tiiE COLllERt GUARDIAN. October 16, 1914. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Miners’ Executive met at Cardiff on Monday, and a report was presented as to an interview which their deputa- tion had had with the President of the Local Government Board. It was represented by them to Mr. Herbert Samuel that a uniform payment should be made from the Prince of Wales’s Fund to the miners who are out of employment in South Wales in consequence of the war; and they said Mr. Samuel had sympathetically received them, and had pro- mised to lay their views before the Cabinet Committee. It is hoped that the reply from the committee will be received by Monday next, so that it can be considered at the further meeting of the executive immediately prior to the meeting of the Conciliation Board. A price list has been arranged for the Clydach Colliery, payment in the Yard seam to be 3s. per yard for cutting top. It was further reported at the monthly meeting of the Blaina district that about three-fourths of the men at No. 3 South Griffin pit had resumed work. The levy in support of those still idle continues, and they receive 15s. per week, with, Is. 6d. for each child. Coal trimmers at Newport Docks have been on strike because of a question as to the tariff applicable to three steamers; and when free labourers were imported there was risk of the whole of the trimmers at the docks also stopping. It was discovered, however, that the dock company being under the Government guarantee, a stoppage would not occa- sion pressure upon them; and the trimmers’ meeting decided to continue the strife against only the ship owners whose vessels were in dispute. North of England. A meeting of the council, of the Cumberland Miners’ Asso- ciation was held at Workington on Tuesday, Mr. J. Dickin- son presiding. The question of the agreement of April 13, 1908, as to wages was under consideration. Under thio agreement, it will be remembered, underground wages in Cumberland had to be 5 per cent, lower than those in the Midland Federation Board’s area in summer, and per cent, lower in winter. This agreement was suspended, arid on April 15 last it was agreed to continue its suspension so far as it related to the said percentages, and a 2| per cent, instead of a 5 per cent, reduction was agreed to for the summer. It was provided that a revision should take place on a month’s notice from either side. On Monday last the miners’ representatives, in view of the meeting of the Conciliation Board, which had been called at the request of the employers, favoured adhering to the later agreement, and the restoration of the 2 J- per cent, for the winter months. At a meeting of the Cumberland Coal Trade Conciliation Board, held at Workington on Tuesday, Mr. W. Graham presiding, it was decided to restore the 2J per cent, by which miners’ wages had been reduced since April 15, in the meantime, on the understanding that the employers should notify Mr. T. Cape as to their future attitude to the question in a day or two. A meeting of representatives of the Cleveland ironstone mine owners and of the Cleveland Miners’ Association was held at Middlesbrough on Monday, to consider the question of wages to be paid during the ensuing three months. It was agreed that wages be advanced by 0'25 (a quarter of one) per cent., from the 26th inst. This advance is the same as that conceded to the Cleveland blastfurnacemen. Mr. Wm. Straker, corresponding secretary to the North- umberland Miners’ Association, writes as follows in his monthly circular, just issued :—“ A very large number of the members of several of our branches must be in very straitened circumstances, the worst state of things being at Choppington (which is stopped altogether), Seaton Burn, and Pegs wood. In some mining districts the unions have