BLCKBALL STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 144, 12 March 1908, Page 7

BLCKBALL STRIKE

CASE BEFORE ,THE ARBITRATION '

COURT.

1 'CHARGE AND COUNTER-CHARGE,

MINE MANAGER'S EVIDENCE,

(BY : TELEGBAPH.—PBESS ASSOCIATION.) Creymouth, March 11. 'Tho Arbitration Court'mot at noon to-day, Mr. Justice Sim and Mossrsi'M'Gullough and .Browii presiding./ Tho .Qpurt was crowded to tho doors, many being unablo :to gain admission. 'Nearly all tho'minors in Blackball ,-wero. present,;, Mr.,:M. ,Hannan appeared -f or t,ho Inspector of Awards, and Mr. Gijinnesa for tho Blackball Minors' Union.' 1 "■

■ THE CHARGE. Tho Cleric of the Court thon read thr charge, as .'follows .. .;!!n. the matter of the Industrial Con'ciliatlori and Arbitration Act, 1905, land ' lin " the matter of a strike within the . ..meaning, of section, 15 of. the .Industrial '. Conciliation and Arbitration Act,' 1805. . Whereas an award was made on the 31st ■ day of.: March, 1902,. by . tho Coiirt Sf ; _ ( Arbitration , to which tha Blackball; ' Miners' Industrial' Union ofWorfters;was\ •., a, party, and. whereas the said award is \ >: still In existence, and relates to the trado in connection with whlcivthe striko hereinafter referred to occurred j and whereas on the 27th day of February, 1908,1 the • members-.of, tho said,; Blackball-,ltyiners', Industrial Union of Workers struch within '.the of tho ... industrial. Conciliation f and , Arbitration ■ Amendment Aot, 1905 and - whereas; thq, said Blackball Minors' Industrial Union of Work'ors proposed, aided; and abetted, and is now aiding and abetting, the said strike—Now, 1, % Jamos Isdeli, being an v ' Inspector of ' Awards- within* tho - mean- ; Ing of the saidVActs,' and .belng a person empowered to enforce tho said awai'd, ' ' do hereby apply to tha Court to enforce , agains t , sa!d. B lacktial Ij, IVJ iners'' In-dustriiil-Union of-v/orkersUhe; provisions of the said Section 15 of the Industrial - ' Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1905. ~ 1 A COUNTER-CLAIM. . Mr. Hannan stated that, as" Mr.; Guinness' liad ( lodged. a counter-olaim on ■' behalf '. of tho., . Kihors'/'-UMorf' Company, .'ho'...asited that' b'oth.'CasosVbd* lieard together. • [.:} |- -Mr.; Guinness ' consented, and statikh the : charge as follow:—. , . .'. I, } Tho Blackball Minors' Union charges tho BlVckbalVv, Coal Company with a breach of tho award under Section'-,103 . of , the , main Act, which is as follows!-?.. ' i " Eyoryi/empjoyer*who dismisses from his.- employment any worker by reason ■ k morely of -theVfaot* that the workar Is a ' c membor ofan .'lndustrial < union, or who is conclusively; proved to' have dismissed such vyorker -merely because he is en- ' titled' to "Vhe -benefit of an award, order, or agreement* shall bo doomed to. havo ' committed ,a breach of the award, order, ,'or agreement,'and shall bo liable accord- ' insly.'V i'' 1 ; • '

