WEEK'S SUSPENSION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 9

WEEK'S SUSPENSION

COAL STRIKE NOTICES

NEGOTIATIONS IN LONDON

BUS CONFERENCE

(British Official Wireless.) (Received May 8. 12.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, •. May 7,

Developments today in connection with the efforts to.settle the Central London bus strike, and avert a national strike in the coal fields included conferences at the Ministry of Labour between officials and representatives of the. London Passenger Transport Board and' of the ' men's union, and the decision of the miners' executive to suspend the tendering of the strike notices for one week from tomorrow.

It had been hoped 'that the suspension would have been for a fortnight, in response to the Prime Minister's appeal in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The offer was to sus-pend-the notices for a fortnight in the hope of reaching a settlement of the dispute honourable to all parties, provided : the Mines Secretary could arrange a conference of all three parties. This offer was conveyed to the ■• Nottinghamshire colliery owners by the Department of Mines with a reminder of the Prime Minister's appeal. ■:'. ' •

The owners, the autonomous union, and the local union affiliated to the federation accepted the invitation to the conference conditionally upon the federation definitely accepting . the principle of fusion of the two local rival unions and agreeing to submit to arbitration points still outstanding from the previous negotiation for the amalgamation of the unions.

The federation was unable to agree to these' conditions this morning. However, its executive later approved one week's suspension of the notices to allow Captain Crookshanktirrie' in the interests of a peaceful settlement to try to'arrange for an unconditional threeparty conference; Captain Crookshank has: asked the owner's and the local autonomous' union, 'which they have recognised since 1026, to meet him on Monday. •.-'••