THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 14 April 1908, Page 8

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

MR PRITCHARDANDTHE MINISTER. [Special to the Stab.] GREYMOUTH, April 14. Ihe amount paid out bv the Blackball Union to the strikers was £lB2 10s—about £1 14s per head. Air Watchman, president of the Brunner Union, writes to the Groymouth 'Star' as follows: Please allow me 6pace to contradict a rumor that the Brunner workers have ceased to support the wives and families of the Blackball miners. 1 want to inform those parties who are saying this that such is not the case. The position is that- at a meeting of the union, which was not a representative one—only fiftyseven out of 140 members being present —it was resolved that the Blackball miners had not taken advantage of the offers made to them for a settlement of their dispute, and that the compulsory levy of 5 per cont. be cancelled. Thirtyfour voted for the resolution, and twentv-

six against, so you will see, Mr Editor, there is still about one-half against the resolution, and a meeting is being called, .when it is expected that the wholo of the members will bo present, to test the matter. If the, former resolution is upheld, the subscription will be mado a voluntaty one. and the collectors will still collect each day from those who may have any sympathy for the wives and famUies of our comrades at Blackhall. If the latter course has to be taken. I am certain that the, subscriptions from the Brunner Union will be as large ;ls other unions in proportion to membership. In conclusion. I would like to say to the workers of this district to waken up. and have the Arbitration -Vet "■mended, so that such » caec as the blackball affair cannot occur again. Bo not like dumb, driven cattle, but be forward in the strife.

Mr Pritchard publishes a long Jotter to <ay in which he Mates that the Hon. J A. Millar refused to see him when in Wei lington. He writes:

f went with .Mr Tregear on Friday morning at half-past ten, and I was not long kept in suspense, for in about three minutes Mr Tregear returned and informed me that the Minister would.not receive me as a private individual. Oue.ntmned by me as to his reasons for such hostility. Mr Tregear informed me that the Minister said I had said some nurd things about him, and he would not receive me as a private individual until I publicly withdrew and publicly apologised f„r saving the same. 1 replied : ;• if Mr Millar will not receive me until I retract, publicly or privately, one word of what 1 have tittered concerning him, you may tell him that we will never meet." Bv this action of his T feel doubly justified in oven-thing that I have said concerning him and his parliamentary conduct. Thanking Mr Tregear for his honest and conscientious endeavor to further through me the possible chance of a settlement being arrived id, I left the building in a manner which 1 fear did not disguise my contempt for Ministerial autocracy. I may here state that my sole aim in attempting to gain an interview was to obtain, bv letter of introduction or Ministerial influence, an interview with Mr Stead, of Ch'ristchurch, concerning the strike. Sir, allow me here to publicly thank Mr Lomas and Mi- Tregear for the efforts they put-' forth on my behalf. Tn justification of what 1 said concerning Mr Millar, I will reiterate the following two instances in a public letter to the Press. I said: " How can we hail Mr Millar as an emissary of peace?" etc. : and I ask the same question to-day. Tf this statement does not exactly coincide with his action toward me to-day as an individual member of the Blackball Miners' Union, then let him publicly justify this manifest superficiality of conduct, which plainly indicates that he puts his private sentiments before the public interests. While addressing a meeting in Dunedin I characterised Mr Millar as an "autocratic, despot." Tf I am wrong, then T do not know what a "despot" is, and I am not acquainted with the interpretation of an "autocrat." Does Mr Millar admitthat what I said concerning him is true? And is that why ho has taken this opportunity of insulting through me the members of the union I have the honor to represent, and indirectly the whole of the workers of this Dominion ? For what is the rea.l significance of this act of MiMillar? It is this : That if a member of any union daxes to subject the Minister of to adverse public criticism, and if that member is placed in a position similar to my own. and is desirous of reconciling the contending parties to a dispri". and also desirous of executing his operations without attracting the public gaze on him. he is going to be defeated and his union snubbed because ho dared to speak what he thought was' truth, and dared to adversely criticise. Ministerial conduct. Evidently truth cuts deeper than the sword. 'To the workers of New Zealand and elsewhere I again reiterate what I said from every platform I have spoken from during the present dispute : " Trade unionists, adopt the caucus system in your unions, and turn your industrial organisations into political organisations, for the puq>ose of captnring the political machinery, for then, and not till then, will you obtain direct representation in the" House of Parliament and secure for yourselves what is due to yon—namely, the results of his labor to the laborer."" [Per U.NTTED Press Association.] GTiEYMOUTH, April 13. I he Wharf Laborers' Union at the meeting on Sunday derided to continue their support to the wives and children of the Blackball strikers. The meeting was addressed by Messrs Bogers and Goldsmith, of Blackball. A meeting of the Tyneside miners is called for Friday to reconsider their action on Saturday of withdrawing support from the miners at Blackball. One of the strikers, writing to the ' Grey Argus' regarding Saturday's meeting at Blackball, states that "the miners were told before the meeting that thev were going to get 30s a week for each man, 10s for the wife, and 5s for each child. The desire to have money without working was too strong, and consequently the opportunity for a settlement passes, and we are going to continue to live on the money of others. The meeting passed off nicely, "and we all returned later and received' our weekly allowance—some of us up to the tune of £4 55." WELLINGTON, April 13. Mr D. K. Pntehard, the delegate of tho Blackball Miners' Union, left to-night for Christchurch to see Mr G. G. Stead in connection with the strike at the Blackball mine. At a public meeting held in Christchurch on Sunday under the auspices of tho Socialist party, at which an address was given by Mr Fitzgerald, the following motion was carried:—"That this meeting of Christchurch citizens demand that the Governor, as representing the Crown, shall resume possession of the land and minerals at present held on sufferance by tho Blackball Coal Company, owing to the failure of that company to operate the same under fair conditions of labor, tho State to work it under conditions at present existing in the Seddon and other State mines."