18

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 4, 1918.

With respect to the markets supplied from West
Yorkshire, there has been considerably less shipment
from the Humber ports than in previous years. Exports
have been restricted to France and Italy, and apart
from the tight hand kept upon the issue of licences,
scarcity of boats has checked the quantity shipped.
There has always been a demand for inland consump-
tion sufficient to absorb the coal available. Of house
coal, London has had a heavier quantity than in any
previous year. The demand through the usual
channels for house coal for London and the southern
counties has been abnormal, and the extra deliveries
ordered by the Controller in the late summer were
drawn very largely from this district. From the
beginning of the year, the collieries were well booked
ahead, and were unable to accept more than a mere
fraction of the orders, without neglecting other and,
to some extent, more remunerative markets. The
position was complicated by the shortage of trucks.
Owners were reluctant to send their trucks South
when the journey often meant a month or six weeks.
Buyers able to send wagons secured a material advan-
tage. Prolongation of winter made matters worse.
Prices kept within bounds only because of the Price
of Coal (Limitation) Act, collieries refusing the tempt-
ing offers that were made in the hope of securing addi-
tional supplies by merchants. In April, when the
weather was extremely severe, the output was affected,
as in some districts the miners were on one or two days
prevented hy the snow to reach their work, and even
a relatively small loss of production was ill-afforded.
By this time, London’s unprecedented shortage of coal
was receiving the attention of the authorities. The
Coal Controller issued instructions to the collieries,
asking for daily deliveries not less than those of the
previous year, and requiring weekly summaries of the
quantities sent. An improvement in weathe? condi-
tions brought a little ease, but it was quite temporary.
Merchants were still overwhelmed with orders, especi-
ally for private stocking purposes. Special quotations
for stocking purposes were not as a rule given by the
collieries. The position on the south coast was just
as bad, as coastwise shipments were on a reduced scale,
owing to both excessive freights and scarcity of boats.
Both merchants and those of the public who had accom-
modation for storage, were anxious to secure stocks,
but the market remained very bare of supplies, and
extra quantities were difficult to secure. Especially
was this so in regard to the best house coals, namely,
the Haigh Moor and best Silkstone seams, which are
very limited in quantity. The extra deliveries which
were needed to secure London against a serious coal
famine during the present winter were in the end
secured by the Controller taking a strong hand and
requiring the collieries to increase their deliveries by
definite amounts—two, three, and even four times in
some instances. As the output could not be increased,
obviously this coal could not be sent except by leaving
other districts short. The collieries, besieged with
enquiries and appeals, were helpless. Apparently sus-
pecting that the Coal Controller was sacrificing the
provinces in the interests of London, the merchants
and factors’ section of the Coal Exchange took the
matter up. They predicted a glut in London, and the
threat of famine transferred elsewhere. Their repre-
sentations to the Controller brought about no imme-
diate change of policy, but the assurance that the
requirements of the provinces were not being ignored,
accompanied by the hint that there had been exaggera-
tion of the extra quantities sent to London. During
this period, it was impossible to buy house coal in the
open market, and traders generally were greatly per-
turbed. Eventually the special instructions were
modified, and the neglected districts began to receive
supplies more freely before any serious damage had
been done, although the orders regulating the retail
trade, by limiting deliveries to consumers already with
sufficient coal for a few weeks’ consumption, did a
great deal towards easing the situation. At the end
of the year there was still any amount of enquiry
for house coal for London, but the position was
regarded as more or less satisfactory.

The coastwise trade from the Humber ports had a
quiet year so far as West Yorkshire coal is concerned,
owing to the scarcity of boats and high freights. There
was more activity in the early summer than at any
other period, but, for the most part, shipments have
been mainly contract coal, with buyers sending their
own boats. Freights varied, but have remained high.
In January, 16s. Hull to London, and Is. more from
Goole, was quoted for handy-sized boats of about
1,000 tons, and there was a steady advance to 21s. Hull
to London in April and May, when as much as 29s. 6d.
was offered for the south coast. Later, rates became
easier, and an occasional boat could be secured at from
15s. to 16s. Hull to London, but 20s. to 21s. has been
a ruling average in recent months. The total quan-
tity of coal shipped coastwise is a considerable reduc-
tion on a normal year, and probably half of it has gone
through Goole—an unusually high proportion.

In the local house coal markets, the experience in
the first four months of the year was similar to that
of London. There was a heavy demand, and a dearth
of supplies outside contract deliveries. Merchants
were compelled to some extent to ration their customers
during April, when the worst pinch was felt. Con-
tracts were generally renewed, subject to cancellation
in the event of the Controller taking supplies. In the
open market during the summer it was unprecedented
to find the best qualities of house coal so extremely
scarce, and as a rule it was impossible to buy the
secondary qualities, except from the usual sources of
supply. These were almost closed when London’s
needs were receiving preferential attention, and at
this time it was by no means an unknown experience
for merchants to have customers without coal, order
books full, and horses and carts idle for the want of
supplies. When deliveries were resumed on a normal
scale, it was too late to do much in the way of acquir-
ing depot stocks for the winter, but many of the larger
residences are fairly well supplied, and the distribu-
tion regulations make for a more uniform demand on

the depots, thus tending to smoother working. Pit
prices have, of course, been stationary, except where
contracts provide for summer and winter prices, in
which case there was the usual advance of Is. on
October 1. The arranging of maximum retail prices
by the various local coal control committees has been
effected as a rule on satisfactory lines, in consultation
with representatives of the retail trade. The prices
fixed represent an average of about 9s. or 9s. 6d. on
those which obtained before the war, and are generally
regarded as fair to the trade.

