October 2, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 72? been obtained within the last few days for prompt ship- ment, though for large quantities for delivery ahead no doubt this price would be somewhat modified. In fact‘ business has been done as low as 21s., and middle men are reported to have accepted even less for cash against documents. Superior second Admiralties command 20s. to 20s. 6d., and ordinary qualities, which are rather more plentiful, have been dealt in at 17s. 6d. to 18s. It is still difficult to do business with customers abroad, as every transaction has to be submitted to the Admiralty agents before negotiations are actually concluded, as it is needless to state that their requirements must first of all be satisfied. The demand for Monmouthshire coals has been quiet, and, with stocks accumulating, quotations have had a distinct tendency to easiness. Best Black Veins do not command more than 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d., western-valleys 16s. 9d. to 17s. 3d., and easterns 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. The small coal market is decidedly firmer, best bunkers having improved considerably. These are now realising 7s. 9d. tp 8s. 3d., ordinaries 7s. 3d. to 7s. 6d., and cargo sorts, which are still rather on the easy side, 5s. 6d. to 6s. 6d. per ton. Bituminous coals are dull, but there is practically no alteration in quotations, No. 3 Rhondda large being still offered at 17s. 6d., and No. 2 at 14s. 3d., with other grades in proportion. The coke market is steady, and there is an improving demand, particularly from the Midlands. Some ovens during the past week have been working 12 hours a day. Special foundry' coke is 27s. to 30s., ordinary 22s. to 25s., and furnace 18s. to 19s. The pitwood trade is improving, and shipments last week reached a total of 25,866 tons. Of this quantity, the Crown Company despatched from Cardiff and Port Talbot 11,841 tons, and Swansea 12,802 tons. Best brands are now quoted at 18s., and secondary qualities are at 16s. to 17s. per ton. Arrivals of pitwood have been on a more satisfactory scale, and the shortage of wagons has had the effect of considerably reducing prices, which are now on the basis of 21s. to 22s. per ton. During the last few days there has been an enquiry on the market by the Danish State Railways for 100,000 tons of coal. In former years a portion of this business has gone to Monmouthshire, but owing to the high prices now prevailing it was felt that the contract in this instance would go to the north. As a fact, orders for 40,000 tons have been placed in Northumberland, and the balance of 60,000 tons has gone to Scotland. The following table shows the exports of coal from the four principal Bristol Channel ports to foreign countries and British possessions during the eight months ended September, together with the increase or decrease respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year :— Eight months, e nded August 1914. Tons. Increase. Tons. Decrease. Tons. Russia 359,535 ... — . 21,195 Sweden 117,302 ... — . 39,346 Norway 99,116 ... 26,725 .. — Denmark (including Faroe Islands) ... 30,233 ... 6,726 .. — Germany 174,423 ... — . 29,575 Netherlands 57,574 ... — . 27,889 k Java 13,612 ... — . 6,799 Other Dutch posses- sions in Indian Seas 23,327 ... 10,879 .. — Belgium 225,003 ... — . 112,345 France 4,653,337 ... — . 211,394 Algeria 402,344 ... — . 121,273 French Somaliland... 33,235 ... — 50 Madagascar 14,812 ... 9,084 .. — Reunion (Bourbon) 5,498 ... 688 .. — Portugal 500,913 ... — . 49,647 Azores 15,796 ... 3,404 .., — Madeira 50,618 ... — . 44,001 Spain 871,873 ... 14,512 — Canary Islands 327,632 ... — 159,886 Italy 3,438,199 ... — 155,015 Austria-Hungary ... 127,749 ... — 108,109 Greece 247,427 ... 40,652 ... — Bulgaria 63,238 ... 63,238 ... — Roumania 183,535 ... 93,317 ... — Turkey European 107,765 ... 51,800 ... — „ Asiatic ... 162,595 ... 9,757 ... — Egypt 1,259,905 ... — 6,817 Tripoli 8,035 ... 5,025 — Tunis 110,143 ... — 2,230 China (inclusive of Hong Kong, Macao and leased terri- tories) 4,935 ... — 3,756 Mexico 1,326 ... — 7,742 Peru 12,718 ... 4,021 ... — Chile 221,983 ... — 119,456 Brazil 743,021 ... — 376,651 Uruguay 388,518 ... — 41,817 Argentine Republic 1,956,075 ... — 164,782 Channel Islands 45,087 ... 