186 January 26, 1911?. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _______________________________________________________________________________ Llanelly. COAL. Tonnage arrivals have been far from satisfactory during the past week, and the market continues to maintain its easy tone. Collieries are having many idle days for lack of empty wagonsj and stocks of coal have accumulated in both railway and docks sidings. For prompt clearance of wagons buyers have no difficulty in obtaining concessions in values for practically all qualities. Large anthracite kinds are particularly easy, and the machine-made qualities are not maintaining their firm tone. Peas are in good request, but beans, nuts and also cobbles are to be. obtained at easier rates where wagons can be released quickly and returned to colliery sidings. Duff is notin such good demand at the moment and culm is very slow. The steam coal market is also far from being firm, and throughs and smalls are weaker with concessions in prices given for prompt shipments. Large kinds are very strong and as the inland demand continues / Igood there is much delay in the execution of orders. Collieries, in face of the present acute shortage of empties, are apparently very reluctant to let their trucks make long trips inland. Works fuels continue to maintain a very healthy tone and local works practically monopolise the outputs. This week’s quotations are approximately as follow: — 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. 29/6-32/ 29/6-32/ : 28/ -30/ 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ 23/ -25/ 25/6-28/ i 25/6-28/ 20/ -22/ 24/ -25/ , 24/ -25/ 19/ -21/ 37/6-40/ 37/6-40/ 40/ -43/ 37/6-39/6 37/6-39/6 41/6-42/. 38/ -40/ ; 38/ -40/ . 42/ -43/ 37/ -39/ ! 37/ -39/ . 41/ -42/ 28/ -29/6'28/6-29/6 : 32/ -34/ 20/ -22/ ! 20/ -22/ 19/ -20/ 12/ -12/6 ! 12/ -12/6 i 6/6— 7/ 6/ - 6/6 6/ - 6/6 i 2/6- 3/ 27/ -28/ ‘ 27/ -28/6 j 30/ -32/ 20/ -23/6 j 20/ -23/6 | 20/ -23/ 13/6-19/6 I 13/6-17/6 | 12/ -14/ 17/ -19/6 I 17/ -19/6 18/ -20/ _________________________________________ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market is unsettled, and prices are lower, notably for bar, pitch, and. creosote. On the other hand, solvent naphtha in the. south is the turn firmer. Nearest values are :— Benzols, 90’s .................................... 1/OJ „ 90’s North __................ /10J—/11J ... ,, 50’s North ............._____ 1/3—1/4 ... Toluol __________________________ 2/3 Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... 3/4 ,, crystals (40 per cent.) 1/3 Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package...' 2/ Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 160 degs.), as in quality and package... 1/8——1/9 ... Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) .... /6|—/6-L ... .... Creosote (for ordinary purposes) ...... /3J—/3| ... Pitch (f.o.b. east coast).....__...... 16/—17/ ... ,, (f.a.s. west coast) ............. 16/—17/ Tar (per ton ex works) ............. 19/—21/ ... Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. +71 -/OF -1/ -2/ [Benzols, toluol creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at makers' works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch, f.o.b. net.’] . Sulphate of Ammonia.—Export business is quiet, and, in fact, practically at a standstill, though prices generally are favouring vendors. The home consumption continues quiet, and the outlook dubious. The prices are London (ordinary makes) ... Beckton (25 per cent.) .... Liverpool ______.............____ Hull __.................... Middlesbrough ......;.....__ Scotch ports ................. Wales _____...................__ Nitrate of soda (ord) per cwt Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. £18/10 £17/10—£17/12/6 .. £18/16/3—£19 .. £18/10 £18/10 £19—£19/5 £19 20/6 — 2/6 + 5/ +2/6 + 5/ +5/ . + /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.] __________________________ THE TIH-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Round about 27s. basis is to-day’s figure for coke tin- plates, in approved sizes, f.o.b. Wales, but, of course, all orders musit be accompanied by a class A or B certificate now, and dealings have consequently been very restricted. The deputation which waited upon the Ministry the other day were refused permission to dispose of their stocks of wasters without a “ permit number.” This places stock holders in a very awkward position, and it is to be hoped that a way out of the difficulty will .soon be found, as stocks are accumulating. . In the meantime, prices are quite nominal. _____________________________ The New Chartering Order.—A deputation of Cardiff ship- brokers waited upon Mr. C. Hipwood, secretary to the Marine Department of the.Board of Trade, at-Whiteball-gardens on Tuesday in connection with the. new Order in Council with regard to the chartering of foreign vessels. The depu- tation, which comprised Mr. H. Dahl (chairman of the Cardiff Shipbrokers’ Association), Mr. J. S. Allgood (hon. secretary), Mr. S. W. Hansen, and Mr. J. Sidney Rees, urged that the shipbrokers and charterers should be allowed, to continue their work as before, in view of the influence they could exercise with neutral ship owners. At the close, it was announced that the decision of the Board of Trade would be communicated to the parties interested after full considera- tion had been given to the facts laid before the Department. —The London shipbrokers, at a meeting at the Baltic Exchange, passed a resolution advocating, in effect, a modi- fication of the Order. THE LDMDOM COAL TRADE. Thursday, January 