348

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

August 16, 1918.

strongly affirmative in the county, 406 voting in favour and
only 47 against, as against 43 and 13 respectively. On the
other hand, whilst the council agreed, by 47 votes to 4,
that, on any question of urgent national importance, or
on any question already agreed to by a national conference
of miners, the executive committee or conference of the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain may call the members
of the Federation out on strike without a ballot vote, if
the conference or committee desire to do so,” there have
been 58 votes recorded against it in the county, although
it has been carried with the very comfortable number of
399 proxy supporters. South Tyne’s motion in favour of
the abolition of all piece work in mines, carried by 35 votes
to 20 in May, has now been endorsed by 379 votes to 74.
Algernon’s proposal that the association should agree to
accept the deputies as a body, carried by the narrow vote
of 30 to 22 earlier, has been approved by 314 to 143. The
comprehensive scheme of working-class education, proposed
by the executive committee, which found only one opponent
at the council meeting, has been sanctioned by 410 votes
to 11.

Yorkshire.

A fatality which occurred at Thorne Moorends Colliery,
South Yorkshire, was the subject of an inquest last week
upon Joshua Sangster, 57, an engineer, who was engaged
in fitting up and testing some pumps used at Thorne in
connection with sinking operations. A flexible pipe was
in use for the first time. It was stated deceased was told
to close the valves. Under the impression that he was
closing one of them, he was in reality opening one, and
the pipe burst under, less than 100 lb. pressure to the
square inch, although said to have been tested previously
at 200 lb. The coroner said he thought the matter of
the pipe ought to be taken up. A verdict of “ Accidental
death ” was returned.

Lancashire and Cheshire.

Miners in Southern Lancashire have offered spare time
services in gathering in the local harvests, which are
exceptionally good this year. Large crops of oats, barley,
and wheat have been grown in the South Lancashire colliery
districts. Appeals are being issued to their workmen by
colliery firms in Manchester and Bolton districts asking
that absenteeism should be reduced to a minimum in the
face of the growing shortage of coal supplies. At pit
set meetings of miners held in these localities resolutions
pledging the miners to do their utmost to meet the present
serious situation are being adopted.

North Wales.

In connection with the recent colliery managers’ examina-
tions held at Wigan, Mr. A. W. Rogers, Chirk, obtained
a first-class certificate, and his brother, Mr. H. Rogers,
obtained a second-class certificate. A first-class diploma
was gained by Mr. A. Williams, underground manager at
Hafod Colliery, Ruabon.

Kent.

Messrs. Schneider, of the Creusot Armament Works,
France, have notified the board of directors of the East
Kent Colliery Company Limited that they do not intend
to exercise the option recently granted them, to purchase
the <£75,000 of unissued debenture stock in the company’s
Tilmanstone Colliery. Messrs. Schneider had a very
thorough inspection of the colliery made by a firm of
engineers during the period since the board decided to
grant the option. Arising out of this decision of Messrs.
Schneider, the board of the East Kent Colliery Company
are meeting next week to consider the position, which will
be put before the shareholders at the annual meeting of
the company shortly. " Messrs. Schneider still have the
option granted them by the Kent Coal Concessions and
other allied companies for acquiring the Wingham and
Woodnesborough collieries and a large surrounding area
of the coalfield, and it is anticipated that they will
exercise this option, as they would have full control of the
development of these collieries.

An amount of interest, almost comparable to the early
days of the Kent coalfield some 20 years ago, has been
created by the opening out within a few weeks of two good
seams of coal, 5 ft. and 6^ ft. thick respectively, in the
Chislet Colliery pit near Canterbury, especially as many
had felt a good deal of uncertainty as to whether workable
seams would be discovered in that direction. The latest
seam discovered is at a depth of 1,400 ft., and as the second
shaft is down about 420 ft., there is something less than
1,000 ft. of sinking before two shafts are in this excellent
seam. Sinking is going on well, and in the meantime suffi-
cient coal is being raised for the colliery’s requirements.

Scotland.

The question of Sunday labour in the mines of Lanark-
shire has been causing a good deal of discussion in mining
circles throughout Scotland. It is hinted that a claim for
double rates for Sunday work may be formulated on behalf
of the miners. The miners point out that steel and iron
workers receive double rates for Sunday labour, and in
their view no valid reason exists for making this distinction.

