562 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 13, 1918. made that the Federation cannot endorse the nomination, as their official candidates have been already chosen. Mr. T. Griffiths, the trade union leader who has been adopted as Labour candidate for Pontypool in opposition to the sitting member, the Right Hon. R. McKenna, has addressed meetings in the district, arguing that it is essential for the wage-earning classes to be represented by their own members, so that their interests may be more sympathetically safeguarded. Miners had received benefits, he said, in the form of the eight hours day, the Compensation Act, the minimum wage, etc., through their organisation, but they must not stop at that. They must concentrate effort upon sending their own men to the Legislature to enable them to develop expansively on social lines. The Coal Controller has been asked to receive a depu- tation who wish to draw his attention to the dismissal of a colliery clerk, believed to be upon the ground of his having joined the Federation. The miners have threatened to strike at the particular colliery in protest, but their executive advised delay pending decision. Northumberland and Durham. Mr. W. E. Goodenough, late of Garesfield, has been appointed manager of Langley Park Colliery. In view of the coal shortage, a correspondent to a Newcastle newspaper wants to know why the Government has allowed the shutting down of a colliery at Walker, where the latest machinery for dealing with the output was recently completed, and where the normal output could have been kept up for generations to come, but where, if the dismantling process now going on is com- pleted, we may say good-bye to the coal supply. Another correspondent, who states that he has been discharged from the Army in order to undertake mining work, asserts that three-quarters of such men will never again be able to do their work down the pit. He thinks that if the authorities looked round they could find a lot of fit miners who have never been in the Army and are now working “ on munitions.” He suggests that unfit miners dis- charged from the Army should be given a chance to go into the factories, and that r .e‘s now working m factories should return to the pits. Cleveland. The September issue of the Middlesbrough Monthly Cir- cular of Messrs. Hanson, Brown and Company Limited, states that during August the fuel shortage had a marked effect upon the output of Cleveland pig iron. Lack of coke compelled makers to put some of the furnaces on slack blast, whilst the furnaces generally worked irregu- larly. The total output was smaller, and, what was more important, the quantity of the standard No. 3 quality of foundry iron turned out was below requirements. Deliveries were greatly delayed, and at the end of the month many orders remained uncompleted, and outstanding balances had to be cancelled. At the end of August the furnaces were reported to be working better, and, should the improvement continue, rather better deliveries may be expected this month. The output of haematite pig iron was similarly impeded from the same cause. The scarcity of coke became rather less pronounced in the closing days of August, and deliveries correspondingly improved. The uncertainty which had prevailed as to an increase in the home maximum prices of coke was definitely ended during August by the announcement that sellers would receive a subsidy to cover the 4s. advance in the price of coal. Coke .prices therefore remained unchanged, good medium furnace kinds realising around 35s. 6d. delivered at the works. Lancashire and Cheshire. Mr. W. H. Hewlett, J.P., managing director of the^ Wigan Coal and Iron Company Limited, has consented to act as treasurer of a fund for providing a memorial of the late Mr. Harris Bigg-Wither, general manager of the Roburite and Ammonal Company’s Works, Gathurst, near Wigan. The Midlands. Disappointment is expressed in some trading circles in South Staffordshire that the rationing of steam coal for manufacturing and industrial purposes is still unattained. Local iron and steel masters who know how war produc- tion is interrupted by occasional failures of the coal supply argue for the application of some such system of priorities as already exists in the Staffordshire iron and steel indus- tries. Meanwhile some efforts towards discriminative allo- cation of steam coal in the Staffordshire manufacturing area are being made. Kent. Deal Town Council at the last meeting discussed an • offer by the Betteshanger Coal Boring Company Limited to purchase the mineral rights of land on the sea front belonging to the corporation. The company wish to mine for coal and other minerals at a depth below 500 ft. from the surface, without entering upon the surface, the com- pany to provide the necessary support for* buildings now or