820 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. October 18, 1918. MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION at New Observatory, Richmond, in Degrees and Minutes, for each Two-hour Interval in the Week October 6 to 12, 1918. 1. Magnetic character. Intervals—Hours G.M.T. 0h.-2h. 14° + 2h.-lh. 14° + 4h.-6h. 14° + 6h.-8h. 14° + 8h.-10h 14c + 1 10h.-12h. 14° + | 12h.-14h. 11° + 14h.-16h. 14° + ! 16h.-18h. 14° + 18h.-20h. ; 140+ 20h.-22h. 14° + ; 22h.-24h. 14° + i Mean for day. 14° + Sun., Oct. 6 1 Min. 48*5 Min 47’5 Min. 48’5 Min. , 45’5 Min. i 43’5 Min. 48’5 Min. 53’0 Min. 53’0 i Min. 50’0 Min. ' 47’0 Min. 44’0 i Min. 1 46’0 Min. 1 ‘ 48’0 Mon., „ 7 1 48’5 48’0 47’0 46’0 ' 44’5 49’0 53’0 52’5 47’0 46’5 43’5 | 46’5 j 47’5 Tues., „ 8 2 48’0 49’0 47’0 47’5 ! 46’5 52’0 56’5 55’5* 52’0* 42’0* 42’5* j 37’0* | 48’0 . Wed., 9 2 38’0* 41’5* 46’0* 43’5 I 44’0 50’5 56’5 55’5 51’5 49’5 j 48’0 48’5 1 47’5 Thurs., „ 10 0 48’0 48’0 48’0 46’0 i 45’0 i 50’0 54’0 51’5 49’0 46’0 ! 46’5 47’0 | 48’5 Friday, „ 11 0 . 47’5 47’5. 47’0 45’5 ■ 45’0 . j 50’5 54’0 52’5 i 50’0 49’0 47’0 47’0 i 48’5 Sat., ,, 12 0 47’5 47’5 46’5 45’0 i 44’5 1 48’5 52’0 51’5 49’5 47’5 47’5 47’5 j 48’0 Diurnal in e- 1 quality (i.e., Oct. 1917 Ih. 2h. -1’5 -1’4 3h. 4h. -1’1 -0’8 5h. 6h. -0’8 -1’8 7h. 8h. -3’5 -5’1 9h. lOh. -4’7 -2’2 llh. 12h. + 1’5 + 4’4 13h. llh. + 5’5 +5’5 15h. 16h. + 4’5 +2’9 17h. 18h. + 2’1 +1’3 19h. 20b. +0’5 -0’1 21h. 22h. -0’7 -1’2 23h. 24h. -1’5 -1’8 Mean value for month. 14° 57'’5 Oct. ’17 departure from Sep. 1918 -1’2 -1’7 -2’4 -2’9 -2’9 -2’9 -3’6 -3’8 -2’3 +0’4 + 4’3 +6’6 + 7’1 +6’3 + 4’8 +2’5 + 0’9 -0’1 -1’0 -1’4 -1’7 -1’9 — 1’9 -1’5 14° 48' ’6 Sep. T8 mean value for Sep.1917 -1’2 -1'5 -1’8 -2’1 -2’4 -3’4 -5’0 -6’0 -5’1 -2’2 + 2’6 +5’5 + 7’1 16’5 + 4’9 +3’2 + 2’0 +1’1 + 0’5 +0’1 -0’2 -0’6 -0’9 -1’2 '4° 58'’4 Sep. ’17 day) The day»is counted from Oh. (midnight) to 2Hi. (mi inight) G.M.T. Character “ 0” means a day wholly free from any but small disturban es. Character “ 133 means a day part or all of which is moderately or considerably disturbed. Character “2” means a day part 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 33 On a day of character “0” declination at any hour will usually be within about 3' of the normal. On a day of character 133 the departure from the normal will usually not exceed 5', but it may occasionally be as much as 10', or even more. On a day of character t( 233 the departure from the normal will seldom exceed 20', but departures of 30' or ever! on extreme occasions of 1° or more may occur. The above values were obtained from measurements made after “ smoothing33 the curves. * Large disturbances during this interval. Meteorological Office, October 16. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The joint committee of the Conciliation Board, which has to consider the steps for establishing pit committees and improve the output by limiting absenteeism, met in Cardiff on Monday. Mr. Evan Williams was in the chair. Discussion took place as to the powers which should be entrusted to. the committee, and the proposals submitted by the men’s representatives at previous meetings were dealt with. These the owners consider an infringement upon the duties and responsibilities of the management; and on Monday they submitted counter-proposals. It ( proved impracticable, however, to arrive at a conclusion, and the meeting separated, each side undertaking to con- sider suggestions which had been put forward with a view of reaching agreement. The South Wales colliery examiners’ meeting in Cardiff on Monday discussed an allegation that in certain col- lieries where firemen had recently joined the association these men were being intimidated by the management. It was stated that such cases should be at once reported so that they might .take steps with the Conciliation Board to put a stop to the practice. The joint committee re disputes met on ^Tuesday, Mr. Evan Williams presiding. Men at South Celynen pits claimed the war wage for the period they had been unable to work during the railway strike; and it was agreed that this should be allowed. Other matters dealt with were of minor concern. The enginemen, stokers’ and craftsmen’s executive council, which covers the Forest of Dean as well as South Wales and Monmouthshire, met in Cardiff to consider the question of establishing an eight hours day for those colliery workers who are engaged in the mechanical depart- ments, Mr. W. J. Wathen being in the chair. The chief business was to frame an agenda