224 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. . February 4, 1916. owing to the extravagant way in which requisitioned ships are being used, regardless of any attempt at economy. Instances are given of wholly unreason- able delays in discharging vessels ; but it is impossible to say, on the evidence available, whether these cases are exceptional or typical of prevailing practice. The serious statement has been made that the requisitioned tonnage is not doing one-fifth of its potential work. If this should be the case, surely a partial remedy can be found in a better organisation of Government work. An obvious difficulty in any scheme of limitation of freight rates is the position of neutral vessels, of which a larger proportion than usual is now engaged in trading to and from British ports. The Cardiff Chamber of Commerce proposes to deal summarily with these by the refusal of bunker coal in all ports of the British Empire to such neutral vessels as do not conform to the suggested limitation. The striking statement was made by Mr. P. H. Howard, a charterer, that during the last few weeks British tonnage only represented 2 per cent., French tonnage 16 per cent., and neutral tonnage 82 per cent, of the ships he had taken up on the market. Another estimate of the proportion of British ships conveying coal to Italy during the last three months places it at one in six only. It is understood that the President oe the Board oe Trade is not favourably disposed to any such forcible treatment of allied and neutral shipowners; but it is clear from the above figures that no limitation of freight rates by Act of Parliament could possibly be effective unless it were made to apply equally to all vessels trading at British ports. The whole scheme, therefore, must fail if Mr. Bunciman should decline to bring foreigners into line. It is sometimes overlooked by those who blame British ship owners too freely for the rapid rise in freights that foreign vessels have perhaps profited most by the increase. But, at the same time, in view of the scarcity of tonnage, it would be bad policy to drive foreign shipping from our waters. It is difficult to avoid the conviction that upon this question of foreign shipping the whole scheme is in danger of proving abortive. The Cardiff proposals cover a wider field than the mere matter of freights. It is proposed, also, to regulate the quantity of goods shipped to neutral ports, and to restrict British imports to food, raw manufacturing material, and munitions. This part of the scheme is in partial concordance with the prospective action of the Board of Trade with regard to wood pulp and certain other commodities. So far, therefore, these recommendations will doubtless meet with 'sympathy. The suggestion to limit the price of export coal stands upon less secure ground. In the first place, there is little or no need for this step on present prices. Again, the export coal trade has already been heavily hit by restrictions under the licence system, and by the difficulty in securing tonnage. The mere existence of high freights has been detri- mental to the coal shippers’ interests, and the collieries would gladly see the return of normal conditions. It was altogether unnecessary to bring in the colliery owner as an accessory to the ship owner, and the only ostensible reason for so doing seems to have been to make the position more palatable for those chiefly concerned ; for this proposal was only inserted as an amendment to the original resolution. On the whole, the chances seem to be against any immediate action being taken on these proposals. Chamber of Commerce resolutions are going to occupy a large portion of public attention in the next few weeks, and it is likely that Mr. Bunciman will wait to hear the whole matter discussed by the Associated Chamber before committing himself to any definite course of action upon any of the proposed lines. Miners and Military Service.—The Home Office gives notice that in consequence of the passing of the Military Service Act, the- procedure for making applications to the colliery recruit- ing courts in respect of attested men will be revised. New instructions will be issued very shortly to colliery owners, both in regard to this matter, and also in regard to the pro- cedure for making' applications for exemption from the Military Service Act. .Until these instructions have. been received, no application should be -made to the colliery recruiting courts. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, February 3. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The coal market in the west of Scotland continues steady, and business is active all round. All classes of coal are in good demand both for home and export, but shipments have been curtailed through the refusal of licences in some instances. Best ells, splints and navigations are heavily booked at firm price, the latter being quoted 24s. to 25s. per ton, while considerable notice of delivery is required in each case. Smalls of all sizes are busy, and quotations are on a firm basis. Shipments for the week amounted to 111,874 tons, compared with 104,921 in the preceding week and 140,029 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coal prices. 19/ -22/ prices. 18/6-21/ prices. 12/6-14/6 Ell 21/6-21/9 21/6-21/9 14/9-15/ Splint 25/ -32/ 21/ -21/6 25/ -32/ 14/6-18/ Treble nuts 21/ -21/6 14/9-15/ Double do 20/ -20/6 20/6-20/9 13/6-13/9 Single do 19/ -19/6 19/ -19/6 12/9-13/ IRON. The Scotch pig iron trade continues in much the same position as in the preceding week. Despite the fact that consumers appear to be well covered and are buying sparingly, producers are still advancing their quotations. The export demand has expanded somewhat recently, but business in this department of the trade is restricted through licencing difficulties and the shortage of carrying tonnage. The number of furnaces in blast in Scotland is 71, the same number as last week, and two fewer than in the corresponding week of last year. The prices of Scotch makers" iron are quoted as follow:—Monkland f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 102s. 6d., Nos. 3, 101s. 6d.; Govan, No. 1, 102s., No. 3, 101s.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 105s., No. 3, 101s. Clyde, Calder, and Langloan, Nos. 1, 110s., Nos. 3, 102s. 6d.; Gartsherrie, No. 1, Ills., No. 3, 103s. 6d.; Summerlee, No. 1, 110s., No. 3, 105s.; Glengarnock at Ardrossan, No. 1, 110s., No. 3, 102s. 6d.; Eglinton at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 103s. 6d., No. 3, 101s. 6d.; Dalmellington at Ayr, No. 1, 105s., No. 3, 103s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 110s., No. 3, 102s. 6d. per ton. The warrant market was only moderately active during the week, the total turnover not 'exceeding 16,000 tons. The tone, however, was firm throughout, and Cleveland iron closed at 82s. 7d. per ton cash buyers, showing a gain of 2s. Id. per ton on the week. Producers of finished iron ore increasingly active. Black sheet makers have more orders on hand than they can possibly fulfil, and deliveries are considerably in arrears, and this state of affairs is being aggravated by the irregular supplies of raw materials. Malleable iron makers are fully employed in both their iron and their steel departments, the . latter of which is chiefly engaged on Government work. The export demand is good, but makers are not in a position to accept many shipping orders. Prices of bar iron are based on £13 5s. to <£13 10s. per ton for Crown quality for home delivery. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Business in the Lothians is good, and collieries are fully booked for some time ahead, and have practically no free coal in the meantime. Shipments amounted to 28,661 tons, against 31,768 in the preceding week and 28,537 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities..... Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... Current prices. 21/6-22/6 20/6-21/ 22/6-23/ 20/6-21/ 18/ -18/6. L’st week’s prices. 21/6-22/6 20/9-21/ 22/ -23/ 20/6-21/ 19/ -19/6 Last year’s prices. 13/6-14/ 12/6-13'/ 13/3-14/ 12/3-12/9 11/9-12/ Conditions in Fifeshire are for the most part satisfactory. As in other districts most qualities of coal are heavily booked, and collieries have very little to sell. Clearances amounted to 44,878 tons, compared with 47,663 in the pre- ceding week, and 54,265 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current L’st week’s Lasty ear’s Best screened navigation prices. prices. prices. coal 26/ -27/ 26/ -27/ 24/ -25/ 16/ -16/6 Unscreened do 24/ -25/ ' 14/ -15/ First-class steam coal 22/6-23/ 23/ -23/6 12/9-13/ Third-class do 15/9-17/ 15/9-16/6 10/6-10/9 Treble nuts 21/ -22/6 22/ -23/ 13/9-14/3 Double do 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 12/6-13/ Single do. 18/ -19/ 18/9-19/6 10/6-11/6 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 185,413 tons, compared with 184,352 tons in the preceding week and 222,831 tons in the, corre- sponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 106,897 tons of coal and 7,285 tons of coke were shipped from Tyne Dock, an increase, when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of 1915, of 30,810 tons of coal and 4,953 tons of coke. The Dunston clearances amounted to 45,597 tons of coal and 3,689 tons of coke, an increase of 1,424 tons of coal and 177 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments totalled 59,519 