On Tuesday the miners' leaders met - the Coal Controller and
failed to come to- terms with him. He had offered them an increase of eighteeepenoe a day,-to date from April 1st/ whereas the Federation delegates-at a Conference on Wednesday insisted on their demand for three shillings from Marsh 1st. Meanwhile the coalownera 'engaged in the export 'trade:had ammunced a reduction of about $2 a ton-on seal for ships' going on foreign voyages during the next five months. -This will reduce the profits on the coal trade by about Z10,000000. -It appears-that the Shipping Controller had warned the -coalowners that- the very high price of hunker coal would soon lead to an increase of freight charges, and-thud raise-the eost of living. The reduction of the price should avert this new misfortune. But it will alad dispose of most of the anticipated surplus- on which-the -miners' leaders- had ffxed their eyes. The question, then, is whether the miners, already in receipt of very high wages,-ought to receive still more. Any increase in their wages must mean an increase in the price of coal, which will .directly affect -every one except -the miners, and which will- indirectly injure even the miners by sending -up prices all round. As we write on Thursday the miners' leaders are conferring once more with the Prime Minister.
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