The passage of the Act does not justify any great
hopes of an approaching end of the coal stoppage. The Government have never claimed that it was more than the removal of what might be an obstacle. It was much misrepresented in the House, and its genuinely permissive character will probably be misunderstood. If mines are reopened for eight-hour shifts, this will presumably mean that a man who might offer to return to work for a seven-hour shift cannot be engaged, and it will be said that he is locked out unless he accepts the owners' terms as established by the Act. This is plausible but unfair, for he would be out if no Act had been passed, whereas under the Act he is allowed to work on the only terms offered, and that is the only difference that the Act professes to make. So far the number of men returning is very small. The Executive of the Miners' Federation met in London on Wednesday to discuss their policy, and we are glad to see that they were willing to listen to the advice of the Industrial Christian Fellowship and that the Council of the T.U.C. has proposed a joint meeting.
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