4,222 ... — Gibraltar 147,984 ... — 5,452 Malta and Gozo 231,928 ... — 157,329 Sierra Leone 22,985 ... — 7,937 Gold Coast 5,530 ... 3,502 ... — Protectorate of Nigeria 36,703 ... — 200 Cape of Good Hope 25,443 ... — 5,380 Anglo - Egyptian Sudan 32,189 ... 32,189 ... — Mauritius and De- pendencies 12,454 ... — 13,640 Aden and Dependen- cies 96,725 ... — 8,023 British India 89,125 ... 13,575 ... — Straits Settlements and Dependencies including Labuan 16,707 ... — 1,007 Ceylon and Depen- dencies 195,055 ... 52,651 ... — Wei-hai-Wei — — 6,909 Hong Kong 10,366 ... — 28,873 Canada 10,060 ... 169 ’.. — Bermudas 10,530 .... 8,083 ... — British West India Islands 13,066 ... 9,706 ... — Falkland Islands ... 4,712 ... — 6,428 West Africa (French) 61,417 ..^ — 55,360 „ (Portuguese) 70,592 ... — 88,375 East Africa (Italian) 9,360 ... 4,059 ... — IRON. Although there has been an improvement in the shipment of tin-plates, the trade generally is far from satisfactory. Exports last week amounted to 37,902 boxes, and receipts from works 40,620 boxes. Stocks in the docks, warehouses and vans now amount to 228,521 boxes, compared with 225,803 boxes the preceding week, and 316,610 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Prices are rather on the easy side, Bessemer standard cokes being obtainable at 13s., and oil sizes at 13s. 3d. and 18s. 9d. respectively. Welsh tin-bars are firmer, and are still quoted at <£5 5s. for Siemens and <£5 2s. 6d. for Bessemer qualities. The demand, however, is rather disappointing, owing to the small amount of foreign trade in tin-plates which is now being done. In the galvanised sheet trade the recent orders placed by the Government have afforded much needed relief. The quantity is stated to amount to 100,000 tons, and of this a substantial amount has been placed in South Wales; 24-gauge corru- gateds for prompt shipment are offering at <£14 to =£14 5s. per ton. In the steel trade an Indian order for 3,000 tons of rails has been secured by Messrs. Guest, Keen, and Nettlefolds, and although a number of enquiries are on the market from various quarters of the globe, it is believed that owing to the war most of the business will go to America. Welsh pig iron is a shade easier, and is no^ quoted at 71s. 6d. to 72s. f.o.b. Large quantities of iron ore have recently been imported, but the market is sluggish. Best rubio is offering at 18s. 6d., seconds at 17s. to 17s. 3d., and Almeria at 18s. per ton. In scrap metals there is an improving tendency, and a substantial business is looked forward to during the autumn months. Heavy wrought scrap is 52s. 6d., steel scrap 57s. 6d., double-head^ Iron rails 65s., steel ditto 62s. 6d., mixed sections 55s., and new steel drop ends 62s. 6d. Llanelly. COAL. No change of any importance has taken place in the coal market, and collieries find it most difficult to keep pits at work, even half time. Shipments are improving quietly, and there has been a better demand from both France and Italy, but there is a big weakness noticeable in the demand for some qualities. There are considerable stocks on hand both in the “ await order sidings/" and on the pit tops, and prices are very much weaker and lower than they are at normal times. The colder weather should improve ’the demand from inland, but buyers would get prices much to their advantage if they ordered now. As a rule at this time of the year Red Vein large and cobbles are firm, and collieries are able to get good figures, but at the moment they will not refuse any reasonable offer for prompt delivery. Beans and peas are in good request, but nuts, except French sorts, rubbly culm and duff are in demand. There is not the least improvement in the demand for steam and bituminous coals, and only large kinds are firm. Bunkers and smalls are a glut on the market. This week’s quotations are:— Current Anthracite:— prices. Best malting large 21/ —23/ Secondary do. 19/ -21/ Big Vein large 16/ -18/ Red Vein do 13/6-14/ Machine-made cobbles... 20/ -22/ German nuts 21/ -23/ French do 21/ -23/ Paris do 21/ -23/ Machine-made beans ... 20/ -22/ Do. peas 13/6-14/6 Culm 5/ - 5/6 Duff 3/9- 5/6 Other sorts:— Large steam coal 16/ -18/ Through-and-through... io/ -10/6 Small 8/6- 9/6 Bituminous small coal... 11/ -11/6 L st week s Last year's prices. 