wanted—due to the course of recent military operations in France—and the Controller points out that an increased output of even 10 cwt. per week per coal getter would result in a national increase of about 10 million tons per annum. Any increase in output would not be allowed to operate adversely upon the men. The Coal Controller has requested the Northumberland Miners’ Association—and the latter’s executive has acquiesced in the request—to circularise the lodges, asking the workmen at the collieries where it has been the practice in past years to take one or more days’ holiday during the Race week, which falls next week, to forego that holiday on the present occasion, in consequence of the national need for greater output of coal. The coal owners of the county have intimated their willingness, in order to induce regular working during next week, to pay 2s. per shift extra to each workman over 16 years of age, and Is. per shift extra to boys of 16 and under. The employees of the Crown Coke Company, Templetown, Consett, to the number of about 30 men and 20 women, struck work last week end for an increase in wages of Id. per hour. Scotland. The Fife miners are this week taking a ballot on the question of keeping the collieries open 12 days per fortnight. The regular working time for this period in Fife is only 11 days. Arniston miners have submitted a proposal that agents be elected or re-elected every three years, nominations to be supported by at least one-third of the particular branch to which the man belongs. At Cadzow Colliery, Hamilton, a claim by a number of the workmen to be made up to the county wage for a period during which they were unable to have the coal produced by them taken to the surface has been adjusted. The management have agreed to make a payment to each man concerned. An advance of 3d. per day has been conceded to the coke oven workers at Auchengeich Colliery, Lanarkshire. In addition the firm agreed to supply all the workers ^employed at the by-product plant with clogs and overalls, free of charge. A strike was threatened at Bredisholm Colliery, Uddings- ton, because of the fact that No. 4 pit, which has recently been re-opened, is entirely worked on the contracting principle. The men have agreed to continue at work at present pending the result of an investigation by the Lanarkshire Coal Trade Disputes Committee. At Manor Powis Colliery, Stirlingshire, a conference has been arranged between the colliery committee and the management to discuss the adoption of a dirt scale. The char fillers at the Nitshill Ironstone Pits, Renfrew- shire, have secured an increase equivalent almost to an additional Is. per day. The circulars regarding men to be released from the army who are in a lower medical category than B 1, and at home stations, have been to hand in Ayrshire for some time, but the bills giving particulars were not posted until assurances were given regarding rates of wages and freedom of movement. The Ministry of National Service has intimated that full wages shall be given, and that released men will be able to move from one colliery to the other in the same way as ordinary miners. ___________________________ 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. Aberdeen, June 24.—Coal (12 months) for various de- partments. Forms from the borough surveyor, Town House. Audley, June 25.—Best washed gas nuts or best gas burgy (12 months) for gas works; also best engine slack (12 months) for water works. Tenders to the clerk to the council, Kidsgrove, Staffs. Bakewell, June 29.—1,300 or 1,500 tons gas coal for the U.D. Council. Forms from the clerk, Bakewell. Barnstaple, June 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the master, Workhouse. Basford, June 24.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Public Offices, Basford. Braycott (Derby), June 27.—Coal (12 months) for the Shardlow Joint Hospital Committee. Forms from the clerk, 3, St. Mary’s Gate, Derby. Brixnorth (Northants), June 27.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Market-square, North- ampton. Burton, June 24.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, Burton-on-Trent. Cheltenham, July 20.—Good household coal, free from slack, and coke (12 months) for schools. Forms from the secretary, Education Dept., Municipal Offices, Cheltenham. Croydon.—Coal and coke for Addington Park War Hospital. Forms from the steward. Derby, June 24.—Coal and slack for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 3, St. Mary’s Gate, Derby. Ealing, July 1.—Coal and house coal screenings for the Town Council. Forms from the borough electrical engineer, Town Hall, Ealing. Epping, June 29.—Coal and coke for Epping schools. Forms from H. J. Goodwin, Education Office, High-road, Loughton. Gayton (Norfolk), June 26.—Coal for the Freebridge Lynn Union. Forms from the clerk, King-street, King’s Lynn. Greenwich, June 26.—Coal for Greenwich Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Board Room, East Greenwich. Hindley, June 24.—8,000 tons of best screened Arley gas nuts for U.D. Council’s gasworks. Forms from the engineer. Hornsey, July 8.—Coal and coke (12 months) for offices, hospital, etc. Forms from town clerk, Town Hall, High- gate. Kanturk (Ireland), June 26.—50 tons house coal for Guardians. Tenders to the board room. Lancaster, July 16.—Slack or nuts (6, 9, or 12 months) for Electricity Committee. Forms from the Electricity Works; Marton-street, Lancaster. Leek, June 25.—2,000 tons washed gas nuts and singles, and screened gas coal. Tenders to the chairman of the Lighting Committee, Gasworks, Leek. London, June 24.