914 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN November 10, 1916. both colliery and dock sidings. Orders are plentiful, but until the tonnage position improves, both buyers and sellers are unable to obtain clearance, and it is interfering greatly with the position of order books. For prompt shipment buyers are able to obtain supplies at reduced prices for several qualities. Anthracite large qualities are weak, but machine-made sorts are fairly firm. Throughs and small steams are also easy and obtainable at lower figures for prompt clearance. Large steams of the better qualities are, however, in good demand. The inland market continues active and buyers are able to obtain much better despatch of their orders. Manufacturing coals are firm, and house coals are also in strong demand. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week, owing to the continous gales and other causes, reached the lowest limit outside a strike week in past years. In the coal and patent fuel trades operations were on the smallest scale, the shipments together only amounting to 34,162 tons. There was a good attendance on ’Change this morning, but there was only a slight improvement in the tone of the anthracite coal market. Stocks of most descriptions were heavy, and many collieries were threatened with stoppages because of the shortage of steamers. Large coals of all qualities were slow in moving off, and machine-made descriptions were not so difficult to obtain. Bubbly culm and duff showed no change. Steam and bituminous coals were generally slow, the absence of tonnage having a marked effect. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) ....... Secondary do. Big Vein Valley large... Red Vein large ...... Machine - made cobbles Paris nuts .......... French do............ Stove do............. Beans ............... Machine - made large peas ................ Do. fine peas .... Rubbly culm.......... Duff................. Steam coals:— Best large .......... Seconds ............. Bunker throughs __.... Small ............... Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large____............. Thro’-and-thro’.... Small ............. Patent fuel ........... Current prices. L’st week’s;Last year’s prices. : prices. 31/ -33/ 31/ -33/ 1 36/ -37/6 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ I 34/6-36/ 26/ -29/ 26/ -29/ | 36/6-37/6 25/ -27/ 25/ -27/ | 32/ -35/ 40/ -42/ 40/ -42/ 43/ -45/ 40/ -42/ 40/ -42/ 47/ -49/6 40/ -41/ 40/ -41/ 44/ -47/6 30/ -31/ 30/ -31/ 32/ -34/6 20/ -22/6 20/ -22/6 18/6-19/6 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 8/ - 9/ 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 2/6- 3/ 32/ -33/ 32/6-34/ 20/ -24/ 30/ -31/ 30/ -31/ 17/ -19/ 24/ -28/ 25/ -29/6 13/ -14/6 17/ -20/ 18/ -22/ 6/ - 8/ 30/ -32/ 33/ -36/ 23/ -26/ ■ ■ — ■ 1— _____________________________________ 18/ -22/ 18/ -22/ 15/ -16/ 38/ -40/ 38/ -40/ 22/ -23/ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, November 9. _________________________________________________ The market is firm, and a steady enquiry is seen on every side. Buyers are pressing for coal, but the supply shows very little improvement. The orders in hand from the general public are still far beyond the capacity of fulfilling them, and the whole of the business is of a “ hand to mouth ” character. The heavy weather along the coast has seriously impeded the seaborne market, but on Monday 37 vessels were reported in the Thames (all contract cargoes), and nine for Wednesday’s market. Unfortunately, many of the loaded barges standing in the River Thames were swamped during the terrific gale on Sunday, but efforts to raise them luring the week have been successful. Household qualities are dribbling in. Hard steam coals are very difficult to obtain. Slacks are easier, and the arrival of so many trucks of unscreened coal has increased the quantity of wharf slack. In many directions merchants report that the men absolutely refuse to screen the trucks loaded with this unscreened quality, and as so much depends upon the regular working of the loaders, and carmen at present, the merchants are placed in a peculiar position. Bakers’ nuts and kitchener cobbles are rendered scarcer by this plan. The railway works at Nine Elms have suffered during the week by a somewhat unusual strike against the company’s proposal to introduce women in the place of vanmen called up. On Monday last a very interesting incident took place on the floor of the Exchange—the formal presentation of another ambulance car to the Red Cross Society for conveyance of the wounded soldiers from the various railway stations to the hospitals. The funds had been collected largely as the result of a good deal of voluntary labour by Mr. Stanley Carr, and is the second ambulance car presented by the London Coal Exchange for this special purpose. Mr. G. A. Warren, chairman of the Coal Merchants’ Society, and Mr. Richardson, chairman of the Inland Colliery Owners’ Sub- scription Room, tendered the car in the name of the London coal trade, and Commandant Davies, of the Red Cross Society, accepted it. The freight market continues firm. Boats are scarce, and chartering is consequently slow. Fix- tures have been recorded at 13s. 6d. from the Humber to London, and 14s. from Newcastle to London. Yorkshire hard steam coals are still fetching 30s. to 31s. per ton f.o.b. at the Humber ports, at least 10s. per ton above . the maximum prices at the pit’s mouth for the London trade. _________________________ and whether he would appoint an early date to receive a deputation from the Irish public bodies and those interested in the coal fields in reference to this matter. Mr. McKenna referred the hon. member to the reply given to his previous question upon this subject by the Chief Secretary on October 12 last. In the circumstances, no useful purpose would be served by receiving such a deputa- tion as that suggested. __________ Coal Trade (Committees). Mr. Cory asked whether Lord Milner had completed his investigations with the view to co-ordinating the work of the various Departmental Committees dealing with the coal trade; and, if so, what was the net result of the conferences with employers and men. Mr. Samuel said that Lord Milner’s work in supervising the operations of the several Coal Committees was not com- pleted, but was continuous. The latter part of the ques- tion, therefore, did not arise. _______________________________ __________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market continues steady, and prices for most products are unchanged. The exception, however, is tar, which has at length advanced somewhat. Nearest values are :— 1/Oi /10J-/11} 1/3—1/4 2/3 3/4 1/3 Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. 