BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 151, 20 March 1908, Page 8

BLACKBALL STRIKE.

VIEWS OF OTHER UNIONS,

LATEST NEWS,

. NO FRESH DEVELOPMENTS. THE BALLOT QUESTION. , (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL COP.RESPONHENT.I , Creymouth, March 19. ./.Everything is vcry'<]uiet' at Blackball, tfnd no fresh developments are recorded. Tlio ma'nager ■ (Mr. . Leitch), asked on what terms the men would be taken back,, replied that'tho same conditions as'offered on Thursday still, hold good,, i.e., tho extensibn of •crib , time' tO;.twenty.,- minutes and.'reinstatement of tho-dismissed men./' A meeting of tho Union was held this, afternoon, when it is understood that the'question' of a ballot as to returning to work .was discussed.

Mr. Pritchard addressed: a.< meeting ,of wharf labourers on Tuesday night, and was listened-to attentively, l but' at-the'conclusion ho was, simply; accorded a-motion .of thanks for. his.,iaddress.,.* .Some .speakers .adversely criticised' tho action of: tho Blackball Unic«, and -.strongly, advised the men to -return, to jrorlc, and, thus' ond 'an action which . tliey characterised as suicidal madness.

/. It is understood that ,the time allowed • for th'e payment of the fine of £75 by tho Union ; is not.';yet . expired; '. .In, tho event, of nonpayment by. the date allowed tho Government will tako steps to collect the fine. ; , (BY. TELEGRAPH-—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)' - Creymouth, March 19. , 1 The! miners jbeld .a,meeting this., afternoon, but nothing was done of iuiy importance, and no resolutions" wero ; put. - '* .-.Tho. manager states that he has had no communication with the Union during the week,'.and* matters 'aro-at' a standstill. '

The .Grey -Wharf Labourers' Union has expressed regret at ,tho. strike and disapproval of,-.tbe.;men!s-action'. .-, ;

•-. Mr. M'Eellar./of Christchurch, is, at present at Blackball, making enquiries into the ■position.

. , Several people'froin Greymouth have tried to reason with' tho miners, but have failed, the last being a well-known clergyman.

AN INTERVIEW.

(BY- TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL ,CORRESPONDENT. 1 , , . ;; Chrlstchurall, March 19.

. Mr-'D.- 11.- Pritchard,' the. emissary -of'tho Blackball Miners' Union, arrived in town last- night;''being- welcomed by Mr. J. Thorn, •President of the Canterbury Trades-and Labour Council, and' several members of that body, and of the Socialist party.

Mr. Pritchard . was not very communicative "-whon -interviewed by a representative of , '"Thb ' press."., Ho ' was ill Christchurch, ho said,'in;defiance of a telegram sent from this city to Greymouth, which stated that lie. would moot with an unsympathetic reception from tho , workers here. , He was inclined to think that, tlio statement in the tologram was not true.

Asked, as. to tho. latest > developments at 'Blackball, Mr/ Pfitchard. stated that tho floii. A.. R: Guiim63s: visited Blackball- on Wednesday, and had attempted to persuade, tho ;men. to' return to • work, but they had reraa-ined . absolutely invincibk on .the demand. for tho,half an lioui' crib time. The men were still ; determined not to go back to work. Regarding tho- funds that the Union have in hand'to continue tho fight, Mr. Pritchard stated that information would be forthcoming in due course on, tho point. . ; The Political' Labour League here has telegraphed to tho. Blackball Miners' Union that the telegram . stating , that tho workers' of Christchurch Were disgusted. with. the action ,of tho' miners ' in, continuing • to hold out, was! absolutely untrue. • The. League assured tho ■ miners of - its sympathy. ; Some of tho Unions, however, ; discountenance the strike; 1 "Y ; ~ The"' Canterbury Carpenters. and. Joiners' Union resolved' last' night' to • make no donation to/the Blackball Miners' Union, as it considered, the ,action .of the Union in'calling its members out on strike is against'tho best, interests of' the organised workers of this Dominion, and is calculated to bring .into disrepute ; one of the' best-Labour laws that has ever been passed in this or any other, country.

The HomebushMiner's" Union resolved: " That the . members do' not support tho action' of tho Blackball miners in the present trouble', and regret that instead of striking, they, did not apply to the proper court-as provided'for, thein."

(BY .ASSOCIATION".)' • Auckland, March 19. / ' The, Trades and'iLabour^'Council has deferred: .'consideration. ,<Sf i a request for financial - assistance.'from: the Blackball miners, pending" the . rec'/wt .',of' ! t written correspondence.. • - ■■ ■>. Dunodin, March 19. 'The Ofcago Trades and Labour Council this evening passed tbo following resolution in regard to the Blackball•; strike" That in view ,of' the fact that this Council believes in the principle of conciliation 'aiid arbitration in ■ labour./disputes,, it' cannot see' its | vray to .advise, the -affiliated Unions to grant .'assistance to'the Blackball miners." In the course ( of his address to his constituents last •'evening,' Mr. Barclay, M.P., said .ho regretted tho Blackball strike, but the miners were insulted and tortured by tho I dismissal, of seven of; their, leaders. He was satisfied that these seven were marked men 'bccauso of their exertions on behajf of their fellows,' and because of the position they took up.in endeavouring to assist them to better their, condition. .. '