January 4, 1918.

21

controlled by the Government, they were justified in
adopting this course. They also contended that they
were backed by the precedent of Government inter-
vention on previous occasions with regard to wages.
As indicated, the increase on this occasion was not
based on the selling price of coal, but on the increased
cost of living. The coal owners, on the other hand,
asked for a reduction of 27| per cent, on the wage rate,
but the Coal Controller, by telegram, refused to con-
sent to any such application being made at that junc-
ture. Throughout this month there was considerable
unemployment in the western section of the coal field,
and it was reported that not one-fourth of the miners
in that area were working half-time. In the first few
days of the month in the Cardiff and Newport districts,
the improvement in shipments became so marked, that
higher prices were being asked all round, especially by
colliery salesmen who were in favourable positions. The
congestion in the railway sidings disappeared, and for
some time there was difficulty for collieries to keep
pace with the demand. By the middle of the month,
however, it became apparent that the spurt was only
temporary, and there was a considerable decline in
prices. Second Admiralty steam coals, which had
been as high as 32s. 6d., relapsed to 26s. 6d., and there
was a drop of 4s. to 5s. per ton in ordinaries and other
grades. Owing to the many anomalies arising out of
the limitation of prices, the principle of gradation was
decided upon, and a committee was appointed to carry
out the scheme. It was pointed out that, whilst best
coal was being sold to the Allies at 30s. per ton, as
much as 20s. per ton was being obtained for inferior
grades above the Government rates. On another
occasion, when the market declined owing to lack of
tonnage, it happened that neutrals were obtaining
supplies at several shillings less than the Allies. Under
the gradation scheme, it was suggested that Welsh
steam coals should range from 29s. to 33s., whilst
small should command something over 20s. down to
less than 10s. for ordinary duff. At the close of the
month the ruling quotations were: Best Admiralties,
nominal; seconds, 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.; ordinary steams,
25s. 6d. to 26s. 6d.; best bunkers, 16s. 6d. to 17s. 6d.;
cargo qualities, 13s. to 15s.; drys, 24s. to 27s.; washed
nuts, 23s. to 25s.; peas, 22s. to 24s.; Black Veins, 26s.
to 27s.; Western Valleys, 25s. to 26s.; Eastern Valleys,
24s. to 25s.; No. 3 Rhondda, 27s. to 27s. 6d.; No. 2,
24s. to 25s.; patent fuel, 28s. to 30s.; coke, 47s. 6d.
to 50s.; and pitwood, 75s. per ton. Owing to the scar-
city and high price of the latter, experiments were
made during the month in the manufacture of props
by the mixture of furnace slag and ferro-concrete. The
results were reported to be satisfactory. It was
announced that further colliery developments were
taking place in the Maesteg area, and that North’s
Navigation Company were in negotiation for increas-
ing their territory by a further 3,000 acres.

June.

In‘the early days of the month, a firmer tone pre-
vailed owing to the probable increase of the minimum
prices as a result of the classification scheme. Although
no official details were published, the special committee
immediately commenced the work of gradation, in
which all coals were included. The task was naturally
an arduous one, and required much tact in dealing
with delicate matters. After sitting for some days, it
was announced unofficially that the bulk of their deci-
sions had been accepted, but that appeals were pending
in many cases. In the meantime, the market became
stagnant, and buyers in some instances were holding
back in the hope of obtaining concessions. Up to the
end of the month, however, the classification list had
not been published, and, in the meantime, transactions
were being entered into, subject to any modification
that might be necessary when the gradation schedule
had become known. Although the Whitsuntide holiday
produced a certain amount of absenteeism, stocks
were plentiful, and there was no difficulty in fulfilling
both Admiralty requirements and those of the Allied
Governments. During the month a proposal was
made that there should be a private pooling scheme in
respect of new business from France diverted to South
Wales from other districts, but this was rejected by a
large majority at a meeting of coal exporters held to
consider the matter. Perhaps the most important
item during the month was the issue by the Coal Con-
troller of a .schedule of minimum prices at which
various grades of coal should be made. There was a
general increase in quotations, compared with the
rates prevailing at the commencement of the month,
the greatest difference being in the price of small
steams. At the beginning of June, best bunkers were
obtainable at 15s. to 17s., and cargo qualities at 12s.
to 14s., but under the new schedule, which came into
operation on June 28, there was an advance in these
grades of 6s. and 8s. per ton. The following is a list
of the fixed schedule of prices: Best Admiralties, 33s.,;
seconds, 30s. 9d. to 31s. 6d.; ordinary steams, 30s.;
best bunkers, 23s. ; cargo qualities, 20s,; dry coals,
28s. 6d. to 30s.; washed nuts, 28s. 6d. to 30s.; peas,
26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.; Black Veins, 30s.; Western
Valleys, 29s.; Eastern Valleys, 29s.; No. 3 Rhondda,
30s. 9d.; No. 2, 27s.; patent fuel, 28s. to 32s. 6d.; and
coke, 47s. 6d. Pitwood was easier at 67s. 6d. to 70s.
per ton.

