856 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 5, 1916. that some understanding between the French Minister of Public Works and the Board of Trade has been arrived at. New clauses have been drafted upon these lines, and presumably will now be referred to the Chamber of Deputies in the form of an amended Bill. But very little of the original has been allowed to remain. The Board for Mining Examinations Certificates have drawn up an explanatory notice Of for the guidance of candidates who Competency, intend to sit for examination for certificates of competency under the requirements of the Coal Mines Act. The notice refers more particularly to mining apprentices, and the interpretation of Bule 3 (A) as laid down in Statutory Bules and Orders, 1912, No. 1151. The Board has reason to believe that this rule has been sometimes misunderstood. It is laid down, inter alia, that in the case of an apprentice the greater portion of the practical experience (i.e., of the five or three years as the case may be) must have been gained either (1) in actual practical work at the working face and other parts of the underground workings of the mine, or (2) in direct supervision of such work, or (3) in both of these capacities. The opportunities here afforded for misapprehension seem to be strictly limited to the meaning of certain expressions, such as the greater portion and direct supervision. It should scarcely be necessary for the Board to define what is meant by greater portion. Strictly it implies anything more than one-half, and this is the official view. So that any candidate whose practical experience underground satisfies this requirement by however small a margin would presumably be qualified to sit for examination. But the memoran- dum proceeds to show that the work of mine surveying is not allowed to count in reckoning this period, although it will be accepted for the second or lesser portion of the prescribed time. As to the second expression, direct supervision, there is here a greater difficulty of interpretation, which the Board now removes by stating clearly that it implies a certain degree of responsible control and is not to be covered by the mere making of progress reports. It is at least satisfactory to have these things put upon a more intelligible basis. While calling attention to this question of certifi- cates of competency, we take the opportunity of referring to another question which is of some importance at the present moment. The question of experience in colonial or foreign mines has always been left in an indefinite position. It is scarcely possible to form any opinion as to what qualifications of this sort would be considered by the Board to be equivalent to home experience. Thus, owing to the occupation of so large a portion of the coal fields of our Allies, France and Belgium, by the enemy, there are undoubtedly cases of unemployed colliery managers and other officials who would gladly accept positions in British pits. In cases where such persons are recognised by their own Governments as qualified for the posts they occupied before the war, it should be possible for them to obtain temporary certificates of competency, even without the form of a written examination, which would be an ordeal many would possibly be unwilling to face, on account of their want of familiarity with the English language. In addition to this there is the question of age to be considered. These foreigners would presumably be beyond the military limit, and after many years of administrative work of a par- ticular kind in a colliery, it would be somewhat unreasonable to expect them to be quite facile in answering examination questions upon subjects the details of which have long been forgotten. Whether men of ripe experience but rusty in book knowledge are to be considered as competent persons within the meaning of the Act is for the Secretary of State to decide. But in any case it would be deplorable if such men should be denied temporary employment during the war because bureaucratic prejudice refused recognition of any qualifications which do not fulfil the letter of the rules. These comments are offered because cases have arisen in which the question of qualification under the Coal Mines Act has undoubtedly perturbed foreigners driven by the stress of war to seek a temporary asylum on our shores. THE COAL AHD IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 4. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Business in the west of Scotland coal trade continues very active, and values are fully maintained. All the best quali- ties of round coal are heavily booked, while smalls are being easily disposed of locally. Export licences are very difficult to obtain, but outputs, in any case, are easily absorbed by industrial requirements. Freights, too, continue very dear, and the position is not improved by the shortage of wagons, which is a serious question at times. The bulk of the export shipments are to French and Italian ports. The clearances from the district during the past week amounted to 123,865 tons, compared with 116,015 in the preceding week and 143,397 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal Current prices. 