Practically the whole of the output of gas coal is
sold under contract, very little being available for
prompt business. Most of the large works in York-
shire used up their stocks during last winter, and the
demand for such free coal as was available for the open
market was unlimited. Works in London and the
South Coast, short through the difficult shipping con-
ditions, were ready buyers of anything that was offer-
ing, and shipment to France for war purposes pro-
vided another outlet. Moreover, the tonnage avail-
able for gas purposes is reduced through the heavy
call for nuts for munitions and other Government con-
trolled works, and by the shortage of suitable slacks
for the coke ovens, the by-products of which are needed
for explosives, etc., very little unscreened gas coal
being made. Many gas engineers had consequently
difficulty in covering their requirements, <ts the
collieries had less to offer, especially of nuts; other-
wise contracts were renewed on the previous year’s con-
ditions. Despite the lighting restrictions in all the
towns, the consumption of gas is little, if any, reduced
below normal figures, as a great deal is used for muni-
tion purposes. There is also an increasing use of gas as
a propellant for coal transport. Generally speaking,
the stocks of gas coal at the works depleted last winter
could only partly be replaced during the summer, and
have again been considerably reduced, as contract
deliveries during recent months have fallen below
requirements, and there has been nothing to be secured
in the open market. It has generally been expected
that gas works, on the grounds of public utility and
as producing raw materials for war purposes, would be
taken care of by the authorities, and the exercise of
official influence in recent weeks has done much to
relieve anxiety. Arrangements have been made for
additional supplies from Durham, but this could only
be done in the case of works within reach of the North-
Eastern Railway, or where that railway has running
powers, and subject to North-Eastern trucks or buyers’
trucks being available.

With regard to manufacturing fuel, considering the
general scarcity and the heavy consumption in the
busy industrial towns of Yorkshire, there has been a
remarkable absence of real difficulty. The local distri-
bution committee has kept a strict watch over sup-
plies and distribution, and nuts have mainly been
reserved for the more essential works which are
engaged on Government requirements, other con-
sumers having to do their best with the remainder.
Distribution has been so arranged, however, that while
here and there consumers have had lean periods, sup-
plies on the whole have been . just about sufficient.
Ordinary consumers of nuts have had to turn to slacks
and large steam coal. For a few months in the
summer small slacks were easy to obtain, but, apart
from that, all qualities have been fully taken up with
the demand partly unsatisfied.

The insufficient supply of coking slacks has been a
dominant feature. The output of coke has been
increased to some extent, but has been limited by the
difficulty of securing smalls. The crushing of large
coal and the use of unsuitable slacks have been neces-
sary in many cases in order to keep the ovens at work.
The demand for coke has almost always outstripped
the output, and, with the exception of a brief period
in May, when labour trouble in the engineering world
acted as a check on consumption, there has been no
coke to offer on the open market. The whole output
has been consumed inland, chiefly by iron and steel
works in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and the Midlands,
no export business being done. The price of coke
remained at 25s. 8d. at the ovens until the general
advance in coal from September 17, when the figure
was advanced to 32s.

It may be added that the Yorkshire Coal Exchange,
which meets weekly at the Hotel Metropole at Leeds,
continues to increase in membership, and attracts
traders from all parts of the country, being increasingly
recognised as the coal market of Yorkshire. With the
coal trade so much under official control, prices and
profits regulated, and supplies so fully bespoken, there
is now less scope for initiative and enterprise, but the
tonnage of coal changing hands on the market,
although limited in this way, has still been very large.
The trade has generally made a good response to the
appeals on behalf of patriotic funds, a recent instance
being a contribution by the Coal Exchange of 250 gs.
for the Y.MtC. A.

SOUTH YORKSHIRE.

Difficulties unprecedented and mainly unavoidable
confronted all engaged in the industry during the past
year, and that these have been surmounted in a con-
siderable degree affords satisfaction. The experience
of those responsible for the management of mines has
been a more drastic control, and the collieries
have had to adapt their individual circumstances to
satisfy national needs. Constant effort has been neces-
sary to maintain the output on as extensive a scale as
possible. The consumption of steam fuel, which is so
largely produced in this area, has been of enormous
extent. Obviously, concerns engaged on essential war
productions have had to be ensured a full supply of
fuel of a suitable character, whilst industries of a
less essential description have had no alternative but
to accept such grades as were available. In this
respect, the collieries, like consumers, have not derived
the fullest satisfaction. Whilst it is true selling prices
have reached a general level never hitherto approached,
despite control, the percentage which has fallen to

