Miners Invite Mr Walsh To Speak At Blackball

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 14

Miners Invite Mr Walsh To Speak At Blackball

(New Zeeland Press Association)

GREYMOUTH, June 11. The president of the Federation of Labour, Mr F. P. Walsh, and members of the Parliamentary Labour Party will be asked to come to Blackball to address a public meeting, a combined meeting of the Blackball and Roa Miners’ Unions decided today. Those suggested for invitation included Miss M. B Howard (Sydenham), Mr N E. Kirk (Lyttelton), and Mr S. Whitehead (Nelson), said the United Mineworkers’ national secretary, Mr J. White, this evening. The question of transferring miners from the Blackball State mines to the Liverpool mine was discussed fully at the combined meeting. The men are still not pre. pared to accept the transport arrangements offered by the jMines Department, said Mr White. The department’s proposals are for the men to travel by bus to Greymouth, and then by train to Rewanui. The I men considered th is unreasonable, and wanted the bus to take them direct to Dunollie. Mr White said. This, in the opinion of the men, would be a much more convenient arrangement, par. ticularly if a low-roof bus, capable of crossing the Brunner bridge was used to take the men via the Coal CreekTaylorville road, said Mr White. A bus suitable for this pur-

pose is in use in Blackball at present. The proposal of the department envisages a bus transporting the men to Greymouth, and then returning empty to Blackball to do normal transport duties. The bus would then travel empty from Blackball to Greymouth to pick up the men at the end of their working shift. The miners consider that a bus taking them to Dunollie and doing normal duty in the Kunanga - Greymouth area until the end of their working shift would be more resonable and less expensive. They also suggest that it may be possible to make arrangements for a more convenient service by using a miner-driver.