The Miners' Decision On Thursday, July 25th, the Delegate Conference
of the Miners' Federation at Blackpool passed a resolution in favour of the immediate repeal of the Eight Hours Act and a return to a National Wages Agreement. Custom was evidently too strong for the delegates. They have passed this resolution so often that they could not break the rhythm of their thoughts and acts ; and yet they must have known that it is impossible for the Government to return immediately to seven hours. No industrial arrangement which has taken root, be it good or bad, can be plucked up suddenly. It has been estimated that what the miners propose would raise the price of coal by 2s. to 3s. a ton. That would kill the trade. Probably the resolution is not so dangerous as it looks. If it were pressed there would be a considerable Labour secession from the Govern- ment in the House of Commons, but there are several signs that the miners do not at all want to upset the Government and will merely try to extract as much as possible from them while helping to keep them in office.
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