May 15, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1077 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.. _________________________________________________________________________ dent) in the chair, the question of the rate of minimum wage for South Yorkshire was considered. The delegates were instructed to lay the question before their respective branches. The meeting was concluded on Tuesday, when it was stated that in consequence of the recent strike and the fact that branches had to give guarantees to the railway companies for the travelling facilities, it had been decided that the annual demonstration, arranged to be held at Scar- borough, should be cancelled. Mr. Wadsworth reported on the strike at Hawley Park Pit, Batley, and that at the Thornhill Colliery. Out-of-work pay was granted accord- ing to rule to men at Beevers Main, Gawber, Mosley’s Pit, Bowling, and about 170 men stopped owing to breakage of machinery at the Carrhouse Colliery. On Tuesday a conference took place at Nottingham between representatives of the Midland Counties Colliery Owners’ Association and the Notts Miners’ Association, on the question of the price-list at the Bentinck Colliery Low Main. For some time past the management of the Bestwood Colliery have complained that the boys on the afternoon shift have been drawing their wages on the Friday afternoon, and then not going down for that shift, which W’as breaking the contract. The management shut down the pit on Sunday evening, and reported to the miners’ local officials that they could not tolerate that kind of thing any longer. On Monday Mr. Carter, assistant secretary to the Notts Miners’ Asso- The executive council of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers have decided to ballot their members on a pro- posal to substitute a new national agreement with the Engi- neering Employers’ Federation for the old agreement and premium bonus memorandum, which, by reason of the men’s notice, expired in March. The men are recommended to give the necessary powers to their executive to negotiate a new agreement, and in the meantime a provisional agree- ment has been adopted for the purpose of avoiding any stop- page of work either of a partial or general character. The iron ore miners at the Park and Boanhead mines, near Dalton-in-Furness, and the miners at Stainton quarries have received a week’s notice to terminate their agreements. The mines and quarries are owned by the Barrow Hematite Iron and Steel Company, and it is believed, though no official intimation is forthcoming, the notices arise from the slack- ness in both the iron and ore mining trades, and, so far as the firm is concerned, has no connection with a recent move- ment of the union men to induce non-unionists to join the men’s society. aided by a fair demand for bunkering purposes. For through coals, nuts and like descriptions the trade is very quiet. House coals too show a declining consumption, although prices are still officially unaltered. Patent fuel is also a quiet trade, w*ith exports easy. Pitwood is firmer, and with only scanty supplies on hand merchants.seem inclined to hold on for still higher figures. To-day they are asking 20s. for good wood ex ship. In the freight market there is a better enquiry; chartering, however, is not brisk, there not being enough suitable tonnage to please merchants. Rates are inclined to stiffen. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2), per cent. Current Steam coals ’ prices. Best Black Vein large... 17/3-17 /6 Western-valley s, ordin’yj 16/9-17/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 16/ —16/6 Secondary do. i 15/ -15/6 Best small coals ...... 8/6-9/ Secondary do......... 8/ - 8/9 Inferior do......... 7/6- 7/9 Screenings............, 8/9 Through coals ........,12/6-12/9 Best washed nuts......i 13/ -13/6 ........ _______________ ........ Other sorts :— I ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Best house coal __ 18/ -19/ Secondary do..........' 17/ -18/ Patent fuel ..........! 19 /9-20/ Furnace coke..........; 19/6—20/6 Foundry coke .......... 23/ -25/ ______________________ COASTWISE SHIPMENTS DURING MARCH. According to the monthly coal tables, the quantities of coal shipped coastwise during the month of March were as follow:— From Total carg’o. Total ’ bunker. : 1913. 1914. 1913. 1914. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bristol Channel ports .. s 293,722 315,782 16,836 22,202 North-western ports .. : 211,810 273,572 57,377 64,134 North-eastern ports 634,596 653,605 24,394 31,834 Humber ports .. ! 231,716 210,197 11,096 12.292 Other ports on east coast 6,528 8,760 7,119 8,247 Other English ports ' 4,012 2,758 6,144 6,153 Total from England and Wales .. I 1,382,384 1,464,674 122,966 144,862 Ports on east coast of Scotland 127,096 106,265 21,868 20,598 Ports on west coast of Scotland 128,147 134,038 38,909 42,477 Total from Scotland 255,243 240,303 60,777 63,075 Irish ports 6 — 4,441 4,210 Total from United Kingdom 1,637,633 1,704,977 188,184 212,147 L’st week’s prices. 17/9-18/ 17/ -17/6 16/6-16/9 15/6-15/9 8/9- 9/ 8/ - 8/3 7/6- 7/9 9/ 12/9-13/3 13/6-13/9 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/9-20/ 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ Last year’s prices. 19/3-20/ 18/9-19/3 18/ -18/6 17/3-17/9 14/ -14/6 13/ -13/3 12/6-12/9 14/3-14/6 16/ -16/3 15/9-16/ 18/9-19/ 17/6-18/ 22/ -23/ 27'/ -28/ 29/ -31/ IRON. Local conditions of the iron and steel trades show no material alteration since last week. Business passing is still of a hand to mouth character, buyers attempting to squeeze further concessions, while manufacturers express the conviction that the b( ttom has been reached, and show no inclination to make fmther reductions. At bar and rail mills work continues fairly satisfactory with current orders, with quotations steady at last figures. Pig iron is inclined to be firmer, and with a better enquiry. Business in tin plates has slackened off considerably, with little enquiry now on the market. Mills are now showing more anxiety regard- ing orders for the second half of the year, and values have a downward tendency. Latest approximate quotations are as follows :—Steel rails—heavy sections, L6 10s.; light sections, L6 15s. to’ T7. Tin plate bars—Bessemer steel, £4 10s. to £4 11s. 3d. ; Siemens steel, £4 Ils. 3d. to £4 12s. 6d. Tinplates, I.C. 20 by 14 by 112—Bessemer primes, 12s. 10Jd. ; Siemens, 13s. Finished black plate, T9 10s. per ton. Pig iron—Welsh haematite, 66s. 6d. to 67s. 6d., ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ delivered in the district. Cardiff. COAL. Although there is not much change in prices at present, the Welsh coal trade is in a lethargic condition, which is to be accounted for by the determined efforts of buyers, and more particularly of middlemen, to bear the market. Buyers are keeping off as much as possible before covering themselves for business which they have already entered into without having purchased. As has been stated before in these columns, one of the principal markets for South ___________________________________________________________ Wales coal, especially of the best descriptions, is Italy, and it is interesting to note that during the past six weeks there have been daily a large number of free berths available, both at Genoa and Savona, on some days amounting to 24 out of a total of 40. This goes to show that imports are on a small scale, and there is every reason for concluding that consumers are adopting a hand-to-mouth policy, and that stocks are at a very low ebb. In addition to this, there is no question that a large number of Italian steamers are laid up owing to a dispute with regard to wages, and the addition of about 140 to 150 Spanish steamers, whose officers have struck work, has limited bunker consumption, but this applies more particularly to second grade coals. Notwith- standing the large number of boats laid up, freights have been influenced to a very small extent, which is an indica- tion that at the present time the tonnage available is in excess of the world’s trade requirements. Home freights on all sides are very low. At present most of the collieries continue to be busy, but a certain amount of disquietude is evident in consequence of the small amount of chartering that is taking place, although here again the total is undoubtedly considerably larger than is reported, as numbers of fixtures take place which are not, for private reasons, disclosed. Last week the reported amount of tonnage taken up was 219,270 tons, compared with 277,650 tons in the previous six days, or a decrease of 58,380 tons. As a matter of fact, the trade is not showing anything like the expansion which was noticeable last year, and to all intents and pur- poses it may be said that no improvement at all has taken place during 1914. This statement is borne out by the tonnage of foreign clearances, which amount to 10,562,983 tons from the four principal ports of the Bristol Channel. In the corresponding period of 1913 the total vessels cleared foreign represented 10,532,868 tons, and there were not included any figures for Port Talbot, which this year is represented by over half-a-million tons, so that practically speaking the trade as represented by the foreign clearances is about half-a-million tons less than last year. Shipments from Cardiff last w’eek amounted to 400,308 tons, or an increase of 21,270 tons compared with last year. At New- port there was a decrease of 9,196 tons, at Swansea an increase of 4,136 tons, and at Port Talbot an increase of 765 tons. Prices remain fairly firm, and in one or two instances 20s. is still being quoted both for this and next month. Speaking generally, however, from 19s. 3d. to 19s. 9d. would be considered the market quotation. It is understood that the Russian Government are still enquiring ____________________ for best coal, but are deferring placing the order in the hope that by waiting they may be able to obtain more favourable terms. It is also rumoured that the Greek Government will likewise be in the market within the next few weeks. Amongst other new enquiries is one by the Great Northern Railway Company of Ireland, who have invited tenders for 55,000 tons or 110,000 tons of locomotive coals for delivery at the rate of 2,100 tons per week commencing in July. Tenders have to be lodged by the 27th inst. The London County Council are also in the market for about 165,000 tons of steam coal for tramway purposes. Tenders have to be in by the 19th inst., and it is considered that Welsh coal will be taken. There are also several other inquiries for small quantities of steam nuts, etc., for Fulham, Hamp- stead, Leyton, and Southwark. From conversations with prominent salesmen on ’Change it appear* that very little business has been contracted for beyond the end of the pre- ciation, spoke to the boys, and, pointing out the gravity of the position, told them that the Association were deter- mined to support the management as far as possible to pre- vent a repetition, and that whatever steps the company took, the boys would get no assistance from the Association. A deputation was selected at that meeting to meet the manage- ment, and the interview has resulted in the re-opening of the pit. The Associated House Coal Owners of the Forest of Dean met last week at Cinderford the members of the wages com- mittee, w’ho represent the workmen, and discussed the situ- ation generally. It was pointed out that fuel in the Mid- lands had gone down Is. to Is. 6d. per ton, and the fact that the local house coal demand had very considerably slackened off was generally conceded. A day or two