1030 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 13, 1914 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 374,301 tons, against 411,764 tons in the corresponding period of last year. In black-plates there was a decrease of nearly 5,000 tons on the month. The galvanised sheet trade is in an even worse condition. Exports last month only amounted to 29,897 tons, against 69,447 tons in October last year, and the total for the ten months amounts to 518,766 tons, compared with 631,084 tons last year. There is still a great dearth of new business, and many mills are only partially occupied. Prices of 24-gauge corrugateds are officially <£13 10s., but makers in need of orders are _____________________________ accepting several shillings less for prompt specifications. The iron and steel trade is only moderately active, and many works have a difficulty in keeping things going. Steel ingots are in fair request, and it is reported that an order for 50,000 tons has been placed in South Wales by the French Government. Bessemer and Siemens bars are <£4 15s. per ton, and Welsh pig iron is 68s. to 69s. per ton f.o.t. The iron ore market shows no signs of recovery, best rubio being offered at 16s. to 16s. 3d., seconds at 14s. 6d., and Almeria at 15s. Scrap metals are still weak, and the market is practically lifeless. Quotations, however, are unchanged. Llanelly. COAL. There appears to be no easing-off in the strong position of the local market, and for most coals the demand is quite equal to the make. The one difficulty, however, is that of tonnage, and this has become more pronounced. Collieries have plenty of orders on hand for cargoes to France and the Mediterranean ports, but not nearly enough boats can be obtained. Freights have also advanced considerably, and for those sellers who have based their contracts on the lower freights which have been ruling for the past few months the alteration will come rather hard. The anthra- cite market has not been so brisk for some time, and all the large, cobbles, nuts, beans and peas have a steady demand, and there is very little free coal to offer. Bubbly culm and duff, however, are still going badly, and prices are as low as possible. For steam and bituminous there is a better enquiry, and most pits are fairlywwell placed. Large kinds could not be in better demand, but during the past few weeks prices have advanced quite 4s. per ton, and even at this figure buyers cannot have their wants attended to. This week’s quotations approximately are:— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff ................ Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 23/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -21/ 14/ -15/6 22/ -23/ 22/ —23/6 23/ -24/6 23/ -24/6 19/ -22/ 13/ -13/6 4/ - 4/6 3/6- 4/ 18/ -20/ 10/9-11/3 8'/ - 9/ 9/ -10/ L'st week's1 prices. 23/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 17/6-19/ 14/ -15/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/6 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 19/ -22/ 13/ -13/6 4/6- 5/ 3/6- 4/ Last year's prices. 21/ -22/6 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 13/6-14/6 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ 23/ -25/ 23/ -25/ 18/ -20/ 12/6—13/6 4/6- 5/ 4/ - 5/ 18/ -20/ 10/9-11/3 8/ - 9/ 9/ -10/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 9/6-10/ 11/ -11/6 Swansea. COAL. Last week the trade of the port continued satisfactory. A strong demand for anthracite coal was maintained, but the supply of tonnage was poor. There was also an improvement in the patent fuel trade. The shipments of coal and patent fuel together amounted to 87,297 tons. There was a good attendance on 'Change this morning, and there was no material alteration in the general conditions prevailing on the anthracite coal market. Owing to the shortage of ready tonnage, sellers were not so fully stemmed, and for prompt shipment were prepared to accept less than current quotations. Swansea Valley large, especially Genoa option brands, was in good request at last prices, and Red Vein large was also a strong market. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were firm at last figures. Rubbly culm and duff were both in poor request, with values easy. In the steam coal market, large continued strong, but smalls, although there was a slightly better demand, were still being freely offered at low figures. Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L'st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— ' prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 22/6-24/6 22/6-24/6 21/6-24/ Secondary do. 20/6-22/6 20/6-22/6. 19/6-21/6 Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 19/6-21/6 19/6—20/6' 17/6-18/6 Red Vein large do. ... 13/6-15/6 13/6-15/6 14/6-16/ Machine-made cobbles (net) 21/ -23/6 21/ -23/6 21/6-24/6 Paris nuts (net) — — 23/6-26/ French do. do 23/ -25/6 23/ -25/6 23/6-26/ German do. do 23/ -24/6 23/ -24/6 23/6-26/ Beans (net) 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 16/6-18/6 Machine - made large peas (net) 12/ -13/ 12/ -13/ 13/ -13/9 Do. fine peas (net) — — — Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) 3/9- 4/6 3/9- 4/6 5/ - 5/6 Duff (net) 2/9- 3/6 2/9- 3/6 4/ - 4/6 Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) 18/9-22/6 18/9-22/6 19/ -20/ Seconds do. 15/9-16/6 15/9-16/6 14/3-15/ Bunkers do. 10/3-11/ 10/3-11/ 10/6-11/6 Small do. 5/6- 8/6 5/6- 8/6 7/ - 7/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 17/ -18/ • Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) — — 13/6-14/6 Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 10/ -10/9 10/ -10/9 10/ -11/ Patent fuel do 16/ -16/6 16/ -16/6 17/6-18/ IRON. The yield of pig iron last week at Messrs. Baldwin’s, Landore, was quite up to the average, and employment was regular in all departments. There was certainly an improvement noted in the tin-plate trade, and additional mills were being restarted. Bar-rolling mills in the district were actively engaged. Employers were doing their best to keep as many mills as possible going, thus providing regular employment. At the steelworks, business was good, and substantial outputs were registered. The shipments of tin-plates last week were- very good, amounting to 98,806 boxes, the receipts from works were 71,646 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 224,658 boxes. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Naval Colliery workmen held a meeting on Monday, being then idle owing to a shortage of trucks. The pro- ceedings were private, reporters being excluded; but a report supplied to the Press states that the meeting had been called to consider the question of slack time at these collieries, in view of the fact that the Admiralty had issued an appeal to the miners to work extra time. It was decided to ask the Admiralty for an explanation with regard to the short time now worked. The Varteg Colliery workmen have resolved to contribute Is. per month per man in aid of the men on strike at Crumlin Colliery, where the dispute is as to the price list. About 400 men ceased work last Saturday in Clydach Vale, notices having expired in the No. 2 pit of the Cambrian undertaking; and a deputation was appointed at a mass meeting, with instructions to see the manager, and ask for engagement at the other pits of the Combine. North of England. Owing to the irregular working of the county collieries, the Northumberland Miners’ Association is still called upon to disburse a little under. £1,000 .per week in out-of-work benefit. Since the outbreak of the war, over £12,000 has been paid out in this way, and the prospect of an early diminution of disbursements for unemployment is, unfortu- nately, not very cheering. The drain on the association’s funds has been added to by the stoppage at Newburgh, and will probably be considerably accentuated by the closing of Pegswood. However, the association is stated to have resources sufficient to last a few more weeks, by which time, it is hoped, trade will either have brightened sufficiently to prevent anything in the nature of insolvency befalling the organisation, or the Government will have to come to the association’s rescue, as has been requested. The quarterly balance-sheet of the Northumberland Miners’ Association returns the membership at 37,616 adults and 5,743 half-members. The Northumberland Miners’ Association has been collect- ing data for the information of the Board of Trade with reference to the amounts of the levies paid by local miners towards war relief funds, in order that the association’s application for an emergency grant towards unemployed benefit may be strengthened. The returns, which are now practically completed, show that men who are working half- time or three days per week are paying 3d. per week, and those who are working full time 6d. per week. In some instances, men who are only getting six or seven days’ work per fortnight are paying the full 6d. Since Newburgh Colliery was closed, employment for about 200 hewers, datal men, and boys has been found at Broom- hill and Ghevington Drift. The Northumberland Miners’ Association has received a letter from the Broxwich Colliery, Staffs, stating that employment can be found there for 70 hewers, who could earn from 8s. to 10s. per shift. As to the work offered at Whitehaven, it is stated that the manage- ment of that colliery is prepared to advance the travelling expenses of those who are prepared to migrate from this dis- trict. Since Newburgh Colliery was closed, it is satisfactory to note that work at Broomhill Colliery appears to be steadier. The opinion is expressed that the closing of the Newburgh pit will mean another working day per week at Broomhill .• Last week the Conciliation Board for the regulation of wages in the Durham coalfield met at Newcastle, and decided that miners’ wages should be reduced forthwith by 3f per cent., leaving them still 53f per cent, above the basis of 1879. This is the first change since May last. The misunderstanding which arose last week (and which was briefly referred to in the Colliery Guardian) between the Whitehaven Colliery Company and the local miners with reference to the Belgian miners appears to have been removed, as the result of an interview between the repre- sentatives of the men and the colliery company. The principal grievance on the part of the local miners appeared to be in reference to the action of the colliery company in sending the Belgians to work in Ladysmith pit without first consulting the miners' representatives. There was an impression among the local miners that there might be some danger and difficulty through the strangers being unable to speak the English language, but it was explained at the interview between the representatives of the miners and the colliery company that the Belgians knew sufficient broken English to enable them to follow any directions which it might be necessary to give them. The miners’ representatives also objected to the Belgians being rushed into the mine so soon after their arrival in Whitehaven, but it was explained that they were anxious to get to work as quickly as possible in order that they might be in a position to maintain themselves and not have to exist on charity. The Whitehaven miners have expressed their great admiration for the Belgians, and at the meeting on Sunday it was clearly pointed out that they had no objection to them as fellow workers, but took exception to the attitude of the colliery company. Federated Area. At the early part of the week a meeting