miners and other workers has never been equalled.
This has had the effect of attracting a large number of
workers to the pits, many of whom have failed to
realise the importance of putting forth a constant
maximum effort to maintain the output. They have
often been mulcted in comparatively heavy damages,
but, generally speaking, the desired effect has not been
realised, and sterner action has not been possible, thus
leaving unsettled a very awkward problem. Repre-
sentations have been made that these men should auto-
matically pass forward to the hands of the recruiting
authorities, but the official sanction to such a course
has been lacking. The district has felt little effect
from the new scheme confining the area of supply, and
the varying grades of fuel produced in the area made
it inevitable that various exemptions should be pos-
sible. Some markets are no longer accessible to dis-
trict collieries, but there have been compensating
advantages. The position throughout the year has
been almost nominal in regard to values, and a mini-
mum of effort has been required to be directed to the
selling of the production. Concentration of effort has
been called for to make the distribution as expeditious
and sufficient as possible. In this respect the continu-
ally reduced supply of wagons has been keenly felt,
though with experience the trouble was minimised.
Yet it is a factor that is likely to be more prominent
in the future. The workers maintained the increased
standard rate of wages, plus 18 per cent, war bonus,
and in September the war wage of Is. 6d. per day
adults and 9d. per day boys, involved an increase in
selling prices of 2s. 6d. per ton. There has also been
a strong attempt made to secure advances for surface
workers at the collieries. The Miners’ Association
backed the demand. The future offers little promise
of less difficulty. There is every prospect of the
number of workers being further depleted with the
agreement arrived at to “ comb out ’ ’ the efficients
for military duty from amongst the large number of
men who have rushed into the pits since the outbreak
of war. The future policy will be that of further
control, so far as the distribution of supplies is con-
cerned, and greater enforced economy in the use of
coal is anticipated. The year has passed without any
extensive labour trouble, though during August there
were stoppages at several collieries, the younger
workers objecting to the manner in which the mili-
tary authorities conducted the further call up of men
for service.

Steam Coal.

The production of large steams, which forms an
extensive proportion of the output in this district,
must be regarded as satisfactory, considering all the
difficulties. On the other hand, collieries working
thick seams have suffered less in comparison in regard
to the number of workers, owing to the higher earnings
which are possible. Official returns are less informing
as to the extent of the trade for this class of coal, and
although the district has again been seriously affected
owing to the restricted exports and the lack of facili-
ties to do business with neutral markets, the extensive
tonnage which has been called for Admiralty purposes
and for use at home readily cleared the production.
In another sense, the changed experience has done a
great deal to enhance the reputation of the district
coal, which in some respects may have supplanted fuel
from other areas. The fact that business with neutral
markets has not been possible on a scale equal to pre-
war times, prevented a higher scale of values being
realised than was expected when the selling prices
were limited in regard to supplies for Allied countries.
The traffic by way of Hull, which has been largely con-
fined to South Yorkshire pits, has been generally in
respect to France and Italy; whilst, of course, a big
tonnage, as stated, has been required for Admiralty
purposes. At times the supply of shipping tonnage
has entirely dominated the position. • A few periods of
congestion at the port caused the diversion of supplies
for home purposes, whilst the experience has been that
buyers on behalf of neutral countries have always been
ready to pay considerably larger prices than those fixed
for the Allies. In January, district hards for neutral
markets were sold at 29s. per ton, but the tendency
was for values to improve, and in October spot lots were
sold at from 33s. to 35s. per ton to neutral buyers, and
later in the year this price was exceeded. This, com-
pared with from 16s. 6d. to 18s. 6d. per ton for best
hards in the home markets—a figure which prevailed
during the greater part of the year—was advantageous,
though, of course, at the latter end t)f September there
was a further increase for all classes of fuel. Collieries
were also supplying railway companies, who consume a
good bulk of the production, at 16s. per ton for best
hards, and arrangements have been completed for con-
tracts over the present year on the basis of 18s. 6d. per
ton for best grades. The official returns relating to
the steam coal traffic through Hull indicate that the
trade in this direction has been of a continually
restricted character compared with pre-war days, and
has only been about one-half of the previous total. At
the close of the first quarter last year, the quantity
delivered at the port was 728,715 tons, a decrease of
about 70,000 tons compared with the corresponding
period of the previous year. At the end of June, the
total was 1,432,841 tons, a decrease, roughly, of
200,000 tons. At the close of the nine months, the
deficit showed an increase of about 350,000 tons, the
total for that period being 2,171,738 tons/whilst at
the end of November, the reduced trade was of about
the same proportion, with a total of 2,640,002 tons.
The diminished traffic in this direction was practically
shared by all the collieries contributing supplies to
the port, suggesting a system of uniform reduction
applied by the authorities in regard to this branch of
the trade. The Denaby and Cadeby Main, as in
former years, was the chief contributor to the traffic,
with a total for the 11 months of 276,986 tons; a
decrease of practically 50 per cent, compared with the
previous year. The next largest South Yorkshire con-
tributor was Bullcroft, with 117,945 tons, a decrease of
about 46,000 tons; and no other district colliery con-
tributed over 100,000 tons during that period. It is