April 18, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 807 available will be very limited, and as stems for the present | any relief in this direction for some time, owing to the lack month are practically full, there is every reason to expect i of foreign competition. Last week the total imports of that high prices will rule for some time. The only point' foreign steel sheets, bars, and billets were less than 5,000 * * ........... tons. There is very little doing in galvanised sheets, and 24-gauge corrugateds are selling at from .£11 12s. 6d. to .£11 15s. The wages of the men discharging rubio and other iron ores in the natural state have been increased id. per ton by day and fd. per ton by night. Gangs of six digging in one hatch receive now £3 as against £2, whilst an increase of 6d. per ton is to be paid to the bearer-off. The night crane drivers are to have a guaranteed wage of 28s. per week by day, and 42s. per week by night. There is no change in Welsh pig iron. Swansea. respecting which there may be some little doubt is whether there will be an adequate supply of tonnage. Should this not be forthcoming, high prices will be inevitable. At the time of writing, 21s. was being freely paid for best Admiralty coals for shipment during the present month, whilst for loading next month, as much as 22s. has been obtained. Superior second Admiralties are 20s.3d. to 20s.6d.,and ordinary Admiralties 19s. 3d. to 19s. 6d. The shipments last week amounted to over 450,000 tons, and the arrivals for the week-end were fairly good, so that when work was resumed on Monday morning, there were over 230 vessels in port. There is very little change in the small coal market. Prices continue at about the previous high levels—namely, for bunkerings 15s. 6d. to 16s, and for cargo qualities 14s. 9d. to 15s. What effect the cutting off of Belgian supplies will have on the market it is too soon to prognosticate. Should the strike continue for any length of time, it is expected that the present abnormal prices will be further increased. Buyers are very doubtful whether on the termination of the strike the present prices will be maintained. They point to the fact that the Belgian Government have prepared for a struggle of considerable duration, and that even if it comes to a premature end, no further supplies of coal will be needed for some time. The same remark applies to France, where large quantities of coal have been stocked to meet any emergencies that may arise. All ■orders, therefore, put on to the Welsh market at present are for single ship loads, with the result that supplies of small are now more plentiful than they have been tor some time. Chartering transactions during the last few days have been rather light, and freights are showing a slight upward tendency, Genoa being now up to 8s. 9d. for large boats. Monmouthshire coals keep very firm. Operations generally are very restricted, and sellers have no difficulty in securing top figures. Black Veins are 19s. to 19s. 3d., western valleys, 18s. 6d. to 18s. 9d., and eastern valleys 9d. to Is. less, in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. There is no change in house coals, but Rhondda bituminous sorts are rather firmer, No. 3 large being 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d., and No. 2 17s. per ton. Shipments of patent fuel during the week have been very heavy, amounting to no less than 47,000 tons. The Crown Company shipped 16,683 tons, other local makers 6,250 tons, Swansea 18,730, and Newport, 5,500 tons. For best brands as much as 26s. is obtainable. The coke market is without improvement, special foundry still offering at 32s., and ordinary foundry at 29s. to 30s. per ton. Pitwood has gone up Is. per ton, being quoted now at 21s. 6d. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). COAL. The returns of the trade of the port during the past week were only moderate; the coal trade continued dull, but there was a good export of patent fuel, the shipments together amounted to 91,967 tons. There was an average attendance on 'Change this morning, and there was no improvement in the general conditions prevailing on the anthracite market. There was very little demand for Swansea Valley large,which was freely offered for immediate delivery at reduced prices. Red Vein large was also a weak market. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were in very poor request, whilst quotations were again reduced. Rubbly culm continued very firm, and difficult to obtain even at the high prices now ruling. Duff also was very strong. In the steam coal market the demand was good, and prices for all descriptions were well maintained. The following were approximately the closing quotations:— Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals .................. Superior seconds........ Ordinary do............. Best bunker smalls...... Best ordinaries........ Oargo qualities ........ Inferior smalls......... Best dry coals ......... Ordinary drys .......... Best washed nuts ....... Seconds................. Best washed peas ....... Seconds................. Dock screenings ........ Monmouthshire— Black Veins........... Wes tern-valleys ..... Eastern-valleys ...... Inferior do........... Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large ..... Through-and-through... Small................. No. 2 Rhondda— Large................. Through-and-through... Small................. Best patent fuel ......... Seconds................... Special foundry coke ..... Ordinary do. ............. Furnace coke ............. Pitwood (ex-ship) ........ Current prices. Last week's prices. 21/ to 22/ 20/9 to 21/ 20/6 20/3 to 20/6 19/6 19/ to 19/6 15/6 to 16/ 15/9 to 16/ 15/ to 15/3 15/3 to 15/6 14/9 to 15/ 14/9 to 15/ 14/3 14/ to 14/6 19/6 to 20/ 19/6 to 20/ 18/ to 18/9 18/ to 18/9 17/ 17/ 16/ to 16/6 16/ to 16/6 15/6 to 15/9 15/6 14/9 to 15/ 14/9 16/ 16/ 19/ to 19/3 19/ 18/9 18/6 to 18/9 18/3 18/3 to 18/6 17/9 17/3 to 17/6 19/6 19/6 17/6 17/6 17/6 to 17/9 17/6 17/ 16/9 16/3 16/ 17/ 16/6 to 17/ 16/ 15/6 14/9 to 15/ 14/6 26/ 26/ 24/6 to 25/ 23/6 to 24/6 32/ 32/ 29/ to 30/ 29/ 24/ 23/ to 24/ 21/6 20/6 Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) (net) ........ Secondary do........... Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) ........... Red Vein large do...... Machine - made cobbles (net) ................. Paris nuts (net) ...... French do. do......... German do. do.......... Beans (net) ........... Machine-made large peas (net) ................ Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) Duff (net)............. Steam coals:— Best large (less 2|p.c.) ... Seconds Bunkers Small Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.). Through - and - through (less 2£ p.c.)....... Small (less 2| per cent.) Patent fuel do....... do. do. do. Current prices. 22/ to 24/ 19/ to 20/ 16/ to 18/ 13/9 to 14/6 22/ 23/ 23/ 23/ 16/6 to 20/6 to 23/6 to 24/6 to 24/6 to 24/6 11/3 to 13/ 9/3 to 10/ 6/ to 7/ 19/ to 20/ lfl/3 to 17/ 15/9 to 16/ 13/6 to 15/6 18/ to 19/ 16/ to 17/ 14/9 to 16/ 20/ 10 22/6 Last week's prices. 22/ to 24/ 19/ to 20/ 16/ to 18/ 13/9 to 14/6 22/ to 23/6 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/6 16/6 to 20/6 11/3 to 13/ 9/ to 9/6 6/ to 7/ 19/ to 20/ 16/3 to 17/ 15/ to 16/ 13/6 to 15/6 18/ to 19/ 16/ to 171 14/9 to 16/ 20/ to 22/6 IRON. Last week there was a heavy yield of pig iron, and there were average outputs from the various establishments in the steel trade. A good production of tin-plates and galvanised sheets was registered at the various tin-plate works. The much-desired improvement in the tin-plate trade is not yet apparent, and the tone of the market, unfortunately, does not encourage very high hopes for the immediate future. Many mills are idle in the district, and the output has considerably decreased, but this has not yet had any appreciable effect upon the accumulated stocks. The shipments of tin-plates were 86,705 boxes, receipts from works 119,670 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans were 467,852 boxes. The foundries were amply supplied with orders, and briskness was experienced at the engineer- ing shops. Llanelly. Coal and patent fuel quotations are for cash in 30 days less 2£ per cent. Rhondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f .o.b. IRON. Although the recent floods in America will cause a con- siderable reduction of output both of sheets and tin-plates, they have had but little effect on the Welsh market. What little improvement there is in prices is due more to the firm- ness of block tin, which is now quoted at .£227 10s., or .£9 more than last week. Common cokes are 14s. to 14s. l|d., and oil sizes 14s. 4|d. to 14s. 6d., and 20s. to 20s. 3d. Thera are close upon 100 tin-plate mills still idle, and the exports from Swansea are very low, the total for last week being only 86,735 boxes. The decreased output has had no appreciable effect upon the accumulated stocks, which at the docks warehouses stand at 467,852 boxes. It was stated at the Swansea Harbour Trust meeting the other day that the total falling off in exports last montn amounted to 2,077 tons. The men at various works some time ago were anxious to press for certain improvements in their conditions, but the unions have held over such claims, and last Saturday the council of the Tin-plate and Sheet Mill- men's Union agreed to the withdrawal of their claims, stating the time was inopportune for any increase in the cost of production. The depression in tin-plates is reflected in the steel bar market, which has lost the buoyant tone it has exhibited for a long time pa^t. Tin-plate bars for prompt delivery are still quoted at .£5 12s. 6d., but less than this figure is being accepted for orders outside the .South Wales area, and the tin-plate works do not expect COAL. The market conditions in this district are still peculiar, and show no alteration. Whilst some classes of coal are in big demand and collieries are heavily fixed with orders at excellent prices, other sorts are moving very slowly at prices which are being quoted at considerable reductions. The anthracite trade is undergoing a difficult period, and new business is hard to get. Although this has been the position for the past two or three months, there is as yet no sign of improvement, and unless the unforeseen happens there will be a dull market for other few months. Rubbly culm and duff are in big request and are difficult to buy, but the other sorts show no improvement. In the steam and bituminous market the demand for coals is still splendid and prices give every satisfaction to sellers. Both through and small kinds are hard to buy and the manufac- turing works are kept short of their quantities. This week's quotations are:— Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large.... Secondary do.......... Big Vein large........ Red Vein do........... Machine-made cobbles ... German nuts .......... French do............. Paris do.............. Machine-made beans ... Do peas........... Rubbly culm .......... Duff ................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal...... Through-and-through ... Small................. Bituminous small coal ... Current prices. 