The Daily Mail, as a result of researches in the
mining districts, has discovered a great deal of reasonableness among the men, but it cannot be said that the men's leaders have let fall a word about the possibility of accepting reduced wages or longer hours. On Tuesday it had been reported in several newspapers that the owners had accepted the principle of a national minimum wage but this was evidently a misunderstanding. When we write the owners adhere to their policy of district settlements and district minimum percentages subject- to a national agreement on certain general principles. They hold that such an arrangement would be in entire accordance with the Report. If the men have not presented an ultiMatum it may be taken as equally true that the owners have not presented one either.
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