130 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. July 19, 1918. This aspect of the question is all the more impor- tant at the present time, on account of the ambitious programme of the Labour Party with respect to the next General Election, which cannot now be long deferred. It is stated that arrangements are being made to run between 300 and 400 Labour candidates under the newly-extended franchise. We do not, therefore, anticipate that the executive of the Miners’ Federation will be in any mood for running amok in their wage policy now that they know that every shilling advanced must be placed at once upon the shoulders of the poor. Referring next to recent political developments of the Labour movement, Mr. Smillie naturally took a high view of the ability of the working man to govern the country. We agree with him that a due proportion of Labour members of the right sort in Parliament is highly desirable. It is for the con- stituencies to select suitable candidates. Some of those hitherto returned have proved sad failures and we shall be surprised if they succeed in retaining their seats. What the country will demand will, it is to be hoped, be broad-minded men, capable of understanding that the nation is a complex body, composed of many elements, and that prosperity will depend, not upon the satisfaction of the aims of a single class, but upon the well-being of the whole. Mr. Smillie is still obsessed by phrases and catch words which are either meaningless or involve impracticable ideals. As an example we may refer to his diatribes against what he terms the capitalist class and the distribution of profits in the shape of dividends. He maintains that the production of commodities must be for the use of the people, and not for the profit of capitalists. It is difficult to under- stand precisely what this means. Commodities are already produced for the use of the people, otherwise they would be useless, and there would be no market for them. As to the division of profits, these, under modern conditions, are chiefly returned in the shape of interest to the people who invest their savings in industrial concerns. There is nothing undemocratic in this. The fact that a few people may have larger investments than the bulk of the community scarcely warrants the destruction of the whole system of the utilisation of surplus earnings in order to increase production. We wonder if Mr. Smillie has ever analysed the lists of shareholders in colliery concerns and other industrial undertakings. These are the people who constitute the capitalistic classes whom he so vehemently condemns. Another vague assertion made by Mr. Smillie was the increased value of some mining shares since the beginning of the war, which was held to prove that coal owners have been making a good deal of profit out of the Government control of the mines It is difficult to understand how this could take place, especially since the Coal Mines Agreement Act, which leaves to the owners only 5 per cent, of any excess profits .they may earn. The most useful part of the address was that referring to the maintenance of the output of coal. Mr. Smillie maintains that there is no justification for any man, who is well in health, for being idle two or three days a week. To the many thousands of miners who are losing time unnecessarily, he urged that it is their duty to themselves, their families and their country to put in a more regular attendance. They owe it most of all to those of their comrades at the front who are bearing the heat and burden of the day. And yet we hear nearly every day of local strikes for apparently trivial causes. As we write, the news comes to hand that miners at Nantgarw Colliery in South Wales have struck because an unapproved man has been appointed chief haulier. Scarcely ' a week passes without one or more occurrences of a similar kind, and the loss of output thus brought about cannot fail to reach a high figure in the course of the year. „ With regard to Government control the feeling of the conference was not altogether unanimous. While some seemed to be inclined to regard it as a step towards nationalisation, others have been impressed with the baneful effects of bureaucratic administra- tion. The real feeling seemed to be that even nationalisation would scarcely be desirable unless the miners were associated with the Government in a scheme of joint administration. This plan was directly formulated by Mr. J. Winstone in a bold advocacy of something like pure and unadulterated syndicalism. The weakness of such visionary aims as this lies in a failure to recognise bald facts. Neither the Government nor the miners are qualified to undertake such a complex and intricate business as the management of the coal industry. And when the blind lead the blind, disaster is imminent. We miss from Mr. Smillie’s address any helpful suggestion with regard to. a sound reconstruction policy after the war on the lines of the Whitley scheme, to which he is a signatory. Perhaps he did not regard the occasion as fitting for that purpose, but it is difficult to avoid the feeling that he has missed a grand opportunity for pouring a modicum of oil upon very troubled waters. Mr. Gilbert Turner, chief assistant lecturer in mining at the Wigan and District Mining and Technical College, has been appointed county lecturer in mining to the Mon- mouthshire Education Committee. As an officer in the Royal Engineers, he has seen active service in the East, and also in France. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 18. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. The position in the West of Scotland coal trade is unchanged. In view of the holidays this week, an extra effort was made to augment stocks to provide supplies during the stoppage. The general demand for fuel is fully maintained, and collieries are now far behind with their orders. Shipments during the past week amounted to 107/101 tons, compared with 114,038 in the preceding week and 117,446 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.............. Ell .................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do. ............. Current prices. 34/6 32/6-35/ 35/ -37/ 30/ 29/ ■ 28/ !L’st weeks' prices. 32/6 31/6-33/ 33/ -35/ 28/ 27/ 26/ Last year’s prices. 27/6 26,6-28/ 28/ -30/ 23/ 22/ 21/ IRON. Up to the time of closing, a special effort was made at the ironworks to clear off as much of the arrears as possible. Orders for all classes of material continue heavy, and, with the restricted supply of labour, great difficulty is experienced in dealing with orders. In pig iron the scarcity becomes more and more acute, and foundry qualities are now almost as difficult to secure as haematite. Exports, too, are very much curtailed—even consignments to the Allies being subject to a form of “rationing.” Prices still differ very slightly from the following approxi- mate quotationsMonkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 140s., Nos. 3*, 135s.; Govan, No. 1, 135s., No. 3, 130s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 150s., Nos. 3, 145s.; Glengarnock at Ardrossan, No. 1, 140s., No. 3, 135s ; Eglinton at Ardrossan or Troon and Dalmellington at Ayr, Nos. 1, 145s., Nos. 3, 135s.; Shotts at Leith, No. 1, 150s., No. 3, 145s. per ton. During the past few days the malleable iron works have had unusual demands for certain sections. Little will now be available for delivery before August. Considerable quantities of rails have been rolled for Army requirements, while the turnover in mining and agricultural sections has also been brisk. Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Lothian coals continue to move off rapidly. Local requirements are heavy, and collieries have as much as they can do to satisfy demands. Shipments were 18,001 tons, against 17,546 in the preceding week and 20,710 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices Best screened steam coal... 33/6 31/6 26/6 Secondary qualities 32/6 30/6 25/6 Treble nuts 30/ 28/ 23/ Double do 29/ • 27/ 22/ Single do 28/ 26/ 21/ The Fifeshire collieries are also very busy. Tonnage is fairly plentiful, and neutrals are paying big prices for supplies. Shipments amounted to 41,035 tons, against 36,872 in the preceding week and 25,623 tons in the same week last year. Prices f o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best screened navigation prices. prices. prices. coal 36/ -38/ 34/ -36/ 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ Unscreened do 31/ -32/ 29/ -30/ First-class steam coal 35/ 33/ 29/ 28/ Third-class do. 31/ 24/ Treble nuts 30/ 29/ 28/ 23/ Double do 27/ 22/ Single do 28/ 26/ 21/ All prices quoted only apply to business for France and Italy, and include the( 2s. per ton increase sanctioned by the Coal Controller on July 8 For neutral sales the following prices are reported paid .-—Best ells, 45s to 50s.; first Fife, 60s. to 65s.; third-class Fife, 50s. to 52s. 6d ; best Lothians, 60s. to 65s.; second Lothians, 55s. to 60s. per ton. The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 166,437 tons, compared with 168,456 tons in the preceding week, and 163,779 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. Influenza is strll an obstacle to the best possible output at Northumberland and Durham collieries, but the viru- lence of the epidemic appears to be abating, although many miners are still incapacitated. Another impediment is the new allocation arrangement to which reference was made last week. Here again matters are shaking down, and doubtless the market will soon manifest as much smooth- ness as is possible*in these troubled times. The production at present is insufficient even to meet the requirements on Government, Allied and inland accounts, and to load the requisitioned vessels and railway trucks, of which there is such an ample supply. Under these circumstances neutrals continue to go very short and are likely to do so for many weeks to come. Men in close touch with the position aver that it is unlikely that there will be any ease in the market, from the neutral point of view, for at least three months to come, by which time we shall be perilously near the winter season of the year. Such “ snap ” lots as from time to time become available for neutrals are taken up speedily at full recent figures. There is no change in quotations to neutrals this week, except that gas bests are stronger at up to 45s. The Norwegian State Railways’ usual bi-monthly order is once more in circulation, this time for 14,000 tons of North- umberland and/or Durham best steams for September- October delivery. The railways will be lucky if they receive any tenders at under 65s per ton, as compared with the 60s agreed upon for their quantities for August-September loading. Liter. — Coke is especially scarce, the output being insufficient even for the supply of our Allies. Prices for supplies to neutrals have advanced to 60s. per ton for blastfurnace and foundry sorts. Gas coke is firm at 40s. 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.) ... 37' -70/ 37/ -70/ I 30/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,