November 29, 1918. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 1143 Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Anthracite;— * prices. prices. Best malting large 37/ 37/ Seconds 36/ 36/ Thirds 34,6 ! 31/6 Bed V ein large 34/6 s 34/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 49/6 Seconds 48'6 48 6 Thirds 46/ 46/ Red Vein cobbles 43/ 1 43/ Machine-made nuts 49/6 49,6 Seconds 48/ 48/ Thirds 46/ 46/ Red Vein nuts 43/ 43/ Machine - broken beans .(best) 42/ 42/ Seconds 41/ 40/ 41/ Thirds 40/ Red Vein beans 38/ 38/ Peas (all qualities) 27/ 27/ Bubbly culm 20/ 20/ Red Vein culm 18/ 18/ Breaker duff 15/ 15/ Billy duff . 13/6 13/6 ' Steam:— Best large steams 37/ 37/ Seconds 34/ 34/ Cargo through Seconds Bunker through 30/6 24/ 30/6 Smalls 24/ Second smalls Bituminous .•— Bituminous through ... 34/ 34/ Smalls... 31/ 31/ Gas through — Gas smalls — (Coke-oven) coke 54/6 54/6 Last year’s prices. 30/ 29/ 27/6 25/6 42/6 41/ 39/ 36/ 42/6 41/ 39/ 36/ 35/ 34/ 33/ 31/ 20/ 13/ 11/ 8/ 6/6 30/ 27/ 23/6 22/ 23/6 19/ 17/ 27/ 24/ 23 6 21/ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, November 28. The demand on the London market continues very strong, and the supplies still fall far below the normal requirements. Loaded trucks, however, are coming for- ward with greater regularity and promptitude, but the stocks on all sides are so low that it is difficult to cope with the increasing mass of orders on hand. Steam coals are very difficult to obtain, and on each of the market days the buyers are far more numerous than the sellers. The heavy fogs along the coast have hampered the sea- borne market a good deal during the past week, but on Monday’s market 30 vessels were reported as arriving in the River Thames, and eight for Wednesday. Reports show that with the relaxing of the convoy system vessels are distinctly improving in the time taken for the journey from the North to London. Gas coals are still urgently wanted. Gas coke is unusually scarce. Railway com- panies are still buying very freely, but the supply is limited. The districts outside the metropolitan area are feeling the present shortage of supplies acutely. The news that the Government intend to release 100,000 men from the Army has caused great satisfaction to the regular attendants of the London Coal Exchange, and although the Coal Controller warns the general public that there must be no relaxation of the greatest possible care and economy of the coal and lighting regulations for some weeks to come, yet the fact of so many men returning to work at the collieries has given a greater buoyancy to the tone of the market, and confident hopes are ex- pressed that the supplies will soon show an appreciable increase in the output. The stocks of coal are so seriously low in every direction that any slight improvement in the supply will be exceedingly welcome. Many of the London merchants have taken strong exception to so many private customers having received truck loads of coal from the various collieries, and a special point has been made of some who have been turned away from the coal merchants’ offices because of the shortage of supplies at the depots, and yet have secured a truck load direct. A new regulation from the Coal Controller will allow from December 2 any consumer who has completed his requisi- tion form to obtain two tons* of anthracite coal in lieu of one ton of ordinary house coal. The Department has for some time past strongly advocated the greater use of anthracite coal, either mixed with other coal or by itself. The Fuel Economy Exhibition in Trafalgar Square » was opened on Monday last by Mrs. Lloyd George. Briquettes from coal dust, cinders, and kitchen refuse in such simple appliances as flower pots, biscuit tins, etc., are largely in evidence, and many other fuel economy arrangements are being shown. From Messrs. Dinham Fawcus and Company Limited. Friday, November 22.—Vessels are now making better time on their voyage, but, owing to the fog, there has been delay. All cargoes arriving are on account of con- tract. No coal available for open sale. Arrivals, 14. Monday, November 25.—The number of cargoes of sea- . 'All offer. borne coal reported at to-day’s market was good, were on account of contract. No seaborne coal on Cargoes, 30. Wednesday, November 27.—There was a very short supply of seaborne coal to-day. No coal on offer. Car- goes, 9. The Steel Ingot Makers’ Association has contributed to the King’s Fund for the Disabled the sum of £3,656, the a recent agreed upon at proceeds of a voluntary levy meeting. Progress of Redbourn Hill Limited.—Capt. Wyndham P. Thomas, when speaking recently regarding the development of the Redbourn Hill Iron and Coal Company Limited, Frodingham, Lincoln- shire, gave particulars of the huge output of Redbourn pig iron utilised for shell billet by the parent company, Messrs. Richard Thomas and Company Limited, at their Cwmfelin works, South Wales. When it was intimated, two years ago, that imports of iron ore would cease, Redbourn increased its output so rapidly towards making up the deficit that they were told to put it into stock, and they now had in stock 180,000 tons. The number of employees increased from 228 in June 1916 to 2,549 in June 1917. He believed that in a very few years they would have the largest, most up-to-date, economical and successful iron and steel works in Europe. Iron and Coal Company SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. Importers of pitwood and home-grown pitwood merchants are desirous of Government control of the trade being eliminated as quickly as possible. Merchants intend to combine to insist upon the abolition of the control. There is unmistakable evidence that control was an absolute failure as far as distribution of wood was concerned, and were it not for private enterprise a large number of collieries would have been in difficulties for supplies. There is no