Mat 29, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1193 reported that the men employed at the Howley Park and the Thornhill collieries, in the West Yorkshire district, were still on strike, and it was decided to appeal to the branches of the district to support them to the fullest possible extent. A mass meeting of the men and boys employed at the Elsecar Main Colliery was held on Tuesday, to hear the result of negotiations with the management respecting a settlement of the minimum wage. Councillor T. Tomlinson reported that the demands of the deputation were met with the production by the management of an agreement signed by the joint board on May 14, the existence of which the local deputation had at the time no knowledge. That agree- ment, said Mr. Tomlinson, made it impossible for a collier at the Elsecar collieries to get more than 7s. 8d. per day minimum, trammers 7s., leading by-workers 6s. 6d., and other by-workers os. 6d. In many cases this was a reduc- tion—in the case of trammers a reduction of 5d. per day—on the amount which had been paid before the strike. A vote of censure was carried on the officials for taking it upon themselves to sign the agreement without consulting the men. Mr. J. G. Hancock, M.P.. the agent, reported at the monthly meeting of the Notts Miners’ Association on Satur- day afternoon the result of the conference which had taken place between representatives of the association and the Midland Counties Coal Owners’ Association regarding cer- tain grievances of which the workers were complaining. The officials were instructed to seek a further interview with the owners at their earliest possible convenience. It was decided that a letter should be sent to Capt. Tomasson, Chief Constable of Notts, calling his attention to the undue interference by the police in the strike at the Pinxton coke oven works. In consequence of a circular received from the Kent coalfield, where men are on strike, a resolution was passed recommending Notts men not to seek work in that part of the country during the dispute. The strike of colliery tradesmen in the Manchester, Bolton, Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton, Westhoughton, and Wigan areas terminated on Thursday, 21st inst., when the men resumed work on the old terms. At meetings of members of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation, held last week-end, resolutions were adopted in favour of renewing (with certain amendments, particularly as regards the minimum wage) the Minimum Wage Act next year. Last week-end, at specially convened meetings the officials of the Lancashire and Cheshire Colliery Firemen’s Federa- tion and the Manchester and District Colliery Firemen’s Association, recommended their members to amalgamate the two unions. Scotland. The Scottish Coal Trade Conciliation Board met in. Glasgow on Monday, to consider an application by the coal owners for a reduction of miners’ wages to the extent of 25 per cent, on “ the 1888 basis,” equivalent to about Is. per day. At the beginning of the year the average wage of Scottish miners was about 7s. 6d. per day. In the interval there has been a reduction of 3d. per day, leaving the average at 7s. 3d. This reduction was made in an award by Lord Balfour as neutral chairman in a sitting held to consider a previous application by the owners for a reduction of the same amounts as that now claimed. On that occasion the owners based their claim partly on the reduced selling price of coal, and also on the increased costs of production in the industry. Lord Balfour’s award limited the reduction to 3d. per clay. The present application of the owners is based partly on selling prices and again partly, it is understood, on increased costs. So far as the latter basis of the claim is concerned, the miners are offering resolute opposition. Apart from this consideration, it is also known that the Scottish Aimers’ Federation is likely to resist any attempt to reduce wages over the Scottish coalfields below an average of 7s. per day. At the meeting of the Board the owners’ case was stated by Mr. Adam Nimmo, and Mr. Bobert Smillie, president ' of the Scottish Miners’ Federation, replied on behalf of the workmen. It was officially reported that the parties had failed to agree, and that the sitting was adjourned till Monday, June 8. As a ret nit of a ballot of the men employed at the