THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN _________________________________________ ______________________________________ 714 April 14, 1916. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 13. __________________________________ _______ The London coal trade continues busy, and on the market merchants are showing a growing disposition to obtain a fairly good supply of coal to tide over the Easter holidays. Colliery representatives,, however, are refraining from book- ing any orders, and contractors are still complaining that they are not receiving their full monthly quantities. Arrange- ments have been made in many cases to extend the period of delivery, in order that the full quantity contracted for may be sent forward. This will mean that the bulk of the con- tracts which terminate on June 30 next will go forward into July, and possibly beyond this; but as the prices remain firm, and there are little prospects of the Board of Trade, through the Price of Goal (Limitation) Act, allowing the pit prices to be advanced this year, there is ho great hardship on either side to continue present contract rates. The only difficulty is that merchants who have very little coal bought under contract will feel the pinch of the shortage in supply beyond the time in which they reasonably expected to find some little relief. The quantity available for open sale on the market is so infinitesimal that buyers are compelled to fall back almost exclusively on factors for their regular supplies, and naturally the prices paid are beyond the recog- nised colliery quotations, although for the most part these quotations are purely nominal. Wagons are moving very slowly. The closing of many of the Great Eastern stations has been somewhat modified since the first intimation, as it is now announced that, for coal traffic, the depots at the various stations will remain open as heretofore, although closed to passenger traffic. The staff working the depot trade will in many cases be somewhat inconvenienced, owing to the closing of the passenger stations, but as the railway company will permit the coal trucks to come forward as usual, there will be every opportunity for merchants to carry on their delivery trade, and to load up the vans and clear the trucks, without moving their staff and stabling, etc., to other stations near. In the seaborne market, 31 vessels were reported as entering the Biver Thames for Monday’s market, and seven for Wednesday. None of these, however, were for open sale, all being contract cargoes. The warmer weather has had very little effect during the present week in lessening the demand for household qualities; in fact, on Monday the pressure for all qualities was as keen as ever, but this is not a matter of surprise, when the bareness of the various wharves and depots is taken, into consideration. Supplies are extremely short, and the only promise of getting a better quantity forward is devolving upon the lessened actual con- sumption of household fuel; but it is too early to show any marked change in this respect, especially as the early 'spring, is usually accompanied by a period of cold weather. The. Government demand-for ah qualities of hard steam coal is strong, and small nuts and slacks are exceedingly scarce. Prices for the last-named are much beyond the maximum. The freight market is only moderately active, but the rates are firm; loading turns are difficult, and tonnage is short.’ Fixtures have been made during the week from Hull to London at lbs. 6d., and from Newcastle to London at 16s. 6d. Pit prices are unaltered. The quotations issued, however, do not ensure that even at these prices the colliery representatives can accept orders. Barnsley hards are 17s. 6d. to 18s. at pit. Best Silkstone, 20s. Best house,‘18s. 6d.; seconds, 17s. Coke, 25s. Derbyshire steam hards, 17s. 6d., but for shipment as much as 27s. 6d. to 28s. f.o.b. has been secured for the Humber. Derby brights, 17s. to 18s. House nuts, 16s. 6d. to 17s.; small nuts, 15s. 6d. to 16s. Slack, 12s. to 12s. 6d. Considerable correspondence has recently taken place between the London Coal Merchants’ Society and the various railway companies with reference to the vexed question of siding rent, and on Monday last the following notice was posted on the door of the Coal Merchants’ Subscription Boom :—“ The following is an abstract from a letter from the solicitors to one of the railway companies regarding London siding rent accounts. All the companies have answered in a similar manner. 1 We beg to acknow- ledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st inst. We shall be pleased in the circumstances to comply with your request to withhold, for a short period, the contemplated proceedings, in order to enable the traders to pay the amounts due.’ ” No change has yet been made in any of the retail prices. The reports from the depots show that during the first few days of this month hundreds of empty wagons have been standing in and around London for upwards of a week untouched by the railway companies, and, in the meantime, collieries were frequently losing time for want of wagons. This week, fortunately, the weather conditions have been much more favourable, and both empty and loaded wagons have been dealt with much more promptly and regularly. ___________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, April 7. — There were no seaborne house coal cargoes on offer at to-day’s market, which remained quiet. Cargoes, 19. Monday, April 10.—No supplies of seaborne house coal cargoes obtainable at to-day’s market, but the enquiry was firm. Cargoes, 31. Wednesday, April 12.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, no supplies coming for- ward for disposal. Cargoes, 7. ____________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, April 13. _________________________________ __________________ Dublin. Business upon the whole continues to be fairly good, but the difficulty experienced by coal merchants in obtaining supplies still hampers the trade considerably, stocks being much below the average. There is no change in prices, but some of the leading merchants are omitting the usual list this week, owing to the embargo on the port. Special steamers -are being sent over to the other side to get cargoes, although no coal arrived in the port for two days at the end of last week. Quotations are as follow :—Best Orrell, 38s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 37s. ; best Wigan, 36s.; best White- haven, 36s.; best kitchen, 34s.; Orrell slack, 30s.; all less Is. per ton discount. Welsh steam coal, 32s. per ton; coke, 38s. per ton delivered. Irish coals at Wolfhill, Queen’s County, are:—Best large, 30s. per ton; best • household, 28s. 4d., at the pit mouth, f.o.r. Athy, 5s. per ton extra. The Arigna coal (Leitrim) is 33s. per ton delivered in Dublin, less Is. per ton discount. The coal vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 52, as compared with 58 the week previously, chiefly from Glasgow, Whitehaven, Point -of Aire, Saundersfoot, Swansea, Ayr, Garston, Troon, Partington, Workington, Preston, Ellesmere Port, Newport, Llanelly, Liverpool -and Cardiff. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 21,000 tons, as against 25,000 tons the previous week. In reference to the efforts made by the Dublin Industrial Development Association to induce the proprietors of the Castlecomer Collieries (Kilkenny) to establish an agency in Dublin, a letter has been received from the collieries thanking the Council for the interest they had taken in developing the coal industry, and stating that the difficulty of transport is the chief obstacle. Belfast. It is stated that the increased requirements of fuel by the munition factories have accentuated the difficulty of securing deliveries for this side, and consequently matters are becoming worse, it being now .almost impossible to obtain some classes of coal even at exorbitant prices. . Stocks of all qualities are extremely low, and coal for manufacturing purposes is particularly scarce, with very high prices ruling. There is no change in house coals, viz. :—Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton; best Wigan, 37s. 6d. ; Scotch house, 34s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6d. ; Orrell slack, 34s. 6cl. Coal laden vessels arriving during the week were from Troon, Garston, Manchester, Ayr, Ardrossan, Ellesmere Port, Workington, Partington, Maryport, Irvine, Cardiff, New- port, Preston, Swansea and Birkenhead. The total number of colliers entering the harbour between March 19 and April 1 was 116. ______________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Benzols are the chief item of interest, as 90’s are the turn easier. There is also, a falling off in the price of solvent naphtha in the North, though there is no change in the South. Pitch and tar are quiet and unchanged. Nearest values are :— Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols, 90’s 1/01 ' ~/0| ,, 90’s North /1Q1-/1U ... — ,, 50 ’s North 1/3—1/4 ... — Toluol 2/3 — Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... 3/4 — ,, -crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 degs.),- as in quality and package..: Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 1/4 ... — . 2/3—2/4 ... — degs.), as in quality and package... Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) 2/1—2/2 ... —/2 M—/7 ... — Creosote (for ordinary qualities) /21-/2£ ... — Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) 15/—16/ ... — ,, (f.a.s. west coast) 14/—15/ ... — Tar (per ton ex works) 16/—20/ ... — [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—There is a rising tendency about Hie market for general sales, and the export demand is pro- mising, as soon as more freedom in licences' permits this branch to re-open. Meantime, nitrate of soda continues to advance to -a most disproportionate extent. Closing prompt prices are :—■ London (ordinary makes) ____ Beckton (25 per cent.) ...... Liverpool ................... Hull ....................... Middlesbrou gh .............. Scotch ports ............... Wales ..................... Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. Rise ( + ) o fall (-) on the week. £16/17/6 — £16 — £16/15 — £16/12/6 — £16/17/6 — £16/15 — £16/15 ... +2/6 17/71 ... +/li [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] _________________________________ THE TIH-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is nothing new to report on the week. Prices are almost daily advancing, and transactions arc largely confined to second-hand parcels, makers not caring to commit them- selves ahead to any extent. The shortage in bars and acids is seriously affecting the output, and as the trade has mow been “ unstarred,” there is likely to be difficulty over the labour question. 32s. 3d. has been paid for 14 x 20, and 32s. 6d. with options. At the moment quotations run :— Cokes, IC 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 32s. 6d. per box and upwards; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.), 65s.; IC 28 x 20 (56 sh. 1081b.), 33s. 3d.; IC 14 x 18| (124 sh. 1101b.), 33s. 6d. IC squares and odd sizes, 33s. 6d. basis and upwards. Charcoals are firm, at 35s. basis and upwards, according to finish. Coke wasters are in great request, and prices firm, as follows :—C W 14 x 20, 30s. 6d. per box and upwards; C W 28 x 20, 63s. 6d. ; C W 14 x 18f, 30s. 3d.; C AV 20 x 10, 44s. Ah f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ________________________________ Business Side of Science.—Mr. T. C. Elder, in the address which he delivered on Friday last at a meeting of the North- East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Newcastle, dealt vvitli “The Business Side of Science : its part in the Coming Economic Struggle,” and observed that at the end of the war we should have the works, the machinery, and the labour, but it was not certain yet that we should have markets for the output ; nor could this country claim that it possessed a proportionately efficient economic system. There was going to be no “ business as usual ” about this. Big men and big measures would be needed. In conclusion, Mr. Elder outlined his case as follows :—(1) Acting in com- bination, scientific institutions should prepare plans for replacing what is defective in our educational system. (2) Technical and commercial associations should arrange a method, of concerted action for increasing industrial efficiency all round. Normally, it does not exceed probably 70 per cent. To raise it only 10 per cent, would produce a tidal wave of national prosperity. (3) Such a proposal necessarily involves an organised effort to enlighten public opinion on questions of industrial economy, for the main purpose of persuading the workers that with perfectly fair and safe- guarded methods of remuneration, it is to their interest to extend, rather than to limit, production. (4) Organised scientific opinion should certainly find effective means of expression in Parliament; and, if necessary, should not shrink from directly addressing the electorate. SOME RECENT DECISIONS UNDER THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ACT. [Specially Contributed.] A War-Time Suspensory Award. A demand for labour such as now exists owing to the war would in ordinary times entail the complete termination of many compensation awards on the ground that the workmen had recovered their earning' capacity. The conditions, how- ever, are recognised? to be temporary, and therefore the nominal suspensory award comes into operation. Thus, in making an award of Id. a week in a case at Darlington, the county court judge said that tlie present circumstances were abnormal. Labour was scarce, and the men could secure work easily, but when the war was over, and men returned from the front, he might find it extremely difficult to get employment. An Employment Risk. A claim recently brought against the Alloa Coal Company Limited may be described as on the border line as regards the question whether the -accident 'arose “ out of ” the employment. To reach his working place at the company’s colliery, a workman was ascending a rising ground known as “ the little brae,” when he was run into by empty hutches. Workmen were allowed to pass up and down the brae when the haulage was not in motion. When the work- man arrived at the foot of the brae he saw the big wheel in motion close by, and noticed that the rope was •attached to the empty hutches. He moved up the brae apparently without observing, although the start was delayed, that -a signal had been given to start the haulage. On the ground that the workman undertook -a risk that was not incidental to his employment, the Sheriff-Substitute found that the accident did not arise “out of” the employment. The Court of Session, however, held that the facts did not justify