31 JANUARY 1925, Page 3

The 'fact 'that - the 'MinerS' Federation is acting with deliberation

and constitutionalisth in the opening stages of -the miners' dispute must not, unfortunately, be taken as a sign that we are not likely to have very serious trouble in the industry during the next six months. The Federation is at present engaged in collecting proposals from the districts. These have to be in by February 21st. On the 24th the Executive meets to consider all these proposals and to thrash out a report on.them. And then on the 26th the National Delegates Conference meets and may be expected to adopt this report, with or without amendment, as the demand of the wage-earners of the industry. Mean- while, on Thursday, the miners met the committee of owners on the invitation of the latter to consider means for remedying the serious position in which the industry finds itself. Thus the forces on each side are undoubtedly massing.