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 1/10—1/11 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) ........ [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.—If anything, prices have a slightly firmer tendency. Exports have ruled light, with the excep- tion of the Dutch East Indies, the returns at Leith, Liver- pool, and Middlesbrough being nil. In some localities, there has been an improvement in the home demand. For deferred shipment, business has been reported at £18 5s. Closing prices are :— 2/3—2/4 ... - /2J-/2J ... - 16/—16/6 ... — 15/—15/6,... — 17/—21/ ... +1/ reported at £18 5s. Closing .£17/18/9 £17 £17/17/6—£18 £17/17/6 £17/15 £18—£18/10 £17/18/9—£18/2/6 17/9 Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. +3/9 + /H London (ordinary makes) ... Beckton (25 per cent.) .... Liverpool ................. Hull ..................... Middlesbrough ........... Scotch ports ____*............. Wales ................... Nitrate of soda (ord) per cwt [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.} _____________________________ Mr. T. C. Elder, of the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association, has arranged to deliver an address on “ War and Industrial Revival,” at the Exchange, Nottingham, on Monday evening next. The following appointments of certifying surgeons under the Factory and Workshop Act are announced : Dr. G. C. Elliott, Stafford No. 2 district; Dr. J. R. F. Cullen, Alex- andria district (Dumbarton); and Dr. G. B. McKendrick, Pollokshaws district. Vacancies exist at Ballindine (Mayo), Slievereagh, and Lewes. From Messrs. Dinham Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, November 3.—The seaborne house coal market was steady to-day, with a fair demand, but no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 17. Monday, November 6.—There was a fair demand for sea- borne house coal at to-day’s market, but no cargoes reported sold. Cargoes, 37. Wednesday, November 8.—There was a good demand for seaborne house coal at to-day’s market, but no sales reported. Cargoes, 9. PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. ________________________________________________ HOUSE OF COMMONS.—November 7. Wagon Supply. Sir H. Dalziel asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he w7as aware that in the Kilsyth district of Fife the miners were unable to get their coal taken away; whether if the coal companies were compelled to supply additional hutches, wagons, and other plant, the output of coal could be increased considerably; and whether he proposed to take any action in the matter. Mr. Runciman replied that he understood there had occa- sionally been difficulty in despatching the output from some pits in Stirlingshire in the Kilsyth district. He would com- municate with the railway company on the subject. ________ Coal Prices. Mr. Field asked whether the authorities could arrange for a supply of coal to be retailed at moderate prices in Dublin, to avert a fuel famine. Mr. Runciman said he would be happy to co-operate as far as practicable in any steps that might be found necessary to ensure the maintenance of a reasonable supply of house coal to Dublin. He thought the matter was one to be dealt with locally in the first instance. __________ Pit wood Prices. Mr. Cowan asked whether any steps had been taken to protect the State against the exaction by timber owners of excessive prices for pitwood and timber of similar class required for purposes essential to the country. Mr- Acland replied that he did not think the timber owners bad been in a position to exact excessive prices. Power existed under the Defence of the Realm Regulations to requisition timber in certain circumstances; compensation for timber so requisitioned would be fixed by the Defence of the Realm Losses Royal Commission. He promised to give attention to any particulars of prices supplied to him. Replying to other questions, Mr. Acland stated that no substantiated complaint had been received concerning the wholesale clearances of young thriving -timber in Scotland, and. he thought that certain statements in the Press on the subject had been made without sufficient information. No labour was available for re-planting clearances. The Government was doing all it could to use -trained German prisoners in cutting down timber. The suggestion that the rise of pitwood prices in Scotland caused a rise of 2s. a ton in coal did not appear to be justified by facts. The general position with regard to pitwood supplies was receiving the constant attention of the Departments concerned, but it was not proposed at present to limit the price of pitwood. __________ November 9. Coal Supplies. Mr. P. Meehan asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention had been called to the resolutions of Irish public bodies pointing out the want of proper transit facilities from the Leinster coal fields, which prevents the proper distri- bution all over Ireland of cheap coal available there, and ask- ing for financial