June 2, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1055

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—May 30.

Pooling Railway Wagons.

M<r. A. Bryce asked the .President of the Board of Trade
to state what railway companies had so far pooled their
wagons; what had been the result in diminishing congestion
of transport; whether he was taking any steps in the direc-
tion of further pooling; whether his attention had been
called to a memorandum, dated May 24, from the Traders’
Traffic Association regarding the shortage of railway wagons;
and whether, in the absence of a complete system of wagon
pooling, he was prepared to take steps, and, if so, what, to
meet the difficulty.

Mr. Bunciman replied that arrangements for the pooling of
wagons had been brought into operation between the Great
Central, Great Eastern, and Great Northern railway com-
panies, and also between the Great Western, Lancashire and
Yorkshire, London and North-Western, Midland, and North-
Eastern companies. He 'understood that in both cases the
result had been satisfactory. He was informed that similar
arrangements would shortly be in force between the Cale-
donian, Glasgow and South-Western, and North British com-
panies. After looking carefully into the subject, he came to
the conclusion that there would he no saving or increase of
efficiency by pooling privately owned wagons. He had not
yet seen the memorandum referred to, but any specific cases
of difficulty brought to his notice would receive careful con-
sideration.

Mineral Rights Duty.

Mr. Currie asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether
his attention had been drawn to a case in which the owner
of a coal field, in Scotland, whose income therefrom for the
three years 191'3 to ,1915, inclusive, showed continuous dimi-
nution, had nevertheless been asked to pay excess mineral
rights duty; whether many cases of this kind exist; if so,
whether this was the intended effect of the Statute; or
whether an amendment was in contemplation.

Mr. McKenna replied that the principle of the duty was to
charge a recipient of mineral royalties who, owing to an
increase in the selling price of the minerals in the accounting
year, had received, as rent in respect of the right to work
minerals, an amount in excess of such rent had it been based
on pre-war prices. Cases of the kind referred to might arise
in consequence of a diminution in the quantity of minerals
worked; but he was unable to give any pledge as to an amend-
ment of the Act.

Timber Supplies.

Mr. Acland, replying to several questions, stated that any
comprehensive scheme of afforestation must be deferred until
after the war, in view of the shortage of labour, although
such work of preparation as was practicable would be done
in the meantime.

May 31.
Coal Prices.

Mr. Needham asked a question regarding the recent state-
ment in Manchester that coal was being sent from that
district to Newcastle and Durham, and that Newcastle was
sending coal to Manchester. Had this any connection with
the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act?

Mr. Pretyman said that no question of price was involved
in the only important case of which he was aware of North-
umberland coal being sent to Manchester. He could not
trace any particulars of coal being sent from Manchester to
Northumberland or Durham.

Work for German Prisoners.

Mr. Tennant, replying to a question, said that nine camps
were being formed for combatant prisoners, who would be
employed in timber cutting., mining, and quarrying.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

_• As the new arrangement for the restriction of British coal
freights for Erench ports will come into operation within a
few hours of the writing of this review, it is sufficient to say
that freights to Erench Atlantic ports have had a downward
tendency, and the fixtures have been made on practically the
new restricted terms.

As to business done in other directions, this has been
rather scanty, and has conformed to the rule as to weakness
in freight's. Only the small amount of Baltic business that
has been transacted has shown any firmness. In all other
directions prices are slumping, to the great satisfaction of the
coal exporter. From Tyne to the Mediterranean, for example,
figures are markedly cheaper, and, at the time of writing,
85s. is talked of for Genoa. At Cardiff, the reductions have
been even more marked, Gibraltar having been done at a
decline of 10s. on the week, Huelva at 12s. 6d. less, Lisbon
at 10s. lower, Leghorn at from 10s. to 15s. down, Savona at
from 22s. 6d. to 25s. under last week’s figures.

Homewards, the market is generally very quiet. Easterns
are dull, with boats offering rather sparingly at current
rates. For June loading at Bombay, 120s. is quoted, but for
July shipment at Kurrachee, merchants’ ideas are based on
about 95s. to the United Kingdom. North American grain
freights include 16s. to French Atlantic ports, and 15s. fid.
to West Italy, both on Government terms. Indeed, very
little fixing appears to be done apart from Government
brokers. Other business includes the fixing of a vessel for
Givita Vecchia with coal at 140s., and a boat for wheat to
Belfast and Cardiff at 12s. 7Jd. Mediterranean ore ports are
steady. The River Plate is quoted at about 160s. to United
Kingdom for June-July loading. Few vessels are available
for earlier positions, neutral owners being inclined to hold off
at rates which are showing a steady reduction. The tendency,
however, is for even lower figures to be accepted.