25. _______________________________________________ The market has been'well attended. during the past few weeks, and the keen demand for all qualities of house and steam coad continues unabated. The stocks at the various wharves and depots are unquestionably lower, and the recent cold weather considerably depletes the store in all directions. Househdldars are finding their winter stock is drawing'to an end, and are pressing, for further supplies, but the quantity coming forward is far below the usual trade demlands. The delivery trade up to the present time remains active, and merchants are endeavouring to cope with the extra orders by picking up the shock on the ground as freely as possible. The slippery nature of the roads has largely increased the difficulty of dealing with the deliveries in the Metropolitan area, and the actual consumption is at its zenith; unless the atmosphere changes, or the supply can be increased', there must soon come a serious crisis in the London area. Fortunately, the seaborne arrivals keep a very steady pace; 24 vessels were reported as arriving in the River Thames on Monday last. All were contract cargoes, and no free coat was offering. Freights continue high, and the Humber shippers report everything at a standstill in consequence of the hew regulation, regarding steamers in the French and Italian trade, which came into force on Monday last. A vigorous protest has been lodged at the Board of Trade Offices and a reply has been received, but, whilst the Board wish to interfere as little as possible with the present chartering usages, they adhere strictly to the principle that permission must be first obtained. The new7 regulation for calling up miners has been generally accepted with a good amount of favour, for although at the first blush it looked as if the already reduced output would be still further reduced by the withdrawal of so many of the pitmen, yet the justice of the case in releasing men who only joine/Lup after the war began and particularly the slackers, must ultimately have a bene- ficial effect. In the Tyne district the depression following the stoppages of all supplies to Norway, and the delay arising from the new chartering regulations, has restricted trade, and it is feared that some of the collieries will lose time. An important announcement was posted on the London Coal.Merchants’ Society committee room on Monday last .from the Board of Trade. It appears'that one colliery had given notice to its regular buyers th alt the price at pit would be advanced 2s. per ton, but the Board of Trade tele-' phoned that no advance was to be paid until further advice was issued by the officials of the Board. The other com- munication was a telegram of congratulation from Lady Markham with, reference to the safety lamp which has had such a marvellous history. Lady Markham has promised £100 for the lamp, to present it to the London Society of Coal Merchants when its tour is completed. The, whole amount realised for the lamp is to be presented to the Wounded Allies’ Fund. ________________________ From Messrs. Dinham Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, January 19.—There was a good enquiry for sea- borne house coal to-day, but nothing on offer. Cargoes, 13. Monday, January 22.—In consequence of the short sup- plies of seaborne house coal coming forward, the demand remained firm, with nothing on offer. Cargoes, 24. Wednesday, January 24.—The demand for seaborne house coal remained very firm, owing to the abort supplies. __________________________ LABOUR AMD WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The South Wales Federation has before it a resolution from the Maes teg district which proposes that a new 1918 Wage standard shall be established by adding to. the stan- dard pates existing in the respective districts the total per- centage prevailing in 1918. Mr. Hartshorn contends that’ the suggested new 'Standard would represent “ a minimum human standard of living for the miners,” and that com- mercial standards should be adapted to it. avon Company Limited. A special meeting was jheld on Wednesday'evening, when, a resolution, was passed stipulating that unless the employers’ representative gives an under- taking that the men’s grievance shall be redressed within the next fortnight,.another meeting will be called. Enquiries show that the company is making an effort to meet the .men, and has given.out an order for a supply of motor lorries to ensure a more expeditious delivery of coal for the domestic use of the employees. North of England. The pros and cons of the mine workers’ contention that, until the cost of living is reduced, there should be no further change in rates of wages, were argued at great length at the Newcastle Coal Trade Offices on Saturday, at a meeting, over which Mr. Thos. Taylor presided; of county coal owners and representatives of Northumberland .miners, deputies, engine- men, firemen, and mechanics. For the men, it wae urged that, although the' Government had not yet actually taken over the county collieries, they had fixed export prices so far as certain destinations were concerned, and had interfered with the export trade in other ways, with the result that the1 free working of the sliding scale for. the regulation of wages had been so interfered with that the scale was ren- dered inapplicable. The men did not object to the action taken by the Government, but, as the action had been taken in the national inteireists, they claimed that the mining com- munity in an exporting district should not have to bear the. whole burden. They complained, also, that, in