26 JULY 1919, Page 2

The Miners' Federation at Keswick on Thursday week refused the

Government's offer to defer for three months the increase of the prioe of coal by six shillings a ton, on condition that the miners worked hard and refrained from striking. The Feder- ation offered to co-operate with the Government if they would nationalize the coal-mines at once, but it rejected any limitation of the sacred right to strike. The Federation also demanded an Increase of 14-3 per cont, to enable piece-workers to earn as ranch in seven hours as they used to earn in eight hours. Meanwhile the men were to remain at work.