28/ -30/ 33/ 28/ -35/ 21/ -21/6 20/ -20/6 19/3-19/9 L’st week’s prices. 28/ -30/ 32/ 28/ -35/ 21/ -21/6 20/6-21/ 19/3-19/9 Last year’s prices. 17/6-19/ 20/ -20/6 19/ -26/6 18/9-19/6 18/6-19/ 18/ -19/6 Ell Splint Treble nuts Double do Single do IRON. The general position of the iron trade in Scotland is unchanged. The export departments are, of course, greatly curtailed, but Government and ordinary home business requirements easily account for the bulk of the output from the works. Pig iron makers are disposing of large quantities of haematite iron to local steelworks, while ordinary brands are meeting with a strong demand. The prices of Scotch makers’ iron are unchanged, and are quoted as follow:—Monkland, f.a.s. at Glasgow, No. 1, 125s., No. 3, 120s.; Govan, No. 1, 122s. 6d., No. 3, 120s.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 125s., No. 3, 120s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s.; Gart- sherrie, No. 1, 131s. 6d., No. 3, 126s. 6d.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 130s., No. 3, 125s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 126s. 6d., No. 3, 121s. 6d.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 126s. 6d., No. 3, 121s. 6d. ; Shotts and Carron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s. per ton. The warrant market has been practically at a stand- still throughout. Buyers were in evidence on one or two occasions, but sellers showed no inclination to transact business. Cleveland iron was quoted 82s. 6d. per ton, compared with 87s. 6d. per ton in the preceding week. Warrant stores now stand at 42,828 tons, compared with 116,098 tons at the close of 1915. Finished iron makers are as active as they can be considering the supply of labour and materials. Malleable iron makers have a lot of business on hand both for home and export, and both their iron and steel departments are fully employed. Crown iron bars are quoted <£13 15s. net at works for home delivery, and £13 15s. to £14 per ton f.o.b. Glasgow for export. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Collieries in the Lothians continue brisk. The bulk of the output is going away against contract, and only a limited number of sales are taking place at the present level of values. A great effort is being made to overtake arrears, and shipments are being rapidly completed whenever licences and tonnage are procurable. Unfortunately, with regard to the former delays are numerous. Shipments during the past week show an improvement, amounting to 48,132 tons, against 27,370 in the preceding week and 34,720 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. ! Current I prices. Best screened steam coal...! 35/ Secondary qualities..... 33/ Treble nuts ............ 23/ -24/ Double do............... 22/ —23/ Single do............... 20/ -21/ L’st week’s prices. 33/ 30/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ Last year’s prices. 18/6-19/ 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 16/9-17/ Conditions in Fifeshire are similar to those pertaining in the Lothians. All sorts are heavily booked, and are being cleared against contracts, and supplies for immediate disposal are limited. Clearances for the week were 51,059 tons, against 60,126 in the preceding week and 66,724 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current L’st week’s Lastyear’s Best screened navigation prices. prices. prices. coal 37/6-40/ 30/ -34/ 35/ 25/ -26/ Unscreened do 30/ -32/ 22/ -24/ First-class steam coal 35/ -37/6 35/ 21/ -23/ Third-class do 32/ -35/ 30/ 16/6-18/ Treble nuts 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 17/ -18/ 16/6-17/ Double do 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ Single do 19/6-21/ 19/6-21/ 16/ -16/6 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 223,056 tons, compared with 203,511 in the preceding week and 244,841 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. Last week 89,289 tons of coal and 4,967 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, a decrease of 38,694 tons of coal and an increase of 4,257 tons of coke, compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 25,172 tons of coal, and 6,359 tons of coke, a decrease of 12,016 tons of coal, and an increase of 5,485 tons of coke. The Blyth ship- ments totalled 48,447 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 6,818 tons. Thus, the total shipments from the three places mentioned amounted to 174,234 tons, as compared with 222,020 