hereafter erected, and to compensate owners for sub- sidence of the surface, buildings, drains, etc. The sur- veyor pointed out that the level of some portions of Deal is only about the high water level, and that generally where mining operations are taking place considerable subsidence of the surface of the ground is caused. In many cases this varied from 5 ft. to 10 ft., and he knew of places where the subsidence had been 20 ft. The members generally felt that there ought to be no discouragement to so important an industry as coal mining, but the danger of subsidence weighed with them, and eventually it was decided to ask the company to supply a plan showing just what land they, would require to go under, and also any further particulars they could supply. Scotland, Stanrigg Disaster Fund— Meetings and Idle Days—Strike at Cadder Colliery—Surface Workers' Bonus—Miners' Income Tax—Settlement of Aitken Pit Grievance. In connection with the Stanrigg Disaster Fund, the Lanarkshire County Council have decided to give <£500, subject to the approval of the Secretary for Scotland. The secretary of the Coal Owners’ Association has written the executive of the union, complaining of the pits in Coalburn district being laid idle on a Wednesday to hold a union meeting. He suggests that such business might be transacted on the idle Saturday. Work at Cadder Colliery has been interrupted by a strike of charfillers. The men are dissatisfied with the wages standard, and both sides ultimately agreed to submit the matter to arbitration. The award was against the men, but they refused to continue at work. If the stoppage is prolonged, the miners will probably be thrown out of work shortly. At some of the East of Scotland collieries the surface workers have given notice that they will refuse to work overtime unless they receive the bonus on shifts worked, and not for per day. The bonus question is at the root of most of the troubles in the Scottish coal field at present. The Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan miners’ executive is at present in communication with the Assessor of In- come Tax with the view of having an arrangement come to for certain deductions from income tax being allowed to the miners to cover cost of light, explosives, check- weigher, sharpening and upkeep of tools. A settlement has been arrived at in connection with the long-standing grievance regarding weeks’ pays at Aitken pit. The miners asked the owners to have them given their pays on Friday of each week, and the owners offered them on Friday one week and Saturday the other. The matter was before the Coal Controller, and at a meeting held in Kelty it was stated that the owners were now willing to give a trial of Friday pay for a period of three months, and if in that period it was shown that Friday pays result in a loss of output or increased absenteeism other arrangements would have to be come to. The miners have agreed to accept these terms. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last White pages. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Barming Heath, September 24.—Coke for Kent County Lunatic Asylums at Barming Heath and Charlton. Form& from the steward of either asylum. Bicton Heath (near Shrewsbury), September 16.—Coke (3 months) for the asylum, Bicton Heath. Forms from the clerk. Bristol, September 26.—Unwashed coal (6 months) for Electrical Committee. Forms (£2 2s., returnable) from the chief engineer, Exchange, Corn-street, Bristol. Cheltenham, September 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Workhouse. Colwyn Bay, September 18.—Coal (12 months) for coun- cil schools. Tenders to H. Lewis, Boys’ Council School, Colwyn Bay. Driffield, September 18.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk. Edmonton, September 16.—Steam coal and slack, coke, and oils (6 months) for Edmonton U.D. Council. Forms from the engineer, Town Hall, Edmonton. Fareham, September 23. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the offices, 97, West-street, Fareham. Gateshead, September 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the* offices, Prince Consort-road, Gateshead. Gayton (Norfolk), September 18.—Coal for Freebridge Lynn Union. Forms from the Workhouse, Gay ton. Greenwich, September 19.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk’s office, East Greenwich. Holborn, September 18.—Coal and coke for Guardians. Forms from 53, Clerkenwell-road, E.C. Keighley, September 18.—Coal for the Guardians. Particulars from the clerk, Union Offices. Lancaster, September 24. — Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 5, Daltomsquare, Lancaster. Macclesfield, September 16.—Fuel for the Cheshire County Asylum, Parkside, Macclesfield. Forms from the clerk. Newton and Handiloes, September 18.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk. Runcorn, September 30.