Fife Coal Conq iny’s Lena Pit, Kirkcaldy, taken last week, it was agreei 1 that the notices be lodged with a view to securing payment of wages every alternate Friday. A strike has been averted by the company having intimated acquiescence in the request of the men. Union of Miners and Transport Workers. A meeting of the joint committee, representing the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, the National Union of Bailway- men, and the Transport Workers’ Federation met at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, this week, to arrange the basis of co-operative action bet wen the three unions in trade disputes affecting wTages, hours and conditions of service. The committee sat for a period of nearly six hours, and at the adjournment Mr. Bobert Smillie reported to the press that the committee had at their meeting that day drafted a scheme as an outcome of the resolution of the joint conference, and that this scheme will be submitted to a further joint conference of the three bodies, to be held in London, on June 4. Our correspondent states that the scheme which has been provisionally drafted for the consideration of the full executives of the three organisations provides that whenever any one of the three organisations is threatened with a dis- pute as to wages, hours or working conditions, or whenever agreements for the regulation of wages for a period of time are under consideration it shall be in a position to call, through the joint secretaries, a meeting of the three executives to decide what action, if any, shall be taken by the other trade unions in support of the union affected. This draft scheme will be considered by the three executives next week for their approval or amendment, and when accepted will be submitted to a general conference of the three trade unions concerned. Though the complete basis of the agreement between the three unions for defensive and offensive purposes in trade disputes is not likely to take place for some months, a long stride forward has been made in the way of trade union consolidation and joint action. The object of those who originally brought forward the proposal was frankly syndicalist : the paralysing of industry by the combination of miners, railwaymen and transport workers to force the demands of those w’orkers. The members of the three executives and of the joint committee disclaim any such intention in the preparation of a scheme of co-operative action. They contend that a combination of the three organisations may be effective, not only in protecting the interest of their own members, but in the prevention of strikes. The posi- tion of the executive in matters of disputes would be con- sultative, and any decision as to a general strike would only be taken on a ballot of the men as is now the case. THE WELSH COAL AMD IROM TRADES. Thursday, May 28. Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. Being' the week before the holidays, there has naturally been a quiet time in the coal trade. For this week’s ship- ments matters have been nearly all arranged, only a few small parcels being required to complete cargoes, and for beyond the stoppage neither buyers nor sellers seem at all eager to enter into engagements. There are a few enquiries for next month about—and of a substantial nature too—and after the vacation we shall soon see whether these will crystallise into sufficient actual business to improve the present position of collieries. With business as at present described, all prices are more or less nominal, any little difference shown being rather in favour of eastern-valleys coals. There is little alteration in the coke or patent fuel trades, but pitwood, although better supplies have come along, is in good request, with prices a little firmer. In the freight market outward chartering- has not been brisk, rates showing- but little alteration in any direction. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 21 per cent. Current Steam coals :— prices. Best Black Vein large.. J 17/ -17/< Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y 16/6—171 Best Eastern-valleys 1 ’ ~ Secondary do. Best small coals Secondary do. Inferior do. Screening’s..... Through coals ... Best washed nuts Other sorts:— Best house coal... Secondary do. ... Patent fuel .... Furnace coke.... Foundry coke ... L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/3 15/ -15/6 8/3- 8/6 12/3-12/9 13/ -13/3 prices. 