April 5, 1917. _____________________________ 678 ____________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. France, as we have on former occasions indicated in these columns. It is one of the advantages arising from the abolition of competition, both on the part of the collieries and the railways. At the same time, there are difficulties in the way of pushing to extremities any such limitations of the consumers’ predilections for particular kinds of coal. The coal seams of this country are of very diverse qualities, and quality is a more important factor in fuel economy than some persons may realise. Mr. Calthrop, of course, knows that it is necessary to avoid sacrificing efficiency on the one hand with the object of shortening transport on the other. This would result in a policy of robbing Peter to pay Paul. It would do more. It would involve the establishment of a vicious circle, which is anathema to the business man. The vicious circle would be set up in this way. To burn an unsuitable coal would increase wastage, and would thus tend to aggravate the very shortage it is intended to remedy. When we turn to the question of internal organisa- tion we are upon very uncertain ground. Mr. Roberts was careful to explain that the Coal Controller recognised clearly the distinction between State control as a temporary war expedient and State control as a permanent institution. His policy, therefore, must necessarily be dictated by a con- sideration for the conditions that will exist after the war. It might easily happen that such a revolution in internal organisation might be effected that a reversion to pre-war conditions would be impossible. We are aware that there are some who would rejoice at such a result. But any such gratification could only be the result of very hazy notions of the internal economy of the coal trade. It is, therefore, gratifying to be assured by Mr. Roberts that the Coal Controller will interfere as little as possible with the active management of the mines. To do so would, indeed, be a grave misfortune for the future of this important national industry. It might, for example, be deemed advisable, under the stress of war, to close certain difficult seams, or even some collieries where the yield is, for the moment, poor. But it would be doing a poor service to the coal industry to risk the permanent loss of costly pre- liminary work, except under circumstances of the direst necessity, to which we hope this country will never be reduced. There were some other points to which reference was made in the course of the ample reply which Mr. Roberts made on behalf of the Coal Controller. For various reasons, however, we defer comment upon these matters; and we content ourselves with an expression of general satisfaction with the extremely practical way in which a most difficult problem is being approached. It is yet much too soon to form any conclusion with regard to a policy of which only the barest outlines have yet been sketched ; but it is not too much to say that Mr. Calthrop has so far inspired complete confidence in his power to arrive at the best possible solution of a highly complex subject. __________________________________________________ LAW IMTELLIGEHCE. __________________________________________________ HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE. KING’S BENCH DI VISION.—March 29. Before Mr. Justice Bailhache. Sale of a Welsh Colliery. A. Wilmshurst v. F. Clements.—This was an action to recover <£100 commission on the sale of the Gellihaf Colliery, Monmouthshire. Defendant admitted there was a contract between the parties, but said that plaintiff was only to be paid for the sale of the property when the pur- chase was completed and the purchase-money paid over. Plaintiff’s case was that the sale of the Gellihaf property was put into his hands through the manager of one of his branches by the defendant, and it was arranged that com- mission should be paid to him of <£100. He obtained a Mr. Gates, who was willing to take an interest in the busi- ness, and an agreement was come to in that respect, which was open to the defendant to sue upon, but in the mean- time defendant gave the option to another party. Defen- dant denied that such an arrangement was come to. He believed that the negotiations with Mr. Gates were over, and that no business would result, and entered into the option with the other person. The jury found in defendant’s favour, and his lord ship entered judgment accordingly, refusing a stay of execu- tion. ___________________________ Several North-country tribunals are making exemption conditional on appellants enrolling under the voluntary scheme of enlistment for National Service. THE'COAL AHD IROH TRADES. Wednesday, April 4. ___________________ Scotland.