1092 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN, November 22, 1918. On Friday a meeting of the Cumberland Coal Con- ciliation Board was held at Workington to consider the men’s claim for Is. per day advance for all adult surface workers, 6d. per day advance to employees below 18 years of age, and 6d. per day to female workers, the advances to be paid upon the existing standard base rates. Mr, Thos. Cape, miners’ agent, represented the men, and Mr. W. Graham the owners. Appreciable advances were awarded or agreed to, and these will be published if the Coal Controller gives his consent to them. - ' ' Federated Area. The strike at New Hucknall and Bentinck pits of the New Hucknall Colliery Company, Nottinghamshire, in regard to the installation of electric lamps, has terminated. Meetings of the men were held on Monday, at which Mr. C. Bunfield and Mr. G. A. Spencer, officials of the Notts Miners’ Association, submitted the report of the deputation which waited upon the representative of the Coal Controller on Friday last. The terms of the agree- ment were to the effect that the company are to be allowed until the end of the year to test the Fuller electric lamp, and whatever lamp is finally selected, the complete instal- lation should then be immediately ordered, the installa- tion to be completed by the end of March. Under these conditions the Controller hoped that the men would resume work. It was decided to resume work on Wednes- day morning. Scotland. At Avonhead Colliery, Longriggend, where a dispute has: been pending for some time relative to war wage and the tonnage rate, a satisfactory settlement has been accepted. The war wage has been paid in full, and an addition of 3d. per ton placed on the tonnage rate. At Orbiston Colliery, in the Bellshill district of Lanark- shire, a complaint has been lodged by the surface workers that the manager has refused to pay the war wage to some men who went home because of the inclemency of the weather. It is also stated that the bonus has been withheld from men working overtime. The county union has been asked to intervene. Dennyloanhead miners in Stirlingshire claim arrears of wages in consequence of the last strike at the colliery. The executive of the National Union of Mineworkers has declined to move in the matter, and the miners have agreed to forward furthei’ and stronger representations on the subject. Overtime war wages are being paid in all the mining districts throughout East and West Lothian. The allow- ances to oncast workers are to date back from Sep- tember 1, and those of the pit workers from October 6. Where a man, after completing his five or six days per week, supplies an extra shift, he is to receive an allow- ance of 2s. 6d. in addition to the former war payment. Notwithstanding the urgent demands for more coal, the miners throughout Scotland were somewhat tardy in returning to work last week after the announcement of the signing of the armistice. It was Thursday before the pits in Lanarkshire, .Fifeshire and the Lothians were fully manned. The decision of the Fife miners’ executive regarding the request by the management of Kinglassie Colliery to allow six days to be worked weekly, on account of the abnormal conditions prevailing, has led to the withdrawal of the application. The executive decided that the regular fortnightly idle day might be abandoned on condition that the company paid the men 13 shifts’ war wages for 12 worked. It is now reported that the management have^ declined to accept this condition. The regular working policy will not now be departed from. Through the Coal Controller’s influence with the Scottish mine owners, a special increase of Is. per day has been granted to mine firemen. A statement submitted by the owners shows that this increase, with the war wage, will make an average wage of 14s. 3jd. per shift. The settlement is conditional on the working time remaining as it is at present at the various collieries. Several districts have carried resolutions for a demand of 5s. per day, or 30s. per week increase. This would raise the nominal wage in Scotland, including bonus, to 18s. per day. Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades. A dispute at Middlesbrough Steelworks over sample1 passers’ wages assumed a serious aspect. Already three large works are idle, and all members of the Steel Smelters’ Society have been advised to cease work. The strike is due to the decision of the Committee on Pro- duction not to uphold the sample passers’ claims. In the smelting departments sample passers act as foremen, and their earnings vary from £10 to £16 per week, according to conditions of work in the different plants. Their in- creases during the war have varied from £2 10s. to £4 10s. per week, and in some cases even more. A proposal by the employers that the points in dispute be again sub- mitted to arbitration on condition that the men resumed work has been declined by the sample passers, with the result that the smelters have struck work. The difficulty in the tinplate trade—owing to the' members of one trade union refusing to work overtime in order to enforce their demand for shorter hours—seemed at first to be in a fair way of settlement, for the men withdrew their embargo on overtime for a fortnight and agreed to arbitration. The employers’ body—Welsh Plate and Sheet Manufacturers’ Association — had suggested arbitration at the outset, but on learning of the men’s; requirements it was declared on their behalf that the embargo upon overtime must be entirely withdrawn, riot- merely for a fortnight; otherwise the arbitration could not- take place. The sample passers in certain Tees-side steelworks have> taken excessive umbrage at having an application for an advance in wages turned down by the Committee on Pro- duction, and have given notice to cease work. So far as- the Britannia, Port Clarence and Skinningrove works are concerned, these notices took effect at the beginning of this week, and other classes of workmen having come out in sympathy, the works are laid totally idle. At the end of this week other notices will expire, laying idle, unless the dispute be meanwhile settled, the works at Cargo Fleet, the Malleable Works, the Warrenby Works, and Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan’s Ironworks. Fears are expressed that the strike may result in a total suspension of steel production on the north-east coast. The men are supported by the British Steel Smelters’ Society. The trouble, which has culminated in the strike, is stated to have been overhanging the local industry for three years, past, but hitherto the men have refrained, from patriotic considerations, from taking drastic action. Vacancies for certifying surgeons under the Factory and Workshops Acts at Biggar (Lanark), Pontymister" and Witney are announced. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Not a single fixture has matured in the north-east coast outward chartering market during the week under review, a fact which must constitute a record in the history of the market. With war risk premiums reduced to very low figures, exporters argue that very considerable induc- tions in rates of freight should be made. eScari-digaViAwise, Danish rates still stand at 77 kr., Swedish at^§0 , sail; Havre, 630-700, 47s. 3d., neutral; L’Orient, 850-900, 61s. 6d., neutral; Morlaix, 280-300, 54s. 6d., neutral; Oporto, 2,600, 100s.; passages, 3,000- 3200, 120s., Spanish steamer; Rouen, 1,000 and 1,800, 48s. 9d., neutral; 2,900, 47s. 9d., neutral; 2,000 and 2,700, revised rate, neutral;' 900, 50s. 3d., neutral; Sables d’Olonne, 1,000, 24s., exclusive of war risks insurance, Allied; St. Malo, 1,050-1,100 and 1,200, 16s., exclusive of war risks insurance, Allied; St. Nazaire, 4,000, 4,200 and 4,500, 20s., exclusive of war risks insurance, Allied; 5,500, 61s. 6d., neutral; and Valencia, 2,300, 180si, Spanish steamer. ...Swansea to Caen, 1,200, 46s. 6d., neutral; and Rouen, 1,500 and 1,800, 48s. 9d., neutral; 1,000 and 1,200-1,250, revised rate. Garston to Bordeaux, 2,00, 70s. 6d., coal. Wales to Barcelona or Valencia, 3,300, 200s.; and River Plate, 4,000, 83s., November-December. Swansea or Port Talbot to Trouville, 700-800, revised Tate, neutral. It will be observed that certain of the Welsh fixtures are -at the “ revised ” rates still to be fixed. Later.—The following additional fixtures have been renorted :— Tyne to Port Said, 3,000, 120s. Cardiff to Dakar, 4,500, revised rate, Allied ; Marseilles, 5,500, revised rate, Allied ; Rouen, 900 and 1,400, revised rates, neutral; and St. Malo, 500, revised rate, neutral. Swansea to Casablanca, 2,500 and 5,500, revised rates,, neutral; Havre, 800, revised rate, neutral; and Rouen,. 