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thE COLLIERY GUARDIaY.

October 2, 1914.

With reference to the recent correspondence regarding
the scarcity of arc lamp carbons, the Electrical Engineering
and Equipment Company Limited announce that their
works in Switzerland are working day and night, and they
are fully capable of executing orders for any quantity of all
kinds of arc-lamp carbons as heretofore.

The advisory committee of the Newcastle Chamber of
Commerce has expressed the opinion that matters in
dispute in regard to coal contracts, either by forward
contract or letters, should be met in an equitable rather
than a judicial spirit. The committee suggests that where
these matters in dispute cannot be readily disposed of they
should be subject to arbitration. The committee will be
glad to render any assistance in the appointment of
arbitrators.

The British Engineers* Association has issued a special
interim report on trading with the enemy, expressing
dissatisfaction at the Government’s policy which, it is
declared, will have a dangerous effect on British interests.
The association states that it has received over 200
communications from its members and from engineering
firms outside the association ; (a) asking for advice in
connection with trading with German and Austrian concerns
in this country ; (6) complaining of the injustice of the
Government’s attitude in not restricting or controlling
such firms in the conduct of their trade ; and (c) approving
the action taken by the council of the association in urging
the Government to reconsider its attitude in this respect.
Proceeding to explain the effect of the proclamation of
September 9, the council states that the proclamation
permits all people to trade with every German and Austrian
(whether naturalised as a British subject or not) residing
in Great Britain and elsewhere, except with those actually
residing in Germany or Austria, precisely as if Great
Britain were not at war with those countries. On account
of the dangerous effect of this policy the council has
addressed a protest to the British Government urging the
revision of the terms of the proclamation, so that, at all
events, certain Germans and Austrians in this country, and
more particularly (a) those who manufacture in Great
Britain and (b) those who act as agents for manufacturers
in Germany and Austria should be classed as “ enemies?*
The council holds the view that a controller appointed by
the High Court should be placed in charge of every
manufacturing concern in this country which is owned or
controlled by Germans or Austrians, so that no payments
can be made by such concerns to individuals or firms in
Germany or Austria. The council also holds the view that
all trading with German and Austrian agents in this
country should be prohibited. The council has formulated
a definition of the class of individuals and firm# located in
this country who in its opinion should be considered as
enemies, and with whom it is undesirable to trade. The
council has laid its definition before the Government. This
definition reads as follows: —‘‘Every German or Austrian
or group of Germans or Austrians resident in Great Britain
or in any other country, and every incorporated concern
registered in Great Britain or in any other country whose
capital, management or interests are wholly or prepon-
deratingly under German or Austrian influences is to be
regarded as an ‘ alien enemy * and irrespective of whether
such Germans or Austrians or the concerns controlled by
them are manufacturing in Great Britain or in any other
country, or whether they are not manufacturers irrespective
of whether the parties concerned have taken out papers of
naturalisation in Great Britain or in any other country
unless such parties can show that their act of naturalisation
was prompted by motives which are not detrimental to
British interests. The status of the parties concerned
shall be determined by their actual status on 1st June, 1914,
and no transference of shares, reconstruction of boards or
managements, changing of names or handing over of
businesses which may have taken place since that date
shall be recognised as affecting theis definition.** In
conclusion, it is stated that the association has collected
and filed particulars relating to the constitution of a
considerable number of firms in this country who have
interests in Germany and Austria, and has investigated,
and is open to investigate, the constitutions of firms whose
names are submitted by members.

The following announcement has appeared in the London
Gazette relating to dealings with the enemy :—Whereas by
paragraph 5 (1) of the Trading with the Enemy Proclama-
tion No. 2. dated September 9, 1914, the payment of any
sum of money to or for the benefit of any person or body of
persons resident in the territories of the German Empire or
in the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary or in the
respective colonies and dependencies thereof, in this
licence and in the said proclamation referred to as “ enemy
country,’* is prohibited; and whereas by paragraph 8 of
the said Proclamation it is provided that nothing in the
Proclamation shall be taken to prohibit anything which
shall be expressly permitted by the licence of a Secretary
of State, whether such licence be expressly granted to
individuals or be announced as applying to classes of
persons. Now I, the Right Honourable Reginald McKenna,
one of his Majesty*s Principal Secretaries of State, hereby
authorise such persons as may be empowered by the Lords
Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury in that behalf to
make such payments and to carry out such exchange
transactions for the benefit of persons resident in an enemy
country as their lordships may from time to time sanction,
or to receive payment of moneys from persons resident in
an enemy country in such cases as their lordships may
from time to time sanction.

