THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 592, 24 March 1908, Page 4

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

MINERS' UNION DEFIES THE LAW. REFUSE TO PAY THE FINES. CONDEMNS THE ARBITRATION COURT. [PEE PBEBS 4SSOCMTION.] " Greymouth, March 23. The Blackball Union has decided not to pay the fin© of £75 imposed by the Arbitration Court. A meeting of the Blackball Miners' Union was held this morning at Blackball, when an extraordinary resolution was carried not to pay the £75 fine imposed by the Arbitration Court and to completely ignoro the whole matter. It was further decided not to go to work until half an hour crib time was allowed. The action of the miners was severely commented on in town and regret is felt that they are so ill-advis-ed. The meeting was determined not to give way and to fight the position to an end. Very severe remarks were made on the . Arbitration Court and as a protest which will be felt the miners decided to set it at defiance. Tho time fixed by the Government for the payment of the fine was up to-day and it will be interesting to see what action the Government will take. It is also stated that Hickey has not paid the fine imposed on him some weeks ago by tho magistrate in connection with disobedience at the Blackball Mine. The Brunner Workers' Union has donated £21 out of its funds and gives £30 a week until the trouble is settled. Some of the married men are getting work at the Paparoa and Ngahere railway works. The Brunner Union passed the following resolution : "That Mr Millar, Minister of Labour, be informed that this Union has no confidence in the constitution of the Arbitration Court, and strongly urges him to pass legislation to amend •same." The action of the miners to-day in refusing to pay the fine removes all hopes of an early settlement. Business people in town state that they can feel the effects of the strike at Blackball and they are not willing to send goods on credit. The Blackball storekeepers have already stopped credit. The miners have received the first strike pay, £1 being distributed to each man. Invercargill, March 23. At the annual meeting of the Southland Trades and Labour Council, the Blackball strike was discussed, but no action was taken, the general opinion expressed being that the Arbitration Act must be preserved and upheld. It is freely rumoured on the West Coast that the Miners' Union withdrew all the money standing to its credit in the bank, and divide 1 it amongst tho members. I hero wil 1 , therefore, be some trouble wlm ih<» Government demand paymnt of the fine of £75 inflicted by tho Arbitration Court. The Unijn, it is understood, have offered to pay it at tho rate of 2s 6d per month.