238 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. August 2, 1918. market. The outlook for house coal is very unsatisfactory to merchants, as they are unable to get the quantity required. Industrial fuels are in heavy request—collieries being pressed for increased deliveries. The requirements for purely national purposes are extensive, and supplies for other purposes have to be cut down to a minimum. The diversion of coal from the district serves to keep the position very tight. Fuel overseers for the counties of Warwick, Worcester and Stafford have resolved to form an association, the object of which is to ensure uniformity of procedure in the administration of the Lighting and Fuel Order. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Staffordshire (including Cannock Chase) :— prices. prices. prices. House coal, best deep ... 24/6 24/6 22/ Do. seconds deep 22/6 22/6 20/ Do. best shallow 21/6 21/6 19/ 18/ Do. seconds do. 20 6 20/6 Best hard 21/ 21/ 18/6 Forge coal 18/6 18/6 16/ 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 near approach of the holiday has been evident this week in the business slackness and the small attendance at the market. Little work will be done all next week. A good deal of leeway has to be made up in the Darlas ton district among the nut and bolt makers, who have only recently returned after a strike lasting over a fortnight. The situation throughout the whole iron and steel industry remains unsettled, pending the long-delayed' adjustment of prices as a set-off against the increase in the price of fuel. A deputation of pig iron representatives visited the Ministry this week. Similarly, some statement may be forthcoming with reference to steel strip being brought under control. It is expected that the price fixed will be well below the present basis of <£17 15s. to <£18 5s. The output of bar iron is kept up to a high standard; but as manufacturers are heavily booked for months ahead, they are taking orders sparingly. The full rates are freely paid, with extras for special sizes and qualities. There is no slackening in the demand for small rounds—iron realises £17 10s. and steel £18 10s. Makers of puddled bars are entering into no contracts pending a settlement—being content to accommodate regular customers with small lots. There seems an ample supply of most kinds of steel to meet current essential needs, but merchants are no better off. Activity continues in the sheet trade—the run continuing on black corrugated qualities for Army needs. Sheet bars and plate cuttings are reaching the mills regularly for their production. Forest of Dean. Lydney. COAL. The general position of the house coal market shows little variation on recent reports—a very heavy demand with a very limited output to meet it. The warm weather does not appear to influence the enquiry to any extent, and the collieries could easily place double the quantity of coal available for sale. The position all round still points to an exceptionally strong market for all steam qualities. Prices at pithead. Large ... House coals:— Block Forest Rubble Nuts Bough slack ......... Steam coal.— Large ................ Small ............... Current L’st week’s prices. prices. 30/ 30/ 23/ 23/ 26/6-27/6 26/6-27/6 22/ -23/ ( 22/ -23/ Last year’s prices. ( 24/ \ 23/ 123/3 (.21/6 13 6 20/ -21/ 16/ -17/ Prices 2s. extra f.o.b. Lydney or Sharpness. THE TIM-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. The tone of the market is very firm, and the official maximum price at the moment is 33s. 9d. per basis box for coke tins, net cash, f.o.t. at works. There is plenty of enquiry, but makers are well booked up for the next couple of months, and are not very anxious about selling ahead, so that it is not’ easy to make business just now. Wasters are in good demand, and top prices have to be paid for large sizes. Some of the small sizes can still be obtained at slight concessions. Terneplates are in fair request, a moderate trade being reported at about 6d. to Is. below the official maximum. OBITUARY. Mr. Matthew H. Lowery, who has died at his home at Pegswood Colliery, Northumberland, at the age of 59 years, succeeded Mr. J. M. Gillians as president of the Northumberland Colliery Mechanics’ Mutual Protection Association three years ago. The death is announced of Mr. William Hobkirk, who was for many years agent with the Cramlington Coal Company Limited, retiring about thirteen years ago. Born on August 26, 1828, he became connected with the Cramlington Coal Company in 1857, and rose to the posi- tion of agent quite early. Wages in Scottish Iron Trade.—The following intimation has been made to the Scottish Manufactured Iron Trade Conciliation and Arbitration Board by Mr. John M. MacLeod, C.A., Glasgow : “In terms of the remit, I have examined the employers’ books for May and June 1918, and I certify the average net selling price brought out is £14 16s. 2-48d. per ton.” This means no change in the wages of the workmen. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, August 1. North Wales. Wrexham. All cfllieries in this area are working at high pressure, and find it impossible to cope with the demand. Railway companies and other users of steam coal are getting a fair quota from the locd collieries, and there is also a consider- able tonnage being sent for shipment at the Mersey ports. Gas companies on the whole appear to be satisfied with the amount of fuel obtainable, and they have a fair amount of coke for the public at fair prices. Nuts are very scarce, and there is not a large tonnage of slack available. On the whole prices remain firm. Prices at pit. Current L’st week’s Lastyear’s Railborne: — prices. prices. pricej. Best house coal 27/6-30/ —- 21/ -23/ Secondary do 25/ -27/6 — 20/ -22/ Steam coal 27/ -30/ — 19/ -22/ Gas coal — — 19/ -21/ Bunkers — — 19/ -22/ Nuts 20/ -22/6 — 18/ -20/ Slack 17/6-19/6 — 12/ -14/6 Gas coke (at works) Landsale: — 25/ -26/8 — 21/8-25/ Best house coal 32/6-35/ — 27/6-30/ Seconds 30/ -32/6 — 25/ -27/6. Kitchen coal 26/8-31/8 — — Slack 22/6-25/ — 15/ -16/8 Monmouthshire, South Wales, 4c. Newport. COAL. Market conditions remain severe. All the output of the collieries has been stemmed for a considerable time ahead. There is a little more coal available, but almost all of it is at the disposal of our own and Allied Governments. This applies more particularly to best large steam coal. There is also a strong demand for through coal. Every class of small has a favourable market. Gas coals and patent fuel, as well as coke, have been in strong request. Household coke has been difficult to obtain and at extra cost at local gas works. The extreme pressure in all classes of the coal trade is likely to last for some weeks. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. ' Current L’st week’s Lastyear’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 37/ • 37/ 30/ Western-valleys, ordin’y 36/ 36/ 29/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 36/ 36/ 29/ Secondary do. 35/ 35/ 28/ Best small coals 28/ 28/ 21/6 Secondary do. .; 27/ “'“'I 27/ 20/ Inferior do. : 25/ 25/ 18/ Screenings 30/ 30/ 23/ Through coals 34/ 34/ 27/ Best washed nuts 37/ 37/ 30/ Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit .. 40/ 40/ 33/ Secondary do. do. ... 38/ 38/ 30/9 Patent fuel 37/ 37/ 32/6 Furnace coke 52/ 52/ 47/6 Foundry coke 52/ ■ 52/ 47/6 * Nominal. • IRON. An excellent output is maintained at the iron and steel works in the district. All the works are full up with orders for a long time to come. A very satisfactory import of iron ore is maintained. There is further improvement in the tin-plate trade, despite the great advance in the price of metal and the difficulty in obtaining steel. A good arrival of pitwood at the controlled price continues. Cardiff. COAL. The decision of the South Wales miners to take three days holiday next week has evoked some unfavourable comments. Many of the older and steady-going miners always made a point of attending the National Eisteddfod, which is to be held at Neath next week, whilst thousands of others who usually took a summer holiday at this period of the year, had Already made their arrangements which could not be cancelled without loss and inconvenience. Be that as it may, the fact remains that the market has been left in an awkward position, from which it will take many weeks to recover. Apart from the three days holiday, there is the probability that the percentage of absenteeism will be con- siderable for the next two or three weeks. There is ample tonnage in port for all current needs, and in fact there is already much delay in consequence of the inability of the coal owners to get the coal down to the docks quick enough. So far as Admiralty business is concerned, there is not much fear of a shortage, but the authorities are keeping a tight hand on supplies, and it is almost impossible to obtain th© release of any description of coal for private shipment. Even in the case of consignments intended for internal consumption, these have been commandeered and diverted, This is the state of affairs which is likely to prevail throughout August and early September, unless the miners themselves take some action to increase production. So far as supplies for household purposes are concerned, Mr. Finlay Gibson, the secretary of the Committee of Control, states that practically no coal will be available for several weeks, and even when the rationing scheme comes into operation in a fortnight’s time, there will be little coal for distribution amongst the various firms. The new Co-ordina- tion Committee is already at work, and the Exporters’ Com- mittee for the supply of coal to France and Italy have offered their services so as to secure the best results from the new methods of co-operation. At the moment the market is practically at a standstill. There are practically no new points of interest in the general conditions. Prices are fully maintained on the basis of the schedule, but busi- ness is confined to official orders, and there is no margin for neutral trading. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated) plus 2s. 6d. per ton, except for shipments to France and Italy. Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals .. Current prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 28/ 27/6 27/ 26/6 26/ 25/6 25/ 37/ 35/6 37/ 35/6 34/6 33/6 P 37/ 36/ ! 36/ 35/ i 40/ 37/9 37/9 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 24/ -26/ i 37' 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ L’st week’s prices. 40/ 38/6 37/9 37/ 28/6 ) 28/ ) 27/6 1 27/ J 26/6 ) 26/ J 25/6 1 25/ ) 37/ - 35/6 37/ 35/6 34/6 33/6 37/ 36/ 36/ 35/ 40/ 37/9 37/9 33/ 34/ 29/ -30/6 24/ -26' 37/ 37/ 54/6 54/6 54/6 65/ Last year’ | prices. I 33/ ; 31/6 ' 30,9 30/ 23/ 21/6 i 20/ 1 18/ 30/ 28/6 30/ 28/6 27/6 26/6 30/ 29/ 29/ 28/ 33/ 30,9 30,9 26/ 27/ 25/ 20/ 32/6 30/ 47/6 47/6 47/6 60/ -62/6 Superior seconds Seconds Ordinary Steam smalls No. 1 Do. 2 Do. 3 Do. 4 Do. 5 Do. 6 Do. 7 Do. 8 Best dry coals Ordinary drys ... Best washed nuts .. .. Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Monmouthshire— ! Black Veins Wes tern-valleys Eastern-valleys ' Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Small No. 2 Rhondda — Large Through-and-throughi Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) s * Nominal. IRON. There is no easing-off in the demand for iron and steel in all departments, and works are hard pressed to keep pace with requirements. The only disturbing feature in the tin- plate trade is the continued advance in the price of block tin, which has now reached the high figure of £388 to £389 per ton for cash and three months. Makers report full order books for several months ahead; but their engage- ments, generally speaking, have been made on the basis of tin being obtainable at a much lower rate—and even at the present high figures it is difficult to obtain adequate supplies. Bessemer standard plates are 32s. 6d. to 33s. net at works, with other sizes in proportion. The larger sizes are scarce and difficult to negotiate. Shipments last week were only 23,255 boxes, compared with 37,146 boxes in the “previous week, and receipts from works also showed a big fall—the total being only 21,814 boxes, against 38,921 boxes in the preceding week, thus leaving in stock in the docks warehouses and vans 127,804 boxes, compared with 129,275 boxes the previous week, and 80,105 boxes at the corre- sponding date of last year. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no alteration, although more mills are now working on the production of blackplate and painted sheets Prices are nominal. Spelter works are busy, and quotations remain unaltered at £54 per ton. There is a strong demand for scrap metals, and suitable descriptions find a ready market at maximum rates. Iron ore supplies are satisfactory. Llanelly. COAL. The market generally has a firm tone, and collieries are practically all working full time. Tonnage arrivals have been on a more satisfactory basis, and this has meant adequate supplies of empties to help the pits working full time. Anthracite coals are more active and supplies of the better grades of large are difficult to secure. There is no improvement to report in the lower grades, and for any Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite;— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 36/ 36/ 29/ Thirds 34/6 34/6 27/6 Red Vein large 32/6 32/6 25/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds . 48/ 48/ 41/ Thirds 46/ 46/ xz 39/ Red Vein cobbles 43/ 43/ 36/ Machine-made nuts....... 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds 48/ 48/ 41/ Thirds 46/ 46/ 39/ Red Vein nuts 43/ 43/ 36/ Machine - broken beans (best) 42/ 42/ 35/ Seconds 41/ 41/ 34/ Thirds 40/ 40/ 33/ Red Vein beans 38/ 38/ ^z 31/ Peas (all qualities) 27/ 27/ 20/ Rubbly culm 20/ 20/ 13/ Red Vein culm 18/ 18/ 11/ Breaker duff 15/ 15/ XJ-z 10/ Billy duff 13/6 13/6 6/6 Steam:— Best large steams 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds : 34/ 34/ 27/ Cargo through Seconds - Bunker through 30/6 30/6 25/ Smalls 26/ 26/ 19/ Second smalls J. €7/ Bituminous:— ' Bituminous through ... 34/ 34/ 27/ Smalls... 31/ 31/ 24/ Gas through — — Gas smalls (Coke-oven) coke 54/6 54/6 47/6 The above prices are subject to an advance of 2s. 6d. per ton in the case of shipments to France and Italy, and coal for the manufacture of patent fuel for shipment thereto.