512 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 15, 1916. appeared to be comfortably stemmed. Great scarcity in machine-made cobbles and nuts was again noticeable, and most shippers found themselves in awkward positions for the need of adequate quantities for tonnage expected. Beans were in a steady condition, and prices remained equal to recent values. Peas were in short supply, whilst culm and duff had a slightly better tone. Steam coals also main- tained strength, both in large and smalls, as well as bunker through s. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). ______________________________________________________ | Current IZst week’s Last year's Anthracite:— j prices. prices. prices. Best malting large: | (hand picked) ......j 31/ -33/ 31/ -33/ 30/ -32 9 Secondary do. ... 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 29/ -31/ Big Vein Valley large... 28/6-30/ 28/6-30/ 30/ —33/ Red Vein large ...... 26/ -27/ 26/ -27/ 24/ -26/ ............ Machine-made cobbles 39/6-41/ 39/6-41/ 40/ —42/ Paris nuts ........... — — — French do............. 39/6-41/ 39/6-41/ 42/ -45/ Stove do.............. 39/ -40/ 39/ -40/ . 40/ -43/ Be^ns ......................... 30/ -31/6 30/ -31/ 30/ -32*6 Machine - made ’ large peas .............. 20/ -22 6 20/ -22 '6 18 6-19 6 Do. fine peas .... — — Rubbly culm......... 14 6-15/ 14/6-15/ 10/9-11:6 Duff.................. 5/ - 5/6 5/ - 5/6 5/3- 5/9 Steam coals:— Best large ......... 34/6-35/6 34 6 35 6 25/ —27/6 Seconds .............. 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/6 22/ -25/ Bunker throughs .... 25/ -29/6 25/ -29/6 16/6—18/6 Small ..................... 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 11/6-14/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large .............. 37/ -39/ 37/ -39/ 23/ -26/ Thro'-and-thro’...... — — — Small ............ 25/ -27/ 25/ -27/ 18/6-19/ Patent fuel ............ 40/ -45/ 45/ -50/ 30/ -32/ Llanelly. COAL. A strong enquiry rules on the market for practically all qualities. Anthracite sorts are very firm, with supplies of cobbles and nuts on the short side, and buyers hard pressed to complete shipments with the necessary qualities. There is no easing off in the inland enquiry, and merchants are experiencing long delays in the execution of their orders. All classes of steam coal are in demand. Large steams of the better grades are very scarce. Bituminous coals are not at all plentiful, and works hard pressed to keep going. Closing quotations are approximately as follow.-— Prices f.o.b. __________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, September 14. ___________________________________ Dublin. The demand continues to be good, and stocks are now very fair, but merchants are meeting with much difficulty in obtaining further supplies from across the water. Prices generally remain unchanged. House coals are as follow :— Best Orrell, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire b-rights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s.; -best slack, 36s.; retail prices, 2s. lOd. to 3s. per sack. Best coke is 43s. per ton net. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 56, as compared with 73 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Liver- pool, Ardossan, Newport, Preston, Ayr, Llanelly, Partington, and Troon. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 23,500 tons, as against 27,500 tons in the previous week. At the last monthly meeting of the Dublin Municipal Council, a resolution was adopted to request the Government to grant facilities for the development of the Irish coal industry. Belfast. Owing to the activity in the import trade for the past few weeks, the supply in the port is fairly plentiful, and as the house coal trade continues to be rather quiet, stocks are increasing. Prices remain unchanged, and freights are very high. Current quotations for household coals are :—Best Arley, 41s. per ton; Scotch house, 37s.; second Orrell, 40s.; Orrell nuts, 40s.; Orrell slack, 37s.; all less Is. per ton discount for cash. The total number of coal-laden vessels entering the harbour from August 13 to September 2 was 183. The Police Committee of the County Borough of Belfast invite tenders for a year’s supply of house and steam fuel for the fire brigade stations and other Corporation depart- ments. At Dungannon Urban Council last week, attention was drawn to the re-opening of the collieries in the locality, and a resolution was adopted requesting the Government to take steps towards aiding the industry. At a meeting of the Newry Urban Council recently, it was stated that, in advertising for their annual supply of gas coal, the Gas Committee gave the same opportunity to Irish coal mine owners as to English coal mine owners, but not one tender had been received from either. Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do. __....... Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts.........__ French do............. Paris do......... Machine-made beans .. Do. peas... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 31/ -32,6 29/ -30/6 28/ -30/ 26/6-27/6 39/6-42/6 39/6-41/6 40/ -42/6 39/6-41/6 30/ -32/6 22/ -23/ 15/ -15/6 5/ - 5/6 34/6-36/ 27/6-31/6 20/ -22/ 25/6-27/6 L'st. week's Last year’s prices. prices. 31/6-32/6 30/ -32/ 28/ -29/6 29/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 28/ -32/ 26/6-27/6 24/ -26/ 39/ -41/ 40/ -42/ 38/6-40/6 40/ -42/ 38/6-40/6 42/ -44/ 38/ -40/ 40/ -42/6 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 22/ -23/ 18/ -19/6 15/ -15/6 11/ -11/6 5/ - 5/6 ' 5/3- 6/9 34/6—36/ ' 26/ -28/ 27/6-31/6 16/ -18/ 20/ -22/ , 12/ -14/ 24/6-26/6 18/ -20/ ___________________________ THE TIM-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is not a great deal doing in tin-plates just now. Against Class A certificate 30s. has been taken, and some odd sizes have been, booked on the same basis, but for stock lots much higher figures have been paid. The difficulties in getting business through are now considerable, and have already resulted in several mills closing down. Quotations at the moment range as follow :—Coke tins : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 1b.), 30s. to 36s. 6d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.), 70s. to 74s.; I C 14 x 18f (124 sh. 110 lb.), 35s. to 37s. I C squares and odd sizes, 30s. to 32s. basis. The lower prices are, of course, for Class A work only. Wasters‘are in fair demand, and all sorts of prices are being paid. Quotations are exceedingly “wide,” viz.:—CW 14 x 20, 33s. to 35s. a box; C W 28 x 20, 70s. to 73s.; C W 14 x 18f, 33s. to 34s. 6d. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ____________________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Products.—The market is quiet, and not much is Tar doing. For the most part prices remain steady. Solvent naphtha inclines to be easier. Nearest values are :— Benzols, 90’s 1/0-i Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. ,, 90’s North /10i-/Hi — ,, 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 degs.), as in quality and package... 1/3 — 2/ — 1/9—1/10 — Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) /6i-/6| — Creosote (for ordinary qualities) /2—/2| — Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) 16/—16/6 — ,, (f.a.s. west coast) Tar (per ton ex works) 15/—15/6 — 15/6—19/6 ... —/3 [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 an improving demand for home consumption, especially in the North, which is making export supplies short in some localities. Prices vary some- what, but there is hardly enough doing to fully Closing prompt prices are :— test values. Rise (+) or fall ( —) on the week. London (ordinary makes) ... £17/17/6 — Beckton (25 per cent.) £16/17/6 ... -2/6 Liverpool £17/18/9 ... -1/3 Hull £17/12/6 Middlesbrough £17/13/9 — Scotch ports £18 — Wales £17/18/9 — Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt 17/6 — [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.] __________________________ MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE. At Bury, a coal wharf and general manager for a coal merchant was exempted until the end of October, with a view’ to a substitute being obtained. When a Middleton coal merchant, aged 40 and deaf (passed for labour duty abroad) appealed at Middleton last week, he remarked that he had a considerable sum of money out in debts. The mayor (Aid. W. M. Wiggins) said somebody might be very glad, then, if appellant went on military service. He was allowed conditional exemption. The members of the Crook branch of the Cokemen’s and Bye-product Workers’ Association apparently resent the advice recently tendered to Durham mine workers to join the V.T.C., and have sent a letter to the Crook military tribunal stating : “ Our men think that they are doing their duty to their country by working seven days >a week all the year round, and that it is unfair to ask them to do more. The nature of their work on by-product ovens is very unhealthy, and, on account of the gas and fumes from acid plant, etc., our men feel more ready for a good rest than for any extra exertion after a day’s work.” Mr. Wm. Ballister, chairman of the tribunal, characterised the letter as most unpatriotic, and said he did not think it repre- sented the ideas of the majority of his fellow-townsmen nor of the workers associated with that particular lodge. The men worked, according to his information, seven hours a day, and made from 53s. to 76s. a week. They had all the comforts of home, while, on the other hand, there were townspeople who had four and five sons in the trenches. He felt very strongly in the matter, especially when he noted that they had men in the district badged, young, able-bodied men, who were doing work which wooden-legged men could do. At the Lancashire County appeal tribunal, at Manchester, before Sir William Stephens, in an appeal for a Little Hulton licensed victualler who had been exempted until July 3'1, and had in the meantime gone to work in a colliery again, the military representative (Mr. J. H. Hall) urged that so many men had gone into coal mines that this man should not be exempted. Mr. Greenhalgh (for the appellant) : This man was approached by the colliery people.—The appeal was dismissed. At Cockermouth tribunal, on Monday, a colliery company applied for >a single man, 22, of Workington, who was responsible for the ordering of material and assisted in the general office work. He had already had six months’ exemp- tion. The Chairman : We gave you six months in which you might make some effort to get someone else.—The repre- sentative of the company said they were not given to under- stand that at Workington.—The Chairman : The tribunal have agreed to disallow the application. At Eccles, the local agent of the Wigan Iron and Coal Company, appealing for a carter and loader, said that about 3,000 men had left the service of the company to take up mili- tary service. The man appealed for was 36 years of age. was the only man of military -age now employed at the yard— five having joined the Colours—and had been placed in Class C. The appeal was disallowed, but a period of grace until October 17 was allowed.