There is approx quarter of a page on mining subsidence compensation case.
The output of saleable coal in the four weeks ending December 25th averaged 3, 662,600 tons A week, compared to 3,815,100 tons, in the previous four weeks. Leicestershire coalfield was the only pit to get a bonus payment this month with 102.3 tons. North Staffordshire produced only 95. 2 tons.
The first and second placed papers submitted by members of the North Staffordshire Branch of the Association of Mining electrical and Mechanical engineers for the Sneyd Colliery prize were read by the authors at a meeting of the branch held last night at N.S.T.C.
The receipt of the official approved of the Board of Education to the training centre at Kemball pit was reported yesterday’s meeting of the Governors of the North Staffordshire Technical Collage. The Board said it was very impressed with the special merits of the school.
New entrants to the mining industry under the government scheme are being laid at Stoke on Trent. They are receiving education at the Kemball colliery of Stafford Coal and Iron training centre and at Tunstall Technical School.
A case of interest to all engaged in the mining industry was hared at Newcastle under Lyme County Court today, Mr. W. Robert Prodger of 6, Park avenue West, Wolstanton, claimed £29-7s, (loss of four weeks wages) from Wolstanton colliery. The plaintiff was employed has a colliery engineman, but dismissed on September 18th 1943, he had been employed by Wolstanton colliery for several years. The engine he was on had a fault and drew in water and stalled. The consequence that there was a sudden tension which caused the cage to swing in the shaft, that had occurred on several occasions, but the date in question 18th September, he had one of these on that day, he remained at his work place for the rest of the shift. He was then told he was to be dismissed; after consulting his union representative an appeal was lodged. At this time it was too late for the Evening Sentinel to print anymore on this day. There will be more on this in tomorrow’s paper.
A verdict of death from an injury received from a fall of roof in a coalmine was returned at an inquest at N.S.R.I. yesterday on Mr. Henry Horne, a 65, year old colliery fireman, of 14, High St. Burslem who died in the infirmary on Saturday. Mr. Horne worked for more than forty years at the Sneyd colliery.
The claim against Wolstanton colliery Ltd. by a former colliery worker for an alleged wrongful dismissal failed at Newcastle under Lyme County Court Yesterday.
Mr. J. Ivon Graham of the Royal School of Mines, South Kensington, who has spent many years studying the question of dust in the mines, he gave a revue yesterday at Stoke, of the present methods on the problems of dust control and spoke of possible filter requirements. He was addressing the National Association of Colliery Managers.
In an adjourned case for a week at Longton Stipendiary Court yesterday, there were three summonses against a young Cheadle miner the Stipendiary Magistrate remitted that he was living the issue in the good sense of the people concerned on the basis that there was coal to be got and the defendant was willing to help in getting it. Mr. Frederick James Stevenson aged 22, a single man of 59, Froghall Rd. Cheadle, he was charged with abstaining himself from work at Florence colliery, he had not worked since last August, he said he wished to produce coal but not at Florence pit. Three adjourned summonses for abstaining himself from work at Mossfield, Park Hall pit against Sydney Manley aged 18, of 112, Harrowby Rd. Meir, it was adjourned for one week, he was not in Court, his case was adjourned five weeks ago, it was said that the defendant had only worked 9, shifts out of a possible 24, and a fine had not been paid from a previous Court case.
Criticism of the official attitude of the North Staffordshire Miners Federation, to question the affiliation of local Lodges to Newcastle and District Trades Council was expressed at the annul meeting last night.
At Hanley Police Court today two Cheadle haulage hands employed by Berryhill colliery were summonsed for in collaboration together stealing from a locker two metal cigarette lighters and 2s in money belonging to a fellow workman. The defendants were Cecil Whitehurst of 85, Froghall Rd. Cheadle; he was remanded in custody for a week for a report to be submitted as to his suitability for Borstal training. Mr. Bernard Kenneth Brunt of 77, Froghall Rd. Cheadle, was fined £5, Brunt pleaded not guilty has they knowledge of only one lighter, which Mr. Brunt found outside. Mr. Whitehurst had four previous prison convictions.
There’s a photograph of a roadway at Chatterley Whitfield colliery. The protracted test of the double packing, which as been carried out at Chatterley Whitfield colliery, was described to members of North Staffordshire Institute of Mining Engineers at N.S. technical collage last night by Mr. H.J. Crofts, and Mr. T.J. Jones. Mr. Crofts is the Manager of Chatterley Whitfield colliery, and Mr. Jones is an investigator into Safety in Mines Rescue Board, North Staffordshire Committee.
When two young miners were before Fenton Stipendiary Court today one youth was sentenced to one month imprisonment in each case of, abstaining himself from work without a reasonable excuse, at Mossfield colliery, on the 12th, 18th and 24th of November Mr. Sydney Manley aged 18, of 112 Harrowby Rd. Meir. He also appeared on a summons of not payment of his fines and costs for smoking in a coalmine. Mr. Frederick John Stevenson aged 22, of 59, Froghall Rd. Cheadle, for abstaining himself from work without any reasonable excuse at Florence colliery, he was fined £5, plus costs of £1-1s in each case a total of £18-3s. He was absent on 22nd, 26th and 29th of November. At the end of the case Mr. Stevenson said "he would not go down Florence pit again.
