IMPORTANT MOVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10457, 25 July 1925, Page 5

IMPORTANT MOVES.

BRITISH COAL DISPUTE.

CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER. MINERS DESIRE SETTLEMENT. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) (Reuteiv) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. Important developments in the coal dispute occurred to-day, when representatives of th© owners and miners separately met Mr W. E. Bridgeman at the Ministry of Labour to discuss obstacles to opening negotiations for a new agreement. Simultaneously a special conference of representatives of all trade unions affiliated to the Tfcauas Union Congress was held at the General Hall, Westminster, to discuss unemployment, also the mining and textile disputes. The miners' executive submitted to the conference a, statement declaring that the miners desired a peaceful settlement. Possibly the lock-out notices might be postponed or withdrawn, but the mine-owners were apparently resolved to force a lockout irrespective of consequences. The statement included an appeal to the whole trades union movement to support the miners. At the conclusion of the meeting of the miners' executive and the special committee of the Trade Union Congress which discussed the possibility of other unions supporting the miners, a statement was issued urging the Government to convoke an immediate and unconditional conference'of miners and owners, and announcing that a communication had been addressed to the Prime Minister expressing willingness to meet him. The miners' executive is instructing the miners to cease work ore July 31, except the minimum, number for the safety of the mines.