October 6, 1916.

• THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

667

THE AMERICAN COAL TRADE.

The situation has resolved itself into a general
scramble for bituminous coal of any kind, and almost
irrespective of price, with the result that fictitious values
are the rule. On what little free coal appears in the
market, there are violent fluctuations, and a general
readjustment will be necessary to put the trade on a more
stable basis. More vessels are available in the export
trade, while freights are lower, but it is now a question of
getting the coal, as there is apparently none available for
prompt shipment. Stocks at all tidewater ports are far
below normal, and are probably the smallest in years at
Hampton Roads. The scarcity of free coal and the uncer-
tainty over the car supply outlook tends to restrict specu-
lation, says the Coal Age.

Reports from Boston state that there is no abatement
in the firmness of coals at Hampton Roads. Contract
demand is most insistent, and of itself is more than
enough to absorb the light receipts at the piers. Enquiry
for spot coal is steady, much of it coming either from
shippers who need coal to clear their vessels or from con-
sumers seeking to make up the arrears on deliveries.
Gradually increasing delays in loading will also have a
serious effect on this market. Georges Creek output is
still light and with no p.’ospect of improvement. One or
two of the smaller agencies have free coal at prices
around 3-75 to 4 dels, f.o.b. Philadelphia, or 5-25 to
5-50 dols. alongside Boston. Pocahontas and New River
are quoted at 4 to 4-50 dols. f.o.b. Norfolk and Newport
News, Va.

The market in Baltimore has been firm. All better-
grade steam coals are now at 2 dols. or better, and the
less desirable fuels are not far behind. Except for gas
slack, there are no coals offering for less than 1-50 dols.
Prices to the trade at the mines are as follows : Georges
Creek Tyson, 2 to 2-25dols.; South Fork, 2-15 dols.;
Somerset, 2 dols.; Clearfield, 2 dols.; Latrobe, 1'75 dols.;
Quemahoning, 2-15dols.; Freeport, 1-70dols.; Fairmont
gas three-quarter, 1-65dols.; same, mine run, 1-50 dols.;
same, slack, 1-40 dols.

A slight reactionary tendency caused by the usual
backing and filling process incident to the between-
season’s business is noted in anthracite, though the
market continues substantially above the average for this
period. It is next to impossible to get forward domestic
sizes in the proportion required. The prices per gross
ton at mines for line shipment and f.o.b. Port Richmond
for tide shipment are as follow : Broken, 4-75 dols.; egg,
5-25dols.; stove, 5'60dols.; nut, 5-55 dols.; pea,
3-70 dols.; buck, 2*55 dols.; rice, 1-90 dols.; boiler,
1'80dols.; and barley, 1-65dols.

With the further drop in freight rates, more export
tonnage could no doubt be moved if shippers had the
coal. No coal seems available for prompt shipment on
new business at Hampton Roads, all the receipts being
required on contract obligations. The Norwegian steam-
ship “ Bjornstjerne Bjornsen,” blacklisted by the Allies,
had considerable difficulty in securing bunker coal
recently. The coal was finally secured from one of the
small dealers with no foreign business or connections.
Stocks are far below normal, and it seems almost
impossible for any shipper to accumulate a surplus.
Stocks at Hampton Roads are probably the smallest in
years. Prices are firm as follow for Pocahontas and
New River : For cargo, 3-75 to 4dols. per gross ton;
for bunkers, 4 to 4*25 dols. per gross ton plus 10c. per ton
trimming; on tracks for local consumption, 3-50 to
3-75dols.; anthracite, 7*50dols. per net ton delivered.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Maesteg miners had a report submitted to them on
Saturday concerning the award of Sir George Ask with on
the rates to be paid to men at the coke ovens of the Celtic
Collieries. Every person over 18 years is to have 6s. 9d.
per day, plus percentage; chargers 6s., plus percentage; and
hauliers the same rate. The ram engine drivers are to have
5s. fid., plus percentage. The Celtic Colliery coke oven men
work eight hours a day. Protest was made against recog-
nition of a trade union named the Coke Banksmen’s Associa-
tion. The awards obtained by the Celtic men have been as
members of the Miners’ Federation; and it was stated that
the Coke Banksmen’s Association had agreed to longer hours
of work, and that the Celtic men’s agent had entered emphatic
protest against the coal owners recognising the new trade
union, seeing that the Federation had undertaken, during the
war, that the miners would not pursue their policy of getting
all enginemen and stokers into the Miners’ Federation. They
considered that the recognition by the coal owners of a new
union was, at least in spirit, a violation of the agreement
entered into by the owners and the workmen with the Govern-
ment on the question of trade union membership.

