1244

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

June 30, 1916.

THE LOHDOH COAL TRADE.

Thursday, June 29.

The market has been well attended during the week, and
a very strong demand by the merchants has been made for
all qualities of coal. The depots report that a better supply
has lately been brought forward by the railway companies,
and the seaborne supply has also improved. The unexecuted
orders on the London merchants’ books are still very heavy,
and the increased tonnage does not adequately meet the
requirements. Collieries -also report a very heavy list of
orders on hand, so that if the fuel were available a good
volume of trade could be done. Reports still show the bulk
of the supplies in the railborne trade are going to munition
works and to railway companies. The demand for gas coal
and the small nuts for electric works continues good, but
the actual consumption is appreciably less. Thirty-five
vessels are reported on Monday’s market as arriving in the
river Thames and eight for Wednesday’s market, all contract
cargoes. No free seaborne coal is offering on the market, and
very little inland coal. The bulk of the railborne tonnage
coming forward is contract coal, and merchants are still
eagerly buying from factors and large buyers who may have
a few trucks for disposal. Very few collieries are prepared
to book outside orders at present. The Norwegian State rail-
ways are enquiring for 15,000 tons of steam coal for delivery
in July. When their recent enquiry was in the market for
2,500 tons they did not buy, and it is now felt that such a
big order if accepted will make the scarcity more keen. The
price will undoubtedly be a high one. The Tyne collieries
are working better, and the shipments are more regular. The
Government requirements are largely monopolising the steam
coal and bunker coal, and the French orders are strong.
Best Blyth and Tyne steams are quoted 55s., and in some
cases as much as 60s. is quoted for July. Seconds are 45s.
Best Durham bunker coals are 37s. f.o.b., and ordinaries 35s.
Gas coals remain at 36s., seconds 33s. 6d. Best foundry
coke is quoted at 46s. to 48s. f.o.b. The South Wales prices
are largely nominal. The tonnage arrivals have been more
satisfactory, and chartering has been more vigorous. Best
Admiralties are exclusively retained for Government pur-
poses, and no quotations are given, but ordinaries are selling
at 48s. to 49s. per ton f.o.b. Black Veins 49s. 6d; Western
Valley, 48s. 6d. ; Eastern, 46s. 6d. ; patent fuel firm at 52s.
to 53s. The Swansea prices show best malting anthracite
31s.; steam, 37s.; seconds, 34s.; bunkers, 32s. to 34s.;
Derby Brights are still quoted at 17s. 6d. to 18s. per ton at
pit, and nuts at 16s. 6d. to 17s., but the colliery representa-
tives are declining orders, owing to the shortage and contract
quantities being so much in arrear. Blackshales are 18s. to
19s. per ton at pit; Hards, 17s. to 18s. 6d. ; Nottingham
Hards are 17s. 6d.; Bright cobbles, 16s. fid. to 17s.; best
slacks are 12s. to 12s. 6d.; South Yorkshire Silkstones are
all about 20s. per ton, and Hards 17s. 6d. to 18s., but whilst
the export trade is so brisk at the Humber ports and at much
higher rates, there is very little coming forward to London.
In the freight market, chartering is very quiet, but there is
no diminution in the rates. More orders are given in the
coasting branch than there are boats to deal with the coal.
The top prices to Alexandria have reached 97s. 6d. from
Hull and 110s. from Newcastle. Considerable delay appears
to have taken place with boats at Rouen and Cherbourg.
From Newcastle-to London fixtures have been made at 12s.
The total amount of the Coal Exchange Belgian Fund now
amounts to <£1,036. A special trade circular has been issued
appealing for donations and subscriptions signed by the
chairman of the London Coal Merchants’ Society and by the
chairman of the Inland Colliery Owners’ Subscription Room.

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

Friday, June 23.—The seaborne house coal market was
steady to-day, but no Durham or Yorkshire cargoes offering.
Cargoes, 20.

Monday, June 26.—The seaborne house coal market con-
tinued steady to-day, with . no transactions reported.
Cargoes, 35.

Wednesday, June 28.—There was no seaborne house coal
cargoes on offer at to-day’s market, which, in consequence,
remained steady. Ships, 8.

4LABOOR AM WAGES.

South Wales and Monmouthshire.

