June 27, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 13S9 Letters to the Editor. The Bditoi is not responsible either for the statements made, nr t.he opinionpexpressed by correspondents. All communications must be authenticated, by the name and address of the sender, whether for publication or not. No notice can be taken of anonymous communi- cations . Asrepiies to questions are only given by way of published answers to correspondents, and not by letter, stamped addressed envelopes are not required to be sent. MINERS’ NYSTAGMUS. Sir,—I notice in the current issue of the Colliery Guardian a letter on the above subject over the signa- ture of Mr. E. A. Hailwood, and while it must be generally admitted that Mr. Hailwood is an authority on the construction of oil lamps, it is perfectly obvious that as regards electric miners’ lamps, his statements show a deplorable ignorance of facts. I happen to have before me the actual maintenance costs obtained from users of the “ most up-to-date electric lamps.” The colliery concern in question have had some 2.000 of the “ most up-to-date electric lamps ” in use for just over 12 months, and these costs actually show a saving over the cost of oil lamps. The installa- tion I refer to happens to be the oldest in the country as far as “ up-to-date electric lamps ” are concerned, so that Mr. Hailwood’s estimate of the huge increased cost of electric lamps over oil lamps is manifestly absurd. This, however, is rather straying from the point, but coming back to the miners’ nystagmus, and again referring to the installation mentioned above, I have it on the authority of the managing director of the concern in question that since the “ up-to-date electric lamps ” were adopted not a single case of nystagmus has developed. This, notwithstauding that nystagmus is brought within the scope of the Workmen’s Com- pensation Act. I can hardly conceive that Mr. Hailwood’s proposal to supply miners suffering from or likely to suffer from nystagmus with two oil lamps, is made seriously, or that his statement “ that the candle-power of an electric lamp begins to decline steadfastly from the time it is put into use, and towards the end of its short life gives very little light ” is made with any knowledge of facts. If he were referring to the average oil lamp one could understand his remarks ; but knowing that an “ up- to-date electric lamp ” will give from 14 to 16 burning hours with practically no diminution of candle power at the end of an ordinary shift, I quite fail to understand Mr. Hailwood’s reversal of facts. It is very well known that Dr. Llewellyn has made a most extensive study of miners’ nystagmus, and that his contentions in regard to the part played by the oil ■safety lamp in propagating this unpleasant disease, are entirely upheld by practically the whole of the medical fraternity. There is absolutely no doubt that the electric lamp has proved to be a certain remedy for this disease, and the reasons are several. Firstly and chiefly, the “ up-to-date electric lamp ” gives at least three times the light of the average oil lamp. The light is perfectly steady, whereas the light of an oil lamp is one continuous flicker. There are no noxious fumes given off by the electric lamp, nor is there any appreciable heat, and, furthermore, the electric lamp is not an oxygen consumer. 11, Windsor-place, Theodore Schontheil. Cardiff, June 24,1913. PROPOSED BRITISH GENERAL ENGINEERING STAFF ASSOCIATION. 'Sir,—Many of your readers may be glad to learn that it is proposed to form a new and separate association for the mutual protection of engineers. So far, indeed, the movement has met with every encouragement. Those representative gentlemen who have most keenly •considered its inception are now hoping for genera} support. You may recollect that a recent correspondent referred in the Electrical Review to the “ Trust ” which, it would appear, has been formed already by the large engineering employers. It was suggested that this powerful body has as one of its main objectives :— The prevention of an engineer—who may have dis- pleased those in authority—from. obtaining employ- ment in any constituent firm ; the regulation of inter- change of staff, should an engineer endeavour to improve his position; the extension of the hours of staff employment; the reduction in holidays, with the abolition of payment for that period; and the general lowering of the status of engineers. Such charges are, of course, most serious, and may or may not be disproved. The certainty is that manu- facturers, being primarily concerned with profit-making, could mutually deem it to their monetary advantage to impose such conditions upon the members of their respective staffs. And it must also be admitted that, without organisation, the position of these engineers is a perfectly helpless one. This latter fact is demonstrated once more by the result of a recent dispute between the directorate and staff of one of the principal engineering companies. Into the offices of this company has been introduced a system to which a large proportion of the staff openly objected. The outcome at best may be simply a formal “staff protest,” directed to the board. We lack the support of an association which would represent the engineering staff throughout the country as a whole. It is proposed that membership of such an institution should be opened