186

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

July 26, 1918.

NEW MAXIMUM PRICES FOR
FRENCH COALS.

' The French Minister of Munitions has fixed the
following maximum prices for coal at the under-
mentioned pits.* The figures given in parentheses re-
late to the average maximum percentage of ash con-
tent of the coals.

Cie des Mines de Perrecy.

Lean coal with 10 to 12 per cent, of volatiles: Large
cobbles, 60-80 mm. (25), 57 fr.; cobbles, 30-60 mm.
(20), 54 fr.; nuts, 20-30 mm. (22), 52 fr.; nuts,
18-25 mm. (32), 34 fr.; beans, 5-18 mm. (32), 31 fr.;
small, 0-18 mm. (30), 30 fr.; dust, 0-5 mm (30), 25 fr.;
through and through with 50 per cent, of beans
(30-35), 33 fr.

Soc. des Houilleres de Ronchamp.

Coal with 20 per cent, volatiles: Lumps over
50 mm. (20), 53*0 fr.; washed beans, 25-30 mm.
(20), 49-50 fr.; washed beans, 15-25 mm. (20),
49’50 fr.; washed beans, 9-15 mm. (20), 49-50 fr.;
washed small, 0-9 mm. (13), 49-50 fr.; slaty coal,
0’50 mm., without guarantee, 23’0 fr.

Michel Armand et Cie (Mines de la Valdonne).

Lumps over 80 mm. (10), 40’75 fr.; cobbles I.,
65 mm. (12), 39-75 fr.; cobbles II., 55 mm. (12-20),
28-75 fr.; small nuts, 30 mm. (20), 25-25 fr.; small,
0-30 mm (23); 21-25 fr.; dust, 0-6 mm. (30), 19'75 fr.;
picking belt waste picked on 40 mm. screen (30),
22-75 fr.; picked (40), 14-25 fr.

Briquettes: Lignite blocks (20), 47 fr.; blocks with
15 per cent, of coal (20), 51 fr.; lignite ovoids (20),
48 fr.; lignite ovoids with 15 per cent, of coal (20),
52 fr.

Soc. Nouvelle des Charbonnages des Bouches du
Rhone.

Lignite: Lumps over 80 mm. (10), 40-75 fr.; large
cobbles, 50-80 mm. (12), 39-75 fr.; cobbles, 50-80 mm.
(12-20), 28-25 fr.; washed beans, 30-50 mm. (10),
35-25 fr.; unwashed beans, 30-50 mm. (10-13),
25’75 fr.; washed small, 0-30 mm. (15), 27-50 fr.; un-
washed small, 0-30 mm. (15-23), 21’35 fr.; dust,
0-2 mm. (30), 19-75 fr.; through and through, 0-80 mm.
(20), 25’75 fr.; friable, hand-picked (without guaran-
tee), 25’75 fr. ; picking belt waste, picked on 50 mm.
screen (30), 22-75 fr.; picked (40), 14’25 fr.
Briquettes: Blocks (20), 47 fr.; blocks with 15 per
cent, of coal (20), 51 fr.; lignite ovoids (20), 48 rr.;
ovoids with 15 per cent, of coal (20), 52 fr.

Mine de Charbon des Alpes.

Screened bituminous over 25 mm. (25), 30-50 fr.;
small bituminous, 0-25 mm. (25), 26-50 fr.; through
and through bituminous (25), 26’50 fr.; screened lean,
25 mm. (20), 30’50 fr.; small lean, 25 mm. (25),
26’50 fr. ; through and through lean under 25 mm.

(25)	, 26-50 fr.

Mines de Notre Dame de Vaulx.

Anthracite with 4-10 per cent, of volatiles:
Screened, over 27 mm. (20), 45 fr.; large broken,
53-100 mm. (12), 56 fr.; screened, broken, 27-53 mm.
(18), 52 fr.; nuts, 16-27 mm. (22), 48 fr.; nuts,
8-16 mm. (22), 40 fr.; nuts, 4-8 mm. (22), 35 fr.;
small 0-4 mm. (25), 29 fr.; slaty broken, 27-100 mm.
(30), 34 fr.; small slaty, 0-23 mm. and 0-40 mm. (30),
30 fr. Ash calculated on undried coal with 3-6 per
cent, water.

