November 15, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1025 MANCHESTER GEOLOGICAL AND MINING SOCIETY. A meeting of the Manchester Geological Society was held on Tuesday last at the rooms of the society, John Dalton-street, Manchester, the President, Mr. A. J. A. Orchard, occupying the chair. Mr. Wm. E. Sharpies, 9, Darl^y-road, Seymour-grove, Manchester, was elected an associate member— federated. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. The President, in the course of his address, said he proposed to call their attention to the report recently issued by the Coal Conservation Committee,* and he then proceeded to cite the terms of reference and extracts from that report. To give some idea of what effect war conditions had had on the working of a colliery, he took for illustration the colliery of which he had charge. The effects of war conditions would vary in most collieries, largely depending on the amount of recruiting that had taken place. Recruiting. The St. Helens Collieries at the commencement of the war were employing 1,826 men and boys. At the urgent call for volunteers in 1914 a good response was made, so that 709 men had enlisted by the end of 1914; by the end of 1915 the number had increased to 895 ; and at the present time the total was 1,276, or 68 per cent, of the pre-war total. Of this total 190 men bad been discharged and were again working. The sudden and indiscriminate withdrawal of so many men necessarily caused serious dislocation in the working arrangements underground. Several districts had to be stopped in order to concentrate the work and economise labour. The only way by which roads could be kept in a reasonable state of repair was by working overtime. The men loyally responded to every call made upon them. The most troublesome factor in connection with recruiting at the collieries was the loss of skilled repairers, such as blacksmiths, mechanics and electri- cians ; every one of those who was of military age and physically tit, was enlisted, but gradually sc me of them were replaced by men from other works. When the Miners’ Federation insisted <>n post-war men being combed out of all collieries, these replacements weie included in that class, although in most cas s they hud left a protected occupation to work at the pits. The colliery was again almost denuded of skilled men I efoie the Order was modified, and was in that unenviable position at present. Economic Effects of the War. For purposes of comparison he would take the six months ending June 30, 1914, as the standard period. The figures given in the table showed the percentage increases and decreases compared with the basis in the standard period. In the cases of cost and selling price the basis was cost per ton and selling price per ton respectively:— Underground Wages. Per cent. 12 months ending June 31915 .. . Increase 4 Do. do. 1916 Do. 38 Do. do. 1917 .. Do. 49 Do. do. 1918 Do. 81 3 months ending Sept. 30,1918 .. Do. 114 Surface Wages Cost. Per cent. 12 months ending June 30, 1915 Increase 16 Do. do. 1916 Do. 37 Do. do. 1917 .. Do. 49 Do. do. 1918 .. Do. 109 3 months ending S* pt. 30,1918 Do. 160 The above costs included the war wage, as he was comparing the economic position without reference to the question of financial responsibility. The higher percent tge increase in the surface wages cost was due to the incidence of the war wage on a lower scale of wages. Total Wages Cost. Per cent. 12 mon’hs ending June 30, 915 ... Increase 6 Do. do. 1916 ... Do. 38 Do. do. 1917 ... Do. 49 Do. do. 1918 ... Do. 85 3 months ending Sept. 30, 1918 ... Do. 121 The average percentage increase in earnings per shift worked out at 88’5 per cent, as compared with the 121 per cent, increase in wages cost. Stores and Materials. Per cent. 12 months ending June 30, 1915 ... Decrease 15 Do. do. 1916 ... Increase 65 Do. do. 1917 ... Do. 114 Do. do. 1918 ... Do. 147 The decrease of cost in the first year was owing to the fact that they were using up materials drawn from the districts which had been closed. The rapid rise in the cost of materials was mainly due to the increased price of timber. General Charges. 12 months ending June 30, 1915 Do. do. 1916 Do. do. 1917 Do. do. 1918 Per cent. Inc ease 31 Do. 19 Do. 20 Do. 49 Total Cost Wages, Materials and General Charges. Per cent. 12 months < nding June 30, 1915 ... Increase 7 Do. do. 1916 ... Do. 41 Do. do. 1917 ... Do. 52 Do. do. 1918 ... Do. 85 3 months ending Sept. 30, 1918 ... Do. 123 Selling Price. Per cent. 12 months ending June 30, 1915 ... Increase 12 Do. do. 1916 ... Do. 41 Do. do. 1917 ... Do. 54 Do. do. 1918 ... Do. 70 3 months ending Sept. 30, 1918 ... Do. 101 The selling price included the 4s. per ton increase to balance the cost of the war wage. * Colliery Guardian, August 23, 1918, p. 385, Proposed New Ministry. The recommendations of the Coal Conservation Committee outlined the various directions in which the activities of the proposed new Ministry' would lie. Assuming the new authority to be created, the most important question was the nature of the machinery through which the Ministry would work. The proposal was that it should take the form of district committees. On the question of barriers, the proposed Ministry was to have plans made showing the barriers in each colliery district, from information