1056 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. May 24, 191A quickly disposed of, there being- keen competition for any odd lots. Slacks are an improving market, the demand being more active, while the brisk output of gas coal and coke is readily sold. Prices at pithead. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Hand-picked brights 21/ -22’/ 21/ -22/ 18 6-19 6 Good house coals 20/.-21/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -18/6 Secondary do 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 17/ -18/ Best hard coals 18/6-19/ 18/6-19' 17/ -17/6 Secondary do 17/6-18/ 17 6-18/ 16/ -17/ Slacks (best hards) 14/ -14/6 14/ -14/6 12/ -13/ Do. (second) 13/ -13/6 13/ -13/6 10 6-11/6 Do. (soft) 13/ 13/ 11/ what rolls are to be in operation in the succeeding week and notify customers. Pressure for finished iron is unrelaxed, but comparatively little new business has been negotiated during the week. Small lots of pig iron continue to change hands at maximum rates. Furnace owners have heavy commitments, and one large South Staffordshire house kept off the market for a few days in order that an oppor- tunity might be afforded of clearing some of these off. Brisk demand is experienced for scrap, especially good east scrap, to take the place of pig iron. Leicestershire. COAL. Great relief is being experienced this week in the demand for household for big industrial centres, in consequence of the preva?ence of warm weather. The falling off in the number of urgent requests for immediate delivery will enable some of the heavy accumulation of arrears to be wiped off gradually. Output, however, is so reduced that the sub-division of supplies will have to be continued for a long period. The demand for all classes of manufacturing fuel shows no abatement, and all the supplies are rapidly cleared. A great quantity of household has to be diverted for steam-raising purposes, supplies being of far more importance than prices. Very strong and general com- plaints are being made at the great increase in clerical work entailed by the prevailing conditions, and the tracing of wagons which have been diverted for other purposes. There is a very strong demand for London and district for household, cobbles, large and small nuts and small fuel for automatic stokers, and minimum deliveries have to be maintained Country merchants are still getting very small supplies, and they have a great accumulation of orders on hand, with no reserves at the railway stations. There are no stocks at the collieries. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. Owing to the holiday the production at the collieries is less this week by at least one-third. This had the effect of putting orders still further in arrear, and merchants are pressing urgently for deliveries The enquiry from the inland districts has not lessened, whilst shipments on the whole are good. Orders are coming to hand very freely for all classes of steam coals, and the collieries are quite unable to compete with the demand Prices at pithead. asked for such quantities as may be released. This is a matter that cannot be regulated. Concessions may be granted in order to clear traffic in a certain direction, but generally speaking there is a considerably higher market for neutral destinations. Small coals have been passing off freely, and it is stated that the large stocks that were banked in the earlier part of the year have been reduced. Present business is of a hand-to-mouth character, and out- side contracts there is very little doing. All transactions are on the basis of the Controller’s figures. In the pit- wood trade there is no change, and cargoes are coming forward in satisfactory quantities at 65s. per ton. Patent fuel makers are busy, but are handicapped through want of tonnage. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated), plus 2s. 6d. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Prices at pit. Best household coal ..... Second, hand picked ... Deep screened cobbles ... Deep large nuts ......... Bakers’ nuts...... ..... Small nuts............... Deep breeze ............. Peas .................... Small dust .............. Main nuts for London kitcheners............... Steams, best hand picked Steams, seconds ......... Main cobbles for kitcheners Main breeze.............. Current prices. 19/ -20/6 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/3-16/ 14/6-14/9 8/6- 9/6 L’st week’s prices. 19/ -20/6 18/ —/19 17/6-18/6 17/6-18'6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/3-16/ 14/6-14/9 8/6- 9 6 Last year’s prices. 17/ -19/ ' 15/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 14/6-15/6 12/9-13/6 12/ -12/3 6/ - 7/ 15/ -16/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-16/ 15/ -16/6 14/9-15/6 15/ -16/6 15/6-16/6 14/6-16/ 15/ -16/6 14/9-15/6 14/ -15/ 14/6-15/6 13/6-15/ 14/ -15/ 12/6-13/6 South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Birmingham. COAL. The Whitsuntide week, although shorter than usual, represents a considerable drop in output, at a time when fuel supply is becoming of increasing importance. A fairly large proportion of the coke and coal supplied to the fur- naces and mills is inferior, and deliveries are irregular. Blast furnace owners have been compelled to draw on stocks to make up deficiencies, and cases are reported of turns being missed at works through lack of fuel. Consumers, therefore, welcome the decision of the President of the Board of Trade to allocate industrial fuel in proportion to the needs of the works and the urgency of the work. Owing to the holiday there has been little business in domestic fuel. Prices at pit. Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 24/6 24/6 22/ Do. seconds deep 22/6 22/6 21/6 20/ Do. best shallow 21/6 19/ 18/ Do. seconds do. 20/6 20/6 Best hard 21/ 21/ 18/6 16/ Forge coal 18/6 18/6 Slack Warwickshire:— 13/6 13/6 11/6 House coal, best Ryder.. Do. hand-picked 21/6 21/6 19/ cobs 20/6 20(6 18/ Best hard spires 22/6 22/6 20/ Forge (steam) 18/6 18/6 16/ D.S. nuts (steam) 17/ 17/ 14/6 Small (do.) 17/ ! 17/ 14/6 IRON. The Whitsuntide holiday interrupted the normal busi- ness to some extent. At some works a resumption was made, at least partially, on Tuesday, and by Wednesday practically the whole of the mills and forges were again in full operation. The situation has undergone no material change. No official announcement has yet been published regarding the maximum prices for gas strip, the reason assigned being that it is awaiting the adjustment of other branches, and that all will be published together. All new business is on the basis of <£15 5s., and for puddled iron, which is the raw material, of £11 10s. Medium sizes of mild steel are still a shade easier, though this does not mean it can be bought promiscuously. Producers have not the slightest difficulty in finding outlets for any supplies they have available, and it is doubtful whether civil indus- tries pure and simple, will be able to obtain larger rations, Steel billets are maintained at £10 7s. 6d. Rumour attri- buted an intention on the part of the authorities to concede more favourable terms in the shape of a subsidy, as in the case of some classses of iron, but no confirmation is forth- coming. Plate shearings also remain at £10 7s. 6d., and deliveries, while steady, are not so abundant as they were some months ago. The zone system, now in operation throughout the country, also restricts supplies of steel sections which formerly came into this district in large quantities from the north-eastern districts. Permits are now necessary, and local agents ascertain as soon as possible Current House coals:— : prices. Block 'x Forest (T Rubble ( Lar°e • .. 26/ Nuts J Rough slack 15/6 Steam coal — Large 22 6-23 6 Small ... • J 18/ -19/ L’st week’s Last years prices. ; prices ■ r 24/ 9G/ ' J23/ 26' [ 723/3 i (.21/6 15'6 i 13/ 22/6-23'6 I 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ ; 16/ Prices 2s extra f.o.h. Lydney or Sharpness Devon, Cornwall, and South Coast. Plymouth. COAL. Messrs. W. Wade and Son report that merchants through- out the No. 13 area have cause to complain that supplies of house coal are being forwarded very slowly, and in some country districts the stocks have become very low or have entirely run out. Their contractors state that the collieries are working with a reduced output, and are compelled to forward chiefly to the London area. It is hoped that the prevailing very hot weather will soon have the effect of minimising the demand for house coal, and thus improve the general conditions of supply and demand. Welsh steam coal is coming forward very slowly. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 23. Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. Although officially only two days’ holiday were allowed at the pits, a great many of the men decided to extend the leave over Wednesday. Beyond this there has been a considerable reduction in the output of the Tredegar and allied companies’ collieries by the unfortunate strike of over 7,000 men. Coal of almost all descriptions has been very scarce this week. Several vessels have been delayed at the ports for want of free coal. The market is likely to harden. Prices to neutral countries when coal can be found have shown considerable increases. Coke and patent fuel have kept in good demand. So, also, has gas coal; but house coal is not now so much enquired for, in consequence of the hot weather. There is now no need of the work of the Orders Allocation Committee, which was set up a few months ago. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:— | Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals Secondary do Inferior do. Screenings Through coals ; Best washed nuts 1 Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit .. Secondary do. do. ... Patent fuel' Furnace coke Foundry coke Current prices. 32/6 31/6 31'6 30/6 23/6 22/6 20 6 25/6 29,6 32/6 35/6 33/3 32/6 47/6 47/6 L’st week’s! prices. 32/6 ) 31/6 1 31/6 i 30/6 23/6 ; 22,6 ; 20/6 25/6 29/6 32 6 35/6 33/3 32/6 47/6 47/6 Last year’s prices. 