THE COAL STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3060, 23 April 1917, Page 6

THE COAL STRIKE

MEN STILL OUT MINISTERS RETURN TO WELLINGTON , LAST WEEK'S NEGOTIATIONS GOVERNMENT WAITING FOR A REPLY By Telegraph.—Press Associatiou. Christchurch, April 21. Sir James Allen and.tho Hon>- W. D. S. MacDohald passed through Christchurch to-night from the West Coast to Wellington. Sir James Allon said: "The conference with the miners' delegates lasted till 3 a.m. to-day. I hope the arrangements made at it, which are to be submitted to the miners/ will produce-good results. The delegates played the game right through as far as we were concerned, and met us in a conciliatory spirit." _ '_ ■ Asked if he could give any indication as to how long the strike would last, Sir James Allen replied that the public would be very wrong ever to lose nope. The whole matter is to be discussed by Cabinet on Monday, and a reply from the miners would be received in a very short time.

Ministers had a conference yesterday after the arrival of Sir James Allen and Mr. .Mac Donald from the south. The Actdng-Prime Minister, was seen by a Douinios reporter; after the meeting and asked whether lie could make any further statement about the coal strike, concerning: , which the meeting of Cabinet had been hold. Sir James Allen repeated the statement he had made in Christohurch—that until the miners have given their answer as to whether they approve the terms of the arrangement made by the Ministers with the miners' delegates, he can make no public statement on'the situation.'