236

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

July 30, 1915.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

The outward freight market has been very much dis-
turbed during the past week by abnormal conditions set up by
the strike at South Wales collieries, and, up to the time of
writing, has not fully recovered from the dislocation to
which business was subjected immediately on the declaration
of the strike. There were very few boats transferred from
South Wales to other tramp tonnage centres, and, on the
conclusion of the stoppage, a great surplus of tonnage was
in evidence in that district. Many boats had to be can-
celled through the strike, and those merchants who could
secure stems obtained tonnage at practically their own prices.
By comparison with recent rates, prices for cargo space show
a tremendous slump, and, in several cases, quotations have
come down fully 50 per cent. North France is very weak,
and Rouen has been done at 10s. from Cardiff, a decrease
of from Is. 3d. to 3s. 3d. on pre-strike rates. The Bay has
likewise fallen in a remarkable manner, Bordeaux being
from 34 fr. to 7| fr. lower, and now possible at not much
more than 10 fr. Rates for St. Nazaire are now even lower
than those for North France. A representative figure is
about 9fr., as compared with 15 fr. paid prior to the sus-
pension of business. For Mediterranean ports, vessels have
been offered so freely that Genoa can now be done at about
16s. 6d.; Alexandria at 20s., a decrease of 5s. on the week;
Algiers at 17 fr., a fall of fully 5 fr. since last report; and
Marseilles at 18 fr., a reduction of from 4 fr. to 6 fr. There
is nothing doin^to the River Plate, but quotations rule almost
steady. It is 'too much to hope that rates so comparatively
small as those now quoted will last long, and, when tonnage
begins to be stemmed with something more nearly approach-
ing regularity, it is probable that prices will advance again.
The net result of the strike, however, should be a reduction
of rates. At the north-east coast a fair week’s business has
been transacted, and, apart from the fact that rather more
tonnage has been on offer, conditions have not changed much.
A number of merchants are contending that a considerable
amount of French coal business is being withdrawn from
the north country coal fields as a result of the lower rates
prevailing at South Wales, and if that be so, the demand for
tonnage at the Tyne and other northern ports should diminish
somewhat, thereby tending to reduce rates. The greater
portion of the tonnage taken up during the week has been
for coasting and French ports, although the Mediterranean,
particularly Italian ports, has been more favoured. Coasting
is steady on the basis of from 7s. to 7s. 3d. Tyne to London.
North France is 6d. down to Rouen, from 6d. to Is. 6d. to
Havre, and from 3d. to 6d. cheaper to Caen, but Dunkirk and
Boulogne are slightly firmer. The Bay shows a fall of Is.
for Bordeaux, and of about 6d. for St. Nazaire. Rates for
Mediterranean destinations are well maintained at about
recent levels.

Homewards, North Pacific is mentioned at 95s. for Sept.-
Oct. The rice ports are quiet at 70s. Saigon to France or
United Kingdom. India is slow, with Bombay at from
51s. 3d. to 52s. 6d. on d.w., and Kurrachee at 42s. 6d. to
44s., barley-wheat. The Mediterranean and ore ports are
fairly steady at 11s. Algiers to Tyne, with Greek ore ports
quoted at 14s. 6d. America is dull, but fairly well main-
tained, with grain paying 11s. for Gulf to West Italy for
Aug.-Oct. Lumber rates are quoted at about 240s. to
east coast, United Kingdom. Deals are quiet, with 142s. 6d.
paid from West Bay, a rate difficult of repetition. The
River Plate advanced smartly on the week, and attained
63s. 9d. for August, but is now down to about 60s., with
tonnage in position asking 2s. 6d. more. The forward
market is represented by 60s. for Sept.-Oct.

Tyne to Algiers, 3,000, 18s. 6d.; Brest, 1,500, 13s. 6d.;
Boucan, 3,500, 18s.; 1,200, 18s.; Bordeaux, 4,500, 18s.,
re-charter; 1,500, 18s. 6d.; 2,000, 18s. 6d.; Boulogne, 800,
13s. 6d.; 400, 18s. 6d., coke; 470, 20s., coke; Caen, 700,
13s.; 13s. 6d.; Calais, 300 tons coke, 20s.; Copenhagen,
2,000, 12s.; Dunkirk, 470, 20s., coke; 1,800, 13s. 6d.;
Fecamp, 1,800, 13s. 6d.; Genoa, 5,000, 25s.; 3,500, 25s.;

