BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 158, 28 March 1908, Page 5

BLACKBALL STRIKE.

J 1 FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS. NO CHANCE OF A COMPROMISE. . AN UNEASY FEELING. " (MT IBMGRAPU —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) . .. .. Creymouth, March 27. ' The ■ negotiations in connection .with tho Blackball trouble have proved abortivo. Tho ■ diffipulty on which no settlement could bo arrived :at ,was /crib -time. ( -, On - this point, it , • is- understood the company offered.-'to givo ' - half an hour, after a fortnight, but this was ; rejeetod, henco the deadlock;- . v. ■ It'is *• stated that- letters to tho Tyne- ■ eido and' Grey wharf-labourers wore sent last ' : ■ Monday. - This , was: the seorct proceeding re- ■- / ferrod-to on Wednesday. .-■ . • Mr. Fitzgerald has been appointed an honorary member of the Miners' Union. , The Blackball Miners' Union considered by the Labour Department, yoster- • day for assisting a settlement, and tho.proposals' wbro rejected. Tho minors, aro dc- : ~termin'ed ,to, accept ; no -terms, that do not in- ' >; elude half - an' hour's crib time. The miners aro - also determined not to pay the fino of ■ £75, and-the decision of the Government to collect-the ( amount,from the,, Union or pio- ■ y'' ceed individually against the men will bo met with strong (opposition. \ : : ' ; -,Mr'.'lsdell,- of" tho Labour Department, visited ■ Blackball ..yesterday, and, had an • interview-with the miners -and manager. -Ho -states: thero is no chancc of a., compromise, both sides remaining very firm. , /. /..-Great,interest is'manifested.-iii the meeting to-morrow-afternoon, of -the. TVnesido miners, who'will- oonsider .the question of striking in sympathy/with Blqfekball. .There is an unv easy-feeling' about J the;, result,,: |;he. opinion ■ : ; being! : that 7a . strike will, result. : -The.. old resident miners aro .against-a strike,, but .tho 1 younger men are /or going-out. If a striko ',- occurs i f at.'/Tyneside, -. it will • be ; a serious thing ■ for tho mine, as .there will be a danger of-it flooding. .

-■There is a 'mild scare in town, and-coal 1 ;. dealers are,nished' with. orders. '<■' ) afternoon-' to 'consider! -thV proposals' sub- ' mitted to them. •. y y i .V ;: y.' , PROCEEDINGS TO RECOVER THE \ FINE.' ( 1 THE CRIB TIME DIFFICULTY. ' ' ■ ■■■■■■ BT IEI/EORAriI—SrECIAIi CORRESPONDENT. ' Grcymouth, March 27. I - . : It-is understood' that; to-morrow, Mr. Han- j : nan, acting for ' the Crown, ; will commence \ proceedings to recover the fine. . ! At;' this 1 ' stage' it is ■■ interesting: to ■ recall i a 'rumour mentioned, in tho early part of the week' that the: Union's funds had been Y;.divided ainongst.membersi, sor.that: .not: a ■ - penny i remained . to;-credit.. . - This: .rumour, . it may bo."added; has not been .contradicted. •"■Both tho'Brunner and Greymouth TVharf Labourers' Uhion hold meetings to consider ■ a'- request- 1 from .the Blackball IJfiion not to deal with' the. coal-intended• to. fulfil the i Company's- orders, but'eareful:investigation inclines me to beliovo ;that the jequest will. bo' refused.lll both instances... i ■' :,A ictj'sis 'was roached ,-m. the, negotiations . -about; 11:30 .ya.m.y-; the;; miners -.refusing to ' accept'offer's to. get half anHiour's crib time after they had been at work for a fort•'J . nightr j-They 'domarided ' should be conceded forthwith. ■ •In the negotiations which, have flow proved " ; a failure the Labour Department acted-.for the Company. , , / ASSISTANCE DECLINED. ; - (Bt telegram—mess association.) . Chrlstchurch, March 27. - The Christchurch Tinsmiths' Union, passed a resolution ' to-night; that not ,see - /:its way- clear to give , financial assistance to ' tho;' Blackball', miners,v asby. so • it would weaken the. Arbitration, Act, tho prin- .... tuples of. which tho .Union earnestly : uphold. DUMEDIN'SYMPATHY. , Dunedln, March 27; . Mr..'Pritchard, representative of tho . Blackball: miners, addressed a" meeting in. tho'Alhambra Theatre. thiS;Ovening. There 1 ■ were ,about. 120 people ' present. . After Mr.; • Pritchard ■ had •••; explained ; the: position at ;• Blackball. from . th(S miners'..point of view, i thn following resolution was earned, without ; dissent on the motion of Mr. W. S. Pattieon, seconded by Mr, M'Mauus:— ;. ..- ....... •- That - this.. meeting of . citizens ofi . ' Dunedin,,.after hearing tho representa-. tsve of tho Blackball; Miners'> Union -(Mr.. ...i Pritchard) , ! congratulates -.' the : -:V;. 'miners, on their resentment of • the" actiony: <; , •. ofthe' mine manager ih victimising -■' seven of their .comrades,! and expresses :' the hopo that they will be successful in their; otforts to securo an extension : . of .' crib ' time ,'' to. thirty minutes; also, Y that tho meeting .itself'to finan- • V ciallysupport the,'.wives 'arid children of i . i those who-have ceased work."