assistance from the Government for the construction of a light railway from the coal fields to some point on the Great Southern and Western Railway system; MINING INDUSTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE. Word has been passed round the local tribunals that men under 30 years of age should not be exempted, unless their claims are uncommonly strong. No exemptions whatever should be granted to those under 25. More discrimination may be exercised in the cases, of men between 30 and 40. At a recent meeting of the Swinton and Pendlebury tribunal, conditional exemption was granted a coal dealer, aged 34, who had been passed for Class C 2. He said all his savings were in the business, and if he went there would be no one to look after it. He had been in the business seven years, and had a good “ bagging ” trade. A letter was read from a local colliery firm supporting the claim. At the Eccles tribunal, the military representative said that in days gone by people used to fetch their own coal, and it was possible that they would have to do it again. The appellant was a coal merchant, who claimed exemption for a coal bagger. He had seven men, and the tribunal thought the employer ought to allow this man of 37 to go. The appeal was dismissed. To the Easington Rural District tribunal Mr. E. Seymour Wood applied, on behalf of the South Hetton Coal Company Limited, for which he is manager and agent, for 33 men who had previously had conditional exemption, and were employed at Hetton Colliery in connection with the coke works. The tribunal agreed to continue the conditional exemption in all but seven cases. The Auckland Rural tribunal has been endeavour- ing to ensure that men exempted from military service by the colliery recruiting courts shall be ordered to join a Volunteer Training Corps. The inspector of mines has informed them that the matter is not one which concerns the colliery court, and that there are no conditions imposed, other than that the men shall continue to be employed in a coal mine. When this information was laid before the tribunal, a member, Mr. Burkitt, complained that a miner who worked eight hours a day was not required to do any more, but a man who worked, perhaps, 14 hours a day was made to drill. The chairman (Mr. J. C. B. Hendy) remarked that the position was that, if miners were inclined to join the V.T.C., they could do so, but they could not be compelled to join it. A conference of members of local and appeal -tribunals for Northumberland and Durham has passed the following reso- lution, along with several others of a very drastic character : The conference is of opinion that (a) there are a large number of men in “ controlled works ” and collieries who have entered these employments since the outbreak of war, for the express purpose of avoiding military service; (5) there should be a combing out of these men by a joint committee of representatives of the Ministry of Munitions, the employers and of the representative trade unions—such committee to be constituted in each locality concerned; and (c) powers should be conferred on the local munitions -tribunal to recom- mend the “ debadging ” of such munition or other “ badged ” workers as are found to be guilty of persistent neglect of work. ___________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There has been more enquiry the last few days, and a fair amount of business is reported at 27s. basis, the figure most works are now adhering to, although we hear of some sales at less money. The shortage of acid is becoming very acute, and it is likely some of the mills will have to close down for want of same. Stock plates are not so plentiful, and are realising round 32s. for I C 14 x 20 coke, and 65s. to 66s. for I C 28 x 20. Following are current quotations, with certificate :—Cokes, I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 1081b.), 27s. per box and up; I C 28 X 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 54s. 6d. per box and up. IC squares and odd sizes, 27s. 6d. basis and up. Oil sizes are quiet, and prices nominal : IC 14 X 18f (124 sh. 110 lb.), 32s. per box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 47s. 6d. per box. Charcoal tins, with a permit, are quoted 30s. basis, and upwards, according to tinning. Coke wasters are in moderate demand. Current rates are about as follow : C W 14 x 20, 29s. 6d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 58s. 6d.; C W 14 x 18f, 29s. 6d.; C W 20 x 10, 42s. 6d. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. ______________________________ Staffordshire Iron and Steel Institute.—The first meeting of the session will be held in the institute, Wolverhampton- street, Dudley, to-morrow, 11th inst. Mr. J. E. Fletcher will deliver his presidential address. Delay at French Ports.—Paris advices state that the delay at French ports is as follows :—Boulogne, seven days; Trepo-rt, four; Rouen, five; Nantes, four; La Pallice, six; Bordeaux Queyries, 12. The Minister of Munitions ha® issued an Order adding steel hexagons, steel rounds, and steel squares (tested) to the list of war material; also steel scrap of the following claBseu if Bold without guaranteed analyses : Heavy steel melting scrap, steel turnings, and steel borings. In this connection, we may add that British iron masters, in a conference at Birmingham, agreed upon a system of net prices for bar iron, and adopted a national list of extras. All the authorised extras relating to certain1 brands of iron and steel productions are included in the list issued by the Ministry of Munitions on November 1. The list also specifies the maximum prices of metallurgical coke, which is 43s. per ton f.o.t. at makers’ ovens for South Wales and Monmouth- shire coke, and 25s. 8d. for South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Midland Counties, and West Yorkshire blast furnace coke.