THE MINERS' STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 135, 2 March 1908, Page 6

THE MINERS' STRIKE

POSITION AT BLACKBALL. HISTORY OF THE DISPUTE. EXPLANATIONS FROM BOTH SIDES. (BY TELEGRAPn—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. I Crcymouth, February ; 29. : In connection with the labour troublo at Blackball, it is explained that the TJnjpn held an ordinary meeting on Wednesday evening last, when tho matter came, under discussion. After the men dismissed had explained their case, it was decided to. dispatch a deputation to tho manager' with a request that the men bo reinstated. Tho' deputation then waited on Mr. Leitch, who gave his explanation. Ho said the Union were enforcing the \ half-hour crib time, and.wero also going to try to bring tile eight hours per day, and stop men working the ten-hour shift. The result was that miners would > cither havo to do S) their own trucking for two hours, or they would have to shorten hands; . Ho thought tho best thing ,to do was .to shorten' hands. The deputation then returned to the TJnion and explained what the manager had said. The meeting almost" unanimously resolved that tho deputation be instructed,to give the manager to' understand that unless the men. were reinstated all the men. would refuse to return to work, the exact , motion being as followsi : .'! That no member of 'tlienion resume • work in tho mine until the men dismissed bo reinstated and the' time lo6t: from • time of dismissal be' refunded." ■ ••• The 1 deputation again the manager,' who refused to comply with the. request. The delegates then returned to tho Union meeting, when it was decided not to go to work,next day.: The Union communicated with tho Unions throughout New Zealand explaining the position. On Thursday : no new developments took place. - AN OFFER. '~ On Friday Mr. James Isdell, local agent of the Labour Department, : visited Blackball/ A Union meeting iwas held at, 11 a.m., and when in progress a message was received . from Mr. Isdell stating that tho manager was 'now agreeable to come to terms. He would reinstate'the men,' and try, if possible, to do away jWith the ton : hour shift; V The meeting .'adjourned to consider this proposal, and resumed at 3 p.m.j when it was decided that/' in ' ordef; to ' prevent dismissed, men being victimised-in future, tho deputation inform Mr!,Leitch that tho nien woreagreeable to resume work provided that in .the event of the management having to dismiss hands, owing to any cause whatever, the men to be dismissed be selected by ballot. ' Further, it was dccided to insist on tho payment 'of lost time. : '. ; v .

. The, deputation the man- : ager; who refused.' to.: entertain' for one moi inent tho ballot proposition, ; nor would ho 1 pay back time..- His reason for refusing to agree to the .ballot ■ was that some-miners had vested interests' (homes) in Blackball, , and if they were balloted ' out they , would be in an awkward position.'- 'If the men, were reinstated to-morrow (Saturday) he oould givo them fourteen days! notice. • It was to prevent - this that tho .men insisted on the ballot principle.-, ' ' - ': ''-r Tho deputation theu asked Mr. Leitch why ho had. dismissed Fox'and Bromilow, both of whom were,married men, while tho former owned a houso. ■ - •Mr. 1 Lcitch repliod that he was not aware ! of tho fact. . -. , . ..- - The. deputation said this..was .peculiar, as both had been in the district- for. some time. Tho, deputation thon asked why all tho men dismissed were Socialists. , i vn'. ' - ' , Tho manager replied that he was not awaro that they were. ■;"; . V '. It was hero pointed out that tho' award provided for' preference to Unionists, while some non-Unionists were working in- tho mino. Mr. Leitch then informed tho deputation that he would have to. see Mr. JamesLeitch on tho matter.. •. -• The deputation )■ returned- to ■ the ( Union meeting, when it. was agreed to' let thei'case of back time go to the Arbitration Court, but to insist, in ordor to protect dismissed; men, on the ballot in future.' The 'depiltation-saw Messrs. Walter and Leitch at 6 p'.m., and refused, to deviate from the demand for ,a ; ballot, being taken when-men: were to be discharged. •' : THE MINE; MANAGER'S STATEMENT. Mr. Leitch, : mine manager, states that the first, sign of discontent occurred recently, when a'letter was received from 1 the Union demanding the enforcement of their longallowed half an'hour for crib"'time.;'' Thisadvice was received oil a Friday, and the following Monday it was' put into operation. This, action has,: since been tho cause'of a Court case before the Magistrate,; when tho correspondence connected, herewith was :read, and a decision . has, not yet. been delivered; A,little later, owing to! increased orders and the limited carrying capacity- of; the aerial tram line, it was, deemed. necessary to work the aerial line ton hours to ' meet ,tho demand, a;.custom which has been in vogue since the double.shift was,abolished. This, of course, meant, that, jig men and truckers had to work ten hours per day, and they were paid time and_a quarter for the extra , two horn's. The majority of the men seemed to. bo only too pleased to have the opportunity of earning overtime., Following this was a notice t'rom tho Union drawing the management's attention to Rule 240, regarding the-Union's rules, which was;-to .the effect that no member, of the Union would'. be allowed to wori more than ■ eight hours ' per day or they wouldbe liable to a fine-of 10s.. for. each occasion, r " In reply. to the-Union's, letter it was stated that if we complied with their notico it would bo necessary for tho miners to do trucking,-and this reply .was handed to the secretary of .the Union. However, -after, further,consideration • the mino; managerand myself came; to the conclusion that it,; would be better to- revert; to tho eight-hour- shift ; and thus avoid all difficulty, as at present the company have a case before the Court .to; test the question of whether the manager can order a man to do what he is wanted to do or otherwise. This, of course, meant that there , would have to. bo a reduction in hands, as, although there were not enough men employed for a. ten. hours' shift, there;.were too' many for.'tho'eight, so that some had to go. and! he decided to dispense with the services of tho new-arrivals.aiid keep, tho old hands, as ho. knew them." ' - THE NEXT DEVELOPMENT. ' Having notified the men-not requiyfci that their■■■services were dispensed withj the next development occurred the same •evening (Wednesday), when a deputation waited on him (the manager) and asked him if ho would reinstate the - men who had been dismissed. The deputation asked no other, question. The manager replied that, as the pit was only going to work eight hours a day in future, he did not require their sen-ices, and therefore could not reinstato them. At a later hour the same- evening the deputation returned and stated that tho men had decided hot to return' to work unless '• the men dismissed wero , reinstated. He (Mr. Leitch) replied:— . .... ". ■■..■•■ •' What, you .don't, mean to. say that they aro: going to strike," aiid the deputation stated that that was tho Union's decision. He-then replied, "Oh, well, let it be so," and immediately communicated with tho miuinir manager st Nsahere. The latter also

