292 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN August 9, 1918. IRON. The mills and forges of the district are idle this week except for much-needed repairs to plant and machinery. Business, therefore, has been practically at a standstill. Apart from the restraining holiday influences, the negotia- tion of new business is hampered by the delay in making an official announcement on the subject of revised prices. The return of the Midland Iron and Steel Wages Board for May and June reflects the difficult conditions of the times. Bar iron, the staple product, has fallen by 2,500 tons, but represents fully 68 per cent, of the whole; angles and tees are down by near 250 tons, and plates and sheets by 140 tons. Hoops, strip and miscellaneous are the only products that have escaped the downward tendency—these being almost stationary. In the matter of selling price, the average of all classes of material for the two months is <£15 15s. 2d—an advance of only Is. 7d. over March and April. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The order books are still very full of urgent orders for house coal; consequently the loss of two or three days output, owing to the holiday, has added very considerably to the difficulties of the position. Inland merchants are ordering very freely, but it is impossible to satisfy the demand with any promptitude. Vessels are being berthed as fast as the coal can be sent to the docks. Steam qualities are in strong demand, and buyers for works of national importance are pressing keenly for all they can get. Prices at pithead. Large ... House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Rough slack ........ Steam coal — Large ................ Small ... Current prices. 30/ 23/ 26/6-27/6 22/ —23/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. f24/ 30/ ) 23/ 1 23/3 (.21/6 23/ 13 6 26/6-27/6 20/ -21/ 22/ -23/ 16/ -17/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Pitch prices in London are now approxi- mately 55s. to 57s. 6d.—the latter figure appearing in recent business. Very little is reported regarding ship- ment, yet some substantial quantities are being placed aboard. For instance, West Cumberland works have recently sent out another large consignment. Of course, tonnage is a constant difficulty, although the supply of late has improved. The outlook, either by water or rail, is not favourable to pitch movements. Nevertheless, quotations are firm all round, and the east coast figure—32s. to 33s. f.o.b.—is a rising one. The same tendency is evident in the North of England, but the price in Scotland still lingers at a comparatively low level—26s. being commonly men- tioned. Very little fresh information is current regarding tar. Crude at the present moment is steady at 32s. 6d. to 35s.; London, 27s. to 29s.; Midlands, at 28s. to 30s. net, ex works. Tar oils and creosote are quoted at official figures. Solvent naphtha, 90-160 per cent., in London this week averages 3s. 3d. to 3s 6d.; north, 2s. lid. to 3s.; 90-160 per cent., naked, London, 3s. 10|d., and north, 3s. 3d. to 3s. 4d. Considering how much is on offer, buyers are looking for concessions. Crude naphtha, naked, 30 per cent., is offered at 8|d. to 8|d. London, and 6|d. to 6|d. north. Here and there some good orders for crude naphthalene are being placed. Refined is at £30 to £32 10s. London, and salts £6 to £7. Crude carbolic finds a good market just now, and some buyers are willing to negotiate for large supplies. The quotation is firm at 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. naked, east coast and west coast. Crystals, 39-40, command lid. to Is., although spot parcels to meet urgent requirements may run to more. Other quotations include - Cresylic in casks, 95 per cent., 3s.; 97-99 per cent., 3s. 3d. ex London works and f.o.b. other ports. Sulphate of Ammonia.—An enquiry reached us regarding the reason of the great difference between the price of sulphate for export under licence and the schedule price for home use; but that is a matter which must be left to buyers and sellers. A point of interest in the query is that even at high prices for the commodity, plus costly freights and tonnage difficulties, exports to very distant countries can still be kept in view. The quotation for the home trade is £15 5s. August, and £15 15s. September- November, basis 24|, less 10s. a ton, to dealers and merchants. Orders are being sent in freely to producers. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Beyond recording the fact that the market is very firm, and that makers have as much on their books as they care about, there is nothing to report this week. All tin-plate mills are closed down for annual holidays. Threatened Stoppage of Yorkshire Pits.—-The attitude of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association in declining to accept the arbitrator’s award as to the hours to be worked per week in the coal mines is causing grave concern to the officials and members of the National Union of General Workers, which embraces some 18,000 colliery surface workers in West and South Yorkshire. A stoppage of mines is threatened. The miners’ officials urged that the 54 hours working week is intended to include meal times, while the coal owners declared that the arbitrator explained what he meant by his award, and that this supports the interpretation put upon it by them. London’s Coal Supply.