§ 32. Mr. LAMBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state as nearly as can be the cost to the consumer of coal for industrial and for household purposes, for the year 1913 and the year commencing 16th July, 1919, showing how the cost to the consumer in each year was, and will be, distributed between the royalty owner, the coal owner, the miner, the railway company, and the final distribution?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI will circulate to-day a statement giving this information.
§ The following is the statement referred to:
§ There have always been wide variations in the prices of the various grades and sizes of coal sold both for industrial and for household purposes.
§ In 1913 pithead prices of industrial fuel ranged from about 1s. per ton for anthracite duff (used by cement works, spelter works, etc.) to 17s., or even more, for the best large steam coal, while prices of domestic coal ranged from about 8s. per ton for inferior kitchen nuts to over 20s. per ton for some of the best drawing room coals.
§ The average pithead price of all coals in 1913 was 11s. per ton sold.
§ The above prices will now be increased in all cases by 16s. 6d. per ton, except for coals produced in South Wales and Mob-mouth, the Forest of Dean and South Staffordshire, the prices of which will be increased by 19s. per ton.
§ Railway rates naturally varied according to distance, and ranged from a few pence to 13s. or more per ton. The average rate would be nearer the lower than the higher of these limits.
§ Railway rates have not so far been increased, but there has been an increase of 50 per cent. in the rates chargeable for 15 the hire of private-owners' wagons, this increase varying from 2 ¼d. to 7 ½d. per ton according to the length of the journey.
§ On seaborne coal freight ranged up to about 4s. per ton, the average freight from Tyne to London (including discharge) being 3s. 5d. per ton as compared with
| 1913. | After 16th July, 1919. | |||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | |||||
| London retail price of best Derby coal | 27 | 0 | 49 | 6 | ||||
| The retail price is made up of— | ||||||||
| (a)Pit price— | s. | d | s. | d. | ||||
| * Labour | 8 | 2 | 22 | 0 ¾ | ||||
| *Timber and stores | 1 | 3 ¼ | 3 | 7¼ | ||||
| *Other costs | 1 | 2 ¼ | 1 | 8 | ||||
| *Royalties | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7½ | ||||
| *Owners' profit | 1 | 9½ | 1 | 3½ | ||||
| 13 | 0 | 29 | 3 | |||||
| (b) Railway rate | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||||
| (c) Wagon hire | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||||
| (d) Distribution charges— | ||||||||
| Loaders' wages | 0 | 11½ | 1 | 9 | ||||
| Carmen's wages | 0 | 10½ | 1 | 10 | ||||
| Other cartage charges | 1 | 0 ¼ | 2 | 7 | ||||
| Loss on small coal, etc. | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| Sacks | 0 | 1½ | 0 | 5 | ||||
| Railway siding rents, demurrage, etc. | 0 | l | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Salaries and establishment charges | 2 | 4½ | 3 | 6 | ||||
| †Profits | 0 | 10 ¾ | 1 | 8 | ||||
| 6 | 8 | 12 | 5 | |||||
| * The amounts of these items, calculated on the average price of 10s. 1½d. per ton of coal of all grades raised in 1913 are: labour, 6s. 4d.; timber, etc., 1s.; other costs, 11d.; royalties, 5½d; owners' profit. Is. 6d.; and the price of 13s. for best Derby has been divided in the same proportions among the different items. The same applies to the corresponding pit prices of 29s. 3d. after 10th July, 1919, which 1ms been adjusted 'from an average selling price of coal of all grades (including export coal) of 29s. 3¼d per ton: sold. | ||||||||
| †This profit is reduced by the amount of factors' charges so far as coal is bought through factors and not direct from the colliery, say, an average of 4d. per ton on all house coal sold in London. The corresponding amount for the country us a whole is probably less than 2d. per ton. | ||||||||
| In the case of coal other than house coal, item (d), comprising the retail merchant's charges, is not incurred as a general rule. The following is a typical example of slack or small coal delivered to a works about 3'miles from a colliery— |
| 1913–14. | After 16th July, 1919. | |||||||||||||
| (a) Pit price— | s. | d. | s. | d | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | ||
| Labour | … | … | 4 | 8 | 18 | 1 | (19 | 11½) | ||||||
| Timber and stores | … | … | 0 | 9 | 2 | 11½ | (3 | 3¼ | ||||||
| Other costs | … | … | 0 | 8¼ | 1 | 11½ | (1 | 6 ¼) | ||||||
| Royalties | … | … | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6¼ | (0 | 7) | ||||||
| Owners' profit | … | … | 1 | 0¾ | 1 | 0¾ | (1 | 2) | ||||||
| 7 | 6 | 24 | 0 | (26 | 6) | |||||||||
| (b)Railway rate | … | … | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | ||||||||
| (c)Wagon hire | … | … | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||
| Delivered price | … | … | 10 | 6 | 27 | 3 | (29 | 9) | ||||||
| Notes.—(1) The figures in brackets indicate the position in a district. such as South Wales and South Staffordshire, where the statutory increase in prices over 1913–14.prices will now be 19s. as compared with 16s. 6d. in other districts. | ||||||||||||||
| (2) In cases in which the fuel is bought through a factor, the above prices will be: increased by the | ||||||||||||||
| amount of his commission, the maximum amount of which may vary from 3d. per ton to Is. 3d. per ton. according to the class of business |
§ Mr. LAMBERTWill the information be ready before the Debate takes place?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am trying to get it in the Vote Office as soon as possible.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSWill the information show what become of the difference between the 28s. l1d. and the price paid by the consumer?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThat question had better be reserved for the Debate. 16 the present maximum freight of 12s. 9d. per ton plus about 2s. discharging, or 14s. 9d. in all.
The following table gives a comparison of the retail price of a standard house coal (best Derby) in London in 1913 and after the 16th July, 1919: