1202 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 23, 1916. FRENCH MAXIMUM PRICES FOR IMPORTED COALS. Under the Law of April 22, 1916, the Minister of Public Works has issued a Decree, dated May 31, fixing the following prices for coals imported into France at the various ports specified. The Decree states that the prices come into operation on the day of issue, and refer to coals of best quality in each case. For lower qualities, or kinds not specifically mentioned, the maximum prices are to be calculated from those fixed for best quality, or from those relating to the nearest corresponding category, the differences being those customary in the trade. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The work of Judge O’Connor as conciliator between employers and workmen was not at first successful. The points at issue had relation to the Sunday night shift, the ostlers’ bonus turn, and the wage-rate of surface crafts- men. The matter came before a sub-committee of the Conciliation Board—a meeting being held to consider the recommendations of Judge O’Connor. The owners’ repre- sentatives intimated their willingness to accept the recommendations in their entirety, but the workmen’s representatives were not willing. They, on the contrary, stated that they could not accept the recommendations, but were prepared to enter into negotiations with the owners in order to arrive at a settlement. It will be remembered that the employers contended that the raising of these of the men have their wages regulated by a sliding scale embodying a maximum of 45 per cent, above the standard. Owing to the very high price of steel, the cost per ton in the market being practically double the pre-war rate, it is desired by this section that the maximum should be abolished and a material further advance of wages granted; but the employers will not agree to abolition of the maximum. On appeal to the Committee on Production a certain amount as war bonus was added to the wage-rate ; but the men are not content with this, one reason being that it applies to only part of their number. The members of the Wages Board met Sir George Askwith and the Com- mittee on Production this week in London, and the whole question was exhaustively debated, the case on both sides being presented. Finally, Sir George remitted the matter again to the Sliding Scale Committee, in order that agree- ment might be reached as to what percentage above the Description. Dunkerque. Calais. Boulogne. Le Tr eport and St. Valery- * sur-Somme. Dieppe and St. Valery- en-Caux. Decamp. Le Havre. Rouen and Duclair. Honfleur. Trouville. 1 I | Caen and Courseulles. 1 Cherbourg. 1 Granville. ! L . i | Saint-Malo and ports from ] Legue (St. Brieuc) to ] 1 Treguier. I Morlaix Brest and ports ' | from Lannion to Penmarch. 1 Lorient and ports from Guilvinec to Quiberon. l St. Nazaire. 1 1 I Nantes and ports from i Indret to Paimbeuf. | Les Sables d’Olonne and | St. Gilles-sur-Vic. | La Pallice, la Rochelle and ports from 1’Aiguillon- | sur-Mer to Marans. I I. Rochefort. Tonnay-Char ente. Montagne-sur Gironde, Blaye and Pauillac. j Bordeaux and ports from | Arcachoii to Bayonne. Marseilles and ports from Port-Vendres to Toulon. 1 Nice and ports from j St. Tropez to Mentone. Lean coals (Welsh), 3*8 % volatile matter— * Anthracite, large screened, 80% of large 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 no no 105 105 105 100 100 no no no no no1 ! 110 no 115 120 155 170 Do. Cobbles 50/80 mm. 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 120 120 115 115 115 no no 120 120 120 120 120 12o 120 125 130 165 180 Do. French nuts, 30/60 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 120 120 115 115 115 no no 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 125 130 165 180 Do. Stove nuts, 25/50 12 i 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 120 120 115 115 115 no no 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 125 130 165 180 Do. Beans, 12|-25| 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 no no 105 105 105 100 100 110 no 110 no ' no no no 115 120 155 170 Do. Peas, 6|-12| 110 110 110 110 110 110 no no 105 105 100 100 100 90 90 100 ICO 100 100 100 100 100 105 no 145 160 Do. Small cobbl es(rubbly culm) 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 80 80 75 75 ■75 70 70 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 85 90 125 140 Do. Duff 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 65 65 60 60 60 55 55 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 70 75 no 125 Semi-coking (^-gras) (Cardiff-Swansea}, 9-13 % volatile matter— Large screened, 50-70 % large 135 135 135 135 135 135 ‘135 135 130 130 125 125 125 120 120 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 135 140 175 190 Through-and-through, 30-35% large 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 no no 105 105 105 100 100 no no no no no no no 115 120 155 170 Small cobbles Coking coals (%-gras) Cardiff-Swansea), 14-18 % 105 It 5 105 105 105 105 105 105 100 100 95 95 95 90 90 100 100 100 100 too 100 100 105 no 145 160 vola' ile matter— Large screened, 50-70 % large 140 140 140 140 140 140 140 140 135 135 130 130 130 125 125 135 135 135 135 135 135 135 140 145 180 195 Through-and-thrcugh, 30-35% large 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 115 115 no no no 105 105 115 115 115 415 115 115 1'5 120 125 160 175 Small cobbles Bituminous coal (Newport), 19-28 % volatile 110 110 110 110 110 no no no 105 105 100 106 100 95 95 105 105 105 105 105 105 105 no 115 150 165 matter— Large screened, 60-70 % large 140 140 140 140 140 140 140 140 135 135 130 130 130 125 125 135 135 135 I 135 1 US 135 135 140 145 ISO 195 Through-and-through, 30-35% large 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 115 115 no no no 105 105 115 115 115 115 I 115 115 115 120 125 155 170 Small cobbles Durham gas, 29-32 % volatile matter— 110 110 110 110 110 no 110 no 105 105 100 100 100 95 95 105 105 105 105 105 105 1 5 no 115 150 165 Through-and-through small, 15-20% large ... 