Mines de la Mure.

Anthracite, with 6-8 per cent, of volatiles: Large
broken screened, 55-80 mm. (12), 54 fr.; graded
cobbles, 35-55 mm. (12), 55 fr.; graded nuts, 25-35 mm.
(12), 55 fr. ; broken screened, 25-55 mm. (13), 50 fr.;
screened, 15 mm. and over (16), 43 fr. ; nuts, 14-25 mm.
(18), 46 fr.; small nuts, 6-14 mm. (20), 38 fr.; beans,
3’5-6 mm. (21), 33 fr.; peas, 2-5-3-5 mm. (22), 30 fr.;
broken slaty, 4-23 mm. (28), 32 fr.; small, 0-5 mm.
(30), 27 fr. ; slack, 0-2-5 mm. (25), 27 fr.; ovoids, 40
grammes (22), 53 fr. Ash calculated on undried coal
with 4-5 per cent, water.

Mines du Pas-de-Calais.

Unscreened small, 0-15 mm. (26), 29 fr.; 0-30 mm.

(26)	, 30 fr. ; 0-50 mm. (26), 31 fr.; through and
through, 20-25 mm. (20), 32 fr.; through and through,
30-35 mm. (20),34 fr.; through and through, 30-40 mm.
(20), 36 fr.; through and through, 50 mm. (20), 38 fr.;
through and through (20), 40 fr.; through and through
for gas, 36 fr.; screened, 10 or 15 mm. (16), 45’50 fr.;
screened, 20 or 30 mm. (16), 46-50 fr.; screened, 40 or

50	mm. (13), 49 fr.; large picked (13), 54 fr.

Special Prices.

Cie. des Mines de Noeux.—Washed small, 0-10 mm.
(rich) (12), 43 fr.; smithy peas, 10-20 mm. (10), 55 fr.;
ovoids (20), 48 fr.

Cie. des Mines de Bruay.—Screened, 40 mm. (10)

51	fr. ; rough peas, 20-40 mm. (20), 41 fr. ; washed
peas, 10-20 mm. (15), 46 fr.; washed small, 0-20 mm.
(15), 43 fr. : washed small, 0-10 mm. (15), 41 fr.

Cie. des Mines de Maries.—Screened, 40 mm. (10),
51 fr. ; rough small, 0-40 mm. (25), 33 fr.; washed
peas, 20-40 mm. (10), 55 fr.; washed small, 0-20 mm.
(15), 43 fr.

Cie. des Mines de la Clarence.—Screened, 40 mm.
(10), 51 fr. ; washed peas, 20-40 mm. (10), 55 fr. ;
washed small, 0-20 mm. (15), 43 fr.

Cie. des Mines de Ferfay.—Washed smithy peas,
10-25 mm. (13), 50 fr. ; washed small, 3-10 mm. (rich)
(12), 43 fr

Cie. des Mines de Ligny.—Washed smithy peas,
12-25 mm. (10), 55 fr.; washed small, 0-12 mm. (rich)
(12), 43 fr.

* See Colliery Guardian, May 10, 1918, p. 943.

It is announced that the negotiations between the British
Coalite Company and Low Temperature Carbonisation for
the purpose of the exploitation by the latter of the Coalite
patents throughout the United Kingdom have been com-
pleted.

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Memorial to Lord Rhondda—Bristol Channel Dock Rates
—Prosecution Regarding Signalling—The Risca Fire—
Bristol Channel Shipping Scheme — Shortage of
Doctors.

