1304 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. December 20, 1918. our coal supplies; nor do we think that payment in kind by Germany, in the manner suggested, would appreciably lengthen the life of British pits. But it would certainly go far to relieve the tension of the next few years, when our collieries will certainly be called upon to produce to the utmost limit of their capacity. It would also divert to the very desirable work of reparation a proportion of the surplus production of the Westphalian collieries, which would otherwise be compelled to find markets in other directions. Above all, it would serve, as nothing else could, to remind the German people that wanton destruction is not a paying proposition, even in warfare. The possibility of such a policy being forced upon them at the Peace Conference is already present to the guilty Prussian conscience, and the Berliner Tageblatt has recently published an article upon the subject, drawing special attention to the economic consequences of a forced tai upon the German coal output. The General Report (Part A) of the Friendly Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies Societies for the year 1917 has just been and Miners’ published, and discloses some note- Unions. worthy facts respecting these institu- tions, especially as regards their financial state under the stress of war conditions. Of 440 valuations accepted during the year, 190 societies showed an estimated surplus of £267,000, while there was a deficiency in 245 cases of £1,649,000, of which one society alone was respon- sible for over one million. Excluding this one the remaining 439 returns showed a degree of solvency of 18s. 7d. in the pound. The membership of trade unions • increased by over a quarter of a million during the year, and there was an addition to the total funds of two millions, owing chiefly to the diminution in expenditure on unemployment benefit. The expansion in funds from 1913 to the end of 1916, in the case of trade unions, amounted to nearly 90 per cent. Out of the large mass of information contained in this report, we shall confine ourselves for the present to the trade unions, and more particularly those grouped under the head of mining. At the moment special interest attaches to the question of political funds, for which under the Trade Union Act, 1913, certificates of approval must be obtained. The requirements under the Act, before certificates are granted, include the approval, by a majority of members, of the establishment of a political fund; as well as of rules for a ballot relating to it. There are also special safeguards for the case of unregistered trade unions, to ensure, amongst other things, that the objects of the union are such as to fulfil statutory requirements. Amongst the latter, a certificate was granted during the year to one miners’ union only, and this subsequently became a registered union. The total expenditure on political objects by all trade unions in 1916 amounted to £31,951, showing a decrease of £6,223 on the figures for the previous year. Over 60 per cent, of this amount is accounted for by the miners’ unions alone. A marked tendency is shown towards amalgama- tion into large bodies ; but the actual position is not easily ascertainable because some unions still count as members the men serving with the Forces, although they have been relieved of the liability to pay contributions ; while others treat them as having left the union unless they continue to pay their con- tributions. w Nevertheless, there has undoubtedly been a large increase in membership, owing to recognition by non-unionists of the advantages of united action, and the increasing difficulties expe- rienced by them of remaining outside. Some accession of strength has also followed from the .extended employment of women, and it is noteworthy in this connection that a number of female workers are now included in the Blastfurnacemen’s and Cokemen’s Union. Upon this subject a trade union secretary considers that the expansion in membership is due, in a measure, to an arrangement entered into by the Industrial Commission, the coalowners and the union, for dealing with non-unionists at the col- lieries in a manner that would obviate the many stoppages of the collieries that were taking place through the employment of non-unionists. In the mining group 52 returns showed a total membership of 714,513, an increase of 7-69 per cent, over that of the previous year. This increase followed upon a large decrease in membership, both in 1914 and 1915—the increase being most marked in the case of two miners’ unions, which, in 1915, had shown a heavy fall aggregating over 26,000 members. The total income in 1916 of the mining unions was £864,253, representing an average contribution per week from each member of 5s. 3d. About 92 per cent, of the income was derived from members’ contributions, the remainder being mainly due to interest on investments, while a small amount—less than 0 01 per cent.