Mr. Smillie in reply made a rambling speech about the
griev- ances of the poor miner and accused the newspapers of hound- ing the Government on straight into an industrial dispute." He admitted incidentally that the Government ought not to yield if they thought—as they evidently did—that he was asking for something unfair. As the Government had conceded former advances in wages to the miners, they ought to do so again He could not go to an Industrial Court. He expressed a vague belief that the output would not again decline if-the daily wages were increased, and said that he had done all he could to avoid a strike. Mr Hodges, as if dissatisfied with his chief's confused speech, then declared that the miners' case, based on the cost of living, was clear and irrefutable. But Sir Robert Horne reminded him that the case was by no means clear, as Mr. Hodges' skilfully selected figures were in dispute. It is indeed common knowledge that the miners are very well paid.