The president of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce (Mr.
T. J. Callaghan) has issued an appeal to members of that
body, wherein he states that the council has unanimously
decided to take steps for perpetuating the memory of the
late Viscount Rhondda “ in a manner worthy of his
services to the country and of the leading position he
occupied in the coal trade of South Wales and in the
commercial world generally. As a man of business he
claimed admiration, and his private character was as
amiable as his organising genius and commercial attain-
ments were exceptional.” The suggestion is made that
there should be a portrait for the Coal Exchange and a
scholarship at each of the schools of mines at Pontypridd
and Crumlin, and that as the grace of such a memorial
depends on the number of supporters rather than on the
individual amount of subscriptions, these should be limited
to <£25, and an effort should be made to induce everyone
connected with the trade to subscribe a sum, however
small.

The Cardiff Fuel Committee, which was established by
the corporation, has been dissolved, its work being taken
over by an overseer appointed under the new Household
Fuel and Lighting Order, and this official will issue
permits to the different consumers in accordance with the
number of rooms occupied in a house.

The proposal to raise the dock rates at the Bristol
Channel ports is suspended, because it is evident that some
of the dock owners are unwilling to advance their tipping
charges. It will be remembered that the Barry Docks
were established by a combination of colliery proprietors,
exporters, etc., in order to provide further facilities, and
that the ownership still lies in the hands of persons
engaged in the trade.

Captain M. H. Llewellyn, son of Aiderman Rees
Llewellyn, has been appointed agent for the Ynisarwed
Colliery Company.

Mr. Dyer Lewis (H. M. Chief Inspector for South
Wales) prosecuted in the case before the Pontypridd sti-
pendiary against the general manager of the Cambrian
Combine, the agent, and about a dozen of the banksmen,
winding enginemen, etc., employed at Clydach Vale. The
workman had refused to adopt the new code of signals
drawn up by the Home Office; and the Enginemen’s Asso-
ciation, with the Miners’ Federation, were both repre-
sented in Court. The cases had previously come before
the Court and been adjourned, but in the meanwhile a
deputation of men visited the Home Office and put their
case before the Home Secretary, their contention being
that the code of signals which had been in operation at
the colliery for so many years was the safest. The Home
Secretary refused to withdraw from the attitude taken
up by the authorities, and intimated to the deputation
that the men must comply with the regulations. It was
alleged in Court that the sole concern of the opposition
was the safety of the workmen, and on their behalf it was
now stated that they were prepared to carry out the new
Home Office regulations. The stipendiary stated that he was
satisfied with the bona fides of the men, and expressed
his pleasure that wiser counsels had prevailed. The
summonses were dismissed on payment of costs.

Following the notice by the management that the Black
Vein pit near Risca was open for full work again, the
workmen held a meeting on Sunday and passed a resolu-
tion that they “ are satisfied a serious and dangerous gob
fire has been burning, and is still probably burning, in the
old pit by which the whole of the workings in all of the
pits are affected.” They expressed astonishment that the
decision to resume has been made without first consulting
the workmen’s representatives, who had been co-operating
with the mines inspectors and the management in dealing
with the danger, and they demand “ that the workmen’s
representatives shall have a voice on behalf of the work-
men in deciding when the pit is safe for resuming work.”
The general secretary of the Federation was desired to
ask the Home Secretary to receive a deputation so that
the facts may be laid before him, and a deputation pro-
ceeded to London on this errand during the week.

At a Pontycymmer meeting on Sunday evening Mr.
Hodges referred to the Southport conference, and declared
that the demand for establishing a six-hour day had an
important bearing upon demobilisation. If 400,000 miners,
now under arms, were demobilised at the rate of 2,500 a
week it would take three years before the last miner
returned, and that was too long. The working hours must
be reduced in order that the meh might be absorbed in
a shorter period.

All societies affiliated to the Caerphilly and Gelligaer
Labour Party, at a mass meeting on Saturday decided to
adopt Mr. Alfred Onions, miners’ leader, as a prospective
Labour candidate.

