, 1893-12-27

pl0yed, under conditions which they hope may
lead to a satisfactory result.
1t appears TO them that an advantage
might accrue from a further discussion
between the parties of the present position Of
matters under tie Craftsmanship Of a member
Of the Government, who it is hoped will not
he unacceptable to either eide.
" Lord Rosebery has consented, at
the request Of his colleagues. to undertake
the important duty which such Il position
involves.
] have therefore to invite the(minera or coal
owners) federation to send representatives 10
a conference to be held forth will under his
craftsmanship. In discharging this duty it is
not proposed that Lord Rssebery should
assume the position Of all arbitrator or
umpire, or himself vote in tile proceedings,
but that he should ~GDntinn his action to
offering his good Offices in order to assist
the parties in arriving between themselves
at a friendly settlement Of the questions in
dispute.
II am, &c.
wv. e. GLADSTONE"
The alacrity with which the invitation was
accepted by both, sides is d hopeful sign;
moreover, The Times correspondent at Leeds
points OUT that"the conference will meet under
bett5. auspices than the last, for the most
potent Influence of all, that of time, has been
at work. High sounding as are tho titles of
the various funds which have been raised for
the men, these fundsdo not amount to 3 very
alarming sum; want is beginning to be felt
among them; and in a goOd many districts
local feeling influenced largely by the disap-
pearance of local trade, is beginning to run
distinctly against them. Men are beginning
to draw comparisons between Mr.. Packard and
his I Homa IN laaIarChtl which p ma. tO TIA
advantage Of Mr.. PIeklrd Moreover some
of the later resolutions passed ,by the York
shire Miners Federation indicate a vague
recognition Of the fact that prices must al
ways have something to 10 with wages. On
the other hand some Of the oWners-and
after all the bankruptcy Of a rich mar IS
almost as pitiable as the hunger of a poor
man-are beginning to be pressed very hard.
Beyond pubt ALSO they Will be compelledin
time to recognise the principle Of u minimum
wage. 1t is | admit, an unscientiic principle
III lie bare outline, but it is a principle VIII h
experience has shown to be '7orkaGss. In
fact, in South Wales aud Monmouthshjre the
sliding scale rests upon q basis or standard
which is guaranteed to be- The minimum wage,
and that standard is the wages paid in the
different collieries IN the year 1879 which
wages were about equivalent to those paid IN
1888. Whether that figure represents a
diving wage" | know not until somebody
has defined a liviug wage, but below
that figure wages do not 60, and
it ID automatically certain that tho scale
of rise Gnd fall Of wages above that
standard must be- such as to enable the mas
ters, in good times, to make such a margin
of extra profit as will enable them to with
stand the times when the payment OF the
standard wages involves working at a loss.
For these reasons l venture to hope that
something may come of the conference under
Lord Rossbery. If this disastrous fact
forces upon mcu and masters Tho knowledge
that, unless they formulate a sliding scale sys-
tenn which shall follow the market automatl-
cally there must be repetitions Of theca'amitous
quarrel of 1898; thu cruel lesson Of these
dreary months will not have boen wasted.
Lord Rosebery has fixed clay at II q. m.
at the Foreign Office, Downing street, for the
conference, and has suggested that each side
shall send IA delegates. Mr.. Woods, M. p,
on Tuesday expressed his hearty approval Of
the selection of Lord Rosebery to preside,
and said the miners We're prepared to be
reasonable in the matter Of a settlement but
T.