"DENSE, DARK CLOUD”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12423, 17 April 1926, Page 5

"DENSE, DARK CLOUD”

MINISTER’S GRAVE WORDS SERIOUSNESS OF COAL DISPUTE DISTURBANCE POSSIBLE t' . • By Telegraph - Press Assn.—Copyright. Keuter’s ■ Tel ev ram. LONDON, April 15. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks, tho s Home Secretary, speaking at a luncheon of the Commercial Motor Users’ Association, said that to-day was a time of great anxiety.. There was a dense, dark cloud Jianging over the country. He believed that the anxiety of Ministers to-day was greater than in war time, because then the whole nation was united. There w;as to-dav a prospect, he might almost say of war, a nroepect of grave difference of opinion. possibly of disturbance, hut the nation was not united as regards the best means of obviating a terrible bomb. , The greatest asset was the character of the Prime Minister, who was absotulely honest and would give a square deal. NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE ! After sitting privately for over an hour this morning .the executive of the Miners’/ Federation met Mr Baldwin and Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, Minister for Labour, at Downing Street at noon, when, it is understood, the miners informed the Prime Minister that in their view a deadlock had been reached. Mr Baldwin undertook to .get into touch with the Mining Association as soon as possible. He asked if the miners would be available .early next week for a further discussion.