1086 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN November 22, 1918. THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 21. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL Some trouble is still experienced regarding absenteeism, which greatly affects the output from this coal field. Action was taken at Mold Police Court on Monday, when .:even miners were fined various sums from £4 to £1. Efforts are being made to open up the local brick works connected with this coal field at an early date, and it is confidently anticipated that the staple industries of North Wales, viz., coal mining, clay working and quarrying, will ere long be booming, after a prolonged slump. House- holders are pressing local merchants for deliveries, and many people are still dilatory in regard to their fuel requisition forms. The Wrexham Coal Merchants and Dealers’ Association have petitioned the Fuel Control Committee to agree to higher prices being charged, and it has agreed for this petition to be referred to the Coal Controller for adjudication. Every effort is being brought to bear to obtain increased supplies of gas making fuel and steam coal. The demand for coal for shipment ex the Mersey ports is likely to increase, so that unless a goodly number of miners are released to this coal field in the near future, there is a prospect of an acute shortage in the coming winter. Nuts and slack are very limited in output at present, but there is a fair tonnage of gas coke avail- able, and prices are good. Oa the whole quotations have remained steady. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Railborne:— prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ — Secondary do 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 — Steam coal... ... 27/6-30/ 27/6-30/ Gas coal 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 Bunkers 27,6-30/ 27/6-30/ Nuts . 20/ -22/6 20/ -22 6 — Slack 17/6—19/6 17/6-19/6 — Gas coke (at works) 26/8-28/4 26/8-28/4 — Landsale:— Best house coal 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ Seconds 30/ -32/6 30/ -32/6 — Kitchen coal Slack 21/8-22/6 21/8-23/4 — Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. C0AL One of the features of the week has been the very heavy arrival of tonnage. There has not been as much available for coal cargoes for a very long time, and as the supply of coal was not commensurate, many vessels were delayed in dock. Best steam coal continues to be requisitioned for for official purposes, but gradually there is more coal coming upon free markets. Smalls are accumulating, and have not met with a very ready sale. There is a heavy demand for house and gas coals. Patent fuel is being made in larger quantities than in the recent past and has met a steady market. There is considerable demand for coke. Prices are on the schedule basis. Prices for home and Allied markets f.o.b. cash 30 days. Neutrals extra. 1 Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large...j 37/ . 37/ 32/6 Western-valleys, ordin’y: 36/ 36/ 31/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... i 36/ 36/ 31/6 Secondary do. ...; 35/ ; 35/ i 30/6 Best small coals 28/ ' i 28/ 23/6 Secondary do • 27/ ! 27/ 22/6 Inferior do. 25/ ! 25/ 20/6 Screenings 30/ ’ 30/ 25/6 Through coals 34/ i 34/ 29/6 Best washed nuts. 37/ . 1 37/ 32/6 Other sorts:— Best house coal, at pit... 40/ 40/ 35/6 Secondary do. do. ... ■ 38/ 38/ 33/3 Patent fuel 37/ 37/ 32/6 Furnace coke 52/ ■ 52/ 47/6 Foundry coke 52/ 52/ 47/6 *IRON. Very little change is perceptible in the position of the iron and steel trades of the district. Prices are nominal. Tinplate makers are still busy with pressing orders, the turn of events in Europe and the Near East having had the tendency to reopen many markets. A good supply of iron ore is obtainable. Cardiff. COAL. The abandonment of the convoy system has resulted in a considerable influx of tonnage, and there are now more vessels in the docks awaiting cargoes than for many months past. This results in extreme loading pressure, which is likely to prevail until the end of the year unless output greatly improves. Owing to shortage of labour and lack of repairing materials many of the tips and loading cranes at the docks have not been kept in a state of efficiency. Temporary breakdowns are. more or less frequent, and delays are inevitable. The outlook is not reassuring, and exporters regard the position with some anxiety. In 1913, when the appliances were kept up to date, there were complaints then that the facilities were not adequate for the trade of the port, and schemes were inaugurated both at Cardiff and Barry for extending and improving the loading machinery. Since the outbreak of the war the deficiency then complained of was not felt owing to the decreased exports, and the dock authorities are much less able to cope with a heavy increase of traffic than they were at that time. Enquiries are already coming forward from neutral consumers, but at the moment there is little prospect of any immediate business owing to lack of supplies. The authorities are issuing instructions for the release of miners as soon as possible, and it is computed that