BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16817, 8 June 1926, Page 5

BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

NO COAL FROM GERMANY CONDITIONAL OFFEtR BY MR COOK BALLOT FOR THIS LEADERSHIP. (Australian and N..Z. Press Assn.) LO'NDON, June 6. The general secretary of the Miners' Federation, Mr A. J. Cook, said he was prepared I'D have a ballot of miners and their wives taken to determine, whether Uic president of the Federation, Mr Herbert Smith, and himself, or Mr Frank Hodges, secretary of the International Miners' Federation, and Mr F. B. Varlcy, M.P., financial secretary oF the Nottingham Miners' Association sho-uld represent them. Mr Coo.k made the proviso that the Government should accept the result of the ballot, and -put the accepted settlement scheme into operation so that work could bit started on Monday next. " If the ballot is. against me," said Mr Cook, " I will, resign. Anybody who lengthens the struggle is a murderer. " If there is a spark of humanity in the nation the miners will win, because only starvation will drive them back. If their crying children force the men to accept deifcat it will be the dearest victory England has ever won." The decision of the executive of the Federation on the owners' offer of an informal meeting will be made tomorrow. VISITORS TO RUSSIA. NOT TAKEtN SERIOUSLY. (Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.) LONDON, June G. The Daily Mail's political correspondent says: "The report of the Conservative members of the House of Commons who visited Russia, is not taken seriously, owing to their shortness of political experience, and the fact that their visit, which lasied only a fortnight, did not take llicm outside of Moscow, the seat of a Government which is notorious for hoodwinking visitors."