TROUBLE IN THE CABINET.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 5

TROUBLE IN THE CABINET.

MINISTERS THREATEN TO RETIRE, COAL-OWNERS DISGUSTED. London, March 26. After two days' persuasion tho Premier succeeded in inducing the owners and men to confer, but tho mooting was a fiasco. It is alleged that Mr. R. Smillie, tho Scottish Labour leader, demanded minima of ss. 9d. and. 2s. Gd., -whereupon tho Welsh owners left the conference. (Rec. March 27, 11.45 p.m.) London, March 27. There is profound disappointment at tho failure of the conference. There ore serious misgivings in South Wales as to tho situation, and it is possible that efforts will be made to reopen the pits. It is feared, however, that if this is done there will bo a change from the peaceful behaviour which has hitherto characterised tho strike. The coal-owners 'complain that the Government invited them to Downing Street, and suddenly faced them with tho miners representatives. The conference lasted only fiyo minutes, and then terminated. . A protest was made against Mr. SiniUio suddenly resurrecting the demand of a minimum of ss. 9d. a day for adults and three shillings a day for boys for the Scotch minors, and the mine-owners immediately withdrew, several saying, "It's disgusting!" Mr. Smillie states that ss. 9d. and 3s. has been the Scottish demand throughout. Tho "Birmingham Post" states that Lord Loreburn (Lord Chancellor) and Lord Morley (Lord President of tho Council) at Friday's meeting of the Cabinot strongly opposed the insertion of the minimum rates of ss. and 2s. Several members of tho Cabinet approved of the rates, but finally Mr. Lloyd-Georgo (Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Mr. Buxton (President of the Board of Trade) alone persisted in supporting them. These two Ministers only yielded when six of their colleagues definitely Btated that they would retire from office if the figures were included. Tho "Daily News" states that the Government intends to constitute a National Wages Board, with an independent chairman, to consider the minima of ss. and 25., upon the understanding that the miners return to work if the point is settled. Tho Miners' Federation will consider the proposal to-day.