4.500,	25s.; 3,000, 25s.; Gibraltar, 3,200, 18s.; Havre,
13s. 6d.; 700, 12s. 9d.; 3,200, 12s. 6d.; London, 2,400, 7s.;
3,000, 7s.; 1,300, 7s. 6d.; 1,700, 7s. 3d., C.T.; 600, 8s.;
Marseilles, 1,250, 24s. 6d.; 2,400, 24s. 6d., 600; Morlaix,
500, 15s.; Port Said, 7,500, 24s.; Palma, 1,800, 25s.,
reported; Rouen, 1,500, 14s. 6d.; 1,000, 14s. 6d.; 2,500,
14s. 6d.; 1,650, 14s.; Rotterdam, 1,700, 12s. 6d.; St.
Nazaire, 1,700, 17s.; 2,300, 17s.; St. Servan, 1,000, 13s. 6d.;
Savona, 3,500, 25s.; 3,000, 25s.; Spezzia, 3,000, 25s.

Cardiff to Alexandria, 4,300, 20s. 6d., 700; 4,600, 20s.,
500; Algiers, 2,600, 17 fr.; Boulogne, 1,400, 10s.; Buenos
Ayres, 26s., July-Aug.; 27s. 6d., July-Aug.; Bayonne, 3,000,
13 fr.; Bahia Blanca, 28s.; Bordeaux, 2,900, 15 fr.; 3,000,
13 fr.; 2,300, 12| fr.; 3,300, 11 fr.; Catania, 3,200 , 21s. 6d.,
400; Chantenay, 1,600, 13 fr., 400; 2,000, 12 fr.; Caen, 450,
20s., coke; 1,000, 10s. 6d.; 1,500, 10s. l|d.; 1,000 , 9s. 6d.;
Dieppe, 650, Ils.; 1,750, 10s.; 1,000, 9s.; Genoa, 4,200,
20s. 6d.; 3,200, 20s. 6d., 500; 4,300, 17s. 6d.; 3,000,
17s. 6d.; 3,300, 16s. 6d.; Granville, 1,100, 10s. 6d.;
Gibraltar, 1,400, 14s. 6d.; Havre, 650, 11s.; Honfleur, 650,
Ils.; Leghorn, 3,200, 20s. 6d., 500; 4,300, 17s. 6d.; ’4,600,
15s. 3d., 800; 3,300, 16s. 6d.; La Pallice, 1,800, 14 fr.;
Lisbon, 1,450, 12s. 6d., 350; 1,850, 10s., 500; Messina,
3,200 , 21s. 6d., 400; Marseilles, 2,700, 20 fr.; 5,300, 20 fr.;
3,700, 18 fr.; Naples, 4,600, 15s. 3d., 800, 15s. 9d., 500;
Nantes, 800, 14 fr.; 2,000, 12 fr.; Palermo, 3,200, 21s. 6d.,
400; Rouen, 650, 12s. 6d.; 1,600, 10s. 6d.; 1,400, 10s.;
Rochefort, 2,000, 12| fr.; St. Nazaire, 3,600, Ilf fr.; 3,700,
11 fr.; 1,700, 9 fr. ; Savona, 4,000, 20s. 6d.; 3,200, 20s. 6d.,
500; 4,300, 17s. 6d.; 3,300, 16s. 6d.; Spezzia, 4,200,
20s. 6d.; 3,200, 20s. 6d., 500; 4,300, 17s. 6d.; 3,300,
16s. 6d.; Sables, 1,700, 13 fr.; St. Malo, 1,050, 9s. 6d.;
St. Servan, 1,000, 9s. 6d.; Trouville, 650, Ils.; 450, 20s.,
coke.

Swansea to Rouen, 950, 11s.; 1,200, 10s.; La Rochelle,

1.500,	11| fr. ; Tonnay Charente, 1,300, 13 fr.; Genoa,

3,300,	20s.; 2,400, 19s. 6d.; Savona, 3,300, 20s.; Leghorn,

3,300,	20s.; Honfleur, 1,300, 10s.; Casablanca, 900, 27s.,
fuel; Caen, 800, 10s.; 1,000, 10s. 6d.: Oran, 1,500, 20 fr.;
Havre, 950, 10s.; 1,200, 9s.; St. Servan, 1,000, 9s. 6d.;
St. Nazaire, 2,800, 12 fr.; Granville, 700, 10s.; St. Malo,
700, 10s.; Rochefort, 1,500, Ilf fr.

