on while entirely fresh negotiations were conducted. The difficulty is
that some of the mines arc so broken by adversity_ that they are financially unable to carry on, even for a week: In these circumstances some kind of Government guarantee is plainly justified. • Whatever the nation had to pay would be less than we all stand to lose by stoppage and paralysis. The "Open conference" 'between owners and men arranged for Wednesday was postponed. In the course of Wednesday the owners conceded the principle of a national minimum wage, with the stipulation that there should also be district minima; on a percentage basis, which should be fixed according to the economic capacity of each district. This offer was rejected by the miners on the ground that they are pledged to reject any reduction of wages in any district. The owners, through the Mining Association, unanimously passed' a resolution expressing resentment at the .RepOrt of the Court of Inquiry. We must now try to summarize the events which led up to the situation of Thursday morning.
