1360 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. December 27, 1918. progress for increased shipments from Bay ports, and also from Spain and Portugal, from which" countries imports have been practically suspended during the last three years. Quotations are unchanged. IRON. The Christmas holidays will be taken advantage of in many iron and steel works to effect necessary repairs, and on a resumption of operations next week it is expected that maximum outputs will again be the rule. Orders are plentiful, and a busy time is ensured for a long period, so extensive have become the arrears. In the tin-plate trade the feature of the week has been the violent fluctuations of the market in block tin. At the end of last week forward prices declined to =£241 per ton, but a recovery afterwards set in and closed on balance at <£264. Tin-plates continue firm at 32s. 6d. per box for standard sizes and other grades in proportion. Orders are plentiful, but makers are pursuing a waiting policy, while pushing forward their preparations for an increased output as soon as the necessary labour can be released from the Armyi The same remark applies to the galvanised sheet trade, which is likely to have a prosperous time when spelter becomes cheaper and more plentiful. Increased ore supplies are being arranged, but no appreciable benefit from these can be expected before the early spring. In the meantime 24 gauge corrugateds, of which small quantities are being pro- duced, are selling at the maximum price of <£30 per ton. Scrap metals are in good demand at top quotations. Swansea. COAL. The pressure on the anthracite coal market is fully main- tained. Many of the collieries are fully booked up with orders until well on in the new year for all classes except culm and duff, which are moving off very slowly. Steam coals continue strong. Llanelly. COAL. There is little new to report as to the state of the local market. Collieries are busily engaged trying to cope with the big demand . All the anthracite qualities, with the exception of duff, and rubbly culm and duff, are in big request, and sellers for the most part have all their work cut out to fulfil their commitments by the specified time. Steam coals, too, are going well, and all qualities are well bought up. Gas and manufacturing fuels are also in heavy request. Local consumers are finding it a very difficult matter to secure extra deliveries because of the holidays. Inland orders are plentiful, but long delays in the sending on of supplies are quite unavoidable, as collieries have such long lists of shipping orders which must be attended to. Prices f.o.b. Current L’s tweet’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/ 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 .» '-'1 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 26/ ' 26/ 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 Sixpence per ton extra if shipped to France or Italy. Under a direction of the Coal Controller, dated December 12, Norwegian steamers are to obtain bunkers at Allied fixed prices. SOUTH WALES MINING TIMBER TRADE. The imports of foreign mining timber were upon a slow scale, but collieries in the main had plentiful supplies. Quotations were at the top maximum levels Supplies of home grown timber were good; but deliveries were poor, owing to the delays on the railways and the difficulties of transport in the forests during inclement weather. The Timber Supplies Department, it is stated, is anxious to close down their work as soon as possible, and it is hoped that, as shipping tonnage has become more plentiful, the restrictions on importations will shortly be removed. The quantity of mining timber imported into South Wales ports for the week ending December 20 is as follows :— Date. From To Loads. Dec. 14 . .. Bordeaux ... ...Lysberg Ltd 780 „ 16.. .. L’Orient ... ...Marcesche & Co 30 „ 16. .. Bordeaux ... ...Vyvyan & Kelly .... 1,471 „ 16. .. L’Orient ... ...Marcesche & Co 420 „ 17.. .. Bordeaux ... ...Lysberg Ltd 2,620 „ 17.. .. Bordeaux ... ...Lysberg Ltd 960 „ 18.. .. Bordeaux ... ...Lysberg Ltd 1,080 „ 18.. . L’Orient ... ...Lysberg Ltd 360 Coal Shortage and Army Stocks.—To meet the coal short- age, which is acute in certain localities, an arrangement has been come to between the War Office and the Coal Con- trol Department, whereby public needs may be temporarily met by drawing on Army stocks. The arrangement pro- vides that where stocks of coal or gas coke exist in camps above immediate requirements, assistance in fuel supplies may be given to the public from such stocks by mutual arrangement between local fuel overseers and the officer in charge of War Office supplies. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The prohibition regarding the export of tar products has been removed, with the exception of solvent naphtha, cresylic acid and mixtures containing cresylic acid. Otherwise, the position of the by-products trade this week is not materially changed. As usual, pitch is firm in London and the provinces. Indeed, 'would-be buyers of immediate supplies are more numerous than sellers, and the price tends beyond the long familiar figure of 65s. ex London works. Export business remains strong, and some substantial quantities are being shipped from West Cum- berland. Quite a boom has set in for benzol, owing to its having been taken up so largely for motor vehicles. The demand is likely to continue, for restrictions on petrol cannot be abolished yet awhile, and in the meantime a great deal of miscellaneous traction must have adequate fuel. Solvent naphtha is only in moderate demand, and the price is not of the firmest. Creosote is wanted, but crude carbolic is easier in tone. Not much news is current this week concerning other by-products, owing to the awkward break in business caused by the holidays. Sulphate of Ammonia.—Official prices continue, and the demand is still a good one. COASTWISE SHIPMENTS IN NOVEMBER. According to the returns issued by the Commissioners of H.M. Customs and Excise, the following quantities of coal were shipped coastwise from the United Kingdom during November:— From 1 Total cargo. Total bunker. 1917. 1918. 1917. 1918. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Bristol Channel ports 78,266 114,571 8 294 8,006 North-western ports 114,599 142,470 32,611 34,027 North-eastern ports ’..... 372,021 247,941 16,642 12,671 Humber ports 20,294 22,752 3,461 3,075 Other ports on east coast 9,761 13,411 2,977 2,732 Other English ports 5,371 7,957 2,508 813 Total from England and Wales 600,312 549,102 66,493 61,324 Ports on east coast of Scotland I 37,986 9,065 7,060 3,347 Ports on west coast of Scotland | 144,268 ; 149,638 16,808 17,049 Total from Scotland ! 182,254 158,703 23,868 20,396 Irish ports — — 1,704 840 Total from United Kingdom 782,566 707,805 j 92,065 82,560 The destination of cargo shipments was as follows :— To ports in England and Wales........ Scotland................. Ireland ................. Nov. 1917. Tons. 493,757 18,753 270,056 Nov. 1918. Tons. 359,982 14,414 333,409 THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. < There is nothing new to report. The official price is firmly maintained at 32s. 6d. per box basis for cokes, net cash, f.o.t. at makers’ works, There is a good deal of enquiry, but makers are not anxious to sell until the labour position is easier. Wasters continue in good demand, and are bought up as soon as they accrue at top prices. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Tuesday, December 24. The few transactions recorded on the London coal market have given rise to a considerable amount of uneasiness as to how the remaining days of the old year will be affected in view of the present shortage, and the diminution of output through holidays. The prevailing note of optimism that an improvement will in all probability be felt in the early part of January, when the released miners will get into full swing, does not do away with the anxiety for the present moment. Fortunately the weather has not been bitterly cold, so that the actual consumption has not been beyond the normal, but the supplies have been from hand to mouth, and the merchants have found it an impossi- bility to land any stock for an emergency. An urgent message from the Coal Controller has been sent round pointing out that the greatest economy must still be exercised by all, and that no relaxation of the coal restrictions will be possible this winter. The uncer- tainty as to the probable increase in the output of coal in the near future is exercising the minds of all the London coal merchants at the present time, but it is certain that for the moment the supply is a very acute problem. Some of the depots have already been obliged to close for want of coal, and this in itself has created a serious position in many of the poorer neighbourhoods, where they are dependent upon the weekly visit of the trolleymen and dealers to keep the household fires going. A special order has been given that from December 19 to January 4 inclusive, no coal shall be delivered to any private dwelling house where a sufficient stock of coal is in hand to cover the period named, and in accordance with this Order many loaded wagons have been commandeered and transferred to poorer people who have been unable to secure their necessary weekly or monthly supply. The stringency in the wholesale market for household fuel has been very marked during the week, and the tone of the Exchange has been very depressing in view of the limited supplies avail- able. The following notice was exhibited on the door of the Subscription Room of the London Coal Merchants’ Society on Friday last: —“Members have decided not to attend the Coal Exchange on Friday the 27th inst.” “It has been arranged with the Coal Porters’ Union to open all depots on Friday, 27th, and Saturday, 28th inst.” It will be seen, therefore, that the deputation arranged for last wee’k to wait on the Controller was successful in getting the restriction removed in so far as Friday and Saturday’s working was concerned at all the London coal depots. The loaded trucks brought in prior to the commencement of Christmas Day will therefore be dealt with in the ordinary course of delivery, and it is confidently hoped that any great hard- ship will be obviated. The tests of anthracite coal by the Army medical authorities at Millbank have been found to be highly satisfactory. The fear of any poisonous or sulphurous fumes from carbon monoxide has been entirely dispelled, and the use of anthracite coal in ordinary dwelling houses has been shown to effect a saving of 25 per cent, in the use of coal. Twenty-five vessels were reported on Monday as arriving in the River Thames, and as 19 vessels were reported on Friday’s market, this is considered a fair average at this period of the year. Reports mention that other vessels are expected immediately. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, December 20. — In anticipation of better supples and reduced freights, the tone of the seaborne coal market was good. Nineteen cargoes of seaborne manu- facturing coal were entered on to-day’s list. No coal on offer. Monday, December 23.—The number of vessels entered on to-day’s market list was good. Twenty-five cargoes on account of contracts with seaborne manufacturing gas coals have arrived. At present, no seaborne house coal is coming, and there was no coal for open sale. LABOUR AND WAGES. South Wales and Monmouthshire. The Bedwas Colliery difficulty came before the special conference of the South Wales Miners’ Federation in Cardiff last week. The demand of the workmen, who had been on strike for about seven weeks, was for the dismissal of all the firemen and overmen in the colliery, and their demand was approved by the conference held not long ago, when the delegates instructed the Federation executive to order the tendering of notices throughout the whole coalfield in support of Bedwas. The executive, how- ever, did not carry out this instruction, but called another conference, and at its gathering last Thursday they recom- mended the delegates to withdraw the demand against all the overmen and firemen except two firemen against whom charges had been made. Home Office representatives, with the Right Hon. W. Brace, had in the interval conducted an enquiry into the circumstances, and after consultation with the employers, and also with the firemen and the miners’ representatives, made certain recommendations which included temporary stoppage of the two firemen referred to pending an official enquiry. The executive recommended the conference to accept the suggestion that two workmen should be placed one on each shift in every district where danger was apprehended from defective ventilation; and they advised the conference to rescind the resolution of its predecessor passed a fortnight previously demanding the dismissal of all the overmen and firemen, the executive being unanimously of opinion that to require summary dismissal of a large number of officials upon a non-specific accusation was not justifiable. The recommendation was adopted. The conference resolved that the suggested terms of settle- ment for the future working of the colliery should be left to the Federation executive and the Bedwas men ; and that the council should also consider the question of single headings in the opening of workings and should report to a future conference. The Federation executive decided to issue a strong appeal to the leaders throughout the coal field so that a substantial sum may be raised for the financial assistance of the Bedwas men whose out-of-work allowance is only 10s. per week. In addition, the delegates at the conference decided that a financial grant should be made to the men, supplementing their strike pay, and that the central fund should be reimbursed by the imposition of the levy. At the Conciliation Board meeting the Right Hon. W. Brace congratulated Mr. Evan Williams upon his appoint- ment as chairman of the employers’ representatives, and said that from past experience he was sure the meetings of the board would be conducted in a friendly spirit, for Mr. Williams had always exercised great patience in listening to arguments submitted from the workmen’s side. One of the matters which came before the board was that of bringing into operation the 49-hours week for craftsmen and surfacemen, and it was agreed that this should com- mence on January 1—the meal of 20 minutes to be so arranged as not to interfere with general work. This new arrangement will not affect the hours of men who at present work lesser hours. The coal owners’ representatives have met representa- tives of the Master Hauliers and Traffic Foremen’s Associa- tions. The principal business was that of finally arranging to set up a standing wage agreement, and it is announced that the matter was settled satisfactorily. The Federation executive, at a meeting in Cardiff on Saturday, discussed the subject of a six hours working day, and decided to call a special meeting for December 30, when the executive will consider the difficulties that might arise in regard to wages, the number of shifts, etc. A circular from the Co vl Controller conveyed information to the executive of that official’s decision relating to pay- ment of war wage for week-end work, but the council could not accept the whole of the conclusions arrived at, and it was therefore decided to bring the matter before the Joint Disputes Committee, so that representations might be made to the Controller on the specific points.—A reso- lution was passed that discharged sailors and soldiers ■employed in any colliery should be given the rates of pay