At a meeting of the Scottish Coal Trade Conciliation
Board in Glasgow the question of colliery firemen’s wages,
hours, and general conditions formed the basis of discus-
sion. One of the claims put forward on behalf of the
Scottish firemen was that they should not be asked to
perform any work in or about the mine which would inter-
fere with the proper carrying out of their statutory duties.
A demand is also put forward for increased rates of
remuneration and for a minimum working day of eight
hours. The employers have had the claims of the firemen
put before them, but no announcement has been made of
the attitude the owners are to take up.

Mr. J. R. Laird, chief electrical engineer with the United
Collieries Limited, has been appointed first president of
the new branch in the Lothians of the Association of Mining
Electrical Engineers.

The County Council of Lanarkshire agreed to co-operate
in the establishment of a fund for the support of dependants
of the 19 miners who were lost in the Stanrigg Colliery
disaster.

The Edward Medal has been awarded to John Morris
and Peter Cummings. While on repair work at Giffnock
Colliery, a fireman entered a place and was overcome by
firedamp. Three men who attempted rescue were also
overcome. Morris and Cummings rescued three of the un-
conscious men in three separate journeys. On a fourth
journey they were followed by two others, who were also
overcome, and they were also rescued. On the fifth
journey they recovered the dead body of the fireman.

The members of the West of Scotland branch of the
Association of Mining Electrical Engineers visited the
Clyde mill power station of the Clyde Valley Electric
Power Company, near Cambuslang, Glasgow. They were
conducted round the different departments, and in the
laboratory Mr. Howie gave a demonstration with the
Gray-Thomson calorimeter.

At Burntisland last week the coal shipments aggregated
8,180 tons, a decrease of 2,250 tons on the corresponding
week of last year. The shipments from Methil show a
shrinkage, the total being 24,069 tons, against 27,446 tons
in the previous week.

The work of clearing the roadways in Stanrigg Pit,
Airdrie, is being pushed forward. The water has been
pumped from the shaft.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

About 2,000 workmen are now idle in the west of the
coal field owing to a dispute at Tirydail Colliery concerning
the payment of underground hauliers. At the end of last
week the men at three collieries in the locality stopped
work in sympathy with the original strikers. The matter
has been before the Disputes Board, but it was found very
difficult to arrive at an understanding as to terms of settle-
ment.

In the course of a speech at Merthyr and Y>owlais on
Sunday, Mr. J. Winstone, acting president of the Miners’
Federation, referred to his canditature for the Parliamen-
tary borough of Merthyr, of which Dowlais forms part; and
he spoke with particular reference to the determination of
the miners’ leaders to make the present war-wage the
standard of the future. Miners, he said, receive only one-
third of what they produce, and they were going in for a
consolidation of wages and bonuses, with one wages board
for the whole kingdom.

The executive council of the Miners’ Federation met in
Cardiff on Monday, Mr. J. Winstone in the chair; and
they dealt with an application by Major Roberts, secretary
of the Welsh Regional Area of National Service. That
gentleman informed them that the quota of men had not
been supplied by some of the collieries, and he proposed
that the sub-committee dealing with this matter should
meet him, a thousand more men being required to complete
the quota. It was decided that the committee should meet
Major Roberts and take the matter in hand.

Upon a complaint from two of the Rhondda pits as to
employment of female labour, a resolution was passed that
the matter should be brought before the Coal Controller
with the object of securing withdrawal of women from
colliery work.

The increased price of explosives was brought before the
council, who decided that it was a wage question that
ought to come under the consideration of the Disputes
Board; and it was resolved that, failing agreement, the
officers of the Federation should wait upon the Coal
Controller and lay the facts before him.

A demonstration was made before the council of a patent
which prevents a cage falling down the pit in the event of
breakage of the rope, and this was approved — the general
secretary being requested to obtain specification of all
' such inventions in order that they might be brought to
the notice of the Home Office.

The Joint Disputes Committee of the South Wales
Conciliation Board sitting on Tuesday under the presidency
of Mr. B. Nicholas, had before them a letter from the Coal
Controller, who called attention to the stoppage of men at
Oakwood Colliery. The stoppage was caused, so it had
been alleged, by an injured man having been removed to
the workhouse. The Committee, after discussion of facts
as submitted, arrived at an arrangement for settlement;
and it was agreed that the men should return to work.

