January 30, 191L THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN, 255 each 24 hours, in all working places and roads, so that the mine may “ cool down.” The South Wales Association of Colliery JEnginemen, Stokers, and Craftsmen will evidently carry through the project of amalgamation with the Miners’ Federation, for at their quarterly meeting on Saturday they passed a resolution so to alter their rules as would permit of an effective vote being taken. The recent ballot showed a large, majority in favour—4,082 against 2,006, but did not give the three-fourths majority which is necessary under the rules. On Saturday it was decided to alter the rule and make two-thirds majority sufficient; and a further resolution urged the officials to press forward with the amalgamation scheme. Neath district miners, numbering between 4,000 and 5,000, have decided to form a new district under the Federation. 2) At Windsor Colliery, near Caerphilly, nearly 2,000 men have been idle, because of a dispute with the manager as to the men’s nominees inspecting the pit. The contention of the manager is that sufficient notice was not given; whereas the men hold that notice on the morning of the day is sufficient, and is the general custom in South Wales. At a meeting on Wednesday, the manager was refused an opportunity of explaining his case to the men. Scotland. The recent decision of the Scottish Miners’ Federa- tion that all colliery firemen were to be members of miners’ unions was the subject of discussion at a meeting of the Cowdenbeath and district branch of the Scottish Colliery Firemen and Shotfirers’ Association on Saturday. The meeting was opposed to the action of the Federation, the general opinion being that firemen would be better served and protected by their own organisation. The view was expressed that the Federa- tion should require no more of firemen than that they be trade unionists. The miners of the Bardykes Collieries, Cambuslang, have gone on strike in connection with the alleged unjust dismissal of a miner. A mass meeting of the men was held on Wednesday, when it was stated that the Summerlee Iron and Coal Company had intimated that they would submit the question of the dismissal of the men to arbitration. After discussion, it was agreed to ballot on the question—for arbitration or for a continuance of the strike. The stoppage at Messrs. Addie and Sons’ Viewpark Collieries, Uddingston, last week, which lasted one day, has not by any means settled the matter. A mass meeting of the men was held again on Monday evening, when their demands for Friday pays (instead of Satur- day, as at present), the erection of a union .collecting office within the precincts of the colliery, and the abolition of contracting in common places were again considered. It was agreed that they should again send a deputation to the manager regarding their grievances and report to a further meeting. The men contend specially for Friday pays. Miners’ Federation of Great Britain. It is officially stated that the general secretary of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain has been empowered to call a levy of 3d. per member in connection with the Federation’s political fund. One penny per member is to be retained in the district to meet local expenditure. Mr. Asquith will receive a deputation from the Miner’s Federation of Great Britain on Tuesday next on the subject of the continuation of the Minimum Wage Act. The Act was passed for a period of three years, which will expire in April, 1915. The miners desire that its provisions be extended to the wages of surface workers. Mr. Buxton will receive a deputation from the Miners’ Federation on Wednesday next, on the amend- ment of the Workmen’s Compensation Act and other matters. Official returns regarding the Miners’ Federation card vote on the question of arranging meetings with employers throughout Great Britain to press for a 15 per cent, advance in surfacemen’s wages have been issued as follows:—In favour : Lancashire 70,000, Mid- land Federation 54,000, Derbyshire 11,000, Notts 28,000, Leicestershire 7,000, North Wales 10,000, Cumberland 8,000, Bristol 2,000, Somersetshire 3,000, Scotland 75,000, Durham 99,000, Cleveland 9,000; total 402,000. Against: Yorkshire 90,000, South Wales 100,000, Northumberland 38,000; total 242,000. The Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades, The ascertainment of Messrs. Price, Waterhouse and Co. of production and prices of manufactured iron in the North of England and Cleveland district was made known by the secretaries of the Board of Conciliation, on Saturday, at Middlesbrough and Darlington. . The return covers the months of November and December of last year. The net average selling price was £7 2s. lO’STd. per ton. The return indicates that prices are ruling at a satisfactory level, and the falling away has not been so great as was in many cases feared would happen. The return enables the figures for the year 1913 to be completed, and from these it is seen that the output has been well maintained, and that the average of prices the year through being at no time under £7 per ton, must have established another record for the iron trade. The total output for the year is 59,961 tons, a decrease compared with 1912 of 6,430 tons. This ascertainment automatically fixes ironworkers’ wages by a sliding scale, and the secretaries to the Conciliation Board declare that in accordance with that arrangement the wages will be unchanged. At the annual meeting of the North of England Iron