objection on the part of importers or merchants for control prices to remain until such time as normal conditions are restored, but what is desired is a freedom from the arbitrary control now exercised. There is another point upon which importers and merchants are interested. They insist, and rightly so, that the Government depart- ments which have been trading in wood should publish a balance-sheet of their transactions. There is a very strong opinion that the maintenance of such departments has been unusually heavy, and that several transactions have has to be that the been carried through at a huge loss. Such loss borne by the country, and merchants desire accounts should be published. Foreign Imports. The imports ot\ foreign mining timber were supplies coming wholly from France. _____ received at South Wales ports for the week ended Novem- ber 22, is as follow : — The good, the quantity Date. Consignee. Loads. ov. 16 Budd and Co 88 *9 16 Vyvyan Kelly .. 540 16 Lysberg Limited .. 156 99 16 Lysberg Limited .. 192 99 16 Lysberg Limited .. 540 99 16 Lysberg Limited .. 2,400 99 16 Morgan and Cadogan 9 9 16 Marcesche and Co .. 595 99 16 Marcesche and Co 48 18 Bromage and Co .. 240 99 18 Morgan and Cadogan .. 420 99 18 Vyvyan Kelly .. 1,250 99 18 Marcesche and Co .. 180 99 18 Lysberg Limited .. 420 • • 18 Lysberg Limited .. 2,280 19 Marcesche and Co 30 19 Marcesche and Co .. 312 99 22 Lysberg Limited .. 1,200 99 22 Lysberg Limited 54 22 Lysberg Limited .. 540 '5 22 Marcesche and Co .. 120 Total . 11,857 Imports during October. THE AMERICAN COAL TRADE. So far as bituminous coal is concerned, there is no immediate cause for anxiety. The ravages of the influenza epidemic in the coal mining sections con- tinue to limit production, but so large a quantity of soft coal has been accumulated in storage piles that no shortage is feared in any quarter. In fact, a surplus of coal has been reported from practically all mines west of Pittsburg (says Coal Age, November 7). During the week ended October 26 the output of soft coal is estimated at 11,215,000 net tons, as com- pared with 11,524,000 net tons for the week ended October 19. The downward trend is traceable directly to the influenza epidemic. Indications point, how- ever, to a return of the gratifying tonnages of a month or so ago. With the urgent need for quantity production of soft coal now somewhat ameliorated, the Fuel Ad- ministration is again turning its attention to quality. During the week ended October 28 orders were issued to 13 soft coal mines, prohibiting them from mining or shipping their product, as it was of an inferior quality. This makes a total of 99 mines closed since the Fuel Administration inaugurated its campaign for clean coal. Anthracite output during the week ended October 26 is estimated at 1,714,000 net tons, which is exactly the same tonnage produced during the week ended October 19, but 339,000 net tons below the output of the corresponding week of 1917. The increase in wages, which went into effect in the anthracite mines on November 1, will undoubtedly bring back many of the mine workers who left for other industries. While there exists a scarcity of the domestic sizes of anthracite, there is an abundance of the small coals available. Production of coke and of by-product coal in the Connellsville region, while considerably curtailed by the epidemic of influenza, is considered relatively satisfactory in the circumstances. There has been no particular shortage of coke at blast furnaces. If it becomes desirable to sustain prices in the period from war time to peace time con- ditions, an agreement with producers as to minimum prices (fixed prices thus far having been a maximum, not minimum) might encounter legal difficulties. Coke accordingly takes a place by itself. rI he imports of pitwood into South Wales during October amounted to 38,821 loads—Cardiff receiving 31,444 loads, Newport 2,088 loads, Port Talbot 2,537 loads, and Swansea 2,752 loads. The whole of this came from the French ports. No supplies have been received from Portugal or Spain for a considerable time, but it is understood that as soon as the Government control is abolished large supplies will be shipped from these countries, and at such a price as will have a material effect on market values. Deputation to Timber Controller. The Pitwood Importers section of the Timber Trade Federation had an interview with the Controller of Timber Supplies, regarding Government control, and it is under- stood that a deputation of South Wales importers will interview Sir James Ball to urge upon him the desirability of abolishing Government control of the trade. Home-grown Supplies. Supplies from Ireland and the West England were good, and efforts were being made to maintain deliveries in view of the greater consumption of pitwood now that the miners are being released from the Army and Navy. The question of afforestation continues to claim attention. The Ponty- pool Local Advisory Committee discussed the question of taking immediate action, and also the immediate employ- ment of demobilised men who desired to follow the employ- ment of forestry. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—Conditions are becoming more favour- able to pitch movements. Freights, for instance, are easing, and two charters, Tyne to French ports, 620 tons and 750 tons, are reported this week at 5 Is. That compares very favourably with the 75s. or more paid not very long ago. Moreover, the disappearance of the submarines will encourage shipments to other destinations. The West Cumberland By-products Works are reported to have despatched 1,000 tons of pitch to Bilbao. The demand is good, and possibly some of the provincial prices will rise as freights fall. Fuel oils are wanted. The familiar question regarding the cost of producing benzol and the unremunera- tive control price is still discussed. Toluol is now freed from control, clearly owing to the stoppage of the demand for war purposes. Creosote has been further under con- sideration, following the removal of the export licence regulations. Solvent naphtha is steady at 3s. 9d. to 3s. 104d. London, and crude carbolic is unchanged. No material alterations are mentioned in the case of other by-products. Sulphate of Ammonia.