Two fatal accidents as arisen out of a shot firing. It formed the subject of an inquiry held by the City Coroner at the N.S.R.I. In order that the underground fireman, who is at present in hospital suffering from burns might attend to give evidence the coroner adjourned until next Tuesday the inquest into the death of Mr. Michael Linskey aged 45, of 146, Fletcher Rd. Stoke, a colliery packer employed by Stafford Coal and Iron Co. Fenton, whose death occurred in the N.S.R.I. last Friday, received in a mining accident on the 11th January, the coroner recorded the death was due to Broncho- pneumonia and Toxaemia following extensive burns. A verdict of death from shock and Haemorrhage resulting from an injury received through being crushed by a haulage gear tension carriage was returned by the City Coroner at the inquest on Mr. Alfred Edward Pointon aged 33, of 34, Sproston Rd. Little Chell, a colliery underground fitter employed at Shelton Steel and Coal colliery Co Deep Pit. He was fatally injured at Hanley last Sunday night.
When two single mineworkers appeared at Burslem Stipendiary Court today who were summonsed for failing to attend work, one was sentenced to one month imprisonment and the other was fined £30, with £2-2s costs. Mr. William Charles Ball aged 19, of Leonard Rd. Hanley, was sent to prison for one month on each of three summonses of abstaining himself from work without a reasonable excuse at Norton and Biddulph collieries. Mr. Albert William Morray aged 23, of 130, Park Rd. Burslem, was fined £10, in each of three summonses of abstaining himself from work without a reasonable excuse at Sneyd colliery Co. Mr. Ball pleaded guilty; he had missed 50 out of 178 shifts and could have averaged £4-10s a week. In the case of Mr. Morray until today he had not been to work since July and had 254 shifts out of 296.
At Stoke Juvenile today a sixteen year old haulage hand was charged with attempting to brake in and enter the lock up of Mario Tognern at Hanford on January 19th. His Mother said "that she felt that he did it so he could not be sent down the mine".
Owing to a fall of roof at Holditch colliery in the early hours of today Mr. John Thomas Sproston aged 43, of 11, Hill Terrace, Audley, received an injury which proved fatal, the facts have been related to the coroner.
Two young next door neioghbre were prosecuted at Newcastle Court yesterday for abstaining themselves from work without reasonable excuse at Madeley colliery, Mr. William Cartlidge of 140, High St. Halmerend, was fined £4, in each summons of three plus costs of £3-3s. The day’s he was absent was October 9th and 6th and 30th November. Mr. George Ernest Holmes of 142, High St. Halmerend, was fined £4, and costs of £3-3s for abstaining himself from work without reasonable excuse at Madeley colliery on October 4th and 4th and 15th of November.
There’s a marked improvement in coal production in the N.S.C.F. More than 3,000 mine working shifts remain idle as a result of there being no coal drawing at three of the largest collieries in the area. Sneyd, Hanley Deep Pit and Berryhill all remain open; at Hanley Deep Pit about eighty men went down, at other collieries a number of men went down.
At Burslem Police Court today a Three month imprisonment was passed on Mr. William Thomas Maxted aged 20, of 12, Green way Pl. Abbey Hulton, when he appeared on a charge of stealing at Burslem on December 16th last with Mr. Norman Latham aged 23, of the Hostel Stoke, a man’s peddle cycle valued at £2-10s. No colliery was named.
Coal production as greatly improved today, in the last three days there as been almost a complete stoppage.
At Longton Stipendiary court yesterday Mr. Alfred Owen aged 18, of 16, Harrowby Rd. Meir. Was ordered to pay £2-14s costs when he appeared before an adjourned court for being absent from work at Fenton colliery, (Glebe colliery). Since December he has only been absent twice. At the same court Elijah Bossons of 55, Well St. Longton, was summonsed for Non-payment of fines amounting to £42. He was sent to prison for one month suspended on payment of 15s weekly. In his defence it was reported that he had bad eyesight. No colliery was named.
Saleable coal for the week-ending 22nd January was 3,495,500 tons, compared to 3,662,600 tons in the previous four weeks. Leicestershire with 106.9% was the only area to get the production bonus, 1s-6d. North Staffordshire coalfield only managed to achieve 92%.
At Newcastle under Lyme the County Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death on Mr. Thomas John Sproston aged 43, of 11, Hill terrace, Audley, who partially buried in a fall of roof at Holditch colliery on 26th January.
A fine of £5, and costs of 2 guineas, totalling £17-2swas imposed by Hanley Stipendiary Court yesterday on Mr. Alfred George Kelsall aged 19, a single man of 71, Vincent St. Hanley who was summonsed on three counts of abstaining himself from work without any reasonable excuse at Hanley Deep Pit. From August 1943 until 5th February 1944, he had missed 86 shifts out of a possible 147.
A party of United States Officers and other ranks paid a visit to Chatterley Whitfield colliery on Saturday last.