regulating the export of coal, the Government had consulted the coal , owner's, coal exporters, and’ship owners, but had ignored the mine workers. They admitted that the supplementary sliding scale conceded by the coal owners had helped to increase wages to meet the high cost of living to some extent, but not entirely. If the Government reduced coal prices, they were deprived of the benefits of that supplementary scale. In conclusion, the men intimated that they were determined to resist any further reduction in wages whilst the cost of living remained at its present height. The coal owners, in reply, urged that the Government had not yet taken over the mines, and that, until that happened, the men should abide by the sliding scale to which they were parties. However, they promised consideration of the points raised by the deputation, and to send a> reply in due course. The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Association has adopted the following resolution, which it has forwarded to the Home Office and the Miners’ Federa- tion :—“ That we express our surprise at the action of the Morpeth magistrates on the 10th inst. in. dismissing the charge, instituted by the Public .Prosecutor on behalf of the 'Home-Office, against the manager of Woodhorn Colliery, that he did not cause an adequate amount of ventilation to be constantly produced.to dilute, or render harmless, inflam-' mable’ or noxious, gases', so that all levels, etc., were in a fit stalte for working at Woodhorn Colliery on August 13, 1916, as, in our opinion, clause 162. of the Mines Act does not bear the interpretation given to it by the magistrates ; otherwise there iis no protection against the danger of inade-' quale ventilation such as led to this explosion, which caused the loss, of 13 lives. We are also of the opinion that such cases should not be heard at petty sessional courts by local magistrate's, but by the county court judge for the area in which the accident occurred.” Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades. The official text of tine agreement between the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain and the British Steel Smelters’ Association. as to. the general organisation, shows that the Miners’ Federation has the right to organise .coke and by-product,workers oh or about -a colliery, and the Smelters’ Association the right to organise these workers elsewhere. _____________________ COASTWISE SHIPMENTS IN DECEMBER. According to the returns issued by the Commissioners of ELM. Customs and Excise, the following quantities of coal were shipped coastwise from the United Kingdom during December:— From Total cargo. Total bunker. Bristol Channel ports North-western ports North-eastern ports Humber ports Other ports on east coast Other English ports Total from England and Wales Ports on east coast of Scotland Ports on west coast of Scotland... Total from Scotland Irish ports • Total from United Kingdom 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916.. Tons. 128,767 191,142 487,094 84,022 . 4,193 2,800 Tons. 105,818 199,840 380,676 47,395 1,920 2,902 Tons. 10,895 45,004 50,266 9,014 13,296 2,991 Tons. 9,183 40,475 22,019 8,126 8,768 2,966 898,018 738,551 131,466 91,537 39,380 123,652 33,095 155,097 8,013 22,014 9,866 22,481 163,032 188,192 30,027 32,347 — 4,273 - 2,134 1,061,050 926,743 165,766 126,018 fe. The dock workers at Newport are seeking an increase of 25 per cent, in their wage rates, and .their application has come before the Chief Industrial Commissioner, a reply also having been submitted to him on behalf of the employers. The South West'Wales miners’ tribunal had before it a number of applications from firms which employed youths 18 years of age, and the applications have been adjourned for further enquiry. The men employed at Varteg Hill and the Lower Varteg collieries are seeking permission to tender notices in protest against alleged indifference of the management to the refusal of certain outside craftsmen to join the Miners’ Federation. ' • The men at Llanhfilleth Colliery have been granted per- mission by the Federation executive to tender notices in support of a claim relating to the wages of surface, crafts- men. The matter has been before the Conciliation Board— remitted to. representatives of each side—but it has been found impracticable to reach agreement. The alleged bad quality of the house coal, and the irre- gular intervals at which it is being supplied, has developed into a grievance with the workmen employed-by the. Blaen- The destination of cargo shipments was as follows :— Dec. 1915. Dec. 1916. Tons. Tons. 679,339 ... 517,527 45,567 .... 36,854 336,144 ... 372,362 To ports in England and Wales...... Scotland.................. Ireland ................ _______________________________ Miners’ Federation Supports the Government.—A special conference of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain was held at the Albert Hall, Manchester, on Monday last to decide their policy on the various questions which would come before the Labour Party conference. Mr. Robert Smillie, president, was in the chair, and there were present about 100 delegates representing all the mining districts in Great Britain. The most important question before the con- ference was the action of the miners towards the decision of the executive of the Labour Party to join with Mr. Lloyd George’s Coalition Government. Following a somewhat lively discussion, it wasagreed, without a division, to support the decision of the executive for the Labour Party to take their share of responsibility by joining the Coalition.