4 SEPTEMBER 1926, Page 1

Good though the opportunity is for a settlement with the

freshly promised help of the Government, we must admit that the conditions are not by any means favourable for the drafting of a sensible policy by the miners. The Federation is at sixes and sevens, and Mr. Cook, who during the past few days has appeared in a peaceful guise, which we appreciate, is in direct conflict with the much less volatile but also more enduring Mr. Herbert Smith. It is the old story of Tear'em being a good dog but Holdfast a better—though in this case, of course, Holdfast has got hold of the wrong quarry which will kill him if he eats it.

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