Tyne to Aalborg, 2,000, 40 kr. ; Algiers, 2,400, 67s. fid.;
Boulogne, 900, 42s.; 850, 40s.; Copenhagen, 1,500, 39 kr.;
Calais, 52s. fid., coke; Dunkirk, 500, 57s. 6d., coke; 900,
42s. ; 450, 58s. 6d., coke; 52s. 6d., coke; Fecamp, 800, 40s.;
Gefle, 2,100, 39 kr.; Genoa, 2,700, 100s.; 2,100, 97s. fid.;

3,500,	95s., reported; 3,400, 94s.; Gibraltar, 1,500, 50s.;
Havre, 1,350, 39s.; London, 1,650, 15s.; 2,000, 13s.; 1,800,
13s.; Lisbon, 2,300, 47s. fid.; 2,500, 45s.; Naples, 5,000,
100s.; Oran, 2,500, 67s. 6d.; Rouen, 2,100, 41s.; 2,300,
40s.; 2,500, 38s. 6d., special terms; 800, 40s.; 1,800, 40s.;
1 900, 38s.; 1,300, 38s. fid.; 500, 58s. 6d., coke; 600, 28s. fid.;
l’ooo, 28s. 6d.; West Italy, 3,300 , 95s.

Cardiff to Alexandria, 7,000, 105s., 800; Algiers, 2,000,
52s.; Bordeaux, 2,400, 57^-fr.; Barcelona, 1,500, 60s.; Caen,

1,500,	23s.; Cherbourg, 1,500, 23s. 6d.; Dakar, 5,500,
48s. 9d., 500; Dunkirk, 2,500, 36s. 3d.; Gibraltar, 1,100,
50s., 400; 1,650, 40s., 500; Genoa, 1,900, 85s.; 2,400, 80s.;
3,200, 85s.; 2,700, 75s.; Havre, 1,500, 22s. 6d.; Honfleur,
700, 34s.; Huelva, 1,500, 42s. 6d.; Las Palmas, 2,600,
47s. fid.; Lisbon, 1,500, 40s., 500; 2,500, 37s. fid., 500;
2,100, 37s. fid., 500; 1,500, 35s., June; 1,450, 37s. fid., 500;
La Rochelle, 1,300, 55 fr.; 1,500, 52 fr.; Leghorn, 1,900,
85s.; 5,200, 75s. ;< Marseilles, 4,000, 93 fr., June 5; 2,700,
62 fr.; Oran, 1,500, 45s. coal, 45s. 9d. fuel; Oporto, 800, 40s.;
Port Said, 5,300, 110s., 400; 6,500, 100s.; Palermo, 1,400,
85s., guaranteed terms; Rouen, 1,500, 33s. 6d.; Rochefort,

1,500,	52 fr.; St. Malo, 500, 27s.; 450, 26s.; St. Nazaire,
1,800, 29s. ; Savona, 1,900, 85s. ; 2,700, 75s.; 3,500, 70s. ;
St. Michael’s, 4,700, 47s. 6d. ; Spezzia, 1,900, 85s. ; Trou-
ville, 700, 31s.; Teneriffe, 2,600, 47s. 6d.

Swansea to Rouen, 1,500, 34s.; 600, 34s. 6d., fuel; 1,000,
33s. 6d.; 750, 33s. 6d. ; 600, 34s. 6d.; Bordeaux, 1,700, 60 fr.
coal, 61 fr. fuel; Genoa, Savona, Spezzia, or Leghorn, 2,200,
85s.; Genoa, 3,400, 82s. 6d., June; Treport, 1,100, 37s. 6d.;
Fecamp, 1,100, 37s. 6d.; Trouville, 900, 33s.; Cherbourg or
Fecamp, 250, 35s. ; Leghorn, 2,700, 85s. 6d. ; Brest, 900,
27s.; Trouville, 680, 36s. ; Dieppe, 900, 33s. fid.; Calais, 900,
37s. 6d.; Dunkirk, 700, 37s. 6d., fuel; Barcelona, 1,500, 60s. ;
Calais, 950, 37s. fid. ; Dunkirk, 1,600, 36s. 3d. ; Treport,
600, 35s.

