January 5, 1911	THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.	10

the fact that 'the average output per man is larger, but
even better results could have been obtained. Various
methods have been/tried to. effectively deal with the ques-
tion of absenteeism. Repeated prosecutions ceased
with the institution of the jointly constituted absentee
boards, which had power to impose fines, but in many
instances these have failed to be effective. There was
no power to enforce the fine, as in the case of procedure
before the magisterial courts. Even then.the experi-
ence of individual collieries was unfavourable, as the
offender merely migrated to other areas. The effect
generally, however, was not marked in regard to the
production. The reduction in the number employed .in
the mines will not now be so extensive as a year ago.
The high .wages have attracted men from other grades
of employment; a large number of miners have returned
from war service to the mine, and the call for men from
the industry practically ceased. The normal plant in
regard to the supply of corves, etc.j has been available
for the reduced number of workers.. Everything has
been adapted tp facilitate output, so that it is unlikely
that the production will be materially lower than that
of 1915. The year was also eventful in regard to the
fixed selling prices almost in every direction, and com-
paratively little fuel has been subject to sale on the open
market. , These prices have been fixed on the wages
rates, but subsequently there have been heavily
increased charges in respect to other articles required
for the working of the mine, whilst, on the other hand,
the collieries have been unable to reap the expected
advantage of higher prices which neutral countries were
prepared to pay for fuel, consequent upon the scarcity
of shipping tonnage, which.also involved the loss of the
supply of bunkers, the values of which are unrestricted.
Another factor has been the serious, delays in dealing
with railway traffic, the effect of which has been
more conspicuously apparent during the latter part of
the year, when the working of pits had to cease because
of the inability of the railway system to promptly deal
with the heavier toniiage. .

Steam Coal.

Probably the effect of the war has been felt in a large
degree by the collieries working the Barnsley thick seam
and producing a big bulk of large steam fuel. The
outlet for foreign business was effectually narrowed by
the closing of good markets, and with home prices con-
trolled by legislation, it was expected higher values
would be productive from, the business with France,
Italy, and the neutral countries. The limitation of the
export by licences, however, preserved the requirements
for the home markets, but the fixing of a maximum
price for fuel to France came into operation, and the
arranged prices were accepted with satisfaction. The
dwindling supply of shipping tonnage, however, has had
the effect of preventing a big volume of trade, not only
to France and Italy, but the neutral markets available,
with the result-that a heavier proportion of the produc-
tion has had to be sold for consumption at home' at con-
trolled values, which have been vastly lower than could
have been, obtained. The collieries have been called
upon to supply a big tonnage of fuel for Admiralty pur-
poses at a fixed price, and expectations in regard to
values from foreign trade have been far from realised.

The only index to the export trade of the district is by
the official return relative to the traffic at Hull. The
information, however, is not complete, having regard to
the fact that the tonnage shipped for Admiralty pur-
poses and for the use of the Allies is excluded. The
effect of the stringency which has prevailed in the grant
of licences for shipment has been evident through the.
year, and the prejudicial effect on the exports has been
oif a progressive character. The total sent to the port
during the year to the end of November was 3,070,368
tons, compared with 4,393,790 tons. Exports during the
same period .were but 1,001,840 tons, against 2,364,317
tons during the corresponding period of 1915. Roughly,
50 per cent, of the total was sent to France, 160,407 tons
to Sweden, 125,657 tons to Italy, and 78,061 tons to
Holland. The Denaby and Cad eb y firm are again out-
standing in their position as suppliers to the port. The
11 months’ figures just exceed half a million tons, but
are about 100,000 tons short of the total sent during
1915. The other firms which supplied over 100,000 tons
were : Brodsworth, Bentley, Bullcroft, Grimethorpe
and Frickley, Manvers Main. The district collieries
have throughout the year sent a considerable tonnage
from the Mersey ports. The effect on the district trade
in regard to foreign business is shown by the fact that
whereas the shipments from the Humber ports had
declined by over 50 per cent., the experience of the
United Kingdom has only been about 10 per cent. The
only fluctuation in values has been in respect to bunkers
and for export. In January hards for export were making
from 20s. to 21s. per ton pit, and the scarcity of fuel
forced up values at the port until, in March, from 24s.
to 25is. per ton was obtainable, and in May best brands
were selling at 30s. per ton pit. A month later such
was the position that holders were demanding something
between 36s. and 38s. per ton pit for prompt lots.
Reaction set in in July, when surplus lots had to be
realised, and values came down to something like 28s.
to 30s. per ton pit. The weakness in regard to values
was later always apparent, though the fall was gradual;
and towards the end of the year hards could be obtained
at from 20s. to 22s. per ton pit for export. In June the
maximum prices for France were fixed at 30s. per ton
f.o.b. for South Yorkshire screened steams. Home
needs have been of large dimensions, but during the last
three or four months they have been fairly easily met.
Economy on the part of the railway companies enabled
them to take stocks of substantial bulk, and a consider-
able proportion of the larger fuel to be devoted for other
purposes. The renewal of the railway companies’ con-
tracts have occasioned no difficulty, with prices fixed,
and again values have ruled at about 16s. per ton for
the best hards, with Parkgate fuel about Is. per ton

less. Other arrangements for 1917 have not been exten-
sive, though during November a substantial tonnage,
was 'arranged for at 25s. per ton pit for the best South
Yorkshire hards.

