On Monday the negotiations were resumed at 10 Downing Street,
and the most important arguments concerned a longer working day. It then became apparent, to the astonishment of the Government, that, after all, the Executive of the- Miners' Federation wanted to reserve the question of increased . hours. Mr. Smith and . Mr. Conk_ in fact, said that they were " not authorized " to consent to longer hours. The Govern- ment; anxious to do all that reasonably could be done to satisfy the miners, promised to consider the creation of a National Tribunal to which -appeals could be made from districts where more than seven hours a day were worked. At the end of Monday's proceedings the Miners' Executive said that they must obtain authority to consent to longer hours. Hence this subject was referred to the Delegate Conference which met on Wednesday.
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