communicated at once ; by urgent telegram with the secretary of the company at Christchurch, informing him of the position. A LETTER. -~ Mr. Leitch then produced a' copy'of a letter forwarded to tho linion as to the reason of tho dismissal: of tho moil, tho following being a copy:—" " " . • ■ ■ r '-:. "27th February, 1908. , ".Walter Rogers, Esq., Secretary Blackball Minors': Union: ' .' ' '■ /'Dear". Sir, —In tho . .deputation which interviewed tho Mine Manager ,'rlast'..',eVeniiig':heglcctc'd reporting clearly , to_ the'meeting the reason - given by tho ■ Mino Manager for dismissing the. seven • ■ ' miners.., yesterday, I' tako . - ; > this\ opportunity of''stating the. aforesaid . : ■ reasons; 1 -: so'that you'-may. have' it in ■ V writing.'-The reasons (areas -follows:—'■ ■ The Union having notified me thatthoy - would not. allow ,any member of their union to work moro than eight hours, • , forced on' my: company tho following ' - alternative, viz., ■ eithor to ■ work eight . hours .-per day or -elso to work the mino . ton. hours and: got miners to truck for tho firm two hours of the ten. ' : 'l' nptifi«l:y6u : 'that 1 intended, to got' tho. miners to truck; but on further con- , ' i 'sideration'"L: thought this might';lead to - •• 'endless;trouble. I therefore .decided,to take the othor alternative, viz.,, to work ■ " eight'hours' onlyj'.but,''''having men for: eight diours per day it became • necessary to dischargo those I did ;not . require. This-I proceeded to do, with the . . ... ;result, that; you havo,,'struck.,' . "Yours faithfully, i : "JAMES LEITCH,- Mining Manager.". ~ AN EXPLANATION. Mr. Leitch then explained tho : situation ds r rcgards miners having to truck-tho first two hours of . ten and tho last two hours, a position of affairs which is caused by two , shifts.-miners working,' one commencing at 6 -a.m.; and tho other at 8 a.m/j two truckers being required at each incline from 6,a.m.; to 8 a:m., to keep the aerial tram supplied as woll as possible; : Tho'same con- i ditions..; apply from . 2(,t0 4 o'clock in tho .evening. In conclusion; Mr. Leitch stated that ho- was greaitly ' surprised jit : what had ] ' /happeiied,' ~as,: overything had ' been done • -fairly- and;sabove-board; and: also in accordance ; with all, the : Mining Acts, and :< he ..'. miners had undoubtedly brought the present unlooked-for position upon themselves. . Tho Blackball Company has coal on-hand " sufficient to supply. 'one -more steamer. : The manager states that for some - time the . demand for coal has been exceptionally keen. , . ' Orders' will ; iiow have to bo'refused. l •." INQUIRIES BY LABOUR INSPECTOR. Mr. James Isdell, Labour Inspector, • - proceeded to" Blackball to-day,: to onquire ■<</: into: tho position, in order to roport fully to tho.'Mmister for Labour (tho Hon. J. A. Millar). / There, aro 140 men out.-in all, including • : 82 miners, while "tho rest are employed m and about the mine. i •X'--'.-.y. , V/:''A-!-;OT'essago'-irbadHn}.toTO 1 ---this ( .- afternoon ... states that-the Minister for Labour directed , V '. ..that j'full. l ;enq'uiries; ho' mado, arid lie will '"decide'-what action 'shall be'' taken as' soon : 1 '-,-as'such'information' is available.- ~yi, A MASS MEETING. The miners held- a imass meeting last : evonmg, 1 which 1 was addressed by Mr; H. M. i r,.,Fitzgorald,-. ono .of -,-the Socialist leaders of .Wellington, who purged ;..that' the present .stand be continued. ' ~ , Tho \ Union then resolved that tho dopu- • " tation. go back to the manager and tell him ' that-:the miners agreed with i tho proposal to 'j.reinstate-the menj-but, imordor to-prcvont : : the men I ;:being !':.thb- '■ meeting passed the following motion:— - ' , . "That'in tho event of the management, .-: 'having to 'dismiss hands owing to 'any • : cause: whatever,..tho men to bo dismissed to.-.bo sel.ccted/by ballot.". ; • T -n-replj.to'this, .the/manager'stated that iio 'could nof agreo to 'tliis. - He' wished to keep -in" tho district-: married men who -had , their homes established thero. ! rj-f-; ,-' Tho, Union -.refused;; .to give;.'way.' I ''/ • ■ , ; No further devolopipents can possibly tako place- : toslay, as'.'tho''meeting adjourned until; 10 o'clock:on'Monday-morning; -.; -; ' : ' Inspector 'Black visited tho,., township yes-terdayv-butl found. To-dayy:;'tho miners'arb taking'part ;jn, tho" ' school children's annual picnic,: so'that strike .matters will bb ; almost- forgotten: till Monday*! •