-—-Western District. GOAL. The position of the Scotch coal trade as a whole cannot be called satisfactory. The scarcity of tonnage is still most pronounced, and though in some districts local require- ments absorb the bulk of the output, others are not so fortunate. In the west of Scotland district the home demand is exceedingly good, and collieries are compara- tively well placed at the moment. Shipments, too, have improved, the returns for the week amounting to 95,004 tons, against 70,33? in the preceding week and 98,753 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.............. Ell ...................................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ Double do. ............ Single do.............. ______________ I Current |L’st week’s'. Last year’s ! prices. { prices. prices. (' 18/ -24/ f 18/ -24/ i 20/ -25/ I 19/ -21/6 j 19/ -21/6 ' 26/ ; 18/ -31/ ! 18/ -31/ ; 27/ -34/ ! 23/6 i 23/6 ! 21/ -21/6 i 22/ ! 22/ j 20/6-21/ 20/ ’ 20/ | 19/3-19/9 IRON. All departments of the iron trade in Scotland continue to be characterised by extreme activity. The bulk of the output from the works, even where uncontrolled, is material for war purposes, and ordinary consumers have great difficulty in securing supplies, though prepared to pay fancy prices. As regards pig iron, the demand is unabated and all classes are eagerly sought after, more particularly haematite for consumption at local steel works. No. 1 foundry iron is practically off the market. Every- thing produced is quickly taken up, and occasionally material has to be artificially cooled to accelerate despatch. Stocks in public stores now’ amount to 3,627 tons, compared with 5,338 tons at the beginning of the year and 116,098 tons in January 1916. The prices of Scotch makers’ iron are quoted as follow:—Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 125s., Nos. 3,120s.; Govan, No. 1, 122s. 6d., No. 3, 120s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan^ Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3,125s.; Gartsherrie, No. 1, 131s. 6d., No. 3, 126s. 6d.; Glengarnock, at Ardrossan, No. 1, 130s., No. 3, 125s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 126s. 6d., Nos. 3, 121s. 6d.; Shotts and Carron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s. per ton. In the malleable iron trade plants are being run at full capacity. Many of the mills are now exclusively devoted to the production of steel, and the output of iron is curtailed. Makers are still managing to do a small general turnover in the latter, but this class of business is slowly but surely becoming a negligible quantity. The price is still very high, “Crown ” quality iron bars being quoted £15 and upwards per ton net for export. Mild steel bars remain in the region of £17 per ton for basis sizes. Galvanised material is only bought for war requirements, and black sheets are much in the same position. The price for the latter is unchanged at £18 per ton net f.o.b. Glasgow. _______ _______ Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Collieries in the Lothians district have fair orders on hand on Admiralty account, and local industries are taking moderate supplies, but otherwise the market is dull, and the tendency is decidedly weaker. Shipments amounted to 21,501 tons, compared with 22,780 in the preceding week and 21,163 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. ! Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best screened steam coal... prices. 23/ -23/6 prices. 23/6 prices. 29/ Secondary qualities 21/ 21/ 27/6 Treble nuts *. 23/ 23/ 23/ -24/ Double do 21/ 21/ 22/ Single do 19/6 19/6 20/ The position in Fifeshire is not encouraging. Collieries in this district have not the same industrial outlet, and with few boats available, idle time has been resorted to in order to keep down stocks. Clearances were 23,469 tons, against 11,648 in the preceding week and 48,788 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. coal 30/ 30/ 34/ Unscreened do I 25/ 25/ 30/ First-class steam coal j 25/ 25/ 30/ Third-class do ' 20/ 20/ 37/ Treble nuts 24/ 24/ ’ 22/6-24/ Double do. 22/ 22/ 21/ -21/6 Single do 19/ 19/ 19/6-20/6 The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 139,974 tons, compared with 104,765 in the preceding week and 168,704 tons in the corresponding week of last year. ________ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N ewcastle-osi-Ty ne. COAL. Whilst shipments on official account have proceeded fairly briskly during the week under review, there having been quite good arrivals of requisitioned vessels, there has been exceedingly little doing in the open coal market. Few vessels, excepting those “ earmarked ” for Government use, have put in an appearance, and in the absence of these transport facilities, prompt business has been impossible. The woes of the market have been added to since the present week came in by the extraordinary weather, which, besides