Mr. H.J. Crofts Who is the President of the North Staffordshire Colliery Owners Association has made this statement: My attention has been drawn to the statement in the press to the effect that the North Staffordshire Colliery Owners have decided to bear the costs of increasing wages consequent on adjustments of anomalies in the Porter award irrespective of any government guarantee. There is more on this in the edition.
At Burslem Police Court today Mr. Richard John Banner of Woodhouse Lane, Brown Edge, was fined £2, with £2-2s costs for stealing in March 1943 one axe head and two axe staffs to the value of 9s-6d from Morton of Collinson Rd. Goldenhill, former head contractor at Chatterley Whitfield colliery. He pleaded not guilty.
There’s a photograph of new entrants who are entering the mining industry they also include "Bevin Boy’s" receiving instruction at Tunstall Technical collage before going on to Kemball colliery.
North Staffordshire coal seams were discussed in an interesting paper read on "Rhythmic Sedimentation" in the coal measures read by Mr. F. Wolverson Cope M.Sc. F.G.S. at a meeting of the North Staffordshire branch of the Institute of Mining Surveyors. Mr. F.G. Kent was in the Chair.
Alleged incident in a struggle in the pit between a colliery fireman and a collier was described at Tunstall Stipendiary Court today when summonsed for common assault and unlawful behaviour in a violent manner on or about a coalmine brought by Mr. Harold Jones, a collier aged 40, of Samuel St. Packmoor, against Mr. Cyril Myatt, a colliery fireman of Knypersley, where dismissed. Both men were employed at Victoria pit of Norton and Biddulph collieries Ltd.
Full working was resumed today at Silverdale colliery where an accident happened during the night shift on Thursday resulting in nineteen men had to be taken to the N.S.R.I. with burns, eighteen are still retained in the infirmary today and are in an improving condition the other one was the same.
One of the miners who were in the explosion at No 9 District, at Silverdale colliery, which occurred early on Friday morning, passed away in hospital shortly before ten o’clock this morning. He was Mr. Joseph Burke aged 57, of 23, Downing St. Silverdale. Mr. Burke received burns to his face, arms and body. The coroner has been informed.
A sentence of two months imprisonment was passed today by the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate on Mr. Frederick Downes, a single man aged 22, a colliery haulage hand who pleaded guilty to three summonses of abstaining himself from work without a reasonable excuse from essential work at Norton and Biddulph colliery Co. Ltd. He was also charged with failing to pay fines and costs from another summons which was £9-2s and £7-2s in each case. Mr Downes had been absent from work in 179 times out of a possible 202 shifts between July ’43 to February ’44.
Guardsman Sam White of Chesterton, a packer at Silverdale colliery when the war broke out, he is one of the hero’s of a beachhead battle. Get some more info’ 7th March 1944 Page 4.
A party of visiting United States Troops were conducted over the Norton and Biddulph collieries Co. Ltd. on Saturday. They were most impressed with lamp room and the canteen facilities.
At an inquest of Mr. Frederick Heaton a 17, single man, employed as a colliery haulage hand of 12, Anson Rd. Meir returned an open verdict. Death was of Asphyxia by coal gas poisoning. Evidence was given that Mr. Heaton had recently been in the habit of sleeping in an easy chair in front of the gas oven with the door open.
A verdict of death through an accidental fall of roof was recorded by the City of Stoke-on-Trent Coroner at the N.S.R.I. on Mr. Robert Sidney Boon aged 41, a colliery packer of 9, Paddock St. Hanley, who had been who had been fatally injured on the 3rd March at Hanley Deep Pit.
Fines were imposed at Burslem Stipendiary Court today on a Tunstall and Smallthorne colliery workers each pleaded guilty to abstaining themselves without a reasonable excuse from work at Sneyd colliery, Burslem. Mr. Frederick William Kelsall aged 25, a colliery haulage hand of 111, Sherwin Rd. Stanfields, who was fined £3 on each of two summonses and £4, on a third summons and costs of £2-2s. A fine of £2, in each case of three with costs of £2-2s was imposed on Mr. George Ball aged 18, a colliery haulage hand of 106 Leek Rd. Smallthorne.
At an inquest on a miner who lost his life through being crushed between coal tubs, and a mechanical loader at Chatterley Whitfield colliery. Evidence was given that the man Mr. Frank Critchley aged 30, a colliery haulage hand of 4, Bradeley Rd. Haslington nr. Crewe had been released from the army having volunteered for colliery work in January this year.
There’s a photograph of volunteers from the services who are seen leaving Kemball pit of Stafford coal and iron collieries Fenton.
An inquest was held at N.S.R.I. on Mr. Spencer Rowley aged 42, a general labourer and formerly a colliery ripper of 1, Railway Terrace, East Vale, Longton. Mr. Rowley died in the infirmary on Friday last. Evidence was given that Mr. Rowley was in good health until the 2nd June 1937, when he sustained severe injuries following his employment as a ripper at Florence colliery. A verdict of death through cerebral abscess due to pneumonitis following an old chest injury through accidental crushing in a coalmine was returned by the Stoke-on-Trent City Coroner.