—Also, at Eccles, a firm of coal dealers with depots at Patricroft and Ordsall-lane, appealed for the manager of the Patricroft yard, who is the son of the principal of the firm, and claimed for as being in a reserved occupation. The father said he had two sons serv- ing with the Forces, and the son now appealed for had been rejected under the Derby scheme, but had now been passed • into Class B 1. Conditional exemption Was granted. A Blackpool wholesale coal merchant, who stated that he supplied several persons who were on Government contracts, was exempted until October 15. When a coal dealer, aged 28, appealed last week at Clayton-le-Moors (Lancs), a member of the tribunal sug- gested that if the local coal dealers would get together and agree not to take each other’s customers there would be no difficulty in some carters being released for Army service, seeing that practically one kind of coal was supplied in the district. The appellant (who had been passed for general service, and who had drilled regularly with the V.T.C.), said that a man could leave his own business and work for a colliery, do the same work, and be exempted. A member of the tribunal said they were aware of that trouble. Another member said the tribunal-had not settled this matter as to whether coal dealers were in a reserved occupation. He thought they should come to some decision on the point. It was eventually decided to adjourn this case until the cases of others similar came up again, when the whole question raised will be definitely settled? The Swinton tribunal last week heard an appeal for a clerk and timekeeper at a local colliery, and it was stated that the man had to work each Sunday to get out the earnings weekly. The suggestion was made that a case of this kind should be dealt with by the Colliery Court, but it was stated that this could not be done under the conditions laid down by the Home Office. Conditional exemption was allowed. At the Easington Rural District tribunal on Monday last the chairman stated that he understood that there had been some arrangement made by one of the military representa- tives in a certain district with the inspector of mines whereby the latter should deal with the cases of colliery clerks, and, failing satisfaction, the cases should come before the tribunals. Their military representative (Col. Doughty) had had a similar application made to him, and wanted an expres- sion of opinion from the members. The tribunal, including the members connected with collieries, unanimously agreed to leave the matter to be dealt with by themselves as here- tofore. Col. Doughty remarked that he was glad there was such unanimity. Eleven cases of colliery office officials were then dealt with. Conditional exemption wTas granted to a bill clerk and a head office clerk in the employ of the South Hetton Coal Company Limited, and the appeal for another head office clerk was dismissed. A wages, store, and pay clerk and a wages, pay, and compensation clerk in the employ of the Easington Coal Company • were given conditional exemption, as were also a cashier and two senior wages clerks employed by the Horden Collieries Limited. A clerk of the works in the employ of the latter firm was exempted for one month. The Weardale Steel, Coal, and Coke Company Limited secured conditional exemption for one clerk and one month’s respite for another. An important conference with reference to “ substitution,” i.e., the immediate release for Army service of single young- men under 30 years of age who are doing unskilled work and their replacement by older men, in groups 42 to 46 (between the ages of 35 and 41 years), and by those in the home service category, was held at Bishop Auckland. The conference was convened at the request of the Army authorities, and was attended by employers of labour and by Col. A. H. Courtenay, C.B., D.L., accompanied by Major Byrne, of Sunderland, and other military representatives. The local colliery companies were represented. A resolution pledging those present to render assistance in carrying out the scheme was adopted. ___________________________ Italy’s Coal Supply.—Following the meeting of ship owners last week, important conferences of coal owners were held in London on Thursday in regard to the coal supply to Italy, and the outlook for the immediate future. Coal owners from all parts of the kingdom attended a meeting convened by the Mining Association at the Hotel Cecil, and simultaneously the South Wales coal owners conferred together at the Hotel Victoria. Later, they jointly proceeded to the Board of Trade, where they were received in conference by Mr. Carlill. Afterwards, it was stated that matters had so far progressed that there were indications of a final settlement with the various interests concerned. If finally ratified, the amended scheme will be confined to the French and Algerian Mediterranean ports, and to Italy and the Upper Mediter- ranean. The proposed new maximum rate for Marseilles is 2s. 6d. below the original suggestion of the ship owners, Algiers and Oran being respectively 7s. 6d. and 6s. lower. Coal Shipped from Ports in the United Kingdom during August.—The following figures, which have been extracted from the returns issued by the Commissioners of H.M. Customs and Excise, show the quantities of coal shipped from each group of ports in the United Kingdom during the month of August, as compared with the corresponding month last vear :— Cargo. Bristol Channel ports ......... North-western ports .......... North-eastern ports .......... Humber ports ................ Other east coast ports ......... Other English ports .......... Ports on east coast of Scotland Ports on west coast of Scotland Total ............ Bunker. Bristol Channel ports ......... North-western ports........... North-eastern ports ___________ Humber ports ................ Other east coast ports ......... Other English ports ........... Ports on east coast of Scotland... Ports on west coast of Scotland... Irish ports................ Total ............ Aug. 1915. Tons. 1,248,897 44.042 1,334.960 396.139 12,161 20 360,255 253,998 Aug. 1916. Tons. 1,356.061 62.204 - 1,290,704 176,673 2,0 0 954 300.315 230,698 _________ 3,650,472 ... 3,419,619 Aug. 1915. Tons. 237.739 272.815 192.642 119,591 192,115 11.512 46.651 84,727 937 ________ Aug. 1916. Tons. 316.051 252,683 197.993 101.603 128,288 31.080 47,134 91.717 1,750 1,158,729 ... 1,168,299