The Cardiff Trimming Board ifaet on Tuesday under the
presidency of Mr. T. Evans. The chief subject of con-
sideration was the application of the trimmers for an
increase of 40 per cent, in the war bonus, which would
bring it up to 100 per cent, beyond pre-war rates. It was
decided to refer the matter to the Central Board

Bearing upon the question of the output of coal, serious
complaints are being made by South Wales miners of a
shortage of food, particularly of cheese and meat. Mr.
James Winstone, president of the South Wales Miners’
Federation, has communicated these complaints to the
Food Controller, who has replied that he is sending down
representatives to investigate them forthwith.

North of England.

Last Saturday a conference of over 200 delegates from
80 lodges of the Durham Miners’ Association endorsed the
action of the Bessie Lodge in insisting upon the reinstate-
ment of Mr. James Scott, checkweighman at the Bessie Pit,
Blaydon Burn, who has been removed by an order of the
Gateshead county magistrates, at the request of the owners,
from his position. The conference decided that the Bessie
Lodge should send in a request to the association that the
case should be put upon a special council programme for
August 24. Should that request be refused at the ordinary
council meeting on August 17, the conference pledged
itself to blockade business until the request is granted, and
that meanwhile financial support of Mr. Scott should be
pledged by the lodges represented.

Negotiations are proceeding with reference to the claim
of putters at the Bedlington group of collieries to an
advance in wages. Each colliery is being dealt with
separately, and the putters are remaining at work pending
the outcome of the conference, being assured that, if they
adhere to constitutional methods, they will receive the
support of the Northumberland Miners’ Association.
Mr. John Cairns, who is one of their spokesmen, states he
is hopeful that an amicable settlement will be arrived at.
The agitation, it appears, had its origin at West Sleekburn,
whence it has spread to other collieries. At West Sleek-
burn the putters’ latest average is 7s. 10|d per shift, as
against the county average of 7s. Ojd. The putters, how-
ever, claim that the circumstances are exceptional, and
that in view of the advanced age, comparatively speaking,
of many of those putting at present, the usual conditions
do not apply. They claim that the “ renk ” for putting
should be raised from ll|d. and Is. 0|d. to Is. 6d. per score;
that putters over 21 should receive 2s. for starting, and 4d.
per score extra upon the average score price, with putter
hewers in proportion, and that special putter hewers should
receive 3s. 6d. for starting, no matter at which part of the
shift they may be called upon to do putters’ work, and 4d.
per score extra. The owners have offered to increase putters’
wages by 2d. per score and those of putter hewers over 21
by 3d. per score—conceding also to putter hewers over 22
years of age 2s. for starting and 3d. per score extra. Thus,
the putters claim advances equal to about 55 per cent.,
whilst the owners have offered advances of about 16
per cent.

Replying to the strictures passed by Mr. T. H Cann,
general secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association, on
those lodges which lay pits idle without first consulting the
agents of the association, Mr. Jos. Lund, secretary of
the Framwellgate Moor Lodge, in a long letter to the

newspapers, states that the lodge has passed a resolution
deploring Mr. Cann’s statements, and alleging that the
fault lies with the agents and executive committee, and
that the Framwellgate Moor miners have had every reason
for stopping the pit without notice, owing to disputed
cases having been allowed to run over from one year to
the next.

In notifying the members of the Northumberland
Miners’ Association that the accountants’ ascertainment of
the average selling price of coal, raised at the collieries of
the Northumberland Coal Owners’ Association during the
quarter ended May last, was 18s. 104d. per ton, an increase
of Is. 0 83d. per ton on the quarter, the officials and wages
committee say:—"‘Shipping has greatly improved during
recent months, which has enabled us to export as much
coal as we could raise for that purpose. But the coal
available for export purposes has not been sufficient to
meet the demand; consequently, the price has gone up to
the high figure reported by the accountants. Had the
sliding scale been in operation, the percentage on wages
would have been 132 per cent., instead of the 120 per cent,
we have. We have, however, the war wage of 3s. and
Is. 6d., which*raises the actual percentage on wages far
above anything the sliding scale would have given. Mr.
J. Humphrey, of the Enginemen’s Association, and Mr. J.
Bitey, of the Mechanics’ Association, attended the meet-
ing, as representatives of the other two sections of our
Northumberland Federation.”