Newport to Genoa, 3,300, 85s.; Genoa or Savona, 3,200,
85s.; Gibraltar, 1,900, 40s.; Oran, 1,500, 45s. coal, 45s. 9d.
fuel.

Port Talbot to St. Malo, 650, 25s. fid.; Dunkirk, 800, 40s.

Glasgow to Genoa, Savona, or Leghorn, 90s.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Enginemen’s and Stokers’ Association have held long
sittings for revision of their rules, changes having, it is said,
become necessary because influx of members from other
unions has had the result that a great increase in member-
ship has taken place. The proposed changes will be sub-
mitted to a conference of delegates.

A sub-committee has been appointed by the coal section of
the Swansea Chamber of Commerce to confer wTith ship-
owners regarding trimming charges on neutral vessels.

North of England.

The executive of the Northumberland Miners' Association
is recommending all its members to be content with one
day’s holiday at Whitsuntide this year.

The question .of absenteeism at local collieries was
discussed by the Northumberland coal owners and repre-
sentatives of the Northumberland Miners’ Association at a
joint meeting held in Newcastle on Saturday last. It was
decided to set up a central committee of coal owners and
miners’ representatives, and to recommend the appointment
of local joint committees at selected centres throughout the
county.

Last week, a deputation from the Durham Colliery
Recruiting Court waited on the Durham County Education
Committee to place before that authority the views of the
Recruiting Court with reference to the supply of labour for
the mines. The committee decided that no proposal for
the general exemption of boys could be entertained, but
that, on the application of a parent or a prospective
employer, consideration would be given to individual cases.

A conference of shipbuilding and engineering employers
and trades union representatives at Newcastle on Wednesday
unanimously agreed to recommend that the Whitsuntide
and race week holidays be postponed till the week beginning
with the August Bank Holiday, on the understanding that
the postponement be general, and include all collieries, iron
works, and other allied industries and the general public in
the North-East Coast district.

Federated Area.

Bristol miners are asking for an advance of 5 per cent, in
consequence of the Midland Miners’ Conciliation Board
having granted 3| per cent, in the Midlands. The applica-
tion is under consideration.

About 200 miners who were unexpectedly stopped at
Hanham pit received out-of-work pay. The cause was the
sudden collapse and explosion of machinery underground.
The electrical machinery in question was used for haulage
purposes, and it will mean a break of three or four weeks
before it can be made good. Fortunately, no men were
injured when the accident occurred. A number of the men
who were thus stopped at Hanham have gone into the Speed-
well and Deep pits, and will remain working there until
such time as the Hanham pit is ready for the men to go back.

At a special meeting of the council of the Yorkshire
Miners’ Association at Barnsley on Saturday, delegates
were instructed to negotiate with the South and West York-
shire coal owners with a view to the formation of com-
mittees to deal with the cases of men absent from their work.
The council gave permission for the men at the Yorkshire
Main Colliery, Doncaster, to send.in 14 days’ notice on the
question of the dismissal of the president of the local branch,
negotiations with the -colliery officials having failed to bring

From	Total cargo.		Total bunker.	
Bristol Channel ports 	  North-western ports 	  North-eastern ports 	  Humber ports	  Other ports on east coast	.	  Other English ports	  Total from England and Wales	  Ports on east coast of Scotland	  Ports on west coast of Scotland	  Total from Scotland	  Irish ports 	  Total from United Kingdom 		1915.	1916.	1915.	1916.
	Tons.  164,991  210,487  520,825  144,660  3,705  2,284	Tons.  108,693  187,189  413,839  75,945  4,962 3,085	Tons.  10,714  56,530  33,641  13,306  6,513 2,319	Tons.  11,227  45,159  32,839 9,051  12,164  2,504
	1,046,952	793,713	123,023	112,944
	49,814  145,150	42,571  131,559	14,255  34,972	17,711  18,252
	194,964	174,130	- 49,227	35,963
	—	—	3,148	2,637
	|	1,241,916	967,843	175,398	151,544