—Coal and coke (12 months) for Pad- dington Borough Council. Forms from the town clerk. London, June 25.—Steam coal for the Poplar and Stepney Sick Asylum district. Forms from the clerk, Devon’s-road, Bow. London, June 27.—Coke (3 months) for Stepney Guar- dians. Forms from the offices, Barnes-street, London, E. Loughborough, June 24.—Coal and coke for the Guar- dians. Forms from th© clerk, Union Offices, Lough- borough. Nottingham, July 1.—Coal (12 months) for Education Committee. Forms from the Education office. Malling, June 26.—Best steam coal, house coal, gas coal for Guardians and R.D. Council. Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, West Mailing. Southam, July 2.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, Market Hall, Southam. Towcester, June 25.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the master, Workhouse. Whitchurch (Hants), June 25.—Coal for the Guar- dians. Forms from the Workhouse master or (Aerk. Worthing.—Coal for West Sussex and Chichester Joint Education Committee. Forms from the secretary, County Education office, Worthing. York, June 26.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 1, Museum-street, York. ________ The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Melbourne, July 2.— Wire.—Galvanised iron wire, gal- vanised steel standard wire, copper wire, etc., for the Post Office. Copies of specifications may be seen at the Enquiry Office of the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence), 73, Basinghall-street, London, E.C., 2. __________________________ OBITUARY. The death is announced, after a very brief illness, of Mr. William Morris, managing director of the Baglan Bay Tinplate Company, at the age of 58 years. By the death of Dr. Edward Alexander Newell Arber, on June 14, at the age of 47, palseobotanical science has been deprived of an able and indefatigable investigator. Much of Dr. Arber’s work was concerned with the system- atic description of fossil plants from British coalfields, including the coalfield of Kent; this brought him into close touch with colliery proprietors. He also added to our knowledge of the extinct floras of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, etc. . Mr. Geo. McCowey, president of the Walker lodge of the Northumberland Miners’ Association, died on Monday from injuries consequent upon an accident at a mid-Tyne shipyard, where he had been employed since the closing of the local colliery. Mr. McCowey, who was 66 years of age, worked, as a boy, alongside of the late Mr. Keir Hardie in a Lanarkshire colliery. Mr. Jos. O. Todd, who has died at Leadgate at the age of 50 years, was prior to the war a mining engineer with the Consett Iron Company Limited. ______________________________ Willing’s Press Guide for 1918.—That clearly printed index of the world’s publications, Willing’s Press Guide, a copy of which we have received, maintains its easy alpha- betical and sectional classification of the world’s publi- cations. The information contained in this 45th annual issue has been revised in order to bring it up to date. Temperature Conversion Table.—We have received from the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company Limited a helical chart—14^ by 12 in., mounted on stiff card- board—showing the relation between degrees Centigrade and Fahrenheit (in red and black respectively) at all temperatures between absolute zero and 2,000 degs. Cent., thus saying the trouble of making the usual conversion calculations. The card also gives tables of freezing, melt- ing and boiling points of a number of elements, tempera- tures of saturated steam at various pressures, specific heats, densities of water at different temperatures, thermal conductivities, and the composition of quenching and tempering baths. A copy of the table will be sent free by the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company Limited to anyone interested, on receipt of six penny stamps to cover postage. Imports and Exports of Mining Machinery.—The value of imports and exports of mining machinery during May is given below :— May. Jan.-May. 1917. 1918. 1917. 191? Imports .......... 20,402 ... 892 .. 77,495 .. 52,751 Exports ........... 76,783 ... 25,995 .. 334,156 ...213,601 These figures are not inclusive of prime movers or elec- trical machinery. The following shows the value of ex- ports of prime movers other than electrical :— May. Jan.-May. 1917. 1918. 1917. 191? All prime movers £ £ £ £ (except electrical)... 348,812 ...430,557...1,633,018...1,398,908 Rail locomotives .... 161,031 ...174,815... 633,543... 691,813 Pumping ............. 27,314 ... 27,857... 186,820... 103,738 Winding ............. 1,272 ... 4,131... 4,823... 12,919 COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Anglo-French Navigation Coal Company Limited.—Last year’s output of coal amounted to 370,255 tons, compared with 374,559 tons for the previous year. Profit £28,322, available balance £38,953. Dividend amounting to 9-6 per cent, have been paid on the preference shares (as against 10 per cent, for 1916), making the stipulated dis- tribution up to the end of December last. Arniston Coal Company Limited.—16s. per share, free of tax (interim). Last year, dividend same. Brunner, Mond and Company Limited.—The report for the year ended March 31 shows a balance to credit of profit and loss of £1,111,848; £214,131 was brought for- ward, making £1,325,979. An interim dividend on the ordinary shares at 25 per cent, per annum was paid De- cember 19, 1917, subject to deduction of tax, and the directors now recommend a dividend at 12 per cent per annum, making on the new capital 11 per cent, for the year, subject to deduction of tax, to place to reserve fund £250,000, and to carry forward £119,072. Clydesdale (Transvaal) Collieries Limited.