Summonsed at Burslem Stipendiary Court today on counts of abstaining himself from work without a reasonable excuse at Sneyd colliery, Mr. Harold Taylor aged 20, a colliery haulage hand of 5, Gordon St. Burslem, was fined £3in each case with costs of £2-2s, not only the three summonses that he was absent but he had been absent for 42 shifts out of 105 since October ’43 to May ’44.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded by Newcastle- under-Lyme District Coroner At the resumed inquest at the Guildhall, Newcastle, yesterday on Mr. Charles Arthur Mellor aged 32, of Rutland St. Cobridge, who was killed at Wolstanton colliery on 4th March. Evidence was given that he along with other workmen was engaged with withdrawing steel arches out, when he was buried by dirt when the side suddenly collapsed, he was found to be dead when extricated.
During the four weeks ending the 18th March the total output of saleable coal averaged 3,637, 800,tons, compared to 3,769 000, tons. Leicestershire coalfield again was the best and each man will receive 1s-9d per shift bonus. North Staffordshire coalfield could only achieve 93.6%
The government’s new proposal for stabilising miners wages for a period of four years have been accepted by the North Staffordshire Miners Federation following an agreement with Coal Owners in regards to a new method of calculating wages. Holiday pay will be for an adult male £5-5s, for 18- 21 year olds £4-4s, and under 18 £3-3s.
The death has occurred of Mr. Walter Roebuck of 87, West View, Talke Pits, at the age of 87, Walter Roebuck was a well known in Staffordshire colliery circles, and he was underground manager at Talke-o-the Hill colliery for 46 years, he retired when the pit closed down. He went to Talke-o-Hill colliery in 1892, from Tyloesley colliery, Wigan, where he was under manager. There is a photograph of Walter Roebuck on this page.
Mr. Frank George Hulme aged 32, of 809, Uttoxeter Rd. Meir, was summonsed for abstaining himself from work without reasonable excuse at Mossfield colliery on December 24th, 28th and January 9th he was fined £3, in each case. Mr. Richard Denis Clewlow aged 24, of 5, Wesley Court, Heathcote Rd. Longton, was summonsed for abstaining himself from work without a reasonable excuse at Mossfield colliery on January 8th, 10th and 17th.
Pleading Guilty at Burslem Police Court to stealing on March 29th this year a bricklayers straight edge the property of Messer’s Naylor and Nutt of Tunstall, Mr. Charles Davies aged 43, a miner of 226, Cobridge Rd. Hanley. He was fined £2; it was taken into account Davies previous good character.
At an inquest held at Hanley today on Mr. Bate Johnson aged 43, of 6, Bornhayes Rd. Burslem who was killed at Chatterley Whitfield colliery where he was employed has a roadman, on Thursday the City Coroner returned a verdict of suicide while temporally of an unsound mind. Mr. William Lovatt of 35, Garden St. Burslem a colliery Banksman at the Hesketh pit of Chatterley Whitfield colliery said he saw Johnson vaulting over the three foot fence which surrounded the pit shaft, before witnesses could do anything he had disappeared down the shaft, the cages were in motion at the time.
A sound financial position, but a decrease in membership was reported to the annual general meeting of the North Staffordshire Coal and Iron Permanent Relief Society held at the church Institution on Saturday night.
Acceding to a defendants plea for another chance the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate adjourned for a fortnight on three summonses, the defendant was Mr. Albert William Morrey aged 23, a colliery haulage hand, of 130 Park Rd. Burslem on charges of abstaining himself from work at Sneyd colliery without a reasonable excuse on February 25th, 29th, and March 4th.
Pleading guilty at Burslem Stipendiary to three summonses of abstaining himself from work at Sneyd colliery, without a reasonable excuse, Mr. Arthur Bentham aged 42, of 8, Bailey Rd. Tunstall, was find £5, in each case with £2-2s costs a total of £17-2s. Bentham had been absent for 146 shifts out of 286 shifts between March ’43 and April this year.
A verdict that he died through shock and severe injuries, accidentally caused by runnerway tubs in a coal mime was returned by Stoke-on-Trent City Coroner at an inquest at the N.S.R.I. on Mr. Amos Jackson aged 58, a colliery fireman of Bermersyde, Fegg Hays Rd. Chell Green, who died in the infirmary on Wednesday morning following an injury received earlier that day while at work at Chatterley Whitfield colliery.
A Kings Bench Divisional Court today quashed an inquest held last August on a young colliery haulage hand found dead from firedamp in a disused heading at Berryhill colliery, Fenton, where he worked and upon whom the Stoke-on-Trent City Coroner returned a verdict of suicide while his mind was temporally unbalanced. An order was made for a new inquest to be held by the Staffordshire District coroner. The Court granted an application by Mrs. Sarah Ann Lockley, of Bucknall for an order of Certwrite quashed and an inquest held by Stoke-on-Trent City coroner on her 22, year old son Mr. John Thomas Lockley found dead on August 24th 1943 at Berryhill colliery. There is more on this page and the back page of this edition and more in tomorrows Evening sentinel on page 1.
