MINERS' DELEGATE CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 19406, 15 November 1926, Page 14

MINERS' DELEGATE CONFERENCE

MEN RECOMMENDED TO ACCEPT TERMS LONDON, November 13. The miners’ delegates early this afternoon discussed the Government’s terms. There were sharp differences of opinion. Some districts wished to continue the fight, while others favored acceptance, because nothing better was obtainable. When the full conference resumed South Wales and Yorkshire headed the fighting section. A vote was first taken as to w’hether the conference would recommend the districts to accept the terras. This was carried by 432,000 to 352,000. The conference then voted on the question of whether the decision should be left to the districts or to the miners individually. The proposal for an individual ballot was defeated by 427,000 to 357,000. The results of voting are to be returned by November 18. Considerable correspondence has been published regarding the negotiations. A letter from the Department of Mines shows that Mr Baldwin agreed to the deletion of the clause relating to victimisation. Mr Cook explains that tbe miners’ executive thought this was inadequate. Other letters relate to Mr Evan Williams’s disclaimer and the Government’s reply. Mr Williams said he made it perfectly clear that he and other owners were appearing purely in a personal capacity in order to give the required information. He opposed the terms because they were impossible for certain districts. Mr Williams also gives a direct denial of the statements attributed to him in tbe Government communique. The general expectation in Government circles is that the miners will accept the terms in view of the conference’s recommendation. The strike therefore is regarded to he as good as over. The owners refuse to prophesy what the 'district owners’ associations will do in that event, and confine themselves to saying it will be a matter for each district to decide if the terms are economically practicable. The Mines Department’s reply to Mr Williams states that the Government found consultation with the owners’ district associations impracticable, and that it was compelled to consult individual owners fully. The Government appreciates the owners’ declared objections, but it accepts full responsibility, and adds that it had been made perfectly clear to the Ministry that the Government’s terms are based on increased hours, and that the Government is unable to give a guarantee regarding working conditions. AN EARLIER MESSAGE. LONDON, November 12. The Miners’ Executive conferred with the Minister of Mines and reported the result to the Miners’ Conference, which at the evening meeting had not readied a decision, and adjourned til] Saturday morning, as the delegates required further enlightenment. The principal bone of contention is the powers to be conferred on the independent chairmen in the various districts. The members of the conference are apparently ob-