July.

The tonnage difficulty became more pronounced, with
the result that stocks continued to accumulate, especi-
ally of inferior grades, and numerous stoppages were
reported from all districts. The schedule of prices
fixed by the Coal Controller came in for a great amount
of criticism, especially with regard to small coals. No
business was done at the maximum price of 23s., and
it was felt that the quotation was altogether too high.
A suggestion was made that small coals should be
divided into eight classes, with a maximum of 21s. 6d.,
and this was submitted to the authorities for consider-
ation. Under the Coal Distribution'Order, it was anti-
cipated that upwards of 60,000 tons of Monmouthshire
coal would be required for inland consumption in the
West of England and South Wales, especially as Forest

proprietors and the coal exporters had been requested
to elect three members each on a committee to discuss
the question of arrears and the cancellation of con-
tracts. They met, and nominated Mr. H. J. Hill as
their chairman. The Controller, however, considered
that a coal owner should be chairman, and he appointed
Mr. Evan Williams, of Swansea, as chairman, and Mr.
W. North Lewis as vice-chairman. The coal exporters
considered this would give undue weight to the colliery
interests, and refused to accept Mr. Williams’ nomina-
tion, with the result that they retired from the com-
mittee. After considerable delay and negotiation,
however, the difficulty was ultimately overcome, the
committee agreeing not to appoint a chairman, but in
the event of dispute to refer it to the Controller or his
nominee for settlement. With regard to the applica-
tion of the Miners’ Federation for a 25 per cent,
increase in wages, it was announced that the Con-
troller had made an offer of Is. 3d. a day to men over
18, and 7jd. to youths under 18, the understanding
being that these amounts would be paid whether the
pits were working or stopped. It was stated that this
would mean an increase of £50,000 a week to the wages
bill of South Wales. The owners were not consulted,
and it was stated that the effect of this advance would
be to wipe out all profit. The advance thus offered
was rejected by the miners, and a subsequent proposal
of Is. 6d. per day for men and 9d. for boys was
accepted. In the South Wales coal trade, the general
opinion was expressed that this would amount to an
increase of Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. per ton on the whole
output of coal, which would mean that many collieries
would be working at an actual loss. Throughout the
month stocks of coal were excessive, particularly of
ordinary and lower grade descriptions. Coal owners
were becoming disturbed at the frequency of
unauthorised strikes, and they complained that the
men were disregarding their leaders, and taking
matters into their own hands. Mr. F. L. Davis pointed
out, at a meeting of the Conciliation Board, that since
July there had been 30 unauthorised stoppages, which
was a far greater number than in any corresponding
period. He emphasised the necessity of the Govern-
ment exercising more disciplinary control over the men
as well as the mines. Owing to the shortage of tonnage,
stoppages were reported on numerous occasions, and in
one week there were upwards of 8,000 men idle in one
district alone. At the latter end of the month the
classification list of small coals was published. This
provided for eight grades, the maximum price being
21s. 6d., and from this figure a decline of 6d. for each
grade, until a minimum of 18s. was reached. Pitwood
again became firmer, the closing prices being from
67s. 6d. to 70s. per ton.