A shipping and coal programme is to be issued, week
by week, by the new committee which the Shipping Con-
troller has established at Cardiff to deal with the whole
of the Bristol Channel. They will take all questions of
priority as regards destination, and will act under instruc-
tions from the different Government Departments; and will
act also in co-operation with the District Coal and Coke
Supplies Committee dealing both with the supply of coal
and the facilities of shipping. The members of the Com-
mittee are : Mr. W. St. D. Jenkins (representing the Coal
Controller), Mr. H. Franklin Thomas (representing the
Ministry of Shipping), Mr. F. Gwyn Mathwin (represent-
ing the Admiralty Agents), and Mr. W. R. Hann (repre-
senting the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committee),
with Mr. Reginald Lewis (of Messrs. William Mathwin
and Son, Admiralty Coal Department) as secretary. In
Mr. Jenkins’ absence in London he will be represented
by Mr. E. H. Jacob. Pre-entry forms for all coal, coke,
and patent fuel for shipment should be presented to the
secretary of the Co-ordinating Committee at the office of
the Assistant Director of Control, Cymric-buildings,
Cardiff.

The executive council of the Miners’ Federation sitting
in Cardiff this week decided upon the following as miners’
candidates for the Parliamentary divisions named—these
being forwarded to the M.F.G.B. for confirmation :
Rhondda Ekst, Major D. Watts Morgan; Rhondda West,
Right Hon. William Abraham, M.P. ; Abertillery, Right
Hon. William Brace, M.P. ; Ebbw Vale, Right Hon.
Thomas Richards, M.P. ; Gower, Mr. John Williams,
M.P. ; Ogmore, Mr. Vernon Hartshorn; Bedwellty, Mr.
Charles Edwards; Merthyr, Mr. James Winstone; Caer-
philly, Mr. Alfred Onions. Another district in which the
miners seek to secure Parliamentary representation is
Aberavon, but no decision has yet been reached there,

The trade of Swansea compared favourably with the
preceding week, the shipments of coal, coke, and patent
fuel amounting to 98,576 tons, whilst tinplate and general
goods totalled 6,700 tons.

It was reported at a meeting of the Brynmawr and
Blaina district of miners that the management had deferred
indefinitely the stoppage of the Henwain Colliery, and
much satisfaction was expressed at the intelligence.

There is considerable unrest in the mining areas as to
shortage of doctors, the scarcity of medical men having
become even more apparent by reason of the great pres-
sure due to influenza. So many doctors have been taken
away for Army service that under normal conditions the
work in the district is very heavy for those who remain,
and the members of the Doctors’ Fund Committee find it
difficult in securing sufficient attendance. Application is
being made to London for assistance, and it is hoped
that, upon due representation, some medical men may be
released from the Army.

Northumberland and Durham.

Tyne and Wear Tolls—Compensation Cases—Dredging at
Bly th—Sir W. H. Stephenson's Will—Expediting Out-
put— Women for Surface Work.

The River Wear Commission has increased its rates,
tolls, dues and charges by 100 per cent, above the statu-
tory figures, they having been granted the necessary
authorisation by the Board of Trade. Thus within the
last ten days the rates, etc., on both Tyne and Wear have
been doubled as compared with pre-war levies.

