208

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

July 24, 1914.

before much alteration is noticeable. The machine-made
kinds are in poor request with prices weak, and culm and
duff are not much sought after. In the steam and
bituminous market the position is worse than it has been
for years, and as the steel and tin-plate trades show no
sign of improvement for a while, the prospects are not very
bright, especially as the tinworks will be closing down for
the first 10 days in August, when no coal will be required.-

THE LONDON COAL TRADE.
Thursday, July 23.

The London coal trade for the past week has shown a
fair amount of activity, and the volume of trade doing has
considerably increased. Prices, however, remain very low,
and spot lots are still the ruling feature of the market. Best
coals are keeping their full list price, and have had a
fairly strong demand, but all other qualities have been
selling at various prices, subject largely to the fluctuations
of supply and demand. Soft coals have been very difficult
to sell, owing principally to the costly and unremunerative
character when putting this class of coal on the ground. The
prevailing hot weather naturally prevents any great con-
sumption of all household qualities^ and the buying has
been almost entirely confined to coal for putting into stock.
The harder qualities will bear stacking without any great
quantity of slack, but the softer qualities when exposed for
any length of time to the atmosphere are apt to crumble and
perish. Factors have been the principal buyers on the
market, and have in many cases bought freely, but have
frequently sold at very small margins, so that prices have
ruled very low throughout the whole of the week. Any
attempt on the colliery’s part to maintain a fair pit price
has resulted in frequent underselling on the part of the
factors. The fear of a stoppage in Scotland has had a
direct influence on the demand for smalls. The London
trade for Scottish qualities is principally with small coals
for electric works, and chain grate stokers, and any diminu-
tion in the supply of singles, pearls, and slack will imme-
diately throw an increased demand upon the ordinary D.S.
nuts, peas, and slack from the Midland collieries. The low
freights from Scotland have enabled them to compete very
favourably with the railborne qualities from the Midlands,
and during the week very large parcels of these factory
qualities have changed hands. Hard steam coals have also
sold very freely, but nuts and cobbles have moved very
slowly. The market has been well attended lately, and
more interest is shown in the buying and selling. In the
inland market best coals are scarce, but all the lowTer grades
are plentiful, and frequently good bargains are picked up.
The delivery trade continues slow, and the reports from
the depots show a very sparse number of orders. The sea-
borne market also continues idle, but the official quotations
are the same, viz., 21s. 6d. for best Wallsend, and 20s. 6d.
for seconds. Sharlston Main and Wallsend nuts were on
offer on Monday, and sold at prices which were not dis-
closed. Twenty-five vessels were returned as entering the
Thames for Monday’s market, and five for Wednesday.
There are indications that the public prices will be
advanced earlier this year than last. The first advance of
Is. per ton took place last year during the first week of
September, and no further advance was made until after
Christmas. The results show that the year’s trading
account panned out very badly from the merchants’ point
of view, and there are many who think the public prices
should advance earlier, even if the labour unrest does not
force the market up. Factory coals have somewhat stimu-
lated in demand during the week, and some fairly large
orders have been given for large steam coals. Negotiations
for some of the large railway contracts have been revived,
and it is reported that a reduction of 6d. to Is. per ton on
seconds quality has been made, whilst the better classes of
hard coal have varied very little from last year’s prices.

From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report.

Friday, July 17.—There was a slightly better tone
in the seaborne house coal market to-day, and a cargo of
Yorkshire Sharlston W. E. nuts and Main was disposed of,
but no price quoted. Cargoes 24.

Monday, July 20.—The seaborne house coal market
remained unchanged to-day, no cargoes of either Durham or
Yorkshire being on offer. Cargoes 28.

Wednesday, July 22.—The seaborne house coal market
was quiet to-day, with no cargoes on offer. Cargoes 5.

THE IRISH COAL TRADE.
Thursday, July 23.

Dublin.

