138

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 17, 1913.

customers than to retain the trade captured during
the strike, and it would not be surprising if the
exports of German coal in the next few months
showed an abatement. At the same time, it
would be no less surprising if the Syndicate
endeavoured, by themselves purchasing British
coal, to keep the new business in their hands
until the state of the market prompts a further
change of policy.

Yet, putting aside these temporary diversions,
the growth of the German export trade has been
phenomenal, and it seems probable that the com-
plete returns for the year show a total
export of nearly 40 million tons, considerably
more than half the quantity exported from the
United Kingdom—figures that a few years ago
would hardly have been regarded as possible.
The increase in the exports of German coke is in
itself a stupendous fact.

Distant Markets.

Our distant markets have quite a different
character from those in Europe. Coal is there
more in the nature of a lubricant for our com-
merce, as paying ballast for outward voyages,
or supplies at isolated coaling stations for our
merchant marine. The figures testify to
the activity of the shipping trade. Increased
quantities have been sent to such outlying
stations as Madeira, the Canaries and Aden;
on the other hand, the bunker shipments at
British ports have declined by a million tons,
but we doubt if this betokens, as has been
assumed, a growing predilection for cheaper
foreign bunker coals. To the Argentine
100,000 tons more have been sent, but this
is more than balanced by the reduced con-
signments to Brazil and Uruguay. To India
86,000 tons . less have been sent, and to
Ceylon 37,000 tons, notwithstanding the break-
down in the transport facilities, which has so
severely affected the Bengal collieries. What
gain there has been to outsiders has gone to
Natal and Japan. Similarly, our trade in the
Pacific has been hampered by the development
of the Australian export trade, which has now
recovered from the set-back following the strike
in New South Wales in 1909. This development
of the Antipodean and Asiatic coalfields is, in
reality, a factor of far greater importance than
the influence of the Panama Canal and the
increased opportunity which it affords to the
American coalfields. The canal shortens the
route from Baltimore and Norfolk (Va.) to
Valparaiso by 3,900 miles, to Shanghai by 2,200
miles, and to Yokohama by 4,000 miles, but
waterborne traffic is less influenced by questions
of distance than is railborne traffic, and it would
scarcely appear feasible for the coals of
Pennsylvania and West Virginia to find a
market in Chili and China, when they have
failed to secure a footing in Brazil and the
River Plate. Nevertheless, a development of the
United States trade in all these markets is to be
anticipated.

American Coals.

An American invasion of the Mediterranean
has been threatened on more than one occasion
during the past year, but our exporters have not
been seriously disturbed in consequence. The
conditions in America, indeed, militate against
such a movement, if anything, more strongly
than ever. The tendency towards higher prices
is rather more pronounced in America than in
this country, and there has been no change in
the economic problem of the return freight
sufficient to encourage any systematic cultiva-
tion of a European trade, whilst American
shippers have much to learn in regard to their
methods of loading before they can hope to
:satisfy the fastidious European consumer.

Nevertheless, the total quantity of coal sent
abroad from the United States continues to
increase, and in the year ended with June 1912
17,500,000 tons of coal were exported, as compared
with 7,000,000 tons 10 years earlier,and 2,500,000
in 1892 ; but when Canada and Cuba are
eliminated there is little left for the rest of the
world. Nearly all of the 3 million tons of
anthracite and 10,670,000 tons of the 14,700,000
tons of bituminous coal exported in 1911-12
went to Canada. Yet it is worthy of note that
the exports of American soft coal to Europe have
grown from 87,512 tons in 1907 to 404,905 tons
in 1912, and those to South America from
65,906 tons in 1907 to 580,160 tons in 1912.

At the present moment the British coal
exporter, perhaps, is indisposed to cudgel his
brains with these gloomy problems of the
future, for, to pervert an old proverb, “ Sufficient
for the day is the good thereof.” But German
and, in a less degree, American and colonial
competition is a thing that grows rather than
contracts, when every allowance is made for
temporary distractions.

Trade Summary.

The London coal trade during the past week has responded
only partially to the prevalence of the colder weather. The
entire absence of snow in the metropolitan area has kept
prices low and unchanged. Factors and merchants have
cleared off loaded wagons in stock, but very few orders have
found their way to the collieries. Some special low-priced
quotations have been withdrawn, but little extra business
has been done. Nuts are moving freely, but large coals are
weak. Smalls of all kinds are brisk and manufacturing
coals are strong. All seaborne and inland prices are
unaltered.

The market at Newcastle is inactive, mainly owing to the
severe weather, which has seriously impeded traffic. The
tone of the market, however, is good and prices generally
are steady.

The Durham coal trade has been similarly affected,
several pits having been compelled to suspend operations.

There is a rather better call for Lancashire house coals.
All other descriptions continue in strong request.

Business in West Yorkshire is brisk in all departments.

Work in South Yorkshire has been broken by the
weather, but the demand is strong for all varieties, with
the exception of house coals, in which, however, a stronger
market is expected shortly.

There is an improvement in the demand for Derbyshire
house coals, and all other classes of fuel are scarce.

The outlook at Cardiff is very promising. Buyers are
showing more complacency, and charterings are excep-
tionally heavy.

In Scotland heavy storms have delayed shipment. Prices,
if anything, are harder, and house coal has benefited in
marked fashion from the inclement weather.

THE IRISH GOAL TRADE.

Thursday, January 16.

Dublin.

There is a decided improvement in demand this week, the
appearance of wintry weather having given a much-needed
stimulus to the household trade, although prices still remain
unchanged. Steam coals are Is. per ton higher, being now
from 21s. per ton upwards. House coals in the city are as
follow:—Best Orrell, 27s. per ton; best Arley, 26s.; best
Whitehaven, 25s.; best Wigan, 25s.; best kitchen, 23s.; best
Orrell slack, 21s.; house coal, retail, from Is. 5d. to Is. 7d.
per sack ; best coke, 23s. per ton, or 18s. per chaldron. Pit
mouth prices at Gracefield Collieries, Queen’s County are:—
Large coal, 21s. 6d. per ton; small household, 20s.; gas
producer coal, 20s.; culm 6s. 8d. per ton. The imports are
below the average, the coaling vessels arriving during the
week amounting to 42, as compared with 51 the week
previously, being chiefly from Garston, Preston, Liverpool,
Mary port, Swansea, Newport, West Bank, Whitehaven,
Cardiff, Troon, Ayr, and Neath Abbey. The total quantity
of coal discharged upon the quays was 18,615 tons.

Belfast.

There is something approaching a scarcity of coal in this
port at present, only small supplies having been available
of late at the Scottish ports, and the heavy gales prevailing
at sea having greatly retarded the passage of coaling
vessels. A further slight advance has been made in the
inferior sorts, otherwise there is no change. City prices
are as follow :—Best English coal, 26s. 6d. per ton; Orrell
nuts, 25s. 6d. ; best Scotch, 22s. 6d.; best Orrell slack,
22s. 6d. Current quotations ex-quay are :—Arley house
coal, 22s. 8d. per ton; Scotch house, 19s. 6d Scotch steam
coal 17s. to 18s. per ton; Navigation steam, 17s. to 18s.;
Welsh steam, 17s. to 18s. ; English steam slack, 15s. per
ton delivered. The total number of colliers entering the
harbour from December 15 last to January 4 amounted to
117. Cargoes arriving during the past week were chiefly
from Ayr. Garston, Partington, Lydney, Maryport,
Swansea, Preston, Ellesmere Port, Whitehaven, Troon,
Girvan, Bowling and Cardiff. Demand, upon the whole,
has considerably improved during the week, more particu-
larly for household requirements.

LABOUR ARD WAGES.

North of England.