A sentence of two months imprisonment was passed by the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate sitting at Burslem yesterday on Albert William Morrey of 133, Park Rd. Burslem when he appeared on an adjourned summons of abstaining himself from work at Sneyd colliery without a reasonable excuse on February 25th, 29th, and the 4th march. The case was adjourned a fortnight ago when the defendant ask the Court for another chance, since then he has worked only 7, shifts out of a possible 11. At the same Court a fine of £9, with costs of £2-2s were imposed on James Slater of 6, Chell Heath, Smallthorne, on three counts of abstaining himself from work at Norton and Biddulph colliery without a reasonable excuse, he had been absent 66 times out of a possible 101 shifts from January to May.
There’s a photograph of the Earl of Harrowby at the young miners institute at Tunstall yesterday.
There were many expressions of sympathy at the funeral of Mr. C.H. Gough of Normacot the wellknown colliery official.
The working conditions in the Great Row seam was described to members of the North Staffordshire branch of the Institute of Mining Engineers by Mr. T.J. Jones at the North Staffordshire Technical collage yesterday. There’s a lot more on this on this page.
The first "Bevin Boy" to be prosecuted in North Staffordshire for an alleged failure to take up employment as a trainee in underground coalmining, appeared before the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate at Burslem today. The defendant Mr. Denis Jackson aged 18, of 16, Parsonage St. Tunstall, he pleaded not guilty to a summons of failing to comply with a direction to work as a trainee in the underground at Kemball Pit of Stafford Coal And Iron Co. Ltd. The case was adjourned for a fortnight.
The Staffordshire District coroner sitting with a jury at Hanley Town Hall returned a verdict of Accidental Death at the second inquest on Mr. John Thomas Lockley aged 22, of 102 High St. Bucknall, who was found dead from firedamp in a disused heading at Berryhill colliery, Fenton, where he was employed in August 24th 1943. After a few moments of deliberation the foreman of the jury gave a unanimous verdict in returning of accidental death, through Mr. Lockley mistaking his way.
A review of resent investigations made in North Staffordshire into coal dust problems was given to members of the North Staffordshire branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers at Stoke last night by Mr. A.G. Withers B.Sc. where Mr. J.H. Hebblethwaite presided.
There were expressions of sympathy and tributes to his long service at the inquest held at Hanley on John Henry Ellis a veteran mineworker of 26, Bedford Rd. Shelton, when he was taken ill while instructing "Bevin Boys" at the coalface, and died three weeks later. Mr. Ellis aged 71, worked as a colliery fireman for thirty two years and had been employed at Sneyd colliery for fifty years. The coroner recorded a verdict of death from cerebral haemorrhage brought on by the exertion of using a pick and shovel at the coal face the coroner thought it was inadvisable for a man of his age to exert himself too much.
Fatal injuries received by Mr. Frederick William Adams aged 28, single man, a colliery hooker of 21, Goodfellow St. Tunstall, in an accident yesterday afternoon in the Hesketh Pit of Chatterley Whitfield colliery Co. Ltd. It was stated that he was engaged in effecting a minor repairs on the landing at the bottom of the pit when he was trapped and crushed by the descending cage. An inquest will be held at Hanley Town Hall tomorrow afternoon.
Four young miners who failed to comply with an order to walk to their place of underground work at Florence colliery, Longton, were each fined £2, with £1-8s-6d at Fenton Stipendiary Court. They were Mr. James Eaton of Moreside cottage, Kingsley Moor, Mr. Henry Slack of the Shaw, Kingsley Moor, Mr. Roy Steele of 22, Stockfield Rd. Meir, Mr. Edward Chell of Town End, Cheadle.
At the potteries Stipendiary Magistrate Court today Mr. William Henry Malkin age 21, of Lightoaks, Milton, was ordered to pay 25s costs on adjourned summons of abstaining himself from work at Norton and Biddulph collieries without any reasonable excuse, this was a lenient sum because Mr. Malkin had improved his attendance and no conviction would be recorded against him.
A verdict of accidental death was returned at an inquest held at Hanley yesterday on Mr. Frederick William Adams aged 28, a single man a colliery hooker of 21, Goodfellow St. Tunstall, who received a fatal injury when he was crushed by a descending cage at the Hesketh pit of Chatterley Whitfield colliery on Wednesday. He was trapped by the head.
At Stone Police Court a 26, year old miner of Brook St. Longton, was sentenced to five months imprisonment two charges of 1, indecent condition and 2, of common assault on a woman cyclist.
At Newcastle-under-Lyme Police Court yesterday Mr. Thomas Hattersley of West Brampton, Newcastle, was summonsed for abstaining himself from work at Madeley colliery without a reasonable excuse, on January 28th, also on April 17th, 28th, and May 4th. A fine of £5, and Costs of £2, 2s was imposed. At the same Court, Mr. John Redfern of St. Barnards Rd. Knutton, was fined £5, in each case for abstaining himself from work at Madeley colliery, without a reasonable excuse, he was absent on 5th, 15th, 20th. The defendant a single man 24 years old an underground packer at the colliery, he had since November 1943, to May of this year a period of over seven months had worked only 22 shifts. Also at the same Court three fines of £2, each were imposed on Mr. Herbert Cook of Talke Rd. Chesterton, for abstaining himself from work at Wolstanton colliery without a reasonable excuse on May 22nd, 24th, and 27th. In the case of Mr. Robert Bagguley of St. Michaels Rd. Newcastle, who was summonsed abstaining himself from work at Holditch Mine, Co. Ltd. without a reasonable excuse on March 20th , April 24th, and May 6th. The defendant said he had been on the night shift for four and half years, when others had been on different shifts. Since he had taken off nights he had worked regular. The case was dismissed on payment of £1. In the case of Mr. George Henry Leese of Roberts Ave. Newcastle, he was summonsed to appear on the charges of abstaining himself from work at Holditch Mines Co. Ltd. It was adjourned so the defendant could appear.
At Longton Stipendiary Court on Wednesday Mr. Richard T. Potts aged 19, of 1, Ford St. Longton was fined £2, on each summons of abstaining himself from work at Mossfield colliery on April 13th, 19th. The defendant pleaded guilty in each case, and was also find £1, for being persistently late for work between March 21st and May 3rd he was also to pay £2-2s special costs.
Miner’s hot meals at the pit head, here are some of the representative menus, breakfast: Bacon and Cheese, kippers, Sausage and Cheese, Bacon and Tomatoes. Dinner: Roast Beef, Mutton or Veal with potatoes and Cabbage, Meat and potatoes Pie, Liver and Bacon, Fish and Chips. Afters: Sponge Pudding and Chocolate Sauce, Rice Pudding, Lemon and custard Tart. Supper: Beef Stew and Vegetables, Sausage and Chips or Tripe and onions, Cheese Savoury and peas. Breakfast cost 8d, all others 10d. There’s a photograph on page 4, of miners in the canteen of Stafford Coal and Iron colliery Fenton.
In the case of L.W. Wainwright of 51, Ashbourne Rd. Cheadle, a labourer who claimed compensation against Berryhill colliery Co Ltd. the Judge approved award of £400 and costs.
There’s a photograph of Mr. J.E. Brown until recently the head of the Mining Department of North Staffordshire Technical collage and secretary to the North Staffordshire Institute of Mining Engineers his seen here being shaken by the hand by Mr. James Cadman, who is the President of the Institution. (There’s a column on Mr. Brown on this page.)
At Burslem Police Court four young miners of which two are Brothers were committed for trial at Stoke-on-Trent Quarter Sessions on charges of braking and entering a club and shop premises, each defendant was granted bail in a personal recognisance of £10, with a surety for a similar amount. One of the defendants lived at Bond St. Tunstall. Another was of Newfield St. Tunstall. They were charged with braking into Tunstall Workers Reform and Institute Club, and stealing £31, in cash, 1,000 cigarettes and two pocket diaries, a total value of £35-17s-6d. The brother of the first defendant of the same address and another person of Furlong Rd. Tunstall, was charged with stealing 2,170 cigarettes, 20 oz. of tobacco, chocolate and a cigarette case plus £1, in cash, being a total of £36.
A miner sentenced at Newcastle-under-Lyme for failing to do essential work said he had not been to work because he was disillusioned and disappointed with life. He was Mr. George Henry Leese of 6, Roberts Ave. Newcastle, who was find £2, in each of three summonses for abstaining himself from work at Holditch Mine Co Ltd. on February 2nd, 29th, and March 9th.
A Chatterley Whitfield colliery packer who was stated to have incurred risks through being over zealous in carrying out his work was summonsed at Burslem Stipendiary Court yesterday at the insistence of Mr. E. Cope, Manager of Chatterley Whitfield colliery. The defendant was a Mr. John Jennings of John St. Goldenhill, was fined 10s for working in the No. 11, waste, No. 5, district of the collieries Institute Pit which had not been made secure. The defendant had pleaded not guilty.
Two Tunstall brothers who are engaged in the mining industry were sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour at Fenton Police court for stealing hardware
There’s a photograph of Sir Francis Joseph, Bart. Chairman of Settle , Speakman and Co. Ltd. who himself has completed 61 years since he started work at 12, years of age. He his seen congratulating five long service employees of Bignall Hill colliery, the average length of service are 47, years.
At Newcastle-under-Lyme Police Court today, there was three summonses against Mr. Alfred Wilmore of 16, Dunkirk Bignall End, for abstaining himself from work at Holditch Mine Co. Ltd. without a reasonable excuse. The case was adjourned on June 5th, when the defendant said his wife was ill and his child was attending hospital. Since then the defendant had improved considerably.
A verdict that the cause of death was severe mutilating injuries through being crushed by accidental fall dirt in a coal mine was returned by the Stoke-on-Trent City Coroner at an inquest yesterday on Mr. Albert Brownsward aged 33, a colliery crutter loader of 21, Downing Ave. May Bank. The evidence was given that Mr. Brownsward was a very experienced and careful workman; at the time Mr. Brownsward was engaged with another workman in clearing dirt from the coal face in ‘Clark’s Crutt’ district of No1, Pit of Hem Heath colliery when a very heavy fall of roof occurred without warning. Recording his verdict the coroner said "that neither the man nor his colleague could be blamed".
