578 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 17, 1915. greatest.” The question of “spell fatigue” was never considered by them, and it may be recalled that we published some years ago figures showing that in Lancashire the liability to accident was not greatest near the end of the day’s* work. It will readily be seen that the Eight Hours Act, which itself tends to increase the “spell fatigue” by crowding up the hours of work, is based upon a fundamental fallacy, if the British Association Committee’s conclusions be right. What has been done has been done, but this same conclusion should be carefully weighed in dealing with the question of absenteeism, and the adoption of emergency measures calculated to increase the efficiency of the worker. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, September 16. Dublin. The coal trade generally continues to be quiet, nor can much improvement be expected in household qualities while the present very warm weather lasts. Prices all remain unchanged, as follow:—Best Orrell, 34s. per ton; best Wigan, 32s.; best Whitehaven, 32s.; Pemberton Wigan, 31s.; kitchen nuts, 30s.; best slack, 26s.; all less Is. per ton discount for cash. Welsh steam coal, 33s. per ton; Scotch, 29s. per ton net; coke, 34s. per ton net. Pit prices for Irish coal at Wolf hill, Queen’s County, are 25s. per ton for round coal; culm, from 3s. 4d. to 10s. per ton. Pit prices for Kilkenny (Castlecomer) coal, outside of con- tract prices, are as follow :—Best small coal, 23s. 4d. per ton; best large, 21s. 8d.; second quality, 20s.; bottom coal, 16s. 8d.; breakage, Ils. 8d.; culm, 5s. to 8s. 6d. There is a good import trade, and stocks are increasing. The coal vessels arriving in this port during the past week amounted to 61, as compared with 45 the week previously, chiefly from G-arston, Liverpool, Ayr, Preston, Workington, Point of Aire, Ellesmere Port, Partington, Newport, Whitehaven, Maryport and Cardiff. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays, was 24,000 tons, as against 21,000 tons the previous week. Belfast. Although business in most branches is still rather quiet, a fair number of orders are beginning to come is as the inonth advances, to provide for autumn and winter require- ments, and prices remain firm, but unchanged. The following are the current quotations for household coals :— Best Arley, 36s. per ton; Orrell nuts, 35s.; Scotch house coal, 32s.; Orrell slack, 32s. per ton delivered. Approxi- mate prices of steam coal are :—Ordinary Scotch steam coal, 24s. to 25s. per ton; best Scotch navigation, 26s. to 27s. per ton; best Welsh isteam, 38s. to 40s.; best gas coke, 30s. to 32s. per ton; best foundry coke, 40s. to 42s. 6d. per ton. Coal laden vessels arriving during the week were chiefly from Ayr, Garston, Ardrossan, Whitehaven, Point of Aire, Silloth, Partington, Maryport, Workington, Man- chester, Troon, Ellesmere Port, Glasgow, Lydney, Preston, Swansea, and Irvine. From August 15 to September 4 the total number of colliers entering the harbour was 170. A contract is open for a year’s supply of Welsh steam coal for the fire brigade stations. Messrs. J. and A. Hillman Limited, of Dudley, inform us that they have appointed Mr. Percy Ck Ayers, of 25, Victoria-street, London, S.W., their London representative. It is announced that Messrs. Alfred Hol# and Company have acquired from Messrs. T. B. Boyden and Company their fleet of Indra liners, seven in number, which run between New York and the Far East. In the first six months of 1915 the imports of coal and coke into Spain were as follow :— 1915. 1914. Tons. Tons. Coal ............ 756,396 .... 1,329,095 * Coke ............. 94,212 .... 192,085 In the same period 2,161,930 tons of iron ore were exported as against 3,745,509 tons, and 4,534 tons of manganese, as against 6,459 tons. A meeting of the Glasgow Corporation Committee on the price of coal was held on the 10th inst. The Lanark- shire Coal Masters’ Association had been asked to send representatives to the meeting, but a letter was read stating that as the chairman was on holiday and could not be consulted on the matter, no meeting of the executive had been held. The communication added, however, that several coal owners had expressed the opinion that they did not see what good could come out of such a meeting as had been suggested, as the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act regulated prices so far as they were concerned, and the feeling was that they could do nothing beyond what the Act regulated. It was agreed to write again to the Coal Masters’ Association inviting them to send representatives to a meeting of the committee to be held to-day (Friday), with the view of ascertaining what effect the Act would have on the price of coal as sold to agents at the pit head. The first report of the Home Office Departmental Com- mittee on lighting in factories and workshops has just been issued, the Committee feeling that although the investiga- tion is incomplete, and cannot be completed under the con- ditions prevailing at present, it is desirable to make available to the public the work already done, and to formulate certain recommendations regarding suitable standards of illumina- tion. The report contains an immense amount of detailed information, and the subject is discussed at considerable length. The conclusions of the Committee in brief are that statutory standards of “ adequate and suitable illumination ” should be set up, and the standards suggested are a minimum illumination on a horizontal plane at the floor level of 0-25 foot-candle in workrooms, 0-4 foot-candle in foundries, 0T foot-candle in passages, and 0-05 foot-candle in open spaces out of doors. These recommendations are subject to certain qualifications and exemptions. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, September 16. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The position in the west of Scotland coal trade shows no improvement on the week. Values are still easier, and the outlook cannot be called promising. Licensing difficulties are mainly responsible for this position of affairs. It is reported that both British and Allied tonnage is being held up at the west coast ports. Although the industrial demand is well maintained, general business in round coal is far from satisfactory, while washed produce could also show considerable improvement. Under the circumstances, shipments may be called satisfactory, clearances for the week amounting to 115,505 tons, compared with 148,750 in the preceding week and 120,772 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. 1 Current L*st week*s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Steam coal : 15/ -17/ 17/ 10/6-12/6 Ell : 17/ -17/6 17/6-18/ 11/ -11/3 Splint 1 17/6-22/ 17/6-22/ 11/6-14/ Treble nuts ’ 17/9-18/3 18/ 11/6-11/9 Double do 1 16/6-17/6 17/ 10/6-10/9 Single do 1 16/ 16/ 10/6 IRON. No change of importance is reported in the Scotch iron trade. Pig iron makers continue to book new business in sma.il quantities, and the strongest feature is the demand for haematite. There are 72 furnaces in blast in Scotland, the same number as in the preceding week and eight more than in the corresponding week of last year. The prices of Scotch makers* iron are quoted as follows :—Monkland, f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 79s., No. 3, 78s.; Govan, No. 1, 79s., No. 3, 77s. 6d.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 83s., No. 3, 79s.; Clyde, No. 1, 84s. 6d., No. 3, 79s.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1,85s., Nos. 3,80s.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan 3 No. 1, 86s., No. 3, 81s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 80s., No. 3, 79s.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 81s., No. 3, 79s.; Shotts, at Leith, No. 1, 85s., No. 3, 80s.; Carron, at Leith, No. 1, 86s., No. 3, 81s. per ton. The Glasgow pig iron warrant market was inactive during the past week, the total turnover not exceeding 9,000 tons. At the outset prices fell to 64s. 4|d. per ton, but recovered somewhat, and Cleveland iron closed at 64s. 8d. per ton cash buyers, a loss of 2d. per ton on the week. Warrant stores amount to 140,833 tons, compared with 96,272 tons at this period last year. The manufacturing branches of the trade are extremely active. Black sheets of the heavier gauges are in great demand, and large quantities are being turned out, while, owing to the lack of orders for light sheets in view of the quietness in the galvanised sheet trade, light plates are being produced in place of thin sheets. Malleable iron makers have a large amount of work on hand, particularly in the iron and steel bar departments, and outputs are as large as the supply of labour will allow. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Conditions in the Lothians are not improving, and orders for all sorts would be welcomed. Licensing diffi- culties have caused the suspension of operations in one or two instances, and the consequent idleness of over 2,000 miners. The business in washed produce is the only satis- factory feature. Shipments amounted to 43,452 tons, against 37,071 in the preceding week, and 76,513 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L*st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best screened steam coal... 15/6 15/6 11/6 Secondary qualities 14/6 14/6 10/6 Treble nuts 19/ 20/ 11/6 Double do 17/6 17/6 10/6 Single do 16/ 16/ 10/ -10/3 As in other districts, the licensing question is having a disturbing effect on the trade of the Lothians, and business during the past week was quieter than ever. In the absence of orders for large coal, nuts are less plentiful, and several producers will only part with them in return for an order for round coal. On the whole, work at the collieries is poor. Clearances amounted to 50,613 tons, against 57,598 in the preceding week and 58,843 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Lastyear’s prices. Best screened navigation coal ’ 21/ -23/ 23/ 21/ 15/6-15/9 Unscreened do 19/ -21/ 14/ First-class steam coal 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 12/6 Third-class do 14/ -15/ 14/ -15/ 10/ Treble nuts 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 11/6-12/ Double do 17/ -18/ 17/6 10/6 Single do 16/ -17/ 16/6-17/ 10/3-10/6 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 209,570 tons, compared with 243,419 in the preceding week, and 256,128 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 110,036 tons of coal and 5,175 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 29,265 tons of coal and 5,175 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 57,178 tons of coal and 3,661 tons of coke, an increase of 13,226 tons of coal and 665 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 