May 21, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1081

THE GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN COAL
AND IRON TRADES.

We. give below further extracts from German
periodicals that have reached us, showing the course of
the coal and iron trades in Germany and Austria

The Iron Market in Rhenish Westphalia.

According to Gluckauf, 'the situation in the iron
market has developed in a very satisfactory manner
during the war. The demand for war material is
heavy, and amounts to about two-thirds of the total
business in hand, the works being so fully occupied
that they have little surplus material for export or for
civil requirements. The productive capacity of the
industry has behaved excellently under the strain to
which it has been subjected, though difficulties have
arisen because service in the army has withdrawn
skilled workmen, who cannot be properly replaced, and
consequently the volume of business is not commen-
surate with the amount of work that is to be done.
Makers are requiring longer time for delivery, especi-
ally since the spring demand for non-military products
began. Brices have been repeatedly advanced, the last
general rise being in mid-April, owing to the increased
cost of production, and the scarcity of coal, iron ore,
and pig iron. Generally speaking, all the works are
now in ague-men t on the subject of prices; and this
harmony seems to be extending to other matters as
well. Thus the negotiations for syndicating the “ B ”
products have been resumed with better prospects of
success; and minimum prices have already been fixed.
Bars and plate have also come into line with other pro-
ducts, and shared in the general upward movement;
and in other branches agreements between makers have
helped to restore prices to a profitable basis.

Inland iron ore is in exceedingly brisk demand, the
more so because importation from oversea has become
progressively difficult on account of the war. The
mines in the Bahn, Dill, and Sieg districts are full up
with orders, but suffer from a scarcity of labour. In
March the Siegerland Ore Association was still able to
produce about two-thirds of the normal output, but the
production declined again in April through the with-
drawal of workers to help on the land. The local iron
works.in Siegerland are suffering, because the ore mines
are bound by their old contracts to supply to works in
Westphalia and Upper Silesia. No sales are booked for
delivery beyond the end of June. Dig iron is also very
scarce, whilst the demand is abnormally great, especi-
ally from the various munition factories. High-grade
pig cannot be supplied in sufficient quantity, although
the output was again increased considerably in March.
Prices have been .raised intentionally so as to stimulate
the demand for cheaper qualities. Foreign enquiries
can now hardly receive attention. Luxemburg pig is
in a very satisfactory position, the deliveries in March
amounting to 61-74 per cent, of the participation, as
compared with 57-58 per cent, in February; and reached
about the same level in April. Prices have been
advanced from April 1 by 7 mk. per ton for haematite
pig, foundry pig I. and III., spiegeleisen, and Bessemer
pig. Scrap is in good request, and scarce, prices being
correspondingly ’higher; casting scrap 90-95 mk., core
scrap 67-69 mk., turnings 46-48 mk. There has been
little change in connection with the products of the
Steel Union. The scarcity in semi-manufactured
articles continues, especially in open hearth ingots, the
price of which has risen to 112*50 mk. For non-
military uses nothing but basic ingots are available, and
these have advanced to 97-50 mk. for the current
quarter. Blooms are now 102-40 mk., and billets
110 mk. The deliveries of semis by the Union totalled
86,865 tons in March, against 66,050 tons the previous
month, and 153,170 tons in March 1914. Rails and
other railway material are being ordered by the State
Railways on a larger scale than last year, and all the
works are very busy. Tramway rails are neglected, but
of late there has been more activity in connection with
pit rails. The March deliveries of railway material
reached 160,435 tons, as compared with 140,490 tons in
February, and with 206,324 tons in March 1914.
Figured iron remains quiet, owing to the lack of move-
ment in the building trade, but the March deliveries
amounted to 104,260 tons, as compared-with 60,365 tons
in February, and 201,033 tons in March 1914. Bars
have shared in the general advance, and the mills are
now able to make a profit, even with the increase in
prime costs, offers at lower rates by dealers who are
taking delivery on old contracts having little effect on
the united attitude of the makers. Welding iron, so
far as it is still being produced, has risen in conformity
with the cost of production, and is now at 168 mk. for
ordinary merchant grades. Heavy plate for ship-
building and other structural work sells, well, at prices
30-40 mk. higher than before the war. Makers of fine
plate also are well occupied with orders, and in many
cases will not promise delivery for any near dates.
Those who cater for the foreign market are badly
affected by the prohibition on export, having large
parcels ready for shipment that cannot now be delivered.
The associated works have about 60-65 per cent, of
foreign orders for black plate, the filling of which
depends bn the consent of the Foreign Office. Hoop
iron makers report plenty of work in hand, chiefly for
army purposes, for which open hearth grades are mainly
in request. The additional price on this class has been
advanced to 20 mk. per ton, and the basis price by
10 mk. Wire being also in large demand for the army,
the output finds a ready sale, and prices for rolled mild
steel, wire, drawn .wire, and wire rods have been
repeatedly raised. Tube makers are very busy, many
running on army orders entirely. An association has
been formed, for a term of five years, or longer, if the
projected raw steel union is, established for more than
that period. Prices have been raised to a remunerative