1,400, revised rate, neutral. Particulars of the revised rates for scheduled destina- tions are now filtering into the market, but the informa- tion is by no means complete as yet. Information as to- rates for north-east coast loading indicates that for French ports rates are being reduced by 10s. per ton for coal and' 15s. for coke, and for Bay ports by 15s. for coal and 22s. 6d. for coke. COAL, IRON AND ENGINEERING COMPARIES., REPORTS AND DIVIDENDS. Atlas Steel Foundry and Engineering Company Limited. —After provision for excess profits duty and income tax, the profit amounted to £11,156, comparing with £13,764 for the previous twelve months. The dividend is again: 10 per cent., free of tax, while £2,000, as against £1,500,. is to be added to the reserve, and £2,500 is to-be set, aside for depreciation. The carry-forward will be increased1 from £944 to £5,111, subject to directors’ fees andl management commission. Brunner, Mand and Company Limited.—Interim divi- dend for the six months ended September 30 at the rate, ■of 10 per cent, per annum, less tax. Cortonwood Colliery Company Limited.—Interim divi- dend of 5 per cent. Cory (Wm.) and Son Limited.—4 per cent. (9-6d. per share), less tax, on ordinary shares (interim), payable December 2. Last year, dividend same. Locket’s Merthyr Collieries (1894) Limited.—The report for the year ended February 28 last states that £72,371 was brought forward, from which must be deducted the final dividends paid May 17, 1917; also coal mines excess payments and excess profits duty, £17,028, leaving £48,843; profit was £12,488, making £61,331. Deducting debenture interest, trustees’ and directors’ fees and interim* dividends, there remains £47,781. A dividend on the ordi- nary shares was paid on October 11 last, leaving £41,281 do be carried forward. Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and Finance Company ■Limited.—Interim dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, and 6 per cent, per annum, less income tax, on the “ A ” and “ B ” preference shares respectively, and at the rate of Is. per share on the ordinary shares, for the half-year ended September 30 last. Niddrie and Benhar Coal Company Limited_____Interim dividend of 6d. per share, free of tax—same as last year. Nimmo (James) and Company Limited.—The report shows a profit of £81,704, including £42,064 brought forward, and after making provision for debenture interest and interim dividend on the preference shares. The direc- tors recommend a dividend on the ordinary shares of 2ff per cent, (the same as last year), carrying forward £53,579 Roberts (Wm.) Tipton.—Is. per share, free of tax, on. ■ordinary shares (interim). Last year, dividend same. Stanton Ironworks Company Limited.—Interim dividend of 6 per cent.., free of tax. Last year the interim pay- ment was the same, less tax. NEW COMPANIES. Cricklewood Foundry Company Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered November 8. to carry on the business- of metal founders, refiners aad manufacturers of metal„ engineers, and manufacturers of machinery, etc. Nominal capital, £2,000 in 8,000 ordinary shares of 5s. each. Directors: P. S. Abrahams and S. N. Brown. Qualifica- tion of directors, 100 shares. Remuneration of directors to be voted by company. Preston Wagon Company Limited,—Private company. Registered November 8, to carry on the business of wagon builders, owners and repairers, engineers, machinery and tool makers, etc. Nominal capital, £5,000 in 5,000 shares of £l each. Directors : E. E. K. Thompson, J. H. Martin and J. Thornton. Qualification of directors, 1 share. Re- muneration of directors to be voted by company. Reay (William) and Company Limited.—Private com- pany. Registered office : Bank Chambers, Wigan. Regis- tered November 13, to carry on the business of coal merchants, colliery agents, colliery proprietors, iron masters, etc. Nominal capital, £10,000 in 10,000 ordinary shares of £1 each. Directors: W. Reay and R. H. Orchard. Qualification of directors, 250 shares. Re- muneration of directors to be voted by company. Richmond (J.) and Son Limited.