MR.,,HANANfS,,OPENING STATEMENT. ij j [Mr. - - HananV 'in :openrag,',tliG, case, ssid the miners were working under: an, award which did not' deal' with' what time should he allowed for. • crib: : Tho ■ minors " had agreed, to take fifteon' minutes, and. gono on for oight or nine years. Oil, Fobruary .24 tho> Company receded notice ithat the miners,, intended-; to , tako (Jialfan i onb timo. Tho .manager, replied ,: that- the minora would . t act on their: oivn.-responsibility if tlioy toolt •:half, : l 0 .wmers' : " brought thcUnew. provisions: Into operation.-. • .The:manager on .the day jn question waited, Itiir the-usual fifteen; minutes had passed, > arid then'ordered "the: men .to resume: work. Tho-miners refused,' and-thus committed a .breach of • theaward for disobedience.' Tho • ,first point, wa3 tho miners refusing to work -ten-hour shifts.;, }It?was v ce?sary., to work : tho ■ aerial lino ten hours'to keep up withthe demand. The truckers were paid , the ; usual overtimo' rate of tim'e : and-a quarter. , The minors' worked in accordance with tho . bank . to.'bank' clause. The .Miners' Union then declined to allow tho truckers to work' more'than .eight, hours, in acordance" with Rule '24, -jvliicli; that -any miner or . trucker! is.liable to' fino for working more 'thaftheight*hours.' :-WheiiV-the !.miiiors and,/'; truckers reflised" to-work ~ton : holirs to keep: the aerial'.'liiife going,UfeVssjfound necessary, . to. reduce hands. - Mr. ■Loitcli.' managor, then : went' into the ' mine and : dismissed ; ; sevenv , men'. Tkiio' werd 80 miners-workirig the mine, at the timo, and about 140. employed - altogether: Mr. 'Leitch, accompanied by a witness, went into, the miqo and dismissed 'six' men, who asked the reason;for dismissal.. ,Tho manager refused to giv,e reasons.- At a. . meeting, of tho Union .held .afterwards; tho.\, ■ manager was; asked to reinstate the', miners., /, "He replied that ho would reinstate . provided -ten .hours- wore.worked..:.:, Tho..Uniqn,.refused , ' comply., Ho would call Mr. Loitch. mme ;. "'jrianiiger. x; • ' t '*• '!;/*">''

THE MINE: MANAGER'S EVIDENCE. Mr. Waited ibitch,;mirio ''iiliinage.r of tho r ; Blackball Coal Company,, said'the last award . was made; on , Maroh 3, 1902.'.' and • was ' to remain iii .forco.two years, and. had gone, on : over since.": The :< award'had not' boeri . for ninfc''yeats.-jv'Thb'nniliorsihad only, takon ,15 minutes' crib'/timO."' Half an- lipur was 'allowed, : ' and -it ; : was; at/tho request of: tho nuners.'that' crib' l 'timo .was' f reduced to .15 ... minutes. He had nover had any comnlamts , about crib; 'tinio until r ho received word from the Union on February 23 that on the :27th thb'f'minbrs 'would; take ;'half an\'hour''for orib timo. On-that day ■ho _and' Mr. James ■ <Lcitch;; gonoral manager, waited, until .15 : •'minutes 'nad elapsed; arid thori 'ordered'-tho moil to resume.work*.- They refused to do so. Ho; told thb v ;mjnors .that ho would;, take' - ' action against;'thoni "for® disobbdibrice,.'/ Sopio of tho men stated, "thoy liad been'taken on tho hop," and did riot know, they could bo iohargea for disobedience.; After a conference':/ with -the, general .manager, it: was,agreed.; not to take action on ' that day, but next day ho received a letter from the Union adhering to; their resolution to take, half an hour crib ..time. -Hoyffas-advjsed.,from thq. ligad: office•; : in Ghystchursh! what actiou hb should,\take. As rogards tho t'ori-hourTshift'j.tho Union i>roto -rofusing; to.'^work'-'.morj'/^thau 1 oigbt •• (hours.!' "This- ' affcotbd ' . tho' .■. trUcketa,-*-who were •• - receiving' • ovortimo and were: quito satisfied-to ..work the ton hours, n Tho Union, however, gayo them riotico not to work avertimo. Ho only requirod ten out , of tho eighteen truckers to work ten hours.. 1 When he found : out; that :tho minors, would not triick ho had to dismiss 'soven mou. Ho v called tho'underground manager to go with him as a witness. It took sovonty-threo men : toi : ko6p .'tho:; aerial ••working -for-, eighjv -and . eighty for. t-eu, hours. , The ; Company could . ,not get.enough coal,to rompleto orders from Christmas to th'o'date tif tho'strike,' ahd'Had: "to purchase boil; from' the Tynesido ; pampariy. ■ When-lio ivent into .the. mine, to, dismiss tho . ;men the; first placo lie cahio:to, was ;whoro' Hickoy and Brooiiiildw were' working.' Ho 'saidV "Hickoy,' your services; are. no longer v requirod by tho Blackball Coal Company." .Hickovreplied: 7'l call.'- this .petty spito." Ho saltl: "I am riot here' to argue; calf it''what'you' like."' Hickoy ; thon- asked' ... the caUBo of his dismissal, and ;ho refused information. Hickoy then .demanded to go out by. tho ropo,lino. Ho.said he would put him - in gaol if ho did,'as:it -was'unlawful. l ;• Ho/ • instructed tho underground manager to con-' duct Hickoy out by the 1 proper way. Tho '• soven men-.' dismissed ycDmrnitted : an. offence for disobedipncpi .He nest went to Milligaa v