The annual meeting of the Cleveland Ironstone Mine-
owners’ Association was held at Middlesbrough on the
13th inst., Mr. A. F. Pease presiding. Sir Hugh Bell,
Bart., was unanimously re-elected chairman, and Messrs.
A. F. Pease and W. W. Storr vice-chairmen. A meeting
between the mineowners and tile Cleveland miners’
representatives was also held to consider the wages to
be paid during the ensuing three months. The chairman
-pointed out that the price of pig iron for the last quarter
of 1912 was 60s. lT7d. per ton, and that according to the
usual formula the men were entitled to an advance of
6*53 per cent., which the owners offered. The men’s
representatives stated that they would place the matter
before the miners, and the meeting was adjourned until
the 24th inst.

Federated Area.

At a representative executive meeting of the Lanca-
shire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation, held last
Saturday in Manchester, it was reported that a pre-
ponderating majority of the men at the Ellerbeck
collieries, near Chorley, had voted in favour of tendering
notices on the non-unionist question. A large majority
of the men at the Duxbury Park collieries, near Chorley,
had also decided to strike on the abnormal places
question and also for the grading of datallers’ work and
wages to prevent reductions in the rate of pay.

The request of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’
Federation for a minimum rate of wages for colliery
surface workers was considered at a conference of
representatives of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal-
owners’ Association and of the Miners Federation on
Wednesday, in Manchester. The subject had previously
been under consideration. The contention of the miners
is that, despite two 5 per cent, increases, the wages of
the surfacemen are still too low.

The following official statement was read at the close
of the conference :—

“ At a joint conference of representatives of the coal-
owners and the miners held to-day, the following
proposal was submitted by the representatives of the
owners :—

“ ‘ Assuming that the adjustments have been made in
the wages of surfacemen in accordance with the
decisions of the Conciliation Board since the furnace-
men were included within the Board, we consider they
are not entitled to ask for an alteration in the basis
rates of that class of labour; but if those adjustments
have not been made they should be. However, with the
view of meeting the desire of the Miners’ Federation to
establish a uniform minimum rate of wages for that
class of labour throughout the county, if they will
submit a list of proposed minimum rates more in accord
with the lower rates now paid for that class of labour,
the proposal shall be submitted for the consideration of
the Lancashire and Cheshire coalowners.’ The miners’
representatives submitted the following: — * That a
minimum rates of wages for surface hands be established
for Lancashire and Cheshire for boys from 14 years of
age to 21 years of age, and for adults above 21 years of
age.’ ” The result of the meeting will be reported to
the annual conference of the Lancashire and Cheshire
Federation, which will be held on Saturday at Wigan.

The executive of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association
held a meeting at Barnsley on Wednesday. Out-of-work
pay was granted to men at Wheldale, Fieldhouse, Old
Sharlston, and Syndale, who are out of work owing to the
stoppage of the collieries.

Mr. Smith again referred to the attitude of the local
Yorkshire coalowners, remarking that for some time
the Miners’ Association had been trying to arrange a
meeting to deal with several grievances, including those
of surfacemen’s wages, but the owners refused to meet
the association representatives. A conference had
been called, to be held in Leeds on the 25th inst., when
representatives of the surface workers’, winders’ and
motor men’s associations would attend to decide what
action should be taken to establish a wage list for the
whole of West Yorkshire.

Somerset.

The Somerset miners are to be conceded an advance
in wages, and payment under the new scale is to
commence on Saturday next. This was decided at a
meeting of the Somerset Conciliation Board, held in
Bristol on Saturday, when it was agreed that there
should be a rise of 5 per cent., in accordance with the
advance granted by the Federated Conciliation Board.
This will bring the total percentage up to 50 per cent,
above standard.

Scotland.

A meeting of the executive of the Scottish Miners*
Federation was held on the 8th inst. in Glasgow. The
question of the eviction of workmen and their families
from their homes during colliery disputes was considered,