—Private company. Registered office : 165, Hope-street, East Grimsby. Regis- tered November 11, to acquire the business of iron- founders, mechanical engineers, manufacturers of ma- chinery, etc. Nominal capital, £5,000 in 5,000 shares of £1 each. Directors to be appointed by subscribers. Qualification of directors, 250 shares. Remuneration of directors to be voted by company. Subscribers: J. Rich- mand and W. Richmond. This list of new companies is taken from the Daily Register, specially compiled by Messrs. Jordan and Sons Limited, company registration agents, Chancery-lane, E.C. 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. Edinburgh, November 27.—Coal foiv the Horse of Refuge, 64, Canongate. Particulars from the governor. Tobermory, November 30.—Coal for Mull Combination Poorhouse. Particulars from C. R. Morison, Kengharair, Tobermory. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can ibe received. (CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Dublin, November 27.—Stores.—Bolts, castings, iron, fire bricks, galvanised sheets, tinplates, wire, etc. (12 months) for the Great Southern and Western Railway. Forms (6d. each) from the storekeeper, Inchicore, Dublin. Enniskillen, December 1.—Stores.—Wire, tools, gal- vanised sheets, iron, springs, telegraph material, etc. (12 months) for the Sligo, Leitrim, and Northern Counties Railway Company. Forms from the secretary, Ennis- killen. Johannesburg, November 25.—Wire Ropes.—Ninety- eight coils (various lengths and sizes) of extra flexible plough steel wire rope (galvanised), and 76 coils (various lengths and sizes) of extra flexible plough steel wire rope (black). Tenders to the secretary, Tender Board, South African Railways Headquarters Office, Johannesburg. Melbourne, January 8.—Spring Washers.—500,000 spring washers for fish bolts for Victorian Government rail- ways. Specifications may be seen at the Inquiry Office, Department of Overseas Trade, 73, Basinghall-street, London, E.C. Nottingham, November 28.— Stores.—Castings, picks, shovels, refined tar, pitch, creosote, oil, etc. (12 months) for the Works and Ways Committee. Forms from the •city engineer, Town Hall. South Hetton, November 30.—Colliery Stores.—Timber (English), castings, iron, wire ropes, etc. (6 months), for the South Hetton Colliery Company Limited. Forms form J. R. Lambert, South Hetton, near Sunderland. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. Any of the following publications may be obtained on application at this office at the price named post free. Memoirs of the Geological Survey. Special Reports on the Mineral Resources of Great Britain. Vol. 7, Lignites, Jets, Kimmeridge Oil Shale, Mineral Oil, Cannel Coals, Natural Gas. Part I.—England and Wales. By A. Strahan . (London: Printed under the authority of FLM.S.O.) Price 2s. 8d. Colonial Report—Annual. No. 970, Northern Terri- tories of the Gold Coast. Report for 1917. Price 2d. (London: Published by H.M.S.O.) PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. Transactions of the Institution of Mining Engineers (Vol. 55, Part 5), October 1918, price 6s.; Indices to Names and Subjects (Vol. 41 to 55), 1911-1918, by Percy Strzelecki, secretary, price 6s. (London : Pub- lished at the Offices of the Institution, Albany Buildings,. 39, Victoria-street, S.W. 1); The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy Bulletin No. 170, issued November 14, T918 (published by the Institution of Mining and Metal- lurgy, 1, Finsbury Circus, E.C. 2); Bulletin of the Imperial Institute (Vol. 16, No. 2), April-June 1918 (London : John Murray, Albemarle-street, W. 1), price 2s. 6d. net; Lloyds Bank Monthly Financial Report (No. 12), November 1918 (published by G. Street and Company Limited, 30, Cornhill, E.C. 3); Department of Mines, India': Report of the Chief Inspector of Mines in India for the Year ending December 31, 1918, by G. F. Adams, M.Inst.C.E. Oil ffrcm Alum Schist.—A factory for extracting oil from alum schist has been started in Sweden. Large quan- tities of this schist, yielding bezine and crude oils, are found in the Lamma Nerika district. The crude oils, according to Teknisk Ukeblad, can be used for oil engines or converted into paraffin and lubricating oils. The fac- tory is capable of treating 30,000 tons of schist per annum, giving 1.200 tons of oil. The supply of schist in Sweden is practically inexhaustible, and other factories will be erected shortly.