21/ -23/ 19/ -21/ 16/ -18/ 13/6-14/ 20/ -22/ 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 20/ -22/ 13/6-14/6 6/ - 6/3 3/9— 5/6 16/ -18/ 11/ -11/6 8/6- 9/6 11/ -11/6 prices. 20/6-22/6 19/ -20/ 17/6-18/6 14/ -15/ 19/6-20/6 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 24/ -25/ 20/ -21/ 12/6-13/ 6/9- 7/3 5/ - 7/ 17/ -18/6 11/6-12/ 9/6-10/6 10/6-11/6 Swansea. COAL. During the past week the trade of the port showed further improvement compared with the preceding period. Both the coal and patent fuel trades were brisk ; the ship- ments amounted to 71,962 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change, and there was a slightly better tone in evidence on the anthracite coal market. Swansea Valley large was a little firmer, this being more particularly noted in the Genoa option brands. Red Vein large was still weak. Machine-made sizes were slightly improved, French nuts being in good request. Rubbly culm and duff were easy. In the steam coal trade large was in better demand, but smalls remained easy. Prices of coal f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). Current L'st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 21/6-24/ Secondary do. 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 19/ —20/ Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 17/ -18/ Red Vein large do. ... 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/9-14/6 Machine - made cobbles (net) 19/3-21/3 19/3—21/3 21/6-23/ Paris nuts (net) — — 23/6-26/6 French do. do 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 23/6—25/6 German do. do 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 23/6-25/6 Beans (net) 18/6-19/6 18/6—19/6 16/6—18/6 Machine - made large peas (net) 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 12/ -13/6 Do. fine peas (net) — — — Rubbly culm(less 2| p.c.) 4/ - 4/6 4/6- 5/ 6/3- 6/6 Duff (net) 3/ - 3/6 3/ - 3/6 4/3- 5/ Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 19/ -20/ Seconds do. 13/6-15/6 13/6-15/6 14/ -16/ Bunkers do. 10/3-11/ 10/3-11/ 11/3-12/3 Small do. 7/6- 9/ 7/6- 9/ 7/9- 8/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) — — 13/6-14/6 Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 10/3-10/9 10/3-10/9. 10/6-11/6 Patent fuel do 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 18/. -19/ IRON. The tin-plate works were engaged more satisfactorily last week, and the aggregate output showed an increase over the preceding week. Sheet mills, however, were still idle, and there was no sign of any business being done. Business was also unsatisfactory at some of the bar mills. The demand foT material did not equal the production in the steel trade, and the works were finding it increasingly difficult to keep doing. The blastfurnace at Landore, however, enjoyed exceptional activity. The Mannesmann Tube Works were actively engaged, and the engineering and fitting shops continued working as usual. The ship- ments of tin-plates were 37,902 boxes, receipts from works 40,620 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 228,521 boxes. TRADE AND THE WAR. Pitwood Commission to Visit Canada — Trade Relations . with Foreign Countries—British Cargo in Enemy Ships —Patent Fees—Trading with the Enemy : Strong Pro- test by the British Engineers' Association—Holland Prohibits Coal Exports—The Baum Patents—Exten- sion of the Moratorium—The Clearance of Debts— Cable Companies' Charges. The Board of Trade have arranged for a commission consisting of representatives of the Board of Trade, the Timber Trade Federation of the United Kingdom, and the Mining Association of Great Britain to proceed to Canada and Newfoundland in order to enquire into the possibility of opening up new sources of supplies of mining timber for use in the coal mines of Great Britain. Enquiries on the subject should be addressed to Mr. C. F. Rey, Board of Trade, Queen Anne's Chambers, Westminster, S.W. The members of the commission are as follow:-—Messrs. W. Windham and R. E. Gomme, representing the Board of Trade; Messrs. David Harrower and Norman Cummins, representing the Timber Trades Federation; and Mr. E. B. < Whalley, representing the Mining Association of Great Britain. In the trades compulsorily insured against unemploy- -. ment, viz., building, works of