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 2,202 tons. Thus, the total shipments from the three places mentioned amounted to 222,987 tons of coal and coke, an increase of 35,162 tons when compared with the clearances for the corresponding period of last year. When compared with the figures for the previous week, the shipments show an increase of 12,823 tons. These figures indicate that collieries are working at full pressure and are well supplied with tonnage. As a matter of fact, loading turns are hopelessly congested, and the amount of coal available for sale on the open market has been reduced to the smallest possible quantity. Prompt business is a dead letter, and, particularly so far as steam coals are concerned, many of the collieries are out of the market for weeks ahead. A very large proportion of the output is being taken up on contract account, and the Admiralty continues to requisition the great bulk of the remaining quantities, especially of the larger sorts. Shippers are not taking at all kindly to the manner in which cargoes are commandeered, and, whilst coal men generally take a philosophic view of the matter, ’ it must be exceedingly annoying to have business repeatedly nullified in this way. The demand for coals for February shipment is very heavy, and, for those few, stray quantities which scome to the market, shippers are willing to concede very much higher prices. The following changes in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment have occurred during the week:—Best steams, Blyths, 2s. 6d. to 5s. advanced; Tynes, ditto ; seconds, Blyths, 2s. dearer; Tynes,. Is. to 2s. more; unscreened, Is. to 3s. up; smalls, Blyths, Is. more; Tynes, 6d. to Is. increased; specials, Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. up ; smithies, Is. to 2s. advanced; gas bests, 2s. up; seconds, 2s. to 3s. more; specials, Is. to 2s. higher; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, 2s. to 3s. up ; Northumbrians, Is. to 3s. dearer ; coking coal, ,1s. more ; smalls, 2s. increased ; house- holds, 4s. 6d. to 5s. advanced ; and blastfurnace coke firmer. Thus, only foundry and gas coke are unaltered. There is not a great deal of animation in the forward market, the very unsettled conditions prevailing on the prompt market completely upsetting operators’ calculations. Collieries are quoting extremely high figures, and merchants are holding off until the outlook is clearer. The Admiralty is reported to have under negotiation the purchase of further con- siderable quantities of Durham bunkers for delivery over the year. Prices are understood to be under consideration on the basis of the figures provided by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. The only other item of interest in the forward market is the sale of 10,000 tons of best patent foundry coke for delivery in monthly quantities over twelve months at 40s. per ton f.o.b. Later.—A spot quantity of best Blyth steams is reported to have been sold at 32s. 6d. per ton f.o.b. This is the top price paid since the outbreak of war for this class of coal. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals :— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... , Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes. Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas c?als Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls House coals Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas Current prices. 30/ 30/ 25/ 25/ 23/ 15/ -16/ 13/ -14/ 17/6 23/ 25/ 23/ -24/ 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ 23/ 23/ 21/ -23/ 27/6-30/ 40/ -42/6 40/ 27/ -28/ L’stweek’s prices. 25/ -27/6 i 25/ -27/6 23/ ’ 23/ -24/ 20/ -22/ 1 14/ -15/ | 12/6-13/ 15/ -16/ 21/ -22/ 23/ 21/ 24/ 21/ -23/ 20/ -22/ 22/ 21/ 23/ -25/ 40/ -42/6 37/6-40/ 27/ -28/ Last year’s prices. 13/9-14/ 13/6 12/3-12/6 12/6-13/ 11/ -11/6 9/ 8/ - 8/6 10/ -10/6 11/ -11/6 12/6-13/ 11/6-11/9 13/ 10/9-12/ 11/ -11/6 10/9-11/3 10/6 14/ -15/ 18/ -19/ 17/ 11/6-13/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 62,575 tons of coal and 435 tons of coke, as compared with 80,835 tons of coal and 2,685 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1915, being a decrease of 18,260 tons of coal and 2,250 tons of coke. Owing to the Government requisitioning further coal, the market is further accentuated. There is a great scarcity of coal of all qualities for both prompt and early shipment, and prices are higher accordingly—in fact, very little prompt coal is obtainable. Turns are extremely full, and with the arrears of shipment there is practically no probability of securing any quantity of coal before the end of February. The outward freight market is firm, and late rates can all be repeated.