The Washington herald., 1922-07-16
ENCLAND'S COAL
OUTPUT GAINS IN
MONTH OF MAY
Influence of Our Strike
insufficient to Sustain
Coal Prices.

Sodi llCCcs
Trade Commissioner Alexander
v. Dye. London. reports that the to-
tai production OF coal In the United
Kingdom during the month OF May
was larger than in April. owing to
greater number OF working days.
Excluding holidays, however. the
rate OF production per week was
less and diminished steadily during
the month. The output for the
week ended May 6 was 4.7ss 500
tons: May Is. 4.ss5.2oO tons: May
20. 4.so4.Ioo tons: May 27. 4s2s.soe
tons: June 3. t.I4o.soO tons The
output for the FIRST week showed
the effect OF the holiday on May ].
In the face Of this decreasing pro-
duction there has been about a 2s
per cent increase in export as COM
pared with April. Coal shipments
from the United Kingdom during
May amounted to b,o57.23O tons.
valued at Es.7sO.2ss. the average
value per ton thus being IL q Id.
This compared with 4.Oes.57s tons
in April and 5.2o1.255 tons in March.
1922. and 5.e2s.s47 tons in May.
1918. The chief growth in the ex-
port trade is shown in the exports
TO Germany, which rose 10 sol.47s
tons, compared with 25s.sIS tons in
April and 467,7Is tons in March.
Most of the European countries.
however. took larger amounts than
in April.
Export Prices weskeu.
In spite Of the incresse in ex-
ports and the decreasing output.
coal prices weakened materially to-
ward the close Of the month. II
was hoped in this country that the
coal stoppage in the United States
would lead to an Increased demand
for coal from the United Kingdom.
but thus far. although q few car
goes have moved direct to th-
United States. the influence has been
insufficient to sustain prices
This weakening of export prices
happened just at the time when the
audit Of the colliery books for the
month OF April was completed and
showed that there would be prac-
tically no profits for the INDUSTRY
as a whole, and that consequent
wages would not rise above the
minimum wage anywhere and would
decline in most districts. Taking
the two factors together. il was
apparent that wages would con-
tinue at the minimum throughout
August. and much dissatisfaction
arose among the miners. Some Of
the labor leaders have published
statements blaming the mine own
ers for not maintaining the hiGh
price of export coal by means %
making a price agreement among
themselves. Others have aEitsted
for the termination of the agree
ment on which the present proht-
sharing scheme Is based
Mine EARNINGS Low.
Most of the difficulty with regard
to compensation TO the miners is
not really so much a question %
wages as OF earnings. since a great
many of the mines are not en-
ployed at full time, and the earn
ings are therefore very low COM
pared with prewsr. while the stand
ard OF wages is higher A state
ment just issued by the Mine Own
ers' Association calls attention 20
the fact that. while wages have
dropped to the minimum in all dis
tricts except one and that ths
minimum is roughly 20 per cent
over the standard wages prevail
ing in 1914. II does not mean that
wages are only 20 per cent in eN-
cess Of prewar wages. The state
ment made by the coal owners is
that standard wages" were not the
wages actually paid in 1914. and
that 20 per cent over the STANDARD
wage" of 1914 means about 42s per
cent over the actual prewar wages
In a few cases mines were Obliged
to shut down. owing to inability ia
make any profits. One mine in par
ucUlsr. employing about 1000 men.
asked the employees to agree 10 a
reduction In wages Of about 80 par
cent Of the standard rate T's' '-~ %
ing that otherwise they would be
unable to continue o-,'stturs I
request. however. we elected by
the men in mass meeting.
Freight rates fiuctuated more than
usual during the month. but closed
weaker than at any time sirce ea~'v
in January OF this year This WAS
particularly true OF South America.
the closing rates being lbs Sd 80
Rio de Isnefro and MonfeNfdeo