for the conference to be held on Saturday. The employers have refused to grant the eight hours- day, and this has brought about a crisis wherein the men have to make a decision. A circular is being sent out to the branches enquiring how far they are prepared to go towards taking drastic action in order to secure the desired concession. Mr. V. Hartshorn, miners’ agent, Maesteg, one of the leaders on the Federation executive, strongly condemns the attitude of the coalowners with reference to the sur- facemen’s demand for an eight-hour day. He states that nearly all the workmen employed underground are content with- their hours at present—very few of them still working 9^ hours—and that on the surface all the men who handle the coal from the pit top to the tips have a working day of 8^ hours, of which 20 minutes is allowed for meals. Also that the enginemen on the surface and all the stokers have an eight-hour day, which includes the meal time. There are therefore relatively few men who are employed on the rubbish tips, felling timber, unload- ing small coal, working on locomotives, and also a few mechanics who have to work more than eight hours. Not more than 5 per cent, are working under the objection- able conditions. North of England. The ascertainment of the average net selling price of coal per ton at the pithead in Northumberland for the quarter ended August 30 produced a figure of ^1 2s. 2-66d., as compared with 19s. 10-44d. for the previous quarter, an advance of 2s. 4-62d., and a record for the county. Miners’ wages, however, undergo no change, the present percentage and the war wage making their remuneration more than even they would be entitled to under the sliding scale with coal at its great price. At a meeting of the council of Durham Miners’ Associa- tion last Saturday it was decided to protest against super- annuation or any other benefit and aged miners’ homes provided by workmen’s subscriptions being taken into account in determining the amounts of State old age pen- sions. It was further decided to call upon the Govern- ment to raise the amount of the pension to 10s. per week, to commence at the age of 60 years. A protest was made against any reduction in meat rations to miners and others engaged in hard manual work, and to urge the Food Controller to reconsider the whole question. The reinstatement of a conscientious objector to his position as clerk in the association’s office was considered and refused. It was decided to call the attention of the Coal Controller to the profiteering in miners’ tools and to seek to have a reasonable adjustment of prices. A motion that the agents and executive members should seek from the Government some extra payment on behalf of Class W men who, being returned from the Army to increase the output of coal, feel so broken in health that they cannot work at the pace required each day in the week, was withdrawn. With a view to showing that the miners are not getting such high wages as the public might suppose, the secre- tary and average-taker of the North Biddick lodge of the Durham Miners’ Association have sent the following figures to the Press with reference to No. 18 pay, ending September 7 last : Hewers got 10s. 4d. net; stonemen, 12s. 5d. ; coal fillers, 9s. lOd. ; pony putters, 10 cwt. tubs, 9s. lid. ; hand putters, 9s. 5d; pony putters, 5 cwt. tub, 7s. 2d. ; onsetters, 9s. 4d. ; and banksmen, 9s. The 3s. war bonus was in addition. The wages of the datal hands were very much lower than the foregoing figures. At recent meetings of the executive committee of North- umberland Miners’ Association many questions of interest to miners were dealt with. After discussing a strike at the Ashington collieries’ fire and rescue station, the committee recommended the members of such brigades in the county to become members of the association. Stobs- wood hewers were granted permission to work emergency, shifts at stonework at week-ends, when it was clearly proven that stonemen could not be secured for the work, and that, in consequence, the work of the pit would be interfered with. The executive committee decided that, under the association rules, sick visitors for the permanent relief fund could not be accepted as members. The opinion was come to that the Dinnington lads who went home from the pit rather than wait until a breakage was put right, notwithstanding that they were told that they would be paid for waiting, were not entitled to war wage for that day. Heddon branch was asked to furnish full particulars of alleged