Port Talbot to Cadiz, 1,500, 16s.; Genoa, 3,500, 19s.;
Rouen, 2,100, 10s.; Bayonne, 3,000, 13 fr.; St. Nazaire,

3,300,	11 fr.; Bordeaux, 2,300, 124 fr.; 3.000, 13 fr.;
Nantes, 800, 11 fr.; 1,850, 11 fr.

Newport to Genoa, 4,500, 20s. 6d.; Alexandria, 4,600,
23s.; Bordeaux, 3,300, 15 fr. ;• Salerno, 4,500, 16s., 800;
Torre Annunziata, 4,500. 16s., 800; Marseilles, 5,300, 20 fr.;
Rouen, 1,100, 10s. 6d. ; Rochefort, 2,000, 111, fr., 500; Caen,
1,000, 9s. 6d.; Gibraltar, 14s. 6d.

Humber to Calais, 650, 13s. 9d.; Boulogne, 650, 13s. 9d.;
Dunkirk, 650, 14s. 3d., voyages.

Mersey to Barcelona, 3,000, 19s. 6d., July, reported.

Birkenhead to Huelva, 15s. 6d.

Goole to Boulogne, 650, 13s. 9d.

Llanelly to Dieppe, 750, 10s. 3d.; Havre, 700, 10s.

Hull to Rouen, 2,700, 15s.; 1,950, 15s.; 900, 14s. 6d.; 950,
13s. 6d.; 2,600, 14s. 9d.; Brixham, 1,150, 8s.; Dieppe, 800,
13s.; Honfleur, 900, 13s. 6d.; Caen, 950, 13s. 6d.; Dunkirk,
950, 13s. 6d.

Blyth to Caen, 1,800, 13s.; Cherbourg, 850, 12s. 9d.

Wear to Havre, 1,200, 12s. 6d.; Rochefort, 1,300, 17s.;
Rouen, 1,500, 14s. 6d.

Fowey to Philadelphia, 5,000, 10s. 6d., china clay; New
York, 5,000, 10s. 6d., china clay.

Ellesmere Port to Otte, 1,700, 18s.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Conciliation Board sat on Monday, but failed to reach
a decision upon the minor terms of the new agreement.
Several matters- require settlement between the two sides,
and a sub-committee has been appointed, 10 from the owners
and 10 from the workmen, to draft the new agreement.
Lord St. Aldwyn will be asked to act as independent chair-
man of the new board, and in the event of the parties failing
to agree upon points in the new agreement these will go
to the President of the Board of Trade, whose decision will
be final. This is in accordance with the arrangement made
when Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Runciman came to Cardiff.
The Board resolved on Monday that the workmen’s holiday
should be limited to one day, namely Bank Holiday, instead
of the usual three days. The sub-committee adjourned to
London for a meeting on Wednesday.

North of England.

At a mass meeting of Ashington miners, held on Sunday
last, the following resolution was unanimously carried :
“ That this meeting expresses its strong disapproval at the
coal owners withholding the percentage due as per Mr.
Asquith’s award, and that, failing a satisfactory settlement
within seven days, we request our association to call a
special council meeting to consider what further steps shall
be taken.”

With a view to making the sick fund self-supporting, the
council of the Durham Miners’ Association has decided that
the payment thereto shall be increased by Id. per member
per week, the increase to take effect from the “ big pay ”
on July 30, and from the “ small pay ” on August 6.

The voting in connection with the appointment of two
agents to fill vacancies amongst the officials of the Durham
Miners’ Association has now reduced the original 107
candidates to five, as follows :—W. P. Richardson, Usworth;
J. Batey, South Shields; P. Lee, Wheatley Hill; J.
Gilliland, Ouston; and R. Richardson, Ry hope. Ballot
papers, returnable to-morrow (Saturday), have been sent out
with a view to a final selection.

The strike at Plenmellor Colliery, Halt whistle, which has
lasted a fortnight, has been settled, and the men returned
to work on Tuesday morning.

The Northumberland miners’ executive has refused to
allow the night-shift men at the collieries to work more than
10 shifts per fortnight, on the ground that it is contrary to
the county agreement.

Federated Area.