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 120 120 115 115 115 no no 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 125 130 165 180 Small cobbles Bituminous (Northumberland or Similar- 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 115 115 no no no 105 105 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 120 125 160 175 Large screened, 70-80 % large 155 155 155 155 155 155 155 155 150 150 145 145 145 140 140 150 150 150 150 10 150 150 155 160 195 210 Through-and-through, 30-35 % large 135 135 135 135 135 135 135 135 130 130 125 125 125 120 120 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 135 140 175 191 Small cobbles Dry, flaming coals (Scotch or similar) - 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 11) 115 no 1 ;o no 105 105 115 i 15 115 115 115 115 115 120 125 160 175 Large screened, 70-80 % large 145 145 145 145 145 145 145 145 140 140 135 135 135 130 130 no 140 140 140 140 140 140 145 150 185 200 Through-and-through, 30-35% large 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 120 120 115 115 115 no 110. 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 125 130 165 180 Small cobbles ; Smithy coals (Durham, Yorkshire, &c.)— 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 no no 105 105 105 100 100 no no no no no no no il5 120 155 170 Nuts 1 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 125 125 120 120 120 115 115 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 130 135 170 185 Small Briquettes— 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 115 115 no 110 no 105 105 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 120 125 160 175 -Manufactured in French ports 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 no no 100 ICO 100 90 100 no no no no 110 no no 115 120 155 170 Imported 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 125 125 120 120 120 no 120 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 135 140 L5 190 165 Ovoid 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 no no 100 100 100 90 100 105 105 105 105 105 105 105 no 115 150 Note.—All prices in francs. The prices were compiled by the committee appointed by the Minister, the chairman of which, in his report, states that the table is necessarily imperfect, owing to the lack of complete information obtained from the ports as to the classes of coal sold. To fill up these gaps, and remove local anomalies, the committee had to establish the prices in round figures; and, in order to obtain greater accuracy, it is desirable to get more thorough local information than time has hitherto per- mitted: In view of the uncertain effect of the new English regulation of prices and freights, the list can only be tentative, and it is hoped that, since the prices are rather higher than those previously operating, they will not apply to any large number of transactions. Moreover, it'is preferable to lower the prices by degrees, so as to prevent a sudden stoppage of supplies, and show importers that their interests are being protected. Con- sumers should be warned that they must not expect any immediate fall in prices; otherwise they might post- pone buying until it would be too late to obtain supplies promptly, and a more serious crisis would arise than that due to high prices. The committee will be prepared to consider criticisms from interested parties, with a view to their adoption in subsequent lists. Partnership Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces dissolution of the partnership of T. H. Pickles, E. Pickles, A, Pickles, and B. H. Pickles, ironfounders, trading as T. H. Pickles' and Sons, Empress Foundry, Mytholmroyd. A. Pickles and B. H. Pickles will continue the business. Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull to foreign countries for the week ended June 13 is as follows :—Amsterdam, 195 tons; Copenhagen, 5; Christiania, 253; Dunkirk, 1,367; Gothenburg, 2,956; Guernsey, 366; Harlingen, 403; Naples, 3,122;. Bouen, 4,473; Botterdam, 2,336—total, 15,476 tons. Corresponding period June 1915—total, 35,978 tons. These figures do not include bunker coal, shipments for the British Admiralty, nor the Allies’ Governments. Norwegian Freights. — In our last issue we reproduced figures supplied to the Press by the secretary of the Christiania Ship Owners’ Society relative to small profits being derived from high freights. Mr. B. S. Dalgliesh, of Newcastle, has replied to these figures by pointing out that, under the British Government scheme, the insurance would cost only £125, as compared with the £1,250 specified in the case of a similar ship and freight under the Norwegian flag. Mr. Dalgliesh adds the remark :—“ Norwegian ship owners should reduce their war insurances, and then they will make plenty of money out of limitation freights.” matters was contrary to the current agreement, under which all wage, and similar questions 'affecting working conditions are to remain unchanged during the period of the war. The matters in dispute had been the subject of nego- tiations for some months past, and in view of the fact that evidence was submitted, by both sides, to the conciliator, the employers were not willing to enter into any further negotiation. The meeting, therefore, broke up without any conclusion being (arrived >at, and it was expected that the executive of the men’s federation would deal with the points at issue.