The desire of the Government is to obtain the assent
of both sides to their scheme in order that they may avoid the admitted evil of legislation. By Friday, and after what we can only describe as very strong pressure, the owners in the federated area, that is, all the English coalfields, including North Wales—Northumberland came in late on Thursday— 'had assented, though reluctantly, to the Government scheme. Therefore only the owners in South Wales and Scotland 'stand out. Roughly, the Government has the assent of 65 per cent. of the owners. But though the Government heve admittedly taken the side of the men on the main issue, and have recognized the principle of the minimum wage, the men up till Friday morning have refused their assent. They will not agree to the settlement of the minimum wage in each district by means of the suggested committees, but insist that the schedule of minimum wages which was pub- lished by them last week must be adopted en Um This leaves the Government in a very great difficulty, for till the men agree the Government cannot apply the coercive legisla- tion hinted at by Mr. Asquith. The reason is plain. Though the masters might be prevented paying any wage less than a fixed sum to underground workers, there are no means of forcing the men to accept such a wage. In that respect they stand out of reach of the law. Forced labour at the mines is an unthinkable outrage.
