August 20, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 375 mould the syndicate to his wishes, was best calculated to assist the. State in this matter, was not apprised of the State’s intentions in this connection. Had such intentions been made known, the negotiations for renew- ing the existing syndicate would have been greatly facilitated, mutual concessions being certainly arranged. The reason for selecting the present moment for the astonishing publication of the Decree is obscure. If it be assumed that the intention was to stimulate the formation of a private syndicate, and not ulterior pur- poses on the part of the administration, it is difficult to understand why the step was taken without previous consultation with the parties concerned, especially at such a time when patriotic feeling would have prevented the creation or accentuation of difficulties. “It is bitter (says the Cologne Gazette) when the Government launches such very incisive Decrees, built on the 22 years’ organisation of the Coal Syndicate, without con- sulting the men who have made that organisation their life work, or asking them as to the effect on their endeavours directed toward the same end.’’ Attempts are now concentrated on the formation of an interim syndicate for a period of 15 months from January 1 next, and if this goes through in place of a five years’ syndicate, the negotiations for renewal will have to be resumed at once, in addition to the tasks which particu- larly encumber the directors of large enterprises at the present time. The depth of water in the Rhine fluctuated consider- ably during July in consequence of the frequent storms, but was, on the whole, favourable to traffic, so that fully-laden large craft were able to get up as far as Lauterburg, though they had occasionally to be lightened for Strassburg. In the Ruhr harbours the oncoming consignments of coke showed a large increase, but those of coal declined. However, the supply was regular, and the tipplers in work were able to deal with the material at hand without having to put in much overtime. On the Rhine itself, the turnover at the Rheinpreussen, Schwelgern, and Walsum wharves increased considerably. Most of the shipments were direct to consumers, leaving little surplus available for winter stock, and most of this was sent to the stock- yards above Mannheim. The shipments of gas and large coal to Belgium increased, and, conversely, large shipments of house coal, small industrial grades, and even briquettes, have latterly been forwarded up the Rhine. Some of the boat loads of small have been unloaded at Ruhrort and despatched by train to Ham- burg and Harburg; and, similarly, a few cargoes from Schwelgern have been sent on to Emden vid the Rhine- Herne Canal. In view of the restricted output, the exports to Holland are insufficient to satisfy the exten- sive demand. Coal Market in South Germany. The conditions of distribution remain practically unchanged. The demand continues extremely active, and beyond the power of the restricted output to satisfy completely, though sufficient is available to meet the actual needs of industrial and agricultural consumers. The additional enquiries are due, in part, to the desire to lay in as much stock as possible before the expected lise in price occurs, and also to the dread of consider- able, scarcity when the increased autumn requirements set in. These considerations appear to influence con- sumers whose business has latterly declined, since they are taking full delivery of what is due to them under contract., although at present unable to use it. Whole- salers will therefore be obliged to make careful investi- gations into real needs before making delivery in the new period, which begins on September 1, for Ruhr coal, and on October 1 for Saar coal, in order that they may be able to apportion the restricted supply accord- ingly, and continue to minimise inconvenience. Claims based on the old level of supply will, under certain cir- cumstances, be set aside in favour of firms who have a more, pressing need for fuel in order to fulfil war orders. Outside dealers will have a considerable influence on prices., but this influence will be moderated by the large quantities of Belgian coal recently being shipped to the South German and Swiss markets, and sold at prices that bear no relation to those of equivalent grades of Ruhr coal. Still more active is the demand for house coal, purchasers of which usually wait until the autumn before securing their winter stocks. Consumers are unduly afraid of a shortage in the supply later, and are pressing retailers for delivery; but as a number of them have undoubtedly covered themselves already, business may be expected to quieten down after awhile. Mean- while, however, the demands of retailers are far in excess of the quantities available, the greatest difficulty still being to find sufficient anthracite for the require- ments of the market. The situation is not relieved to any appreciable extent by the small shipments of Belgian anthracite, now that Holland is again buying more freely and railway consignments to Switzerland have been resumed. The shortage of smithy nuts is acutely felt, and cannot be overcome for the moment. Large bituminous nuts are more plentiful, but not suffi- cient for all needs. Orders for broken coke are out of all proportion to the supply, the production having declined. in consequence of the scarcity of labour, so that deliveries are getting more and more in arrear. The case, of gas coke is little better, the amounts placed at the disposal of the trade being small, because the municipal gas works are retaining the reduced output for their own purposes and local sale, whilst prices have been repeatedly advanced since July 1. The supply of brown coal briquettes is also disappointing, the Briquette Syndicate having reduced buyers’ allotments by 20 per cent, during July and August. Shipments of coal from the Ruhr have been more satisfactory of late, owing to the favourable condition of the river. The supply of through and through coal in particular