to all engineers—mechanical, civil, electrical, &c. The official committee of the association will undoubtedly confirm that decision later. The aims of the suggested federation are practically obvious. One need merely say, therefore, that its members would co-operate for the maintenance and furtherance of their economic and social interests. As many as 250 members of the staff of one firm alone have already signified their approval of the society, and reports from various quarters are similarly gratifying. The engineers attached to the largest companies are specially in favour of the movement. Meanwhile, each gentleman who is interested, or each intending member, is kindly requested to send his name, with that of his employer, to the undersigned, supple- mented by any suggestions he may care to offer. Every communication will, of course, be treated as perfectly confidential and private. It is also important that the association should be given as much publicity as possible. 0. H. Fletcher, Hon. Acting Secretary Proposed Association. 31, Queen Victoria-street, London, E.C., June 16,1913. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday. June 26. North Wales. Wrexham. GOAL. The general tone of the market in this locality is some- what similar to what prevailed when writing last week. Trade is decidedly easier, and at some collieries full work has not been sustained, and stocks have accumalated in some quarters in certain grades of fuel. General orders for house coal are scarce, and as the merchants are not sending in many private wagons for loading, the lack of these is being felt. The large buyers are able to secure spot lots at satisfactory prices from their point of view, and many are availing themselves of the opportunity of laying in good stocks at these special figures, which are from Is. to 2s. per ton less than the coalowners are asking for future sales, the prices of which are still well maintained. The landsale depots are very quiet indeed, but this is the usual summer inactivity. Supplies of gas coal are well up to the standard, and the trade is welcome just now, especially from those works that own their own wagons, which materially assist in the working of the pits with the present shortage of tonnage. Many of the existing con- tracts terminate at June 30, and next week will see the commencement of the new contracts at the advanced figures, and the Is. to Is. 6d. per ton advance should prove of material advantage to collieries holding large gas coal contracts. Steam coal is a little unsettled. The demand is fairly good on the whole. Manufacturing fuel is also fairly well sold, but there is a decided disinclination on the part of buyers to book contracts at the enhanced prices asked by the colliery companies in view of the slackening in prices for immediate deliveries. The shipping trade is good and acceptable. Although contracts have been fixed at advanced prices, buyers are buying spot lots on good terms, largely due to the fact that in this trade the wagons are returned quickly, which is a great consideration just now. Nuts are well sold, but slack is not in such ready demand, and prices show a falling off of about 6d. to Is. per ton. The market for gas coke is practically identical with what prevailed last week. Current quotations are as follow:— Current Last week’s Prices at pit f.o.r. :— prices. prices. Best house coal 14/ to 15/ 15/ to 16/ Secondary do 13/6 to 14/6 13/9 to 14/9 Steam coal 12/6 to 13/6 12/9 to 13/6 Gas coal 13/ to 14/ 13/ to 14/ Bunkers 12/3 to 12/9 12/6 to 13/ Nuts 11/9 to 12/3 12/ to 12/3 Slack 6/6 to 8/ 7/ to 9/ Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— 15/ to 16/8 15/ to 16/8 Best house coal 18/4 to 19/2 18/4 to 20/ Seconds 16/8 to 17/6 16/8 to 18/4 Slack 10/ to 12/6 10/ to 12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. GOAL. The steam coal market continues to suffer from a lack of business, a pronounced weakness being evident in every department of the trade. Of prompt business, much sought after at the moment, as most collieries are greatly pressed to find room for their output, there is hardly any coming on the market, and those fortunate buyers who have tonnage available can secure very advantageous terms. There is also comparatively little doing for forward ship- ment, although there is a little better enquiry, and colliery ! stems have slightly improved. For July shipment collieries are now quoting more firmly, but it is doubtful how much actual business is being secured thus. The freight market just now does not promise much assistance to the general improvement of the coal trade. Tonnage is not over plentiful, while rates, if anything, are rather weaker. Pitwood importers are hampered by the difficulty of obtaining wagons from buyers, and good wood may be obtained at 21s. to 21s. 6d. ex. ship. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large ... Western-valleys, ordinary Best Eastern-valleys Secondary do. ...... Best small coals Secondary do Inferior do Screenings Through coals Best washed nuts Other sorts:— Best house coal Secondary do Patent fuel Furnace coke Foundry coke Current prices. 17/3 to 17/9 16/9 to 17/ 16/ to 16/6 15/6 to 16/ 8/6 to 9/ 7/6 to 8/ 7/ to 7/6 8/9 to 9/ 14/ to 14/6 15/ to 15/3 18/ to 19/ 17/ to 18/ 20/6 to 21/ 27/ to 28/ . 29/ to 31/ Last week’s prices. 