level, an addition of 20-30 mk. per ton having been
made in mid-April.

The following list gives a comparison between present
rates and those ruling in July last :—

	J uly 1914.	May 1915.
	Marks.	Marks.
Roasted spathic ore		185	215
Raw ore	:		121	140
Spiegeleisen (10 to 12 p.c. Mn.j	79	—
Puddling pig No. I. (ex Siegen)	66	—
Foundry pig No. II			74*50-75*50		
Foundry pig No. HI		70 50-71*51)		
Hsematite		78*50-79*50	100
Bessemer pig 		79*50	
Bar iron (weld iron) 		133	168
Bar iron (mild steel)		93*50	135
Girders (ex Diedenhofen) 		110	...	12'1-122
Hoop iron 				115 ‘	150
Heavy plate		98-100	140
Boiler plate		—	155
Fine plate					117’50-118	... 145-147*50
Medium plate		—	... 135-137
Rolled wire (mild steel) 		117*50	140
Drawn wire				132*50	160
Wire rods		117*50	170

Central Coal Office for Belgium.

According to the Cologne Gazette, the Central Coal
Office established in Antwerp is charged with the distri-
bution of all the coal raised in Belgium, and all the
coke, briquettes, and cokery by-products manufactured
in that country. Producers are bound to place the
whole of their output at the disposal of the Central
Office, which will value same according to the fixed
standards, and will remit the profits to the producers,
less a certain percentage for business expenses. The
fulfilment of previously existing contracts relating to the
above products is prohibited, and no action can be
brought for damages in respect of non-fulfilment,
though exceptions to these regulations may be allowed
by the Central Office. Any attempt to dispose of these
products otherwise than in the prescribed way entails
penalties up to 10,000 fr., and possible confiscation of
the goods.

Belgium’s Supplies of German Coal.

The supply of German coals to Belgium was only
interrupted for a short time by the war. Whereas the
waterborne consignments in August were only 468 tons,
and nil in September, the quantities increased there-
after to 4,500 Tons in October, 65,700 in November, and
121,000 tons in December. The total, however, viz.,
191,000 tons, was 1,505,000 tons, or about 87 per cent.,
less than in the corresponding period of the previous
year. In January there was a slight set-back, to
109,000 tons, but the December level was again reached
in February; so that in the first seven months of the
war the shipments aggregated 422,000 tons. The
Cologne Gazette regards this growth in the trade as a
pleasing indication of the revival in the economic
activity of Belgium.

Notes from the Coalfields.

[Local Correspondence.]

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Wages and Colliery Profits—The Mischief of the Licence
System : its Dilatory Procedure—Paying Wages in
Public-houses Illegal—Mr. D. A. Thomas's Escape
from the “ Lusitania ”—Resignation of Lord St.
Aldwyn, Independent Chairman—New Dock for Cardiff
Proposed.