that conclusion, and remitted the case for compensa- tion to be fixed. Military Service and Compensation Payments. For total or partial incapacity the maximum compensation is a weekly payment, during the incapacity, not exceeding 50 per cent, of the workman’s average weekly earnings during the previous 12 months. With regard to partial incapacity, however, it is further provided, under paragraph (3) of schedule I., that the weekly payment shall in no case exceed the difference between the amount of the average weekly earnings of the workman before the accident 'and the average weekly amount which he is earning or is able to earn in some suitable employment or business after the accident, but shall bear such relation to the -amount of that difference as under the circumstances of the case may appear proper. A recent appeal to the Court of Session raised the question whether military service is a “ suitable employment or business ” within the meaning of the Act, -and if not, what course should be adopted. Messrs. John Watson Limited applied in the Sheriff Court for the suspension of weekly payments to a workman who had been employed at the Earnock Colliery, Burnbank, and had been granted compensation on account of nystagmus. The application was granted, the Sheriff being of opinion that “suitable employment or business ” meant some industrial or com- mercial employment, and did not include naval or military service, and therefore that enlistment made it impossible to apply the provisions of the schedule. In the Court of Session, however, -a different view was taken. The Lord President agreed that military service was not an employ- ment within the meaning of the Act,..and that the standard would be some suitable commercial or industrial employ- ment. He pointed out, however, that in paragraph (3), reference is made not merely to what -a man may be earning, but to what he may be able to earn. He was, therefore, of opinion that this enables the court, in the case of any workman not employed, to consider whether there is any suitable employment in which he could engage and what -he could earn in it, and that there should be no difficulty in -ascertaining from a man’s physical condition what he could do in that respect. Accordingly he thought the case should be remitted for the Sheriff to make an enquiry and review the compensation as he thought fit. Delay in Reporting : Neglect of Foremen. At Dunfermline recently, Sheriff Umpherston issued an interlocutor in an action for compensation at the instance of Peter Paton, pithead man, against the Lochgelly Iron and Goal Company. On December 15, 1914, claimant sustained personal injury on the pithead at the Gordon Pit. Claimant went home, and was in bed for a fortnight. He began work again on January 18, and notice of the accident was given for the first time on January 28. Claimant based his case on the facts that when going home after the -accident he met David Arthur, the pithead foreman, and told him that he had nearly broken his leg, and was going home. On December 28 claimant’s daughter told the surface foreman, Wm. Lees, of the accident. An interview took place next day between the two foremen, but they neglected to report the case to the company, and the Sheriff said he could not say as a matter of fact that the respondents were not prejudiced. When they received a complaint of that nature the respon- dents were entitled to demand an examination of the workman by a medical practitioner on their behalf, and if compensa- tion was paid, to have periodical examination afterwards. In the present case that was denied them. __________________________________ Trading with the Enemy.—The Board of Trade direct the particular attention of all manufacturers and traders concerned to the need for scrupulous care in the transaction of. their business abroad, in view of the fact that some traders in some neutral countries are making themselves agents for the supply of goods to and from enemy countries. Especial care should be taken in opening now accounts in neutral countries, and in relation to any orders or enquiries of an abnormal character. In any case of doubt as to particular firms abroad, business should be suspended pending reference as regards firms in foreign countries outside Europe to the Controller, Foreign Trade Department, Lancaster House, St. James, London, S.W.; and as regards firms in Europe to the Chairman, War Trade Intelligence Department, Broadway House, Tothill-street, Westminster, London, S.W. It is inadvisable that any new accounts should be opened by any British trader in neutral countries during the war, without the fullest enquiries as to the character of the business pro- posed to him. Carelessness in this matter may involve traders in severe penalties. The Controller of the Foreign Trade Department draws attention to the fact that there are statu- tory lists of firms of enemy nationality or association with whom business is prohibited.