The question of the Pembrokeshire miners’ wage rate has
come before Sir George Askwith, he having received from Mr.
Doughty a report on his enquiry into the complaint of the
men. They stated that the 15 per cent, wages advance
received by other miners further east in South Wales had not
been paid to them. A deputation of miners’ leaders and
coal owners’ representatives met Sir George Askwith in
London on Tuesday, and long discussion took place upon the
circumstances of the Pembrokeshire coal industry, which, it
is understood, cannot bear the further burden of another 15
per cent, advance in wTages. The proceedings were private,
and no report was issued; but the workmen’s representatives
are to report to a meeting of the South Wales Federation
executive.

The joint sub-committee of the Conciliation Board have
had before it the question as to work of air compressor men
at Locket’s Merthyr Colliery, and also as to the working
hours of electricians in the Oakdale Colliery. Both of these
were referred for investigation and report; and similar action
was taken in regard to disputes at Llanhilleth concerning
rates of payment to certain craftsmen, and also the application
for higher rates which have been made by smiths and the
haulage enginemen at the Ocean Western Colliery. There
were two disputes from Ammanford—one relating to the pay
of stokers when more than one man is employed on the same
shift; and as to the standard rate to fan enginemen when the

hours are reduced from 12 to eight. These matters were also
referred to a representative from each side.

On Saturday the representatives of the Wages Board of
the South Wales and Monmouthshire Steel Workers’ Associa-
tion met at Abergavenny, when it was reported that the
joint audit for the quarter ended August 31 last showed that
the selling price of tin bars and steel rails had increased by
14 per cent. It was the proposal of the representatives of the
employers to offer an advance of 6 per cent, to the men. The
men’s representatives present, having no power to accept or
reject, stated that they would report to their various districts.
—At a mass meeting at Dowlais on Sunday, according, to the
official report, it was resolved to reject the employers offer,
and to demand the full 14 per cent. This will necessitate the
calling in of the independent chairman, and the results of the
various district meetings will be communicated to a special
delegate meeting.	.

Other sections of the South Wales steel workers have their
wages regulated by the Midland Board, and these are to have
2| 'per cent, advance during October and November, which
puts puddlers at the record figure of lfis. 9d. per ton.

The Cardiff pit wood men have secured an increase in their
wage rate—the importers having agreed to give 15 per cent,
advance—this coming into operation as from October 2.

The owners of the Brynhenllys Colliery, Upper Cwmtwrch,
have tendered 14 days’ notice to all their employees to ter-
minate contracts. About 50 men have already been dismissed.
In all, close upon 300 men will be affected.

North of England.

The trimmers and teemers employed at the coal shipping
ports on the North-East Coasit—Hartlepool to Amble—have
applied to the shipowners for an increase of 30 per cent, on
present tonnage rates for coal trimming, and a meeting of
representatives of the two sides will be held shortly to con-
sider the application.	,

Because one of the ram men had left the comany s employ
after giving notice, and the manager had appointed a man in
his place, four labourers at Messrs. Walter Scott and Com-
pany’s coke ovens, Trimdon Grange, stopped work unless a
certain other man was given the job. The shift was stopped
for hours, when the men returned to work, the manager
having appointed their nominee. As a result of the stoppage
the production of two ovens was lost, and the firm sued the
labourers, before the Castle Eden magistrates, for 10s. per
head damages. The loss was estimated at £5 Is. For the
defence it was submitted that the men did not strike, and
that the time during which they stopped work was employed
in putting defendants’ claim before the manager. The men
did not leave the premises. Only 12 ovens were drawn
during that shift, and 14 were drawn during the next,
bringing the output up to a recent legal award. The magis-
trates ordered each man to pay 10s., with 6s. 6d. costs, and
the chairman expressed the opinion that the point in dispute
might reasonably have been discussed outside of working
hours.	*	, . ,	. ,	,,

According to the returns which have reached the
Northumberland Miners’ Association, 46 steam coal pits in
the county worked an average of 5-4 days per week in
September, as compared with 5-46 in August. Twenty-two
household coal pits worked an average of 5-3 days per week,
as against 5-35 in August. The total average for August
was 5-46 days per week, and for September 5-3. The slight
falling-off is attributed, to some extent, to shortage of rail-
way wagons.	,

