1078 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 20, 1914. The Home Office report deals in detail with seven selected industries, representing roughly about 70 per cent, of the total experience that comes under the Act, and it is shown that in 1913, in these seven industries, the gross total of compensation paid amounted to £3,361,650, in respect of 3,748 cases of death and 476,920 cases of disablement—a charge per person employed of 8s. lid. In the case of mines the rate is much heavier, viz., 24s. 3d., but it is neces- sary to avoid the pitfall of regarding this sum as representing the comparative degree of danger surrounding the occupation, for several other factors intervene, besides the actual death or accident rates; powerful trade unions, strict regulations as to reporting, as well as questions of temperament and environment, all bear upon the facilities for obtaining compensation for injuries. In 1913, no less a sum than £1,351,258 was paid by employers and insurance companies in respect of death or injury in mines, and, adding the cost of manage- ment, commission, legal and medical expenses, the total charge upon the industry would be two millions sterling ; so that the charge of l*09d. per ton of coal raised would be increased to about l|d. per ton, if all outgoings are assessed. This is a small sum, and we do not say that it is not money well expended, but when accumulated in the balance sheet it becomes more formidable, and there is also the degradation of occupational efficiency, which is a concomitant of compensation if it is not actually promoted by it. There is one healthy feature of the returns; the great burden of cost comes from the disablement cases; although there was a very considerable increase last year in the number of such cases, the average cost as measured by the amount of com- pensation paid was rather less—£5 3s., as compared with £5 6s. in 1912. Were it not that the same tendency is shown in all the selected industries, it might be inferred that some miners took care to become entitled to compensation before the strike in 1912, or had less temptation to relinquish it owing to the lack of employment. It might appear that the long-period disablement cases are at length beginning to fall out in greater numbers. This conclusion, however, is not borne out by the returns. The following shows for mines and the seven industries the number of cases which had not terminated at the end of 1912 and 1913 respectively. Seven industries Mines. (including Having lasted mines). End of End of End of End of Over one year and 1912. 1913. 1912. 1913. less than two... 2,085 ... 1,970 ... 3,903 ... 3,939 Two years and less than five....... 3,428 ... 3,623 ... 5,498 ... 5,612 Five years and over 454 ... 1,091 ... 825 ... 1,717 The mining industry, it may be noted, accounts for a large proportion of the long-standing cases. The reduction in cost per case may have been purely accidental, but the real cause seems to have been the sensible decrease in the duration of cases of disablement, for the figures show that the percentage of casefe terminated in 1913, otherwise than by the payment of lump sums, was less, for nearly all industries, in the classes exceeding four weeks in duration than in 1912. The least satisfactory feature of the returns, so far as they concern coalmining, is to be found in the figures relating to industrial diseases. It is a curious fact that whilst the six diseases scheduled as peculiar to • miners caused not a single death in 1913, they accounted for 7,478 cases of disablement, in respect of which £113,203 was paid as compensation; the number of cases of disablement in all the selected industries was only 8,233, the cost being £130,251. The remarkable increase in the amount of compensation paid under this section is almost entirely due to the ever- growing prevalence of nystagmus. In 1913 compensa- tion was paid in 4,551 cases, of which no less than 2,402 were fresh cases. The number of u new ” cases in each year has been as follows:—1908, 386; 1909, 631; 1910, 956; 1911, 1,375; 1912, 1,376; 1913, 2,402. Thus it will be seen that the prevalence of the disease is increasing at the rate of over 50 per cent, per annum. The cause for this increase is difficult to discern, unless it be that the symptoms are becoming better known both to miners and medical practitioners. That the strike in 1912 should have led to a temporary amelioration is quite in consonance with the best'medical opinion, which prescribes removal from the pit as the only cure, but it would seem that the attempts to improve illumina- tion have not as yet worked any change, and the cost of this disease, which, on the basis of compensa- tion only, must amount to £100,000 per annum, promises to be greatly augmented in the future. A salient feature is the large proportion of “ con- tinued” cases as compared with those resulting from accidents. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 19. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The bulk of trade done during the past week in this locality has not been of great volume. Most of the collieries are able to work fairly good time, but their output is very much restricted owing to the number of men away with the Colours. Work has been resumed at the Hafod Colliery, Ruabon, which was standing last week, as a result of a dispute in regard to the Minimum Wage Act. A con- ference was held between the masters’ and men’s repre- sentatives, with the result that the difficulties were overcome, and work was resumed on Saturday last. In the house coal trade, things are livening a little, and the cold snap which has now set in should create an increased demand for this coal. There is little or no change in regard to the gas coal trade, though some works are taking a little above their contract quantity, with a view to laying in a little stock in case of later emergencies. In the steam coal department, a goodly tonnage, as usual, has been taken by the various railway companies, but the demand for the industrial trades has not improved since last writing. Nor is there much doing in the shipping trade. Considerable difficulty is now being experienced at Liverpool in dealing with the unloading of vessels reaching that port, as at the present time, through recruiting chiefly, there is a serious shortage of workers. Cargoes have been arriving during the war which they have been unable to deal with promptly, and owing to the deficiency of labour the docks in some instances have become congested, and a number of vessels have had to wait some time before they could be unloaded. Any man who is physically capable of doing the required work, can obtain work at the present time on application at the clearing house. The demand for slack appears to be unaltered, some collieries appear to be able to dispose of the whole of their output, while others find it to hang fire somewhat. Prices all round appear to be unaltered ; there are indications that an attempt to raise the price of house coal will be made, but so far the expected rise has not taken place. There is little likelihood of any advantage to sellers taking place in regard to steam coal—in fact, the advantage, if any, is with the buyers at the present time. The week’s current prices may be taken to be as fpllows :— Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r.: — prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 14/6-15/6 14/6-15/6 15/6-16/6 Secondary do 13/6-14/3 13/6-14/6 14/6-15/6 Steam coal 12/ -12/6 11/9-12/3 12/9-13/6 Gas coal 12/ -12/9 — 13/ -14/ Bunkers 11/3-11/9 11/6-11/9 12/3-12/9 Nuts 11/3-11/9 11/ -11/6 11/6-12/ Slack 5/ - 6/6 5/ - 6/6 6/6- 8/ Gas coke (at works) 11/8-13/4 — 13/4-15/ Prices landsale:— Best house coal 18/4-20/ 18/4-20/ 17/6-18/9 Seconds 17/6-18/4 17/6-18/4 16/8-17/6 Slack 10/ —12/6 10/ -12/6 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The past week’s trading has done little to relieve the position of colliery owners, whose difficulties to-day are, if anything, increased since last writing. Enquiry is fair, but held back by the great difficulty of chartering, which is now the dominant feature of the market. Supplies of tonnage as yet show no improvement, while the latest intimation by the Admiralty asking owners of large-sized colliers to com- municate with them has increased the trouble. Chartering has been rather more active, while the rates now fixing, 15s. 3d. to 15s. 4|d. for Naples and Genoa, ought to attract tonnage. For anything like prompt shipment buyers are able to arrange favourable terms, but there are no concessions to be had for any forward business. Smalls are relatively holding Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y 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. 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -15/6 6/9- 7/ 6/ - 6/9 5/6- 6/ 7/ 11/3-11/6 13/ -13/6 Last year’s prices. 17/6-18/ 16/3-16/9 15/9-16/3 15/3-15/9 8/3- 8/9 7/9- 8/ 7/ - 7/6. 8/6- 8/9 12/3-12/9 13/6-14/ L’stweek’s prices. 16/9-17/ 16/ -16/6 15/6-16/ 15/ -15/6 V' 11/3-11/6 13/ -13/6 18/ -19/ ! 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 17/ -18/ 17/6-18/ 19/ -20/ 18/ -19/ 19/ -20/ 21/ -23/ 23/ -25/ 18/ -19/ I 16/6-17/6 i 17/6-18/ s 18/ -19/ ; 21/ —23/ their values better than large, supplies being now restricted. House coals now show signs of moving, the demand increasing daily, but as yet values have not been advanced. Patent fuel is a very quiet trade. Coke also is quiet with a restricted enquiry. Pitwood supplies have not been excessive, but the trade is hampered by the very great difficulty experienced by collieries in finding wagons to receive the wood — every available truck being despatched to the pits to keep the output going as long as possible; but even then stoppages are numerous and frequent. Best French fir is now quoted 21s. to 21s. 6d. ex-ship. IRON. Since last week the local iron and steel trades show little alteration. Outputs of works continue about the same quantity as of recent weeks, with sufficient orders in hand to carry on until the close of the year. For beyond that time enquiry continues very restricted, the buying put through being all for short dates only. Whether indeed buyers are wise to refrain from enterprise just now is doubtful, seeing that values can hardly be expected to run more in their favour, while there are great oppor- tunities for a rise. Conditions at bar mills are unaltered, with quotations nominally on the basis of £4 15s. for either Bessemer or Siemens. At the rail mills output is fair, with values as last reported. Matters are still quiet in the pig iron trade. There is little fresh business at blastfurnaces, 70s. being to-day’s quotation for Welsh haematite delivered to works in the district. The official Government