20 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN January 1, 1915. basis, because the Admiralty practically appropriated all the best descriptions for Naval purposes. In fact, all the collieries producing first quality steams were really controlled by the Government, and the whole of the outputs reserved for the battleships. Exports were pro- hibited except to neutral countries, and the most stringent precautions were adopted by the Government to prevent the coal getting into enemy hands. In addi- tion to a written permit being required before a clearance could be affected, the Customs authorities exacted a bond of treble value of the cargo, which the shipper would have to pay in case the vessel and its freight became diverted, to other than its certified destination. This practically put an end to foreign business. Later, the restrictions were materially relaxed, but all the exports had to be made subject to the permission of the Admiralty authorities being obtained. When hostilities were commenced there was naturally a great rush of Government work. The miners declined to give up their usual holiday, but when the serious state of affairs was explained to them they readily agreed to the suspen- sion of the Eight Hours Act, and worked the extra hour in order to facilitate the efforts of the Admiralty contractors. It is estimated that no fewer than 25,000 colliers have joined the Army from Glamorganshire alone. Naturally, this had the effect of consider- ably curtailing the output, and the position a few weeks ago was becoming so serious that the military authorities were instructed not to enlist any more men from certain collieries which were producing the best descriptions of Admiralty coal. The steadiness which has characterised the large steam coal market has not been a feature of the small coal trade, and the price of best bunkers has varied from 12s. 6d. to as low as 7s., and cargo qualities have even been done at 5s., and a fraction less. Prices remained exceedingly steady until the end of July, when stocks began to accumulate to such an extent that collieries could not spare the wagons, and even had to resort to banking. The fall of Antwerp added to the depression, because the most important market in Belgium was thus cut off. In the later months of the year an active demand sprang up from the northern French ports, with the result that not only the heavy accumulations of stock had been exhausted, but the decreased output of large coal was causing a scarcity of small. In the last month of the year, top figures were realised, and 12s. 6d. was easily obtainable the week before Christmas. Rhondda bituminous coals have continued steady throughout the year, the quotation for No. 3 large never having exceeded 18s., or fallen below 17s. In patent fuel there was more variation, 22s. 6d. being the rate at the commencement of the year, with a gradual decline in the later months, and more especially since the outbreak of war. Full details of shipments have not been disclosed, but in some weeks they were almost suspended, with the result that several works were temporarily closed, whilst others were only pro- ducing short outputs. A brief reference should be made to the pitwood trade, which has been subject to considerable fluctuation. After the declaration of war there was a great shortage of mining timber, and prices went up as high as 35s. per ton. In November normal figures had again been reached, but scarcity of tonnage and stormy weather had the effect of inflating prices in the last* week of the year, with the result that 28s. to 30s. was being quoted for best French fir. From the points of conflicts between the employers and workmen, 1914 stands out conspicuously as the least eventful of any year in the last decade. In the first place, the wages have been stationary — remaining, unchanged at 60 per cent, above the standard of 1879, and 45 per cent, above the 1877 standard. One question came into prominence in the early part of the year, and gave rise to some apprehension, namely, the agitation of colliery banksmen for a general improvement in the conditions of employment, the hours of labour, and rates of wages. The owners not only resisted the demands made, but declined to discuss the general question, on the ground that to accede to such a request would be tantamount to a willingness on the part of the owners to disregard the five years’ agreement entered into in 1910, which cannot be constitutionally terminated until June 1915. The important principle of the sanctity of contractual obligations was therefore at stake. The agitation culminated in the convening of conferences representative of all the colliery workmen in South Wales and Monmouthshire, when it was proposed that national action should be taken to support the claims of the banksmen. A ballot vote was taken, but a sufficient majority was not secured to enable the South Wales Miners’ Federation to declare a strike. With the view of adjusting any special grievances, the owners expressed a readiness to deal with each case on its merits, and the men’s representatives having accepted the suggestion made by the owners as a way out of the difficulty, a small joint committee was appointed by the Conciliation Board to deal with the matter, and treat each case on its merits. So successful was this com- mittee that agreements were signed settling every