17/9 to 18/3 17/6 to 18/6 16/6 to 16/9 16/ to 16/3 8/6 to 8/9 7/9 to 8/ 7/ to 7/6 8/9 14/3 to 14/9 15/ to 15/3 18/ to 19/ 17/ to 18/ 20/6 to 21/ 27/ to 28/ 29/ to 31/ IRON. The trend of values in the local iron and steel trades is in most departments still downwards. An average amount of business is passing with considerable enquiry coming along. At bar mills work is again reported fair, but values have eased approximately 23. 6d. on the week. Here forward enquiry is not so good as might reasonably be expected. Imports of foreign bars total about 6,500 for the week, and for these, too, quotations have been reduced. Bails continue very much as a week ago with values unaltered. Pig iron is somewhat disorganised, there being very little fresh busi- ness moving, and the tendency of prices still downwards. In tinplates there is a further set-back in values, helped no doubt by the drop in the price of block tin. Only small orders are being placed, and little enquiry is being met with. Steel rails : Heavy sections J>6 10s. to j£6 15s., light ditto X6 15s. to £7. Tinplate bars: Bessemer or Siemens £5 5s. Tinplates: Bessemer primes 20 x 14,13s. 9d. to 14s. Siemens ditto 14s. Finished blackplate JJIO to JHO 5s. .Pig iron. Welsh haematite 82s. 6d. to 83s. 6d. delivered locally. Cardiff. GOAL. There has been very little change in the coal market since last week. The ideas of buyers and sellers with reference to prices are very divergent. Sellers are still optimistic in their view of the position, but buyers on the contrary are of opinion that by keeping their orders off the market just now they will be able to purchase at much lower figures than those at present quoted by collieries. For prompt business there is a considerable difference in price amongst what may be termed the same class of coals. Those collieries which are well stemmed are firmly holding out for from 20s. 6d. to 21s. net, whilet those who are badly off for stem are accepting 20s. for prompt business in order to release wagons and provide full work at the pits. In both cases, however, they are quoting firmly for July loading, and for best qualities 21s. is being demanded, sellers being of opinion that with the large quantity which will undoubtedly be taken by the Admiralty for manoeuvres in the near future, and in all probability a diminished output in consequence of holiday taking on the part of the men, their ideas will be realised. There is no doubt that stocks abroad have been allowed to reach a low level, and it is believed that buyers cannot hold off the market indefinitely. Shipments last week from the principal South Wales ports amounted to 556,828 tons, or an increase of 13,552 tons as compared with the corresponding week of last year. From Cardiff alone the exports were 360,268 tons against 373,992 tons in the corresponding period. Newport also showed a decrease of 11,773 tons, but there were large increases at Swansea and Port Talbot. Charterings during the week were very satisfactory, the total amount of tonnage taken up being 435,450 tons, or an increase of 89 950 tons over the preceding six days, which is the largest total, with one exception, for this year. This again, in the opinion of sellers, should have a stiffening effect on prices. At the end of last week there were only 190 vessels in port, but with th6 arrivals over the week-end, this number was increased to 212, so that all anxiety as to shortage of tonnage was removed. Tenders for the supply of 40,000 tons of steam coals for the French Admiralty are to be decided this week by a commission which will come direct from Paris to Cardiff to settle the business. Quotations were invited on a c.i.f. and a f o.b. basis, in the former case an option being given for French or English bottoms, though no doubt the former would receive a preference. The coal is to be shipped between July 1 and the end of September. Enquiries are also being received by collieries for business over next year, and this is looked upon as a hopeful sign, because, as a rule, contracts are discussed about September and October and even later. The small coal market still continues depressed, but as a very large quantity was shipped during last week at low prices in order to provide empties, the quotations at the time of writing are rather firmer, ranging from 10s. to 103. 6d. for best, 8s. to 8s. 6d. for cargo qualities, and down to 7s. to 8s. for inferior grades. In this case also, where collieries are hard pressed for wagons, substantial concessions have been made, so that it is a difficult matter to gauge the actual trend of the market, as practically the sales are governed by individual circumstances. In sympathy with the quietude in Welsh steams, there is an easier tendency in Monmouthshire coals, which are generally quoted about 6d. lower than last week ; Black Veins 17s. to 17s 6d., western-valleys 16s. 9d. to 17s., and eastern-valleys 163. to 16s. 6d. Bituminous coals are again a trifle lower, chiefly through lack of orders, which are being withheld for the same reason as stated above. In house coals the price of best qualities is maintained, but in second grades there is a fractional decline, and quotations are 3d. to 6d. below last week Patent fuel shipments during the week amounted to 29,196 tons, of which the Crown Company exported 18,052 tons, other local makers 1,300 tons, Newport 2 450tons, and Swansea7,394 tons. The price for best brands is now quoted at 23s. net for July and