construction, engineering, shipbuilding, vehicle making, &c., the percentage of unemployment at September 25 was 5*7 <^s compared with 5*8 a week previously and 6*2 a month previously. These figures relate to the whole of the United Kingdom, and include all unemployed workmen in the insured trades. As regards the uninsured trades, the number of men and women on the registers of the Labour Exchanges at September 25 shows a slight decrease on the figures a week previously, being 66,831 as compared with 67,376. For men alone, the corresponding figures were 30,311 and 30,880; and for women 36,520 and 36,496. At the last monthly meeting of the Employers' Parliamentary Association, which was held in Manchester, . the president, Sir Charles W. Macara, Bart., in the chair, moved the adoption of the following resolution, which was carried unanimously : — - That the various interests — industrial, commercial, financial, transport, and labour— ought to co-operate with the Government in order to keep the industries of the country going as far as it is possible to do." It was also decided to assist members of the association under existing circumstances by the establish- ment of a temporary enquiry bureau, whereby members buying and selling goods could be placed in connection to their mutual advantage; arrangements in this connection were to be made whereby the scheme should be worked in co-operation with the one recently instituted by the Board of Trade. As regards our trade relationships with enemy countries, the following resolution was unanimously adopted :—“ That this committee strongly supports the opinion of the Association of Chambers of Commerce that the Government be urged to enter into negotiations with the Committee of Bankers with a view to the assets of manufacturers and merchants in the way of foreign book debts and stock being guaranteed against loss jointly by the Government and the banks." The questions of the advisability of the adoption of the Continental system of sending acceptances with invoices and of the existing arrangements with respect to war risks insurance were discussed. It was agreed that any alterations under either of these two heads were, at the present time, inadvisable. In response to numerous enquiries with regard to the procedure to be adopted by the Owners of British cargo in enemy ships in neutral ports in order to safeguard their interests the Board of Trade, on the recommendation of the Committee on Diverted Cargoes, offer the following suggestions and observations :— 1. The Foreign Office have issued instructions to British Consuls to give all possible assistance to British owners of cargo in enemy ships. 2. In the case of the sale or attempted sale of the cargo by the master of the ship it may be open to the owner of the cargo to obtain redress by legal proceedings in the local courts, and the owner of the cargo, if • he desires to take such proceedings, should, whenever practicable, instruct local agents to take the necessary steps. 3. If, in lieu of such action, the owner of the cargo desires to arrange for the delivery of the cargo itself, or of the proceeds, if the cargo has been sold, he should give a power of attorney to a local agent with authority to arrange for the transhipment or storage of the cargo, or to receive the proceeds. This transaction would probably involve the payment to the master of the ship of the freight and other charges. The Board of Trade, in pursuance Of their powers under paragraph 8 of the Trading with the Enemy Proclamation No. 2, dated September 9,1914, have decided that payments may be made by British subjects to the agents of enemy shipowners for the purpose of obtaining possession of their cargoes in neutral ports. The Board of Trade have given a general licence permitting all persons resident, or carrying on business, or being in the British Dominions, to pay any fees necessary for obtaining the grant, or for obtaining the renewal of patents, or for obtaining the registration of designs or trade marks, or the renewal of such registration in an “enemy country." And also to pay on behalf of any “enemy " any fees payable on application for or renewal of the grant of a British patent or an application for the registration of British designs or trade marks or the renewal of such registration.