April 5, 1917. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 681 while it does not affect the market, has been discussed with great interest on ’Change, is the announcement that Mr. E. A. Prosser, the general manager of the Rhymney Railway, and Deputy Controller of Railway Movements, has been appointed to the position of general manager of the Cardiff Railway Company, which owns the four docks at Cardiff. Mr. Prosser will not relinquish his control of the Rhymney Railway, but it will be necessary for him to give up the Government appointment which he has held since the beginning of the year. It is a move which may have a sequel at the expiration of the war in a fusion of interests between the Rhymney and the Cardiff companies. It will be remembered that Parliament some years ago rejected an amalgamation scheme on the ground that it would tend to eliminate competition, but it is easy to see that by working agreements a considerable saving of expense can be effected, and arrangements made for the acceleration of the enormous transport work which is increasing year by year. On all sides the announcement is hailed with satisfaction, and there is a more comfortable feeling with regard to the future prospects of the trade. Another matter which is engaging attention is in reference to the transfer of licences between Newcastle and South Wales. The suggestion is made that where coal was shipped from South Wales under licence to Newcastle shippers, the South Wales exporter should compensate the Newcastle shipper to the extent of 9d. per ton, or in the alternative, there should be a levy of Id. per ton on all coals exported to France, which should be set apart as an indemnity fund. No decision at the time of writing had been arrived at, but a meeting is being held in London this week, at which the proposals will be considered. A further question which is of much interest locally is the attitude of the tribunals on the question of recruiting. A private meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday, at which proposals were submitted that where the principals of a firm were called up for military service their business should be controlled by another firm, and the profits pooled. This suggestion has not been received favourably either by the shipowners or the exporters, whose staffs are much depleted, and there is a disinclination to incur further responsibilities. It was agreed, however, that everything possible must be done to facilitate the requirements of the military authorities, and in the case of a principal being called up, there was a consensus of opinion that the man affected ought to be allowed to make the best arrangements he could amongst his own friends. With regard to actual market prices, there is little change to report. At the time of writing tonnage was arriving in fairly satisfactory quantities, and sellers were hoping that during the Easter recess stocks would be reduced to such an extent that con- ditions approaching normal working would be manifest before the middle of April. Their views were optimistic with regard to prospects, but this is not shared by buyers, who agree that there may be a slight spurt, but that things will be as bad as ever before the end of the month. The demand on account of the Admiralty and the Allied countries continues unabated, but outside this business there is practically ncthing doing. Best and second Admiralties are nominal, and ordinary seconds command 24s. to 25s. with a trifle less for ordinary grades. In Monmouthshire coals, the same state of affairs prevails, and little change is anticipated. Black Veins are 24s. to 25s., with the usual gradations for other qualities, although concessions are being made to shippers who are well situated with regard to prompt tonnage. The small coal market continues fairly steady, but with the excess of supplies that are now apparent in other descriptions, the small coal section is the first to feel the effects. Best bunkers are 14s. 6d. to 15s. 6d., ordinary qualities 13s. to 14s., and cargo descriptions anything from 7s. to 12s. per ton. Little is being done in bituminous coals except for home consumption, owing to lack of facilities for shipment. The House Coal Com- mittee appointed under the auspices of the Board of Trade, has issued a circular in which they recom- mend colliery owners only to supply coal between April and August on the same basis as last year, to the same consumers. No. 3 Rhondda large is 24s. to 25s., although in some cases the price is being shaded. No. 2 large is obtainable at 20s. to 21s., and other grades in proportion. Patent fuel is unaltered, the quotations Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— ) prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam 1 coals * * * Superior seconds * * —* Seconds 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 39/ -40/ Ordinary steams 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 38/ -39/ Best bunker smalls 14/6-15/6 15/ —15/6 21/ -22/ Best ordinaries 13/ -14/ 13/ -15/ 19/ —20/ Cargo qualities 10/ -12/ 12/ -13/ 15/ -18/ Inferior smalls 7/ —10/ 7/6-10/ 12/ -14/ Best dry coals 22/ -23/ 23/ -24/ 39/ -40/ Ordinary drys 20/ —22/ 21/ -22/6 38/ —39/ Best washed nuts 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 28/ -30/ Seconds 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 25/ -27/ Best washed peas 21/ -22/ 21/ —22/ ( 27/ -28/ Seconds 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 24/6-25/6 Dock screenings — — 15/ -16/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 24/ -25/ 24/ -24/6 39/6-40/ Western-valleys 23/ -24/ 23/6-24/ 39/ -39/6 Eastern-valleys 22/ -23/ 22/6-23/9 37/ —38/ Inferior do 20/ -22/ 21/ —22/ 36/ -37/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 25/6-26/6 25/6-26/6 23/ -24/ Second qualities (at pit) 23/6-24/6 23/6-24/6 22/ -22/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 24/ -25/ 24/ -25j 36/ -38/ Through-and-through 21/6-22/ 20/ -21/ 31/ -32/ Small 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 26/ -27/ No. 2 Rhondda- Large 1 ' 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 32/ -33/ Through-and-through 16/6-17/6 16/6-18/6 26/ -27/ Small 12/6-13/6 12/6-13/6 16/6-17/6 Best patent fuel 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 37/6-40/ Seconds ... 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ 35/ -36/ Special foundry coke 62/6—65/ 62/6-65/ 57/6-62/6 Ordinary do. 50/ —55/ 50/ —55/ 52/6-57/6 Furnace coke 45 -47/6 45/ -47/6 42/6-47/6 Pitwood (ex-ship) 75/ j 75/ 44/6-45/6 s ** Nominal. ranging’from|27s. to 30s., according to quality. Cokes are unchanged. Pitwood has been arriving in fair quantities, but the market is still difficult, and importers are able to secure up to 75s. for best French fir. So far as chartering is concerned, the fixtures last week amounted to 18,850 tons, compared with 13,880 tons in the preceding six days. On Monday of this week, however, no less than 9,650 tons were fixed, so that at the same rate of progress there should be a substantial improvement. IRON.' There is little change to report in the tin-plate trade. Prices of raw material, especially of block tin, are advancing, and it is expected that a substantial rise must of necessity take place in the near future. At the present moment, however, there is little being done, and all orders are on Class A or B certificate,account. Bessemer standard cokes are 27s. 6d. nominally, with other sizes in proportion. The enquiry is better, and if* the restrictions were relaxed a larger volume of business would be done. Shipments last week were 39,636 boxes, compared with 36,751 boxes received from works, leaving in stock 205,303 boxes, com- pared with 320,870 boxes a year ago. Steel bars are all controlled and apportioned, and the price is nominal. There is no change in the galvanised sheet trade, and it is reported that the iron ore arrivals have not been quite so satisfactory. The market, however, shows no change. All the steel works are employed at their fullest capacity, and there is no alteration to report, quotations being nominal. The arbitration as to steel workers’ wages has resulted in a victory for the men, and an advance at £ cent, on every Is. increase on the selling price above £6 10s. per ton has been conceded. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week was, on the whole, more satisfactory, and there was rather more doing in the coal and patent fuel trades, the shipments together amounting to 62,069 tons. ’Change was well attended, but little business was done. Tonnage was as scarce as ever, and there were stocks of all classes of coal. Even machine- made beans were more plentiful, and peas were not so tight. Steam coals and .bunkers were quiet. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). . Current L’st week’s'Last year’s Anthracite:— Best malting large prices. prices. ; prices. (hand picked) 26/ -28/ 26/ -28/ 23/ -24/ Secondary do. 22/ -25/ 22/ -25/ i 18/ -20/ Big Vein Valley large... 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ ( 16/ -17/ Red Vein large 19/ -20/6 19/ -20/ 16/6-17/6 Machine-made cobbles 33/ -35/ : 33/ —35/ ’ 27/ —28/6 Paris nuts — — 1 — French do 33/ -35/ i 33/ -35/ ! 