Swansea Chamber of Commerce dealt last week with the
difficulty that has arisen in connection with the coal
trimmers. It was stated that the Chamber’s committee had
that morning met the trimmers and put before them certain
suggestions in order to obviate the state of chaos into which
things had drifted in regard to trimming charges. The men’s
representatives, however, did not appear to regard these
suggestions with favour, but they nevertheless decided to
place them before the whole body of trimmers. Mr. T.
Cook said that Swansea had suffered because of the action
of the men in putting different charges upon neutrals which,
he feared, were going to operate very much against tonnage
coming to the Channel; and now that neutrals had to accept
the same rate of freight as British-owned tonnage, the reason
for differentiation had gone. Swansea, with the present
charges, could not compete with other'ports where charges
were lower. Differentiation had now come into operation in
Cardiff and Newport, but not at Port Talbot.—Another
speaker said that the whole of the Channel ports suffered
from the differentiation, but Swansea more than Cardiff, and
the consequence might be that neutral tonnage would not
come to the town, but would go to other coal ports where
trimming charges were lower.

The joint sub-committe -appointed by the Conciliation
Board to deal with questions arising out of the new agree-
ment met in Cardiff on Monday. Mr. Hugh Bramwell was
in the chair, and Mr. J. Winstone in the vice-chair. It was
formally reported that the owners and the workmen’s repre-
sentatives had both -agreed to accept the recommendations of
Judge O’Connor in respect of the matters at issue which
were referred to him, namely, the ostlers’ bonus turn, the
Sunday night shift, and the wage-rate of enginemen,
stokers, and surface craftsmen. Agreement was, there-
fore, made to issue instructions that ostlers wholly or partly
employed during the afternoon or night shift -are to be paid
the bonus turn in accordance with clause 13 of the -agree-
ment, “such payment to be retrospective as and from
July 22, 1915.’’ Dating back to the same day is the instruc-
tion as to the Sunday night shift—that where men work the
Sunday night shift and one, twp, or three shifts during the
week, they are to be paid at the rate of turn and -a-fifth for
Sunday; and where they work four or more week-day shifts

as well as Sunday, they are to receive the bonus turn only.
Enginemen, etc., to be paid the terms fixed by the owners
for similar classes of labour as stated in the agreements of
September 11 and November 19 last year, payments to be
retrospective to the latter date.

Speaking on Saturday at a meeting in Brynmawr, Mr.
George Barker, one of the miners’ agents, said that trade
unionists should do all in their power to see that every
pressure was brought to bear, so that when the soldiers
came home they should be kept by the State until they had
resumed employment. Referring to the -advance in miners’
wages, he said that the South Wales coal owners claimed
that the grant of 15 per cent, increase would result in the
addition of a few shillings per ton in the price of coal.
His reply was that wages were governed by the selling price
of coal. Prices of coal were not governed by wages.

With regard to the wages of steel-workers under the
sliding scale it will be remembered that the desire of the men
was to have the maximum abolished, and -a further advance
granted. The employers refused to abolish the maximum,
and the men appealed to the Committee on Production. A
conference of the men’s representatives took place on Satur-
day at Abergavenny, when they considered the offer-of the
employers of 15 per cent, increase, this to be made retrospec-
tive to June 1. The Committee on Production had suggested
that in future questions affecting wages should be referred
to the Conciliation Board, and that, failing agreement, the
Industrial Commissioner should appoint an independent
chairman to settle the differences. Men -at the Dowlais
works, who form nearly a half of those under the sliding
scale, had instructed their representatives to accept this
proposal. Other works represented were those of Ebbw
Vale, Tredegar, Cardiff, etc. The conference decided unani-
mously to accept the offer of the employers and to -agree with
the Committee on Production’s suggestions as to future
action. About 6,000 workmen are -affected by this decision.
During a meeting at Ebbw Vale at was stated that the case
presented by the men to the Committee on Production was
that, inasmuch -as the price of -steel had risen considerably
beyond £6 10s., which they considered to be an equivalent
to the maximum in the sliding scale, they should have half
per cent, for every Is. above £6 10s. They had gone to a
ballot -on the question of tendering notices, and about 3,000
voted, the result being 6 to 1 in favour of tendering notices
unless an arrangement were come to. Mr. F. Mills, of Ebbw
Vale, was reported to have 'submitted the employers’ case,
which was that instead of £10 or more, as newspapers had
reported to be the current price of steel, the -average ascer-
tained was under £8 10s., because the employers were work-
ing out old contracts, some of them at low prices. Then,
again, there was -an extra £1 per ton in freight on iron ore,
and the whole of the costs of production had gone up enor-
mously, whilst any excess profits went to the Government.
At Ebbw Vale they had a furnace ready to blow, capable of
turning out 500 tons per week; but they could not get labour.
A war bonus had been given which represented something
like 20 per cent, advance to the lower-paid men. The great
trouble of the future would be the difficulty in ■accommodat-
ing labour, material, -and other interests to the conditions
that would rule after the war. If it was possible for the
sliding scale to be hung up in its entirety, and if once an
independent chairman appointed by the committee would
settle what the percentage would be, the employers were
prepared to leave themselves entirely in the committee’s
hands.

