BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 155, 25 March 1908, Page 7

BLACKBALL STRIKE.

. EXTRAORDINARY POSITION. GOAL' FAMINE IN THE TOWNSHIP. " ATTITUDE OF OTHER UNIONS. .[by, telegraph.—SPEClAL correspondent,] Creymouth, March 24. ; "A - most extraordinary for .Blackball, and ene hard to realise, is that the township' is facod with a.coal famine. Millions of tons in tho Blackball inino, and tens of millions of tons of coal on . the Paparoa' lead, and yet with all this "coal' at our doors there is none to bo purchased for love of- money. .-• Last v. week (two : 'dray-loads of coal' lyero. brought' from tho Tynesido mind, but, of" course,'; after railage to Ngahero and cartage to Blackball are paid, tho coal is almost"'as dearas i diamonds.. Fortunately, wood; is abundant", aiid" now groups of miners may be'seen wielding* the aso. '

. , ORCANiSiMC SECRETARY^ ■ (ill TELEQRAPa—TRHBS ASSOCIATION) Weslport, March 24. The Westport Labour Union lias not taken p.iiy •definite action respecting assistance to Blackball .miners.'. At a special meeting of the Miners'' Union tho question, of appointing, an organising 'secretary for • the:' Coast waa 'discussed, 's It'. was 'resolved', to have one appointed. On the ; question of ; assistance to > tho 'miners no immediate action .ivas' taken, although the. question of assistance to tho wives and families was recognised.. The,i principle of conciliation and' arbitration-was upheld. "YOUR MOVE NEXT." •••"•(Br- TEI.EGBArn—SPEOIAr, .COKBESrONnskt.I "i ' Croymouth, March 24. "Your move nost" is the position ■ nou takon up by both parties.' No negotiations; havo taken place to-day. In fact-, matters have never been so ■ quiet'. I have reason' I to believe,, however, that ..some .proceedings at present \kept scfii'et f are taking pl/ice. . ;

Writing in to-night's- " Star, '■ one of th« dismissed; men . states that botli Messrs. Hickey nnd Pritohard are paying their own fixpenses in tho tours now being undertaken by them. ■ ...•" 'f

The. Executive Committee of the Wellington Traits Colineil .has detided to hold a public meeting in tlio Concert Hall of tha Town Hall to-morrow night to giro Mr. Mickey, the Blackball miners' representative, a clianco to lay hiß case.before tho public.