7 JANUARY 1928, Page 6

- There are rumours of an approaching strike or lock-out in

the engineering industry. It is significant that the engineering employers are said to be less sympathetic towards Sir Alfred Mond than the employers of any other industry.. It would be a gross injustice, however, if an open dispute in the engineering industry should cause the Mond Conference to be accused of futility. The task before Conference will be rather a long one and it cannot be performed in time to affect any dispute in the next few weeks. What is certain is that ultimate agreement at the Mond Conference will be an event of great and perhaps unparalleled importance.