1248 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. December 13, 1918. _________________________________________________________________________ not only for our future security, but also as a part of the policy of making these aliens understand the common laws of hospitality, which many of them have systematically abused. That some innocent people will suffer is regrettable, but for this they must thank their more unscrupulous countrymen. Mr. Lloyd George states clearly that the European Allies have accepted the principle that the Central Powers must pay the cost of the war up to the limit of their capacity, and a commission of experts is proposed to be set up to examine the best way of exacting this indemnity. This suggestion will probably raise a shriek of protest from the few discredited politicians who did not cease to declare in favour of a peace by negotiation. But it is to be hoped that voters will not listen to the blandishments of those who have more regard for the German’s pocket than for the British taxpayer. Not a dissentient voice will probably be raised against the sections of the Prime Minister’s statement referring to our debt of honour to our soldiers and sailors. It is the very least we can do in acknowledgment of the great deeds they have done and the sacrifices they have made. Turning next to home affairs, the Prime Minister dwells upon the connection between improved wages, improved conditions of labour and increased pro- duction. There need be no fear of unemployment in view of the requirements of a devastated Europe, new lands to be exploited, new home resources to be developed. To carry out these great projects there must be mutual confidence between capital and labour. Mr. Lloyd George makes it clear that there is only one path to the promotion of national prosperity—viz., increased production, not for the enrichment of employers alone, but of all classes of the British people. His plain and straightforward statement of the fundamental basis of sound political economy should serve to convince the working man that his interest lies not in the destruction of existing organisations, but in the elaboration of the machinery which has made this country what it is. _________________ Amongst the new measures arising from the general reconstruction of the country a prominent place is given to improved housing, health, educa- tion and rural development. Great changes are foreshadowed in our transportation system, particu- larly in the development of light railways, the improvement of canals, and the provision of cheap electric power. A pledge is given that the careful work of the many Reconstruction Committees shall lead to practical results so far as this is possible. A great building-up of the national organisation upon tried lines is promised, and the voter is asked to support this great work if he really loves his country. _____________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices Best screened steam coal... 33/6 33/6 26/6 Secondary qualities 32/6 32/6 25/6 Treble nuts 30/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 29/ 22/ Single do 28' 28-' 21/ Thursday, December 12. _________________________________________________ Dublin. There is little or no improvement to report, either with regard to the supplies coming in or the quality of the coal. Cash prices in the city are 57s. 6d. for best quality ; second quality, 56s. 6d., and standard coal, 53s. 6d. per ton; retail, 3s. lOd. per bag of 1| cwt. In the suburbs the prices are Is. per ton more. Irish coal from the Wolfhill Collieries, Queen’s County, is 50s. per t n f.o.b. Athy. on the Great Southern and Western Bail way line, and 20s. per ton for lime-burning culm. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays during the past week was 18,845 tons— chiefly from Cardiff, Liverpool, Ardrossan, Newport, Garston, Troon, Ayr, Swansea, Silloth, Point of Aire, Preston, Partington, Glasgow, Maryport and Whitehaven. At the monthly meeting of the Dublin Municipal Council last week a latter was received from the Electricity Supply Committee, which stated that, in spite of the Armistice, there was still a serious shortage of coal, and the need for the utmost economy was imperative. The Callan Board of Guardians recently called the attention of the Local Government Board to the fact that the Slieveardagh coal mines in the counties Tipperary and Kilkenny are idle as a result of the depopulation of the district, and asking them to call on the Government to afford facilities for developing the mines. The conference between the owners of the Arigna mines and the Irish Transport Workers Union, under the presidency of the Coal Controller, agreed that in the Arigna Mining Company’s mines the employees shall be paid respectively-Miners, 6s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. a ton; drawers, 2s and 2s. 3d.; engineers, 7s. 6d. a day; grubbers, Is. per ton increase all round; labourers, 6s. a day; sales- men, 6s. 9d. a day; brushers, 4s. 3d. a yard and 8s. 6d. a fathom. Belfast. In the local market very little change for the better is apparent, supplies being quite inadequate and obtained only with the greatest difficulty. Fortunately, it is easier to cope with household requirements, owing to the very mild weather. House coal prices are :—Best Arley, 55s. 6d. per ton; Scotch house, 49s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 54s. 6d ; Orrell slack, 51s. 6d.; all less Is. per ton for cash ; standard coal, 48s. 6d. per ton, net cash. The total number of coal-laden vessels entering the harbour from November 17 to 30 was 145. _________________________ THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. There is nothing new to report. The fixed price of 32s. 6d. per ba«is box for cokes net cash, f.o.t. at works, is the lowest price at which it is possible to buy to-day, but even at this; makers are by no means anxious to sell forward to any extent. They are all well booked to present capacity for some weeks; and there is consequently no object just now in committing themselves too far ahead. Of course, all orders are only being accepted subject to the advance clause. Wasters are snapped up as they accrue, full official prices being paid freely all round. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, December 12. Scotland. -Western District. COAL. There is little change to report in the West of Scotland coal trade. Exports are still considerably restricted, and the output is disposed of to industrial and gas concerns and to merchants. The Supplies Committee is doing every- thing possible to ensure sufficient stocks to carry over the coming holidays. Deliveries of house coals are now fairly regular. Shipments for the week amounted to 72,278 tons, against 74,892 tons in the preceding week, and 93,878 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. ! prices. prices. Steam coal 34/6 | 34/6 27/6 Ell 32/6-35/ 1 / | 32/6-35/ 26/6-28/ Splint 35/ -37/ i 35/ -37/ 28/ -30' Treble nuts 30/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ I : 29/ 22/ Single do 28/ 28/ 21/ IRON. The general outlook is much better. Markets are some- what livelier, owing to increasing enquiries, while business which was hung up during the war is being proceeded with in many instances. The fixing of the export prices of pig iron at 50s. above home prices establishes a high rate of quotations, but at the same time secures a working basis, and plenty of business will be forthcoming when makers are in a position to give delivery. Enquiries from the eastern markets are already to hand. As regards malleable iron, the price hinted at last week has actually been arranged. The new figure of <£20 for bar iron is a record price. In some circles, however, it is thought that after the first rush of business is over and makers are once again on the outlook for orders, values will subside considerably and, therefore, those who are able are holding orders back in the meantime. The situation with respect to carrying tonnage is improving. Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. As in the Western district, conditions in the Lothians coal trade show little or no change from last week. Export is being severely restricted, and productions are going to local consumers. Shipments were 16,070 tons, against 16,778 in the preceding week, and 17,566 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. The position in Fifeshire is also without alteration and is similar to the other districts, local consumers taking the bulk of the supplies. Shipments amounted to 26,055 tons, against 18,105 in the preceding week, and 28,016 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. coal 36/ -38.' 36/ -38/ 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ Unscreened do 31/ -32/ 31/ -32/ First-class steam coal 35/ • 35/ 31/ 28/ Third-class do 31/ 24/ Treble nuts 30/ 29/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 22/ Single do 28/ 28' 21/ The aggregate shipments- from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 114,403 tons, compared with 109,775 in the preceding week, and 139,470 tons in the corresponding week of last year. -------—----------________ ________ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. In the course of the week, the local coal market has moved on from strength to strength, and is now in an exceedingly firm position. The output is being readily absorbed on Government, Allied and inland accounts, and practically there is not an ounce of coal to be had by neutrals, excepting under very rare circumstances. The output is far from adequate to meet even the nearer requirements already mentioned, nor is it likely to become sufficient until the mining man-power, which is now being released from the Army, is got back to work inconsiderable strength in the collieries of the counties. Figures which are really sensationally high continue to be quoted against neutrals. Thus, all the advances recorded during the last week or two are fully maintained, and in addition new increases have been made, bringing up certain of the quotations to the following:— Best steams, Blyths, 37s. to 80s. per ton ; Tynes, 36s. 6d. to 80s.; gas bests, 32s. to 65s.; gas specials, 33s. 6d. to 65s.; Durham bunkers, 31s. to 65s.; and gas coke 52s. 6d. to 65s. In each instance this represents an increase of 5s. per ton on the week. Even at these enhanced selling values, coal is very difficult to obtain by neutrals, and it is believed that, were any apprsciable quantity available, sellers would have no difficulty in securing from 90s. to 100s. for best Blyth steams, for example.* The outlook for months ahead is very unsatisfactory from the neutral point of view, for there seems n > early likelihood of any great releases of coal, so far as they are concerned. There is an abundance of official and neutral tonnage awaiting loading, and from the standpoint of sea-going carriage, collieries have nothing to fear for a long time t> come, but railway trucks are scarce in number and irregular in arrival. Hence great delays in transit. That it should take a week for a truck-load of coal from Tyneside to reach London is little short of a scandal, but such is the fact, and “ coal men ” are urging on the Coal Controller the advisability of making larger use of the coasting tonnage available, in order to expedite the deliveries of coal to the Metropolis To do this would lead to no embarrass- ment of the collieries by the withdrawing of tonnage for other destinations, for, as already indicated, shipping is offering superabundantly. Indeed, many vessels, despairing of obtaining early cargoes, are proceeding elsewhere to load. The great volume of steamer traffic at present is putting a big strain on the bunkering capacity of the river, and bunker coals are exceedingly scarce. Under present circumstances, not a great deal of new contra't business can be entertained, but it is interesting to note that Scan- dinavian orders are looming rather large. The contract to supply the Norwegian State Bailways with 8,000 tons of best steams for shipment during January and first half of February has been divided equally between two Newcastle tirms at 70s. per ton, plus 5 per cent, commis ion. An order to supply the Swedish State Bailways with 20,000 tons of local best steams to be shipped from January to March has been given to a Newcastle firm at 75s. per ton,, f.o.b., with the option of a proportion of best smalls at 50s. per ton, plus 5 per cent, commission in each case. It will be observed that in each instance, railways have been fortunate in “ getting on ” at considerably under the cur- rent quotation for the classes of coal. The Danish State Bailways have been enquiring for from 10,000 to 15,000 tons of steams for December-January loading, but the business does not seem to have resulted in attracting any offers. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. | Current Steam coals :— j prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ...; 37/ -80/ Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 436/6-80/ Secondary, Blyths ____1 32/6-67/6 Do. Tynes (Hastings! or West Hartleys) ... 34/ -70 Unscreened ........... 30/6-61/8 Small, Blyths ......... 27/ -50/ Do. Tynes............. 25/6-45/ Do. specials........; 27/6-50/ Other sorts:— i Smithies..............i 32/ -60/ Best gas coals (New! Pelton or Holmside) 32/ -65/ Secondary gas coals; (Pelaw Main or similar) j 30/6-60/ Special gas coals ...... 33/6-65/ Unscreened bunkers, I Durhams; 31/ -65/ Do. do. Northumbrians 31/ -55/ Coking coals.........' 31/ -55/ Do. smalls ... 31/ -55/ House coals ......... 35/6-751 Coke, foundry ......... 49/6-65/ Do. blast-furnace..... 49/6-65/ Do. gas .............; 52,6-55/ L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. | prices. 37 ' -75/ ; 30 -32/6 36/6-75/ I 29 6-32/ 32/6-67/6 25'6-28/ 27/ -29/6 23/6-27 6 20/ -22 6 18/6-21/ 20/6-23/ 25/ -33/6 25/ -27/6 ; 23/6-26/ | 26/6-29/ j 26,6-27,6 I 26 6-27/6 | 24/ -27/6 24/ -27/6 23/6-32/ ' 42,6-45/ ; 42,6-45/ 35/ -37/6 34/ -70/ 30'6-61/8 27/ -50/ 25/6-45/ 27/6-50/ 32/ -60/ 32/ —60/ 30/6-60/ 33/6-60/ 31/ -60/ 31/ -55/ 31/ -55/ i 31/ —55/ I 35/6—75/ ; 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ I 47/6-50/ Sunderland. COAL. Pressure for coal, especially for this month, is so intense that there is not a seller on the market, and colliery owners state that they could freely obtain from 90s. to 100s. for prompt qualities of best steams if they could bring the coals forward. There is no doubt that as the official and inland requirements are so extensive, neutrals who have many boats actually lying idle in the river, would pay any price to secure a consignment to cover their most pressing needs. The scarcity of coal is very serious. Good gas coals for the free market are not on offer for months to come. Buyers for the first quarter of next year offer 65s., and do not hesitate to say that higher prices would be forthcoming if there was any reason to suppose it would produce the fuel. There is another sharp advance in the bunker market. Neutral vessels are vainly offering 65s. to 70s. There is no change in the coke position, and 65s. is steadily quoted for any make of foundry or furnace coke. Prices for gas coke are moving up, owing to strong demand. Best qualities now are 52s. 6d. to 55s. f.o.b. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. goal. The general condition of the fuel trade is not appreciably altered. Supply of coal threatens to continue very short, and there is not much business passing in any branch. Official needs (home and Allied) continue heavy. Distri- bution by rail is still difficult, but steamer tonnage is more than ample. There is large and growing enquiry from neutrals, but little prospect of opening out such business to any extent for some time to come. Bunkers are very strong, and practically no supply is available for outside trade. Coke supply is adequate for blastfurnaces, but very scarce for other purposes. Average furnace coke is 33s. at the ovens; and quality low in phosphorus, 35s. 6d at the ovens. Gas house coke is in large request for shipment, and is dearer, the quotation now being 55s. f.o.b. Foundry coke for neutrals still stands at 65s. f.o.b. IRON. Cleveland pig iron is in heavy request, enquiries both for home use and shipment abroad being on a very heavy scale. The supply of foundry quality continues con- siderably below the normal, owing chiefly to furnaces needing re-lining. They are turning out a large proportion of the inferior qualities of iron. The persistent substantial enquiry on behalf of neutrals leads to no business, as in addition to practically all deliverable iron being promptly taken up by home customers and the Allies, licences for shipment to neutrals are still unobtainable. Shortage of trucks is still greatly hampering distribution. For home consumption No 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge all stand at 95s., and No. 1 is 99s. ; whilst for export No. 3 and the lower qualities are 145s.; and No. 1 is 150s. Distribution of east coast haematite iron is still un 4er official control, and is likely to be, so long as production barely meets essential needs. Owing to the urgent home requirements, shipments to the Allies are smaller than they have been. On the whole the situation is not unsatisfactory. Mixed numbers are 122s. 6d. for home use, an! 172s. 6d. for export. Though consumers are carrying considerable stocks of foreign ore they are in the mirket to buy, and are prepared to purchase over the first quarter of next year, but sellers are adopting a very cautious attitude and are not at all keen to make contracts. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel are busy, and are pressed for deliveries of heavy material. They are greatly hampered by the scarcity of fuel, and indeed some firms find it impossible to keep going. Christmas holidays are likely to be longer than usual unless supply of coal is very greatly increased.