4 JUNE 1921, Page 2

The coal strike seems to be no nearer an end,

as the latest proposal by the Government has not been favourably received. On Friday, May 27th, at a Joint Conference of owners and miners Mr. Lloyd George proposed that there should be a tempor- ary settlement by which the wages would be scaled down gradually to the economic level, the deficiency being made good partly out of the £10,000,000 subsidy and partly out of a contribution from the owners. This temporary settlement would be strictly dependent upon an agreement as to the machinery

by which a permanent settlement could be reached. Mr. Lloyd George remarked that he did noir quite understand the offer made by the owners.