November 22, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1089

Notes from the Coal Fields.

TLocal Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Trade Outlook—Will Control be He moved ?—Difficulty of
Readjusting Labour Conditions—Release of Miners
from the Army—Singular State of Affairs at Bedwas.

The failure of the Coal Controller to satisfy the deputa-
tion from the central executive has aroused further dis-
cussion upon the important questions involved in the ter-
mination of the control scheme and the resumption of
free shipment of coal, not only to the Allied countries
with which the committee deals, but also generally. So’
many considerations are involved that it is not surprising
the Controller was unable to give a definite reply. There
is agreement that, as a matter of ordinary principle and
practice, control should be brought to an end as soon as
possible. On the other hand, particularly in South Wales,
there are circumstances which make it very difficult to
transfer operations from the present methods to those of
the unrestricted dealings of pre-war days. For example,
the Controller, when questioned by the deputation from
the committee for supply of coal to France and Italy, had
not only to consider the supplies of coal itself, but also
the position of the shipping trade. On the one hand,
demand for coal must be lessened in a heavy degree by the
restriction of Admiralty requirements in respect of the
Royal Navy itself as well as of the large number of patrol
boats which need not now be kept on active service. On
the other hand, there are the winter conditions of France
and Italy and the increased demand which arises from
endeavours to restart the different industries in those
countries. One point in the discussions has reference to
the position of Westphalia, and the possibility of France
and Belgium obtaining coal from the Rhineland pits ; and
it is to be hoped that in fixing peace terms demand will
be made that Belgium and France, at any rate, should have
their needs partly met from the collieries in that district,
thus relieving Great Britain to some extent from the burden
of supply and setting free more coal for Italy. It is
pointed out further, in relation to shipping, that the open-
ing of the Baltic and the Black Sea should add materially
to the vessels available, and that although war transport
must be maintained there is not the same urgency because
there will be no transport of ammunition. There will not
be any increased demand for coal overseas, because there
will be no increase, but rather a decrease, in the number
of men in the field. Then, again, the railway transport
in France will be lessened, if anything with a further les-
sening in the demand for coal, whilst at home the stop-
page of the munition factories will set free very large
quantities for use in other industries.

It is announced that Aiderman Rees Llewellyn, J.P., of
Aberdare, has retired from the position of general manager
of the Bwllfa and Merthyr Dare collieries, and that he
will be succeeded by his son, Mr. W. M. Llewellyn.
Aiderman Llewellyn has been connected with the proprie-
tary for nearly half a century, and he will retain his posi-
tion as chairman of the directors.

The Parliamentary representative of Mid-Glamorgan,
Mr. Hugh Edwards, put a question to the Board of Trade
desiring to know whether, in view of the fact that the
collieries in the Neath and Dylais Valleys are working
only three and four days a week on account of the lack of
transport, and the further fact that there is an increasing
demand for anthracite coal, the President can now see his
way to avail himself of the opportunity afforded by the
change in the military situation to provide these valleys
with increased facilities for transport, and so secure for
the miners full working time. Reply on behalf of the
Government was that the difficulty was entirely due to
lack of shipping, there being no restriction as to inland
transport; but that restriction upon more general use of
anthracite was due to the fact that consumers held the
opinion that it was not suitable for their purpose. For
some time past, it was added, propaganda had been cur- .
rent in order to secure greater use of anthracite.

A notification has been issued to South Wales coal
exporters and ship owners that in the case of any free
neutral vessel being offered for chartering the local com-
mittee must communicate with the Inter-Allied Executive
as to the rate of freight. This arrangement has been come
to by the Executive and the Ministry of Shipping, and it
will remain in force until revised rates of freight have
been fixed. As to ex-neutral vessels under control of the
Ministry, the managers will be advised from time to time
of the freight to be entered in charter parties. The freight
will still be substantial, although it may be somewhat less
than existing arrangements. Rates for neutral vessels are
to be reduced to 45s. coal, 15s. extra from east or west
coast of England to North France for consecutive voyages
until the end of March, war risk insurance being for owners
account.

