BLACKBALL TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 185, 30 April 1908, Page 7

BLACKBALL TROUBLE.

• THE BANK TO BANK PRINCIPLE. - ' ; . : (bx -TELEGJUm-SriSCIAI. CORBSSPOSDEOT.) J';. Greymouth, April 29. , .. ■■ Mr." Rogers, Secretary of: the Blackbal. , ' .'Minors' Uinon, in a.letter to tho "Star", to- ; nipiht, and in'reply-to'the. "Argus" stateincut to the effect that iriiners .wero bringing up frosli mrtttaY as an excuse for con- , tinuiug on strike, states emphatically that .. the cause of tho strike was tho eight hours' bank to bank principle, which'they mustv liavo before resuming; work.- '-The. other issues were beside the question, but had been conceded by. .'the "Company. . This miners would sign no' agreement that did not includo the' priiiciplo of eight hours. bank tc : " ; 1 > to bank. ■' '.- . "" '. i' ' ALLEGED ; WRONGFUL v DISMISSAL. {IJY TELEGUAI'U —-I'iIESS. ASSOCIATION.) ' I Crcymouth, April 29. 'At tho Ahaura. Court to-day tho case of Henry l r ox (President of tho - Blackball • Miners' Union) against the Blackball Coal Company, a claim for £55 for wrongful (lis- : missal, was commcuced before Mr. Turton,' 'S.M., and a jury of five. . _ : Mr. Guinness appeared for the claimant; , . and Messrs. Hanan-and Harper for tho dofondant' Company. ... ... Henry John Fox, in his evidence, stated that lio worked in the Blackball mine off and on for six years. He re-started work inAugust last. On January 8 ho cavilled for a place for throe months. On February 26 tho managor dismissed him at a'moment's ■ ' notice.. There was no agreement with the Company as to getting 14 days' notice. . . When .he was engaged lie was not promised ' any term of emplojment, but the usual practice in other mines is to get 14 days' notice ' of- dismissal. . . ... .. ■. :-.i . . Cross-oxaimnod: ,Wlien ho left-tho mine ' on the previous occasion ho did not; giVo notice. Ho -had left the -'Demiißtdn miiio without giving notice, : .: but his pay: was ' stopped.; Ho.had■ loft the: Stato mine without 14 days' notice, but had told tho manager he was going. .. Tho. caso . was adjourned,- till • to-morrow morninc, at 10 o clor-k.. :