— was received from the Board of Trade in respect of unemployment insurance—an item which has shrunk to insignificant proportions, owing to the steady decline in unemployment conse- quent upon the war. One large union—the Derby- shire Miners’ Association—derived 20 per cent, of its income from interest on bank deposits and invest- ments. As regards expenditure, there was a fairly large decrease in the amount expended cn dispute benefit as compared with the previous year, and less money was distributed in sick and accident benefits, for which reduction the Durham Miner*’ Association is mainly responsible, since this form of benefit does not figure largely in the other unions of the mining group. The expenses of management for the year 1916 amounted to £236,697. The funds of the mining unions amounted to £1,831,461, or £2 Ils. 3d. per member, being an increase of £422,504 over the figure for the previous year. This large increase is mainly attributable to the rarity of big disputes and the small amount <>f unemployment. The year’s increment amounts to about 30 per cent., which follows on an increase of 28 per cent, in the previous year. Th > position of this group falls next below the engineering group, whose funds amounted to £3,975,034, showing an increase of £789,116, or 2P8 per cent., over the figures of the previous year. In this remarkable result the Amalgamated Society of Engineers played a conspicuous part—increasing its funds by 27 per cent., or £370,000. This union is approximately of the same financial strength as the whole mining group, having funds of about 1-} millions sterling. Workmen’s compensation schemes were in force in nine mines, employing 15,900 men, of whom 15,390 contracted out under the schemes. The ‘ receipts under these schemes amounted to £21,109, of which the men contributed £5,730 and the employers £12,783. The total payments in 1916 amounted to £19,114, of which £1,975 were paid owing to death and £12,262 owing to incapacity. The accu- mulated funds under these schemes amounted to £54,787, and the number of cases dealt with included 18 deaths and 3,331 cases of incapacity, of which 3,313 were settled by weekly payments and 18 by the payment of lump sums. It may not be generally known that the Registrar of Friendly Societies may also grant certificates to scientific and literary societies. Under the Scientific Societies Act, 1843, societies instituted for purposes of science, literature or the fine arts exclusively, upon obtaining the registrar’s certificate, may obrain exemption from the local rates—advantage of which provision was taken in 1917 by the Manchester Geological and Mining Society. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, December 19. Dublin. The general position is unchanged. Merchants are very poorly supplied for the Christmas trade, and no improve- ment can be looked for until about mid-January. There is a good demand in spite of mild weather, and retailers appear to have received a fair shai e of any coal which has arrived. The local manufacture of briquettes has been resumed, and wood blocks are being largely sold for house- hold use. Cash prices for house coals in the city are 57s. 6d. per ton for best quality, second quality 56s. 6d., and standard coal 53s. 6d. per ton, Is. per ton extra being charged in the suburbs; retail price, 3s. ICd. per bag of 14 cwt. in the city, and 3s. lid. in the suburbs. Coke is 60s. per ton in the city and rd. per ton extra in the suburbs. At present there is no steam coal offering. Irish coals from Wolf hill, Queen’s County, are 50s. per ton f.o.r. Athy, the nearest railway connection with the mines, and 20s. per ton for lime-burning culm. The distribution from the Castle corner mines is still restricted owing to transit diffi- culties. The new spur line in course of construction is not expected to be completed until late in the spring of next year, but when’ finished it will provide transport for the coal at reasonable rates between the collieries and all parts of the country. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the Dublin quays during the past week was 24,881 tons, as compared with 18,845 tons the week previously, chiefly from Ayr, Newport, Point of Aire, Garston, Ardros- san, Whitehaven, Cardiff, Preston, Swansea, Liverpool, Ellesmere Port, Workington, Troon and Partington. Belfast. Stocks in the p »rt are extremely low, and as no imme- diate improvement in supplies from the other side is expected, the Christmas trade is greatly restricted. House coal prices remain as fixed by the Corporation Coal Committee, viz:—Best Arley, 55s. 6d. per ton; Scotch house, 49s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 54s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 51s. 6d.; all less Is. per ton discount for cash ; standard coal, 48s. 6d. per ton net cash. The coal porters at the docks ceased work last week because their application for an increase of 6d. per ton was not granted. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The foreign demand for pitch remains strong, and movements are likely to expand with the further freeing of shipping Home sales are expected to increase substantially. Benzol for motorists is selling very well. The restrictions relating to it have been mentioned so often that there is nothing more to add regarding that matter. Fortunately, a more favourable condition of things is evidencing itself now. Vigorous expressions of trade opinion have done something to expedite the removal of Government control from many commoditie3, and the rest will be expedited by the same influence. Makers can show indis- putably that they have not been properly remunerated by the controlled prices of some of the by-products. Solvent naphtha has a stea. y tone. A fair business is being done in crude naphthalene, but refined is not actively enquired for. Crude carbolic is firm. The other by-products are not specially prominent in the market at present, and the broken week ahead of us is not likely to result in change. Sulphate of Ammonia. — The December-February official price is .