22/ to 23/ 19/ to 21/ 17/ to 19/ 13/9 to 14/6 19/ to 21/ 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 24/ to 25/ 19/ to 21/ 11/6 to 12/6 8/6 to 9/ 6/3 to 7/ 18/ to 18/6 14/6 to 15/6 11/6 to 12/6 14/6 to 15/ Last week's prices. 22/ to 23/ 19/ to 21/ 17/ to 19/ 13/9 to 14/6 19/ to 21/ 22/ to 24/6 22/ to 24/6 24/ to 25/ 19/ to 21/ 11/6 tc 12/6 8/6 to 9/ 6/3 to 7/ 18/ to 18/6 14/6 to 15/6 11/6 to 12/6 14/6 to 15/ THE MINING ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN. Annual Meeting. The fifty-ninth annual general meeting of this association, with the preliminary meeting of the executive council, was held at the Whitehall Rooms, Hotel Metropole, on Thursday. The President (Mr. (F. J. Jones) occupied the chair, and there were present the following members, viz:—Messrs. Arthur F. Pease, Philip Kirkup, John Morison, George Ainsworth, and Reginald Guthrie (North of England); Samuel Roberts, M.P., F. Parker Rhodes, George Blake Walker, R. Richardson, W. H. Chambers, M. H. Habershon, J. H. Ashton, E. B. Whalley, G. H. Ashwin, C. B. Crawshaw, Dr. W. E. Garforth, Roslyn Holiday, J. Kershaw and G. H. W. Laverick (Yorkshire); H. Eustace Mitton, George J. Binns, J. W. Fryar, J. Mein, P. Muschamp, H. Dennis Bayley, Alfred Hewlett terts. and Mark Fryar (Midland Counties); W. H. Hewlett, Charles Pilkington, W. Scott Barrett, Capt. Henry V. Hart Davis, G. H. Peace, Richard Brancker, Ernest Douglas and G. E. Lomax (Lancashire and Cheshire); W. F. Clark and J. Selby Gardner (Cannock Chase); John S. Scott, F. W. Llewelyn and William Hill (North Staf- fordshire) ; James Darlington and G. J. Findlay (North Wales); D. Llewellin Evans, B. Nicholas, Evan Williams and T. E. Watson (South Wales and Monmouthshire); W. Russell, C.B., W. McLintock and Robert Baird (Lanarkshire); James Moffat (Fife); A. H. Crichton (Scottish Mineral Oil Association); Sir Thos. R. Ratcliffe-Ellis, law clerk and secretary; and Arthur Ratcliffe-Ellis, assistant law clerk and secretary. Letters regretting inability to be present were announced as having been received from several members. The principal matters dealt with by the executive council were the Coal Mines Act Regulations, the National Insurance Act; New Explosives Order, Safety Lamps (testing, &c.), Workmen’s Compensation Act (Industrial Diseases), Census of Production Returns, Income Tax on Wagons, Coal under Railways, Private Owners' Wagons, &c. At the annual meeting of the association held in the afternoon the report of the executive council on the work of the association during the past twelve months, with the audited balance-sheet and the hon. treasurer’s report on the accounts, were received and adopted. On the motion of Mr. W? Darrett? sQcoijde^ by Mr. Evan Williams, Mr. Arthur F. Pease (Durham) was unanimously appointed president of the association for the ensuing year. On taking the chair, the new president thanked the mover and seconder for what they had been good enough to say, and the meeting, for the way in which the resolution had been received. He assured them he felt it a very great honour to be elected president of an association which had such a wide influence upon the interests of the coal trade throughout the country. During the troublous time they had gone through in the early part of 1912, he had met friends from different parts of the country whom he had not the pleasure of knowing before, and he had been able to learn something of the conditions they worked under compared with those they worked under in the north of England. He hoped that, during his term of office, he would have the assistance of Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis ; and unless he had felt sure that assistance would be given, he would have hesitated to accept the office. He thanked them again for having elected him president. (Hear.) On the motion of Mr. James Darlington, seconded by Mr. 0. B. Crawshaw, the best thanks of the association were unanimously accorded to Mr. F. J. Jones for his valuable services as president during the past year.—In acknowledging the resolution Mr. Jones said he was extremely obliged and somewhat touched by the very kindly reference which had been made to the work he had been permitted to do for the association during the past year. Naturally he felt some little regret that his second year of office as president had come to an end, but the burden would fall on very capable shoulders. Their new president would, he was sure, most worthily maintain the tradi- tions of his high office and render very efficient service. He sincerely hoped that his duties would be lighter than those of the previous year were, though he was afraid they would not be, but their new president was quite capable of sustaining the burden, whatever that burden might be. He was very much obliged to them for their kind recognition of any work he had been able to do for them, and to Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis for the kind consideration he had shown to him during the year which had just come to a close. (Applause.) Mr. F. J. Jones and Mr. Frank Brain were unani- mously elected vice-presidents for the coming year ; the executive council was appointed and the call fixed, the best thanks of the association being given to Mr. Barrett for his valuable services as hon. treasurer and to Messrs. Reginald Guthrie and John Williamson for their services as hon. auditors. The Parliamentary and Coal Mines Regulations Com- mittees having been re-appointed, the proceedings closed with a cordial vote of thanks to the president for his conduct in the chair.