November 1, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

927

Notes from the Coal Fields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Wider Use of Anthracite — Meiros Colliery Changes
Hands—Delay Over Weekly Returns—Shortage of
Doctors—Steelworks Scheme.

The scheme for new steel works on the coast between
Swansea and Port Talbot is now taking definite shape; and
apparently, although directors of Baldwins are associated
with it, the undertaking will be independent of that firm.
The new company is the British Steel Corporation. Among
the directors are Col. W. C. Wright and Mr. J. C. Davies
—both of them directors of Baldwins—and the Port Talbot
Steel Company is also connected. Another director is
Sir Richard Vassar-Smith, who is chairman of Lloyds
Bank. The initial capital to the amount of £1,000,000
sterling has been privately subscribed, and it is stated that
the intention is to increase the capital ultimately to a total
sum of <£5,000,000. The Briton Ferry works will be trans-
ferred to the new corporation, and a site of 350 acres
between Swansea Docks and the Neath river has been
acquired for the erection of blast furnaces and coke ovens,
the production of pig iron aimed at being no less than
20,000 tons per week.

At the offices of the Coal Owners’ Association in Cardiff
on Tuesday an experiment was shown of the burning of
anthracite coal in an ordinary open grate, it being a
demonstration of how anthracite could be satisfactorily
used for household purposes. A fire was laid and lighted
within five minutes in the conference chamber, which is a
large room—35 ft. by 27 ft., with a height of 18 ft. The
coal burned evenly and with a splendid glow ; and although
the windows were open the temperature of the room was
raised from 60 to 62 degs., being maintained at the latter
level after the fires had been supplemented by balls of
anthracite duff and clay, it being estimated that these were
'sufficient to keep the fire burning for 20 hours. A similar
fire was lighted in an adjoining room, and for both the
weight of the coal and clay balls used’was only 40 lb.,
equalling 1 lb. per fire per hour.

A statement has been published by one of the London
papers that Mr. V. Hartshorn has been called in as per-
manent adviser of the Coal Controller, and that he is
at present actively engaged in that capacity at Holborn ;
but that he nevertheless had not merely associated himself
officially with the demand of the surfacemen, but had
been writing to the Press threatening trouble unless the
Controller conceded the demand. This statement has
evoked direct contradiction, Mr. Hartshorn not being a
permanent adviser nor a Government official. He is
simply a member of the Advisory Board.

On Swansea trade last week there was an increase in
the shipment of coal and a decrease in patent fuel; and
the week as a whole shows a reduction in comparison with
the corresponding week of last year. The coal totalled
49,414 tons, and the patent fuel 11,813 tons.

Mr. Finlay Gibson, secretary of the Coal and Coke
Supplies Committee, has reported the proceedings of that
committee in an interview with the Controller in London,
particularly concerning the time lost in the anthracite
collieries as well as other collieries in the western district.
They submitted proposals and suggestions, and the Con-
troller promised to give this careful consideration. The
committee urge that there shall be a better provision of
shipping and also of wagons, that wagons sent inland
should not be subject to present delays, and that anthra-
cite should be excluded from the Fuel and Lighting Order
so as to ensure its more general consumption and thus
provide more regular work for the collieries. In view of
the large amount of time which is lost, it is imperative that
these suggestions should not only be carefully considered
but should be brought into practical operation at an early
date, both for the advantage of the workmen and also
for the general public at this time of general shortage.

The property of the Meiros Colliery Company is chang-
ing hands, having been acquired by Messrs. C. P. Hailey
and D. P. Barnett, of Baltic House, Cardiff, in associa-
tion with other gentlemen. It consists of three pits—
Meiros, Cwmcuic, and Werntarw—with a present output
of about a quarter of a million tons per annum. The
capital of the old proprietary is about <£200,000. Among
the members of the old board of directors are Capt. Ber-
nard Walsh, Mr. F. E. Andrews, and Mr. R. S. Gardiner.
The colliery is said to produce the highest class gas coal
in South Wales, and the intention of the new proprietors,
it is believed, is that this branch of the business shall be
extended, great developments of the property to that end
being undertaken.

It has been decided by the Federation executive of
South Wales to support the candidature of Mr. Frank
Hodges, agent in the Garw district, for the position of
secretary of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

The local Co-ordination Committee dealing with the ship-
ment of coal has had reason to complain of negligence on
the part of certain firms who fail to send in their weekly
statement as to shipping which is due to arrive. It is
essential that the committee be supplied as promptly as
possible each week with this information, and really it is
to the advantage of each firm to forward the desired
communication.

