BLACKBALL DISPUTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1931, Page 2

BLACKBALL DISPUTE

MANAGER’S OFFER REJECTED. At the general meeting of the Blackball Miners’ Union, yesterday, the national and district officers attended. The national officials said that the Alliance of Labour, Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., and the Minister of Mines had aproached the Company with a view to arranging an interview with the miners’ representatives. The Company had refused to meet the Union, stating that the No. 9 dip was definitely abandoned and a further conference could serve no good purpose. The Company’s representative also informed the Minister of Mines that it was intended to re-open the No. 2 dip, on which the Company intended to employ from 40 to 45 miners in two or three weeks’ time.

The meeting decided to adopt the National Council’s proposal regarding the working of the No. 2 dip, but it was decided to inform the mine manager that his request for six of the Union men to be employed in removing gear from the No. 9 dip was rejected. This decision was communicated to the mine manager, Mr J. G. Quinn, after the meeting and the Union’s representatives also expressed their willingness to discuss any proposals he had to make regarding the commencement of work on the No. 2 dip.

Mr Quinn stated that he had received no instructions as to the working of No. .2 dip, and was not in a position to discuss it. The Company had not sufficient power to. work the No. 2 dip and did not expect to obtain sufficient from the Grey Power Board for about six months. He did not intend to re-start the Company’s own plant, as it was too expensive. The deputation informed Mr Quinn that they were prepared to discuss the re-open-ing of the No. 2 dip at any time, and expressed the hope that he would get in touch with the Company’s head office in regard to the matter. The mine manager, Mr J. G. Quinn, to-day stated that he had written to the Union Secretary on Thursday last asking for six men to Commence work on the terms of the existing agreement; The offer had been rejected by the men at their meeting, and their action wiil mean that the work of reconditioning the? mine will be delayed by the Union. Had the men been supplied, stated Mr Quinn, they would have made way for further additions in the course of a few weeks. It would thus appear, concluded Mr Quinn, that there is no hurry on the part of the miners to resume work at: Blackball.