GREAT COAL STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 7

GREAT COAL STRIKE.

MR. A. J. COOKS OFFER.

RESIGNATION IF NECESSARY.

LONDON, June 7,

The general secretary of the Miners' Federation, Mr. A. J. Cook, in the course of a speech, said he was prepared to have a ballot of miners and their wives taken to determine whether the president of the federation, Mr. Herbert Smith, and himself, or Mr. Frank Hodges, secretary of the International Miners' Federation, and Mr. F. B. Varley, M.P., financial secretary of the Nottingham Miners' Association should represent them.

Mr. Cook made the proviso that the Government ehould accept the result of the ballot, and put the accepted settlement scheme into operation so that work could be started on Monday week.

"If the ballot is against mc," said Mr. Cook, "I will resign. Anybody who lengthens the struggle is a murderer. _ "If there is a spark of humanity in the" nation the miners will win, because only starvation will drive them back. It "their crying children force the men to accept defeat it will be the dearest victory England has ever won." The" decision of the executive of the federation on the owners' offer of an informal meeting will be made tomorrow.—(A. and N.Z.)