242

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

August 2, 1918.

MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at Kew Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval
in the Week July 21 to 27, 1918.

		Magnetic character.						Intervals—Hours G.M.T.							
			0h.-2h.  14° +	2h.-4h.  14° +	4h.-6h.  14° +	6h.-8h.  14°+	8h.-10h. 14c +	10h.-12h.  14° +	12h.-14h.  14° +	14h.-16h.  14° +	16h.-18h.  14° +	18h.-20h.  14° +	20h.-22h.  14° +	22h.-21h.  . 14° +	Mean for day. 14° +
Sun., July	21	0	Min.  50*0	Min.  49*5	Min.  50*0	Min. 48’5	Min.  48*0	Min.  52*0	Min.  56*0	Min.  55'0	Min.  52*0	Min.  51*5	Min.  51’0	Min.  50*5	Min.  51*0
Mon., „	22	0	50'5	49*5	46*5	46*0	49*0	54*0	57’5	56*5	52’0	50*0	51*5	51*5	51*0
Tues., ,,	23	0	50*0	48*5	45*0	43*0	46*0	52*0	56*5	57*0	53’5	50*0	49*5	50*0	50*0
Wed.,	24	0	50*0	47*5	45*5	46*0	47*5	52’5	57’5	57’0	53*0	49*5	49*5	49*5	50*5
Thurs., ,,	25	2	49*5	50*0	46*5	43*5	47*5	55*5	61*0	62’5	57*0*	47*0*	51*0	51*0	52*0
Friday, „	26	1	50*0	49*0	48*0	43*0	46*0	52*0	56*5	57*0	51*5	47*5	50*5	49*0	50*0
Sat.,	„	!	27	1	49*0	48*0	46*0	46*0	48*0	53*5	57*5	56*5	54*0	51*0	50*0	50*0	50’5
Diurnal ine- quality (i.e.,	July 1917		lh. 2h. -0*2 -0*4	3h.	4h.  -0*3 -1*2	5h.	6h.  -3*3 —5’2	7h.	8h.  -6*5 -6*7	9h. lOh.  -5*6 -3*0	Uh. 12h.  + 0’8 +4*6	13h. I4h.  + 7*1 +7*9	15h. 16h. + 6*2 + 3’9	17h. 18h. + 1*7	0*0	19h. 20h.  -0*4 -0*1	21h. 22h.  + 0*2 +0*4	23h. 24h.  + 0*3 -0*1	Mean value for month.  14° 59'*1 July’17
departure from	Junel918		-0*8 -1*0	-1*6 -2*8	-4*0 -4*9	—5*2 —5*1	-3*9 -1*3	+ 2*5 +4*9	+ 6*4 +6*4	+ 5*3 +3*5	+ 1*7 +0*7	0*0 -0*1	+ 0*1 +0*1	-0*4 -0*8	4° 51'’2 June’18
mean value for	Junel917		—1’2 -1*2	-1*4 -2*1	-3*8 -5*5	-6*5 -6*4	-4*9 -2*3	+ 1*5 +4*7	+ 6*5 +7*4	+ 6*5 +4*7	+ 2*8 +1’2	+ 0*3 +0*4	+ 0 2 +0*1	-0*2 -0*8	14° 59'’7 JuneT7
day)															

* Large disturbances during this interval.

The day is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 2 th. (mi I night) G.M.T. Character “0” means a day wholly free from any but small disturbances. Character “1” means a day
part or all of which is moderately or considerably disturbed. Character “2” means a day pirt or all of which is highly disturbed.

The normal value for an hour is the mean declination for that hour in the month, derived from quiet days only, or from all days excluding those of character “2.” On a day of
character “0” declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character 1 ” the departure from the normal will usually not exceed S', but it may
occasionally be as much as 10', or even more. On a day of character “ 2 ” the departure from the normal will seldom exceed 20', but departures of 30' or even on extreme occasions
of 1° or more may occur.

The above values were obtained from measurements made after “smoothing ” the curves.	Meteorological Office, July 31.

the union decided that Mr. J. Robertson, one of the
agents of the union, should be sent to the colliery to
investigate and co-operate. It was arranged that a con-
ference should be held in Edinburgh between the staff of
the mines inspectorate and the committee elected by the
miners.

Mr. R. Wilson, Alloa, for many years colliery manager to
the Alloa Coal Company, has received an important mining
appointment at Dalmellington.

LABOUR AND WAGES.
South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The coal trimmers of South Wales, who are already in
receipt of 60 per cent, advance upon pre-war rates, have
decided to make an application for 40 per cent, more,
one reason of their application being that trimmers in
the north-east of England are getting a higher rate than
themselves at the present time.

The Colliery Examiners’ Association ‘of South Wales
considered the employers’ proposals concerning wages, and
again expressed great dissatisfaction because of the differ-
ence made as between house coal and anthracite examiners
as compared with those employed in steam coal collieries.
The board of the association will continue negotiations
on behalf of shopmen and bratticemen, and their re-
muneration is to be decided upon before the agreement
is signed. A further conference of the examiners will
be held on Bank Holiday, August 5.

Among colliery officials throughout the coal field there
is a strong feeling as to the difference in the treatment
between themselves and the colliers. It is pointed out
that whereas the colliers have received a further Is. 6d.
per day war bonus, this has not been given to the
officials, although when the operation of the Conciliation
Board agreement reduces the colliers’ wage rate, an equal
percentage is deducted from the pay of the officials. It
is argued that during strikes and lock-outs the officials
have stood by the employers and helped to keep the
collieries going, and that 'as many of them are older men
not liable to military service, they could at the present
time, by changing their employment to munition work,
obtain a much higher wage rate. An appeal is therefore
made that they shall be put upon an equal footing with
the colliers.

Mr. Finlay Gibson, dealing with the question of war
wage to the clerical and administrative staffs of the
collieries above the level of deputies, firemen and
examiners, states that the coal owners are acting on in-
structions received from’ the Controller in not paying
any extra amount to the classes named, and that they
have no alternative but to abide by his directions. He
adds, however, that the matter is at present being con-
sidered by the colliery owners of the country, who are
endeavouring to make arrangements so that this matter
shall be discussed with the Controller.

Members of the National Union of Clerks in the employ
of the Ebbw Vale Company stopped work on Friday,
last week, owing to a dispute as to the method of charging
overtime, and at a meeting held in the afternoon decided
to remain out; also that the question of non-unionism
should be contested. Their abstention had in it the risk
of interference with the payment of workmen on the
Saturday, and was therefore a serious instance of the
effect of stopping work suddenly. Over 200 are said to
be concerned.

The Conciliation Board of the Tinplate Trade met at
Swansea on Friday of last week to consider a request from
the various trade unions that the war bonus of the different
classes of workmen should be made up to a total of 100
per cent. Mr. F. Gibbins (chairman of the Welsh Plate
and Sheet Manufacturers’ Association) was in the chair,
and Mr. Thomas Griffiths presided over the men’s section,
which consisted of representatives of six unions. After
hearing the application of the men, reply was made on
behalf of the employers that they could not consider any
bonus in advance of that given to the steel workers a fort-
night ago, seeing that the Ministry of Munitions had
stated that they would not grant to the tinplate trade any
terms beyond those conceded to men engaged in the allied
steel industry. The employers, however, made an offer
that the scale of bonuses should be similar to those of the
steel trade—namely, to employees earning up to 20s., an
increase of 10 per cent., making a total war bonus of
62^ per cent. ; 20s. Id. to 30s., 22^ per cent, making 95
per cent. ; 30s. Id. to 40s., 17^ per cent., making 85 per
cent. ; 40s. Id. to 50s., 12^ per cent., making 75 per cent. ;
50s. Id. to 60s., 10 per cent., making 70 per cent. ; 60s. Id.
to 70s., 5 per cent., making 55 per cent. ; 70s. Id. to 100s.,
2J> per cent., making 45 per cent. ; 100s. and upwards,
2J> per cent., making 42^ per cent. The men agreed to
accept this offer, and other minor matters were subse-
quently dealt with, such as the August Bank Holiday,
which it was arranged should be half a day on Friday,
August 2, and work to be resumed afterwards on Monday
week, August 12. Certain matters were referred to the
joint committee for investigation and settlement, and a

further committee was appointed in order to bring into
effect a Whitley Council which should deal with matters
relating to the tinplate trade.

At the monthly meeting of the Avon Valley miners, held
on Saturday in Port Talbot, a request.from the Coal Con-
troller was considered, he being wishful that the men
should not take holiday next week. It was, however,
considered that as the Welsh National Eisteddfod would
be held in the neighbouring town of Neath, and seeing that
there had been stoppages in a number of collieries owing
to lack of shipping, notwithstanding the request of the
Controller, a resolution was passed that as many days holi-
day as possible, without causing serious shortage of coal,
should be taken. It was stated that as much as <£9,000
had been paid in out-of-work allowances during the past
six months, but that the colliers are now working more
regularly and that at the present time no outlay under
this head is being made.

At Abertillery on Monday the monthly meeting of the
Monmouthshire Western Valley Miners’ Council took
place, and a strong appeal from the Government was sub-
mitted that the members would do their utmost to increase
the output of coal. A resolution was passed urging the
executive council to take up the question of eight hours
for surfacemen. It was reported with regard to a dispute
prevailing at the Cwmtillery and Rose Hepworth col-
lieries on account of the refusal of the employers to revise
the Black Vein list, that steps are being taken to have a
new price list prepared. It was further reported that the
Cwmcarn men had refused to accept the Abercarn price list,
and were demanding a new one.

The East Glamorgan district of miners met at Caerphilly
on Monday, and it was stated to them that output com-
mittees would be established at each colliery in order
to maintain the output. These committees would have
power to deal with absentee workmen, and they would
also keep a watch over the management in respect of
proper facilities for enabling the workmen to maintain
the output. It is understood that similar committees are
to be appointed in other parts of the district.

After reference to the disputes which have been relegated
to representatives of both sides or dealt with by the Joint
Disputes Committee, it was stated that the claim on behalf
of men who wished to participate in the pooled earnings
on the conveyor at Bedwas Colliery would, in all proba-
bility, necessitate action in the High Court.

The half-yearly meeting of the South Wales enginemen,
Stokers, and Craftesmen’s Association took place on Satur-
day in Cardiff. The secretary submitted a report upon
negotiations with the employers for a higher standard to
enginement. The offer which had been obtained from the
employers, was regarded as unsatisfactory, and it was
decided to reject it. It was announced that with regard
to certain questions still in negotiation an interview was
to take place with the Coal Controller. The conference
decided to insist upon an eight hours shift for all men
in and about the mines who are at present working a
longer period.

North of England.

At the July meeting of the Northumberland Coal Trade
Joint Committee the following award with reference to
the Tilley seam of West Wylam Colliery was received :
Whole, 2s. 6d. per ton; broken, 2s. 4d. ; longwall, 2s. 4d. ;
all customs and conditions of working in other seams to
apply and continue. The claim of the workmen at Algernon
Pit, Backworth, for cross-cut yard price in the Straight-on
Flat, North Drift district, for the whole of the men for
the quarter ended March, 1918, was disallowed. Nether-
ton Howard rolleywaymen’s claim for overtime to be
based on a six-hour shift, according to county custom, was
withdrawn, as was also Seaton Delaval, New Delaval,
and New Hartley owners’ request that the basis rate of
3s. 5d. per day for ordinary screeners should be reduced
to county rate and that, for casting and filling, the piece
work rates should be the basis per chaldron of 4d. for
casting and 5d. for filling, no man to be paid concurrently
a data! wage and a piece work rate for casting and filling.
Seaton Burn workmen’s request that the horsekeepers
should be based and paid on 14 shifts per fortnight at the
same rate per shift as at present was “ moved off the
board.”

The putters at the E or West Sleekburn colliery of the
Bedlington Coal Company Limited have tendered their
notices to cease work because of a wages grievance, but
the manager has not accepted them. The putters, whose
ages range from 18 to 27 years, contend that, as the rules
of the Northumberland Miners’ Association recognise them
as men, they should be receiving men’s wages instead of
the ordinary putter’s scale. The management’s offer to
increase the price by 2d. per score has been rejected. It
is stated that the men at the other collieries in the Bed-
lington group are supporting the putters in their strike
policy.

The members of the Thornaby-on-Tees lodge of the
Cleveland and Durham Blastfumacemen’s and Cokemen’s
Association have replied to the recommendation of their
executive committee that the weekly contributions should
be increased from 6d. to Is. per member by unanimously

agreeing to consider no such recommendation until the
executive committee has met the masters’ association and
got a fair settlement on the bonus oven question. They
hope that all lodges in the association will take the same
stand and thereby help to secure an early settlement of
what they term this most unfair method of payment for
bonus ovens in practice on Tees-side.