The trade generally continues to be very dull, both locally
and inland, the demand for household and steam coal being
very small. The enhanced prices for Scotch coals at the
other side, owing to the four days a week dispute, have not
yet affected the market here, and supplies from those dis-
tricts are plentiful. There is no change in quotations, viz.,
Best Orrell, 26s. to 27s. per ton; Abram, 26s.; best Wigan,
24s.; best Whitehaven, 24s.; Pemberton Wigan, 22s.;
kitchen nuts, 21s.; Orrell slack, 20s.—all less Is. per ton
discount. Steam coals, from 22s. per ton; best coke, 20s.
per ton delivered. Pit mouth prices of Irish coals at Wolf-
hill, Queen’s Co., are:—Lare coal, 20s. per ton; small
coal, 18s. 4d.; nuts, 16s. 8d.; beans, 15s.; peas, 12s. 6d.;
culm (coarse), 10s.; culm (in pond), 3s. 4d.; culm (fine),
5s. At Arigna, Co. Leitrim :—Best coal, from 15s. lOd.
to 18s. 4d. per ton; nuts, 13s. 4d.; culm, 10s. The collier
vessels arriving in the port during the past week amounted
to 59, as compared with 56 the week previously, chiefly from
Partington, Newport, Llanelly, Preston, G-arston, Elles-
mere Port, Ayr, Swansea, Maryport, Campbeltown,
Glasgow, Troon, Workington, and Girvan. The total
quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 26,500 tons.
Belfast.

In the household trade, business is at the lowest ebb,
although for works and other purposes demand is fairly
good locally. Provincial orders have been more numerous
for the past week or two, as advances are anticipated in
Scotch coals, these qualities being mostly in request in the
districts further inland. City prices are as follows :—Best
Arley house coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan,
25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d.; Navi-
gation steam and Welsh steam coal, 17s. to 18s. per ton
delivered. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the week were
chiefly from Ellesmere Port, Maryport, Girvan, Troon, Neath
Abbey, Preston, Newport, Workington, Ayr, Garston,
Glasgow, Cardiff, Swansea, Ardrossan, and Partington.

LABOUR AND WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Conciliation Board met on Monday, following separate
meetings of the Coal Owners’ Association and the Miners’
Federation Council. August bank holidays were fixed for
the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in that month.
Several disputes came under notice; and in each case refer-
ence was made to two representatives of the board, one
from each side. Report was made as to settlements effected
in previous cases of reference. There was no business of
exceptional interest.

The Dowlais workmen, 4,000 in number, who struck on
the non-union question have succeeded in forcing their
fellows to join the union, and the stoppage is now at an end.

At Crynant, in the Neath Valley, .300 men have received
notice on account of slackness of work.

Federated Area.

Another meeting of the Joint District Board for the Lanca-
shire and Cheshire area under the Minimum Wage Act was
held on Friday at Manchester. Several questions are in
dispute, and no agreement was arrived at. The most
important matter—an application of coal getters for the
increase of the minimum from 7s. to 7s. 6d. a day—was
referred at a previous meeting to the independent chairman,
Judge Mellor, K.C. The discussion centred round the ques-
tion of defining the classes of surface workers to be regarded
as engaged in the manipulation of coal. This has a bearing
on the award of a minimum wage to surface workers, and
the representatives of the workmen suggest 11 classes for
inclusion in the description. The employers, on the other
hand, are only willing to accept five classes—browmen and
workers assisting in loading and unloading the cage, those
working the tipplers and engaged in marshalling boxes and
scotching up on the brow, tally shouters and tally hangers,
men and youths working on the belt, and wagon lowerers
and settlers. The employers maintained their decision not
to accept any other classes than these, and it was left for
the two secretaries to call a meeting for further discussion.

Scotland.

A meeting of the executive committee of the Scottish
Miners’ Federation was held immediately following the
national conference, to consider the position of the restric-
tion of output four days working policy, as affected by the
decision of the conference. Mr. Smillie, president, reported
to the Press that it was agreed, in view of the resolution
of the Miners’ Federation conference that day, to support
the Scottish miners in resisting any reduction in wages,
that the policy of four days a week agreed upon by the
Scottish Miners’ Federation, which was to take effect from
Monday next, and upon which the employers had decided
on a general lock-out, should be abandoned for the present,
and that a conference of the Scottish federation should be
called immediately to further consider the situation. The
Scottish conference on the restriction of output policy will
be held in Glasgow probably on Wednesday. The meeting
w’ith the employers on the wages question will be held in
Glasgow on Thursday of next week.