50,628 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 25,112 tons. The net increase, therefore, was 23,220 tons. The shipments from these three places showed an increase of 19,950 tons when compared with those for the previous week. The position of the prompt market, so far as the issue of licences is concerned, is little altered. These permits continue to come forward in what is, from the shippers* point of view, a disappointingly small proportion when compared with the applications. Some slight concessions have been made, and others are forecasted which, if materialised, may help matters a little. Those in the former category include permission to coal exporters to alter the port of destination, where it is found that the original port of destination has been suddenly closed for military reasons. Again, it has been decided, with limitations, that, in view of the peculiarly “prompt ’* nature of the coal trade with France, names of steamers need not appear in applications for licences to export coal to France and French possessions, nor be subse- quently sent to the War Trade Department, and will not be inserted in licences for shipments of coal to such ports. With reference, to the issue of licences for shipment to Sweden, it is reported that, in the case of steamers which are likely to return here with mining timber cargoes, provision will be made to relax the rule as to licences as far as possible. Vessels leaving home ports for the Baltic in order to bring back pit props are being granted full supplies of bunkers without demur, it is stated. The prompt market is very dull, consequent on the licence difficulty, the scarcity of tonnage and the alarmingly high—and increasingly high —rates of freight. Most classes of steams—including, even, seconds and unscreened sorts, which have maintained their price for many weeks—are cheaper this week, and the “ rot *’ in the Durham coal section is very obvious. F.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have varied as follow, on the week:— Best Blyth steams are from 6d. to Is. cheaper; Tynes ditto; Blyth seconds 6d. lower; Tynes ditto; unscreened Is. down; Blyth smalls 6d. decreased; Tynes 6d. to Is. fallen; smithies easier ; gas bests 6d. reduced ; specials Is. lower; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, 3d. to Is. reduced; Northumbrians Is. down; coking coals easier ; smalls 6d. to Is. lower ; households Is. fallen; and foundry coke weaker. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. Supplies of most descriptions of coal are very plentiful, although an excep- tion to that statement must be made in the case of gas coals, which are fairly well booked up for prompt and forward delivery. Coke is scarce. Tenders to supply the War Office with 80,000 to 90,000 tons of steam seconds, for delivery at Woolwich, Waltham and Enfield over six months commencing October, have been sent in, based on current selling values. Merchants and collieries are interestedly awaiting the allotment of the balance of the Paris, Lyons and Marseilles Railways contract for 250,000 tons of Durham coking coal, for delivery up to next June. Thus far, as noted last week, orders for 100,000 tons have been given out. A Newcastle firm has secured the order to supply the La Rochelle Gasworks with 20,000 tons of Wear gas specials, for delivery over the first six months of next year. The c.i.f. price is stated at 36s. per ton. The Nord Railways of France are stated to have contracted for 100,000 tons of best Durham coking and Northumberland unscreened coals on the basis of 18s. per ton, f.o.b., for the former and 16s. for the latter, delivery over six months. There are stated to be considerable enquiries in circulation for steam coals for Government account, in respect of which it is understood that the Government will exercise its full rights as to limitation of price. France, too, is in the market for gas and coking coals and for coke, and, in respect of these requirements also, it is believed that an effort will be made, by purchasing through the British Government, to keep down the contract prices. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals:— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas c )als Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 17/6 16/6-17/ 16/ 16/6 14/ -15/ 12/ -12/6 11/ -12/ 14/ -14/6 16/ -17/ 19/ 16/6 20/ 15/ -16/ 14/ -15/ 16/ -17/ 15/ 18/ -19/ 27/6-32/6 25/ 28/ -30/ L’st week’s prices. 18/ -18/6 17/ -18/ 16/6 16/6-17/ 15/ -16/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/6 14/ -14/6 17/ 19/ -19/6 16/6 20/ -21/ 15/3-17/ 15/ -16/ 17/ 15/6-16/ 19/ -20/ 30/ -32/6 25/ 28/ -30/ Last year’s prices. 13/3 12/6-13/ n/ 11/ -11/6 10/6-11/6 8/ - 8/3 8/ 9/ -10/ 11/3-11/6 12/6 11/ -11/6 12/6-13/ 11/ -12/6 11/ -11/3 11/3-11/6 11/ 15/ -16/ 20/ -22/ 18/ 12/ -12/6 Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 58,710 tons of coal and 160 tons of coke, as compared with 48,250 tons of coal and 1,680 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1914, being an increase of 10,460 tons of coal and a decrease of 1,520 tons of coke. The continued scarcity of tonnage and freights still rising make the coal market unusually dull and weak. In the steam section the market is decidedly easier, with a poor enquiry. Licences are still refused for Sweden, and very sparingly issued for Denmark and Norway; in the circumstances, supplies are