London, Jan. 8
The Preparatory International Technical Conference on the condi-Gon of work in the coal mining in-Gustty opened at" Geneva to-day.
'There was a general discussion on the question of wages. Mz. A. J. Cook! the 'British miners' delegate, Spoke in favour of international machinery to fix a minimum wage.
Government delegates of Germany, Poland and France, however, Be well as the coal-owners. who took part in the discussion, considered was not yet ripe for ternational agreement on this subject.
The general opinion at present appears to be that the idea of conference on wages, will be aban-Goned for the time being—British Wirelese through Reuter.
Geneva, Jan. 11
The Coal Conference, consisting lof the representatives of the nine principal European coal-producing Jeountries, to-day held a. discussion fon labour conditions and adepted an Important proposition submitted by the International Labour Office regarding a formula to be applied to the duration of work in mines.
This lays down that the shi starts from the moment the mine fenters his cage for descent until his return to the surface. The same rule applies where entrances and exits are effected by galleries Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.