THE BLACKBALL STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 8

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE

LABOUR SAID TO BE AVAILABLE AT CALL. (by rELEGKAPn. —SPECIAL COUKESrONOENT.) Groymouth, April 5. Blackball remains very quiet. There are no fresh developments whatever. Some pf. tho miners liavo secured other employment, while it is understood that, in tho event of offers being called by tho Company for men willing to work in the mine, a number will answer the call. INANGAHUA UNION. » . fur TKi.riGiurn—ntias association.) At a meeting of the Inaiigahua Miners' Union last night it was resolved to vote £50 and to mako a lovy 'of 6d. per week from March 8, in aid of the women and children dependent on the Blackball strikers. The meeting also considered that tho time is not ripo for tho appointment of an organising secretary for "Westland. ADDRESS BY MR. FITZGERALD. ReofJsn, April 5. His Majesty's Theatre was crowded last night, when Mr. Fitzgerald delivered an address, entitled "The Story of a Workers' Coat." Mr. Larner occupied tho chair. Mr. Fitzgerald, in the course of his remarks, sought to show that Capitalism was responsible for all industrial troubles and all the misery, also that Capitalism was a phase through which humanity must needs pass in order to secure the perfect industrial conditions which, ho said, would obtain in tho future.' At tho.conclusion of liis address, Mr. Fitzgerald referred briefly to the Blackball striko. The trouble, ho remarked, commenced about nino years ago, when kerosene lights were in uso in tho mine. Half an hour was then allowed for crib time, but, in order to reduce expenses, tho period was cut down to fifteen minutes, without tho consent of tho .workers having been obtained. Then again, so that the ono period might do for tho two shifts, tho inanagemont compelled ono shift to work iivo hours before crib timo and three hours afterwards, and the other shift to work throe hours-prior to crib timo and five hours subsequently. Half an hour for crib time, tho speaker continued, would not mean a'loss to tho management, because all tho w'orkers, oxcepting a few truckers, were paid on results. There was a consensus of opinion also that if half ail hour were again allowed, tho output would not bo lessened to tho extent of sixteen ounces per month. Thero was, tho speaker continued, no foundation; for tho statement that tho mine; had not been . a profitablo venture. Notwithstanding the fact that sixponce per ton royalty had to be paid, and that interest had ,to be paid on preforenco shares issued, to provido portion of-'tho cost of an aorial tramway, two dividends of 2* por cent, and ono of 5 per cent, had already boon paid,.and it was rumoured the dividend this year would have been from .10 per cent, to 15 per oent.. On bohalf of tho Companv it had been claimed that £300,000 hail already been paid in wages, but it had not boon admitted that that sum was part of the wealth' produced by tho-workers themselves and paid back to them in the form of wages. \. MISSION TO AUCKLAND AND WAIHI. (iir TEi-EanAPii—special .coßßESPoifb^is'T.i Auckland, April 4. A public address, was to have been given a member of the blackball Miners' tmion, in St. James's Hall : last evening, but, owing to,'the fact that a : church organisation was in occupation, 'it was foimd necessary' to adjourn tho meeting until Wednesday nest; As far as could bo gathored from a somewhat heated altercation which took placo ou tho parcment be- i tween Mr. A. Ilosser (President. of , tho 1 Irades and Labour Council) arid the care- ; taker of the hall,- it appears that whilo tho ' former engaged tho hall from tho accredited [ agent, thero was somo misunderstanding 1 that tho other peoplo wero to havo tW'uso ■ of tho buildiug each Friday evening, and ' liencp tho lock out," Possession is nino ! points. of tho law, and tho Labour factions recognising this, accepted tho inevitable, and J agreed ",tq postpone .' their -meeting. Mr. Hickoy will visit Waihi-in tho meantime. ]