has improved, and has furnished industrial users with a sub- stitute for small nuts, which have been scarce. Oncoming cargoes have mostly gone direct to con- sumers, little being left over for stock. Small coal for briquetting has also been available in larger quantity, and this circumstance, coupled with the existence of stocks, would have enabled briquetters to maintain their output at the normal level, were it not for the shortage of skilled labour to run the machines. The demand for briquettes is extremely large, especially as fuel for threshing engines. Coal Syndicate Report. In addition to the main figures given in our last issue, the report for June gives the following particulars relating to the outside pits which have a sales agree- ment with the syndicate :—Coal raised, 421,201 tons (492,063 tons in June 1914); total coal distribution, 380,039 tons (467,173 tons), of which 169,697 tons (198,043 tons) were for syndicate account; total distribu- tion of coke, 99,554 tons (165,146 tons), of which 62,071 tons (107,765 tons) were for syndicate account; t< tai distribution of briquettes, 3,388 tons (nil), all being for syndicate account. During the first 11 months of the war the total coal raised by the syndicated collieries amounted to 63,163,983 tons (90,018,288 tons), a deficit of 26,854,305 tons; calculated distribution, 49,048,825 tons (70,085,490 tons), a deficit of 21,036,665 tons); total coal distribution 63,700,346 tons (89,101,664 tons), a deficit of 25,401,318 tons. TRADE AND THE WAR. The Minister of Munitions has announced that up to August 6, 345 establishments had been declared “ controlled establishments ” under section 4. of the Munitions of War Act. As a result of this control, the profits of the employers are limited. The first case in Scotland of a complaint by employees against, employers under the Munitions of War Act was heard in Glasgow on the 13th inst., when two apprentice platers complained that their employers, James Fullerton and Company, shipbuilders, Paisley, unreasonably withheld transfer certificates from them, and they were unable to get employment in another munitions establishment. One of the men said he left his work on account of not being paid the same price for a job as he received for the job before it. He was told he could not restart until after Paisley Eair. He got work in another yard, where he was dismissed after four days on account of a complaint by Messrs. Eullerton. He offered to restart, but was refused. The Court, while feeling that Mr. Fullerton should have restarted the lads when they came back, found that, as they left of their own accord, a transfer must be refused, and they would have to go back and start work immediately after the holiday. The Court thought there was some hardship so far as the lads were concerned. The firm practically suspended them for a long period, and, as they were engaged on war work, their time was precious. Dr. Charles Carpenter, at the half-yearly meeting of the South Metropolitan Gas Company last week, referring to the recent-high prices of coal, said that such was their primary difficulty. The cost of purchase and supply showed no sign of receding from the high figure to which it rose as a result of the coal strike of 1912. Prior to this they had expected that coal could on the whole be purchased at a reasonable figure, and that if, owing to exceptional circumstances, the price for any 12 months rose above the average, it quickly reverted to its former level. They were now suffering from having had three and a-half years, straight off, with dear coal, and little or no sign of improvement. It did not seem illogical that coal, the raw material required for the produc- tion of gas, should be treated on the principle of a sliding scale. Parliament, it would seem, had at last realised the urgency of the matter, and a limit had now been fixed to the price to be paid for coal purchased after a certain date. Their usual procedure with regard to the purchase of coal for many years had been to go into the market in the early spring, and to arrange contracts for the ensuing 12 months, and the collieries in the habit of supplying gas coals to them were fully aware that this was the course they followed. Their great anxiety in settling these contracts this year, however, was not the price to be paid for the coal, but the fact that nearly everybody offered less than had been their custom in previous years. Their reply was that the output was largely reduced owing to enlistment, and what coal they had to spare must be shared among their regular customers. If the regular customers had been entirely British one would not have had serious complaint to make about such an arrangement. But when it was remembered that the Con- tinent took a large share, it was high time the Government interfered, for no change seemed possible except by Govern- ment action. Take, for instance, a colliery that was in the habit, of supplying one-third of its output to Great Britain and two-thirds to the Continent. It would be too much to expect it to run the risk of offending its Continental customers by going on supplying British ones to their detri- ment. The action of the Government was having the desired effect. They were now filling up their stores at a rate that would have been absolutely impossible, unless drastic restrictions had been enforced. With regard to the freight question, they were getting over this trouble bv pro- viding their own steamers. The war had also interfered with the company’s trade in residual products. It had been suggested that restrictions should be placed upon the profits gas companies should be allowed to make out of residual products. The short answer to that was that as the result of the past half-year’s working, the shareholders of the South Metropolitan Gas Company had to be content with a considerably reduced dividend. In regard to two by-products which were required for the manufacture of high explosives, he was in a position to say that whatever might be the case with manufacturers or agents, it was certainly not the case