A singular condition of affairs has arisen at the Bedwas
Colliery, and the matter came on Saturday before the con-
ference of the South Wales Federation. According to the
statement issued on behalf of the men, of whom 1,400 had
been idle for 10 or 12 days, they had made a suggestion that
one man should be appointed on each shift to watch the
air current in a certain district of the mine. The manage-
ment complied with the suggestion, and it had been
intended that the men should resume work on Wednesday
night of last week. It was reported to the conference,
however, that the firemen refused to recognise this arrange-
ment and would not allow the workmen’s inspector to
remain on his inspection in the district. The firemen
having declined the provisional agreement, the men were
still idle on Saturday, although a representative of the
employers with a representative of the workmen had
descended the colliery and agreed upon the suggestion
stated. This adverse action of the firemen was reported
to the conference on Saturday, and it was decided that
the matter should be brought before the Federation execu-
tive, and that if a satisfactory settlement were not arrived
at, a special conference should be called to deal with the
matter. A deputation from the Firemen’s Association
attended a meeting of the Bedwas workmen on Monday,
and after expressing disapproval of the action of the local
firemen, recommended them to accept the terms of the
workmen.

To the East Glamorgan district of miners it has now
been reported that the dispute between the miners and
the firemen has occasioned a deadlock, for the miners made
allegations against the firemen, and desired that, pending
an enquiry, other workmen (who hold firemen’s certifi-
cates) should be put into office, so that work might con-
tinue. But the manager could not see his way to comply ;
and the whole matter now goes to the Joint Disputes Com-
mittee of the Conciliation Board.

On Tuesday, at Llanhilleth, the colliery manager and
one of the firemen were prosecuted by the mines inspector
upon a charge that report had not been made at the

station before the men were allowed to go into the mine ;
but the evidence was not conclusive, the magistrate holding
that the charge could not be sustained. Mr. T. Greenland
Davies, H.M. inspector, thereupon made application that
a case should be stated.

At Swansea, on Monday, Harries Brothers and Company,
shipowners, also trading as Norton and Company, Swan-
sea, were summoned on 32 charges that, being owners of
the steamer “ Kingsley,” they indirectly received certain
freights in excess of the maximum rates of freight for
coal to French ports, and having entered into a contract
for the charter of a vessel, failed within 14 days to deliver
a copy to the Shipping Controller. The prosecution was
under the Defence of the Realm Act. The Bench adjourned
the summons for a week.

A Coal Merchants’ and Dealers’ Association has been
formed in Pontypool, and at a meeting on Monday evening
the following officers were appointed :—President, Mr.
James Williams; vice-president, Mr. A. J. Burgoyne,
Pontypool-road; treasurer, Mrs. B. Challoner, Pontnewy-
nydd; secretary, Mr. G. J. Wood.

Mr. Clifford Humphries, formerly under-manager, has
been appointed manager of the Forge Slope and Big Pit
of the Blaenavon Company Limited.

Further development of colliery enterprise in the Amman
Valley area is foreshadowed by the grant of options to
work the minerals under Bettws Mountain. .

Government control of industry was advocated by Mr.
Noah Ablett, miners’ agent, Merthyr, who in a speech
delivered on Monday evening in the Rhondda, said that
present-day labourers were wage-slaves and serfs. The
battle of the classes was coming. They had been animals
long enough. Poverty and starvation must be abolished
and security obtained.

Thirty colliers’ helpers from Rhosamman Colliery were
prosecuted at Ammanford on Monday for breach of con-
tract, they having stopped work in defiance of the advice
of their committee and in breach of the agreement made
by their representatives with the employers. The total
sum claimed in respect of loss of output was <£30 17s. 6d.
These helpers were dissatisfied because the manager had
not provided them with working stalls in accordance with
a custom that boys on attaining the age of 18 are given
stalls if there are any vacant. The manager stated that
there were none vacant at the time. Three men were sum-
moned for a similar offence, they having left work because,
as they alleged, the clay for stopping shot-fire holes was
too dry—although the colliers remained at work and used
the same material. A fine of £1 each was imposed upon
the 30 men, and of 10s. each upon the three, the money
to be deducted from their wages.

The estate of the late Miss E. C. Talbot, of Margam,
is estimated at about £2,000,000 gross. The legacies
include £1,000 each to King Edward VII.’s Hospital,
Cardiff, the Swansea General and Eye Hospital, the
University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire,
and the Rest (seaside) Convalescent Homes at Porthcawl
and Southerndown, South Wales.

Northumberland and Durham.

Whilst John Hodgson, 68, was engaged loading timber
at Hetton Colliery a baulk he was carrying struck a wagon
and caused him to sustain a severe blow to his chest. He
died a week later from ruptured aneurism of the heart.
The widow sued the Lambton and Hetton Collieries
Limited for compensation, but the Durham county court
judge found, having heard evidence tending to prove that
death was due to natural causes, for the respondents.