of these about 25,000 will be available for South Wales. All Admiralty and superior descriptions of coal are retained by the Government for naval and Allied pur- poses, so that there is no margin for neutrals, except within the limits specified by the Coal Controller. For all grades the demand is brisk. Monmouthshire coals are moving off freely, and much of the secondary grade coal is finding a ready market amongst inland consumers. Best steam smalls are also in active request, and the heavy demand for these classes has stimulated the demand for the inferior qualities, which are rapidly absorbed. The stocks banked at the collieries will soon be requisitioned, and there will be no reserves of any description. No alteration has yet been made in the prices fixed by the Coal Controller, but there is a feeling that the restrictions should be relaxed as soon as possible, and that a return be made to the principles of open competition. A resolu- tion to this effect was unanimously adopted by the Chamber of Commerce last week and forwarded to the Coal Controller. In the bituminous section there is no change, and the demand is kept within limits by the provisions of the Rationing Order which is now in full operation. Cardiff prices f.o.b. (except where otherwise stated). Current Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam; coals Superior seconds Allies’ fixed 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 37/ 36/ 36/ 1 35/ 40/ 37/9 37/9 ! 33/ 34/ ! 29/ -30/6 1 24/ -26/ ! 37/ i 37/ ; 54/6 54/6 ’ 54/6 | 65/ I | Neutrals’ j minimum 1 prices. 1 i 50/ ) 47/6 | 46/ 1 45/ 28/6 j 28/ 27/6 i 27/ I 26/6 26/ 25/6 25/ 45/ 42/6 45/ 42/6 40/ 38/6 45/ 43/6 ; 43/6 i 42/ ; 50/ J 46/ 46/ 38/ 1 41/ | 33/ -35/6 ! 24/ -26' ! 45/ ' ! 45/ ■ 70/ 70/ • 70/ Last year’s j prices. i 33/ i 31/6 1 30 9 i 30/ i 21 6 ! 21/ 20/6 20 19,6 19/ 18 6 18/ 30/ 28 6 30/ 28/6 27/6 26,6 30/ 29/ 29/ 28/ 33/ 30/9 30,9 26/ 27/ 22/ -23/6 17/ -19/ 30/ 30/ 47/6 47/6 47/6 75/ 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 Western-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-through Small ; Best patent fuel Seconds ' Special foundry coke Ordinary do. j Furnace coke | Pitwood (ex-ship) j IRON. The tinplate trade continues steady, and makers are so fully coverod for several months ahead that they are not anxious to commit themselves to further transactions at present. Block tin continues to decline, and the view is expressed in certain quarters that much lower figures will be reached before the downward tendency is arrested. Spot prices are now <£319 10s. to £320 10s., and for three months, £299 10s. to £300 10s. is quoted. Receipts from works, as well as shipments, last week were below the average. Exports were only 15,571 boxes, whilst receipts totalled 10,394 boxes, leaving stocks in the docks ware- houses and vans at 137,643 boxes, compared with 141,829 boxes the previous week, and 72,971 boxes a year ago. Although no actual change has yet taken place in the iron and steel trades, material for only commercial purposes is being released, and it is probable that works before long will be able to take up arrears. There are many enquiries in the market from home and abroad. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change, but with the regular deliveries of ore in the spelter industry a revival is anticipated at an early date. All prices remain in accord- ance with the official schedule. Llanelly. COAL. The position of the local market is much firmer, and in many cases supplies are difficult to secure in satisfactory quantities. Outputs during the coming week will be well 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 34/6 34/6 25/6 Machine-made cobbles... 49/6 49/6 42/6 Seconds 48/6 48/6 41/ Thirds 46/ 46/ 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/ 31/ Peas (all qualities) 27/ 27/ 20/ Rubbly culm .. 20/ 20/ 13/ Red Vein culm 18/ 18/ 11/ Breaker duff 15/ 15/ 8/ Billy duff 13/6 13/6 6/6 Steam:— Best large steams 37/ 37/ 30/ Seconds 34/ 34/ 27/ Cargo through — — 23/6 Seconds - — 22/ Bunker through 30/6 30/6 23/6 Smalls 24/ 24/ 19/ Second smalls 17/ Bituminous:— Bituminous through ... 34/ 34/ 27/ Smalls 31/ 31/ 24/ Gas through 23/6 Gas smalls 21/ (Coke-oven) coke 54/6 54/6 maintained. Anthracite coals are firm, with large kinds of the better grades and also Red Vein qualities in strong demand Buyers find it difficult to obtain spare parcels, as outputs over the coming week are well booked up. Ton- nage arrivals have been more satisfactory, and stocks are practically cleared away. Machine-made coals are a strong market, with supplies on the short side. Culm and duff are slow. Steam coals are busy, while large kinds and bunker throughs are difficult to secure. Manufacturing coals are also a strong demand. There is an active inland enquiry for practically all qualities. Swansea. COAL. There was an excellent attendance on '’Change, and the anthracite coal market continued firm. 