not paid any out-of-work benefit to their members, the reason for this being, I am told, that, owing to strikes in recent years, their funds are low, and it is necessary to conserve what they have for strictly trade union purposes, always remembering that, without funds, workmen are weak, and cannot resist the action of employers, who may seize the opportunity this weakness affords to take from workmen that which they have gained by the strength of their trade unions. Not only this, but they know that whatever they might pay as out-of-work benefit would be counted against their members when seeking relief from national or county war distress committees. Thus the payment of such benefit to their members would not only be using funds primarily intended for other purposes which are, in the interests of, their members, absolutely necessary to be looked to, but it would be practically equal to handing over the whole of their resources to those national or county committees. We, on the other hand, adopted the more self-sacrificing policy, and have mortgaged all we have for the purpose of paying out-of-work benefit. Which policy will in the end prove the more beneficial time will show; certainly at the present time there is room for differences of opinion.” Federated Area. The meh employed at the Gatewen Colliery-, Wrexham, have come out on strike as a protest against the discharge of the under-manager, who has been employed there for a number of years. The dispute at the Askern Colliery has been settled, and work has since been resumed. It concerned the deputies, and arose through the colliery going on short time. Since the war the, face men have been put upon four days a week, but the deputies claimed that they should be paid the full rate, arguing that this was according to the rules of the South Yorkshire district. Mr. F. Hall, M.P., was appointed to see the management of the colliery, and a meeting of deputies was held at the Danum Hotel, Doncaster, towards the end of last week. As a result of this an amicable arrangement between masters and men was arrived at, and upon enquiry at the colliery offices next morning our corre- spondent was informed that the dispute had been settled, and that the pit would resume working as from Monday, 12th inst. Scotland. The miners of the Woodilea and Meiklehill collieries, Kirkintilloch, who had been out on strike for nearly a fort- night, have now resumed work. Originating over the dis- missal of a drawer, the dispute developed into one over the question of the contracting system, and work has been resumed on the understanding that the system will be abolished in a particular section of the mine within three months when necessary alterations have been made in the haulage arrangements. Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades. An example of how seriously some trade unions are being affected by the war is offered by the position of the Asso- ciated Ironmoulders of Scotland. It is among the oldest trade societies in Scotland, and has built up reserve funds of over <£50,000. During the past two months, however, it has been seriously affected by the payment of idle benefit, £5,000 having been expended in this way. The executive council have asked the members to agree to an increase in contributions. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 15. The London coal trade continues remarkably quiet for the season, and the market attendance shows a considerable falling off; the fact is everywhere patent that merchants are fully supplied with coal for all present demands, and until the public begin to order more freely they have a plentiful supply on hand to meet all emergencies. Some of the merchants report a slight improvement in the depot trade, and an increasing number of orders, but for the most part the depots are working slowly, and the general public are not ordering in anything like the steady demand usually experienced at this season of the year* Both the house coal market and the hard steam coal sections have experienced a set-back during the week, but with the increasing consumption of the ordinary domestic fuel the tone of the market is beginning to get more hopeful, and as the foggy season is now also rapidly approaching, the big gas com- panies are likely to have an increasing demand for gas, both by day and night, so that the heavy reserves of fuel may possibly soon diminish. The present quiet demand for house coal has led to a somewhat heavy holding on the part of factors, and in dealing with the coal to many of the smaller merchants they have frequently undersold the collieries. The continued onrush of so many qualities of slack and small nuts has depreciated the value of this class of coal considerably, and prices are now from 25 to 30 per cent, reduced as compared with three months ago, and, unfortunately, the depreciation is still going on. The stagnation of the cotton trade in Manchester, and the semi-darkness of all the streets, both in the Metropolis and in all the suburbs, has so completely thrown out the actual consumption of these fuels that vast quantities are known to have accumulated at all the large collieries besides in the innumerable stores that are up at this end. In the seaborne market very little alteration is noted The Sharlston Wallsend prices are still given at 21s. 6d per ton. Thirty-one cargoes were entered for Monday’s market as having arrived in the Thames since the preceding market day, and 14 for Wednesday, but as all these were on contract and no cargoes were offering, the test of the market value could not be ascertained. The output at some of the inland collieries is so seriously curtailed from the fact of so many of the men joining the Colours, that many of the Midland collieries are taking into serious consideration the claim, under the “ accident or stoppage ” clause, for a diminution in the monthly tonnage due to deliver under the various contracts. The shipping trade, especially from the Humber ports, is in a somewhat depressed condition, as so little is known as to the probable continuance of the shipping operations. Market quotations (pit mouth) : Note.—Although every care is exercised to secure accuracy, we cannot hold ourselves responsible for these prices, which are, further, subject to fluctuations. Yorkshire. Current prices. Last week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Wath Main best coal 13/6 13/6 13/ Do. nuts 13/ 13/ 12/ Birley cube Silkstone 12/6 12/6 Do. branch coal 16/6 — 16/ Do. seconds 11/ — 11/ Barnsley Bed Silkstone 13/6 13/6 13/6 West Riding Silkstone 12/6 12/6 13/ Kiveton Park Hazel — — 13/ Do. cobbles — — 13/ Do. nuts — — 12/ Do. hard steam — — 12/ New Sharlston Wallsend Wharncliffe Silkstone coal — — 15/ selected 15/6 15/6 14/6 Do: Flockton Main ... 14/ 14/ 15/6 Do. Athersley house coal Newton Chambers best Silks. 11/6 11/6 12/ cobbles 13/6 — 17/ Do. Grange best Silk. 15/6 — 15/6 Do. Hesley Silkstone... 14/6 — 14/ Do. Rockingham selec. 14/6 — 14/ Do. Rockingham Silk.. Derbyshire. 14/ — 13/6 Wingfield Manor best 12/ 12/ 12/6 Do. large nuts... 11/9 11/9 12/3 Do. small nuts... 9/ 9/ 10/ Do. kitchen coal 9/ 9/ 10/6 West Hallam Kilburn brights 12/ 12/ 12/6 Do. do. nuts ... 11/9 11/9 12/3 Do. London brights 10/6 10/6 11/ Do. bright nuts 10/6 10/6 11/ Do. small nuts 9/ 9/ 10/ Manners Kilburn brights 12/6 12/6 12/6 Do. do. nuts 12/3 12/3 12/ Shipley do. brights 12/6 12/3 12/6 13/ Do. do. nuts 12/3 12/6 Mapperley brights Do. hard steam 12/ 12/ 12/6 11/ 11/ 11/6 Cossall Kilburn brights 12/ 12/ 12/6 Derbyshire—(cont.) Current prices. Last week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Cossall Kilburn nuts 11/9 11/9 12/ Trowell Moor brights 12/ 11/9 12/ 12/6 12/ 13/ 11/6 Do. do. nuts 11/9 12/6 11/ Grassmoor Main coal 12/6 Do. . Tupton 11/ Do. do. nuts 10 6 10/6 11 6 Clay Cross Main coal . 