Is it practicable for colliery owners to “ pass on ” to the
merchant any part of the extra cost entailed upon them
by the war bonus of 17J per cent, which has to be paid
the miners? This is a question which occasions, much dis-
cussion on ’Change at the moment. Estimates as to the
additional colliery costs which the bonus entails range
from 6d. to Is. per ton; and whatever the exact figure
may be in each case, the amount is undoubtedly a serious
one, especially in conjunction with the loss occasioned by
reduced output due to numerous enlistments. Where the
colliery has a fair amount of “ free ” coal, matters are
easier, because of the opportunity of profiting by the high
market price; but where contracts cover a large proportion
of the output, and no such opportunity exists, the position
is now very unsatisfactory. On the merchant’s side there
is a difficulty, even if willingness to vary the price were
existent, for, in most instances, he has re-sold or com-
mitted himself, so that he cannot exercise any discretion.

The whole of South Wales has been agitated during the
past few days by the introduction of the licence system,
which, as yet, is far from smooth working.. Several vessels
ready for sea are reported to have been detained because
shippers could not get their licences. Mr. Donald Maclean,
M.P., has again attended at the Cardiff Exchange, in order
to ascertain how the new conditions are working. He
received complaints from scores of exporters, who laid before
him their particular grievances, the chief of these being the
dilatoriness with which the licences are issued. Mr.
Maclean will submit <a collection of facts to the Coal Exports
Committee in London, in order to remove as far as possible
all occasion for grievance; but it is manifest that as yet
the new system is very difficult of operation. A notice was
issued on Monday evening that the Coal Exports Com-
mittee would not be influenced by the fact that the coal had
been already shipped, or that the vessel might be delayed, or
by any other extraneous consideration, and the committee
pointed out that it was not itself the licensing body, so that
it was useless for shippers to telegraph to them—such tele-
grams would not be considered.

Under these circumstances, the commercial community
will have to take in hand even more determinedly the work
of expediting the issue of licences; for if the members of the
committee are not sufficient, or its staff is not capable of
dealing with licences in such a way as to avoid unnecessary
delay, its constitution will have to be amended and its staff
increased. There is only one consideration that has weight—
viz., the national interest; and the convenience or incon-
venience of newly-appointed authorities must give way to
trade interests.

. One of the difficulties created of late in reference to the
coal trade was the institution of a new formality, that

exports to Italy would have to receive the sanction of the
Italian Ambassador. The Cardiff Chamber of Commerce
took action, communicating with Mr. Donald Maclean, M.P.,
who made representations to the Export Licences Com-
mittee, with the result that he was able to inform the
Chamber that the consent of the Italian Ambassador need
not be obtained. Government representatives insisted
locally upon licences being taken out for exports to Algeria;
and here again the Chamber had to act, .Mr. Maclean repre-
senting their case before the Licence Committee; and, as a
consequence, it was shown that the demand of the authori-
ties locally was not justified, but that exports to Algeria, as
well as to any dependency of the Allies, did not require the
issue of a licence.

Custom House returns have been made as usual, showing
shipments of coal; but in regard to these, it is needful to
point out again that inasmuch as all shipments on Admiralty
account, and probably some on account of Allied Govern-
ments also, are excluded from the returns, the figures are
valueless for the purposes of comparison.

A contractor at the Aberaman Colliery was fined in the
Aberdare Police-court for paying wages in a. public-house
contrary to .the law. It was stated that the practice had
been in operation for years. The stipendiary, in imposing
the fine, said he hoped it would be a warning to others, for
the intention of the Legislature was to prevent wages being
paid in public-houses.

Mr. D. A. Thomas, head of the Cambrian Combine, has
reached his home at Llanwern, near Newport,after his experi-
ence in the “ Lusitania ” tragedy. He told a reporter of
his unnerving experiences, and said, he was greatly impressed
by the number of messages received when it was known
that he was safe. In particular, there was a telegram of
sympathy from the ^Miners’ Federation officials, of which
Mr. Thomas says, “ I think I appreciated that more than
any other. Lady Mackworth (Mr. Thomas’s daughter) is
still ill from the effects of her long immersion in the sea.
On Monday, Mr. Thomas was .at his office at Cardiff Docks
as usual.