case of grievance at all the Welsh steam coal collieries before the end of the year. The success which attended the efforts of this committee, and also those of the Minimum Wage Committee appointed by the Joint Board to deal with disputes arising out of the Minimum Wage Act, led to the formation by the Conciliation Board, at the outbreak of the war, of another joint sub-committee, styled the Peace Committee, to deal with all outstanding disputes. This committee again met with a large measure of success, so that before the end of the year there existed only two or three minor disputes in the whole of the coalfield which had not been satisfactorily disposed of. This innovation of referring disputes from the Conciliation Board to joint sub-committees appointed by that Board to make minute investigations and arrive at tentative settlements is likely to prove of immense value in future in the direction of reducing, if not eliminating, friction between employers and workmen. The only item of any importance from a financial standpoint has been the fusion of interests between the United National Collieries Limited, the Standard, and Burnyeat, Brown Limited. Proposals have been made, and practically carried through, whereby the whole of these collieries come under one management. The capital of the United National Collieries Limited has been increased by the issue of 150,000 ordinary shares and 50,000 preference shares of ^£1 each. The amalga- mation is looked upon as a beneficial one by the trade, and good results are anticipated in the future. January. The year opened with a firm tone, but buyers were very cautious, owing to the high prices prevailing, best Admiralty steams being quoted at 20s. 6d. to 21s. About the middle of the month there was a tendency towards easiness, which became more marked in the last week of January, the closing quotations then being 18s. 6d. to 19s. for best, 18s. to 18s. 3d. for seconds, and ordinary qualities 17s. 3d. to 17s. 6d. The small coal market continued firm, and prices showed little variation, best bunkers opening at Ils. to 11s. 3d., and closing firm at Ils., ordinaries 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d., and cargo qualities 7s. 9d. to 8s. 6d. The latter showed a fractional improvement, but, speaking generally, the tone was steady. The most important contract during the month was that of the Italian State Railways. Arrangements were made for the supply of about 750,000 tons of Monmouthshire coals, at prices ranging from 16s. to 16s. 6d. per ton net f.o.b. This was rather lower than similar contracts which had been recently placed, but its acceptance at these figures was looked upon with satisfaction on the market, because of its influence on the rates which were likely to prevail during Chart showing the maximum and minimum quotations of South Wales coals for each month in 1914. 5 £ £ § 24/ 23/ V * f 22/ r *\ x x ji X. i 21/ \ *\ A \ iq/> I 1 \ 18/ 'S''" / J •• X •. \ 1*7/ oooooooo 3OOOOOO& MA V • 17/ iaZ — IO/ 15/ 14/ 13/ 12/ 1 11/ **** 10/- —/— < IV/ 9/ * x"’ 8/ * °Z 7/ »oooo do do do {F.o.b Cardiff) { do Best A dmirattySteam Coats Best Bunker Smalls N-3 Rhondda Bituminous Large ( do Patent Fuel (. do Best Malting Anthracite Large {F.o.b Swansea) (nef) {Fob Cardiff) Monmouthshire Black Veins the following months. In the two previous years the Italian authorities had taken a portion of their require- ments from the north, owing to the fear of labour troubles in the South Wales coalfield, but on this occasion the whole of the contract was placed with Monmouthshire producers. This business is said to rank second only to that of the British Admiralty in size and importance. The Chilian Government also came into the market for two cargoes of 7,500 tons each for delivery in February and March, but in this instance the details were not obtainable. Heavy gales about the middle of the month caused a scarcity of ready tonnage, with the result that shippers in a position to supply prompt boats were able to obtain substantial conces- sions from the collieries. In consequence of the increasing stocks of all descriptions of coal, there was a great congestion of traffic on the railways, and in some cases collieries had all their work cut out to secure the necessary wagons, and so provide full work at the pits. During the month it was announced that the Crown Patent Fuel Company were laying down additional plant which would have the effect of increasing their produc- tion from 14,000 to 20,000 tons per week. It was also reported that the Anchor Fuel Company had acquired new premises at Barry, where the output was expected to reach from 100,000 to 200,000 tons per annum. The Custom House returns for January were not so satis- factory as in the preceding year, and this was attributable in great measure to the bad weather, and the fact that the British Admiralty were not taking their usual quantities, which normally amounted to about 20,000 tons per week. The total exports from the four chief ports were 2,522,240 tons, compared with 2,668,187 tons in January 1913, or a decrease of 145,947 tons. Throughout the month chartering was generally satis- factory, although tonnage arrivals were slow, especially during the opening weeks of the year. February. There was a gratifying increase in the shipments during this month, the total from the four principal ports being 2,520,790 tons, compared