27/ -27/6 26/ -27/ 24/ -25/ 21/ -22/6 18/ —18/6 14/ -16/ 6 6-11/6 18/6-20/ 20/ -21/ 25/ -26/ 22/ -23/6 27/6-30/ * * Nominal. IRON. Nothing new has occurred in the iron and steel trades. In the case of the Rogerstone works of Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefold and some others in the neighbourhood, the men, on the invitation of Mr. T. Griffiths, the district representative of the Steel Smelters’ Union, continued at work over the holidays in order to help the output of munitions. Prices are nominal, as almost all the output is on Government account. Tin-plates have shown some falling off in output. There has been a fair arrival of pitwood, the price of which remains at 65s. Cardiff. COAL. This has been an off week. The colliers took two days holiday— Monday and Tuesday—but there was short working on Saturday, and on Wednesday the degree of absenteeism was very pronounced, chiefly owing to the summer weather. Generally speaking the conditions were not unexpected. Large numbers of men have been with- drawn from various collieries, and the temporary stoppage has given the management the opportunity of re-organising. That will lead to economy, but local difficulties may arise. There is a great demand for superior qualities, and every effort is being made to keep the tips going at the various docks. At the same time the arrivals have been more than usual, and there has been a waiting list of short duration. Chartering last week was above the average, and amounted to over 19,000 tons. For neutral destinations there is a scarcity of supplies, and shippers have experienced a difficulty in obtaining the necessary quantities to enable their ships to be released. Prices have advanced. For controlled destinations the quotations remain the same, but for neutral countries as much as 40s. and over is being Current Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam prices. coals 35/6 Superior seconds 34/ Seconds 33'6 Ordinary ... 32 6 Steam smalls No. 1 24/ Do. 2 23/6 Do. 3 23/ Do. 4 22/6 Do 5 22/ Do. 6 21/6 Do. 7 21/ Do. 8 20/6 Best dry coals 32/6 Ordinary drys 31/ Best washed nuts 32/6 Seconds 31 6 Best washed peas 30/ Seconds Monmouthshire— 29/ Black Veins 32 6 Western-valleys : 31'6 Eastern-valleys 31 6 Inferior do Bituminous coals:— 30,6 Best house coals (at pit) 35,6 Second qualities (at pit) ; No. 3 Rhondda— j 33/3 Bituminous large ■ 33/3 1 Small 1 28/6 1 No. 2 Rhondda— ! Large ' 29,6 j 24'6-26/ 1 Thr ough-and-thr ough; Small i 19/6-21/6 ! Best patent fuel I 32/6 Seconds 32/6 Special foundry coke 50/ Ordinary do. 50/ Furnace coke 50/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 65/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 35/6 34/ 33/3 32/6 24/ 23 6 23/ 22/6 22/ 21/6 21/ 20/6 32/6 31/ 32/6 31/' 30/ 29/ 32,6 31/6 31/6 30/6 35/6 33/3 33 3 28/6 * Nominal. __* __* 26 6-27 6 | 25/ -/26 j I 16/ -17/ ] 15/ -16/ j i 12/ -14/ ] 9/ -12/ 26/ -27/ 24' -25/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 26/ -27/ 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ | 23/ -24/ | 25/6-26/6 1 23/6-24/6 j 27/ -27/6 j 18/ -19/ 29 '6 24/6—26/ 19/6-21'6 32/6 ' 32/6 50/ 50/ 50/ 65/ 24/ -25/ 18/ -19/ 13/ -14/ 29/ -30/ 28/ -29/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 75/ IRON. Conditions generally are unaltered. Shipments of tin- plate were 14,152 boxes compared with 16,854 boxes received from works, thus leaving 77,366 boxes in stock as com- pared with 74,684 a week ago and 139,449 boxes a year ago. Block tin is rather easier at £360 per ton, and rates are in proportion. Manufacturers are, however, acting with caution, and many enquiries at present on the market are being rejected. In the iron and steel trades there is no change, and outputs are being maintained at the maximum. Galvanised sheet workers are practically confined to pro- ducing black plate and painted sheets. Spelter remains at £54 per ton. Scrap metals are unaltered, and highest prices are offered for anything that comes into the market. Llanelly. COAL. All the collieries were idle the first two days of this week, owing to holidays, and the present spell of fine weather tends to interfere with the prompt return of many of the men to the mines. Steam coals, except smalls, are very firm, and supplies moving satisfactorily. Collieries are also working good time, as wagons are more plentiful. The anthracite collieries are not active, owing to the easing off in the demand, but the present reduction in outputs may make business more favourable during the next few weeks. Bituminous coals are very active, and all supplies disposed of. The inland demand for most coals is steady, but delays in execution of orders cannot be avoided at the moment. Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best malting anthracite... 30/ 30/ 24/6-25/6 Seconds 29/ 29/ 21/6-23/ Thirds 27/6 27/6 Red Vein large 25/6 25/6 18/3-19/ Machine-made cobbles 42/6 42/6 33/ —35/ Seconds 41/ 41/ — Thirds 39/ 39/ Red Vein cobbles 36/ 36/ Machine-made nuts 42/6 42/6 Seconds 41/ 41/ Thirds 39/ 39/ Red Vein nuts 36/ 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 35/ 35/ 27/ -28/6 Seconds 34/ 34/ Thirds 33/ 33/ Red Vein beans . .<• 31/ 31/ Peas (all qualities) 20/ 20/ 20/ -22/ Rffbbly culm 13/ 13/ 10/3-11/8 Red Vein culm 11/ 11/ Breakers duff 8/ 8/ Billy duff 6/6 6/6 5/3- 5/6 Steam:— Best large steam 30/ 30/ 23/ -25/ Seconds 27/ 27/ Cargo through 23/6 23/6 18/ -21/ Seconds 22/ 22/ Bunkers through 23/6 23/6 — Small s 19/ 19/ 9/ -12 6 Second smalls J. V/ 17/ 17/ Bituminous:— A 1 1 Bituminous through ... 27/ 27/ — Smalls 24/ 24/ 19/ -20/ Gas through 23/6 23/6 Gas smalls 21/ 21/ —