A meeting of the Standing Committee of the Fife and
Kinross Miners’ Association was held at Dunfermline on
Saturday. At the close of the meeting it was stated that
reports were submitted from the districts to the effect that
the officials of the coal companies were making efforts to
induce firemen and other underground workmen to under-
take certain work during the course of this week. In view
of the fact that the notices of the men have expired, and
that the employers have intimated that any persons
re-engaging will do so under the old conditions of employ-
ment, the committee unanimously agreed to appeal to every
workman to refuse to work under these conditions.

Miners’ Federation of Great Britain and the Scottish
Wages Question.

A special conference of the Miners’ Federation of Great
Britain was held at the Cambridge Hall, Southport, on
Tuesday and Wednesday, to consider the dispute which has
arisen between the Scottish coal owners and men as to
the proposed restriction of output by working only four
days a week. The question for decision was the support
which shall be given to the Scottish miners in the event
of a lock-out next week, whether a ballot shall be taken
of the other districts as to coming out on strike, or the
support shall be of a financial kind. The wages position
in the Scottish coalfield was stated by Mr. Robert Brown,
the secretary of the Scottish Federation. It appears that
at recent meetings of the Scottish Conciliation Board, the
coal owners have specifically asked for a reduction of 9d.
per day from the men’s wages to meet the cost imposed on
the mining industry by recent safety and social legislation.
This reduction in wages is asked for by the employers
entirely apart and distinct from selling prices. The dis-
cussion which followed the Scottish statement revealed a
considerable opposition on the part of the districts to
embarking upon another national strike. But there was
a general opinion in the Conference that the men must
resist all proposals on the part of coal owners to recoup
the expense caused by legislation by reductions in wages.

The conference on Wednesday pledged itself to give
financial support to the Scottish miners in the event of a
strike against any reduction of wages below the 7s. a day
minimum fixed by the Scarborough conference, and to take
a ballot of all the other districts as to whether they will be
prepared to support the Scottish miners by a national strike.
The conference did not approve of the policy of attempting to
restrict output by working four days a week, and meeting
after the general conference, the Scottish Executive agreed
to abandon the restriction of output policy for the present,
and to call a general conference of Scottish miners in
Glasgow next week to reconsider that policy. It was also
decided that a deputation from the executive of the national
federation should accompany the Scottish representatives
in a joint meeting with the coal owners on the wages
question. The purpose of this deputation is to impress
upon the Scottish coal owners the fact that any reduction
in wages below 7s. a day will inevitably result in a Scottish
coal strike, which may even extend to the other coal pro-
ducing districts. In the event of the independent chairman
of the Coal Board conceding a reduction of wages below the
level of 7s. a day, the Scottish miners have the authority
of the Federation to go on strike, and would receive
financial support. This means a payment from the central
funds of 5s. a week to each man to supplement the strike
pay of 10s. a week from their own organisation. With
100,000 men this means £25,000 a week, and would
necessitate a weekly levy of Is. per member on the districts
at work. Then a ballot would have to be taken of the
other districts as to whether they would be prepared to

come out on strike. By the Federation rules a two-thirds
majority of the men voting is required to declare a
national strike. It is doubtful whether such a majority
could be obtained. The impossibility of bringing men out
on strike for a sympathetic strike on a question in which
they are not personally concerned was emphasised in the
discussion on Tuesday, and the executive try to meet this
difficulty by agreeing that the national programme of the
Scarborough conference for a minimum wage of 7s. per day,
and a new wage basis of 50 per cent, on the present standard
may be raised by the English and South Wales district.
The purpose of this is obvious. It is to secure the support
of the other districts in any general action which may be
taken. The immediate future depends upon the decision
of the Coal Board for the present application for a reduc-
tion of wages. The board meets in Glasgow on Thursday
of next week, and if the application goes to the neutral
chairman it may be two or three weeks before a decision
is actually given.

The following was the resolution submitted by the
executive committee on Wednesday, and carried :—“ That
in pursuance of the Scarborough resolution, pledging sup-
port to any district which may require to resist a reduction
of wages below 7s. per day, this conference agrees that if
the Scottish miners’ wage is reduced below that figure they
shall be entitled to immediately cease work, and be sup-
ported in accordance with Rule 20 (financial support), and
that a ballot of all the members of the federation be taken
without delay on the question as to whether they are in
favour of taking joint action in accordance with Rule 21
(general stoppage), and if a general stoppage is ultimately
necessary a conference of the federation shall be called for
the purpose of formulating claims of a general nature,
which have been dealt with by previous conferences, and
which would apply to all districts in the federation.”