arid Moris'-/ place." i He - dismissed - , Mill jgan. ■ Tho'reason hp did not'dismiss was ; . that! ho was a 'good- niani i' ' V ■.. ' ;:To tho Judge:• Hick6y -had been employed gix weeks and Milligari about five months. , . i Witness, continuing, said; he used this same language in dismissing all tho mon. 'In ovory ; case ; ho, was.- 'asked, > givo - reasons,- whiqn ho declined to' give. ..After ,dismissing six men, :ho with"- the- deputy', ;;arid found out that :they had one man t-oo many, <; arid' he , weiit; arid ■ dismissed • "Hickijy's' iridt'o, Brooiriilow; The' men dismissed wero':—Hun- ■ ter;' Vr'ebb, Hickeyi .(six . weeks^: employed) v.6bldßiiiithT.({biir 4 :^^ks);..'F<k.'<ffls; v nionthß) l . .MilliEari.«. ;(fife . months), . .Bropmilow , (six ■ /month's).;''.'.He denied using had lariguaige -to . an.v man in tho>mirie'.'-' -' ' . •' . y:. ; • "A voice: Yes yoii-did. ; 1 - ;Silorico was-ordered;:■:.. \ r ;LWitnesS;, ; continuing, said .the president and 'Bocretary of .the Union-came, to.-hish'ouso as, , aVdeput'atibn .from tho .TJnion (qbbut .B.3o\tho .evening, of'.thb:-dismissal,!'and\-iskcd .whether' he -.voukl reinstato: the men. '; He:replied t:hatas long- as tho ;aerial worked eight,',hou,'"S ' would. not. --'Tii'e' -same .deputation returned Bo'mo tini'o afterwardsi and "infoi-mcd- liim' that ' the'mon -had decidcd ridt to go. to Worl: until the "men were' v reinstated;r '' He"'.'repliod:. J'.What ! You', don't;moan:'to sny you arp;gor:irig_;tdVstrik'e."';'.:.They; replied!: .v'/THat'.is tho vdecisiotf; °f > the Union:" '!*He "said: " Well . let *: it - bo'-so! ■ He informed tho; deputation . tliat : ho'-was. prepared tho',ineri-if . tho acSnaly.was'i'allowed to run )teri. hours. Nqst ■; morning he -went to 'the' mine," and found '• that no miners'' or • truckers ;had ,: turned

