17 JANUARY 1931, Page 2

The miners maint a ined that the new Conciliation Board, according to

their understanding of the basis of discussion, should merely determine the amount of any reduction in wages which might result from the reduction of working time by two hours a week. The owners insisted that as the old agreement was at an end the whole question of wages was open. Evidently the formula for a joint meeting required elucidation. Mr. Graham and Mr. Shinwell brought the two sides together again, and when we write the strike seems likely to end quickly.