Fatal injuries were received by Mr. Ernest Clarkson aged 51, of 44, Heath St. Smallthorne, a colliery packer, the incident happened when a fall of roof occurred earlier today at Hanley Deep Pit. An inquest will be held in Hanley on Monday.
Mr. Robert Foot Chairman of the Mining association of Great Britain yesterday completed his week’s tour of North Staffordshire, Cumberland and North Wales Coalfields. In the course of his visit Mr. Foot went on visits to Sneyd, Chatterley Whitfield and Holditch collieries. He talked freely to Owners, Officials and Workmen; at Chatterley Whitfield he spent some time underground. Yesterday Mr. Foot devoted all his time surveying the scheme in which North Staffordshire led the country for training new entrants in the coal mining industry by class lectures combined with underground training at Kemball training colliery, he went down the pit and talked to the "Bevin Boys" entrants, and other recruits.
‘Coal and it Conservation both Industrial and Home’, was the subject of the Presidential address given to the Stoke-on-Trent Association of Engineers on Saturday by Mr. J.E. Stanier G.M. M. I. chem. E.M.I. gas. The City Gas Engineer.
There as been a further decrease in coal output, it has dropped by 5 cwt per man, it has been suggested that voluntary absenteeism is to blame.
For stealing a pocket watch the property of Mr. Albert Sylvester on September 2nd a 20 year old of Thorne Rd. Willenhall, a ‘Bevin Boy’ was fined £2, at Newcastle-under-Lyme Police Court today, he pleaded guilty.
A fine of £1, with costs of £2-2s advocate’s fee was imposed on Mr. George William Edwards Of Charter Rd. Cross Heath, Newcastle, for being absent from essential work with Holditch Mine Co. on July 3rd 31st and August 26th
Summonsed at Burslem Stipendiary Magistrates Court today, for abstaining himself from work without a reasonable excuse Mr. Reginald Cyril Dolman aged 18; single a miner of the Miners Hostel Smallthorne was fined £2, in each case of three with costs of £4-4s. At the same Court the Stipendiary Magistrate adjourned for two further cases of which Mr. Percy Bernard Sharman aged 20, single of 6, Primitive St. Smallthorne, and Mr. William Crane single of 38, South St. Bradeley, were each summonsed for abstaining themselves from work at Chatterley Whitfield colliery. Both pleaded guilty and both men had recently improved there attendance record and were given a second chance.
While working at Hanley Deep Pit yesterday John William Rhoads aged 46, of 26, Leonard Rd. Birches Head, was struck by a fall of roof. An Inquest will be held a Hanley Town Hall on Monday.
At Hanley Town Hall yesterday an inquest on Mr. John William Rhoads returned a verdict of through accident of being crushed by a ‘fall of roof’ the result of dislocation of the second and third lumber vertebrae. Mr. Rhoads for some reason unknown removed a bar and two props while engaged in packing up a roof; it was suggested that he did it in the interest of his work, which probably let him get to the dirt more easily.
12 North Staffordshire miners who had been selected by their colliery managers have recently attending a month’s full time course at North Staffordshire Technical collage. The instruction covered the usual subjects of a fireman’s course, and included first aid.
Fines totalling £31-10s were imposed by the Potteries Magistrate on three mineworkers for absenteeism. Stated that he had missed 108 shifts out of a possible 117 since March Mr. George Simms a collier aged 31, a married man of 8, Bratt St. Cobridge, was fined £5, and 14s costs on each of three summonses of abstaining himself from work at Norton and Biddulph collieries without a reasonable excuse. For being absent from work without a reasonable excuse from Chatterley Whitfield colliery on three counts, Mr. Percy Hulme aged 29, a married man and a haulage hand of 125, Furlong Lane, Tunstall, was fined a total of £12, with £2-2s costs he had lost 90 shifts out of a total of 143 since April he did not appear in court but a letter was read out on his behalf. Fines of 30s with 14s costs were imposed on three summonses against Mr. Ralph Winchurch aged 18, a single man a haulage hand of the Miners Hostel, Bradeley, for abstaining himself from work at Chatterley Whitfield colliery on August 10th 19th 21st he had missed 45 shifts out of a possible 125.
The Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate at Longton dismissed on payment of £3, and costs of 15s of three adjourned summonses against Mr. Cyril Malpass aged 22, of York St. Longton, for abstaining himself from work at Mossfield colliery, it was said the defendant was now working regally. At the same court a case against Mr. Clifford James Oakley aged 19, of 32, Spring Rd. Longton, who was summonsed for failing to comply with the directive of a National Service Officer to take up employment as a trainee in underground coalmining work, the case was adjourned.
The future of British Coalmining Industry particularly as it affects mining services was discussed by Mr. E. Less of Madeley colliery in his Presidential address to the North Staffordshire branch of the Institute of mining surveyors held at North Staffordshire Technical Collage.
The Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate at Longton dismissed on payment of £3, and costs of 15s of three adjourned summonses against Mr. Cyril Malpass aged 22, of York St. Longton, for abstaining himself from work at Mossfield colliery, it was said the defendant was now working regally. At the same court a case against Mr. Clifford James Oakley aged 19, of 32, Spring Rd. Longton, who was summonsed for failing to comply with the directive of a National Service Officer to take up employment as a trainee in underground coalmining work, the case was adjourned.
The future of British Coalmining Industry particularly as it affects mining services was discussed by Mr. E. Less of Madeley colliery in his Presidential address to the North Staffordshire branch of the Institute of mining surveyors held at North Staffordshire Technical Collage.
Pleading guilty at Burslem Stipendiary Magistrates Court today, Mr. Harold Taylor aged 20, single, a colliery loader of 5, Gordon St. Burslem, was fined £8, with £4-4s for leaving his employer at Sneyd colliery without written permission of the National Service Officer. At the same court Mr. Kenneth Ford aged 21, married man, a miner of 1 Broardhurst St. Burslem was fined £2, with £4-4s special costs for each of three summonses for abstaining himself from work Sneyd colliery without a reasonable excuse. Mr Ford had missed 57, shifts out of a possible 114 from April to October.
A statement that they did not want to go on working in the pit and they wanted to join the merchant navy was made by three Stoke-on-Trent youths at Chester Magistrates Court, when they admitted they stole clothing valued at £2-1s-6d from a shop in Hoole Rd. Chester. One was from Leek Rd. Smallthorne, one from Abbey Rd. Abbey Hulton, the other from Sneyd St. Hanley.
Pleading Guilty at Burslem Stipendiary Magistrates Court for abstaining himself from work at Sneyd colliery on August 14th 16th 19th Mr. Edward Bernard Painter aged 18, a haulage hand of 10, Sparrow St. Smallthorne, was fined 10s with 14s costs in each of three cases.
On Saturday afternoon at the offices of Norton and Biddulph collieries a presentation of a canteen of cutlery was made by the officials of the collieries to Mr. Charles George Knapper former undermanager on his departure to take up a post as Manager of Fenton collieries (Settle- Speakman and Co. Ltd.)
A general meeting of the North Staffordshire Mining Students Association was held at the North Staffordshire Technical Collage when Mr. S. Hacking gave a talk on "A visit to a Scottish colliery".
Mr. E. Steele Hon. Sec. of the North Staffordshire branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers, gave members of the Association last nigh a talk on his experience with ‘Steel Chocks’ ; Mr. Steele is the Manager of Norton colliery.
There is a column on the ‘Shelton Loader’ and Mechanisation in Britain and the U.S.A. This is very poor quality of printing.
A paper was given on ‘Comparison of British and American mining methods’ by Mr. H.R. Wheeler B.Sc. M.A.I.M.E. an American mining engineer who has been employed by the British Ministry of Fuel and Power; there is more on this.
A boy of sixteen was fined a total of £5 when he appeared before Longton Juvenile Court where he pleaded guilty to two summonses for theft from a local colliery. He was fined £2, for stealing 2s-8d and a pair of cycle clips from the locker at the pit head baths, and £3, for stealing nine machine drills to the value of £2-5s the property of Stoke-on-Trent Corporation from the colliery power house.
Tributes to the efficient service given by Mr. Joseph Foster, agent and manager of Mossfield Park Hall collieries were made at a gathering at the Crown and Anchor Hotel, Longton, on Saturday Evening when a presentation was made to Mr. Foster to mark his recent transfer to undertake the management of Berry Hill collieries.
At Hanley Stipendiary Court today Mr. Charles Wall aged 19, of 44, Edward St. Shelton, was fined £2, with £2-2s costs for leaving his employment without written permission of the National Service Officer. He was employed as a haulage hand at Hanley Deep Pit. At the same Court a further adjournment for two months was granted in the case in which Mr. Ronald Harrison is summonsed for abstaining himself from work on August 14th 21st 28th. The defendant stated that he had started to work again at the colliery and had now settled down.
A Fine of £5, with £2-2s costs was imposed by the Magistrate at Longton today on Mr. John Barnett aged 19, of 40, Harvey Rd. Meir. He was fined the sum for continuing to comply with a direction of the National Service Officer to take up employment at Kemball training pit on each day of August – October 27th. The direction would be enforced, and the penalty would be £5, per day.
At the same Court Mr. Eric Smith aged 19, of 138, Uttoxeter Rd. Blythe Bridge. was fined £3, with £2-2s costs for failing the National Service Officer in refusing to take instruction with or under arrangement made by Florence colliery on September 25th; he was a surface worker but refused to go underground. The defendant said in Court that he would go into the forces, but not go down the pit. At the same Court Mr. George Kenneth Meakin aged 21, of 28, Broadway, Meir was fined a total of £8, with £2-2s costs for abstaining himself from work at Florence colliery on October 6th 9th 12th, out of a possible 66 shits the defendant worked only on 14 occasions.