An Abortive Conference: No Subsidy Possible: Sharp Passage Between Chancellor of Exchequer and Miners'
Leaders: Move Towards Agreement London, Aug. 28, 'The Miners' Fede: jon has jesued a manifesto dealing with the situation arising out of the recent conferences with the Mining Association and the Government.
The manifesto state that Fede rati prepared to" negotiate on the question wages but it re jat the men are adamant on the questions of seven-hour day and a national agreement—Reuter, Aug. 27.
'A verbatim report was taken of the conversations at Downing Street yesterday between representatives of the Government and the miners.
'Mr. Herbert Smith, the miners' leader, said that the' miners, were anxious to see what good offices the Government could render towards a solution; also, what temporary financial help the Government would give.
Mr. Winston (Churchill, Chancellos of the Exchequer, replied that ho estimated at the beginning of the coal stoppage that the country would fosse ten times as much as it actually had done. The country had shown, the most extraordinary power of, carrying on. Coal was coming in freely at the rate of nearly 1,000,000 tons a week and furthermore there was a certain domestic output. He added: "We are undoubtedly in a Position to carry on the life of the country without difficulty. That is!
very remarkable new fact'
'Mr. Thomas Richards said that he. regretted Mr. Churchill's spece' Which meant: "You cannot hurt us. Carry on."
Mr, Herbert Smith then said: "We are not here to make a petition Dut to get an honourable settlement, We can carry the fight a bit further, We have been doing our utmost t9 avoid flooding the pits, but after; absence of a sense of responsibil Dut it is noteworthy that the Liberal "Daily News" urges the winers to formulate either a new wage or a new hours' plan which [would stand a reasonable chance for consideration by the other side.
The "Morning Post" alone of the possibility of good arising from the conference, believing that the miners will now be convinced that they have been.misled by their leaders and that their best hope lies in a direct settlement with their
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.