In the result, Sir George Askwith stated the committee’s
recommendations, which included -a suggestion for -an inde-
pendent chairman to ascertain conditions from time to time
during the war; and that the Conciliation Board should try
and agree upon a wage rate.

Subsequently the employers offered a 15 per cent, advance,
and -rejected a request of the men to make the offer 20 per
cent. ; and the men have, as previously stated, accepted the
15 per cent.

The Sliding Scale Committee has postponed declaration of
the result of the audit.

Mr. F. L. Davis, with Mr. F. Gibson (secretary), repre-
senting the Coal Owners’ Association, accompanied by Mr.
J. 'Winstone and Mr. T. Richards, M.P., on behalf of the
Miners’ Federation, had an interview on Tuesday in London
with the Lord Chief Justice, in reference to the appoint-
ment of an independent chairman of the Conciliation Board.
The position of -affairs was explained to his lordship, who
has the nomination of chairman within his province; and
he will in due course announce his decision in the matter.

Mr. F. Gilbertson presided on Tuesday in Swansea over
a meeting of the Tinplaters’ Conciliation Board called to
consider -an application from the men for 15 per cent, increase
in the war bonus. An offer of 10 per cent, had been made
by the employers, but was declined. After discussion it was
agreed that -an all-round bonus of 12J per cent, should be
given, to take effect as from Monday next. Ab-out 25,000
employees are affected by the 'decision, which -is subject to
approval by the Ministry of Munitions.

North of England.

The Northumberland miners are to receive -a record
advance in wages—no less than 22 per cent.—bringing their
earnings up from a point at which they already stood at
record height. This decision is resultant on the accountants’
ascertainment of the average selling price of coal at the pit-
head during the quarter ended May last, showing a figure
of 16s. 6-90d. per ton, as compared with 13s. 10-98d. for the
previous three months—an advance of practically 2s. 8d.
With -a supplementary sliding scale, agreed upon in
September last, whereby wages, when over 75 per cent,
above the basis of 1879, rise at the rate of one per cent, for
each l|d. increase in prices, the miners are entitled to about
22 per cent. more. The change in wages will take effect
with the weekly pays commencing July 3, and the fort-
nightly pays commencing July 3 and 10. W-ages will then
stand at 112 per cent, above the basis. It is interesting to
note that, immediately -prior -to the war, the average selling
price of coal was -ascertained to be 9s. 5-37d., and w-ages were
at 50 per cent, above the basis. On January 6, 1915, a
reduction of 3 per cent, occurred, followed by a rise of one per
cent, in April, a war bonus of 15 per cent, in May, an
advance of 2 per cent, in July, another of 18 per cent, in
October, a decline of 5 per cent, in December, and an
advance of 12 per cent, in February last. The new advance
has the effect of increasing hewers’ earnings by Is. 3d. per
shift, making -an average of 10s. lid. per shift.

Timekeeping at Northumbrian collieries has been none
too good . this week. Under normal circumstances, this
would have been the great northern holiday coincident with
the summer race meeting at G-osforth Bark, and although
that meeting has been abandoned this year, the spirit of
holiday has, evidently, overcome many local miners.

Owing to a cavilling dispute which originated last week-
end, Thornley Colliery was idle this week, and the quarterly
cavils remained undrawn. About 1,000 men and boys are
affected.

A meeting of the council of the Cumberland Miners’
Association was held at Workington. The various matters on
the agenda for -the National Conference of the Miners'
Federation at Buxton in July were considered, and the
association representatives were instructed how to vote. A
resolution with reference to the rate of pay for represen-
tatives on public bodies caused a long discussion, which
resulted in the reference back of the matter to the lodges for
a definite declaration as to what -amount should be paid to
the men losing remunerative time through attending
meetings of public bodies. Mr. Cape was instructed to
enquire as to the attendance made by workmen’s represen-
tatives at general meetings and meetings of committees. It
was decided to contribute £25 to the Keir Hardie Memorial
Fund.