overcharges for medical certificates, so as to enable the association, if necessary, to put the matter before the British Medical Association. It was decided to write to Plenmeller branch calling attention to the colliery management’s complaint as to stonemen absenting themselves from work on Sunday mornings. In reply to the Coal Controller, the executive committee raised no objection to coal trimmers and dockers being sent to fill the small coal lying in heaps at some of the pits into wagons, provided that the ordinary surface time labour was not thereby displaced. The suggestion of Hazlerigg branch that a special council meeting should be convened to consider the question of increased separation allowances for soldiers’ and sailors’ dependants, was not approved, but the executive committee pointed out that it had endea- voured, through the various movements already in existence, to have these increased. A group of branches was advised to ask the colliery management to scrutinise the cost accounts of explosives supplied to the colliery company, in order to ascertain whether the increase in prices charged to the men was justified. Shilbottle branch was informed that, in face of the management of the colliery having agreed to give each workman who had been in service for one year six days holiday, with pay, per annum, the executive committee could not agree to enforce the payment of the 2s. bonus for working the annual feast holidays. Out-of-work benefit was granted to members who had been engaged in dismantling Walker Colliery, and were now discharged. The manager of a small colliery was informed that if the 50 per cent, pay- able on minimum wages according to county agreement was not paid to his workmen, the executive committee would be under the necessity of granting leave to the men to take a ballot vote as to whether they should terminate their hiring until it was paid. A ballot taken among the members of the Cumberland Winding Enginemen’s Association as to whether, failing a settlement on any question brought before a joint com- mittee or conciliation board, resort should be made to arbitration or the handing in of 14 days’ notice showed 75 per cent, in favour of the latter alternative. In his quarterly circular to the members of the Cleve- land Miners’ and Quarrymen’s Association, Mr. Harry Dack, agent, states that the workmen on Tees-side and in Cleveland have loyally supported the Government during the war. “ We have had no strike in the district, but that is no proof that we have not had grievances, and, when peace is declared, there are many matters which will require careful handling if we are to continue to run the staple industry of the district as smoothly as hitherto.” He advocates a six-hour working day for all miners, whether underground or on the surface, and says that thus it-Will be possible to find work, on demobilisation, for all miners who joined the Colours. Working men must have more leisure, not only to make life more pleasant but to give greater opportunity for intellectual advancement. Another matter certain to become the subject of negotia- tion after the war is, says Mr. Dack, a new Minimum Wage Act—not, he trusts, merely a Miners’ Minimum Wage Act, but one that shall fix a guaranteed minimum wage in all industries. Surf acemen’s v wages and hours were the subject of dis- cussion at a meeting of the Cumberland Coal Conciliation Board at Workington last Friday. The coal owners stated that they were willing to set up a committee to consider the question of a wage advance, the matter to be referred to the neutral chairman, failing an agreed settle- ment ; but they contended that hours were a national question. The miners’ delegates afterwards appointed the following representatives on the joint committee on wages : Messrs. T. Rumney, Allhallows; J. Taylor, Old St. Helens ; J. Tunstall, Buckhill; G. Wattleworth, Moresby ; W. Graham, Whitehaven; J. Byers, Outfield. Federated Area. At a meeting of Lancashire colliery managers last week at Wigan it was agreed that the reason why the Coal Controller refused to meet the managers directly on the question of increasing the output of coal is because they are not a registered trade union, but only a literary society. The meeting unanimously decided to take steps at once to have the rules of the National Association of Colliery Managers amended. Dissatisfied with the result of recent arbitration pro- ceedings, by which it was sought to secure the enforce- ment of the eight hours day for surface hands in