Manufacturing* l*uel.

The most outstanding feature in regard to this sec-
tion of the trade has been in respect of the supply of
nuts, which have been growing in consumption. The
output has been reduced, but the shortage which has
prevailed practically throughout the year is more due to
the •extraordinary tonnage which collieries have been
called upon to supply. In spite of the fact that the
export of manufacturing fuel was stopped, it has always
been a difficult matter to give the deliveries needed,
though this class of business has always been of a pre-
ferential character. The surplus of large steiam coal
which has occasionally prevailed owing to the quieter
export, and other grade fuel, have been taken in substi-
tution for nuts. Prices have remained at the maximum,
ranging from 16s. to 16s. 6d., per ton, and there has
rarely been any deviation. Deliveries of the smaller
classes of fuel have ’been of a satisfactory character,
largely due to the control exercised by the district com-
mittees. The reduced needs of the electricity plants
released a considerable tonnage of nut dlacks, and values
have shown little fluctuation, remaining from 12s. to
13s. per ton. The experience in regard to ordinary
slacks has been rather different; at all events, during
the latter half of the year. This was due to the quieter
■state of affairs w’hich developed in the Lancashire cotton
districts, though the South Yorkshire collieries were
hardly so much affected as firms in some of the adjoin-
ing counties. About August the reaction developed,
and stocks were held fat the pits—this being an isolated
experience — and lower values had to be accepted to
obtain clearances, about Is. per ton concession being
obtained by buyers. With the arrival of the colder
weather the demand improved, and the position showed
consider able improvement. Another marked feature has
been the enormous demand for slack suitable for coke
manufacture. The by-product plants have never been
kept so, actively in operation, and the fuel consumed has
been enormous. The product of collieries has been
almost controlled, and supplies under orders have had
to be given where needed. It has been no easy matter
to find the necessary supplies to keep the ovens fully
going.

Gas Coal.

There has been a good tonnage sent during the year
to France, though the scarcity of shipping has affected
the volume of trade. Little difficulty was experienced
in obtaining the fixed maximum prices, viz., 26s. per
ton for screened sorts, and 25s. per ton unscreened,
f.o.b. in each instance. This outlet at such prices
caused a good deal of apprehension to local consumers,
who were virtually in the hands of collieries who had
been able to stipulate that only 75 per cent, of the
normal tonnage could be given, consequent upon the
reduced output. A further provision in the renewal of
contracts at prices ranging from 17s. to 18s. 6d. per
ton, according to quality, was that consumers should '
accept deliveries in equal lots throughout the year,
instead of the normal tonnage of 40 per cent, during the
summer land 60 per cent, in the winter months. This
was an unexpected contingency, which caused a con-
siderable expense to consumers of putting down ground
stocks, though a greater anxiety was that of concerns
who had no space for placing the coal. Those in the
latter category had no option but to request that the
deliveries should be curtailed, with the inevitable likeli-
hood of only receiving the arrears with the greatest
difficulty. Though the collieries producing gas coal
worked full time during the summer months, compared
with four days in normal times, they had no difficulty
in disposing of the output, particularly to France and
to concerns who could take in stocks so that they held
good •reserves. Though the reduced deliveries and the
lack of reserves occasionally created a good enquiry for
surplus lots, the fears of consumers of inadequate deli-
veries have not materialised in consequence of the
restricted lighting facilities, which materially reduced
the consumption of gas.

House Coal.

In this section there has been great difficulty at
various periods in regard to supplies. This is by no
means an unusual experience, but the reduced output
and railway delays have been more acutely felt. The
shortage of labour and lack of carting facilities has con-
tributed to the trials of merchants, though the public,
particularly in the south, have in :a larger degree than
formerly accepted the warning to lay in stocks. Con-
sumers in the nearer districts did not trouble to pursue
this policy, with the result that during the early and
later months of the year great inconvenience was occa-
sioned, and conditions akin to panic, which created
difficulty all round. Customers also have had to be
not too circumspect with regard to the condition of the
fuel supplied, and in this connection it is notable that
there have been more numerous complaints on the part
of pit-workers in respect of the home coal supplies.
Values have varied very little during the year, with the
maximum maintained during the summer months, and
collieries have not experienced the trouble of stocks in
the sidings, as is usually the case in normal times during
the summer period. Any surplus lots have been readily
diverted to supply the shortage which has existed in
other grade coal. The scarcity became very marked
during April, and such was the rush of orders that
collieries had to refuse private wagons ’at the pits for a
certain period until the congestion had been removed.
This policy has had to be enforced on subsequent occa-
sions, with the result that merchants, particularly in
the south, rushed into the market offering unheard-of
prices to obtain additional supplies. The experience at
the end of the yeah was something similar, but the

greater cause of the difficulty was no doubt due to the
congestion on the railways, which were carrying a larger
tonnage than normally owing to the scarcity of shipping
for the coastwise trade.

Coke.

This branch of the industry has probably given
greater cause for anxiety than any other. The speed-
ing-up process has been in active operation, and though
the importance of the residuals available for the manu-
facture of coke was originally of paramount importance,
the extraordinary call upon the producers of pig iron has
called for enormously increased supplies of coke. Never
at any time has the output exceeded the requirements,
and the difficulty in obtaining the necessary ever-
increasing tonnage of slacks ’has been exceedingly great.
Raw fuel has had to be obtained from almost anywhere
to keep the plants fully at work, and values, of course,
have always been controlled. The year opened with the
maximum selling price standing at 24s. per ton, land
this prevailed until May, when, as previously arranged,
following upon the 5 per cent, advance in miners’ wages,
the selling price- was raised to the present maximum of
25s. 8d. per ton. The arrangement has also been
adhered to in respect to foreign trade, which has been
curtailed to such dimensions and at such periods as
became necessary to ensure the home needs being sup-
plied. As usual, the bulk of the product has been sent,
to. the North Lincolnshire and West Yorkshire districts.
The development of plant during the year has hardly
been possible, but schemes are in hand to extend this
branch of the industry wherever circumstances permit
this being carried into effect.

Development.

The period of arrest in regard to the development of
the district has. continued during the year owing to
the shortage of plant and material. Still, some pro-
gress has been made, and large schemes are awaiting
fructification when normal times come. The large
colliery at Barmborough, sunk by the Manvers Main
Company, has been steadily developed, and the increased
output from the Barnsley bed hias been considerable.
The shaft has been sunk down to the Parkgate seam,
which produces a fuel second only to the famed Barnsley
hards. In August the Barnsley bed was reached at Hat-
field Main Colliery, at a depth of 850 yds. in one shaft,
but little could be done in the way of development.
There is every prospect of greater activity nearer to
Barnsley to reach the Parkgate seam, and no. doubt the
present prosperous times will financially aid the con-
tinued importance of the Barnsley area in regard to its
well-known position as the centre of the South York-
shire coal field.

DERBYSHIRE.

Taken as a whole, the year 1916 may be considered
an uneventful one so far as values of coal ar# concerned,
owing to the operation of the Price of Coal (Limitation)
Act. The output, too, may be said to have been practi-
cally controlled, in so far as'the disposal of the produc-
tion of the pits is regarded. After satisfying the daily
requirements of munition works, the quantity of coal
available for the general needs of the market was on a
small scale. Under the abnormal trade conditions, the
difficulties and anxiety experienced in conducting the
business of a colliery have been very great. On the one
hand’, there is a serious falling-off in the output of coal,
owing to the large number of miners who voluntarily
joined the Colours; whilst on the other hand, the
demand for all classes of fuel has been steadily increas-
ing. It is evident that the action of the Government in
restricting the export of coal has enabled collieries to
dispose of a larger tonnage of coal for home industries
than would otherwise have been the case; indeed, it is
not improbable that at various periods of the past year
there was more coal available for inland requirements
than in normal times. No difficulty has been experi-
enced with regard to house coal. Orders have been
plentiful, many of these obviously having been issued
with the view to enabling merchants to create reserve
stocks, in anticipation of a heavy winter demand. With
regard to prices, these were maintained at the winter
level all through the year. The year closed with stocks
of coal at the pits completely exhausted, and customers
are now dependent upon such deliveries as are obtain-
able from day to day. There has been serious diffi-
culty in conducting business in the export branch of the
coal trade, owing to the restrictive regulations imposed
by the War Trade Committee. Licences have been
issued very sparingly, and when these have been secured
they wTere rendered useless in many cases owing to the
inability of exporters to obtain steamers. In order to
secure for the French nation a. reasonable supply of
coal, our Government arranged a scale of maximum
prices, as follow:—Screened coal, 30s'.; house coal,
27s. 6d.; unscreened gas coal, 25s.; nuts, 24s.; slack,
20s.—all f.o.b. Hull. A similar scale has been made
applicable to Italy. Our home railways have been fairly
well supplied with locomotive coal during the year at
practically the same prices as those in operation at
present. Expiring contracts are being renewed on
similar terms. The demand for slack suitable for by-pro-
duct plants has been exceptionally strong, and the
resources of the collieries have been taxed to the utter-
most to keep pace with the requirements of the exten-
sive plants that have recently been erected. The supply
of slack for boiler firing, of which large quantities find
an outlet for Lancashire, has on frequent occasions dur-
ing the past 12 months been in excess of the demand.
This is the only class of fuel that has occasionally caused
a little trouble, and then it was.only the secondary kind
of slack that was affected. The best qualities have been
in strong demand throughout, whilst the available
tonnage has been persistently below the needs of 'the
market. The coke market has maintained a strong
position during the period under review. The consump-