When several miners were charged, by the Lambton ana
Hetton Collieries Limited, at Houghton-le-Spring, with
wrongful absence from their work, Mr. E. Bell, prosecuting,
stated that it appeared to him that these men, especially the
single men, did not realise the position they occupied.
Theirs was a certified occupation, and on that account their
employers secured for them conditional exemption on the
oround that they were doing w7ork of national importance.
For that reason alone, they were entitled to remain at their
ordinary calling. Whether or not it was the high rate of
wa^es, he did not know, but at that particular colliery there
was an absence of about 10 per cent, of hewers during the
course of the week. The damages claimed were only a
portion of the actual loss, but in future the company would
proceed for the full amount, and, as for the men eligible for
the Army, if they did not attend to their work they would
simply put them in the hands of the military. George Howe,
of Philadelphia Colliery, was ordered to pay 30s., with
6s. 6d. costs; James Liddell, of Houghton Colliery, £4 15s.;
Thos. Summers, Houghton Colliery, £6 18s.; and John
Liddell, Houghton Colliery, £3 fis. ; with costs in each case.
It was stated that the Liddells were single men, and that
their absences were chiefly on Mondays. It was at the
beginning of the week, namely, on Mondays and Tuesdays,
that the company had the greatest percentage of
absentees.

At a meeting held at Stanley for the purpose of forming a
war savings committee, the chairman (Dr. Charles)
mentioned that one local colliery company which previously
had 4,700 workers and paid £7,500 in wages weekly,, now
employed considerably fewer men, but paid £2,000 to £3,000
more per week in wages.

The Sunderland magistrates ordered Stephen Dodds to pay
£3 damages and costs, and John Bailiff to pay £2 10s. and
costs to the Ryhope Coal Company Limited, for having
absented themselves from work. The prosecuting solicitor
stated that he could not understand why the men would not
do their duty. Their work was of national importance, and
50 men who had left the colliery to join the Army had been
brought back again. The damages claimed were equal to
10s. a day, but the original loss was much greater than that
sum.

In his report to the September delegate meeting of the
Durham County Colliery Enginemen’s, Boiler Minders’ and
Firemen’s Association, Mr. W. B. Charlton, agent,, referred
to some bellicose references made at the Trades’ Union
Congress recently to the possibility of post-war industrial
troubles arising from present “ Prussianism ” on the part
of the governing classes. Mr. Charlton expressed the hope
that we would take to heart the lessons the present grave
experience was teaching and amend our ways so that
“ Prussianism ” on either side would be killed.

A movement is on foot at some of the Cumberland
collieries, where coal is not drawn in the afternoon and
evenings, to start w7ork two hours later on the morning shift.
At present all the pits start work at six o'clock in the
morning, and this means that the miners in the majority of
cases have to rise between four and five o’clock. It is
suggested that in future the collieries should commence work
at eight instead of six, and -return to bank at four in the
afternoon. No meetings have as yet been held to consider
the matter, but the proposal is being freely discussed, and
it is stated that a large proportion of the miners are favour-

able to the proposed change. If the suggestion is carried out
it will not only enable the men to get two hours’ extra rest
in the mornings, but it may also have a tendency to prevent
a good deal of the absenteeism in some parts of the county.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the council of Newcastle
Chamber of Commerce, a letter from the Bly th Harbour
Commissioners was read wuth reference to the delays of
shipping at that port. The letter stated : “ My Commis-
sioners have done whatever lay in their power, but the work
of shipping coal at Blyth is controlled by the teemers, who
are employees of the North-Eastern Raihvay Company, and
the trimmers, who are the employees of the shippers, but
are members of the National Union of Railwaymen. I
trust that the negotiations which are going on will result in
the men concerned giving a little more elasticity to the work.
I will advise you, for the information of the Chamber of
Commerce, if improved conditions of working can be
arranged.” Mr. J. E. Tully informed the council that a
meeting writh Mr. Walter Hudson, M.P., representing the
National Union of Railwaymen, and Mr. Meggison, secre-*
tary of the local society of trimmers and teemers, would be
held next Monday, when, he hoped, part of the difficulty
would be overcome.