The War Risks Insurance Office, established by the
Government for the insurance of cargoes against King’s
enemy risks, has been removed to 33-36, King William-
street, London.

Mr. William C. Delanoy, chief of the United States
Bureau of War Risk Insurance, has announced that the
Government has issued war insurance on 11 vessels, eight
plying between United States ports and ports in South
America, and three engaged in the European trade. The
total insurance carried on these 11 vessels was said to be
3,222,000 dols. The bureau also has pending war insurance
applications amounting to 3,000,000 dols. to be carried by a
fleet of eight vessels engaged in the European trade.

Before the Naval Prize Court on the 24th ult., the case
was heard of the German barque “ Carl,” owned by Elens-
burgs I 'empfschiff Company, of Flensburg, which was
seized in Cardiff by the Customs authorities on August 5,
with 2,769 tons of coal, consigned to Monte Video, and

belonging to Cory Brothers. The cargo had been released
on an indemnity given by Cory Brothers to satisfy claims
made by the consignees. Mr. Noad mentioned a claim by
the Cardiff Railway Company for dues and other claims,
and the president said he presumed that these charges
would continue to the end of the war. If the vessel were
to remain in dock the claim might go beyond the value of
the vessel. Counsel said the point would be met before
the question of any such mounting up was reached. The
dues in the case were comparatively small. An order was
made that the barque be detained until further order of
the Court.

Martial law has been proclaimed along the eastern
frontier of Holland. The principal reason for this is stated
to be that food and other goods on the prohibited list were
still being smuggled into Germany in large quantities.
The Dutch Goverment has prohibited the export of a large
quantity of goods, not only of food products, but of iron
ore, coal, coke, petroleum, and many other articles.

The trade in electrical plant and appliances is one in
which Germany was a formidable competitor, but according
to information just come to hand, vid Switzerland, it is
shown that, at the end of last month, the Allgemeine
Elektricitats Gesellschaft found it practically impossible to
ma^e any deliveries, export was quite interrupted, and the
electrical department was working on very short time.
Existing prices were withdrawn, and in many cases were
increased by 10 and 20 per cent. Other German firms have
been similarly affected.

British manufacturers and merchants wishing to obtain
a market in Sweden are invited to write to the secretary,
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in London (Incorporated),
5, Lloyds-avenue, London, E.C., in order to obtain names of
importers and advice on commercial conditions in Sweden.

The question of who should pay the war risk premium on
old contracts for delivery of goods abroad is a more thorny
one than might have been supposed. It has been considered
by the Emergency Committee of the Manchester Chamber
of Commerce, who take the view that each contract should
be considered on its merits.’

The application of Messrs, the Simon Carves Bye Product
Coke Oven Construction and Working Company Limited,
Manchester, for the suspension or avoidance in their favour
of the patents No. 5483, 1903, and No. 21897, 1904, (see
Colliery Guardian, September 18) which relate to conveyors
and hydraulic jigging machines, and are held by Fritz
Baum of Herne, Westphalia, was heard on Wednesday by
the Comptroller-General of Patents at the Patents Office.
Counsel on behalf of applicants explained that the latter
had been in the habit of importing the installations to
which the patents referred, from Herr Baum, and that at
the outbreak of the war they held contracts for the supply
of installations to the value of <£120,000. As these contracts
were time contracts, and as supplies from Germany were
now cut off, applicants desired the licence to manufacture
the conveyors in this country in order to fulfil their
obligations. They were quite willing, said counsel, to pay
a royalty at the direction of the Board of Trade, and
suggested 10 per cent, upon each installation, whether one
or both patents were used in the manufacture. The
installations, he stated, each cost <£150. Counsel for the
holder of the patent rights submitted that a 10 per cent,
royalty was not sufficient. Evidence was given as to the
nationality of the shareholders in the applicant company to
the effect that these were half English and half French.
The Comptroller-General said the court would consider the
application, and announce its decision later.