27/ -28/ i 33/ -35/ ' 25/ —26/ Stove do 33/ -35/ Beans Machine - made large 25/ -27/ | 26/ -27/ 28/6-31/ peas 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ ) 21/6-22,6 Do. fine peas — “ b ~ Rubbly culm 8/6-9/ 9/ - 9/6 9/3- 9/6 Duff Steam coals:— 6/ - 7/ 6/ - 7/ | 4/ - 4/6 Best large 24/ -25/ 23/6-25/ 32/6-35,6 22/ -23/ 25/6-27/6 18/ -20/ 22/ -25/6 Seconds 22/ -24/ Bunker throughs 17/6-19/6 Small Bituminous coals No. 3 Rhondda— 10/ -15/ 10/ —15/ 13/6-16/ Large 27/ -29/ 28/ -30/ 31/ -35/ Thr o’-and-thro’ — Small 18/ -19/ 18/ -20/ 19/ -22/ Patent fuel 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 32/ -34/6 Llanelly. COAL. As tonnage arrivals are not up to the requirements of the market, the position continues very slow for practically all qualities. Stocks of several kinds are very heavy, and to release wagons sellers are disposed to accept lower prices for anything like prompt discharge of trucks. Large anthracite kinds are very easy, and prices are accordingly rather “ flat.” The machine-made kinds are also not very active, but the reduced outputs caused by the idle days each week at the collieries are helping to keep prices fairly firm. Steam coals are also in poor demand consequent on lack of tonnage, and throughs and smalls are very slow. Large kinds of the better grades are in good request from inland customers. This week’s quotations are approximately as follow:— Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large ...... Red Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts........... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 24/6-26/6 22/6-23/6 19/9-21/ 18/3-19/6 33/ -35/ 32/6-34/6 33/ -35/ 33/ -35/ 26/ -27/6 20/ —22/ 8/6- 9/ 6/ - 6/6 23/ -24/6 18/ -20/ 8/6-11/ 16/ -18/6 L’st week’s prices. I ' 25/ -27/6 1 ■ 22/ -25/ ■ 1 20/ -21/ : 19/6-20/6 i ' 33/ -35/ ; I 32/6-34/6 ? : 33/ -35/ 1 ' 33/ -35/ ! 26/ -27/6 i 20/ —22/ 8/6- 9/ 6/ - 6/6 23/ -24/6 18/ -20/ 8/6-11/6 16/67 8/6 Last year’s prices. 21/6-23/ 18/ -19/6 17/ -18/6 17/6-18,6 26/ -29/6 28/6-30/ 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 22/ —25/ 14/ -15/ 10/6-11/6 4/ - 5/ 26/ -28/ 23/ —25/ 14/ -18/ 19/ -21/ Action Against a Checkweigher.—In the Chancery Divi- sion on Tuesday, Mr. Justice Eve continued the hearing of the action of William O’Brien, of Llwynypia, black- smith, against George Burton, colliery checkweigher, of Tonypandy. The action was for an injunction to restrain the defendant from inducing employers not. to employ the plaintiff. Plaintiff, in cross-examination, said that, though Burton denied it on oath, Burton called him a ‘‘ blackleg.” Thomas Blackmore, a miner at the Llwynypia Colliery, and a former ■ secretary of the Sherwood lodge of the Miners’ Federation, said he knew of no.reason why.plaintiff should not be allowed to work. There was no general feeling of the miners against him. Morgan James Ham- mond, a haulier, said some miners objected to O’Brien working and some did not, but the men did not like to voice their feelings. The hearing was adjourned. THE LOmOH COAL TRADE. Wednesday, April 4. Trade has to a large extent been stopped by the heavy snow during a part of the week, for the roads have been well-nigh impassable, and the difficulty of cartage has seriously interfered with delivery. The supply of house coal becomes increasingly more acute owing to the con- tinuous shortage, and notwithstanding the near approach of the warmer days—when the actual consumption is materially reduced—the present state of affairs gives rise to a large amount of anxiety. Undoubtedly the chief diffi- culty is the want of private wagons, and those merchants who have no wagons of their own are placed in a very serious position. There are very few collieries in the North who are able to work more than three-quarter time, and complaints are also made that some of the wagons are underloaded. All the contract prices arranged on the summer and winter principle would automatically reduce to the summer level on April 2, but in very few cases have the approximate monthly quantities been sent forward, so that considerable arrears have yet to be dealt with. An important meeting was held on Friday of last week on the floor of the London Coal Exchange. Mr. G. Gentry, the hon. secretary of the Coal Merchants’ Committee, announced the voluntary arrangements made with the Controller of Coal Mines and President of the Board of Trade and the London Merchants’ Committee as to the position of the trade generally. Cases had come under the notice of the Controller which pointed to the prices charged by some of the colliery companies and also by some of the merchants and factors which would exceed the limits of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, and instructions had been given that the necessary steps should be taken to prohibit in future all undue inflation of the prices charged. The Merchants’ Society have agreed that a reduction of