delaying vessels at sea, has brought colliery traffic in the two counties virtually to a standstill by blocking the wagonways with snow. Many collieries have been laid idle, and work continues at others under circumstances of great difficulty. All descriptions of coal are offering largely in excess of the rate at which they can be taken up, and, whilst prices are nominally steady—there being no change whatever in f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment this week—buyers with tonnage and licences ready could command substantial discounts on listed figures. For after Easter loading, there is a fair demand, but uncertainty as to the tonnage supply checks transactions. For such forward loading, however, sellers are adhering steadily to late selling values. Coke is in adequate consumptive demand, and late prices are well maintained. The only item of forward business of any importance this week is the news as to the allotment of the Norwegian State Bail ways contracts for 18,500 tons of steam coals for delivery up to mid-May. Ten thousand tons of best Blyths are stated to have been taken at 29s. lOd. per ton f o.b., with an option of one-third Bentincks at the same price ; 3,000 tons Hordens at 28s.; and 5,500 tons South Hettons or Byhopes at 28s. 9d. It will be noted that the figures demonstrate the ability of neutral purchasers to secure supplies, in some instances, at less than the restricted maximum rates arranged for the benefit of Allied consumers. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals :— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 30/ 30/ 40/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ ■ 40/ Secondary, Blyths 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ : 32/ Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... 22/6 22/6 : 33/ Unscreened 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 28/ Small, Blyths ’.. 18/ 18/ i 22/6-25/ Do. Tynes 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ 18/ Do. specials... '. 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 22/6-25/ Other sorts: — Smithies 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 25/ -26/ Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) 26/ 26/ 26/ Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) 17/ -19/ 30/ -31/ 17/ -19/ 25/ Special gas coals 30/ -31/ ! 27/ -28/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 16/6-20/ ’16/6-20/ 24/ -26/ Do. do. N orthumbrians 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 26/ -28/ Coking coals 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 1 24/ -25/ Do. smalls 17/ -18/ 17/ -18/ 1 23/ -24/ House coals 27/6-30/ .37/6-40/ 27/6-30/ 1 37/6-40/ Coke, foundry 37/6-40/ ! 41/ -42/6 Do. blast-furnace 37/6 37/6 i <1/ Do. gas j 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ j 26/ -27/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 48,050 tons of coal and 1,990 tons of coke, as compared with 62,080 tons of coal and 650 tons of coke for the corresponding period of 1916, being a decrease of 14,030 tons of coal and an increase of 1,340 tons of coke. The coal market remains without any appreciable change. The bad weather has been responsible for a poor arrival of shipping, while the heavy fall of snow has interfered with the transport of coal down to the staiths. Tonnage being in no better supply, the collieries are working very indifferently, while prices, . in the absence of business, are simply nominal, at about last week’s figures. Supplies offer freely, the only demand being for coke, especially foundry sorts, and prices are firm. Unfortunately shipping facilities limit operations. The Norwegian State Bailways contract has been allotted as follows :—10,000 tons D.C.B., option one-third Bentinck at an average price of just under 30s. a ton f.o.b, the remaining 8,500 tons being for South Hetton 28s. 9d., Byhope 28s. 6d., and Horden at 28s. for prompt shipment. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current L’stweek’s Last year’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. I prices. Special Wear gas coals 25/ 24/ 1 27/6 Secondary do. House coals:— 17/6 17/ i 25/ Best house coals 30/ 30/ 35/ Ordinary .do Other sorts :— 23/ 23/ 32/6 Lambton screened 28/ 28/ 40/ South Het ton do 28/ 28/ 37/6 Lambton unscreened ... 17/ 17/6 25/ South Hetton do 17/ ■ 17/ 24/6 Do. treble nuts 21/ 21/ 28/ Coking coals unscreened 18/ 17/ 18/ 25/ Do. smalls 17/ 23/ Smithies 20/ 20/ 24/6 Peas and nuts 22/ 22/ 28/6 Best bunkers 17/6 17/6 26/ Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 16/ 16/ 24/ Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. 41/ -42/6 42/ 45/ Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 28/ _______ Gas coke 31/ 31/ 26/ Outward chartering is as lifeless as ever. No tonnage is forthcoming, and apart from French limitation ports no fixtures are reported.