A FRUITLESS CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14314, 27 March 1912, Page 9

A FRUITLESS CONFERENCE.

COAL ADVANCING JN PRICE

THE DISTRESS GROWING

(Received March 26th, 11.5 p.m.)

LONDON, March 26. Tho Premier mado a strong and passionate appeal to both sides to come to an agreement, but without result. Sir Edward Grey's diplomatic pleading was equally unsuccessful. Tho Government aeked the miners to discuss the exceptions to the o> minimum, such as Northumberland and Durham, where coal and cottages aro often provided in addition to wages, but tho miners refused to do so. The price of coal in London has been increased by 5s per ton. The Denaby colliery has sold to the Cunard Company 50,000 tons of coal at 34s per ton. The colliery has a reserve stock of 200,000 tons, and is selling smaller quantities at 46s per ton to the public The municipal funds are unable to cope with tho growing distress. The masters are not asking the colliers to pay rent for their cottages during the period of the strike, Out of 150,000 people, comprising the population of Middlesborough, 50,000 are directly affected by the strike. The lack of fuel is a worse hardship than the lack of food. The Corporation is retailing coal and coke in small quantities. . The "Daily Telegraph" says that the leaders of the Miners' Federation state that they gave too long a notice, and thus enabled the nation tp replenish its coal stores. They threaten that next time action will be swift and sure.