Mr. V. Hartshorn has directed special attention to the
general unrest which prevails on account of the with-
drawal of doctors from private practice in the coal field,
and he points out that this unrest will possibly develop
to such an extent as is likely to interfere very seriously
with the output of coal. He contends that the miners as
a body are as much a part of the military organisation of
the Allies as the regiments in the field, and that the main-
tenance of medical service to the men is therefore a matter
of vital importance.

Northumberland and Durham.

Accident at H ar ton Colliery—Coal Prices in Chester-le-
Street—Managerial Change—Hexham Parliamentary
Candidate.

Whilst a number of men were sitting at the “ kist ”
waiting to come out of Harton Colliery on October 16, the
binding wheel and its framework suddenly came away
from an empty set which was being drawn inbye. The
place was thrown into darkness and the men were flung into
a heap. Several of. them were slightly injured. Patrick
McGough, 32, sustained damage to his head, producing
concussion of the brain, from which he afterwards died.
At the inquest, Jas. Stewart, one of the miners’ represen-
tatives, stated, that he found that two of the tubs had
got off the way and caught the roof. This would cause
a strain on the wheel, and, in witness’s opinion, would
result in the accident. A verdict of “ Accidental death ”
was returned.

The Chester-le-Street Rural Fuel and Lighting Com-
mittee adopted a report submitted by the coal merchants’

supervisor and the local fuel overseer stating that : “ Hav-
ing obtained prices for the various classes of household
coal sold by the registered merchants in the district, we
find that the difference between the best and commonest
classes is so small (3s. per ton on the average) that in
our opinion it would not justify the labour and cost which
would be entailed in working out the small additional
allowances of coal which might be granted to the con-
sumers of the inferior classes. We do, however, recom-
mend that where any householder who consumes an inferior
class of coal proves that, with legitimate use, his allow-
ance is not going to last over the full year, an application
from him for a reasonable additional allowance be favour-
ably considered by the committee.” At the same meeting
a letter was read stating that the Coal Controller could
not accept the resolution of the committee to allow people
who consumed colliery “brasses” to do so at the rate of
nine tons to One ton of coal. The committee decided to
abide by the resolution, but to send a suitable reply.

Mr. R. N. Fowler is relinquishing the management of
North Walbottle Colliery, having been appointed manager
of Redheugh Colliery, in succession to Mr. C. H. Steaven-
son.

The trade union branches in the Hexham division have
selected Mr. Wm. Weir, president of the Northumberland
Miners’ Association, as their Parliamentary candidate at
the next election, by 22 votes to 16 given for Mr. Wm.
Hogg, treasurer of the same organisation.

Whilst Andrew Williamson and Arthur Evans (64),
shifter, were coming outbye on the engine plane at
Thornley Colliery last Saturday, Williamson observed
Evans’s lamp fly in the direction of the roof. He rushed
forward and found Evans fast in a rope sheaf, with the
travelling wire rope sawing over his arm. The rope was
stopped at once, but Evans was jammed so tightly that
he could not be released until the sheaf was removed.
Deputy Coroner Pearce, who enquired into the fatality
without a jury, came to the verdict of “ Accidentally
killed.”

Cumberland.

The Mayor of Workington has received an official com-
munication that as a result of the conference of West
Cumberland local authorities, the Household Fuel and
Lighting Order will be varied so that it shall be in the
discretion of the local fuel overseers to entertain applica-
tions for additional allowances in certain localities.

Yorkshire.

The fuel overseer at Hull has restricted the delivery of
coal to one bag per house per week, and this quantity
will only be allowed where there is less than half a ton
in the householder’s cellar. Four bags may be delivered
at once to supply one month’s allowance.

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

It was decided at the council meeting of the Notts.
Miners’ Association on Monday to take a ballot vote
regarding the contract system. Annesley colliery work-
men were given permission to hand in notices with a view
to obtaining the reinstatement of several surface workers.
It was agreed that a ballot be taken on the question of
terminating contracts to obtain an eight hour day for sur-
face workers. Three officials were appointed to meet a
sub-committee from the National Union of Clerks with
the object of securing a working agreement between the
two organisations. Sir Dennis Bayley wrote conveying
the thanks of the representatives of the French Govern-
ment for the splendid support rendered by the miners of
Notts, and Derbyshire to the ambulance fund.

A decline in membership, and consequently in income,
and an increase in expenditure, were recorded at the 142nd
quarterly meeting of the board of management of the Mid-
land District Miners’ Fatal Accident Relief Society at
Derby on Tuesday. The balance carried to the credit of
the benefit fund was £1,929, as against £2,293. It was
reported that the whole of the agencies of the society had
now consented to the increase of Is. 5d. per member per
annum in the amount of contribution in order to make
the supplementary benefits scheme self-supporting. These
benefits last quarter absorbed £811.

The Midlands.

A meeting of manufacturers of Walsall, Wolverhamp-
ton, and adjacent districts has been held to consider
representations made by the Mond Gas Company to
the effect that they would have to close down their works
unless they were provided with an adequate supply of
slack. The position was so serious that strong represen-
tations were at once made to the Coal Controller, from
whom a reply had since been received to the effect that
certain collieries had been instructed to see that the com-
pany’s requirements as regarded fuel were met. Military
labour had also been provided so as to maintain the output
of gas.

Eighteen miners were summoned at a South Staffordshire
court on Monday for neglecting their work at Lord
Dudley’s Baggeridge Colliery. Defendants absented them-
selves on various dates, and were summoned, but last week
intimation was given that unless the summonses were
withdrawn the pit would stand and the whole of the
men play for three days.. Defendants were ordered to
pay 6s. for each turn lost, with costs.

Kent.

Arising out of the recent application by the Betteshanger
Coal Boring Company to the Town Council of Deal for
wayleaves for the purpose of working the Crown coal
under the sea, the Deal and Walmer Chamber of Com-
merce passed a resolution recommending favourable con-
sideration of the proposal, subject to reasonable clauses
for the protection of the town.

Scotland.

Retail Prices in Glasgow—Scottish Mine Managers' Asso-
ciation—Clearance Card Question—Fall from a Cage
—Coal Scarcity in Linlithgow.

The Glasgow local fuel and lighting committee decided
to increase the retail price of coal. As the committee have
also decided to regroup the various grades of coal, it is
impossible to give an exact comparison between the new
prices and those at present in force, but, generally speak-
ing, the advance now made amounts to about i^d. per
cwt. The new prices are: .Group 1, 44s. per ton in
bags ; group 2, 42s. 4d. ; and group 3, 40s. 8d. ; coke at
Corporation gas works, 27s. 9d. per ton (to merchants or
dealers) ; briquettes (retail), Is. per doz.

The opening meeting of the session of the new Lothians
branch of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers
was held in Edinburgh on Saturday. Mr. J. R. Laird,
the president, delivered an address, in which he outlined
the scope, duties, functions, and training of mining elec-
trical engineers.

The Scottish Mine Managers’ Association, of which Mr.
James Black, Kincairnie, Shettleston, is secretary, is
arranging a syllabus of papers on practical subjects for the
ensuing session. Mr. Wm. Borland, who has had con-

siderable experience in sinking operations, is to lead off
with a paper on sinking by the cementation process. This
association has had a remarkable accession to the mem-
bership roll during the past few months.

Mr. J. R. Kirkby, general manager of the Wemyss Coal
Company, Fife, has been again re-elected president of the
East of Scotland branch of the Association of Mining
Electrical Engineers. At the opening meeting for the
session on Friday evening, which was held at Buckhaven,
he delivered an inaugural address.

An old point of difficulty has cropped up between the
National Union of Mine Workers and the organisation
which comprises winding enginemen and boiler firemen.
It appears that in the Chryston district the latter organi-
sation has refused to accept a clearance card from an
individual who was a member of the Miners’ Union. A
similar complication regarding the two associations has
arisen at Parkhead Colliery, in the Motherwell district.
It will be recalled that prolonged negotiations were car-
ried on between the two organisations some time ago,
but no agreement was reached.

