THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 161, 1 April 1908, Page 9

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Sir,-r-youi- ■ : correspondent "Truth".- can evidently justify 'anytiling but .tho prido, aild self-respocc of a : , worker, ■ :ho; utterly fails' to comprehend. , Does ho' consider ,;hi3 letters' such ' masterpieces that lie would. bo,' ''doomed to.: a paflinmentary career if :he; attached his name . to.' them? And iwhenco 'does -his notion spring; that; man; who.openly ehampidiis Labour! has. a sinister mo-' tive? -As a matter of-fact, no plain-spoken advocate of Labour's, rights, can hope, for -,a parliamentary cai'«er ; ' even -if lib desires- it, while such opportunists as ho holds up for pattern—mom-who,icaii! faco all ways at : onco ■ remain-in theiliold of-politics. 1 .vYour correspondent ia quite .wrong about' tho;working hours .of -the. Blackball .miners,., .1 refer him'-'to':'the- report in''J'nE Dominion -bf-Mrl Hickoy's.address,''.where ho states that, the - terms, of sthe.-miners now. are, .."that tho men- should' bo taken back, and should uot be - discriminated, against ill. the.: futuro; that ■ilioy should;,'have in eight hours' ;day, 'and half : an;hour crib, ; timo;!'. ..'Tis', hardly likely, '.they-woiildi demand .. longer ..working: hours.' : "TruthV>'says ; '-'oqUality', of; opportunity, is. a J sens'olMS:-Vatel,i,icry,"t;Let'':..hii>i have a look 'round thb.idftiryiiig. districts ill this "land of. 'opportunity,- children,of tender, years* '•'are; 1 deniedi proper.v food|: 'comfort-, .clothing,; ,6d t Ubat,idnV'and all . that- is; absolutely essential :io! human ;■■ or >:lie' might watch the .lives, of ,£he ''specialised, wprkers"-.of. tho; ;6ity.': : ,,-Whoro'one succeeds,:; til on sand S' ■f a il. :Can all reach the itop.uo.'matUr.hpw earnestly, they.'istnve?. ;-;.:.And, oyoiv- Whon ;Oi;hefr,,things aro equal, /does'-, a hcftVy. .bank-baian.ee, and count for : nothing iii,. the commercial ;world?.',; To say. that .it does not surely; proves,:.' at . ' least, an' utter lack of oxperience.' ■ -- ■ .^"TruthVv'seems;to ' think ' tho ..only men. worthy, of (esteem or consideration nro tlio.-o iiwho, aspire; to'high positions, :but; I. feel sure "that.l am. not;'alone;-of .tli»-;ppinioii-.that;the ; reverse is'morb often the case. As for Lab? our leaders whoso motives are .not sincere, •t.hey. ar£;,n,o lainl|-;jio /worso 'than tho political, opportunists ;Who, have so completely won theirundisguisodriidtXiiratidii of'.''Truth.',' iV-ram/etc.* V. .< y l< - - JAMES KNIGHT. WtMarchs29.--'''::V'; ■ v .,rr.r