June 27, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1395 As a rule, at the end of June things are very flat indeed, but this year, though the enquiry for household coal is, as it usually is, dull, still it is a better enquiry than is often the case at this time. The situation is relieved by a continued very active enquiry for steam coals. This depart- ment is quite busy, and the demand is good for all descriptions of these coals. The output is now at a low level in household coals, but there is quite a good one in the steam coal pits. Stecks are heavier in household coals, but not at all abnormal; in fact, as a whole, less than is often the case. Steam coals are generally fully sent out. Local merchants are doing a much restricted business now. The current quotations are fully up to those which have prevailed for a long time past, and are quite flrm. Generally they are as follow:—Household coal, 12s. to 13s.; cobbles and nuts, 10s. 6d. to Ils. 6d.; steam coal and cobbles, 9s. to 10s. 6d.; nut slacks, 9s. to 10s. 6d. South Staffordshire! North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Hednesford. COAL. The condition of the coal trade throughout the Cannock Chase district is much the same as when last reported, and for the time of year may be considered fairly satisfactory. Very few of the collieries are working full time, but some of them are doing a little better than they were a week or two ago. There is a fair amount of coal in stock at some of the collieries. The house coal trade continues quiet and the demand for coal for manufacturing purposes shows very little change. There is no improvement in business at the landsale depots. Birmingham. COAL. The market is flat, being badly hit by the warm weather and the strike, and the pits are making on an average three days a week. No further price reductions fall to be recorded, and quotations stand:— Prices at pit. Current Last week’s Staffordshire (including prices. prices. Cannock Chase):— House coal, best deep 18/ 18/ Do. seconds deep 16/6 16/6 Do. best shallow 14/6 14/6 Do. seconds do. 18/ 13/ Best hard 14/ 14/ Forge coal 11/ H/ Slack 8/6 8/6 Warwickshire:— House coal, best Ryder ... 16/ 16/ Do. hand - picked cobs 13/9 13/9 Best hard spires 14/6 14/6 Forge (steam) 1°/ 10/ D.S. nuts (steam) 9/6 9/6 Small (do.) 8/6 9/ IRON. The district is still in the throes of labour troubles. The carriage and wagon works have now been closed for nearly a month, and there is no immediate prospect of re-opening. The strip and tube trades are suspended, and other in- dustries are suffering in a greater or less degree. The work at the bar mills is not more than sufficient to provide for three days’ operations a week, and quota- tions are lower than at any period for 12 or 14 months. There are plenty available at £7 15s. at makers’ works, with 2s. 6d. to 5s. extra delivered Birmingham. Competi- tion is keen for nut and bolt qualities, Belgian makers apparently having abundance of stock now at their disposal to send to this country. Galvanised sheets have this week touched £10 17s. 6d., and .£11 is the maximum, and black sheets at £8 do not pay for more than cost of pro- duction. Pig iron is about the same as last week. Business is extremely limited, and stocks are being accumulated in South Staffordshire and North- amptonshire districts for the first time since the termination of the coal strike. For Northamptonshire forge 56s. is about the highest figure obtainable, and South Staffordshire about Is. less. Quotations, however, are nominal. The principal makers of steel plates, angles, tees, channels, &c., are running full time on contracts which will keep them busy for some months; but some of them are making substantial reductions in order to secure new business. Local basic billets are £6 10s., Bessemer qualities £5 7s. 6d. to £5 10s., and 2s. 6d. additional for Siemens. Forest of Death Lydney. GOAL. The steam coal pits are still employed full time, the demand continuing very satisfactory and all produced is easily placed. There is a complete absence of stock of all descriptions, and indications point to a firm market for some time to come. The house coal collieries are averaging about four days just now, which is the usual for the period of the year. Stocks show some increase, but are not excessive. Slacks remain at 10s. at pit, but there is less available for sale at the moment. Prices at pithead. Current Last week’s House coals;— prices. prices. Block 16/6 16/6 Forest 15/6 15/6 . Rubble 15/9 15/9 Nuts 14/ ! 14/ Rough slack Steam coal:— 10/ j 1°/ Large 13/6 to 14/ 13/6 to 14/ Small 10/ to 10/6 | 10/6 to 11/ Prices Is. 9d. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. A new record in coal winding was made at the Bentley Colliery last week, when, during the eight hours of one of the morning shifts, the total amount of coal drawn out was 2,193 tons 14 cwt. LABOUR AND WAGES. North of England. A deadlock w^s reached on Tuesday in the negotia- tions regarding the dispute at Newbiggin Colliery on the question of “ blasting off the solid,” which has been pending for some time. A meeting of representatives of both sides was held at the Coal Trade Offices, New- castle, on Monday, but no agreement was arrived at. As a result of the failure of the local negotiations, the men's representatives, it is stated, have now requested the Home Office, through the district inspector, to inter- vene on the grounds of an alleged infringement of the Coal Mines Act. There is a possibility of the pits being brought