up.-; Tho rriine ; -Kas' ; been- idle,; since Thursday ; morning, February.'27.' V. -': ■■■ Tiio working rof tho aerial, eight hours instead of■:ten-:hours : a','day.'would,. make'ja re-. ;V; diiotiori: iiv tho /'butput'-'of, about:^Ss;ooo;;'tons. s r ;pcr- annum. - 'Mr:-. ladcll,' 6f ' the Lalwur J;Deyvp'artme'nt;Vcalled':.ori }liim fin ] Friday 1 j /"-February • 28; ;-; and askbd , one what' conditions-'.- he:--would , toko /.the; men bhek'. '.^TJe - / toldihim that if 'thb'; miner's wbrk'fcen' ' hours,,he would roinstato tlie disriiisscd -irien, ; 'End-,;would' have'",wor]t';for'moro.mcri'at'tho V mine. "In . tho afternoon; Mr.; 'Isdell -'came. ; hack, "hy - -'Messrs'.Rogers Buchanan anil : Bowers,' 1 of; 'and tlu-y told liirn 'tlio -Union agrcecl to" r>.c- . cept the terms- with thb. exception 'that- they ,'- wanted: the;-'meriopaid . for loss ;■ of" timo; "as ;it was orily ' a ,few. pounds: |- Hp'said; ho, would .not; pay. it' if..it .'.wore, only sixpence.'' Ho wanted :t6;. , 8btt16-:.th6;--m'attbr'.. , 'bf' being ablo '. ■to dismiss mcn:-by,--th'o;.'Court.j. "v ;.. viThb^dGputatiori 4 lateroh;(came bapk - and '..Baid they.had ; decided to let tho/money matter; go, but in vordor'to/ protect'-tho men from being victimised, tlioy' demandorl that i,v.'a decide' "n'hicH^-■"bf.' the' ' men should;'bb dismissed.;- He: said: "Why " not.let -tho matter.'of :tho question' of ballot, .;ho decidbd'by tho. Arbitration Court?'' Mr. Rogers : replied : " We' liavo no faith' in "tho f Arbitration Court,-''' Mr.' Isdell' then ;a6k'pd ; if they rgave them". thp:.h'allot 're''')turn to . work'.;'. 'Mr. ! , BowerS: said:' No, they. ;'Miad any'amoiinVpf .things to-bring jUp.'.' y thenotferedto iajreet'oan'afireenieht'beiiig :';: drawn up ■ on. botfr sides, '/making it'pomjgnl-; ;. sory a' fortniglit's notico 'on pa'ch'-siiJe.- \. :The .deputation said'that was ; a;yery. fair;pro- ■!' position. -Thoy, ;hoivever,i:retnriicd and t-ohl him . that tho .Xjniorii'wo'uld -not .agre'e. to ' it. .' After ■ consultation mtli' l -tlio' : I ('■ lio mformbd. .tho' flc'put'atio'n; that; they'woulii not; agree to thb ballot:' -Tho -ballat systemhe; consideredVery'.unfair to' married .men.He ! ; told'Slr/ Ldriiis th'at the- Company would . a'groo' to' 'overything but - thb--b'alloti : vMf. i 'V Lomas :-askfd- : him : - if ; hb".-woUld--.giv«: his '.word. ; that .'the men 'would'not bo .victimised, and ..'he consentc<l. ; • •' . In' regard to the c'ouhter-charge, hb s-; • ho 'did' not ;distniss tho men;because they. wero ; .uiuonists' ; In' ; fact,, on/ thb I'st 'supnliod -jto him ! by the. Union,-only two -of thp.djsTOif' i : / meli appeared; aS;\uniomstß;'.na'mdy,VFox; and, ' Milligan. - Thero" : on t l '-; lists'. " Ho did h6t"takp';iiito -consideration whethor-they wero unionists/or