A proxy vote of the members of the Northumberland
Miners’ Association has resulted in the confirmation of the
decisions of the annual council meeting of the association,
details of which were given in the Colliery Guardian
(p. 1007) of May 26. The only noteworthy difference
between the “ county ’’ and the council is that, whereas the
latter was unanimously in favour of West Wylam’s motion,
“ That we ask the coal owners for rent and fire co-al allow-
ance for surface labourers,’’ and equally in favour of the
executive committee’s recommendation, “ That we seek the
aid of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain in -an endea-
vour to get the 1906 Industrial Act diseases clause so
amended as to get compensation for anyone who is sueffring
from the inhalation of powder and poisonous fumes,’’ the
“ county ’’ has cast five votes (equal to 250 members)
against each of these proposals. Of course, these five votes
still leave an overwhelming majority (454 proxy votes, or
22,W0 actual) in favour of each motion.

Federated Area.

At a meeting of the council of the Derbyshire Miners’
Association, at Chesterfield, it was reported that consider-
able dissatisfaction existed among the workmen under the
Clay Cross Coal and Iron Company in regard to deputations
meeting the management to discuss local disputes. - It was
suggested that the appointment of Col. Jackson, the head of
the company, as military representative on a local tribunal
was largely responsible for the difficulty. The colonel’s
military duties take up a good deal of his time, and in his
absence, it was complained, no one was left in charge with
power to settle disputes. The council’s suggestion was that
this power should be invested in the managers in Col.
Jackson’s absence. Only one fatal accident was reported
during the past month, this probably constituting a record.

A serious position has arisen in the South Staffordshire
coal fields, the engine winders demanding an increase in
wages on the ground that all other districts have granted an
advance. The masters reply that a 5 per cent, increase was
given in January last, and that advances to colliers do not
apply to enginemen. The men decided to ballot.

The Notts- Miners Council on Saturday decided to impose
a levy of 6d. per member in order to increase the allowance
to old age pensioners. The meeting -advised a weekly payment
of Id., and decided to ask the colliery managers to collect the
levy. Mr. C. Bunfield (the secretary) presented a report on
the correspondence which had passed between the secretaries
of two colliery owners’ -associations, -and also made -a report
upon the deputation which waited upon the Gedling Colliery
management regarding non-unionism. The matter was left
to the -secretary. It was decided to refer the question of
absenteeism to arbitration, and -a committee was -apointed -to
prepare references for submission to the -arbiter. Annesley
Colliery owners are to be -asked to increase the maximum
weekly compensation payable to injured persons.

Various important matters relating to the coal mining
industry were discussed at the annual conference of the
General Federation of Colliery Firemen, Examiners’ and
Deputies’ Association -at Blackpool last Saturday. A com-
munication w-a-s read from -the Home Office agreeing to receive
a deputation respecting the right of the Federation to be
represented at the International Conferences called for giving
instruction on mining matters and demonstrations in regard
to coal dust.

At meetings of miners employed at Lord Ellesmere’s,
Clifton and Kersley Coal Company’s, and Messrs. A. Knowles
and Sons’ collieries in the Manchester and Bolton districts,
held last week-end, resolutions protesting against any further
increases in the selling price of coal were adopted. It was
stated that there was no justification for further advancing
present prices. It was announced that if coal owners did
increase rates, miners would seek advances in wages.

Scotland.

The strike at Rosehall Collieries still continues, both sides
being determined to continue the struggle. Increased
union strike aliment has been given. Sir George Askwith has
summoned 'representatives -of the workers to meet him in
London -and give him certain information with reference to
the status of the union of Rosehall Collieries prior to the
stoppage.

There is some indication, it is reported, that No. 5 pit,
Canonhill, which was -stopped three months ago, will -again
be opened, should some prospecting work which is being
carried out prove successful.

The annual conference of the Scottish Miners’ Federation
will take place this year in Edinburgh on August 10 and two
following days. Over 90,000 miners will be represented by
about -a hundred delegates.

Iron, Steel and Engineering Trades.

The Committee on Production—Sir George Askwith, Sir
D. Ha-rrel, and Sir George Gibb—award the engineers in the
Welsh district -a war wages advance of Is. per week as from
the beginning of the first full pay following April 22. Includ-
ing the new -advance, Welsh engineers have received an
increase -amounting to 5s. per week since the bginning of the
war.

Another denial is forthcoming of the rumours of a big
shipping and coal merge. At the conclusion of a special
meeting of the Cunard Line held at Liverpool on Monday,
when the shareholders unanimously agreed to increased
capital and the purchase of Commonwealth and Dominion
Line shares, the general manager of the Cunard Line
officially stated that, so far as he was aware, the com-
pany was not negotiating any large colliery deal, nor was
such a step contemplated.