to a standstill at the end of the present week. At a general meeting of the members of the Northum- berland Colliery Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Associa- tion, held at Morpeth, to consider the wages question, a deputation who had met the coalowners in Newcastle reported that an offer had been made to advance the wages of enginemen by 4d. per day, and the wages of firemen by 5 per cent. The meeting decided to accept the offer, which will make the wages of winding engine- men 6s. lOJd. per day, and other classes of enginemen 6s. 3d. per day. The question of the delay in replying to the modified claims of the men with regard to hours and wages was mentioned at the, interview, and the coal- owners stated that, owing to the pressure of business, they had not been able to deal with the claim, but they promised to endeavour to give a reply shortly. A deputation representing the Northumberland Deputies’ Association waited upon the coalowners of the county at the Coal Trade Office, Newcastle, on Saturday. The owners granted an advance of 4d. per day, making the wages 7s. 3id. per day, the advance to begin with pays commencing June 23 and 30. A depu- tation from the Northumberland Colliery Mechanics’ Association also met the owners. The owners in this case also gave an advance of 4d. a day, to take effect with the same pays as in the case of the deputies. A special meeting of the council of the Northumber- land Miners’ Association was opened on Saturday at the Burt Hall, Newcastle. The secretary (Mr. William Straker) gave a resume Qi what had taken place from the beginning of the campaign for the abolition of the three-shift system some months ago. The council was informed that the representatives of the three-shift pits had voted against seeking modification by 10 votes to 6. A long discussion took place, and eventually a vote was taken, with the following result:— ■ For modification................. 34 votes Against...................... 32 votes This motion, with an alternative resolution, “ That we seek no modification, but demand total abolition of the three-shift system in the country,” will be submitted to the miners’ lodges and voted upon. In the event of the lodges confirming the vote of the council, the executive committee will take preliminary steps towards bringing a scheme for modification before the Coalowners’ Asso- ciation, but no scheme can be finally adopted until confirmed by the vote of the association. The council, at its resumed meeting on Monday, considered the replies of the owners to “ requests ” recently sent them. It was decided to resubmit those relating to a definition of stonemen’s work, the restoration of short shifts as existing prior to the Eight Hours Act, ’and the handing over of “ laid out ” fines to the Aged Miners’ Homes Association. The owners will be asked to reconsider their decision as to a man having to do bargain work in arranging for which he had taken no part, the council agreeing to support any man refusing to do work under such conditions. It was also agreed to allow collieries where the butty system—sub-contracting—exists, to hand in their notices on failing to obtain its abolition in other ways. The council decided to ask again for the extension of the free house and coals system to certain classes of men, and to sanction a strike in case of a colliery desiring to secure the system. It was also decided to ask collieries to vote in favour of taking a county ballot on the question of a strike to secure the abolition of “ baff ” Saturday working. In effect, this last motion is an effort to obtain for the county the ten days fortnight, which the Federation has declined to take action about. Free explosives for all men working at the county rate rate of wages and for better payment for surface workers are also to be asked for again. These decisions are subject to confirmation by a lodge vote. On Tuesday, the dispute at the Wai bottle Pit, which has lain idle for a month, was considered. The men claimed strike pay, under Bule 41, and enumerated their grievances against the owners. The first point is that the men object to deputies working in hewers’ places at the week-end. The other complaint concerns the case of a coal hewer, on bargain work, who asked leave of the management to work on Sunday. Leave was granted, although, it is alleged, the local miners’ lodge was not notified, according to custom. The men demanded the dismissal of the hewer, but this the owners refused to do. Another grievance concerned Ferney Beds, where complaints had been made in the matter of the quality and quantity of fire coal supplied to the men. This eventually led to a stoppage of the pit. After considering all the circumstances the executive committee of the union refused strike pay. Eventually by 52 votes to 7, it was decided that the Walbottle Percy members were justified in striking, and that strike pay be allowed them from the funds of the association. Federated Area. A meeting of the Notts Minimum Wage Board was held at the Victoria Station Hotel, Nottingham, on Tuesday afternoon, June 24. Mr. J. Piggford, one of the coalowners’ representatives, was in the chair, and Mr. C. Bunfield, secretary of the Notts Miners’Associa- tion, in the vice-chair. The matters in dispute were whether the Newstead and Teversal stonemen, rippers and timberers and the Pinxton horsekeepers should come under scale 8 or 11. The questions were referred to the Notts District Disputes Board, which is to meet under the independent chairman. The executive council of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation have decided to take a ballot this week end of the men employed at the Garswood Hall Collieries, South Lancashire, on the question of tendering notices to cease contracts in order to compel the non-unionists to join the Federation. About 2,300 men and youths are employed at the Garswood pits. At Pemberton Collieries, near Wigan, notices to cease work should expire to-day (Friday, June 27). Close upon 200 men of the 2,500 men employed at these collieries are still outside the pale of the union. Drastic propaganda work is also contemplated at pits in the St. Helens area. Scotland. Sheriff A. O. M. Mackenzie, K.C., acted as indepen- dent chairman at a sitting of the Scottish Coal Trade Conciliation Board in the North British Station Hotel, Edinburgh, on Monday, when the claims of the Scottish miners for an advance in wages of Is. per day and the alternative claim on behalf of the Scottish coalmasters for a reduction of 6d. per day on account of the increased expense of working and recent legislation were considered. About 100,000 miners are concerned in the present reference. The case for the masters was presented by Mr. Adam Nimmo, and on behalf of the men by Mr. Robert Smillie. After having heard the evidence, Sheriff Mackenzie took the case to avizandum. Effect of Strikes on Trade Union Funds. The management committee of the Federation of Trade Unions in their annual report express regret that for the third year in succession the expenditure on Federation benefit has far exceeded the income from contributions. During the past five years the total income from contributions has been £220,233, and the amount returned direct to the societies affiliated £365,619—an excess of benefits over contributions of £145,386. A careful consideration of the figures shows that on the average approximately 10 per cent, of the membership has received dispute benefit at an annual cost per head of 27s. 7d. To meet such expenditure would require an annual aggregate contribution of £111,411, or an average individual contribution of 2s. 6d. per member. Last year the Federation’s income was £78,766, and the total expenditure £96,938, of which Federation benefit absorbed £91,106. The forty-first annual report of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, which is now merged in the National Union of Railwaymen, states that of the “ trade union ” or fighting fund £48,656 16s. is returned as being invested in railway stock, but at the end of the year this had depreciated to £41,959. Iron, Steel, and Engineering Trades. A ballot of the men on strike in Birmingham and district will be taken to-day. At the end of the week it is expected the 30,000 men now out will be increased by very nearly another 10,000 unless terms are in the meantime conceded. Other branches of trade than those directly concerned in the strike are being injuriously affected. Hundreds of miners in South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire have been put on short time, and many ironworkers are idle. THE IRISH COML TR&DE. Thursday, June 26. Dublin. Except for the falling off in demand for house coal a fair business is being done, and the inland trade is good although buyers are complaining of the continued high prices. The reductions which usually take place in the summer have not yet been made, but next month may probably see a change in some qualities. Quotations for all classes are unaltered. City prices are as follow:—Best Orrell, 27s. per ton; Arley, 26s.; Whitehaven, 25s.; Wigan, 25s.; kitchen, 24s.; Orrell slack, 21s.; steam coals from 21s.. to 22s. per ton delivered ; best coke, 23s. per ton; house coal, retail, Is. 7d. per sack. Tenders for some local contracts have been accepted at 19s. 8d. for Wigan, and Scotch at 17s. lid.; coke at 22s. 3d. per ton; steam coal at 20s. 3d., and for inland contracts, Wigan 22s. 2d. per ton, and Scotch 22s. 2d. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 65 as compared with 62 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Workington, Manchester, Ayr, Newport, Llanelly, Ellesmere Port, Swansea, Cardiff, Partington, Girvan, Point of Aire, Saundersfoot, West Bank, Irvine, Liverpool and Whitehaven. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 25,400 tons. At the last quarterly meeting of the Kilkenny County Council, a scheme for the construction of tramway facilities for the conveyance of coal between Castlecomer and Kilkenny was unanimously adopted. Belfast. There is no material change in the local market, the house coal trade being about normal, and business in other- classes fairly good. Prices of all qualities are unchanged, although there is somewhat of an easier tendency in Scotch coals. There appears to be no immediate prospect of any reductions being made in English house coal. Quotations in the city are :—Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d.; prices ex-quay from 20s. 6d. to 24s. per ton for house coal (Scotch and English) ;. 17s. to 18s. per ton for Scotch and navigation steam coal; Welsh steam, 20s.; English steam slack, 17s. per ton delivered. The cross-channel trade keeps fairly active,, cargoes arriving during the week being chiefly from Ellesmere Port, Garston, Sharpness, Maryport, Point of Aire, Ayr, Preston, Girvan, Glasgow, Troon, Swansea,. Manchester, Workington, Partington, West Bank, and Whitehaven. The total number of steam colliers entering- the harbour between the 1st ^nd 14th insts. was 106.