12/6 12/6 11/6 12/6 13/ ’ Do. do. cubes 12/6 13/ Do. special Derbys 11/6 12/ Do. house coal 11/ 11/ 11/6 13/ Pilsley best blackshale 12/6 11/ 12/6 Do. deep house coal 11/ 11/6 1 Do. hard screened coal 10/6 10/6 11/ Hardwick best Silkstone 12/6 12/6 13/ Do. Cavendish brights... 12/ 12/ 12/6 Do. cubes 12/ 12/ 12/6 N ottinghamshire. Clifton picked hards 12/ 12/ 12/6 12/ 9 Do. small hards 12 12/6 12/ ’ Do. deep large steam Annesley best hards 9/ 12/6 12/6 12/6 Do. bright cobbles 11/3 11/3 11/9 Linby best hards 12/6 11/3 12/6 12/6 11/9 Do. bright cobbles 11/3 Digby London brights 13/ 13/ 13/ Do. cobbles 13/ 13/ 13/ 13/ 14/6 13/ Do. top hards 13/ 13/ Do. High Hazel coal.. 15/6 12/6 15/6 12/6 11/3 Bestwood hard steam coal Do. bright cobbles 11/3 12/9 11/9 12/9 Hucknall Torkard main hards ... 12/9 Do. do. cobbles 11/3 11/3 10/6 15/3 11/3 Do. do. nuts 10/6 15/3 11/ Do. do. High Hazel H.P. -LU./ 14/9 Do. do. London brights 12/9 12/9 12/3 Do. do. large nuts... 12/9 12/9 12/3 Do. do. bright nuts 11/6 11/6 11/3 Sherwood H.P. hards 12/6 12/6 12/6 Do. hard steam 11/6 11/6 11/6 11/3 Do. brights 11/6 10/9 11/6 Do. cobbles 10/9 11/3 Do. large nuts 11/6 11/6 11/3 W ARWICKSHIRE. Griff large steam coal 11/6 11/ 11/6 11/ Do. screened cobbles 11/6 11/ 11/6 11/3 Do. bakers’ nuts 11/ 14/ Do. loco Two Yard hards 14/ 14/6 Do. Ryder nuts 11/6 11/6 11/9 Do. do. cobbles 13/6 11/6 12/6 13/6 11/6 13/ Nuneaton steam coal 11/ 11/6 Do. screened cobbles ... 12/6 Do. nuts 11/6 11/6 11/3 Haunchwood steam 11/6 12/ 11/6 12/ 11/ Do. screened cobbles 1L/6 Do. nuts 11/6 11/6 11/3 Wyken steam coal 11/6 12/ 11/6 12/ 11/ Do. screened cobbles 11/6 Do. nuts 11/6 12/6 11/6 12/6 11/3 Exhall Ell coal spires 14/3 Do. large steam coal 11/6 11/6 12/6 Leicestershire. South Leicester steam 10/9 11/3 . 10/ Do. cobbles or small liards — 10/6 Do. nuts 11/ 10/6 Whitwick steam 11/ 10/ Do. roasters 11/6 10/6 10/6 10/ 10/6 Do. cobbles 11/6 — Do. nuts 11/6 Netherseal hards 18/ 18/ Do. Eureka 13/ 13/ 10/6 Do. kitchen 1°/ 10/ 10/6 18/ 12/6 10/6 9/9 Ibstock kibbles Do. large nuts Do. bakers’ nuts Do. Main nuts Do. hards 9/6 Granville New Pit cobbles ... — — 9/ Do. Old Pit cobbles — — 9/6 North Staffordshire. Talk-o’-th’-Hill best 13/6 13/6 9/3 Sneyd best, selected 11/ 11/ Do. deeps Silverdale best 13/ 14/6 14/ Do. cobbles Apedale best 13/6 13/6 13/6 Do. seconds 13/6 13/6 13/3 14/ Podmore Hall best 13/6 13/3 13/ Do. seconds 13/ S. Staffs. (Cannock District). Walsall Wood steam coal, London brights 12/6 12/6 12/9 Do. shallow one way 12/6 12/6 13/ Do. deep nuts 12/ 12/ 12/6 Cannock steam 10/ 15/ 10/ 10/9 Coppice deep coal 15/ 14/6 Do. cobbles 14/6 14/6 14/ Do. one way 13/ 13/ 12/ Do. shallow coal 14/6 16/ 14/6 13/6 16/ Cannock Chase deep main Do. Deep kitchen cob. 12/ — 11/6 Do* best shallow main 14/ — 13/ Do. shallow kibbles.. 13/9 — 13/6 Do. best brights 13/6 — 13/ Do. yard cobbles 12/9 — 13/6 Do. yard nuts 12/ 12/6 Do. bakers’ nuts 10/9 — 10/3 Do. screened hards... 12/ — 11/9 From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, October 9.—The seaborne house coal market was quiet to-day, no cargoes being on offer and very little enquiry. Sharlston W.E., Yorks., 21s. 6d. Cargoes 17. Monday, October 12.—The seaborne house coal market was again very quiet to-day, no transaction of any cargoes reported, and nothing on offer. Sharlston W.E., Yorks. 21s. 6d. Cargoes 31. Wednesday, October 14.—No business appeared to have been done in the seaborne house coal market to-day, which continued very quiet, with very little prospect of any supplies at present. Sharlston W.E., Yorks., 21s. 6d. Cargoes 14.