NEWS OF THE WEEK.
WE have dealt at length elsewhere with the crisis, with the Government's Bill, and with what, in our opinion, is the attitude which should be taken up by all who desire to minimize the grave perils to which the nation is exposed. As we write on Friday no decision has been taken in regard to the amendments which are being proposed by the miners on the one side and the owners on the other. There seems reason to believe, however, that the Government will refuse to alter their Bill in any material way, and that it will on Monday become law practically in the shape in which it was intro- duced. The question which now arises is, Will the miners ticeept the Bill and return to work, or will they continue the strike P It is greatly to be hoped that the leaders will have the wisdom to accept the Bill, and will order a return to work, subject to the settlement of the wages scales by the District Boards. If no such orders are given by the unions, then only one course remains open to the Government : they must at once make arrangements for giving the fullest possible pro- tection to any owners who are willing to open their mines. That the owners will be willing we do not doubt, nor do we doubt the readiness of a number of men sufficient to meet the immediate needs of the community to go underground. If two or three mines are opened in each coalfield a general return to work will not be long delayed.