—rFuel for the Guardians. Forms from the acting clerk, 71, High-street, Runcorn. St. Pancras, September 18.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the offices, Town Hall, Pancras- road, N.W. 1. Strood (Kent), September 24.—Coal and coke for the Guardians. Forms from the clerk. Towcester, September 17.—Coal for the Guardians. Forms from the Workhouse. Woolwich, September 19.—Coal and coke for the Wool- wich Guardians. Forms from the clerk’s office, Plumstead. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. Journal of the American Peat Society, Vol. 11, No. 3, July 1918; Department of Mines and Industries, Union of South Africa : Statistics for the Month of June 1918; Thirteenth Annual Report of the Rand Water Board to the Hon. the Minister of the Interior, Union of South Africa, Financial Year ended March 31, 1918; Wigan and District Mining and Technical College Calendar, 62nd Session, 1918-19 (Wigan : Thos. Wall and Sons Limited, Printers, Observer Office) ; Em- ployees’ Magazine, August 1918, Vol. 5, No. 2 (pub- lished by Lehigh Valley Coal Company, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., U.S.A.) ; Annual Report of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1917-18 (Melbourne : G. A. Green, Printer, 14, M’Killop-street) ; Minutes of Proceedings of the Engineering Association of New South Wales, Vol. 32, 1916-17 (published by the Association, Royal Society’s House, 5, Elizabeth-street, Sydney) ; Annual Report for the year 1917-18 of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, April 1918 (Mel- bourne : G. A. Green, Printer, 14, M’Killip-street) ; The Journal of State Medicine, the Official Journal of the Royal Institute of Public Health (37, Russell-square, E.C.), September 1918, Vol. 26, No. 9, price 2s. net. South African Coal Output.—According to the recently issued statistics of the Department of Mines and Indus- tries, Union of South Africa, the producing collieries in June numbered 64. The coal sold in that month amounted to 822,279 short tons, valued at £266,099. The half-year’s total was 5,070,675 tons, valued at £1,673,450. In the twelve months of 1917 the collieries sold 10,382,920 tons, and in the previous year 10,007,502 tons. Greek Commercial Delegates in England.—A tour of Greek commercial delegates has been undertaken with the sanction of the Government and the Royal Hellenic Government by the Federation of British Industries. The officials of the Federation of British Industries are Vice- Admiral Sir Charles Dundas, of Dundas, Mr. Edmund Hill, and Mr. H. W. Babington-Browne. Visits will be paid to a number of industrial establishments, including those of Callender’s Cable and Construction Company Limited, Erith; Dunlop Rubber Company Limited, Bir- mingham ; Ruston, Proctor and Company Limited, Nottingham; British Westinghouse Electric and Manufac- turing Company Limited, Manchester ; Hadfields Limited, Sheffield; Stewarts and Lloyds Limited, Glasgow; and Hawthorn, Leslie and Company Limited, Newcastle. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES. REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Bolckow, Vaughan and Company Limited.—The report states that no final settlement has yet been possible in respect either of excess profits duty, munitions levy, or coal mines excess payments, but the directors are satisfied that provision has been made to satisfy any liability which can accrue in respect thereof. The profit for the year ended June 30, 1917, available for distribution, after providing for depreciation and tor such contingent liabili- ties, ana. including £126,179 brought forward, is £776,206.' The expenditure during the year upon blast furnaces, steel furnaces and rolling mills, by-product plants and electrical installations, which has been debited against capital account, is £360,612. The directors recommend that the profits be appropriated as follows: Interest on debentures, £30,487; dividend on preference shares, £23,604; divi- dend on the ordinary (fully paid) at 12 per cent, per annum, £195,571; dividend on the ordinary (12s. paid) at 12 per cent, per annum, £133,984; to reserve fund (bringing up this fund to £500,000), £250,000; and carry forward, £142,558. East Indian Coal Company Limited.—The report for the half-year ended April 30 last states that, after making the usual allowance for the depreciation of buildings, plant and machinery, and writing £4,000 off development account, profit was £10,395; £1,145 was brought forward, giving £11,540. The directors recommend a uividend of 9 per cent, for the half-year, less tax at 3s. 9d. in the £, making 17 per cent, for the year, and carry £740 forward. Output was 385,055 tons, making £698,118 tons for the year. This is the largest output. The three motors for the South Bulliari pits are now at the colliery, and the development can now go* forward without interruption. Prospects for the next two half-years are satisfactory. BIock account shows total expenditure £421,223, written off £221,661, book value £199,562. East Kent Colliery Company Limited.