a week had been lost at most collieries for several weeks past, and it was urged that a reduction in prices was imperative, otherwise there was a prospect of extensive and serious loss of trade the summer through. After full discussion it was agreed to reduce fuel Is. per ton, workmen’s wages going down 5 per cent., the reduction to date from the beginning of the week. The steam coal owners also notified all their workpeople that wages at the steam coal collieries would be reduced to the same extent, dating also from the 4th inst. On Monday evening Mr. G-. H. Rowlinson, the trade union agent for the Forest coalfield, addressed the workmen at Norchard Steam Coal Colliery at Lydney. The agent stated that whilst the reduction as it affected the house coal colliers was quite in order, it was not so with regard to the 3,000 steam coal workers. Immediately they got to know that it was proposed that the reduction was to be general, the workmen’s representatives held counsel, and eventually a meeting with the Associated Steam Coal Owners was held. On Saturday evening they reached a decision on the matter, the effect of which w*as that the notices as it affected the steam coal men were withdrawn, but the reduction would begin to take effect as and from May 18. Scotland. It is understood that the Scottish coalmasters are about to make a claim for a reduction in miners’ wages to the extent of 25 per cent, on the 1888 basis. A 25 per cent, reduction is equivalent to Is. .per day, and if the claim is wholly con- ceded the new wage will be 6s. 3d. per day. The claim is based partly on prices realised in March. Iron, Steel, and Engineering Trades. A reduction has taken place in the W’ages of the men employed at the works of the Barrow Steel Company. The wages of the melters, tappers, pitmen, ladle hands, daubers, slaggers, and Siemens furnace hands have been reduced by 5 per cent. The gas producer hands, putting up charges, and ore discharging men at the Siemens furnaces have had their rate reduced by 2J per cent., and in the slabbing mill and both plate mills the men’s wages have been reduced by 5 per cent. The conference on the hours question which took place at the offices in London of the Engineering Employers’ Federa- tion did not come to any decision. The parties fully exchanged views on the subject of a 48 hours week “ with- out any reduction of wages,” and at the close of the pro- ceedings the representatives of the press were informed that ,no definite decision had been arrived at. The report of the men’s delegates will be submitted to the annual meeting at Nottingham on May 21 to 22 of the Federation of Ship- building and Engineering Trades. The result of the ballot taken by the Boilermakers’ Society on the question of the proposed working agreement with the Shipwrights’ Association has now been issued. The voting was :—For, 4,151; against, 956; majority in favour, 3,195. The members of the Boilermakers’ Society have agreed to a levy for political jiurposes, the voting being:—For, 4,684; against, 4,316; majority in favour, 368. The following was the destination of cargo ship- ments :— To ports in Mal£h 1913’ Mar<* 1914' 1 Tons. Tons. England and Wales...... 1,179,728 ... 1,169,171 Scotland................ 97,529 ... 103,335 Ireland ................ 360,376 ... 432,471 Shipments to London totalled 708,188 tons. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 14. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. There is nothing very special to report this week in refer- ence to the coal trade of this district. In respect to house coal, at some sidings there are small stocks accumulating, which has caused a slight easing in prices. This hardly applies to orders for single truck loads, but for good spot lot orders of fair tonnage concessions have been made by sellers. Steam coal is still in good demand, and good sup- plies are being sought and given against existing contracts; in some cases a qiiantity of house coal is being diverted into this class of trade. The average tonnage has been supplied on account of gas coal contracts, though matters are not particularly brisk in this department, and the question of the settlement of new contracts seems to be progressing but slowly, as up to now very few have been settled. Slack is to be obtained at fairly cheap rates, prices varying accord- ing to the quality of the small coal. Local gas works do not appear to have a very large call for their coke, which still remains at the prices which have been quoted for a considerable time past. The current prices for the various grades of fuel are as below :— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r.:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 15/6-16/3 14/6-15/9 15/ -16/ Secondary do 14/6-15/3 13/6-14/3 14/ -15/ Steam coal 12/3-13^6 12/6-13/6 12/9-13/9 Gas coal 13/ -14/ 13/ -13/9 13/6-14/6 Bunkers 12/ -12/6 12/3-12/6 12/6-13/6 Nuts 12/ -12/9 11/ -12/ 11/ -12/ Slack 6/ - 8/ 6/6- 8/ 6/6-9/6 Gas coke| (at works) Prices landsale 13/4-15/ 13/4-15/ 15/ -16/8 Best house coal 18/4-20/ 18/4-20/ 18/4-20/ Seconds 16/8-17/6 16/8-17/6 17/6-18/4 Slack 13/4-15/ 10/ 12/6 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. For the whole of the past week the steam coal market has shown but a dull tone, little business being done, but a restricted and apathetic enquiry in all departments. To depict the cause of these condition is not at all easy, but there is no doubt that the Spanish shipping strike, and the labour troubles at Genoa have both affected the position. Although to-day’s quotations rule easier than last week’s, these are more generally offers of middlemen than of col- lieries, for the latter seem more disposed to adhere to their last figures, or else to await developments. Small coals have maintained their relative values better than large, being