October.

In order to meet the increase in wages recently
grahted to the miners, the Coal Controller, on
October 12, issued a new schedule of minimum prices,
by which an advance of 2s. 6d. was made to all grades
of coal, with the exception of shipments to France and
Italy. This decision evoked a considerable amount of
criticism, because it was felt that the amount of
increase did not meet the circumstances of the case.
It was pointed out that the increase of Is. 6d. a day
means 10s. 6d. per week, which represents an addition
in the wages bill of South Wales alone of over four
millions sterling per annum, which the men were to be
paid whether they worked or not. Complaint was
made that the authorities, on nearly every occasion,
had listened to representations by the miners’ unions,
but they had not shown the same readiness to hear
those made by the employers’ organisations. Another
way in which the proposed increase in price worked
unfairly was the elimination of France and Italy from
the scope of the operation of the new scale. Of the
total exports to these countries, 60 per cent, was
shipped from South Wales, 30 per cent, from north-
eastern ports, and the remaining 10 per cent, from
other ports of the country. In normal times, owners
would endeavour to obtain such a price for their coal
as would enable them to meet the cost of production,
and secure a fair return on the capital employed. The
present circumstances were in the highest degree
abnormal, for while prices and profits were subject to
arbitrary restriction and regulation by the Govern-
ment, there has been no check to the rise in the cost
of pitwood, stores, and wages, and the position of
owners is rapidly becoming impossible. During the
month further steps were taken for the pooling of
Italian export business, the same as had been done at
Glasgow, Newcastle, and Swansea. Outside the
requirements of the Italian State Railways, which,
next to the British Admiralty, are the biggest con-
sumers in the Welsh market, the Italian Commission
was guaranteed a minimum shipment of 225,000 tons a
month. These figures have been considerably exceeded,
and it is probable that the excess quantities will be in
the neighbourhood of a million tons. Several meetings
were held, and the scheme was ultimately adopted. A
committee of six of the biggest exporters were elected
to control the pooling arrangement, two of whom
retire by rotation every three months, and their place
is taken by two of the next largest shippers, and so
on. In the first week of the month there was a strike
of tippers at the Bute Docks, with the result that load-
ing operations were suspended for the greater part of
a day.

November.

Throughout the month stoppages were numerous,
owing to the lack of tonnage and shortage of wagons,
and the railway sidings continued to be in an acute
stage of congestion. So frequent did the stoppages
become that it was becoming quite a custom to have
an idle day at the commencement of the week pending
the collection of sufficient wagons to keep the pits going
during the following days. Stormy weather also
delayed the arrival of vessels, and shipments were con-
siderably below the average. The publication of the
Bill for the compensation of collieries had no effect on
the market, as the details were practically known some
time previously. Many coal owners, however, expressed
the opinion that the industry had not been fairly dealt

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

of Dean coal was eliminated from competition with the
bituminous coals of Monmouthshire. There was, there-
fore, a better demand for second-grade Monmouth-
shires, and, so far as shipments were concerned, there
was a considerable amount of relaxation in the pres-
sure. The shortage of wagons, however, continued,,
and this was felt to a greater extent in the pitwood
trade. Fresh arrivals had to be dumped on the quay-
side, and prices declined to 57s. 6d. to 62s. 6d. per ton.
At a meeting of the directors of the Taff Vale Railway
Company in the first week of July, Mr. E. A. Prosser
was appointed general manager of the Taff Vale Rail-
way Company, in succession to Mr. A. Beasley, who
retired, and who was subsequently appointed deputy-
chairman of the company. By this appointment, the
docks and railways of the Cardiff Railway Company,
the Taff Railway Company, and the Rhymney Com-
pany all came under the same control. In years gone
by such a unity of working had been endeavoured to
be accomplished by Parliamentary sanction, but this
was rejected as being inimical to the interests of
exporters, inasmuch as it would tend to eliminate com-
petition. The same result had now been achieved by
purely commercial methods, and the appointment met
with unanimous approval, because it was believed that
the siding accommodation would be improved, and that
there would be a considerable speeding up of the trans-
port arrangements, both of loaded trains and also of
the return of empties to the collieries. Towards the
end of the month, a meeting of Admiralty colliery sales-
men was held to consider contract prices for the ensuing
season. The Government offered 2s. to 3s. per ton
increase on the prices previously paid, but in view of
the extra cost of production and increased wages and
other incidentals, this was not considered satisfactory.
No official intimation was ever made, but it was
reported at a later date that a compromise had been
effected. Whilst the Admiralty refused to agree to the
old limitation prices as suggested, a substantial
advance was granted over the rates that were payable
in 1916. An announcement was made that the Ocean
Coal Company had acquired a controlling interest in
the Ammanford Coal Company, whose anthracite
output is about 350,000 tons per annum. The present
capital of the Ocean Company exceeds 4| millions ster-
ling, and their output is included in the front rank of
the big companies of South Wales. Throughout the
month all business was on the basis of the Controller’s
fixed schedule of prices, and there were no alterations.