Mr. Wm. Weir, compensation agent to the Northumber-
land Miners’ Association, reports on fourteen claims for
compensation in respect of fatalities, four cases of medical
reference, and ten disputed cases, all dealt with during
the quarter ended June 30 last. The amount paid to
dependants in respect of fatal cases during the quarter was
£3,599 3s. 9d. Mr. Weir states that “ We are expe-
riencing a great amount of trouble at some of our collieries
at present in connection with our light work compensa-
tion, men and minimum wages, but as the cases are still
under consideration we are unable to report fully. We
hope to be able to make a statement in our next quarter’s
report.” A few of the disputed cases present points of
interest. A boy working on the screens at Wallsend sus-
tained a dislocated shoulder and a broken jaw through
being pushed down the coal chute by some boys playing.
The manager refused compensation, contending that the
boys were all “larking.” Ultimately liability was ad-
mitted and the claim paid. A Linton hewer was injured
by a fall of stone. The manager refused to pay compen-
sation on the ground that the man had been guilty of
serious and wilful misconduct, having fired a shot “ off
the fast,” for which he was fined. The man was in the
act of hewing where the shot had been, when the acci-
dent occurred. “ We saw a weakness in our claim,”
admits Mr. Weir, “ and made a compromise by accepting
two-thirds.” An Eltringham hewer sustained an injury
which resulted in the loss of an eye, two years ago.
He commenced light employment, but after working for
a time he was obliged to give it up. He put in no claim
for compensation until he had been off for about five
months. Dr. Wardle certified that the accident was not
preventing the man from following his light employment,
and as the miners failed to get any medical evidence in
favour, they dropped the case. A South Tyne hewer
was injured whilst riding on a set of tubs drawn by an
endless rope. The manager refused compensation, con-
tending that the accident did not arise out of the man’s
employment and was due to his serious and wilful mis-
conduct, as notice boards were put up warning men not
to ride. Ultimately the claim was abandoned. A Seaton
Burn miner, a few years ago, was certified to be suffering
from miners’ nystagmus, but did not put in a claim for
compensation. He was unable to work again in November
1916, and was off five months, but never claimed com-
pensation. He worked six weeks, and has been idle ever
since. He has been in Morpeth Asylum for about fifteen
months. “We had him examined by a surgeon, who
certified that he was still suffering from nystagmus. We
made a claim for compensation, which was refused. We
got legal opinion on the case, but were advised that
as the man had not worked for eight months before he
was examined by the certifying surgeon, it could not be
said that he was employed at “ mining ” at or immediately
before the date of disablement; they therefore advised
against the issue of proceedings.” The case was dropped.

Eighteen collieries—viz., Bullock’s Hall, Doctor Pit,
Cramlington Ann, Crofton, Dudley, South Elswick, North
Elswick, Fourstones, Newbiggin, Preston, Prestwick,
Rising Sun, Roachburn White Cut, Shilbottle, Tynedale,
Throckley, Walker and Wallsend Edward Pit—made no
returns in the recent voting for the selection of a Parlia-
mentary candidate to be run under the auspices of the
Northumberland Miners’ Association in place of Mr.
Straker (retired). The voting resulted : G. H. Warne
(selected), 276; R. Smillie, 203; G. E. Middleton, 138;
Aaron Walton, 91; G. W. Shield, 63; J. Summers, 21;
G. Skedge, 10; Andrew Kinghorn, 9; T. Foster, 8; and
W. Dent, nil.

Recent improvements effected at Blyth Harbour include
the dredging to a depth of 30 ft. at l.w.o.s.t. alongside
the new staiths in the upper harbour, thus providing
accommodation for waiting vessels until the staiths are
completed. Considerable progress has been made in the
deepening of the turning basin also.

Complaints are being made by public authorities in
Durham County of the exceedingly lax fashion in which
copies of the new Fuel and Lighting Order have been sent
out. Thus, although the Order was supposed to come into
partial operation on July 1, it was not till Tuesday,
July 16, that copies were received by the Rural Councils
of Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle. On the other
hand, some local councils have received two copies, the
first with the original letter of advice, and the second
with a letter apologising for having omitted to send the
copy with the first letter.

Inquests presenting features of interest, held during the
last few days, included the following : That upon
Geo. Thos. Hopwood, 34, hewer at Mainsforth Colliery,
who, whilst helping a deputy to replace a broken air pipe,
caused by the fall of a steel girder, was caught in the
back by a two-ton fall of stone which came away from
a “ slippery jack.” In the opinion of the deputy and
that of one of the men’s inspectors, the fall of the girder
was due to props being loosened by water running down
the drift, and the fall of stone followed on the removal
of the girder. The view was expressed that head trees
should be fixed at the top and bottom of the props to
counteract the effect of running water. That upon
Matthew Geo. Wilson, 16, pony driver at Derwent
Colliery, Medomsley, who was killed by a fall of stone
resulting from a tub colliding with a prop. The men’s
inspectors stated that the prop was only 6 in. from the
wagonway, which in their opinion was far too small a