At the meeting of the Mawchi Tin and Wolfram Company
on Wednesday, Mr. Steinhardt (a member of the firm of
consulting engineers to the company) discussed the outlook
for the sale of the production of wolfram, the market for
which has heretofore been substantially confined to
Germany. He explained that, though some years ago a
factory for the extraction of tungsten—the metal contained
in wolframite—had existed in this country, all the tungsten
metal used in the manufacture of the so called self-
hardening tool steel, made by the steel makers of Sheffield,
now came from Germany. He had been associated with the
wolfram industry, both as a miner and as a metallurgist,
for some 12 or 15 years, and he, with his friends, had been
approached by the Sheffield steelmakers with a view to the
re-establishment of tungsten extraction in England. He
was happy to say that a factory would very shortly be
completed. The Government had also taken certain steps,
which he was not at liberty to disclose.

In connection with the scheme which the Board of Trade
have initiated for assisting British manufacturers and
traders to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by
the war for securing trade formerly in the hands of German
and Austrian or Hungarian rivals, it is notified that infor-
mation in regard to commercial and financial conditions and
openings for British trade in the above-mentioned countries
has been received at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of
the Board of Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, London, E.C.,
where the detailed reports may be inspected by United
Kingdom manufacturers and traders. H.M. Trade Commis-
sioners at Melbourne reports (August 12) that the financial
position of the country is strong, but there is a tendency to
restrict credit in trading to all but the first-class firms.
Some of the mines are taking steps to work short shifts,
and some may close down. None of the public works in
progress throughout the country is apparently being
affected. H.M. Trade Commissioner has furnished a detailed
statement showing the value of the imports from Germany
into the Commonwealth of Australia during 1913, which
may be inspected at the Commercial Intelligence Branch.
The officer in charge of H.M. Trade Commissioner’s Office in
Sydney reports (August 19) that in the future there must
be expected a severe check on the activity of the industrial
and commercial community in Sydney, and money is bound
to be scarce.

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in South Africa
reports (August 25) that there seems to be no doubt that
British trade in South Africa will receive an enormous
impetus as a result of the complications in Europe, although
it may be acknowledged that the immediate prospects of
trade are not of the best.

The Collector of Customs at Ceylon has forwarded a
statement showing the extent of the import and export
trade of Ceylon done with Germany and Austro-Hungary
respectively, together with a memorandum giving particulars
of German and Austrian goods which find a ready sale in
the colony.

The Imperial Trade Correspondent at Toronto reports
(September 9) that financial conditions generally in
Ontario are good. There are signs, however, that the
banks—as is perhaps natural under present disturbed
conditions—will not grant loans for any great extension of
factory operations, or for much new work of any nature. At
the same time, it appears to be a good period for a close
study of this market by those British houses desiring to do
business now and in the future. British firms should in all
cases quote strictly inclusive prices to Canadian buyers.
The Imperial Trade Correspondent has prepared memoranda
in regard to probable openings for chemicals and drugs,
&c., which may be seen at the Commercial Intelligence
Branch, as above.

The Governors of Sierra Leone, Trinidad, Jamaica, and
British Guiana have also forwarded detailed statements
containing statistics of the imports of German and, Austrian
goods into their respective colonies, and showing the extent
of the export trade from the colonies to Germany and
Austria-Hungary.	i

H.M. consul at Pernambuco forwards (September 5) a f
report, from which it appears that the political situation in
the State of Pernambuco has remained calm, in spite of the
financial crisis in Brazil and the disturbing influence of
the European war, and there is reason to hope that tran-
quility will be maintained.

Traders generally are protesting against the high cost of
cabling. On the outbreak of war the Government Censor
prohibited the use of codes in cabling, and also the use of
registered addresses. Complaints are now made that the
cable companies have made capital out of the situation.
“Deferred” messages which were in operation for plain
language cables at half rates were in most instances
promptly suspended. Plain language cables, with the full
name and address of the addressed and addressee, being
compulsory by the Government, were charged by the cable
companies at the full rate. A concession has been made by
some companies by which 10 plain words are charged as
one, but this does not meet the difficulties of firms dealing
in goods of a widely varying technical nature, for which
code words are specially prepared.