tons shipped during the corresponding period of 1915, a falling off of 47,786 tons. This, of course, is largely accounted for by the fact that last week contained Easter Monday, a general holiday, and that the turn-up of miners on the following day was not all that might have been desired. When compared with the clearances for the previous week, which was also broken by holidays, the shipments show an increase of 6,626 tons. A good deal more activity has been manifested on the coal market during the past week than was the case during the previous week, and the whole period has been marked by heavy pressure for supplies of all descriptions of fuel, for both prompt and forward loading. In the steam coal market the demand is positively overwhelming, and collieries are now fully booked up to the end of the present month. The Northumbrian pits are being kept well supplied with boats, and have turns filled for weeks ahead. Only a few stray quantities, therefore, are available for sale, and these, whilst usually a poor grade, command extraordinarily high prices. Best and second large steams are, to all intents and purposes, off the market for May, so that prices are nominal. Towards the end of the week, however, several small quantities of bests were disposed of for early ship- ment at 50s. per ton f.o.b. This figure seems almost incredibly high, but would undoubtedly be readily forth- coming for further quantities if these were offering. Another interesting sale was that of a considerable quantity of Blyth second steam smalls for end-May shipment at 26s. per ton, f.o.b. Gas coals, coking fuel, and bunkers, also, have been very firm and scarce. At the time of writing, a number of the Durham collieries are in need of prompt boats —whether as a result of the operation of the Order relating to return cargoes from Scandinavia it is impossible to state, and some slight easing in prices has occurred. Prompt quantities are offered in moderate supply, but sellers do not fear a con- tinuance of the weakness, and are not disposed to consider any further discounts. The following variations in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have occurred during the week:—Best steams, Bly ths, 2s. 6d. advanced; seconds, Blyths, stronger ; Tynes, 2s. 6d. to 5s. dearer ; unscreened, 2s. 6d. down; smalls, Tynes, easier; smithies, weaker; gas bests, 5s. reduced; seconds, stronger; specials, 5s. decreased; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, 4s. lower; Northumbrians, 2s. 6d. higher ; coking smalls, weaker ; and households, in buyers’ favour. Other sorts of fuel are unaltered. There is considerable activity in the forward market, principally in supplies for loading during June. Those buyers who cannot get coals in May are anxious to make certain of securing them in June, and already many of the collieries have a large proportion of their output sold. Prices, of course, rule very high. It is stated that the Danish State Bailways are enquiring for a small supplementary quantity of steams for May-June shipment, but it is considered probable that the order will go to America. Enquiries from Italy for foundry coke are engaging attention. It is stated that Italian consumers are not now favouring American coke to the same extent as hitherto. The Newcastle and Gateshead Gas Company is understood to have renewed certain contracts for gas coal for delivery over the ensuing 12 months. Prices, of course, will be in accordance with the terms of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 47/6-50/ 45/ -47/6 26/ -27/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 45/ —50/ 45/ -50/ 26/ -27/ Secondary, Blyths 40/ 35/ -40/ 24/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 40/ -42/6 35/ -40/ 25/ Unscreened 32/6-37/6 32/6-40/ 20/ Small, Blyths 27/6 27/6 16/6-17/ Do. Tynes 23/ -25/ 25/ 14/6-15/ Do. specials 30/ 30/ 17/6-18/ Other sorts:— Smithies 32/ -35/ 35/ 23/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 35/ 35/ -40/ 23/6 Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 28/ -30/ 27/6-30/ 21/6-22/ Special gas c^als 35/ 40/ 24/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 30/ -36/ 30/ -40/ 22/ -24/ Do. do. Northumbrians 32/6-37/6 30/ -32/6 32/6-35/ 20/ -22/6 Coking coals 30/ -32/6 23/ -24/ Do. smalls 28/ -30/ 30/ 22/ -23/ House coals , 40/ —45/ 4^1 45/ 44/ 27/ -28/ Coke, foundry 37/6-40/ Do. blast-furnace 43/ 43/ 32/6-35/ Do. gas 26/ -27/ 26/ -27/ 19/ -20/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 41,880 tons of coal and 1,425 tons of coke, as compared with 70,600 tons of coal for the corresponding period of 1915, a decrease of 28,720 tons of coal, and an increase of 1,425 tons of coke. The coal market opened this week as strong as ever for prompt loading, but there are indications that turns are beginning to open out a little. Certainly