not.' Ho dis- ■ 'missed the moil ho thought.' ho could uo. best 'without:k ;■ i,; .:. • GROSS-EXAM I NATION. XJross-examined by -'Mr.VGuinness,; hp, had • 'engaged. tl<reo> men'a, week; ; before. tho''men, woro dismissed. ' He was awaro -that nino : not ask for half-hour-crib .time, but' they in-. years ago there-w'as-no union. l ! Tho men did formed : him'.that thoy. wprb going ',to tako .it. - Ho supplied Mr. Hanan':with/a: list of. tho 'names of tho'-dismissod. - ; ;, : , .. Mr. Leitch was' on your advico that wo ; lacked tho", men.' ,'ori ia'.minutb's'iTibticb, and wo -followed; itMu this % -casb; 4(Laughter.)' ' ' • IMrl Guinness:: When, did ; I giro you advice ?; "■Mr. Leitch :.".Three :years , ago,' and yfo- aro, . following 'it out. • ;-v v ' "j. V . Jfr.Guinness::: Have you' thb.'- advicein - ..writing? . V w .' Jlr. Leitcli: No, but when you were acting .as ;the Company's solicitor you gave the advico.'- •' ■':■ !,■; :• ;Mr. Leitch l continuing," said on the morning" . of; .-the- dismissal • lie . had ■ occasion' ;to caution Hickey; on .the- way- he ■.was-'doing . his w;orlc. /When: the .-Hon. Mr. M'Nab was in Blackball ho gavo Hickoy. permission to , go ' and r ' intorricw him'. • He 'was : (certain :he did ' riot use/ bad language.'., He was as/ cool as ho, 'was i-riowi :'. Ho ■ did, not. - use; .the;'; T&;. _marks :" ''Pack 'up 'yo'iir -—— tools, ai\d .clear , to' of this.'-' .. -- ' To 'thp., .Bench : ,He did v ' not' vuso. , bad languagb:,to' anyone.-. He .wished'that to';be ; distinctly Irindersfobd.'ii'Hbihad':found' fault; wath'the; men:..he 'had disraissed several times- . before. - i'lf. ten-h'our. Bhifts'.'h'ad been ,work : ,ing_:he ■ would? have; kept ;the'-seven: men'.'on nntU he got-. hotter/miners*.;'.! Ho did .not say., that no would , get:, on 'to'' Hickby be-' cause 'he hacl t .him : 'below>.tho: hplt.^V;'- 1 ? \.'■•' : To Mr. Hanan : -Ho had discharged very- . few;, 'v';but when -, ho' had / occasion to dismiss' a' man --hc never gave notiQe. The , miriere never 'complained; oftion of the lnine.' <) . UHDERV!EWER!S STATEMENT. ; ' '; Joseph,.Thompsbn, ;-undervie''.vor 'at;' Blac- ; ball' miiie,- stated .that thb-manager told;hirii. j tho' minors ? had., dccidcd:..to . Work.-only eight i hpur sbiftsi "-'and' that ho '.would ;.havo.Vt-o ?dis-; miss .A,' --Tlio toldv him • '. (witness) .;to vhim '.',. a s: ■ a v. witness.. ;,The .manager. did : not use ; ljad language. '. A, ' week";before; ( tho;-strike -. a" trucker: left at '.a . niinuto's-.notice. V\-i'' J'."' \ : ;',.;t Tp ' ili-.- Tlip' minei's; are' paid. on coal hpwed,. thb\aay. ; lie. had .bf ten; asked; a mirier -;tb:. finish',.his; . 'Bhift|and:ihad(been'j.rbfusoi3^>-^ ! !,^ • To tho Bench : ; He : . agreed'. with: the selec-;tion-:of'.the.'mpni-dismissed.;;^;,".-

