THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 532, 27 March 1908, Page 4

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

NEGOTIATIONS SAID TO BE PROCEEDING. TALK OF STRIKE SPREADING. MEETING IN WELLINGTON. Ir-Elt PRESB ASSOCIATION.] Greymouth, March 26. Thero aro persistent rumours that negotiations aro proceeding for a settlement of tho. Blackball trouble, and that iv a few days the strike will be settled. On being interviewed, tho manager stated tliat as far as he knows, such is not the case, and the miners deny ( any knowledge of what is going on. There is a feeling abroad that the strike will spread. The Blackball Union has appealed to tho Tyneside Mm- ! ers' an-d Wharf Labourers' Union to cease work. Tho Tyneside miners -are holding a meeting on Saturday afternoon to consider tho matter. An old miner an-d one who has worked in the district for many years, states that, there is a good deal rf discontent among tho Tyneside mineirs, and Jie would uot bo surprised if they considered tlie Blackball request favourably. Tho cause of complaint with the Tyneside miners is that Blackball boats are being supplied with Tyneside coal. Tho result of the meeting on Saturday will bo anxiously awaited. Tho Grey wharf labourers -meet on Sunday afternoon ami the position will be considered. From interviews with several prominent wharf labourers thero appears no reason to believo they will "throw down ffcheia* tools" as requested by tho Blackball strikers. The position looks serious and the Blackball miners are as determined as ever. , If negotiations for a settlement are proceeding, it looks peculiar that letters should be sent to tho Tyneside miners and wharf labourers iasking them to sta* ike. Wellington, Maroh 26. - Mr Mickey, representing the Blackball Miners' Union, addressed about two hundred people in the concert room of the. Town Hall this evening in explanation and defence of the stand taken up by tho strikeers. Resolutions were passed as follows: — (1) Tliat this meeting endorses the action of the miners of Blackball in the stand they have made .and trusts they will -continue to 'hold that stand until they have secured their full rights. (2) That* this meeting pledges itself to prevent the strikers of Blackball being starved out. (3) That this meeting has no confidence in any laws plaoed on the Statute Book in the making of which the workers *aa*e not consulted. The sum of £4 10s was collected in the ha-ll for the maintenance of the miners' families. — — — —m, —mmmma