An enquiry into the circumstances attending the death
of Thomas Hill Pollock, formerly employed at Lothians
No. 18 Pit, Kinneil, was conducted at Linlithgow. It
appeared that Pollock was employed at an old working,
out of which the company were pumping water in order
to reach seams which had not been worked. It had been
discovered there was blackdamp in the shaft, and it was
deceased’s duty to go down the shaft every two hours.
Pollock, who had been on the night shift for 14 hours,
made his last descent shortly before the time his shift
would have been finished. He was lowered in the usual
way, and afterwards the signal to ascend had been given,
but on the cage making the surface it was found Pollock
was missing. Agent for the deceased’s relatives pointed
out that the shaft worked by Pollock was one larger than
the Act stipulated. The jury added to their verdict a
recommendation that an eight hours shift should be
observed, and that greater care should be taken when black-
damp was present or suspected.

At a meeting of Linlithgow County Council, Mr. H. M.
Gadell pointed out that in view of the great scarcity of
coal, part of the county could be lighted by means of the
natural gases which had been discovered by boring at
Blackness, and which was likely to last for a long time.

A demand is made by the Edinburgh district coal mer-
chants for an increase of 9d. per ton in the selling price
of coal.

The shipments of coal from Methil last week showed a
heavy slump, totalling 19,548 tons, against 31,624 tons in
the previous week. From Burntisland the output aggre-
gated 9,550 tons.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The miners of the Albion Colliery having been faced
by a demand from the checkweighers for an increase of
pay, have taken a ballot, with the result that, whilst 145
voted in favour of retaining the checkweighers, 291 voted
against, so that there was a majority of 146 against
retaining the checkweighers. Protest has been made
against this on behalf of the men who are to lose their
employment; and it has been pointed out that whilst the
average rate paid weekly in the Rhondda was Is. 9d. per
double, the payment of Albion was only Is. 3d.—that is.
6d. below the rate. The checkweighers sought 3d. more.
The majority of the men have decided to discontinue the
service, and therefore five checkweighers who have for a
number of years served them are to be deprived of that
employment.

A large number of men belonging to the Amalgamated
Society of Engineers who are employed at steel works in
the Swansea district have decided that they will refuse
to work overtime. This decision is taken independently
of their trade union, and has connection with their demand
for a week of 47 hours to be paid for at present rates,
also double time from 12 noon on Saturday till Monday,
time and a half for ordinary overtime, and all hours after
the usual hour of leaving work to. be charged as over-
time. Certain demands have been submitted to the Tin
Plate Conciliation Board (which has direct relation with
the steel trade) and been referred to a committee acting
in association with officials of three trade unions other
than the engineers. As a result, the claim of the engineers
was refused, and a suggestion was made that the matter
should be put to arbitration by the Committee on Produc-
tion ; but the engineers have taken separate action, and
have ceased to work overtime, with the result that much
loss has been occasioned and serious interference with the
production of steel and the operation of the tin plate works.

The 5,000 men who have been idle in the Amman
Valley, having struck because of delay in dealing with the
eight hour demand of the surfacemen, were urged by their
agent not to jeopardise the action of the Federation in
its effort to get a satisfactory settlement, and they conse-
quently, after three days’ stoppage, decided to return to
work.

The Federation discussed last Thursday the question of
the eight hours day for all surfacemen, this matter having
come up in anticipation of the visit which on the following
day Sir Guy Calthrop (the Coal Controller) intended to
pay to Cardiff in order to meet the miners’ leaders. Mr.
T. Richards, M.P. (secretary of the Federation), reported
upon interviews he had had in London with the President
of the Board of Trade and with the Controller. A letter
from that official suggested transfer of men from the
anthracite collieries, where short time was being worked, to
collieries in other parts of the coalfield where workmen
were required, and it was arranged that the Federation
officials, with Mr. J. D. Morgan and Mr. James, both
miners’ agents in the anthracite area, should discuss with
the Controller personally the suggestion which he had
made.

The Coal Controller (Sir Guy Calthrop) met the
executive council of the South Wales Miners’ Federation
on Friday in Cardiff, and discussed with them the eight
hours demand for surfacemen and craftsmen. . Already, it
was pointed out, a large majority of the men of these
classes are working eight hours and it is desired to put
all upon the same footing, the argument being that whilst
such men were called upon to work nine hours, they
frequently completed their task in a shorter period, but
were compelled to remain at the colliery. On the other
hand, the employers’ contention has been that any such
change as that which is requested would have the effect
of still further reducing the output.

Sir Guy Calthrop laid stress upon the difficulties which
the Government experienced in dealing with the applica-
tion of a section of the surfacemen who wished to have
their hours adjusted to those of others employed on the
surface at the collieries, and he proposed that inasmuch as
the whole of the collieries were concerned the matter should