712 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN October 13, 1916. 1,120,000 tons,[and it js’anticipated|that further authorisa- tion will bring the total up to a million and*a quarter^tons. A conference between representatives of thej Swansea and Cardiff coal export committees took place at Cardiff on Tuesday to discuss the allocation of tonnage Both Swansea and Cardiff are anxious to secure a larger number of boats. An important matter, too, is to keep the trade in the customary channels. There was a good attendance on 'Change, and anthracite coals opened, with a good enquiry all round. Large descriptions were in a better positions and machine-made cobbles and nuts were difficult to obtain. Beans were a shade better, while peas were steady. There was no movement in rubbly culm or duff. Steam coals showed a good enquiry, particularly in the case of smalls. Llanelly. COAL. The local market continues very firm. Large anthracite kinds are steady, and there is every prospect of a still increased demand ruling in the near future. Cobbles and the other machine made kinds are much sought after, and buyers are experiencing considerable difficulty in making up parcels of some of these qualities. The inland market is firm, with many enquiries offering, and consumers have difficulty in getting anything like early delivery for their supplies. Rubbly culm and duff are unchanged. In the steam coal market large sorts are in good request, and supplies of the better kinds are very short. Inland cus- sumers are much inconvenienced by the delay in execution of their orders. Throughs and smalls are in good demand with prices firm. Manufacturing fuels are scarce, and works are taking all available supplies. This week’s quota- tions are approximately as follow :— Prices f.o.b. 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 L'st week's Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 31/6-32/6 31/ -32/6 32/6-34/ 29/ -30/6 29/ -30/6 31/ -33/ 28/ -30/ : 28/ -30/ 33/ -35/ 26/6-27/6 26/6-27/6 26/ -28/ 39/6-42/6 39/6-42/6 40/ -42/ 39/6-41/6 39/6-41/6 41/ -43/ 40/ -42/ 40/ -42/6 42/6-45/ 39/6-41/6 39/6-41/6 40/ -42/ 30/ -31/6 30/ -31/6 30/ -32/ 22/ -23'/ 22/ -23/ ' 18/ -19/6 14/6-15/ 14/6-15/ 8/6-11/6 6/ - 6/6 5/ - 5/6 3/6- 4/6 34/6-36/ 34/6-36/ 22/ -24/ 26/ -29/ 26/ -29/ 14/ -16/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 8/ -10/ 25/6-27/6 25/6-27/6 : 16/ -18/ __________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Business generally is quiet, and prices are more or less nominal. Pitch and tar both seem flat, while carbolics are slow to move. Nearest values are :— Benzols, 90’s ........................ ,, 90’s North ................. ,, 50’s North ................. Toluol ............................... Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) ...... Creosote (for ordinary qualities) .... Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ............. ,, (f.a.s. west coast) ............. Tar (per ton ex works) ............. Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. l/0i ... — /W-/111 ... - 1/3—1/4 ... — 2/3 ... — 3/4 ... - 1/3 ... - 2/2—2/3 ... — 1/10—1/11 /6J—/6f /2-/2J 16/—16/6 15/—15/6 15/6—19/6 [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.] October requirements appear prices are :— London (ordinary makes) ... Beckton (25 per cent.) ____ Liverpool ................ Hull __..................... Middlesbrough ........... Scotch ports .............. W ales .................... Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt [Sulnhate of ammonia, f.o.b Sulphate of Ammonia.—The market is steady, and prices are well maintained, but actual business passing is on a limited scale, while export trade continues uncertain. Home to be moderate. Closing Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. £17/18/9 ... — £16/17/6—£17 ... — £17/18/9 ... — £17/12/6 ... — £17/13/9 • ... — £18—£18/2/6 ... — £17/18/9 ... — 17/9 ... — , , . in bags, less 2| per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] __________________________________ Reserve of Skilled Workers.—An Army Order announces that the Army Council has decided to establish two new classes of the Army Reserve and one of the Territorial Force Reserve for certain men whose services are deemed for the time being to be more valuable to the country in civil than in military employment. The new Reserve includes engi- neering draughtsmen, electricians, smiths, iron and steel moulders, brass moulders, various classes of machine tool workers, scientific instrument makers, and any engineering trade which may be notified hereafter. Coal Conciliation Board. — A meeting of the workmen’s section of the Coal Conciliation Board for England and North Wales was held at the Great Western Hotel, Birmingham, on Thursday, to consider the desirability of making an appli- cation to the Conciliation Board for an increase in the present rates of wages. Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., presided. The principal business related to the resolution passed at the annual conference in Blackpool, claiming an advance in wages in proportion to the rise in selling prices beyond the limit at present fixed by the Government. It was decided that an advance should be sought, and that the matter should be raised at the quarterly meeting of the Board this month. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 12. ...... The trade has shown very little change from many of the preceding weeks. The tonnage arriving has been exceed- ingly small, and the demand for all qualities of fuel con- tinues very strong. The bulk of the London merchants are keenly alive to the necessity of getting a better supply, in anticipation of the winter’s requirements, and, coupled with this, householders are pressing for every coal cellar to be replenished, so that very little extra coal can be put into stock at the various wharves and depots. This makes the delivery trade brisk, and the order books crowded, with no “ excess ” coal to spare for stocking. The market has been well attended, and the keen request for house coal has been plainly evidenced. The best sorts of house coal are very scarce, and factors had no difficulty in disposing of the small quantity for disposal under their monthly contracts. Colliery representatives have very little coal to offer, and in nearly every case point to the huge numbers of orders in arrear. The limited output is entirely insufficient to cope with the extensive demands. Manufacturing qualities are coming forward very slowly, and the special demands of railway companies and munition works make the quantity available for London very uncertain. Small nuts are very difficult to obtain, and fetch a price almost equal to that of large coal. Slacks continue very plentiful, and prices are weakening. The impetus given to the slack trade by the revival of the cotton industry has not been sufficient to clear the market of the abundant supply. In the seaborne market 37 vessels were reported as arriving in the River Thames far Monday’s market, and 13 tor Wednesday. None of these were offered in the open market; all were contract cargoes. The Humber ports are .reported quiet, but 30s. per ton f.o.b. seems to be the ruling price for best South Yorkshire hards. The neutral shipments are somewhat restricted owing to the difficulty in obtaining licences. Derbyshire steams are quoted at 29s. per ton f.o.b., and gas coal 25s. to 26s. f.o.b. In the freight market, chartering has been quiet, but rates are firm. Fix- tures have been made at 12s. 6d. Hull to London. Serious delays are reported at some of the French ports. Special measures have been taken recently to try and solve the problem of securing a reasonable supply, and at a reasonable price for household consumption. The fear of the demand for the Allies, the bunkering of ships and the heavy require- ments for niunition works and other great institutions, includ- ing the railway and gas companies, has led to a grave fear of a famine for ordinary household use, and strenuous efforts have been made towards making the best use of the limited output. The ranks of the miners have been sadly depleted by enlistments, but the Eight Hours Act is likely to come up again for discussion, and the employment of women and boys at the surface werk is also advocated. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, October 6.—The demand for seaborne house coal was a trifle easier at to-day’s market, with no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 17. Monday, October 9.—There was a good demand for sea- borne house coal at to-day’s market, but no cargoes were available. Cargoes, 37. . , Wednesday, October 11.—The seaborne house coal market was without alteration to-dav. No sales recorded. Cargoes, 13. ____________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There has been very little doing the past few days, even in war material, and prices are easing in consequence, class A work being very keenly competed for. For example, 24s. 6d. has been accepted tor the basis size, and 28 x 20 at 50s., whereas stock plates realised round 31s. 6d. and 66s. 6d. respectively. Present quotations against class A certificate may be called :—Coke tins : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 25s. to 26s. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 sh.), 50s. to 51s.; IC 14 x W (124 sh. 1101b.), 33s. 6d. (nominal); IC 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 1b.), 48s. (nominal). IC squares and odd sizes, 26s. 6d. to 28s. basis. Terne- plates are quite nominal, at round 62s. a box for I C 28 x 20. Coke wasters are quoted :—C W 14 x 20, 31s. 6d. per box and up; C W 28 x 20, 62s. 6d.; CW 14 x 18f, 31s. 6d.; C W 20 x 10, 45s. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ________________________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, October 12. Dublin. There is a good demand generally, and prices of all qualities of fuel remain unchanged, at late rates, viz. :— Best Orrell, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire brights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s.; best slack, 36s.; retail prices, 2s. lOd. to 3s. per sack; best coke, 43s. per ton net. The coal vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 73, being chiefly from Silloth, Liverpool, Newport, Point of Aire, Partington, Ayr, Irvine, Whitehaven, Glasgow, Neath Abbey, Swansea^ Cardiff, Garston, Troon, Llanelly, Workington, Manchester, and Maryport. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 34,000 tons, as compared with 30,000 tons the week previously. At the Wolf hill Collieries, Queen’s County, orders for supplies to the inland towns are now very plentiful, and additional lorries have been put on the road in order to effect deliveries more expeditiously. It is stated that in order to increase the output, and meet the growing demand on these coals, the company have recently purchased a quantity of new machinery, and when this is in working order it is anticipated that the amount of coal raised will be greatly increased. Irish coal has been tested in the furnaces in the South Dublin Union mixed with bituminous slack, with satisfactory results. Owing to the high price of coal, less quantities of turf have been coming into Dublin in conse- quence of the increased consumption in the agricultural dis- tricts, and the price is much higher this season. At present the cost is £44 for a barge load of about 45 to 50 tons of turf at the banks, as compared with £25 formerly, and the cost when delivered in Dublin is about £60, as against £28 to £30 before the war. Belfast. There is an improving tendency in the house coal trade as the season advances, otherwise business is rather quiet, and prices generally are unaltered. There is a fairly good supply in the port. Current quotations for house coals are :—Best Arley, 41s. per ton; second Orrell, 40s.; Orrell nuts, 40s.; Scotch, 37s.; Orrell slack, 37s., all less Is. per ton discount The total number of colliers entering the harbour from September 17 to 30 was 135. MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE. At Halifax tribunal last week, the Halifax and District Goal Supply Association sought exemption for Arnold Cockroft, coal depot manager, who is married, and 28 years of age. Mr. T. Collinson, on behalf of the company, said the depot would have to be closed if this man were lost, as they had no one to substitute tor him. He had charge of the distribution of coal to munition works. The military representative having expressed the belief that the man was in a reserved occupation as a coal wharf manager, exemption to March 31 was granted. Blyth tribunal granted three months’ exemption to two local coal merchants, who stated that, if they were compelled to join, they would have to close down their businesses. The Monmouthshire colliery tribunal, sitting in Newport on Tuesday, dealt with a large number of colliery workmen who had recently been engaged—they having previously been quarrymen, insurance canvassers, shop assistants, etc.; and at the Tredegar tribunal the military representative said he had received instructions that all cases of single men under 30 years of age should be reviewed. Two checkweighers were exempted by the county tribunal. The position of tin-platers in Carmarthenshire, and particu- larly in the town of Llanelly, was discussed at a meeting of the Llanelly tribunal, it being represented that whilst men in that trade had been exempted in Glamorgan and Monmouth- shire, the appeals of tin-platers in Carmarthenshire had been refused. Coun. J. Hughes, who represented fellow workmen before the tribunal, said he could not understand the pre- ferential treatment given to the other counties; and it was stated that a tribunal sitting in another part of the same building at that time had decided to place tin-platers in the position of those in Glamorgan and Monmouth by postponing their calling up until November 30. The omission of Llanelly and Carmarthenshire is all the more remarkable because the re-starring of the tin-platers was obtained through the initia- tive of Llanelly. As showing the condition of the trade, it has been stated that huge orders for tin-plates are going to America, one