—A full meeting of the Conciliation Board, however, dealt with the difficulty on Monday, with the result that a settlement w>as arrived at. Sunday night shift is to be paid for at the rate of time 'and one-fifth; a bonus will be paid to the ostlers, and the surface craftsmen are to have similar terms to those granted members of the •Enginemen and Stokers’ Association. The Cardiff Coal Trimming Board has had under con- sideration complaints from ship owners with regard to the charge of trimmers for their work on neutral vessels, pay- ment of double tariff, plus 12J per cent, bonus, being demanded. Hitherto the ship owners have paid this under protest; but at the meeting of the Board the employers declined to agree to the demand of the men in respect of neutral vessels, and stated that they would hold the trimmers to the tariff as set forth in the agreement. It has been stated in regard to trimmers at Swansea that on one of the vessels men who had worked only for three hours received over £5 each, in regard to one of the neutral craft. The secretary of the National Amalgamated Labour Union declares that this is no criterion of the average wages, but adds the significant sentence, “ I don’t think they exceed £5 per week.” It has been contended on behalf of these workers that they are entitled to 5s. per hour when on neutral vessels. The Swansea fuel workers have accepted the offer of the employers, and an additional war bonus of 4s. per week (making a total of 7s.) will henceforth be paid. Notices designed to reduce absenteeism have now been posted at the pitheads. A committee of workmen at each pit will consult with officials as to individual cases; each day a statement as to number of absentees will be posted up; report will be made to the Conciliation Board com- mittee, and recommendations will be submitted as to what steps shall be taken to reduce the number of absentees. In London on Tuesday next the two chairmen of the Conciliation Board, with the two secretaries, will have an interview with the Lord Chief Justice as to appointment of an independent chairman in succession to Lord Muir Mackenzie. The Conciliation Board dealt on Monday with several disputes, reference to individuals or to the Disputes Com- mittee being made in nearly all the cases. Several trade unions, which include iron and steel workers, have members in South Wales, and a large section. maximum should be paid, intimating that if agreement were not arrived at, an independent chairman would fix the amount each three months after audit. Except so far as regards wages, all conditions of the agreement to be adhered to.—Following this meeting, however, representa- tives of both employers and workmen met in conference. An offer of 15 per cent, above the maximum was made, and this offer the men’s representatives will convey to theiii constituents, recommending its acceptance. North of England. . At a meeting of the executive committee of the Cleve- land Miners and Quarrymen’s Association, Mr. Dack reported that as a result of communications with the Ministry of Munitions, backed up by the employers, the maximum price of pig iron would shortly be raised by 5s. per ton. The contention of the miners was that as there was no maximum for food prices it was unfair to fix a low maximum for the price of pig iron (by which scale the Cleveland miner is paid). Mr. Dack reported considerable success in compensation claims. In some cases the indi- vidual amounts had been as high as £450 and £500. The total lump settlement for the half-year was a little under £6,000. It is stated that good progress has already been made by the local committees appointed in Northumberland to deal with the question of absenteeism, and it is computed that about one-fifth of the workmen who had been losing time have now been accounted for. The members of the Dawdon Colliery Lodge have arranged with the owners, the Londonderry Collieries Limited, to work on “ baff ” .Satur- days for a period of three months, commencing to-morrow. On Saturday last, a conference of Northumberland coal owners and representatives of the county miners was held at Newcastle, Mr. Thomas Taylor presiding, to consider questions with reference to the minimum wage and the fire coal supply. On the former point, the men asked that the war bonus payable to workmen in receipt of minimum wages should be increased to a sum equal to two-thirds of the county percentage, at present or in the future, calculated upon the minimum wage. The ordinary miner is now in receipt of wages 90 per cent, above the basis of 1879, but, on the actual minimum wage, the increased percentage is only 26-66. The owners intimated that the matter was of such importance that it must be considered in all its bearings, and they would forward their reply in due course. The owners then suggested to the miners that, in view of the short output of coal and the great national need for fuel, the miners should endeavour to reduce their con- sumption of fire coal supplied by the collieries. The miners’ representatives replied urging that, as the value of small coal had now increased, the miners should be supplied with a lesser quantity of larger and better coal. It was pointed out, also, that the old-fashioned grates installed in many of the colliery houses were wasteful, especially of small coal,