—The report for 1917 states that gross profit amounted to £18,705. De- ducting colliery and administration expenses £5,083, depre- ciation £6,244, interest on loans and on certain first mort- gage debentures £4,530, net profit carried to balance sheet is £2,848. The exigent demands of the War Office for men, and the want of sufficient house accommodation, have together combined to keep down the output. About six months ago the directors were approached by an agent acting on behalf of Messrs. Schneider et Cie., of Paris, who informed them that their clients desired to have a two months’ option to purchase £75,000 w’orth of the company’s debenture stock. In a letter dated July 27, Messrs. Schneider et Cie intimated that they had decided not to follow it up. Dominion Steel Corporation.—Dividend at rate of 1£ per cent, on common shares. Vulcan Motor and Engineering Company Limited.— Bonus of 2s. per share (10 per cent.), free of tax. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Whilst shipments on official account are very much more considerable this week than previously, there is no improve- ment in the volume of neutral business done on the north- east coast, and fixtures are exceedingly few. Gibraltar has been thrice done at 100s., but all the neutral chartering up to the time of writing has been that of a 2,200-ton boat for Gefle at 224 kr. from Tyne, a 2,000-ton steamer to Gothenburg at 200 kr., similar loading, and an 800-ton vessel for the same port, Wear loading, at 190 kr. These rates. reveal a little weakness for the latter port, but a strong tone for Gefle. At South Wales the number of fixtures is much larger than was the case last week. Several of the vessels are only small sailing ships. Most of the chartering done has been for French Atlantic ports at scheduled rates. The only other business done is for Gibraltar at 100s., Huelva at 250s., Valencia at 300s., and Bilbao at 225s., rates which all indicate a firmly-main- tained market. Homewards, the River Plate is still quoted at 225s. from Buenos Ayres to the United Kingdom and 250s. to Western France. At the United States, Virginia to South America with coal is quoted at from 80sz to 82s. 6d., according to destination. On net form of charter, New York to Liverpool is quoted at 230s., with 260s. to the French Atlantic, 355s. to Marseilles, and 360s. to Italy. At the Far East most of the business done is on Government account, and rates are quite nominal. Kurrachee to the United Kingdom, on scale basis, is quoted at 250s., Bombay to Italy at 400s., and Calcutta to the United States at 350s. The Mediterranean and Bay ports are moderately busy, with Bordeaux to Bristol Channel at 18s., Bayonne to the Bristol Channel at 20s., Bilbao to Boulogne at 50s., and Huelva to Savannah with pyrites at 40s. Tyne to Gefle, 2,200, 224 kr.; Gibraltar, 5,200 and 7,000, 100s.; and Gothenburg, 2,000, 200 kr. Cardiff to Bordeaux, 1,900, 2,000 and 2,600, 69s., neutral; Caen, 600 and 700, 48s., neutral; 1,100, 46s. 6d., neutral; Cherbourg, 130 and 350, 73s. 9d., sail; Gran- ville, 120, 72s. 9d., sail; Gibraltar, 4,500, 100s.; Hon- fleur, 600, 48s., neutral; 350, 72s. 9d., sail; Huelva, 2,600, 250s., neutral; Havre, 1,400, 45s. 9d., neutral; 2,900, 44s. 9d., neutral; 2,600 and 3,600, war risks insurance covered, 15s., Allied; Rouen, 1,100, 1,200, 1,300, 1,500 and 2,000, 48s. 9d., neutral; St. Brieux, 120, 140, 200 and 350, 75s., sail; and Valencia, 1,700, 300s., neutral. Penarth to Caen, 600, 48s., neutral. Swansea to Caen, 600, 750, 800 and 900, 48s., neutral; Cherbourg, 350, 73s. 9d., sail; Nantes, 2,900 61s. 6d., neutral; Rouen, 700 and 900, 50s. 3d., neutral; and 1,100, 1,900 and 2,000, 48s. 9d., neutral. Wear to Gothenburg, 800, 190 kr. Newport to Bilbao, 2,000, 225s. Later. — The following additional fixtures are re- ported :— Tyne to Christiania, 1,500, 184 kr. ; Gothenburg, 2,200, 190 kr. ; and Stockholm, 2,500, 212 kr. (It will be noted that Swedish rates have undergone a sharp reduction, due to the difficulty of arranging prompt loading turns.) Cardiff to St. Malo, 1,000, 21s. Allied. Germany’s exports of coal to Sweden have been con- siderably reduced, the quantity allowed by Germany for the month of September being about 17,000 tons less than that allowed for August. In the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Mr. Holman, the Premier, has promised to forward to the Federal Government a suggestion that, in view of the coal shortage in Allied countries, volunteers for a coal miners’ battalion should be called for and transported to Great Britain at the earliest possible moment.