THE/'INSPECTOR OF AWARDS. f ; ' James . Isdell) : Inspe'ctbr of- Awards,' stated '-7 that :, he "Visited. Blackball . bn-; February'.'/??:' ,- .Ho tried:to-,bring,aljolit airamicnblo'scttlib- ... nient.vbut,'failed. The„• miners l wanted the dismissed . reinstated;':, and; . the ■ manager .' agreed, provided , ton ; hour wero workodj'wncri'necessary.Ho Submitted: the ; manager's";decision.-to;.'.tho>Uriioh- secretary, : and, .'after . a\ Union meeting, 1 ho was 'in- ; formed that the. men wanted- payment for lossof timo. A second.deputation waived the money claim, but raised thd:question: that' tho man-. , ager should -decide by: ballot who: was to be ■ dismissed, from : tho mino. :, The , manager refused, owmg- to-3eirig< unfair to -man-ied men and denying'him the-.opportunity." of keeping tho.best men..116 remembered. the • manager.- suggesting - that, the question 1 of . ballot be submitted: to,tho Arbitratioii Court on tho new ; award. '"Becould-riot remember Bowers saying, that; there were half ,a- dozori other things to bring-forward: : ' ;; , To Mr: Guinness :V He heard ' Mr. Leitch that, the reason:why the men: were disjnissedrwas to bring up-a discussion between : . the Company and the .Union regarding tho ' ten-hodr shift. ' . ' , : • . THE INSPECTOR OF FACTORIES. John Lomas,, Chief Inspector of Factories; »aid lie niade inquiries into:tho troublo, and the difficulty in the'way ,of a'settlement was ■ iho men insisting, on. a ballot, , which tlio ■ manager refused.. 110 attended' the Union meeting at Blackball on Monday, and heard men state; that bad language had been used by the' manager. 1 ■ To■ Mr. Guinness: Ho'suggested to the ; \ manager to' agrco to the -ballot for: singlo men, but ho declined to bavo anything to do with a ballot. .- i ■ ■■ . ■ To Mr. Hanan: The manager told him if the miners insisted on eight hours he would ■ not- take them back. . : SECRETARY OF THE UNION GIVES / EVIDENCE. Walter Rogers) secretary of, tho Blackball Union, said the Union had-decided to in-j-ease crib time from 15; minutes to .30 ninutes.; At a -subsequent , meeting; a -moi.

