23 OCTOBER 1920, Page 2

The Prime Minister in reply pointed out that -the Miners'

Federation weld not -guarantee- a larger- output. That could only •come if increased reward had some reference to inereseied output. Mr. Brace's suggestion that the Is. a day 'should be conceded temporarily would merely postpone the trouble for three months. For the -miners would strike if the-2s. were then avithdrawn on the ground -that the output had not risen. It Was necessary to find some means of inducing both the miners and the owners to increase the production of coal. The .miners would suffer most if the pits were flooded, for some-of the poorer pits would never he .reopened. Mr. Lloyd George-begged Podia- anent and the public to trust the Government and not to press for any haste settlement -which might imperil the whole future of British industry. If the Miners' Federation.had any proposal to make the Government would gladly meet them. He expressed doubt auto whether it would be worth while for the miners and seal-owners to meet and consider Mr. Brace's suggestions, as meetings which led. to nothing tended to aggravate the dispute.