August.

The Coal Controller suggested a two days holiday,
but the miners decided to take three. The owners
viewed this decision with complaisance, because stocks
were ample, and no difficulties were anticipated. In
fact, it was hoped that the stocks in the sidings would
be reduced to such an extent that work would proceed
at the collieries with more comfort afterwards. Busi-
ness generally was stagnant throughout the month.
In the early days of the war, complaints were made
about staffs being unduly depleted, but these defici-
ences were made up by female and other substituted
labour. It was now complained that business was so
slack that, even for the substituted staffs, there was
practically nothing to do. Although best quality coals
seemed to be in steady demand, there was an ample
supply of secondary grades, and for a time there was
a disposition on the part of many salesmen to ignore
the Controller’s prices, and sell at open market rates.
They complained that months before, when they could
sell the coal, they had the greatest difficulty in obtain-
ing the necessary permits. Now, when coal was plen-
tiful, they were not allowed to dispose of it on usual
market conditions. After the holidays there was a
considerable increase in the percentage of absenteeism,
and the tonnage conditions improved to such an extent
that in the middle of the month vessels were actually
lying in dock waiting their turns to proceed to loading
berths. During one week, however, chartering was an
absolute blank, there being not a single fixture reported
outside Admiralty and Allied Government business.
The Cardiff Coal Washery, which had been idle since
the commencement of the war, was taken over by the
Admiralty authorities, and operations resumed, with
the result that a large number of wagons which had
been held up in the sidings, laden with small coal, were
liberated. In the third week of August there was a
strike of tippers at Barry Dock, which had the effect
of disorganising traffic and stopping a number of
collieries. Fortunately, the dispute was referred to
arbitration, and work was resumed after a stoppage of
three days. Many vessels were diverted to Cardiff,
Newport, and other docks. The coal owners, in view
of the decreased output, and the increased cost of pro-
duction, felt they were justified in asking for a reduc-
tion of 30 per cent, in the wage rate, but the Coal
Controller refused his permission to make the applica-
tion. As opposed to this, through the Miners’ Feder-
ation of Great Britain, the men applied for a general
increase of 25 per cent. Stormy weather interfered
with arrivals of shipping at the end of the month, and
pitwood declined to 59s. to 61s. per ton. With regard
to the representations which had been made in respect
of the quotations for small coal, the Controller agreed
to accept a revision of the scale, provided that owners
and merchants agreed amongst themselves as to the
prices to be arranged.

September.

On the first of the month the mine examiners gave a
month’s notice to terminate contracts. They demanded
recognition of their association, and asked that uniform
rates of pay should be established throughout the whole
coal field. It was stated that these rates varied from .
£3 12s. 6d. to £4 16s., and they repudiated the conten-
tion that this was a matter of individual arrangement
between the examiners and their respective companies.
Representations were in due course made to the Coal
Controller, but he intimated that it was undesirable
for him to intervene until the coal owners had met to
consider the matter. An extraordinary conflict arose
between the Controller and the coal exporters of Cardiff
on the question of arrears of contracts. The colliery