Wm. Armstrong, of Low Prudhoe; Patrick McMahon, of
Prudhoe; Matthew Edward Davidson, of High Mickley;
and John Downey, of Prudhoe, who w’ere charged, at Hex-
ham last Wednesday, with having wrongfully absented
themselves from the Mickley Coal Company's collieries on
August 21, appear to be almost incorrigibly bad time-
keepers. It was stated that, in St) weeks, Armstrong had
lost 57-89 per cent, of his time, Downey 18 per cent., and
McMahon 31 per cent. Davidson had lost 50 per cent, in the
last 12 weeks. Against each of the first three the company
claimed Ils. damages; against Davidson the claim was 17s.
The magistrates made the required order, with costs.

The Whitehaven collieries, which employ over 2,000
hands, were idle all day on Monday owing to a wage dis-
pute. The shiftmen demand a day and a half instead of a
day and a quarter’s 'pay for Sundays.

Federated Area.

Trouble arose at Bond’s Main Colliery, near Chesterfield,
belonging to the Staveley Coal and Iron Company Limited,
regarding the dismissal of one of the workmen, and, in con-
sequence, about 600 men employed at the pit absented
themselves from work. The employees in question had been
acting as temporary checkweighman during the illness of the
regular man. He received notice, and a suggested arbitra-
tion was not proceeded with.

Scotland.

Firemen and shot firers employed at the pits throughout
Scotland have put forward a claim for increased wages. A
similar demand is also being formulated on behalf of the
surface workers.

Delegates from all the 21 branches of the Mid and East
Lothian Miners’ Association met in Dalkeith on Saturday.
It was stated that there had been a very marked improve-
ment in the state of employment since the last meeting of
the board. Mr. Robt. Brown, the miners’ secretary,
reported that at several of the collieries in the Lothian® and
throughout other districts of Scotland the full proportion of
advance had not been given to the women workers on the pit-
heads, in terms of Lord Strathclyde’s decision, and he had
written to Mr. R. Baird, the secretary of the coal masters,
to request that he would communicate with the various
colliery managers concerned.

Newr and vigorous agitation has been set on foot by the
leaders of the Lanarkshire Miners’ Union as a protest
against the prevailing tendency to increase the price of both
food and coal. A resolution has been forwarded to the
Scottish mine workers' union to the following effect : “ That
the council recommend the miners in the county of Lanark
to take an idle day this week for the purpose of initiating an
energetic agitation against the inactivity of the Government
regarding the present inflated prices of food stuffs.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

Statistics which have been obtained from the Midland Iron
and Steel Wages Board show a serious falling-off in produc-
tion during July and August. Taking the sales of the 17
firms on whose prices the wages are based, the total tonnage
dropped from 33,644 in May and June to 28,940 in the two
succeeding months. The decline is not attributable to
reduced demand, for ironmasters could sell a great deal more
material than they are able to produce.

The Midland Wages Board returns for July and August
show another jump in the selling price of iron of 8s. 2d. a
ton, and as a consequence iron workers’ wages will be
advanced by 2| per cent. The rate for puddling, including
the bonus of 6d. agreed upon some years ago, now reaches
the record figure of 16s. 9d. per ton. The average net selling
price worked out at £14 2s. 2d. The advance applies tc
Staffordshire, Worcestershire, parts of Lancashire, York-
shire, and South Wales.

The half-yearly conference of the Notts and Derbyshire
Enginemen and Firemen’s Union took place at Nottingham
on Saturday. The secretary’s report included special
reference to the application of the enginemen and firemen in
Notts, whose case was now in the hands of an arbitrator
appointed by the Board of Trade. The award was expected
daily. The association, he said, was in a flourishing condi-
tion, and men were joining them who were not purely
enginemen and firemen. Their financial position was never
better, and their investments were on a sound footing.

Cumberland blastfurnacemen’s wages, as revealed by the
quarterly ascertainment under the sliding scale in force in
the haematite iron producing district, are 93| per cent, above
the standard compared with 68^ per cent, above the
standard a year ago, the average cash selling price of West-
Coast pig iron warrants being 115s. per ton, against 95s.
per ton at the corresponding period of Last year.

Officials of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Owners' Asso-
ciation inform one of our correspondents that developments
on a big scale are to be carried out by many firms in Southern
Lancashire as scon as ever there is adequate labour avail-
able for such work.

The Leeds Education Committee have for some time past
had under consideration the question of organising prelimi-
nary courses of braining for boys and young men engaged in
the coal mining industry. The commit tee have now, in
conjunction with the University of Leeds, arranged a joint
course of instruction in coal mining, which is intended to
lead up to the more advanctxl work carried on in the mining
department of the university. The instruction is divided
into four courses, to be given at different centres in the city.