Mr. Whitefield afterwards reported that a very large
number of miners in the Bristol district had been thrown
idle through the stoppage of four collieries. The conference
remitted it to the executive committee to arrange for giving
financial support.

The executive committee, of the Miners’ Federation of
Great Britain, at their meeting at Southport yesterday,
Mr. Robert Smillie presiding, had under consideration the
magisterial decision in the Senghenydd prosecution, and
passed a resolution expressing indignation at the failure
to hold the colliery company responsible, and the trivial fines
imposed upon the manager of the colliery in cases in which
it was clearly proved that serious breaches of the Mines
Act had taken place, and decided that the executive should
approach the Home Secretary with a view of securing legis-
lation having for its object that prosecutions of this nature
should be taken before a county court judge, in order to
remove any suspicion of bias that may exist against
magistrates in a case of this kind.

THE TIN-PLATE TRADE.

Liverpool.

There has been quite a lot of enquiry the last few days,
but so far not a great deal of actual business has resulted.
The tone of the market at the moment is a hesitating one ;
makers are fairly easy to deal with, but they are not eager
to sell forward to any extent unless at an advance on
current rates, which may be called :—Coke tins : IC 14 x 20
(112 sh. 108 lb.), 12s. l|d. per box ; IC 28 x 20 (56 sh. 108 lb.),
12s. 6d. to 12s. 7|d. per box; I C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 lb.),
24s. 3d. to 24s. 6d. per box ; IC 14 x 18| (124 sh. 1101b.),
12s. 4|d. per box ; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 110 lb.), 12s. 4£d.
per box ; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 17s. 6d. to 17s. 9d.
per box; IC squares and odd sizes, 12s. 4.!d. basis for
approved specifications. Charcoal tins are in quiet demand,
and are quoted 14s. basis and upwards, according to tinning.
Blackplate in P. and C.A. rectangles is quiet at <£8 12s. 6d.
to <£8 15s. per ton. Coke wasters meet with a moderate
enquiry, and are quoted :—C W 14 x 20, Ils. 4|d. to
Ils. 6d. per box; C W 28 x 20, 23s. to 23s. 3d. per box;
C W 14 x 18| (scarce), 11s. 7|d. per box; C W 20 x 10,
14s. 6d. per box. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent.

THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE.

Tar Products.—There has been considerable movement
in the market during the week, and mostly in favour of
sellers. In the first place benzols have begun to pick up
again, while crystal carbolic has at last improved a little.
Pitch also has jumped up in price substantially. Naphthas
alone show any signs of weakness, and that seems to be
somewhat local. Nearest values are :—

Benzols, 90’s ................................. /10|

Do. 50’s .................................... /10

Do.	90’s North ............................. /8|	to /9

Do.	50’s North ............................. /9|	to /10

Toluol ........................................ /10^

Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.) ............ 1/1	to 1/2

Do. crystals (40 per cent.) ................... /3J

Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package)... /9|

Crude ditto (in bulk) ......................... /4£

Creosote (for ordinary qualities) ................. /3T5K

Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) ......................33/6	to 34/

Do. (f.a.s. west coast) ........................32/6	to 33/6

Tar (ex-works, London) .........................24/6	to 28/6

[Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids,
usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails
at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch
f.o.b. net.]

Sulphate of Ammonia.—The hardening of the price of
sulphate continues steadily. There is a satisfactory
enquiry, and the puzzle seems to be to account for the way
prices appeared to fall, until it became imperative for
buyers to purchase, and then immediately began to rise in
reality. Closing prompt prices are :—

London (ordinary makes) ............... £10/18/9

Beckton (certain terms)............. £10/15/

Liverpool .......................... £11 to £11/1/3

Hull................................ £10/17/6 to £11

Middlesbrough....................... <£11

Scotch ports ....................... £11/2/6 to £11/3/9

Nitrate of soda (ordinary) per cwt. ...	9/10|

[Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2| per cent, dis-
count; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance
for refraction, nothing for excess.]

Joseph Cliff, J.P., D.L., of The Grove, Scawby, Lincolnshire,
a director of the Frodingham Iron and Steel Company, has
left £233,206, of which £156,838 is net personalty.