The Coal Owners’ Association of Leicestershire left the
matter of the August/holiday entirely to the men, who have
patriotically decided to take only the Monday Bank Holiday.
The collieries are working practically six days a week. The
miners will cease work at one o’clock on Saturday, and the
night shifts will go down on Monday night, so that the
collieries will be fully working on Tuesday morning.

As expected, the threatened strike of surface workers at
thin seam collieries in the Barnsley district has been averted,
as the result of further negotiations at Barnsley on Monday.
The difficulty arose regarding the new wages agreement. The
owners, who are connected with the Barnsley and District
Coal Owners’ Association, offered a scale which is about
5 per cent, less than that paid by the firms embraced in the
South Yorkshire Coal Owners’ Association. This the men
refused, and notices were tendered at several collieries. The
dispute was considered at a joint meeting in London, at
which Sir George Askwith presided, and at the suggestion of
the local Coal Owners’ Association. At Monday’s meeting
terms of settlement were amicably agreed to. The Barnsley
and District Coal Owners’ Association reserved to themselves
the right to submit the whole question to arbitration in
accordance with the terms of reference agreed upon at the
London meeting. In the meantime, the owners undertake to
pay rates of wages and observe hours and conditions of
labour not less favourable than those requested in the letter
from the workmen’s Federation, dated May 7. The new
rates of pay will commence to be payable from the making-up
day in the week commencing July 19. Upon this the repre-
sentatives of the workmen agreed that notices handed in at
certain collieries should be withdrawn.

The Committee on Production in Engineering and Ship-
building Establishments Engaged in Government Work have
now issued their award respecting an increased wage claim
by the shopmen mechanics, etc., in the North Staffordshire
collieries. The application was first made to the North
Staffordshire Colliery Owners’ Association by the National
Amalgamated Union of Enginemen, Firemen, Mechanics,
and Electric Workers for a “ war bonus ” of 15 per cent,
on the then existing wages of “ the following grades of
labour employed at or about the surface of the various
collieries, namely, mechanics and other shopmen, locomotive
drivers, stokers, and shunters.” Conferences of the parties
took place in May, June, July, and October of that year, in
the course of which the employers expressed their willingness
to consider individual cases of hardship. In October the
employers made a proposal for an advance of wages to men
being paid under 5s. per day, subject to certain conditions,
but the offer was not accepted by the men. Further
meetings and correspondence ensued, and on February 19,
1915, an agreement providing for an advance of wages to
the men concerned was arrived at between the parties.
On April 23, 1915, the secretary of the above union applied
on behalf of all members of his union for such “ war bonus ”
as might be agreed upon as a result of negotiations between
the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain and the colliery
owners of the district. The advance to be given in respect
of members of the Miners’ Federation was settled at a
meeting of the Board of Conciliation for the Coal Trade of
the Federated districts on May 21, at 15| per cent., as and
from May 5, 1915, and the colliery owners offered to extend
this advance to the members of the National Amalgamated
Union of Enginemen, Firemen, Mechanics and Electrical

Workers, other than those covered by the agreement of
February 19. Negotiations took place between the parties,
but no settlement was arrived at as to the bonus to be given
to this latter class of workpeople, and it was agreed to refer
the matter to the Committee on Production for decision.
The finding of the committee is that on the evidence
brought before them at the hearing, the agreement of
February 19 was not an agreement made in consequence of
the war (although the war may have aided in bringing it
about), but the result of a series of negotiations between the
parties extending from April to July 1914, and October 1914,
to February 1915, and they decided that the advance of
15| per cent, given as stated above as a result of the •
negotiations between the colliery owners and the Miners’
Federation to the members of the latter body should be given
also from the same date and be payable in the same manner
to the workpeople covered by the present reference.

