London, Oct. 18.
According to official figures, 219, 000 miners were working to-day, decrease of 17,000 as compared with the previous return Apparently the decrease is partly attributable to Mr. Cook's activities and partly to the usual Monday The coal stoppage has now entered its 26th week and there are no signs of an early end.
'Meanwhile the miners relief funds, fineluding £1,200,000 from Russia and elsewhere abroad, have, been exhausted and an appeal is. being made for further funds for food and clothing for the miners' wiver and children.
Mr. Cook's efforts to stem the breakaway have been appreciably successful.
The number of men working at] pits in the neighbourhood of Leigh Where Mr. Cook made a speech yesterday, has fallen by two oF three thousand, The Notts and Derby figures today show a decline of 3488, but increases. are chronicled elsewhere.
A few safety-men came out from 4 colliery at Amman Valley, Wales, but they were immediately replaced by volunteers, 'The King to-day held a 'Privy 'Councit at Sandringham, and signed Proclamations declaring' the continuance of the state of emergency due to the coal stoppage and summoning Parliament to meet next Monday to renew the emergency regulations, Sir William Joynson Hicks, Home! Secretary, who was expected to arrive at Sandringham this morning to attend the Privy Council, was! suddenly summoned there yesterday afternoon and dined with the King. He had accepted an engagement to dine with the Dominion Premiers in London yesterday evening and had to cancel this.
In political circles there is some speculation regarding: the alteration of the Home Secretary's plans and rumour was current to-day that fa new move in the coal dispute is imminent, In any case it is anti cipated that renewed attempts will bbe made when Parliament meets on Monday to find some means of bringing the coal stoppage to an fend. The cold weather which has set in will undoubtedly add force to any such efforts.
On Friday the General Council fof the Trade Union Congress will assemble in London. Members. of the Sfiner's Executive have, been touring the coalfields endeavouring, with unimportant successes here and there to bring out men who have returned to work. They will be hak in London on Friday and wilt meet the General Council of "the Trade Union Congress. They will present to the Council their proposals for an embargo on foreign coal and for a levy on trade unions, The reply of the general Councit is a foregone conclusion.
It will undoubtedly be in the negative in view of the statements recently made by Br. J. H. Thomas. and Mr. Tillett, the leaders of the Railwaymen's and Transport Workers' Unions. They declared -that fan embargo. was impracticable and that their Unions as well as other} Unions could not afford a levy because of unemployment and depletion of funds which they themselves were suffering. Obviously the General Council, will be concerned on the day to be ready to assist in any' move for peace.—British Wireless through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.