tion was mov)id- to: rescind the motion. deciding to.take'3o'minutes and reverting,back to 15 minutes.This was lost.by 34 to 3. On February 18 a resolution was< passed that the Union adhere ■ strictly to the eight-hour i barik-to-bank. .At the. • meeting'. at' which it wa's decided'to cease' work : there >*a's an 1 attendance of ' 100, 'and only five voted against ;.it:';.lt jvas . agre-td by the miners not to go ,'.to 'work until.the" ballot was accorded to. :T!ierb are 120 members of the Union; All jtheiunderground- men are Unionists. • ■■■■■;■ '•••'• -Toy-Mr'.'. Guinness :-' Milligah, Webb, and

.For,'. three r of, tho "dismissed men,' are ;mem-

,bers...of:,tlio', executive. .Mr. Webb, who : movcd.Hhb. resolution'-.to 'increase' crib- tixfle

,; at" tho meeting; -is one.'of: tho dismissed nlen. ;Ho: considered -fifteen minutes' .crib; time top -sliort men working ■underground, - irickey J represented': ..the''' Blackball- Union .at the Westlaiid Trades and Labour Council. Milligari shoved; th'e .-'resolution deciding-_to work eight lioiirs., Thpie :wore: five ;noh-unio'ni'sts [omijloyetl.'.iii. thej.mine. at the ,-tiine- of. the. , .-' .. . . Mr.',".Hanhn: '.Five. of. 'tho. dismissed.; men,, .as :far. as fthb 'Company .could find'ont, : were 'not members of the union. Tho men, being ,'nery been ontered. in 'the :.boolc k'cpt' for ; the .Company's, use. ; . 1 « THE CASE FOR THE MEN. . i Mir.' Guinness called ".Patrick M. Hickey, who .stated 'that he liad- eighfr'years' cxpe.rioiice as -a- miner s , Ho work v at Black-', 'ball" on 'January -5; He was' a member of tho -Blackball Union, and • was t present' at 1 .the increase : c'rib time.-. The manager :hadiioti,- .^threatened'.-•-..lii'm . bdforo'• the ■Court 'case' .over- ■ crib- ; time . - heard |,hi: Grojmouth - lon. . Fcbruary'. ,: ),o,. and tho decision, ; was". reserved. They, got arguing, :arid/'tho-manager: got heated. He . said: ''Hickey,;! will down you yet. • .You .hit 'me under tho - belti."-- On February 26 the manager .'and- tho underviewer. came to where he was ■ Working.' ..The ' manager . called.' joiit: " Hickey, take up'yonr tools and clear to ;Ji~—' out of--this ['"""'.Witness- asked' him ;to give hirh' : .a reason"; and;lie said: "I give you ;a- .b' ; ~'rc?.3aii.: : No -'self-respecting. employer would have anything'to do with; a ihan lliko Jypu.'v.'vl ■ have., nothing-against your 'muto, but.'-you 1 clear ito. out-'of' this:" ■ -The inine-managerdid not complain of his work. When- ho- was going- . ho-.' said, . ."I presume v. I,; can, ■ go""' down ..'tho . rope road.'-' , ./Tho manaser' said: " I'll' gaol you- .if , you do !" ' .; He., liad ' known miners ;to'-itfave-'at' a -mdrilent'sViiotico; * -It w'as.-diiaWto some grievous, cause such. as bad ventilations,-/etc.. Ho had taken - a pro-minent-part in Socialism, and- had spoken' in public.. -. . .■' : .v ,

• - William Brovnilow,- coal miner, said lie liad .sixteen; ye'arsV: ex'psrienco- as a coal miner. .Hb fi.ftebii; minutes';, crib timo too short:' .Ho 'Tempmbored ' tlio; manager and. Thompson; coming.' tol where - Hickey;. and- ho 'wo'rbr'-Tho i- riianagbiy, 1 ballixl > 'out, ;•;.'' Hickey; -'get'to this."'-'-. 'Hickey: asked whit w/is l ..upj ; ;and-'.tho v riianagei-''/repliPd, ;'." You'll get no -from'm'o." 'As thb. manager Vwas >gbing;'.-ho- callpfl • out, ■And- yotir havb iiothing against liihi.-";;-.-At '-1.20' : tnti;maiiager cariio' Sarar-and ;tojd: him: ho : boiildgo. -, Ho' heard tlio' mariHiekoy.'before, th'exlismissiil 'that ;ho':would'i doivri-';'hirii'' i -for hitting " below "thb bclj;" •::To Mr.]. Hanan: '.He moite .than fiftbmi' niirititcs" for';' crib itimo 'ever', sihob;: ho had;.;w6rk«l ; in.' ty iminc; :Hickey hid- also exceedcd ; tho'"'fift'eenvriiiiiutes.'.: "

;. '.Thb. Cduri "adjourriocl "at'', six. o'clock ' until 't^.^b!bl<fc|i.•'tb*riib^i'o'TC,■'nlbtning^'':^' ' stat6d ;-ho -would . finish-, his lovideneft'.bypi^O'block/ . ' remarked'.'that -hb 'would enideavbu'r.i tb f : give i the ;decisiori' of 1 the. .Court tc-morroiv. . • : v

-VAN' IMPORTANT POINT. )

i' 1 -Ibunedirii^'Mai-ch'-11. -- Tho /" Star ". points iout : Clause -15' of ,thb -amended Act .of -1907 .'provides for'. a penalty off £100, for"; those aiding Or :abetting a .striko - or'-.-lockbutj -and;: says':—" It. "'is', contended herb ;that all.Uhioris iri'the Dominion vvho of : sympathy and pledged ..financial?; aid to tlio Blackball strikers ■'have, brought | themselveV-under the provisions of this scction'of tlio Act."