£15 15s. per ton to approved agents, with an extra 10s. per ton for sale direct to farmers. The price is based on 24| per cent, ammonia content, with the usual 3s. 3d. per ton adjustment for material testing above or below this figure. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, December 19. Scotland. - Western District. COAL. The situation in the Scotch coal trade is unaltered. Efforts are largely confined to sustaining the home sup- plies, and deliveries are chiefly restricted ^o industrial, gas and house coal. Shipments are still under the strictest supervision, and exports consist mostly of small cargoes to Irish ports. Bunkering, too, is limited. Shipments amounted to 61,853 tons, compared with 75 743 in the pr ceding week and 99,034 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b, Glasgow : — Steam coal.. Ell ........ Splint...... Treble nuts Double do. Single do. Current : L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. ' 34/6 34/6 27/6 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ 26/6-28/ ! 37/ 35' -37/ 28/ -30' I 30/ 30/ 23/ i 29/ 29/ 22/ ' 28/ 28/ 21/ IRON. Makers of Scotch pig iron have plenty of busine=s, and the output is easily disposed of. The bulk of the orders going through are for home consumption, and export con- tinues of meagre proportion. In finished iron, also, the greater part of the production is for home use Some war business still remains to be run off, but there are plenty of general orders to follow on with. Malleable iron makers are fully employed, and outputs are large. The export market is uncertain. Many buyers believe that the present basis price of £20 f.o.b. Glasgow is much too high and anti- cipate a considerable reduction when the initial rush of business is over. Overseas enquiries are fairly numerous, but so far nothing of importance has been reported as fixed. Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. Exports in the Lothians are on the decrease, owing to the existing firm control, and business is mostly with local consumers. Clearances were 15,400 tons, against 16.070 in the preceding week and 17,759 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current Best sort ened steam coal... prices. 33/6 Secondaiy qualities 32/6 30/ Treble nuts Double do 29/ Single do 28/ L’st week’s|Last year’s prices. ! prices 33/6 < 26/6 32/6 • 25/6 30/ 23/ 29/ j 22/ 28/ ’ 21/ No change is reported from Fifeshire, and here again shipments are gradually being reduced, and outputs reserved for local purposes. Shipments were 18,730 tons, against 26,035 last week and 22,295 tons in the same week last year. Prices f o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. coal 36/ -38/ 36/ -38/ 29/ -31/ Unscreened do 31/ -32/ 31/ -32/ 2 4/ -25/ First-class steam coal 35/ ! 35/ 28/ Third-class do. 31/ 1 31/ 24/ Treble nuts 30/ ! 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 1 29/ 22/ Single do. • 28/ 28/ 21/ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 95,989 tons, compared with 117.848 in the preceding week, and 139,088 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. Something in the nature of a bombshell dropped into the local coal market towards last week-end, when it was announced that the Coal Controller had forbidden, until further orders, the shipment of coal to Holland, Denmark and Sweden, whilst exempting Norway from the embargo and leaving it possible for exports still to be sent to other neutral directions. As a matter of fact, the continued permission to despatch coals to Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean meant practically nothing—exports in those directions having been as near nil as possible in recent weeks, and great ^difficulty being experienced in securing % licences. The reason for the suspension of shipments to the nearer destinati >ns already enumerated is. of course, clear. The present output from the collieries is not even sufficient to satisfy all requirements on Government, Allied and home accounts, and obviously these must take priority. It is naturally a pity that any obstacle should be placed in the way of the re-development of the coal trade with our neutral neighbours, but under the circumstances it is inevitable. Merchants with boats partly loaded for Sweden and Denmark were placed in an awkward position, but all that happened was that such cargoes were diverted to nearer use. The Coal Controller ordered also that all Norwegian vessels were to be supplied with bunkers on the same terms as Allied business This thrusting of a ramrod into the auto- matic machinery of the market has caused a good deal of trouble. Meanwhile, the pressure for supplies is keener than it has been known to be for years past. The miners are working well, but the production of coal is suffering from the continued shortage of man-power, accentuated by the prevalence of influenza in the colliery districts. Not for many weeks to come is there likely to be a sufficiency of fuel produced to meet the most urgent and near require- ments to the full extent, and until that is done more distant customers must, of course, possess their souls in patience. Official and neutral tonnage continues superabundant, and it is good to know that railway trucks also are in improved suppfy. Norwegian customers are enquiring largely, but are able to obtain exceedingly little fuel at present. The Danish State Railways have had to withdraw their enquiry for 20,0 '0 tons of best steams for January or February shipment—merchants being unable to tender. Prior to the embargo, the Swedish State Railways were endeavouring to purchase additional quantities of steam coals privately, and were offering up to 75s. even for second-class sorts, but