with 2,279,274 tons in the corresponding month of 1913, or an increase of 241,516 tons. Cardiff shipped 1,656,652 tons, or an increase of 136,126 tons; Newport 403,805 tons, being an increase of 33,127 tons; whilst from Swansea there were exported 303,953 tons, or an improvement of 77,097 tons. Port Talbot showed a small decrease of 4,834 tons, the total being 156,380 tons. As recorded in the previous month, chartering since the beginning of the year had been on a very satisfactory basis, an average of over 400,000 tons having been taken up each week, and, as a fact, such figures had not been reached since January 1912. Freights were all in favour of merchants, Genoa being done many times at 6s. 6d., down to 6s., and even in one instance as low as 5s. 9d., which was the lowest point touched for several years. At one period the glut of tonnage was so heavy, and the congestion at the docks so great, that instances were recorded of vessels having to wait eight, or even nine, days before securing a tip. During the month the Egyptian State Railways came into the market for 300,000 tons of steam coals, and an unusual feature on this occasion was the fact that alternative tender forms were submitted for Welsh and north country coals. The Welsh coals were restricted to the production of collieries described as second-class Admiralty steams, ordinaries, and best Monmouthshires. Until three years ago this contract was confined almost exclusively to Welsh coals, but in consequence of labour troubles and other incidents likely to cause uncertainty in delivery, the authorities tried the experiment of obtaining coals from America. In the previous autumn tenders were invited for 385,000 tons, but only 120,000 tons were placed in South Wales, the reason being given that Welsh prices were too high. The Argentine Government asked for tenders for 80,000 to 100,000, and there were enquiries also in the market for 21,000 tons of steam coal for Mauritius, and 80,000 tons of bituminous smalls for the Belgian State Railways. The Russian Government were also negotiating for unnamed quantities; whilst the French Admiralty requested quotations for 18,000 tons of patent fuel. In the latter case, local producers were not successful, as the con- tract went to France. In the previous month comment had been made that the British Admiralty were not taking their usual supplies, and a rumour was current that the customary Naval manoeuvres were to be abandoned, which meant a loss to the market of from 200,000 to 250,000 tons of coal. The question was raised in Parliament, and Mr. Winston Churchill made the interesting announcement that the usual manoeuvres would be substituted by a test mobilisation of the Third Fleet. This would mean a saving of expense, but the ordinary Naval requirements would be purely normal. During the month best Admiralties ranged from 18s. 6d. to 19s. 3d., seconds from 18s. 3d. to 18s. 6d., and ordinaries 17s. 9d. to 18s. Best bunkers were from 11s. to 11s. 6d., cargo qualities 7s. 9d. to 8s. 9d., Mon- mouthshire Black Veins 17s. 9d., western valleys 17s. 3d., and easterns 16s. 9d. to 17s. Rhondda bituminous coals were steady, at 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d. for No. 3, and 14s. 9d. to 15s. for No. 2. Patent fuel became a trifle easier towards the close of the month, and was quoted at 21s. 6d. to 22s. 6d. March. A lock-out at the docks at Genoa affected the local market to a considerable extent, owing to the fact that shipments were suspended for several weeks. The result was that stocks accumulated rapidly, and collieries were willing to make concessions for prompt boats, and freights improved to 6s. 6d. to 6s. 9d., with other Mediterranean ports in proportion. The announcement was made in the middle of the month that the Egyptian Railway Authorities had placed con- tracts for 100,000 tons of north country coal at 13s. to 13s. 6d. per ton. Tenders of Cardiff firms to the amount of 160,000 tons were accepted at 16s. 6d. per ton, the successful shippers being Messrs. Moxey, Savon and Company; Messrs. Tabb and Burletson; Messrs. Thomas and Stevens; and Messrs. H. C. Vivian and Company. It was stated that had the authorities taken their full quantities in the autumn as usual, a saving would have been effected of at least 6d. per ton. Of the Belgian State Railways contract for 187,000 tons, 41,600 tons were secured by Cardiff firms. Messrs. H. C. Vivian and Company had 5,200 tons at 14-99 fr., and 10,400 tons at 15*59 fr.; Messrs. Pyman, Watson and Company, 20,800 tons at 15-58 fr.; and Messrs. Tabb and Burletson, 5,200 tons at 15*75 fr. The White Star, Dominion, and American lines were also in the market for their annual requirements, and, as in former years, the contracts were secured by the Lewis Merthyr Colliery Company. The price was not dis- closed. There were further enquiries by the Swedish Government for 30,000 tons, and the French Govern- ment for 110,000 tons of steam coals. The Bone Guelma Railways contract for 10,000 tons of patent fuel was secured by the Anchor Fuel Company, at a price which was stated to be satisfactory, but' details were not made public. The market again became disorganised through the gales that prevailed in the middle of March, and it was reported that tonnage was more scarce than at any time since the national strike of 1912. Shipments during the month amounted to