NEWS OF THE WEEK THE intention of the Government to
introduce a permissiVe Eight Hours Bill for the mines has had some good-effects; as :Iye thought it would, in spite of last week's bitterness and depression. It brought a new chemical into the-dispute and has precipitated new ideaS and therefore new hopes. The Government had proposed to take the -Eight .Hours Bill before any other mining legislation, but at the request of the Labour Party they gave prececle'nee to the Mining Industry Bill. Labour hopes, of vurae, that *settlement may be reached which will make the kloUrs Bill unnecessary. The Mining Industry Bill aims at making reorganization possible more or less on. the lines .of the Royal Commission's Report. This was the subject of the important debate in the House of Commons on` WedneSday when the Bill was given its second reading. The Bill would facilitate the amalgama- tion of such mines as could work more 'economically as a unit. It proposes a welfare levy of 5 per cent. on royalties, proyides for profit-sharing and - limits the entry of fresh labour into the industry.