'I he tonnage position was good and stems are closely filled up for most qualities at present. Large was well booked, best kinds being scarce, whilst the demand for second and third grades very much improved. Machine-made descriptions displayed increasing firmness, but culm and duff were still slow. Steam coals continued to display a good tone, large being practically unobtainable, and throughs were still im- proving. SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. Problems of reconstruction are now in the air, and the South Wales collieries are making arrangements for the large number of miners who will be released from the Army. Housing accommodation and railway and dock facilities will have to be reorganised and improved at once, otherwise a material increase in the output would produce congestion. Any material increase in output will be followed by an increased demand for pitwood, and the question arises as to how soon the restrictions upon the importations of French pitwood will be removed. Further- more lifting of restrictions will undoubtedly be followed by efforts to resuscitate the Spanish pitwood trade. It is known that there are large quantities of wood in Spain available for export, and no doubt when tonnage can be better spared and import restrictions are removed, large quantities will be sent to South Wales. Fixed prices for the sale of pitwood to collieries are likely to remain for some time, although it is held in many quarters that their removal would not drive values higher, but would tend rather to send prices below the fixed limits. Imports for the past week were upon a good scale. The quantities received from Ireland were fair, whilst a good amount of home grown wood cut from the surrounding counties was delivered to collieries. The quantity of mining timber imported from France into South Wales ports for the week ended November 15 was as follows:— Date. Consignee. Loads. Nov. 12 Lysberg Limited ............ 1,560 „ 12 Lysberg'Limited ........... 1,200 „ 15 T. P. Thomas and Co.......... 600 „ 15 T. P. Thomas and Co ......... 720 „ 15 Lysberg Limited ........... 720 „ 15 Lysberg Limited ........... 840 „ 15 Lysberg Limited ........... 600 „ 15 Morgan and Cadogan ........ 300 ,, 15 Lysberg Limited.......... 1,200 „ 15 Lysberg Limited ........... 30 Total 7,770 THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, November 21. Dublin. There is no change to report in the coal trade, and supplies are still further restricted, owing to the miners’ stoppage, which has greatly curtailed the production and shipment of all qualities. Prices all remain as recently fixed. The accounts of the Dublin Coal Traders’ Associa- tion show that in January last they received only 38 tons for the poorer classes, compared with 91 tons the previous January. Owing to the high prices, the consumption in Ireland was at the minimum last year, and the returns obtainable in Dublin from those engaged in the coal trade show only 5 cwt. supplied the average family in eight weeks. It is stated that there is only one quality of coal obtainable in Cork at present—the price being 64s. 6d. per ton, or 63s. 6d. per ton ex ship. There appears to be no actual shortage except in the country districts. Belfast. Business is resuming its ordinary course after the inter- ruption caused by last week’s celebrations, but so far supplies are only arriving slowly, owing to the accumula- tion of steamers at the loading ports during the past week. Current quotations for household coals arranged by the Coal Committee are—Best Arley, 56s. 6d. per ton; Scotch house, 49s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 54s. 6d. per ton, all less Is. per ton for cash ; standard coal, 48s. 6d. per ton net cash. THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. • There is very little actual business, traders being inclined to wait and see what the Government intentions are. Many orders are waiting to be placed on home and Allied account, and as several war orders have already been can- celled, makers should be in position to take on a good deal of new business. The tone of the market is good, and present prices for coke tin-plates range round 32s. per basis box, net cash, f.o.t. at works. Wasters in large sizes are still scarce, and realise top figures. Ternes are quietly steady at round £30 per ton, net cash. Black-plate in finished quality is quoted £26 per ton, net, f.o.t. at makers’ works. Dr. Henry Briggs, Edinburgh, has for several months been acting as technical adviser in the Department of the Surveyor General of Supply, War Office. Bradford Coal Merchants* Association.—At a meeting of the Coal Merchants’ Section of the Bradford Chamber of Trade, last week, Mr. H. Mosley (supervisor) dealt with the probable effect of the cessation of hostilities on the supplies of coal. He pointed out that, though there would be some improvement, merchants would be very foolish to expect to get back to normal conditions in less than twelve months’ time. With reference to demobilisa- tion, he suggested that a detailed list of men at present serving with the Colours, who were urgently needed by their former employers, should be sent to him with a view to the matter being taken up in bulk with the military authorities. The meeting passed a resolution requiring cash on delivery for small quantities on and J ter December 1.