about a settlement. Fourteen hundred men and boys are
affected. It was reported that the men at Woodend coal and
ganister mine, Loxley Valley, had voted unanimously in
favour of tendering notices. On this matter Mr. Smith
(president) said they had met the Minister of Munitions on
two occasions, when he had pointed out to them the necessity
of more ganister being raised, and yet the employers, it was
alleged, were refusing to pay the proper rate of wages as
agreed by the Conciliation Board, plus the wrar bonus.
Reference was made to the grievance at Darton Main
Colliery at Barnsley as to working conditions, and instruc-
tions were given to the officials to open further negotiations
with a view to a settlement. It was reported that the total
number of members of the association who had fallen in the
war was now 906.

The settlement of the Waleswood Colliery grievance,
regarding the employment of female labour on the surface
and in the lamp-cabin, was announced by Mr. Frank Hall
at the meeting of the council of the Derbyshire Miners’
Association, at Chesterfield, on Saturday. The women have
been withdrawn.

Mr. J. G. Hancock, M.P., agent, gave a report at the
monthly meeting of the Notts Miners’ Association on a
conference with reference to a wages basis rate for engine-
men and firemen.—A similar decision was arrived at with
reference to a wages basis rate for surface workers, other
than enginemen and firemen, employed at collieries in the
Lean Valley district. It was reported that the branches
had voted unanimously in favour of giving permission to
the workmen engaged at the Silver Hill and Teversall
Collieries to hand in 14 days’ notice to terminate contracts
with a view to securing a revision of the price lists at those
collieries.

Mr. H. Smith presided at a special meeting of the
council of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association held at
Barnsley on Saturday, when the suggestions recently made
to increase the output were discussed. The officials were
instructed to negotiate with the South and West Yorkshire
Coal Owners’ Associations for the appointment of com-
mittees to deal with cases of men losing work and to deal
with the matter as resolved at the national conference
between owners and miners’ representatives. Owing to the
failure of efforts to obtain reinstatement of the local branch
president at the Yorkshire Main Colliery, Doncaster, the
council gave permission to the men to tender 14 days’
notice to leave work.

The threatened trouble at the Yorkshire Main Colliery,
New Edlington, has practically blown over.

At meetings of miners held last week-end and the
beginning of this week in the Manchester and Bolton
districts, resolutions were adopted in favour of commencing
work at 7 a.m. and finishing at 3 p.m.

Over 2,000 men and boys had to stop work in consequence
of a mishap to the electric plant at Murton Colliery,
Durham.

Scotland.

An important development is reported in connection with
the strike at West Benhar. Mr. Joseph Sullivan has been
informed by the Board of Trade that Sir Thomas Munro
has been appointed to communicate with parties with a view
to a settlement. The owners, it is understood, are not being
supplied by the Coal Masters’ Association. Nearly all the
men have obtained employment at other collieries in the
district.

Non-recognition of the workers’ union led to a strike of
all the pits of Robert Addie and Sons, in Bellshill district.
The crisis arose out of an intimation by the owners of a
reduction in ton rate of a section of Rosehall Colliery and
the firm refusing to meet the wmrkers’ representatives on the
subject.

In prder to have a proper return of the earnings for the
purpose of assessing income-tax, the firm of John Watson
Limited intimated to all miners employed in their Neilands,
Gilbertfield, Earnock, and Motherwell Collieries that each
individual would be credited singly with the coal produced
by or for him. Hitherto it has been the usual custom for
the output from each place to be credited to one man, such
as when a father and sons are working together and perhaps
on different shifts, in same place. The management have
agreed to continue old system pending a joint meeting being
held.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

Arising out of the refusal of the Committee on Production
to grant any increase in wages to the Clyde allied engineer-
ing trades, a national trade movement has been set on foot
to press for an advance of 2d. an hour to all sections of
engineering workmen. (	*

In consequence of the higher net average selling price,
wages in the Scottish iron trade are increased by 7J per
cent.

Based on the selling price of iron rails, etc., North of
England puddlers receive an advance of 9d. per ton. Other
forge and mill workers receive an advance of 7| per cent.

COASTWISE SHIPMENTS IN APRIL.

According to the returns issued by the Commissioners
of H.M. Customs and Excise, the following quantities
of coal were shipped coastwise from the United Kingdom
during April:—