BLACKBALL NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1928, Page 8

BLACKBALL NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.)

On Wednesday last, the Public Works Minister advised Mr H. E. Holland that he had been instructed to offer the Roa miners work on the Blackball-Brunner road on the cooperative contract system. The following is the official result of the ballot taken on Tuesday, August 7, for five members of the Blackball Miners’ Union Executive Committee, there being 19 applicants. —J. Kerr 147, H. Bowkett 125, J. Hutchinson 107, R. Duncan 104/ C. Duske 104 (being duly elected).

On ’ Friday afternoon notices were issued out to 170 Blackball miners, stating that after Friday, August 24, that their services would be no longer required. The single members have been chosen by the Company for dismissal. The intention of the Company is, in future, to adopt the single shift system. The reasons given by the Company for this enforced reduction of employees is a slackness of trade, and that at present the mine is no ways a paying proposition, the overhead expenses being too great in comparison to the present trade outlook. These ' drastic measures adopted by the Company have come as a severe shock to the local community, and unless arrangements are made to find work for the men under notice there will be a great addition to the already heavy lists of the “unemployed” ranks owing to the recent closing down of the Roa mine, where at present, only a small number of men are employed producing cSal on the tribute system. It is understood that over 200 workers will be affected by this enforced stoppage of hands. The Blackball Miners’ Union will hold a meeting to discuss the situation, but up to the present nothing definite has been arrived at. It is stated that at least four Deputies will also be put off the Company’s staff, and that a visit will be paid by the Directors of the Company at an early date when some decisive arrangements may be forthcoming.

The result of the ballot foil’ the Blackball Pictures Committee resulted as follows:— 11. Ritchie 144, H. Bowkett 91, J. Hutchinson 84, W. Allen 74, being duly elected. There were eighteen applicants, but only four required. The concert organised by Miss M. Watson (Brunnerton), in aid of the funds of the Blackball Schoolboys’ ■Rugby League Club, attracted a large audience to the Miners’ Hall, Blackball, on Friday evening. The Blackball Silver Band discoursed selections of music outside the Hall prior to the commencement of the concert. Items of a variable nature were well rendered by the children, and great praise is due to Miss Watson and her capable assistants for their untiring efforts to bring the juveniles to their standard of excellence. The second half of a splendid programme was rendered by the artists of the talented Greymouth company the “Co-Peptimists.” Encores were numerous throughout the entire proceedings. It is understood that the Club’s exchequer will benefit to the extent of about £l5.