RECEIVED WITH LAUGHTER. Hickey stated that at tho Union mooting yesterday a telegram was read from tho ■ Hon.;r J. - A:" Miliar l -.(Minister for Labour) asking for particulars, so that he could judge . as to.,.whether. it was., necessary to put the : . law? in motion. ... This was rccoived with. : laughter and" pooh'-bahß:". "- 1 - ■ \ .■ ; : Mr.iLomas, Chief Inspector of Factories. ' left Wellington by tho Arahura, and will arrive .. at .Greymouth on Monday. He will immediately proceed to-Blackball. ; ; / Tho Blackball Union .has received tolegrams from all-parts of tho Dominion admiring! tho stand ..taken' by. the. minors. - The Wellington , -.Trades: and Labour .Council, the, Wellington Y Socialist Party,' various Unions throughout, thocountry have promised* support. - . Mr. Isdoll .was' present 1 at the interview between the.'. '"deputation;-. and . the. : . .'mine ' manager, ! and it ;was ; suggested by the men should resumo work, and lot the / ''Arbitration Court 'decide .tho -dispute 1 /' but •>- tho deputation laughod at this; and declined to : do so," saying tliey had no faith .in tho ' 'Arbitration Court. ,v . v Ultjwas-stated on-Friday* that' the, men had v -.,: received a telegram from-. Mr. Edward. Tre...igearj'r'Seorotary- to .'tlio Laljour Department, :Sympathising with j thomen,,.lnit 'it has'since 'been.denied by.thc.irienlth'at such a .telegram was received. -...' - i. . A DENIAL., ' It:-'was stated, in a.Press Association toleRram from Greymouth, published in Tite Dominion-on Saturday;- that Mr." Edward ■ Tregear,' of' Wclling-fcon; : -had sent a telegram of sympathy to tho men on stnko at Blackball. Mr. Tregear is.tho official head of the Labour-Department. ' When seen by a reon Saturday morning, he- gave- the . -•■ statement .referred ! to. an unqualified denial. .- ''I sent no'such- telegram, 1 ' ho said, v MEETINC OF CABINET. .PROBABLE GOVERNMENT. ACTION J Cabinet met for.an hour-on Saturday forenoon to.transact ordinary Departmental busi- ;' r.ess. It is understood .that " the' matter of ■ - the Blackball'miners' striko was beforo the Miriisters.* 1 - 1 : Nothing .'definite;, however, was - - done - or ,' 'decided ' upon; It is understood, however, that 1 action : will-bo taken; against the strikers if'a settlement is not arrived;at. . Interviewed last evening,'the'Minister-for. • Labour' (the- Hon. J; A. 'Millar) 'stated that no further information regarding the position had como to hand. Tho Department would . do. what it could to effect 'a ■ settlement. -: Mr.Lomas, Chief Inspector of the: Department, .. had been ■ dispatched to the mine to that end .■