and Steel Trades Conciliation Board, Newcastle-on- Tyne, on Monday, it was reported that the number of operatives was 3,800, as compared with 4,346 the reduction being due to the stopping of ironworks and the Richmond works and the withdrawal of a body of men at West Hartlepool. It was reported that the net result of four ascertainments of selling prices had been to produce a reduction of 2| per cent, under the sliding scale, whilst the wages of steel millmen had been advanced 2J per cent. The chairman, moving the adoption of the report, said that a year ago he prophesied a good time in the trade, and his views had been justified, for there had been the largest output in the steel trade that the North-country had ever known. The working of the Board had also prevented stoppages which might have occurred in other trades. For the current year there was a fair amount of work in hand, and there was likely to be. Sir William Stephenson was reappointed referee. Mr. Thackray was re-elected president, and Mr. W. C. Griffith vice-president. THE WELSH COAL AID IROH TRMES. Thursday, January 29. Wrexham. ML. The coal trade of this district during the past week has been of a satisfactory character. All the collieries are working full time and have no difficulty in disposing of their output. House coal has a steady sale, although there is not so much going to London on account of the carters’ strike, but the tonnage sold usually in the London market has been diverted elsewhere and disposed of in the merchant trade. The position of steam coal is little altered. Railway companies and manufacturing concerns take their usual quota, and there is a fair demand for North Wales coals for shipment at the Mersey ports. The gas coal has a steady sale under contract, nuts being exceptionally scarce. Slack is fairly well sold, and gas coke remains unaltered in regard to demand or price. The current prices are as follow:— Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r. :— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 15/6-17/6 Secondary do 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/3 14/6-16/ Steam coal 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 Gas coal 13/ -14/ 13/ -13/9 12/ -13/6 Bunkers 12/ -12/9 12/6-12/9 12/ -13/6 Nuts 11/ -11/9 11/6-12/6 11/ -12/ Slack 6/ - 8/6 7/ - 8/6 6/6- 9/6 Gas coke (at works) ... Prices landsale:— 13/4-15/ 13/4-15/ 16/8-18/4 Best house coal 17/6-19/2 17/6-18/9 18/4-20/ Seconds 16/8-17/6 16/8-17/6 17/6-18/4 Slack 10/ -12/6 10/ -11/8 10/ -11/8 Bonmomthshire, South Wahs, Ac. Newport. COAL. A quiet and steady week has passed an uneventful period of easy trading with quite a want of speculative business. A little improvement in enquiry is shown, but buyers display no inclination to complete forward bookings. Collieries for the next two weeks are stemmed up to their requirements in most cases, with an occasional hiatus which leads to buyers’ advantage when they have suitable tonnage. Apart from these few weak spots the market has been consistently steady, maintaining an evenness of tone not often seen. Smalls are just a little firmer, while house coals, nuts, throughs, &c., show no change. Patent fuel, in sympathy with smalls, shows a little dearer. Pitwood supplies are scarcely so plentiful, so sellers are asking 6d. to 91. a ton more and 20s. 6d. for best fir ex-ship. In the freight market there has been little change of note. Rates for the Plate remain steady, while rather weaker for the Mediterranean and nearer ports. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Steam coals :— Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y B est E astern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals .... Secondary do......... Inferior do.......... Screenings........... Through coals ....... Best washed nuts..... Other sorts- Best house coal ..... Secondary do......... Patent fuel ......... Furnace coke ........ Foundry coke ........ Current prices. 17/3-17/6 16/6-16/9 16/ -16/3 15/6-15/9 8/3- 8/6 7/9- 8/ 7/3- 7/6 8/6 13/3-13/6 13/9-14/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/6-20/ 19/—20/ 23/ -25/ L’st week’s prices. 17/3-17/6 16/6-16/9 16/ -16/3 15/3-15/6 8/3- 8/6 7/9- 8/ 7/3- 7/6 8/6 13/3-13/6 13/9-14/ Last year’s prices. 17/6-18/ 17/3-17/6 16/9-17/ 16/ -16/6 13/9-14/3 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/3 14/ -14/3 14/6-15/ 14/6-14/9 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/6-20/ 19/ -20/ 23/ -25/ 18/6-19/ 17/6-18/6 22/ -23/ 24/ -25/ 27/6-30/ IRON. There is not much change to report on the week in the local conditions of the iron and steel trades, most works remaining well engaged for the present with current orders. Although there are more enquiries coming on the market, there is for the present not a great deal of fresh business being transacted. Values generally remain very much as a week ago. At the bar mills work is fairly good and output up to the average. There is no alteration to report in quotations in this department. Imports of foreign bars at the port for the week total over 12,000 tons, Continental quotations showing no variation. Rail mills remain very quiet, but there are plenty of enquiries coming along which it is hoped will lead to fresh business in the near future. Quotations in this department too are unaltered. Work is reported good at blastfurnaces, where the outlook is considered to be more favourable. There has been more activity on the market during the last week or two, and it is anticipated that there will be a decided advance in prices before long. The