After a meeting of the executive of the Yorkshire Miners’
Association, held at Barnsley, on Monday, the president (Mr.
H. Smith) in the chair, Mr. J. Wadsworth, M.P. (general
secretary) said complaints had been received from men
employed at the Woodlesford, Oulton, and Mickleford
collieries that the rents of the houses occupied by them had
been advanced. The executive, said Mr. Wadsworth, pro-
tested strongly against such action at the present time. He
had been instructed to place the facts before the war emer-
gency committee. A list of 225 members was approved by
the executive for exemption from further contributions as
members of the association. These exemptions have been
granted under a new rule, as follows :—“ All members off
work through sickness or disablement, or unfit for work
through old age, or in receipt of old-age pensions, are
ineligible for strike, lock-out, or victimisation pay during the
time of such disablement or receipt; any such member shall
pay the sum of 3d. per week to secure death allowance, but
members over 60 years of age, and who have been members
of the association 20 years and upwards, unable to work
through sickness or disablement or old age, to be exempt
from paying contributions to secure death allowances. Before
such exemption is made by the branch secretary, application
must be made to council or executive committee for endorse-
ment.”—Mr. Wadsworth said the list was larger than anti-
cipated. There were other rules which provided for this
class of member, an allowance of £6 in the event of the
death of the member’s wife, and the widow of such a
member, by paying 3d. per week, could secure to the person
entitled the payment of a similar amount in the event of
her death. The executive dealt with cases of alleged victimi-
sation, and also decided that Mr. F. Hall, M.P. (agent of
the association) should institute proceedings to recover the
amount claimed by Man vers Main miners for cutting.

Scotland.

A meeting of the Scottish Coal Trade Conciliation Board
was held in Glasgow on Tuesday to deal with an application
on behalf of the miners for an advance of 25 per cent, on
rhe 1888 basis, equal to Is. per day. The present wage,
including two advances recently granted, is 8s. 3d. per day.
The parties failed to agree, and the meeting was adjourned
till Friday, August 13.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain.

The .executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain
met at the Westminster Palace Hotel on Wednesday, Mr.
Robert Smillie (president) in the chair. The only matter of
public interest was the reference which' has been made to the
Prime Minister of the wage position in the Northumberland
coal field, as affected by the war bonus of 15 per cent,
recently granted to the miners under Mr. Asquith’s decision.
Mr. Ashton (the secretary) presented a letter from Mr.
Asquith, to the effect that he should have to discuss the
point raised by the miners with the Northumberland coal
owners before coming to a decision, and that he would com-
municate later with respect to the request to receive a depu-
tation of the Federation officials and Mr. Straker.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The half-yearly meeting of the Board of Conciliation for
the Iron and Steel Trade of the North of England was
held on Tuesday at Newcastle, Mr. J. Reay, Stockton
(president), in the chair. The standing committee reported
the membership to be unchanged, namely, nine works,
owned by seven firms. The average number of operative
subscribing members during the past half-year had been
3,520, as compared with 3,516 in the previous six months,
an increase of four. The statement of receipts and
expenditure for the six months ended June 30, shows—
Balance in hand, January 1, 1915, £190 3s.; receipts,
383 5s. lOd.; expe iditure, £402 4s. 4d.; balance in hand,
June 30, 1915, £171 4s. 6d. At a special meeting in
March there was considered a claim on behalf of the
operatives for the payment of a war bonus. An agreement
was come to fcr the adoption of a scale of payments, and
the arrangement is working smoothly and satisfactorily.
Three ascertainments of the average net selling price of
finished iron had been received since the annual board
meeting, but only the last one affected wages under the
sliding scale agreement, when 5 per cent, advance was
awarded. The wages of steel millmen at those works
governed by the operations of the sliding scale that specially
applies thereto, were advanced 2| per cent, from the
beginning of April last, and 74 per cent, from the beginning
of the present month. The chairman moved the adoption
of the report. Most of them, he said, had been fairly busy
during the last six months, and employment had been good.
Although they were living in very troublous times, there
had not been a single case of dispute during the half-year
brought to that board, and he thought they had every right
to congratulate themselves and to be proud of that result.
He wished that other trades would adopt methods similar
to theirs so as to prevent strikes and lock-outs, and all the
troubles which they entailed. Under the present war
conditions, they would all agree with him that the strikes
and lock-outs should not occur. The report was adopted.

The Triple Alliance.

The 28 unions affiliated to the Transport Workers’
Federation has instructed the executive committee to take
immediate steps to complete the projected alliance with the
miners and railwaymen, in order that the combined organisa-
tions may be in a position to resist by national strike any
attempt on the part of employers to take away on the
conclusion of peace, the war bonuses granted to workers in
various trades. The membership of the Transport
Federation is over 500,000, and of the Miners’ Federation
and Railwaymen’s Union, 700,000 and 300,000 respectively,
making a grand total of 1,500,000 workers affected by the
proposal. The projected alliance was the subject of
negotiations before the war. but on the outbreak of hostilities
they were suspended at the suggestion of the Board of Trade.