—A deputation of about twenty metropolitan members of Parliament had an interview with Sir Albert Stanley and Sir Guy Calthrop at the Board of Trade yesterday (Thursday) on the subject of the Coal Order as affecting London. A large number of points were raised by members of the deputation, and Sir Albert Stanley promised that they should be considered, but he held out no hope of any alteration in the terms of the Order. It is understood that a simplified form of the Order will be issued which can be more easily understood, and that further warnings will also, be issued to the public on the urgent need of the immediate husbanding of gas and coal supplies in view of the needs of the winter. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 8. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The whole week has partaken of a holiday character. There has been a considerable arrival of tonnage, but ships have been delayed. The pressure for best steam coal is very great. All other classes are eagerly purchased. Nothing is now really dragging in the market. A keen demand exists for gas coal for inland consumption. All prices are on the new schedule. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals Secondary do Inferior do. Screenings Through coals Best washed nuts Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit .. Secondary do. do. ... Patent fuel Furnace coke ! Foundry coke ■ j Current 1 prices. ; 37/ ! 36/ ! 36/ 1 35/ 1 28/ ' 27/ 1 25/ 1 30/ 34/ 37/ 40/ 38/ 37/ 52/ 52/ L’st week’s prices. 37/ 36/ 36/ 35/ 28/ 27/ 25/ 30/ 34/ 37/ 40/ 38/ 37/ 52/ 52/ Last year’s prices. 30/ 29/ 29/ 28/ 21/6 20/ 18/ 23/ 27/ 30/ 33/ 30/9 32/6 47/6 47/6 * Nominal. IRON. There has necessarily been a reduction in output this week on account of the holidays. At some of the works men continued to turn out Government orders with great devotion and loyalty. All prices are nominal. The great advance in the price of block tin naturally causes some consternation in the tin-plate trade; but there are now so many orders for pressing Government requirements that they must be executed. Iron ore imports continue satis- factory. There has been a fair arrival of pit wood at the controlled price. Cardiff. COAL. Notwithstanding an urgent appeal by the Coal Controller that the miners should only take two days holiday instead of three, the men adhered to their original decision, and the collieries remained idle until Thursday morning. The coal owners, through the chairman of the Conciliation Board, placed the position before the miners’ leaders, but the only satisfaction they received was that an appeal would be made to the men to return in full strength on the Thursday. From experience it is recognised that such an appeal would be abortive, for many of the men have gone to the seaside for a week or a fortnight, and normal working is not likely to be resumed for at least another week. The demand is as great as ever, and with tonnage ariving freely, there are many vessels in the various docks awaiting cargoes. Admiralty and official orders for Allied countries come first, and for other destinations coal cannot be obtained for love or money. The Exchange was closed for two days, and on Wednesday there was only a partial resumption of business, the offices closing at noon. On Wednesday a notice was posted on ’Change stating that coal exporters and shippers were expected to send subse- quent alterations in the weekly tonnage returns to the secretary of the Bristol Channel Coal and Co-ordinating Committee. Individual returns received by the secretary of the committee for the supply of coal to France and Italy were summarised every Saturday and sent to the Shipping and Coal Co-ordinating Committee each Monday morning. Subsequent changes in the position of vessels, etc., must be sent to the Coal Co-ordinating Committee, by which method Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated) plus 2s. 6d. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 28/ 27/6 27/ 26/6 26/ 25/6 25/ 37/ 35/6 37/ 35/6 34/6 33/6 37/ 36/ 36/ 35/ 40/ 37/9 37/9 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 24/ -26/ 37' 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ L’st week’s prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 1 28/ ) 27/6 1 27/ i 26/6 } 26/ j 25/6 1 25/ j 37/ 35/6 37/ 35/6 34/6 33/6 37/ 36/ 36/ 35/ 40/ 37/9 37/9 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 24/ -26' 37/ 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ Last year’s prices. 33/ 1 31/6 30,9 30/ 23/ 21/6 20/ 18/ 30/ 28/6 30/ 28/6 27/6 26/6 30/ 29/ 29/ 28/ 33/ 30,9 30,9 26/ 27/ 25/ 20/ 32/6 30/ 47/6 47/6 47/6 60/ -62.6 Superior seconds Seconds Ordinary Steam smalls No. 1 Do. 2 Do. 3 Do. 4 Do. 5 Do. 6 Do. 7 Do. 8 Best dry coals ..... Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Monmouthshire— Black Voins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through SmAll Best patent fuel Seconds ... Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) * Nominal. a considerable amount of delay will be obviated. This scheme is now in full working order, and there is a cordial co-operation on all sides to make it a success. Unfor- tunately, there is a lack of coal, and except for official business the market is absolutely stagnant. Arrears are accumulating, and there is little prospect of normal con- ditions being reached before the end of the month. In the home and domestic market the position is worse. The new rationing scheme, as a practical problem, will be an impossibility. As a result of the stoppage this week, the secretary of the Coal and Coke Supplies Committee intimated that no coal will be available for distribution for another ten or fourteen days, and some of the works in the district are being hard pressed to keep going until further supplies are forthcoming. This state of affairs applies not only to the local area, but to the west of England districts, which are dependent on coal from South Wales. The general position, therefore, is somewhat chaotic, and in some quarters it is alleged that if the requirements of the Government and the country had been placed before the miners in a more forcible and tactful way, the result would have been different. Many coal owners resent the numerous obliga- tions placed upon them without consultation or discussion. There seems to be a lack of co-ordination between the authorities and the producers, and until this state of things has been remedied there is not likely to be much improve- ment in the general conditions. There is at the moment a shortage of coal all round, and no apparent attempt either on the part of employer or workmen to increase production. Prices remain on the basis of the Controller’s schedule. IRON. All works are well provided with orders for tinplates, but the position becomes increasingly difficult, owing to the continued rise of block tin. Many of the contracts were entered into when the price of tin was as low as £330 and even less, whereas the quotation is now about £398 and there is a prospect of a still further advance. Many makers were unable to cover themselves at the lower figures, and are consequently working at a loss. This is a hindrance to business, and several orders during the past few days have been declined owing to the uncertainty of the position. For standard sizes, quotations range from 33s. 6d. to 34s, but the latter is an outside figure. Other sizes are in pro- portion. As usual immediately before a holiday, there was an improvement in production, and receipts from works totalled 40,659 boxes compared with 21,814 boxes in the previous week. Shipments were 37,383 boxes, against 23,255 boxes, leaving in stock in the docks warehouses and vans 131,110 boxes, compared with 127,834 boxes in the preceding week, and 74,845 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. In the iron and steel trades advantage is being taken of the holidays to effect necessary repairs and renewals, and the Dowlais Works closed down for a week. Production generally, however, is being well maintained, and maximum outputs are being turned out whenever con- ditions are favourable. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change, and prices in all departments are nominal. Scrap metals are scarce, and whatever quantities are avail- able, are readily taken at maximum rates. Llanelly. COAL. There is not a great deal to report as to the state of the market this week. Owing to the holidays pits closed until Thursday morning, leaving sellers in doubt as to the quantity of coal available this week. Manufacturing fuels are in heavy request, and it is anticipated that many con- sumers will be in difficulties until pits get into proper working order again. Inland customers are very short of fuel, but as shipping orders' must have preference, it is likely that buyers along the line will have to wait a long time before they will have their orders attended to. Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite;— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 36/ 36/ 29/ Thirds 34/6 34/6 27/6 Red Vein large 32/6 32/6 25/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds 48/ 48/ 41/ Thirds 4Q 46/ 39/ Red Vein cobbles 43/ 43/ 36/ Machine-made nuts 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds 48/ 48/ 41/ Thirds 46/ 46/ 39/ Red Vein nuts 43/ 43/ 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 42/ 42/ 35/ Seconds 41/ 41/ 34/ Thirds 40/ 40/ 33/ Red Vein beans 38/ 1 38/ 31/ Peas (all qualities) 27/ 27/ 20/ Rubbly culm 20/ 20/ 13/ Red Vein culm 18/ 18/ 11/ Breaker duff 15/ 15/ 10/ Billy duff 13/6 13/6 6/6 Steam:— Best large steams 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 34/ 34/ 27/ Cargo through Seconds - — Bunker through 30/6 30/6 25/ Smalls 26/ 26/ W Second smalls — — Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 34/ 34/ 27/ Smalls 31/ 31/ 24/ Gas through v / Gas smalls — ' - (Coke-oven) coke.. 54/6 54/6 47/6 The above prices are subject to an advance of 2s. 6d. per ton in the case of shipments to France and Italy, and coal for the manufacture of patent fuel for shipment thereto. Qualifications of Surveyors.—The Home Secretary has made an Order amending the Order of February 27, 1912, prescribing the qualifications of surveyors under the Coal Mines Act, 1911. The effect of the Order is that after December 31, 1918, it will no longer be possible for a person holding a manager’s first-class certificate of com- petency to become qualified as a surveyor under the Act merely by having that certificate endorsed as to his prac- tical experience in mine surveying. He must obtain a separate surveyor’s certificate from the Board for Mining Examinations or an approved institution in the manner at present provided for in the existing Order.