the Notts coal field, the executive of the County Association has had an interview on the subject in London with Sir George Askwith, who undertook to bring their repre- sentation to the notice of the Coal Controller. Mfr. J. Spencer, of Shirebrook, checkweighman at Warsop Main Colliery, has* been appointed general treasurer of the Derbyshire Miners’ Association. Kent. There are great hopes that the threatened strike at the Tilmanstone, Snowdown, and Chislet collieries will x now be entirely avoided. According to the notices handed in, the strike would have commenced on Tuesday, 15th inst., affecting about a thousand men. At the week-end, how-, ever, arrangements were made for a conference to be held between representatives of the boards of the three col- lieries and of the Kent Miners’ Association, this confer- ence to take'place at Canterbury shortly, as soon as a suitable. date can be fixed. In the meantime, on the advice of their association, the men are remaining at work. Scotland, At a meeting of the Scottish branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers, held . in Glasgow, it was reported that the Scottish coal owners had met a deputation from the association, and discussed the question of setting up pit committees. It was hoped that a workable scheme would be evolved very soon. In reply to a communication from the Midland branch, there was general agreement that the electric safety lamp was popular amongst Scottish miners, and the latter did not seem to regard that type of light as more provocative of miners’ nystagmus. % At a meeting in Glasgow, held under the . auspices of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Reform Committee, proposals for the reform of the miners’ organisations and the demand for an increase of 5s. per day in wages were adopted. It was agreed that one union for the whole country should be formed by bringing about the amalgamation of all existing unions. A committee was appointed to meet the Coal Controller and present the demands. The Scottish Coal Trades Conciliation Board have dis- cussed the question of instituting joint pit committees throughout Scotland. It has been decided to support the proposal, and to arrange a scheme whereby the represen- tatives of the managers and the workmen may act jointly. It is reported that the Scottish coal owners are willing to make some concessions relative to the claims of colliery firemen, but not to the full extent of Is. per day and an eight hours’ shift, as demanded. The men’s representa- tives have decided to refer the question to the Controller of Coal Mines. A dispute cropped up at Kinneil * Collieries, West Lothian, over the non-payment of the war wage for the idle Saturday. The management refused to concede the war wage, and on a reference to the Controller of Coal Mines, he supported that decision. The men came out on strike, and remained idle for fully a week. Negotia- tions were reopened with the Controller, who promised to reconsider his decision. In the meantime, the local manager arranged to pay the war wage as claimed. At a meeting of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Reform Com- mittee, at which delegates from all counties in Scotland were present, a committee was appointed to meet the Coal Controller and present a demand for an increase of 5s. per day in wages. The election of agents and officials, it was agreed, should be by anmial individual vote of the rank and file—the executive to be composed of mine workers. Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades. Negotiations are proceeding between the Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades’ Federation and the Engineering Employers’ Federation relative to the demand for a 44 hours’ working week without reduction of wages, the system to come into operation after the war. New Zealand Coal Output.”— According to figures furnished by the Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister of Muni- tions, the output of all mines in New Zealand in 1917 was 2,068,419 tons, or 188,716 tons less than for 1916. Imports of coal in 1916 were 293,956 tons, and for 1917 291,591 tons ; but the latter figures include a considerable quan- tity of coal belonging to the Admiralty, made available at the time to meet local scarcity. In 1915 the output totalled 2,208,624 tons, and the imports 353,471 tons. In the first six months of the present year the output aggre- gated 952,118 tons and the imports 132,601 tons. New Zealand’s annual requirements are estimated at 1,200,000 tons.