PROSPECT OF PEACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19418, 28 August 1926, Page 11

PROSPECT OF PEACE.

COALMINING DISPUTE. MR. CHURCHILL HOPEFUL. development possible. CONFERENCE ABORTIVE. JIEN MAKE NO OFFER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 8.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Sun. LONDON. Aug. 57. The Financial Times says it is understood that Mr. Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is hopeful that some important step toward peace in connection with the coalmining dispute is

possible. 1 According to tho Daily News the conference held yesterday by the miners' leaders with Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, Minister of Labour, ended abruptly. The representatives of the miners offered no fresh proposals. The political correspondent of the I>a:ly Telegraph says the deputation to tho Minister was really on a speculative expedition, hoping that tho 'Minister would bo able to suggest some way out. Mr. Churchill, who was present, said the dispute was one for the parties themselves to settle although the Government was willing to assist if possible. The general secretary of tho Miners' Federation, Mr. A. J. Cook, speaking at Woodford, said it had been decided that R verbatim report of the conference should bo issued to the press to-day. Ho said he was willing for work to be resumed in the mines on the old terms until the industry had been reorganised, but peace could not be obtained by starving tho miners. This great tragedy had gone on too long. It had cost more than the payment of the pre-strike rate of wages would have done for two years. Tho miners would never return to the mines to work longer hours. If they were forced to do so then the agreement would only last as long as the owners had power to enforce it. LANCASHIRE FBACAS. MOB STONES THE POLICE. SCATTERED BY BATON CHARGES. (Received 10.80 p.m.) Bun. LONDON. Aug. 26. Further disturbances have occurred in connection with the coalminers' strike. At St. Helens, Lancashire, 2000 strikers, who had assembled for the purpose of holding a demonstration, threw stones at tho police. The latter ignored the first volley, but when the stoning was repeated they charged with their batons. (The crowd was scattered, but tho stoning was resumed. The police were reinforced and repeatedly charged the mob. Eventually the strikers were scattered and some were chased by mounted police for two miJes. Another crowd, incited by women, attacked two journalists. The latter were seized &.nd held suspended over a bridge and threatened with a ducking. The crowd seized a camera and smashed it. The journalists were set free and they rushed to a motor-cycle and escaped on it.

QLABOUR DIFFERENCES. CONFERENCE IN BERLIN. STRICT SILENCE MAINTAINED. (Received 10.35 p.m.) Reuter. BERLIN, Aug". 26. The British and Russian members of the Labour Committee who recently met in Paris have just concluded a series of secret meetings in Berlin, which lasted four days. The fact that the sittings were protracted until midnight each day indicate that the differences of opinion on the question of uniting the trade union movement in Europe were by no means overcome. The result of the latest discussions is embodied in a protocol which has beon prepared for submission to the respective executives. It will not be published. The five British delegates returned to London by aeroplane. They declined to Bee pressmen prior to thoir departure.

A cablegram from Moscow on August 13 stated:—The discussions between British and Russian members of the Labour Committee, which met in Paris a fortnight ago with the objects of promoting trades union unity and of facilitating the entry of Russia into the Amsterdam International, were far from harmonious according to a report issued by Mr Andreev, chairman of the Soviet delegation to the central council of the Soviot Labour Unions. He says the British delegation, which consisted of representatives of the council of the Trades Union Congress, declined to discuss the question of assistance for the British miners. This had been placed on the agenda for . their approval. The British delegates also demanded that the Russians should withdraw a motion condemning the manner in which the British Trades Union Council conducted the general strike. The Russians refused to do this and declared that the Russian labour unions would continue to support the British miners.