that the gas companies were making unfair‘profits out of the country’s requirements. In fact, the prices thev were getting for those two important constituents were actually fixed by a Government committee which had had before them the market prices these by-products had fetched during the past 12 or 14 years. Following upon the recent vote in Parliament with a view to taking measures for increasing the coal output of France, members of the Sub-Commission of Mines have been, visit- ing the mines in the Department of the Tarn. They were assured by the miners of Carmaux, who had already refused to suspend work on May 1, that they would do their utmost to increase the output of coal in order to accomplish to the full their patriotic duty. The following Note has been issued in Paris :—“ The steps taken by British Government in forbidding the export of every kind of coal and coke as from August 13 was of a nature to arouse the most legitimate anxiety. The actual need for fuel in France cannot be met, so long as French territory has not been cleared of the enemy, except by making a heavy call on imports. Belgian and German imports having completely ceased, it is necessary for us to ask of England the coal which we require. The Minister for Public Works therefore sent the Director of Mines to London, with instructions to explain to the British Government the grave inconvenience which would be caused in France by any measure forbidding the export of coal from England. This high official has just returned to Paris, and has brought most formal assurances from the British Government that France’s needs in fuel will have to suffer in no way by the measures laid down, and that our country will receive all the coal it may require. The formalities for obtaining export- licences were and would be simplified in every possible way. An official of the Corps of Mining Engineers has been sent to London, to represent permanently French interests on the British Exports Committee, and so solve in the most satisfactory manner for all the interests concerned any diffi- culties which might arise.’’ The Swedish Naval Committee has reported to the Govern- ment that Britain has refused to give permission for the export of certain coal bought for the Swedish Navy. The Board of Trade announce that professional men who have practical experience in various branches and grades of the engineering trades, and are anxious at the present time to place their services at the disposal of the Government, are invited to consider the possibility of undertaking manual work in connection with the production of munitions of war. The great need of the moment is for skilled mechanics (turners, fitters, millwrights, etc.). Men whose training has included engineering workshop experience can do valuable service by offering to do manual work at the usual rates of payment for such work. They will not displace any skilled workman who is already employed or is capable of being employed upon the production of munitions. They will simply increase the army of those who by work at home help the Armies abroad. Professional men who wish to offer their services to this end should send full particulars of their qualifications to the “ Engineers’ War Service Register,” Queen Anne’s-chambers, Westminster, S.W. The National Advisory Committee on War Output have issued a manifesto to workers in the engineering and allied trades, in which they declare that a restriction of output in this great crisis cannot be too emphatically condemned. The manifesto continues : That the existence of this country should be imperilled and the lives of its soldiers squandered because a minority of workmen are apprehensive that their workshop conditions may be threatened if they turn out too much work at this time, is unthinkable. Apart from national and patriotic considerations, no workman need fear that his interests will be jeopardised. Under the Treasury agreement every conceivable safeguard was set up to protect the work- man’s interests when we return to normal times. No loop- hole was left for any employer to make use of the abnormal workshop conditions during the war to exploit his workmen for his own profit after the demand for labour has fallen off, and this position has been further safeguarded by a clause in the Munitions Act. Bills of Lading. — The Board of Trade have received numerous enquiries with regard to the manner in which bills of lading should be made out during the war, in order to minimise risk of delay if vessels are boarded or diverted at sea by officers of his Majesty’s Navy. It should be clearly understood that no form of consignment will secure to vessels immunity from the belligerent right of visit, search and detention, whatever the country or port from which they may have shipped the goods they are carrying, and whatever the description of those goods; compliance with the following recommendations in respect of bills of lading will, however, minimise the risk of delay, and will there- fore be in the interest both of the ship and of the goods :— 1. Shipments to Neutral European ports or Russian ports in the Baltic, or by vessels calling at a Neutral European port.—In the case of goods shipped to a neutral European port or to a Russian port in the Baltic, or shipped by a vessel which is to call at a neutral European port, it is recommended that bills of lading should never be made out “ to order,” but that they should be made out either (a) to a named consignee, or (b) to a bank or financial house of high standing, with the remark “ Notify A.B.,” “ A.B.” being the name of the person or firm for whom the goods are ultimately destined. Goods shipped to Holland should be consigned to the Netherlands Oversea Trust. 2. Shipments to British, French, or Italian ports or Russian ports not in the Baltic.—It is not necessary that goods shipped to a British, French, or Italian port, or to a Russian port not in the Baltic, should be consigned as above described, provided that it is clearly indicated in the bill of lading and in the manifest that the ultimate destination is a