448 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN August 30, 1918. constitution of conciliation boards, and ’the details governing their supervision and control. Amongst other questions of this kind now being considered in Germany is the proposal to establish chambers of commerce in foreign countries. Curiously, there has been little enthusiasm in this direction hitherto, and the few chambers of com- merce that have been instituted have not proved to be conspicuously successful, except, perhaps, those of Geneva and New York. The reason assigned for their comparative failure is that most of them have been merely an advisory council of the consulate instead of free and independent institutions. Some of the German papers have lately been advocating their establishment upon a basis entirely free from State control, in order to meet the difficult conditions created by the war. The very suggestion of a German institution free from State control may perhaps be taken as an indication of a growing feeling that trade organisation for purely military purposes has not been an unqualified success. Of still greater interest is the attitude of Germany towards the problem of acquiring raw materials after the war. A new department, styled the Imperial Department of Economics, has recently been set up, six sections of which are concerned with different groups of raw materials. These various sections, assisted by expert committees, are now engaged in exploring the whole situation; but great difficulties appear to have been encountered, owing to the uncer- tainty which surrounds the question of Germany’s obligations abroad and her foreign credit balances. Great efforts seem to be on foot to acquire raw materials in advance for immediate import on the conclusion of peace. There is a growing anxiety with regard to Germany’s position in this respect, owing to the fact that nearly all the raw materials required are in the hands of her present enemies, who are, moreover, growing daily more independent of her chief assets— potash, dyes and chemicals. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, August 29. Dublin. Prices are advanced 3s. per ton all round this week owing to the rise in wages recently granted to the coal workers. Orrell is 58s. 6d. per ton; Wigan, 57s. 6d ; Whitehaven, 57s. 6d.; Pemberton Wigan, 56s. 6d.; standard coal, 54s., and slack, 53s.; all less Is. per ton discount. The quantity of coal discharged upon the quays from cross-Channel ports during the past week was 27,199 tons, compared with 19,500 tons the week previously. The Irish Coal Controller has informed a deputation of Dublin M.P.’s that the coal imports now show some improvement, and stated that in order to secure equitable distribution, it was proposed to open a central office for the purpose of dealing with all applications for coal supplies. The economising of coal to the fullest extent was urged, so that any supplies coming to hand may be available for the most important purposes. It is understood that every effort is being made to speed up deliveries from the Irish mines. The sub-committee for Ireland, which is acting in conjunction with the Commission that has been set up in England, are making a series of inspections of the wordings of public departments in Dublin. The question of the winter demand for coal was discussed by the Corporation Coal Committee last week, also the prices of coal in the city At a meeting of the Dublin Trades Council it was stated that certain coal merchants in Dublin had visited country districts where turf was found, in order to see if it was possible to buy the turf as it stood. It has been ascertained that there are thousands of acres of bog in the neighbourhood of Robertstown and Clarne, situated near the two canals directly communicating with Dublin, which would be let for the purpose of turf cutting. At an auction of turf in the country recently, some of the stacks realised .£3 16s., the average price in normal times being £2. A new feature in the industrial life of County Kerry is the large number of wagon loads of turf to be seen on nearly all railway lines and at sidings. Belfast. Supplies continue to arrive very slowly, and stocks remain very low in the port, as the demand absorbs all imports. From August 4 to 17, the total number of coal-laden vessels arriving in the harbour was 131. THE TIM-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Business has been quiet for last few days. There are no large enquiries. Makers are so heavily booked over the next couple of months that delivery cannot be obtained before November or December, and they are not anxious to commit themselves so far ahead to any extent owing to increasing labour troubles, and difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of raw materials. The official maximum price for coke tinplates at present is 33s. 3d. per basis box, net cash, f.o.t. at works, and sellers adhere firmly to this. Wasters are in good demand, and realise top prices. All large sizes are exceedingly scarce. Terneplates meet with a fair enquiry; full official prices are generally quoted and obtained. Miners Who Prefer Army Life. — Information has reached the War Office (says a notice issued from the Coal Controller’s office) that some ex-miners in the Home Army of B 2 and B 3 categories, who are urgently wanted for work in the mines, are not applying to be transferred from the Army. It is understood that in some instances the men prefer life in the Army to that in the mines, or feel that they may be considered to be shirking military duty if they apply for release. The Army Council has therefore instructed all the home commands to instruct commanding officers to bring to the notice of soldiers serving under their command the fact that the release of men for work in the coal fields is of urgent importance in the national interest, and is absolutely necessary to ensure the successful prosecution of the war. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 29. Scotland.-—Western District. COAL. Supplies are still unsatisfactory, and all classes of consumers are on short supplies. Fuel for gas, industrial and domestic purposes is very scarce. Admiralty require- ments have been very heavy of late, and this has added to the shortage in other directions. Steamers have been fairly plentiful, but home demands do not allow of much expansion in the export department. Shipments amounted to 111,218 tons, compared with 99,822 in the preceding week and 134,970 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Steam coal % prices. 34/6 prices. 34/6 prices. 27/6 Ell 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ 26/6-28/ Splint 35/ -37/ 35/ -37/ 28/ -30/ Treble nuts 30/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 29/ 22/ Single do 28/ 28/ 21/ IRON. No change has taken place in the iron trade. War requirements still dominate the market, and supplies for other purposes are very difficult to secure. The pig iron furnaces are hardly equal to the demands made upon them, and, apart from haematite, which is almost entirely utilised on Government account, supplies are poor. Foundry quality is especially short and forge not too plentiful. Prices are firm, with an upward tendency. Monkland and Carnbroe are quoted f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 140s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Govan, No. 1, 135s., No. 3, 130s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 150s., Nos. 3, 145s.; Glen- garnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 140s., No. 3, 135s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 145s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Shotts at Leith, No.l, 150s., No. 3, 145s. per ton. Notwithstanding the advance in prices, malleable iron makers have more orders on hand than they can conveniently deal with. Home specifications are largely confined to agricultural, mining or railway material, and the same applies to exports when possible. Wrought iron and steel tube makers report a steady flow of business. Structural engineers and makers of castings have plenty of orders. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. The output from the Lothian collieries is promptly taken up. Best steams are well booked for neutral shipment, while all qualities are scarce for home consumption. Ship- ments amounted to 16,274 tons, against 18,241 in the preceding week and 17,733 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities..... Treble nuts ............ Double do...........'... Single do............... Current prices. 33/6 32/6 30/ 29/ 28/ L’st week’s prices. 33/6 32/6 30/ 29/ 28/ Last year’s prices 26/6 25/6 23/ 22/ 21/ Admiralty demands for Fifeshire coal have been fairly heavy, and all classes of navigations and steams are in strong request. Home supplies are difficult to obtain. Shipments were 40,108 tons, against 40,758 in the preceding week and 33,148 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Best screened navigation coal 36/ -38/ 36/ -38/ 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ Unscreened do 31/ -32/ 31/ -32/ First-class steam coal 35/ 35/ 28/ Third-class do 31/ • 31/ 24/ 23/ Treble nuts 30/ 30/ Double do 29/ 29/ ' 22/ Single do 28/ 28/ 21/ All prices quoted apply only to French and Italian busi- ness. The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 167,600 tons, compared with 158,821 in the preceding week and 185,851 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. The ease which has been noticeable in the local coal market during the past fortnight still continues, although to some lessened extent. That ease is attributable wholly to the interruption in the steady flow of official vessels to and from the ports of loading and discharge, and to the continued scarcity of neutral tonnage. The former is due, as has been earlier explained, to detention resulting from congestion of vessels at discharging ports. To a certain extent this has been remedied, the volume of arrivals over last week-end showing a very material improvement. The quantity of requisitioned tonnage on hand is still far from being adequate to meet the full requirements of the case; sufficient vessels are not yet arriving to clear off the stocks of coal which have accumulated at the collieries in recent days, much less to absorb the current output. These obstacles to despatch on official account are resulting in there being thrown on the market considerable stocks of coal, of which neutrals having spot tonnage can avail them- selves. Neutrals in that happy position are by no means as numerous as might have been expected in view of the urgency of the call for fu 1 from our foreign customers; indeed neutral tonnage has turned up to a relatively very small extent, with the result that, although, for the first time for many months, neutrals have the opportunity of securing many cargoes of coal, only a comparatively few shiploads have been sent off. Every day that elapses renders the chance of neutrals to secure supplies less good. Foreign consumers who have boats ready to hand are able to command slight discounts on current quotations. Bunkers are especially weak at the moment and are quoted for immediate delivery at 42s. 6d.; for later on, 47s. 6d. is asked, which is a reduction of 2s. 6d. per ton on the recent highest quotation. On the other hand, gas seconds are listed at an advance of 5s., so far as neutrals are concerned, 45s. being the quotation. Otherwise, the price list has undergone no change this week. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals:— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials ' Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. N orthumbr ians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 37' -70/ 36/6-70/ 32/6-65/ 34/ -65/ 30 6-40/ 27/ -45/ 25/6-40/ 27/6-45/ 32/ -40/ 32/ -50/ 30/6-42/6 33/6-55/ 31 /-47/6 31/ -45/ 31/ -40/ 31/ -40/ 35/6-70/ 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ 47;6 L’st week’s prices. 37/ -70/ 36/6-70/ 32/6-65/ 34/ -65/ 30/6-40/ 27/ -45/ 25/6-40/ 27/6^45/ 32/ -40/ 32/ -50/ 30/6-42'6 33/6-55/ 31/ -50/ 31/ -45/ 31/ -40/ 31/ -40/ 35/6-70/ 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ 47,6 Last year’s prices. 30/ 29/6 25/6 27/ 23/6-25/ 20/ 18 6 20,6 25/ -30/ 25/ 23/6 26/6-30/ 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 23/6-30/ > 42 6 42,6 j 29/ -30/ Sunderland. COAL. The coal market opened this week without any change in its general position. The expected improvement in the supply of tonnage has not yet occurred, though there are indications that tonnage is about to come forward more freely, and more business is expected to be done in a few days. Meanwhile coal for prompt loading is readily obtainable, and merchants with ready-boats on hand can no doubt buy to advantage, but for later loading for neutrals the collieries are very firm. Market quotations remain fairly steady, and show little change except in bunker coals, which are suffering from the shortage in shipping. Ample supplies of ordinary at 42s. 6d. for immediate delivery, and better qualities are quoted up to 50s. Gas coals are in good request, bests at 50s. to 55s., and seconds at 45s. a ton. Coke is unchanged, with limited supplies; neutrals offer 65s. for foundry. Gashouse make is firm at 45s. to 47s. 6d. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. Business in fuel is only quiet, and the general situation shows no material change. Coal is on the market for prompt sale, and if vessels were available probably current rates could be discounted to some extent. The very limited supply of tonnage, however, is responsible for the present stagnation. The enquiry on behalf of neutrals is steadily maintained, and requirements for home consumption con- tinue heavy. Until means of better despatch occur, spot parcels will be available in considerable quantities. All kinds of gas coal are in good request, and best descriptions make from 50s. to 55s.; whilst seconds are in the neighbour- hood of 45s. Ordinary Durham bunker coal is in ample supply at 42s. 6d. for prompt delivery, and better kinds are quoted up to 50s. Household coal ranges from 35s. 6d. to 70s. Cokiog coal is taken up readily at anything between 31s. to 40s. The coke situation is unsatisfactory. Some of the blastfurnaces have been fortunate enough to secure rather larger supplies, but there is little hope of this being repeated, the scarcity being still pronounced. Average furnace quality is 33s. at the ovens, and low phosphorus sort 35s. 6d. at the ovens. IRON. The pig iron market remains very strong, and fairly active. Cleveland forge pig comes under no restrictions as regards sales or delivery, and as this quality continues plentiful, home sales of it are proceeding steadily on both early and forward account. Traders anticipate rather brisk home business in foundry iron under the September allocations, though sales are not likely to be as heavy as could be wished with supply still inadequate to demand. Substantial transactions with the Allies in Cleveland pig are understood to be passing through official channels. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge all stand at 95s., and No. 1 at 99s., and for ship- ment to France and Italy, No. 3 and the lower qualities are quoted 119s., and No. 1 is 124s. As regards east coast haematite, with the object of shipping as much iron as possible to the Allies, supplies to home customers are cut down to minimum needs. Mixed numbers are 122s. 6d. for home use, and 147s. 6d. for export to France and Italy. Imports of foreign ore are stated to be coming forward satisfactorily. There has been a gratifying resumption of work after the holidays at the finished iron and steel establishments. During suspension of operations, repairs and renewals to plants, in many cases very much needed, have been carried out, and this, together with the fact that some steelmakers have better supplies of fuel than for some time past, should be reflected in increased output. Quota- tions are very strong. Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. There is great briskness in the Cumberland coal and coke industries, and the dominating feature is still the extra- ordinary shortage of all classes of coal. With the more regular working of the collieries, the output is slightly increasing. There has also been a big improvement in the attendance of the men. There is a very strong market for all varieties of fuel, but the output is still adequate for all requirements. The collieries are pressed with orders, more particularly on home account. The landsale depots are rather busier this week. Bunkers are firm, and the demand for gas, engine, and all varieties of industrial fuel is on the increase. Some good consignments have been shipped during the last fortnight, but the collieries are now unable to deal with more than 50 per cent, of the business that is offered on Irish account. Coal for shipment is still very scarce, and the shortage has been so acute that some of the vessels have been compelled to sail with barely two-thirds of their regular cargo. The shipments for the week have