An important statement was made on Wednesday by
Sir Algernon Firth at a meeting of the Halifax Chamber of
Commerce. He said the Government had concluded it was
not wise to attempt to collect debts due to Germany and
Austria. They decided it was better to leave the money
owing to Germany and Austria in the hands of the people
in this country who had it, and let them use it in the mean-
time, while the Government confined their attention to
making advances on money due from Germany and Austria.
He had been in almost daily communication with Govern-
ment officials on this subject for several weeks. The
Government were fully alive to the importance of this, and
they knew it was absolutely necessary it should be done
before the moratorium came to an end on November 4. In
regard to the debts owing to and from the allied belligerent
countries, Sir Algernon said he thought it quite possible to
make arrangements for a clearing house of debts. The
British Government should collect what was owing by their
nationals, and should be prepared to pay out of the amount
collected what was due to their nationals. Also the
Government should stand behind the collection of these
debts at the end of the war. But if our Government saw
fit to class all foreign debts together, and offer traders
advances against the whole of them, he did not see that
anybody should object.

A special supplement to the London Gazette, issued on
Wednesday, contained the Proclamation varying the
Proclamations in respect of the postponement of payments,
dated August 2, 6, 12 and September 3. Payments other
than bills of exchange not being cheques or bills on demand
which fall within the general Proclamations and become
due and payable after October 3 and before November 4
will receive one month’s extension or one month’s further
extension, as the case may be. Payments falling due after
November 3 will not receive any extension. Bills of
exchange (other than cheques or bills on demand) accepted
before August 4, of which the original due date is after
October 3, will continue to receive one month’s extension
under the Bills (Re-acceptance) Proclamation of August 2.
Bills which have already received an extension under
previous Proclamations or receive an extension before
October 4 will be given a further extension of 14 days. It
is stated that it was originally intended not to prolong the
bill moratorium beyond October 4, but, in view of the
shortness of the time which this would have allowed for
setting up the machinery for dealing with the pre-
moratorium bills, a further 14 days’ extension is given.

Messrs. William Hodge and Company, London and
Edinburgh, announce for early publication “The Law of
Contract during War,” by Prof. W. F. Trotter of Sheffield
University. Besides dealing exhaustively in a practical
manner with this most important and embarrassing subject,
out of which are daily arising, and will continue to arise,
many complicated legal problems, the volume will contain
the text of the leading British and American cases, and the
recently passed Acts of Parliament and Orders in Council.

Pittsburg Meeting of American Mining Engineers.—The
autumn meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engi-
neers will be held in Pittsburg on October 8, 9, and 10.
Amongst the papers to be presented are the following :—

G.	S. Rice, “ Investigations of Coal Dust Explosions ” ;

H.	M. Chance, “ The Appraisal of Coal Lands for Taxa-
tion ”; J. Taffanel, “ Coal Dust Explosion Investigations”;
H. N. Eavenson, “ Coal Mine Explosions Caused by Gas or
Dust ”; H. A. Kuhn, “ The Pittsburg Coalfield in Western
Pennslyvania ”; R. S. Lewis, “ The Book Cliffs Coalfields,
Utah”; A. E. Gibson, ‘‘An Aerial Tramway for Mining
Cliff Coal ”; M. B. Yung, “ Tin and Coal Deposits of the
Fu Chuan District, China ”; J. P. K. Miller, “ The Manu-
facture of Coke”; D. T. Farnham, ‘‘Quarrying Shale by
the Tunnel System ”; S. S. Rumsey and W. F. Schwedes,
‘‘A Test of Centrifugal Motor-driven Mine Pumps”: O.
P. Hood, ‘‘ Gasoline Locomotives in Relation to the Health
of Miners ”: G. S. Rice and H. H. Clark, “ Shot-fifing in
Coal Mines by Electric Circuits from the Surface”; Har-
rison Souder, “ A New Safety Detonating Fuse.” There
will be general discussions on “ Gas and Oil Wells through
Coal Seams,” and ‘‘ The Use of Electricity in Mines.” the
latter under the direction of the Committee on the Use of
Electricity in Mines.