The will has been proved of the late Mr. Wm. Evans,
of Brynteg, Merthyr, general manager of Messrs. Guest,
Keen and Nettlefolds, who died in February last at the age
of 71. The gross value of the estate is £42,899, and net
personalty £40,255. The property is left to deceased’s
widow for life; afterwards, to his children.

Lord St.- Aldwyn, to the general regret of both sides of ’
the Conciliation Board, has intimated his wish to retire
from the position of independent chairman. His lordship
stated that he felt physically unequal to the work, and
would like to retire as soon as convenient; but the Concilia-
tion Board has unanimously passed a resolution urging him
to reconsider bis decision.

A new dock for Cardiff was the subject of discussion on
Monday, at a meeting of the Chamber of Trade (an organisa-
tion which must be distinguished from the Chamber of
Commerce). Mr. Jennings, chairman of the Merchants’ Pro-
tection Association of Wales and the West of England,
advocated the provision of an import dock, which would
also be available for general exports. This, he/argued,
should be without coal tips, so as, to avoid damaging the
general cargoes by coal dust. Yet it should have a large
entrance basin or outer dock, with tips suitable for coaling
three or four steamers on each side. This would enable
a vessel bringing an inward cargo to load outwards with
coal for cargo or bunkers without changing dock. He
described the topographical facilities for constructing such
a new dock; and then suggested that there should be a
mutual agreement between the Cardiff and Penarth dock
owners, with a pooling of all receipts ; and that the proposed
new import dock should have its income guaranteed by the
Cardiff Corporation, with a pledge of the ratio up to 6d. in
the £ for meeting any loss on the working. Mr. Jennings
referred to the- example of Bristol, where the Corporation
own the docks; and his argument provoked keen discussion.
Mr. T. A. Walker, secretary of the Taff Vale Railway
Company (who own the Penarth Dock) quoted figures to
show that although there had been a considerable increase
in the tonnage dealt with at Penarth since 1888 with
immense addition to the quantity of coal shipped, the do6k
dues had actually decreased from 3*61d. per ton to 2’22d.
per ton. He was inclined to doubt whether the time had
come for making a new dock, and would rather use the
existing facilities to their fullest extent.

Northumberland and Durham.

Coal Exporters' Troubles : Licences Unreasonably With-
held—Developments at Jarrow—Home Office Prosecu-
tion Withdrawn.

The promise of little interference with the continuance
of the local mining industry, which was held out last week
to a deputation of Newcastle business men by the Coal
Export Control Committee, presided over by Mr. Russell
Rea, has not, apparently, been found possible of fulfilment.
The local coal trade has had one of the most anxious,
worrying and costly weeks which has fallen to its lot since
the commencement of the war, and, at the time of writing,
there appears to be no reason to suppose that the week now
entered upon will afford much relief. Excellent work is
being done by the Advisory Committee of Newcastle Com-
mercial Exchange, and the services which Mr. Herbert
Shaw, secretary of the Exchange, has been able to render
to coal shippers cannot be too highly praised. Mr. Shaw
has succeeded in inducing the authorities to revoke many
unfavourable decisions as to the issue of licences—a
circumstance which points to the fact that the authorities
do not know their own collective mind on such matters.
Many licences have been refused for reasons which are not
readily ascertainable, and the whole issue seems to be
dictated by caprice—a highly unsatisfactory and unbusi-
nesslike state of affairs. All sections of the mining com-
munity—coal owners, miners and merchants alike—unite
in expressing their grave apprehension at the present situa-
tion, and Messrs. William Weir and William Straker, of
the Northumberland Miners’ Association, are taking joint
action with the business and commercial elements in the
coal trade to overcome the difficulties which at present rear
themselves as obstacles to the regular working of the pits. :
Already several large collieries in the county, which have
worked full time for a considerable period in the recent
past, are finding their employment very severely curtailed,
and an extension of this trouble is to be. feared. The
commercial community has done all within its power to
co-operate with the authorities to facilitate the granting
of licences for cargoes for the bona-fides of which it can
vouch, and much irritation is felt at the haphazard fashion
in which the Government Committee has acted up till. now.

At the Durham County Court on Tuesday last, Judge