19/6-19/9 19/ -19/3 18/ -18/3 17/ -17/6 13/3-13/6 12/3-12/9 11/9-12/ 13/6 15/6-15/9 15/3-15/6 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/6-20/ 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 21/ -23/ 27/ -28/ 29/ -31/ 16/ -16/6 15/3-15/6 8/3- 8/6 7/9- 8/ 8/6 12/3-12/9 12/9-13/ ! 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/6-20/6 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ IRON. There is no improvement in the local conditions of the iron and steel trades. Only a very little enquiry is coming along and what business has taken place has been only of a hand-to-mouth nature. Prices in most departments are down on the week. At bar mills work is fairly good, but most works will be closing down for the whole of Whitsun week. Prices are steady at last figures. Imports of foreign bars for last week total well over 13,000 tons, quotations from the Continent remaining unaltered. The rail depart- ment continues very dull, with bu;b little enquiry. Although blastfurnaces continue fairly busy, the trend of prices is downwards. There is no change to report in tinplates, and no chance of improvement here for a long time to come. The demand is poor, and those orders which are being placed cause keen competition. Quotations are down on the week, latest ruling values being found as follow:—Steel rails : heavy sections, £6 10s. to <£6 15s.; light sections, <£6 15s. to <£7. Tinplate bars : Bessemer steel, £4 10s. to £4 Ils. 3d.; Siemens steel, £4 Ils. 3d. to £4 12s. 6d. Tinplates, 20 x 14 x 112 .- Bessemer primes, 12s. 6d to 12s. 71d.; Siemens primes, 12s. 7|d. to 12s. 9d. Finished black plate, <£9 10s. Pig iron : Welsh haematite, 65s. delivered locally. Cardiff. COAL. As indicated last week, the depression which then existed on this market proved to be only of a temporary character, and during the last few days there has been a decided turn for the better. Tonnage is offering in greater abundance, and at lower rates, with the result that chartering is on the increase. The amount of reported tonnage taken up last week was 326,800 tons, compared with 298,230 tons in the preceding six days, or an increase of 28,570 tons. Speaking generally, collieries are very busy, and prices much firmer Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 19/9-20/ 19/ -19/3 17/9-18/ 10/9-11/ 10/6 9/ 7/ -8/ 17/6-18/6 15/9-16/6 16/ 15/ 15/ 13/9-14/ 11/6-11/9 17/6 16/9-17/ 16/3 15/3-15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6-18/ 15/ 12/ -12/6 13/6-13/9 11/9-12/ 9/9-10/ 21/ 19/ -20/ 28/ -29/ 22/ -25/ 17/ -19/ 21/6-22/ L’st week’s prices. 19/3-19/6 18/9-19/ 17/6-17/9 11/ 10/6-10/9 8/6- 8/9 7/ - 8/ 17/6-18/6 15/9-16/6 16/ 15/ 14/ -14/3 13/ -13/3 11/6-11/9 17/3 16/9 16/ -16/3 15/6-16/ 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 -18/ 15/6 12/ -12/6 13/9-14/ 11/6-11/9 9/9 ‘ 21/ 19/6-20/ 28/ -29/ 22/ -25/ 19/ 21/6 Last year’s prices. 22/6-23/ 22/ -22/3 20/ -21/ 14/3-14/6 13/9-14/ 13/ -13/3 11/9-12/ 21 1-21/6 18/ -18/6 17/6 16/6 16/ 15/ 15/ 20/ -20/3 19/6-20/ 19/6-19/9 18/ -18/3 19/6 17/6 18/ 17/ 15/9-16/ 17/ 15/6 13/6 26/ 24/ 32/ 29/ -30/ 25/ 22/6 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 Bhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through Small No. 2 Bhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) both for prompt and forward shipment. For June 21s. is being strongly quoted, and there is every prospect of this figure being paid, if not an even higher one. Of course, this applies only to the best Admiralty coal, of which there is a comparatively small quantity to be obtained direct from the collieries, although doubtless there is a considerable proportion in the hands of middlemen. Here again, however, there is nothing like what is usual, as the contracts made during last autumn were on a much less extensive scale compared with former years. The result is that with regard to present conditions, the demand is not only good, but increasing, and it is not improbable that there will be a scarcity of supplies in the near future. The colliers are taking three days’ holiday at Whitsuntide, and the coal trimmers have also decided not to work on Whit Tuesdav, so that shipments will be to some extent retarded. It is not likely that full outputs will be obtained for some days, especially if the fine weather continues, and the men will soon begin to