COAL STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 129, 1 June 1921, Page 5

COAL STRIKE.

• GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS REJECTED BY DERBY MINERS. NO COMPULSORY ARBITRATION o ■ (By Cable—Prcsß Association.— Copyright,) (Received i.:*,o p.m.) LONDON, May 81. The Derbyshire miners' executive rejected the Government's, new proposal for a settlement of the coal strike. Mr. Herbert Smith, president of the "Miners' Federation, states that Mr. Lloyd o George never made any threat of compulsory arbitration, but in casual talk said tlie Government could seek the power to pnss laws to deal with compulsory arbitral ion. Mr. Lloyd George, in a letter to Mr. Hodges, says: "I observe you suggest that the Government on Saturday threatened to subject the miners to "compulsory arbitration. I protest that no such threat was made, it was particularly unfortunate that the suggestion was made after it was agreed that no note should bo taken, and tlie Government proposals handed you in writing. These allegations are being used to excite the hostility of the miners against our proposals." Mr. Hodges replied; "Anybody who stated that the Government threatened to subject the miners to compulsory arbitration was certainly guilty of misleading the public and miners, but there is an impression that if the parties do not accept the proposals the Government will take steps to obtain the consent of Parliament to compel assent. If that impression is without foundation I am glad to know it."