—Dividend No. 18 of 7^ per cent., or Is. 6d. per share, payable to holders registered 30th instant. Dorman, Long and Company, Limited.—The directors report that the recent offer of preferred ordinary shares for £1,500,000 to existing shareholders has been very largely over applied for. The money is for the purchase of the undertaking of Sir B. Samuelson and Company. Glencoe (Natal) Collieries Limited.—The report for 1917 states that certain new claims have been secured. Profit £44,441 for output of 140,955 tons, against £31,056 for 186,800 tons, the increase being mainly due to enhanced prices. Net profit £34,972, after charging depreciation, against £23,067. After providing for dividend, contingent liability for taxation of £8,500, and including previous year’s balance, amount carried forward is £37,750, increase £13,972. Two dividends, making 5 per cent., were paid. The shortage of railway trucks was mainly responsible for reduced output. Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Colliery Company.—Interim divi- dent of 3| per cent, on the ordinary shares, the same as a year ago Imperial Navigation Coal Company Limited.—After ad- justment for estimated compensation recoverable under the Coal Mines Control agreement, the profit balance for the past year is £9,386, and the dividend, which was advanced from 10 to 20 per cent, twelve months ago, is to revert to the 10 per cent, basis, with £10,088 forward, or slightly more than a year ago. Knowles (Andrew) and Sons Limited.—The report to February 28 states that the collieries have been under Government control since March 1, 1917, and by an agree- ment profits are guaranteed on a pre-war basis, subject to some deduction in case of reduced output. Instead of making up the accounts to December 31, they have been made up to a date coincident with the end of the Con- troller’s year, but it has not been possible to include the amount due under the guarantee. The net profit retained by the company exclusive of the guarantee was £33,429; £2,440 was brought in, making £35,870. Out of this two interim dividends have been paid, absorbing £30,000, leaving £5,870, which it is proposed to carry forward pending a settlement of the outstanding claim. Rickett, Cockerell and Company Limited.—Dividend’ of 5 per cent, for year; £10,000 to reserve (making £70,000); £5,000 to staff pensions fund; £26,913 forward. The divi- dend has been the same for four years. Last year £18,000 was put to the reserve. Ruston, Proctor and Company Limited.—The directors after providing £19,882 for depreciation on buildings, plant and machinery, recommend a final dividend of 5^ per cent, on the ordinary shares for the year ended March 31, making 8 per cent, for the year, together with a bonus of 2 per cent, (both subject to income tax), to place £55,000 to reserve account, carrying forward £24,212. Tredegar Iron and Coal.—The directors recommend a final dividend for the year ended March 31 of 2^ per cent., making 10 per cent, for the year, together with a bonus of 5 per cent. Dividend and bonus will be paid on both classes of shares, free of tax, and warrants will be posted on or before 28th instant. The directors are also recommending the capitalisation of part of the reserve fund and the issue of fully-paid shares at the rate of one £1 share for every £2 of paid up capital held by the “ A ” and “ B ” shareholders. Vulcan Motor and Engineering Company Limited.—In- terim dividend of Is. per share (5 per cent.), free of tax. Wankie Colliery Company Limited.—Interim dividend of 5 per cent. NEW COMPANIES. Dovey Valley Silica Syndicate Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered June 14, to prospect, explore, develop and work lands, minerals, ore, mining rights, etc. Nominal capital £34,000, in 34,000 £1 shares. Subscribers (1 share) : T. D. Harris and F. W. Bebbington. Smith (Thomas) and Sons (Rodley) Limited.—Private Company. Registered June 12, 1918, to carry on the busi- ness of mechanical and electrical crane makers, iron- founders, mechanical and electrical engineers, etc. Nominal capital £150,000, in 50,000 preference shares of £1 and 100,000 ordinary shares of £1. Directors : F. H. Smith, W. T. Smith, and G. E. Smith. Qualification of directors, £500. White Mountain Silica Syndicate Limited.—Private company. Registered June 14, to prospect and explore and develop and work lands, minerals, ores, etc. Nominal capital £12,000 in 12,000 £1 shares. Subscribers (1 share) : G. F. Heath, T. D. Harris, and F. W. Bebbington. This list of new companies is taken from the Daily Register specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C. _____________________________ The appeal for the Y.M.C.A., which was made to trades and professions by Mr. H. Brown, of the British Farmers’ Red Cross Fund, resulted in £463,177 being received. The coal industry contributed £32,360, iron and steel indus- tries £667, and mining engineers £710. Dutch Need of Coal.— In the Dutch Chamber M. Loudon, Foreign Minister, was asked why, as no coal had been sent to Holland from Germany since the beginning of April last, coal had not been imported from England, and whether the Government was prepared to take measures to resume the import as quickly as possible of coal and pitch for briquette manufacture. M. Loudon replied that no agreement existed by which Holland could obtain coal from England, but views regarding an economic arrangement were being submitted.