of the miners employed at Hafod Colliery was held to consider a dispute which has arisen there in connection with the Minimum Wage Act, and as a result it was unanimously resolved to cease work. The result was that the men did not go to work the next day, and at the time of writing the 1,700 men were still on strike. A deputation from the men is arranging to meet the management, when no doubt the matter will be amicably settled and work resumed. Miners’ Federation of Great Britain. Employment of Belgian refugees in British mines was the question which came before the executive committee of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain when they met in London on Tuesday under the presidency of Mr. Robert Smillie. The chairman referred to reports in the White- haven newspaper, which stated that a number of Belgians were being employed in one of the local pits. Considerable feeling had been engendered among the miners because of the fact that they had been in no way consulted. The committee expressed their surprise that in such a dangerous occupation, and especially at such fiery collieries as those at Whitehaven, Belgian workmen should be employed underground before the company had communi- cated with the officials of the miners. The committee were of opinion that there was no objection to the employment of Belgian miners in British mines, where there was a real scarcity of labour, provided that their employment did not prove a danger to the other workmen employed, and that the trade union rates of wages in the district were recog- nised. The committee pointed out, however, that it was absolutely unsafe to employ these workmen unless they were under the supervision of a person who understood the French, Flemish and English languages. The secretary (Mr. Thomas Ashton) was instructed to call the attention of Sir R. Redmayne, Chief Inspector of Mines, to the matter, in order that he should communicate with the Whitehaven management. In connection with the dispute in West Yorkshire, owing to the refusal of employers to carry out the award of Judge Amphlett, chairman of the Joint District Board under the Minimum Wage Act, Mr. Ashton, the secretary, reported that he had been in communication with the Prime Minister, Sir George Askwith, and the secretary of the West Yorkshire Mineowners’ Association. The award, said Mr. Ashton, amounted to an extra 4d. per day to men who were under the minimum wage. No one had been idle, as the men had worked under protest. A conference between the mineowners and the miners' representatives was being arranged for November 19, when it was hoped the employers would agree to pay the award given by the neutral chairman. The adoption of wireless telegraphy underground was the interesting subject raised in a communication from the inventor of the gas-detecting apparatus, who was anxious that the Miners’ Federation should take an interest in his new invention, as it was a question of the safety of the underground worker. The committee appointed the chair- man and secretary to keep in close touch with the inventor with a View to testing the possibilities of the invention, and to report to a future meeting in order that the whole executive might, if desirable, have an opportunity of witnessing experiments. Owing to the war the Southport Conference of the Steel Trades’ Federation was practically reduced to an executive meeting with conference powers. The reports showed considerable progress. Something like <£2,000 had been paid in lock-out benefit, practically in the Scottish area. Mr. James Gavin was again unanimously elected as chair- man for the ensuing year. The question of registering the federation as a trades union was postponed for a more complete revision of the rules. ______________________________ Exports and Imports of Coal Tar Products.—The follow- ing shows the values of coal tar .dyes imported into the United Kingdom in October and the 10 months ended there- with :— October. Jan .-Oct. _______________ _______________ 1913. 1914. 1913. 1914. Alizarine and anthracene <£ «£ <£ <£ . dye stuffs............. 46,020.. — ... 228,133... 131,97« ... Aniline and naphthalene dye stuffs............. 146,373...37,386... 1,292,131...987,633 Synthetic indigo ....... 6,958... — ... 64,161... 48,971 Other coal tar dye stuffs.. 8... — ... 570... 154 The quantity of aniline and naphthalene dye stuffs imported in October was 4,821 cwt. The values of the coal products exported in October were as follows :— October. Jan.-Oct. A f 1913. 1914.' 1913. 1914? Coal products, not dyes— £ <£ <£ <£ Aniline oil & toluidine 2,710... 12,664... 25,506.. . 36,729 Anthracene — ... — ... 1,310.. 712 Benzol and toluol 23,965... 19,248. . 260,369.. . 163,264 Carbolic acid 17,670... 17,135... 161,054.. . 102,113 Coal tar, crude 1,382... 562... 16,031.. 8,182 ,, refined and varnish 8 547... 4,777. 58,659.. . 49,161 Naphtha 2,773... 458... 19,987.. 15,769 Naphthalene 4,594... 1,486... 33,204.. . 21,564 Pitch 93,591... 27,317... 864,818.. . 640,155 Tar oil, creosote, &c ... 38,123... 74,338... 511,249.. . 479,184 Other sorts 21,594... 52,450... 250,292.. . 210,059 Total 214,949...210,435...2,202,479.. .1,756,892 Coal tar dye stuffs 14,849... 8,422 .. 147,602.. . 148,337 The following quantities of the above products were exported in October :—Coal products, not dyes : Aniline oil and tolui- dine, 424,918 lb.; benzol and toluol, 363,822 galls.; carbolic acid, 10,634 cwt.; coal tar, crude, 3,739 cwt.; ditto, refined and varnish, 236,159 galls.; naphthalene, 3,330 cwt.; pitch, 318,225 cwt.; tar oil, creosote, etc., 4.581,786 galls.; other sorts, 72,997 cwt.; coal tar dye stuffs, 2.382 cwt. Exports of sulphate of ammonia were as follow :— October. Jan.-Oct. ________ _______ 1913. 191L 1913. 1914? q