Now that the task, which has occupied two years, is
approaching completion, the workmen employed in the
erection of the Simon-Carves by-product ovens at Messrs.
Pease and Partners St. Helen’s Colliery, Bishop Auckland,
have presented Mr. J. J. Low, engineer for Messrs. Simon-
Carves Limited, Manchester, and son of Mr. Wm. Low,
engineer for Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan’s collieries, with a
silver tea service and a cigarette-case.

Addressing North-East Coast Engineers and Shipbuilders
at Newcastle last Friday, Sir Frank Heath, secretary of
the committee of the Privy Council for Scientific and Indus-
trial Research, included amongst the questions worthy of
investigation the whole matter of boiler design, fire-box
design, and fuel. There were problems still unsolved, he
believed, with regard to the burning of oil fuel. There
was the whole question of powdered fuel. There was even
the possibility, of which original minds were dreaming,
that it might be possible some day so to delay and slow
down the explosion of oil vapour in a confined space that
one might be able to use it direct upon a. turbine instead
of in a reciprocating engine. The Fuel Research Board
was erecting a new station at East Greenwich, and was
attacking the fuel problem in the widest and most catholic
manner. That station would, he hoped and believed, sup-
port the work of the research associations which were being
established in connection with different industries.

In his most recent circular to his members, Mr. T. H.
Cann, general secretary of the Durham Miners’ Associa-
tion, condemns Mr. Tom Wing, M.P. for Houghton-le-
Spring, for his “ presumptuous interference ” with miners’
affairs in asking the Minister of National Service why the
recent war bonus was not being given to miners who, when
coal mining was not so important as it is at present, were
invited in the nation’s interest to take work in the ship-
yards. Mr. Cann states that that question is being attended
to by the officials of the association, and that the asso-
ciation “ is still as capable, equally as capable as any
Member of Parliament, of looking after its members’
interests as ever it was.” He accuses Mr. Wing of gratui-
tously insulting the association by ignoring it, and
generally reads the Riot Act to the honourable member.
Even, however, though the miners involved be members
of the Durham Miners’ Association, Mr. Cann should
remember that some of them at least are constituents of
Mr. Wing, and that, on that ground, Mr. Wing has the
right to bestir himself on their behalf, especially as Mr.
Cann’s efforts do not appear to have been crowned with
success as yet. One would have thought that, in a matter
affecting the interests of the miners, the officials of miners’
unions would have welcomed assistance, from whatever
source it came.

Cumberland.

Mr. T. E. Turner, the local manager of the Carrock
Mines, is leaving Carrock Mines to take up an appoint-
ment at Thornthwaite Mines.

Yorkshire.

The council of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association met
at Barnsley on Monday, Mr. H. Smith presiding. A reso-
lution was adopted declaring that a great need exists for
the workers to be directly represented in Parliament during
the period of reconstruction and afterwards, and pledging
the association to put forth every endeavour to secure the
return of the following candidates :—Messrs. F. Hall,
M.P. (Normanton division), J. Guest (Hemsworth), W.
Lunn (Rothwell), G. H. Hirst (Wentworth), H. Grundy
(Rother Valley), E. Hough (Don Valley), and Isaac Burns

(Pontefract). The council agreed to recommend the
Miners’ Federation to take immediate action for the with-
drawal of the Defence of the Realm Act, and for the
abolition of conscription.

The 'Midlands.

At Dudley police court on Friday the Buffery Colliery
Company was summoned at the instance of the Coal Con-
troller for failing to furnish returns required under the
Coal Mines Control Act, 1918. Counsel for the Controller
said that it was necessary that colliery firms should fill in
certain forms which were supplied to them, but the defen-
dants had neglected this since the early part of 1917, and
pleaded depletion of staff. For the defence it was stated
that the forms were so intricate that no ordinary clerk could
supply the required particulars, and the firm had to engage
an accountant, who had 25 other colliery accounts to attend
to. Fines and costs amounting to £61 10s. were imposed.

Kent.

The quantity of coal raised at Tilmanstone and Snow-
down collieries has again reached well over 5,000 tons
weekly, which is about 1,000 tons below their best output.
The announcement that a large number of additional miners
will be at once demobilised has given great satisfaction, as
these two collieries could easily double their present output
if sufficient labour were available, and there is a demand
for the coal from electricity, gas, and manufacturing con-
cerns, as well as for France, far beyond anything that can
be met at present.

A representative of the Guilford and Waldershare Col-
liery Company, the French company which is acquiring the
partially sunk and equipped colliery on Lord Guilford’s
estate at Waldershare, near Dover, visited Dover with the
object of making preliminary arrangements for the restart-
ing of sinking at the colliery. Owing to the war, the
financial arrangements for the acquisition of the colliery
were held up. The scheme under consideration involves
payment over a short term of years. The price agreed
upon for the sale of the colliery, on behalf of the old
Guilford Colliery Company, was £100,000. The two pits
are sunk some hundreds of feet, and there is complete sur-
face equipment.