take their regular summer holidays, which in view of the high wage rate now prevailing are certain to be of a prolonged nature. The Turkish contract for 30,000 tons of Welsh coal has been secured by Messrs. Hugo Stinnes, and although the price has not been disclosed, it is reported to be on a very satisfactory basis. The greater portion of the coal, which is said to be a good second-class Admiralty, is to be shipped during June. It is reported that the Greek Government will also be in the market shortly for further- supplies, and tenders are being invited by the Paris and Orleans Bailway for supplementary quantities. The Italian demand is once more increasing. As has been previously stated in these columns, the stocks at the various depots are much depleted, and merchants naturally are not inclined to make extensive purchases with prices at their present high level. The London Port Authority have just come into the market for their annual requirements. Tenders are invited for about 290,000 tons of various descriptions of coals, of which about 100,000 tons are Welsh, and deliveries are to be made in comparatively small quantities at various depots. Now that the Spanish strike has been practically settled, rates of freight are once more on the down grade, and on Monday last Genoa was fixed at 7s. 6d., with a prospect of even lower figures, in which case the reduction will most probably be reflected in the advance on the price of coal, Shipments last week were fairly well maintained. At Cardiff the exports were 363,484 tons, compared with 324,556 tons in the corresponding period of last year, or an increase of 38,928 tons. Two other ports, however, showed a decrease, Swansea being down 13,882 tons, and Port Talbot 6,360 tons. At Newport, however, there was an improvement of 37,019 tons. The following table shows the quantity of coal ex- ported from the chief Bristol Channel ports to the principal foreign countries and British possessions for the first four months of the year, with the increase or decrease respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year. I ’our months, 1914. Tons. Increase. Tons. Decrease Tons. Bussia 43,977 ... — . 24,619 Sweden 43,685 ... 42,361 ... . 47,363 Norway 1,805 ... Denmark 10,894 ... — 379 Germany 80,878 ... — . 16,862 Netherlands 23,753 ... — . 20,124 Java Other Dutch posses- 6,251 ... — 215 sions in Indian Seas 16,320 ... . 10,884 .. — Belgium 125,605 ... — . 69,367 France 2,599,958 ... 203,182 ... — Algeria 221,334 ... — . 63,118 French Somaliland .. 21,521 ... — . 6,547 Beunion (Bourbon) 5,498 ... 688 .. . — Portugal 270,452 ... — . 6,523 Azores 12,530 ... , 2,390 .. — Madeira 36,662 ... — . 11,150 Spain 462,019 ... 15,763 .. — Canary Islands 202,008 ... — . 71,005 Italy 1,801,845 ... . 4,837 .. . — Austria-Hungary ... 66,257 . —- . 100,548 Greece 127,431 ... . 23,167 .. — Bulgaria 30,367 ... . 30,367 .. — Boumania ’ 61,225 ... 39,467 .. — Turkey (European) 70,062 ... 48,630 .. . — „ (Asiatic) ... Tunis 50,351 ... 34,059 ... , — 43,854 ... — . 14,002 China 4,935 ... — 830 Mexico 952 ... — . 9,910 Peru 13,380 ... 8,168 ... — Chile 110,209 ... — 70,930 Brazil 403,850 ... — 236,744 Uruguay 204,282 ... — 3,131 Argentine Bepublic 1,147,944 ... 57,949 ... — Channel Islands 23,772 ... 5,932 ... — Gibraltar 107,332 ... 17,762 ... — - Malta and Gozo 139,393 ... — 129,306 Cape of Good Hope Anglo - Egyptian 18,892 ... 6,140 ... — Sudan Mauritius and De- 20,225 ... 20,225 ... — pendencies Aden and Dependen- 3,116 ... — 9,505- cies 63,412 ... 44,122 ... 21,337 ... 1,479 ... British India Straits Settlements — and Dependencies including Labuan 16,072 ... 8,719 ... — Ceylon and Depen - dencies 113,211 ... 47,184 ... — Wei-hai-Wei — — 5,807 Hong Kong 7,890 ... — 20,020 Bermudas British West India 5,525 5,525 ... — Islands 7,690 ... 7,323 ... — Falkland Islands ... 1,183 ... — 3,922 West Africa (British) 45,144 ... .3,700 ... — „ (French) 40,239 ... — 18,042 „ (Portuguese) 53,319 ... — 57,915 With regard to prices, current quotations for prompt busi- ness are on the basis of 19s. 9d. to 20s. for best Admiralties,, with a demand for 21s. for June shipment. Superior second- class Admiralties command 19s. to 19s. 3d., and ordinary qualities 17s. 9d. to 18s. The firmness in Welsh steams has not been reflected in Monmouthshire varieties, which are barely steady. Black Veins are 17s. 6d., Western Valleys