BRITISH COAL MINERS

Evening Star, Issue 17313, 29 March 1920, Page 4

BRITISH COAL MINERS

STILL DISSATISFIED, A CRITICAL POSITION. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Impsrial News Service. LONDON, March 27. The situation between the Governmenl and the Miners' Federation is that the latter have agreed to accept a percentage basis in respect of wage increa&e, provider the Government increase the offer from 2C to 22 1 per centum. The executive pre viously asked for a 25 per centum increase. Tho federation executive askec that the per centum increase guarantees a daily increase of 5s for all worker: exceeding 18 years of age, 2s for workers from 16 to 18 years, and Is for thosf under 16. A,postponement until -March 2J was made to enable the Government tc examine the figures preparatory to makine. a definite proposal. A peaceful settlement is confidently expected. A MISCHIEVOUS REPORT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON", March 27. The ' Daily Herald' (tho Labor dailj paper) asserts that it learns upon unimpeachable authority that the Government have- completed plans for a blockade of the mining areas with cordons of selectee troops, preventing a passage of person: and commodities in the event of a strike. Mr Lloyd George .has assured the miners that tho ' Daily Herald ' report regarding military preparations is a mischievous in vcntion. CONFERENCE WITH CABINET. LONDON, March 25. Contrary to expectation, the miners delegates to the conference this morning received an invitation to meet Mr Lloyc George, Mr Bonar Law, and other Ministers at Downing street. The conference were about to adopt the executive's recommendation to proceed with a- ballot, but immediately adjourned. The executive had a conference lasting two and a-hal hours with Mr Lloyd George, when it was stated that negotiations were still proceeding, but the delegates said that Mi Llovd George's attitude w«s disappointing, and they were not very sanguine. The miners' conference will resume this evening. Mr Lloyd George announces that h< is willing to meet the miners at any time. PRESS OPINION. A STRIKE ANTICIPATED. LONDON, March 25. It transpires that Mr Lloyd George die not refuse to meet the miners again. He said he was willing to keep the door for negotiations open, but the statement; "Official announcement," "The Govern meut have no further communication tc make," greatly angered the delegates. 11 is considered in some circles that the miners may be appeased by this explanation, and a. ray of hope exists, but the general view is that the position has reached a deadlock, since the Government statement means that the Governmenl have made their final offer. The newspapers with practical unant milv regard a- strike as inevitable, thougl preliminary measures may delay the cessation of work until tlis end of April. GOVERNMENT'S NEW OFFER, LONDON. March 26. After to-day's miners' conference wit! Mr Llovd George, Mr Hodges announced that tho Government are making anothci offer on Monday.