Scotland.

Address on Coal Economy at Collieries—Progress of Col-
liery Under - Managers' Association—The Coming
Election—Cheques for Miner Soldiers—The Stanrigg
Colliery Disaster—F ossil Fungi.

A joint meeting of the West of Scotland branch of the
Association of Mining Electrical Engineers and. the
National Association of Colliery Managers (Scottish
branch) was held on Saturday in the Royal Technical Col-
lege, Glasgow, Mr. Archibald Smillie, Cumnock Collieries,
presiding. Mr. D. Wilson, A.M.E.E., technical adviser
to the Controller of Coal Mines, delivered an address on
“ Coal Economy at Collieries.” The main efforts for the
present, he said, to secure a reduced consumption of coal
would be directed chiefly to economy in power production,
but he had been asked by the Controller to include collieries
also in his investigations. At 24 collieries visited on behalf
of the Controller of Coal Mines it was found that a saving
of 10,486 tons per annum in the fuel used could be effected
without any additional plant. Taking these figures, it was
estimated that at the 3,000 odd collieries throughout Great
Britain one million tons of fuel might be saved per annum
by the more efficient use of existing plant. The paper gave
rise to an animated discussion at the close.

At a meeting of the executive council of the Scottish
Colliery Under-Managers’ Association, held in Glasgow, it
was reported by the general secretary that well over 80 per
cent, of the eligible men in Scotland were now members of
the association. It was unanimously agreed that, subject
to the approval of the members, a demand be made for
an immediate increase of wages.

An invitation has been sent to Capt. Christopher Rocks,
S.R.—who was for many years a member of the executive
of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union—to contest West
Lothian in the interests of the British Workers’ League.

Messrs. A. G. Moore and Company, coal masters, have
co-operated with their workmen in acknowledging the ser-
vices of miners and other workers who, prior to enlistment
in the Army or Navy, were employed in Blantyre Ferme
Colliery. Four soldiers have each been presented with a
cheque for £20.

In connection with Stanrigg Colliery—the scene of the
recent disaster—it has now been decided, after a consul-
tation, to suspend a portion of the work of exploration.
It appears that very heavy falls are taking place right up
to the clay parting, and the work there has consequently
been rendered particularly dangerous to the explorers. It
is understood, however, that the search for bodies will
be proceeded with in another small section of the pit.
Arrangements are now well forward for holding a special
enquiry into the causes of the disaster, and an announce-
ment as to the definite dates for the same may be expected
shortly.

After consultation with the Coal Controller, the Edin-
burgh Fuel and Lighting Committee decided to allow the
coal merchants to increase their selling price of coal by
lid. per ton, thus bringing the price up to 43s. per ton.
The increase is to meet advances in the wages of carters.

At a meeting of the Geological Society of Glasgow, Dr.
David Ellis delivered an address on the “ Fossil Fungi of
the Lower Coal Measures.” After a reference to prior
discoveries of fossil fungi, the lecturer gave in detail the
results of observations made by him on 30 preparations of
coal petrifactions from the Upper Foot Mine, Little-
borough.

At a meeting of the Property Committee of the Dun-
fermline Town Council a proposal was made by the King-
seat Coal Company for a renewal of the re-letting of
minerals granted to them in 1913.

The Court of Session had under review a stated case on
appeal in a Workmen’s Compensation Act arbitration. The
appellant, Elizabeth Sennett, Harthill, brought under
review the finding by Sheriff Lee, Airdrie, that she was
not entitled to compensation from her employers, the
Shotts Iron Company. In January 1918, while employed
on the picking tables at Calderhead Pit, she was per-
manently injured by being caught in a revolving shaft,
which totally incapacitated her for work. The injury was
sustained in a place which was fenced off, where appellant
had occasional duties to perform, but where she had no
special duties to require her to enter the place when the
accident happened. Immediately before entering the place
she stated to a fellow-worker that she was going to hide
from the forewoman. The Sheriff found that it was not
proved that the injury was sustained by an accident arising
out of the appellant's employment, and that the respondents
were not liable. The court held that the matter was a
question of fact which was for the Sheriff to decide, and
that as he had done so the court had no right to interfere
with his decision.

The coal shipments from Burntisland for the past week
were 5,490 tons, against 6,850 tons in the previous week,