tin-plate depart- ment remains very much the same as last week. There are plenty of enquiries coming along, but, owing to the great disparity of ideas between buyers and sellers, there is not much actual business resulting as yet. Cardiff. OOALe Although things are not very flourishing, the position of the market is better than it was last week. The difficulty then was the scarcity of tonnage, a condition which has been prevalent throughout the year. The heavy charterings which took place a couple of weeks ago, however, have had their effect, and as the vessels are beginning to arrive, there is a better outlook, with the result that collieries, speaking generally, are in a much better position than they were a little time ago. The result is that they are firmer in their quotations, not only for prompt shipment, but decidedly so for dates a little ahead. Notwithstanding this improved undertone, in the case of collieries hard pressed for empty wagons, material concessions were obtained by merchants with prompt boats, but the arrivals over the week end had a stiffening effect on the market, and quotations for forward delivery were higher in consequence. Shipments from Cardiff last week only amounted to 338,201 tons, or a decrease of 107,951 tons as compared with the corresponding week of last year. At Newport also^there was a decrease of 4,318 tons, at Swansea a decrease of 29,808 tons, and at Port Talbot a falling off of 5,541 tons. The charterings for the week were not satis- factory, and but for a big spurt on Friday would have been very disappointing. On Friday fixtures were made repre- senting nearly 106,000 tons, but on several days they were very poor, and the total for the week only amounted to 324,900 tons as compared with 446,240 tons the previous six days, or a decrease of 121,340 tons. Speaking generally, however, collieries are in a much better position than they were a little while ago, and although they are still prepared to discount current quotations in special circumstances, the tendency is distinctly firmer than it was a few days ago. Enquiries are not very numerous, but there is a firm conviction amongst sellers that a large quantity of coal has been sold by middlemen which has not been provided for, and when these orders come on to the market, as they eventually must, there is no doubt that a steadier and even higher tone will be the rule. As mentioned last week, the Admiralty are not taking the amount usually bespoken by them, with the result that probably 20,000 to 25,000 tons weekly are thrown on to the market, and even this small quantity pressed from certain quarters has a deterrent effect on prices. It is perhaps worthy of mention that the Chilian Government, who were on the market a couple of weeks ago for two cargoes of about 7,500 tons each for delivery in February and March, have placed their orders with Hill’s Pymouth Collieries, but, as usual in such cases, the price has not been disclosed. Current quotations for best Admiralties are not more than 18s. 6d. to 19s., with superior seconds at 18s. to 18s. 3d. Ordinaries, which have been difficult to place in one or two. instances, are 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d. In Monmouthshire coals the tone has been fairly steady and a regular output is being maintained, thanks chiefly to the heavy contracts recently made by the Italian States Railways. Black Veins are 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d., western-valleys 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d., and the best of the easterns 16j. 6d. to 16s. 9d. Nuts, peas and also dry coals remain practically unaltered. In Rhondda bituminous coals there is no difference in quotations, although a higher level is talked about. No. 3 Rhondda is still quoted at 17s. 6d., with through and small in proportion and No. 2 at 14s. 9d. to 15s., which is fractionally higher. In the small coal market there is a distinctly firmer tendency and the enquiry has been better than for some time past. Best bunkers range about Ils., ordinaries 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d., but in cargo sorts quotations fluctuate from 7s. 9d. to 8s. 6d., the latter price having been obtained for several parcels at the beginning of the present week. The coke market remains purely nominal, special foundry being 27s. to 28s., Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals ' Current prices. 18/6-19/ 18/ -18/3 17/3-17/6 11/ 10/6-10/9 7/9- 8/6 6/6- 7/6 18/ -18/6 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 14/9-15/ 13/6-13/9 11/6-11/9 17/6-17/9 17/3-17/6 16/6-16/9 15/6-15/9 21/ 18/ 17/6 15/ -15/6 12/ 14/9-15/ 11/9-12/ 8/6 22/6 20/ -21/ 27/ -28/ 22/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 20/ —20/3 L’st week’s prices. 19/ -19/6 18/3-18/9 17/6-17/9 11/ -11/3 10/6-10/9 7/9- 8/ 6/3- 7/ 17/9-18/3 16/6-16/9 15/ -15/6 114/ -14/6 14/ 13/ 11/6-12/ 17/3-17/9 17/ -17/3 16/3-16/6 15/6-15/9 21/ 18/ 17/ -17/6 15/ 12/ 14/6-15/ 11/9-12/ 8/6 22/6 20/ -21/ 28/ 22/ -25/ 19/ -20/ 19/9 Last year’s prices. 19/3-19/6 18/6-18/9 17/9-18/ 15/3-15/6 15/ 14/ 13/6 18/3-18/6 16/9-17/6 16/ 14/6-15/ 14/6 13/ -14/ 14/9-15/3 17/9-18/ 17/6-17/9 17/ -17/3 16/6-16/9 19/6 17/6 17/6 16/ 15/ 15/9-16/ 14/6 13/ -13/3 24/ 22/6 33/ 31/ 28/ -29/ 21/ Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through Small .. Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke fAx-shm^ Coal and patent fuel quotations are for net cash in 30 days. Rhondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net> Coke is net f.o.b. *