notification prohibiting the export of tin- plates and galvanised sheets to Holland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden has had a depressing effect upon the tin-plate trade. Values now are based upon 12s. 9d. for 20 x 14 Bessemer or Siemens primes, with other sizes and grades pro rata. Cardiff. COAL. The market has been irregular and somewhat difficult during the past week, chiefly owing to the great shortage of tonnage and a resulting lack of empty wagons. It is currently reported that no fewer than 1,300 boats have been fixed by the Admiralty on time charter, but, of course, it is impossible to verify these figures. There is no doubt, however, that a very large amount of tonnage has been engaged by the Government, and this has taken a number of vessels off the general market, which has been seriously depleted in consequence. There is also another factor which must be taken into consideration, and that is the withdrawal of all vessels of German and Austrian nationality, the laying up of a number of British ships both in the Baltic and the Black Sea, and the delay of many steamers in North French ports owing to the diffi- culties of discharging. A considerable number of owners have also sent their steamers in ballast to the United States and South America in order to take advantage of the very high homeward freights now prevailing. In fact, current rates for both outward and inward voyages are higher than they were during the boom of 1912, and record figures are being paid. A very few instances will suffice to indicate the enormous advance which has taken place within the last few weeks. Genoa was fixed many times in the early part of the year at 6s. During the past week 15s. has been paid. Port Said has jumped from 6s. 9d. to 17s. 6d., Venice from 7s. 6d. to 20s., Marseilles from 7'60 fr. to 15 fr., Gibraltar from 5s. 9d. to 10s. 6d., and Barcelona from 7s. 6d. to 12s., whilst South American freights have advanced from the neighbourhood of 12s. to 18s. and 20s. From the Tyne the rates are considerably higher owing to the North Sea being declared a military area, and South Wales is reaping some advantage, but to what extent is scarcely realisable at present. Shipments last week amounted to 384,000 tons from the four principal Channel ports, or 116,000 tons less than in the corresponding period of last year. As, however, the Admiralty shipments are not included in these figures, it may be assumed that the total is not much less than the exports of the same week of 1913. From Cardiff alone there were despatched 246,000 tons, or a decline of 96,000 tons ; from Newport 47,500 tons, or a decrease of 29,000 tons; from Swansea 49,000 tons, or 8,000 tons less ; and from Port Talbot 41,000 tons, or an increase of 18,000 tons. The clearances have also shown an improvement, and the falling off to date is now only about three million tons below those of 1913. Chartering during the last few days has not been so active, and the lack of tonnage is causing grave concern to many collieries, especially those which do not supply Admiralty qualities of coal. The amount of tonnage taken up last week was 155,150 tons, or 53,530 tons decrease compared with the preceding six days. Outputs in many cases are greatly reduced owing to temporary stoppages, and in other instances owing to the very large number of men who have joined Lord Kitchener’s Army. In fact, so great has been the boom in recruiting that in some cases the authorities have refused to accept men from certain collieries on the Admiralty list unless they could produce a certificate from the management that their services were not required. At the time of writing the demand of the Government is not quite so great as it was a few weeks ago, and this is probably to be accounted for by the delay in the return of their tonnage. Permission is more readily granted for shipment under contract and outside sales, but these are rendered extremely difficult in consequence of the difficulty in obtaining prompt boats and the high rates of freight now ruling. Quotations for best large are still nominally 21s. to 22s., but practically no business is being transacted direct with the collieries. Second grades are 20s. to 20s. 6d., but in ordinary qualities there has been a marked tendency towards easiness, and these are obtainable at 17s. 6d. to 18s. Monmouthshires are also slightly lower, Black Veins not commanding more than 17s. to 17s. 3d., western-valleys 16s. 3d. to 16s. 6d., and easterns 15s. 9d. to 16s., in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. In consequence of the reduced outputs small coals are less plentiful, and although prices are still very low they are rather better than they were a week ago, and there is a hardening tendency. Best bunkers range from 8s. to 8s. 6d., ordinaries 7s. 6d. to 7s. 9d., and cargo sorts 5s. 6d. to 6s. 3d., or even 6s. 6d. In some cases material concessions are made in order to relieve wagons, but collieries which are more favourably situated are holding for anything between 6s. 3d. and 6s. 6d. Nothing definite has yet been heard respecting the recent enquiries on the market. The French State Railways contract for about 95,000 tons is not expected to be dealt with before the end of the month, although the tenders have been sent in. The Greek enquiry for 50,000 tons is also in abeyance, and nothing has yet transpired as