enquiry for Russia being represented as 1,600,000 boxes ; and the fear is that America, once having got a foothold in markets hitherto supplied exclusively from Wales, may not hereafter be superseded, and that the trade will be permanently lost to Wales. The review of the exemption certificates in respect of tin- platers is to be persevered with, notwithstanding that a new consideration is being brought to bear, namely, that these men would be particularly suitable tor transference to steel works, and that in consequence of the great extension of that particular industry, their labour is urgently necessary. A conference has taken place between representatives both of employers and employed in the tin-plate trade, and this point was urged by several of those present. It will be recognised that the principal tin-plate works are closely asso- ciated with steel works, and that there is a unity of interest between them. Among those who attended the conference at the Board of Trade on Monday were Messrs. Gibbins (from Neath), Mr. Beaumont Thomas and Mr. Spence Thomas (of the well-known firm in South Wales), Mr. Tregoning (Car- marthenshire), and the secretary (Mr. H. Drummond) of the employers organisation. With them w’ere three or four representatives of the tin-plate workmen, and one representa- tive of the Deckers’ Union. A firm of mining machinery manufacturers, who applied io the Newcastle tribunal for permission to retain the services of a youth of 18 until the end of the year, did not receive much sympathy. The chairman said the firm could not expect the tribunal to believe that the boy held a very impor- tant position. If he did, his work could not be onerous, and a woman or older man could do it. Six weeks’ exemption was granted. The Harden Collieries Limited applied to the Durham county appeal tribunal tor the exemption of two unmarried clerks, aged 25 and 28 respectively, employed in their Darlington offices. Mr. Whitwell, on behalf of the company, stated that they raised 8,000 tons of coal a dav, and employed 6,000 men, of whom one-third had joined the Colours. They paid £7,000 weekly in wages, and had been pressed by the Government to build more coke ovens. Sir Frank Brown enquired if there was not some arrangement between the mili- tary and the coal trade with respect to clerks engaged in coal offices. A.d. House pointed out that this arrangement only referred to clerks engaged at the offices on the colliery premises. The appeal was dismissed. Mr. Whitwell asked leave to appeal to the central tribunal, but this was refused, whereupon Mr. Whitwell remarked, “That is rather drastic.’’ Sir I rank Brown retorted, “ No, we think it is sound common sense that two single men of their ages should go.” A coal merchant, applying for exemption at the hands of the Northumberland appeal tribunal, stated that he was married and had two children. It had taken him 10 years to build up his business. All his men save two had joined the Forces, and he had four brothers serving. He was allowed three months. ________________________________ French Bill for Regulating Coal Prices.—Difficulties having arisen from the fact that there is an average difference of about 50 fr. per ton between French and imported coals, a Bill has been introduced in the Chamber of Deputies to fix the retail prices of house coal during the war. The Bill pro- vides tor the creation of a coal office in each Department, to be managed by an honorary committee appointed by the Minister of Public Works. The functions of the committees include the issue of price lists, seeing that coal merchants keep account of the coal received and sent out; prescribing the1 use of separate storage for French and imported coals; and controlling the distribution of house coal through dealers, or direct, at the prices fixed tor the district. The prefects— who are, ex-officio, members of the local committees—mav requisition any plant required for handling such coals. No Irench house coal may be brought into, transported, or sold in any Department except under the conditions fixed by the local offices. The selling price of the coal shall not exceed the mean between the pithead price of French coal and that of imported coal at the port of entry (plus carriage to destina- tion). W’here the coal is bought direct by the local office or by controlled groups of dealers, the Minister of Public Works may allow rebates which will bring the mean prices to the above level. The expenses will be met by Government grants (out of a credit of 30.000,000 fr.) and a tax of not more than 5 fr. per ton of coal sold by French producers (except miners’ house coal and that sold locally). Penalties are prescribed for selling at prices above those fixed tor each locality.