—The output is taken steadily at schedule prices. So far as one can see at present, the existing regulations are not likely to be removed until home requirements are fully covered. Institute of Metals.—A general discussion on “ The Re- lation of Science to the Non-Ferrous Metals Industry ” will form the central feature of the forthcoming annual general meeting of the Institute of Metals. At that meet- ing there will also be presented several papers the publi- cation of which has been withheld owing to the opera- tion of the Censorship. Compensation for Pit Accident.—In the Court of Session (Outer House), on Wednesday, Frank Small, miner, sued the Darngavil Coal Company Limited, Dalserf, for £1,000 damages in respect of personal injuries received on June 5, 1917, at the defenders’ Swinhill Colliery. The pursuer, his father, John Small, and two fellow workers were being lowered down the shaft when the platform on which they stood fell to the bottom, a distance of about 30 fathoms. The defenders denied liability, and pleaded that the sum sued for was excessive. The jury assessed the damages at the sum sued for. An action by Mrs. Marion Small, widow of John Small, miner, for herself and her children, against the same defenders for sums amounting to £2,900 was compromised by a payment of £500 and expenses. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Rhymney Valley district meeting of miners took place on Saturday, and the agent stated the desire of the men at Elliott and New Tredegar pits for revision of price lists. He had been informed, it was stated, that it was no good to make application because no concession would be granted, as those matters had been submitted to the Conciliation Board, and the employers had refused to appoint arbitrators. He (the miners’ agent) therefore had nothing to do but to advise the men to seek permission for tendering notices. It was further reported to the meeting that the Federation executive would approach the employers generally with a desire that in order to pro- vide employment for miners returning from the Army new work should be opened up, and also that work that had been more or less closed down during the war should be reopened. It was decided to approach the general manager of the Rhymney Iron Company on the question of non-unionism, said to be rife at Pengam Colliery. The miners of Rose Heyworth and Cwmtillery Colliery passed a resolution that they are tired of waiting for the arbitrator’s decision as to the revised price list, and are determined not to work further on the allowance system. It was decided to forward the resolution to the Coal Controller. Pumpmen in the employ of the Cardiff Railway Com- pany stopped work on Saturday at midday, owing to a dispute as to the application of the recent wage award by the Committee on Production. Their claim is that they are entitled to the 12/, per cent, advance which was granted to various grades of railwaymen. These pumpmen are those employed in the hydraulic house, and include enginemen, drivers, firemen, ashmen, etc. The local organising secretary of the Railwaymen’s Union, to which the men belong, immediately got into communication with them and advised return to work, the matter to be left in his hands so that he might obtain immediate atten- tion to it from the employers. He obtained an assurance from the dock office that the whole matter should be immediately gone into. The men accepted his advice, after passing a resolution that unless their claim was conceded the tippers would support them in any necessary action. The Rhymney Railway, which is one of the most import- ant lines carrying coal from the collieries to the docks, has had a peculiar disturbance of operations. At a meet- ing held on Sunday complaint was made as to the demand that employees should produce medical certificates when they had been absent from duty through illness for more than a month, these certificates to be obtained from the company’s medical officer. The men, however, maintained that it is sufficient they should have such a certificate from their own medical attendant, and that they should not be put to the disadvantage of attending the company’s doctor. The meeting decided to appoint a deputation to meet the general manager of the railway so that the demand for an additional certificate might be withdrawn. The East Glamorgan miners have had before them the Question of surfacemen’s hours, and Mr. Hubert Jenkins, their agent, pointed out to the delegates at the district meeting that the reduction to 8£ hours per day, inclusive of meal times, would be only temporary, seeing that the central Federation had approved the idea of a six-hour day, to come into operation after the treaty of peace had been signed. Mr. Jenkins expressed his opinion that because' of the number of men who had entered the collieries since the outbreak of wrar and would be employed concurrently with those who would be returning home from the Forces under the demobilisation scheme, these latter would be absorbed only upon the introduction of a six-hour shift. They must have regard to the urgent demand for coal, and if double shift, each of six hours on the coal, were adopted, the men would be absorbed. The third shift should be a repairing shift, and there would be sufficient interval for shot firing. Output would be increased, and there would be sufficient return to permit of an advance in wages, which would enable piece-work men in six hours to earn as much as in an eight-hour shift. The executive council of the South Wales Miners’