Sir Hugh Bell presided over a meeting of the Cleveland
Mineowners’ and Miners’ Joint Committee held at
Middlesbrough on Monday. Two questions from Grinkle
Mine were settled, whilst a question from Park Pit was
referred to the referees. With regard to the recent war
wage granted by the Coal Controller to colliery workers,
the chairman informed the men’s deputation that an
arrangement had been made by the Ministry of Munitions
for the extension of the wage to ironstone miners and
limestone workers. The war wage would take effect as
from June 30 last and back payments to the Cleveland
men would be made on the 24th inst. and to the Weardale
quarrymen on the 30th inst.

The long-standing claims of the underground day wage
men and boys and shot firers at Cumberland collieries
for Is. per day advance in wages, and of night shiftmen
for a revision of their working conditions will be adjudi-
cated upon this week by his Honour Judge Gawan Taylor,
in his capacity as neutral chairman of the Cumberland
Coal Conciliation Board.

Federated Area.

Several unauthorised stoppages have occurred at Notts
collieries in recent months, and pointed reference is made
to the matter in the half-yearly report of the Notts Miners’
Association. This states that the growing tendency on the
part of some boys and some men to stop pits without any
notice or the association’s permission, on some real or
fancied grievances, is not only disconcerting, but a very
dangerous step to take. “We should be failing in our
duty,” the report declares, “ if we did not very seriously
point out this danger, and strongly deprecate these uncon-
stitutional actions, especially at a time when the very life
and comfort of the people are dependent so much upon the
coal that we obtain.”

The North Staffordshire Miners’ Federation has decided
to establish joint pit committees at all collieries to reduce
absenteeism among miners, and to deal with other causes
of reduced output.

His Honour Judge Spencer Hogg heard a case at the last
sitting of the Wigan County Court in regard to miners’
permanent relief societies and disputes with members that
should go to arbitration. In the case in question, William
Banks, a dataller, of 38, Hardy butts, Wigan, had entered an
action against the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Per-
manent Relief Society, claiming XI 6s. 4d. as accident pay.
The case for the society, for which Mr. H. E Allen (Messrs.
Peace and Ellis) appeared, was that the dispute in question
came within the meaning of Rule 53 of the defendant
society, which laid it down that all disputes that might at
anytime arise between any member and the society relative
to any alleged breach of rules, or withholding the benefit of.
or expelling any member, “or any account whatsoever,”
should be referred to arbitration. His Honour said that he
had no power to deal with the case, and the plaintiff must
have the question in dispute arbitrated upon.

Scotland.

The Fife Miners’ Association make the statement that
certain colliery managers in Fife have recently induced
the miners to forego the usual idle day and work the full
twelve days per fortnight. The executive passed a resolu-
tion to the effect that the collieries will be laid idle if the
practice is not stopped.

There is a likelihood of trouble arising at Redding
Colliery over the question of a drawing scale. It seems
that a motor haulage was recently introduced, which
reduced the length of the drawing roads, and the manager
has asked that there should be a reduction in the rates to
compensate the company for the alteration.

The Scottish mineowners are complaining that the
number of morning meetings which are being held from
time to time lead to a considerable amount of idle time at
the pits.

When war broke out rent and coal were given gratuitously
by the Scottish owners to the dependants of miners who
joined the Army and Navy. Latterly these concessions
have been withheld from dependants where miners have
been taken for the Army under the latest calls. As the
outcome of representations the coalowners have agreed to
discuss the whole question of rents and house coal to the
dependants of soldiers.

Classifying Industrial Users of Coal.—All industrial con-
cerns using 500 tons or more of coal annually are to be
classified on the so-called preference list of the United
States War Industries Board. Dealers are not to be allowed
to add increased freight charges to coal transported prior
to the increase in rate.

Cross-Channel Ferry and Irish Development________A state-

ment has been published to the effect that the Govern-
ment is much impressed with the necessity of developing
Ireland’s industrial resources, and particularly its mineral
deposits. The Irish Office has been informed that coal
deposits at Ballycastle, Lough Neagh, down to Coalis-
land and Dungannon, are* connected with the Scotch coal
seams, and the idea is to develop them as well as
the lignite deposits. Mention is made of the possi-
bility of establishing, after the war, the Swedish ferry
system between Ireland and Great Britain, by means of
which entire trains, with their contents, will be placed
on board the boats and transferred across the Channel.