supplied by the district committee. The main feature of the report was the proposal to form the new Ministry of Mines and Minerals. The powers proposed to be given to the new authority were wide and even drastic. Hitherto interference in the actual working of mines by the Government had been confined to matters where questions of safety have been involved, excepting of course such as there had been owing to the necessities of the war. The proposal to work through the District Committee was a valuable safeguard against unnecessary and incompetent interference. The suggestion as to the advisability of co-operation among the smaller collieries deserved serious consideration. Efficiency, without doubt, lay in the direction of the large unit, perhaps even more so in mining th;>n in other industries—units large enough to justify the employment of highly trained men in every department. The effective organisation and co-ordination of min’ng education and research were functions in which the new Ministry could render needed and valuable assistance to the industry. Strikes and Lock outs. The last clause in the report referred to strikes and lock outs, and the importance of setting up machinery of conciliation. So far as labour disputes were concerned, the Lancashire mining industry had a clean war record. In October 1915 the coal owners and miners of Lancashire and Cheshire came to an agreement under which the coal owners on their part undertook that no general notice to terminate contracts should be given at any colliery, and the miners on their part undertook that no geneTal strike or cessation of work should take place at any colliery in Lancashire and Cheshire during the period of the war, and a further period of six months afterwards. That agieement had been loyally carried out by both sides. The spirit of conciliation and forbearance shown by both sides during the war would be equally necessary in the problems that lay ahead—an open and unbiassed mind for each problem as it arose, and an atmosphere created, not by sabre- rattling and mailed fists, but by a spirit of justice and goodwill. Vote of Thanks. Mr. Pickup, in moving a vote of thanks to the president for his address, said that Mr. Orchard had done the society a great service in bringing the question of increasing costs before the members in such a clear and lucid manner. If this country was to maintain its posi’ion after the war, the subject must occupy the attention of mining men more constantly and even more closely than it had been in the past. In the future, too, they would have to adopt more machinery, so that the output per man might eventually be higher than it had been hitherto. He was also of opinion that the industry was entitled to a separate ministry of mines and minerals. The motion was adopted. The President, in reply, said his object in calling attention to the report, was to emphasise its importance and induce the members to study it themselves, because he had merely touched the fringe of it. Separation Doors at the Bottom of the Upcast Shaft. Mr. Clement Fletcher read a short paper on this subject (see p. 1028). Discussion. • The President moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Fletcher for his practical paper descriptive of a very ingenious mechanism. Mr. Harrison, in seconding, said he had on several occasions seen the doors working, and it was really surprising to find how quietly they operated; there was not the slightest jar. At each end of the tunnel, which was just long enough to allow one door to be well shut before the tub struck the other, there was a piece of glass through which the haulage bo} s could look if anything went wrong. He had seen dozens of patents of various kinds of doors, but there was none where the leakage of air was so small. The motion was adopted. In reply to questions by Mr. Smith, Mr. Fletcher said two tubs could enter at a time, coupled in | airs, though there was room for three at once. At first there was trouble because occasionally an extra tub get in. Mr. Siddall asked if the rails were of the ordinary type or whether the tubs ran in slots. Mr. Fletcher replied that ordinary rails were used. Mr. Siddall remarked that the amount of air lost was exceedingly small, and it would be interesting if the author could give them an approximate figure Mr. Fletcher said he bad never made tests in that direction. The discussion was adjourned. Sir Wm. Garforth’s Portrait. Mr. Pickup said he had a very pleasing duty to perform that afternoon. In view of the long and valuable services rendered to the society and the mining community at large, the council invited Sir Wm. Gar for th to honour the society by consenting to have his portrait hung in the rooms, along with those of Mr. Dickinson, Prof. Boyd Dawkins and Mr. J. Gerrard, and he had acceded to the request. Sir William was one of their oldest and most esteemed members, joining the society in 1873 and occupying the presidential chair for the year 1909-10. He had contributed many valuable papers to their Transactions, including “ Blasting by Means of Compressed Air,” “Working Coal by Longwall,” “ The Application of Machines to Coal Cutting,” and “Investigations into the Altofcs Explosion.” His principal work for the coal mining industry, however, was the long series of coal dust experiments which he conducted at Alto'ts with so much ability and such far-reaching resuits. In those circumstances the council felt they would like to honour and be honoured by having Sir William’s portrait hung in their rooms, in order that his work might be recorded in a fitting manner. They hoped that the display of the photographs would in future years be an incentive to the younger members to carry on the good work which those gentlemen had performed for the society and the mining community generally. PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS.—November 11. Petroleum Production. The Petroleum Production Bill passed the report stage. Lord Salisbury gave notice that early next session he would move for the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire into certain petroleum contracts. November 12. The Petroleum Production Bill passed the third reading. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—November 7. Subsidies to Iron and Steel Makers. Mr. Kellaway, in answer to Mr. Holt, said that sub- sidies were granted to manufacturers of iron and steel to compensate for the- increased cost of production. It was estimated in July last that subsidies amounting to £47,000,000 had been approved. Recent increases had to be given owing to the further rise in the cost of coal and rates of wages. November 11. Release of Miners. Mr. MacPherson, in answer to Mr. Wing, said the matter was constantly receiving attention, and coal miners were released from the Army from time to time in accordance with the decisions of the War Cabinet. In view of the present situation, as many additional miners as possible who were serving at home would be released, and he understood some were being released from France. Horses in Mines. Col. Weigall asked the President of the Board of Trade whether inspectors of horses in mines received a salary of only £175 per annum, a less amount than horsekeepers in mines; whether any application for an increase had been received; and whether it would receive favourable con- sideration. Mr. Brace said that horse inspectors were on a scale of salary of £125 to £175. Last year, in order to meet the increased cost of living, they were all given a special increment of £25 within their scale, and were now at the maximum. They had also since been given (in accord- ance with the award applicable to the Civil Service generally made by the Conciliation and Arbitration Board for Government employees) a war bonus of £39 19s. 4d. per annum. Bearing in mind that they were established Civil Servants and entitled to pension and other advantages, their remuneration compared not unfavourably with that received by head horsekeepers at large collieries. November 12. Peat Deposits. Mr. H. Fisher, in answer to Sir Leicester Harmsworth, said that it was hoped that the results of the enquiry into the utilisation of the peat deposits of Ireland would be applicable in their technical aspects to Scottish and other peat deposits. November 13. Afforestation. Mr. Baldwin (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury), referring to the Afforestation Vote, said that certain gentlemen had agreed to serve as a central autho- rity. Legislation would be submitted as early as pos- sible in the new year on the subject, but in order that there should be no confusion, the War Cabinet had decided that the interim committee, while having power to take all the preliminary steps necessary, should work as far as possible through the departments of the separate countries involved, and in case of any dispute arising between the interim forestry authority and the existing authorities there would be a right of appeal to the War Cabinet. The proposal of the Government was opposed by several Scottish members, and after considerable discussion, a division was challenged, and the report of the resolution was agreed to by 44 votes against 11; majority, 33. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The good news to hand this week has very much inter- fered with business. All that can be said at the moment is that the tone of the market is steady, with all works having as much on their books as they care about. lhe Newry Harbour Board has raised the cargo rate on coal to 3d. per ton. Industrial Conferences.—In view of the success which has attended the fortnightly conferences and discussions now being held by the Industrial Reconstruction Council, and the demand for their continuance, a second series has been arranged for January, February and March of next year. They will be held on Tuesdays, in the Hall of the Institute of Journalists, London, E.C., at 6 p.m. The first, under the title of “ Reconstruction or Restora- tion?” will be opened by Major H. J. Gillespie, on January 14. Sulphuric Acid Prices.—The maximum prices of sul- phuric acid fixed by the Sulphuric Acid (Amendment of Prices) Order has been cancelled by a new Order, which commenced to be operative on November 1. The first part of the schedule relates to weak acid. The maximum price of arsenical acid is 88s. per ton, and of non-arsenical or de-arsenicated acid 105s. per ton. The maximum price of concentrated arsenical acid ranges from £5 19s. 6d. to £7 18s. 9d. per ton, according to strength, and of con- centrated non-arsenical or de-arsenicated acid £7 5s. 3d. to £9 7s. 6d,