MINERS' STRIKE DISTRICT NEGOTIATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 22 November 1926, Page 9

MINERS' STRIKE

DISTRICT NEGOTIATIONS

AUTHORISED BY CONFERENCE

BELIEVES TO BE END OF DISPUTE.

i. (United Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, 20th November. The miners' delegate conference arranged that the districts' should immediately enter into negotiations with the owners and report to a delegate conference on 26tli November. The conference drew up six princi: plea which should be adopted in the negotiations, agreeing to the Government 's terms regarding minimum and, subsistence wages, but including a new principle that the agreements be terminable by three months' notice on either side. This is , interpreted as a desire to ensure the federation's control of the districts, enabling the calling of a simultaneous general stoppage. Mr. Cook declares that the delegates' decision is not to surrender to the owners, whp must not seek-to impose impossible and unfair conditions. It is significant that ten "thousand k men resumed work to-day, making the total fifty thousand for the week. The tragic coal dispute virtually ends with the delegates' decision to authorise the men to negotiate for district settlements. The decision was reached after an acrimonious debate. Lancashire urged the acceptance of the district vote to fight on. The executive, however, expressed anxiety that some attempt should be made to settle, and after this the decision to open district negotiations was carried by an overwhelming majority. It really means that national negotiations have been abandoned, as well as the Government's terms, though the districts are urged to endeavour to incorporate certain national principles, which will be decided upon by the executive and considered at to-day's delegate conference. It will be' at least a week before the district negotiations are completed, after which a national conference will be necessary.