Is. per ton should date from April 2 on all the public delivery prices, bringing the maximum summer prices to 36s. 6d. per ton for best Wallsend, 34s. per ton for best Silkstone, 33s. per ton for Derby brights, 32s. for kitchen coal, and 30s. for stove coal. These prices to operate at all the depots north of the River Thames, and Is. per ton extra to be allowed for all Metropolitan stations south of the River Thames. Dealers’ prices and alb trolleys and shop prices where small quantities are retailed were also reduced Id. per cwt. The Controller particularly warned all buyers and sellers that strict measures would be enforced if necessary to compel compliance with the Act. In the seaborne market, the supplies have been fairly steady; 24 vessels were reported as arriving in the River Thames for Monday’s market, and 14 for Wednesday. Manufacturing fuels are in strong request, and the supplies coming for- ward are inadequate to meet the pressing demand. Small nuts are almost entirely absorbed by the munition works and by large engineering concerns, so that large steam coals have had to take the place of the smaller-sized quali- ties. Slacks also are moving very steadily, and gas wmrks are still buying very freely. Both furnace and gas coke are apparently short, and an active enquiry is prominent. South Wales prices have varied slightly. Stocks are still heavy at the docks awaiting the arrival of vessels. Best Admiralties are still claimed for Government use. Seconds are quoted at 24s. 6d. f.o.b. Patent fuel, 28s. 6d. Freights are fully maintained, and shipments are difficult. The attendance on the market has been good throughout the week, but the heavy snowstorms on Monday last pre- vented many of the colliery managers from reaching the market until practically closing time. The question of the conveyance of coal by the various waterways leading to London is occupying a good deal of attention, and it is understood that the Canal Commission is acting in con- junction with the Controller of Coal Mines to bring many of the canals into full use, in order to relieve, if possible, the pressure on the railway companies in the transport of coal to London and elsewhere. It is stated, however, that the freezing of the Birmingham Canal during January and February made a material difference in the iron works in that neighbourhood, and prices advanced 7s. per ton in consequence, mainly owing to the closing down of some of the works dependent upon their coal supply by water transit. London pit prices are : Silkstone, 18s. 6d. to 19s.; Wallsend, 20s.; Kilburn brights, 18s. 6d.; Blackshale, 19s. to 19s. 6d.; South Yorkshire hards, 18s. to 18s. 6d.; Derbyshire hards, 17s. to 17s. 6d.—but as so little free coal is available, the prices are of very little value. From Messrs. Oinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, March 30.—The seaborne house coal market was firm again, but no cargoes were on offer. Cargoes, 20. Monday, April 2.—The very severe and wintry weather caused a good enquiry for seaborne house coal, but no cargoes were on offer. Cargoes, 24. Wednesday, April 4.—Although there was a fair enquiry for seaborne house coal, the tone was somewhat steady owing to the approaching holidays. Cargoes, 14. The Mansfield Railway, which has occupied about seven years in construction, was opened for passenger traffic this week. The railway taps one of the richest coal fields in the Midlands. Privately-Owned Wagons.—By Order, dated March 16, 1917, under Regulation 7b of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, for the purpose of making the most efficient use of railway plant or labour, with a view to the suc- cessful prosecution of the war, the Board of Trade has ordered that (1) Where a private owner’s wagon would otherwise be sent on a journey empty, the Board of Trade may take possession of the wagon for that journey, and give such directions with respect to the cases in which possession is to be so taken, and the use and loading of a wagon of which possession is so taken as they think fit. (2) Where possession is so taken of a wagon, there shall be paid to the owner for the use of the wagon such amount as may be agreed or as may be determined, in default of agreement, by the Railway and Canal Commission, or by an arbitrator appointed by that Commission.- (3) The owner of any wagon and any other person affected by directions given under this Order shall comply with any directions so given, and give all reasonable facilities for carrying out those directions. (4) Any person acting in contravention of, or failing to comply with, any of the provisions of this Order is guilty of a summary offence against the Defence of the Realm Regulations.