A special conference of representatives of the Northum-
berland Mineworkers’ Federation—which comprises the
associations of miners, colliery enginemen and colliery
mechanics, only the deputies being “outside” the new
organisation—was held at the Burt Hall, Newcastle, on
Monday to consider suggestions made by the coal owners
and the Coal Controller to overcome the scarcity of sur-
face labour at the county collieries. The Controller stated
that at a large number of the pits there were large stacks
of coal which were not being handled for transit owing to
the lack of labour, although the coal was urgently needed
before winter. He suggested the employment of (1)
female labour, (2) labour battalions, or (3) German
prisoners. The conference rejected the recommendations
both of the coal owners and of the Controller, and counter-
proposed that the members and half-members of the
Miners’ Association should be allowed to volunteer to fill
into wagons the coal stacked by means of overtime shifts,
the terms to be arranged by the committee of the Federa-
tion and the coal owners. It was further agreed that the
whole of the proposals made—i.e.} those of the owners and
the Controller as well as that made by the conference—
should be submitted to a vote of the members of the
Federation, the voting to be returnable by August 12.

At the annual meeting of the Cumberland Miners’
Association Friendly Society it was stated that the mem-
bership had now reached 2,750, having increased by 39
during the year, and the total amount by investment was
.£2,248. Mr. G. Todhunter was appointed president;
trustees, Mr. A. Sharp, Mr. G. Yeowart, and Mr. J.
Barker; committee, Messrs. E. H. Evans, T. G. McKeat-
ing, J. Wright, and Mrs. Bowers. A vote of sympathy
with the relatives of the late Mr. John Hanlon, miners’
agent, Whitehaven, was passed.

Federated Area.

At a meeting of the council of the Yorkshire Miners’
Association, held at Barnsley on Saturday, consideration
was given to the working conditions of shopmen and
colliery yard labourers. They decided to adjourn the
meeting until August 5, in order to consult the men and
to recommend the men working in or about mines to
agree to tender notices to cease work on the first making-up
day if any moneys are deducted from the men’s wages for
carrying out the arbitration award of a 54 hours week,
including meal times. Mr. H. Smith said they were
informed that that was the action the owners intended
taking. They had hoped that the award would have been
accepted as given, and not as amended, as suggested by
the owners, to provide for 54 hours’ work a week. They
had no other alternative but to pursue the course recom-
mended,. other means having failed to bring about a settle-
ment. The council expressed approval of the correspon-
dence and action taken by the association’s officials in
regard to this question.

At the monthly meeting of the Notts Miners’ Associa-
tion on Monday permission was given to the men employed
at Hucknall No. 2 and at Wollaton and Radford collieries
to hand in notices. The grievances at the last named
pits concern price lists. The council announced that it
could not agree to the request of the Coalowners’ Associa-
tion that the members of rescue teams be exempted from
military service. The secretary (Mr. C. Bunfield) reported
that he had forwarded copies of the scale of wages for
colliery clerks to the secretary of the Coalowners’ Associa-
tion, and had received a reply to the effect that the owners
could not agree to meet them. The meeting instructed
Mr. Bunfield to inform the owners that if a meeting is
not held this month to discuss the proposals a ballot
vote of all the members will be taken and notices handed
in. It was decided to recommend the members to holiday
on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Scotland.

As a result of negotiations between the owners and the
management it has been agreed that an inspection shall
be made of the 4 ft. section in No. 1 Pit, Grasshill Col-
liery, Ayrshire, with a view to the settlement of an
acceptable rate.

In the Coalburn district of Lanarkshire dissatisfaction
is reported in regard to the recruitment of miners. A
correspondence has been opened with the Coal Controller
on the subject.

Work has now been generally resumed in Lanarkshire
after the Glasgow Fair holidays. In some instances there
was a full muster of men on the opening day, but at other
pits not more than 50 per cent, of the miners attended.

In Mid and East Lothian it has been agreed that the
brushers should observe a working policy of 11 days a
fortnight.

Practically all the branches of the National Union of
Mineworkers have decided to work the first two Saturdays