STRIKE AT BLACKBAL

Grey River Argus, 29 February 1908, Page 3

STRIKE AT BLACKBAL

THE COMPANY'S PROPOSALS

MINERS STANDING FIRM

The strike at th c Blackball Company's mine still continues and all work is suspended. • Yesterday morning a meeting of the", Miners' Union was held, when Mr Isdell, of the Labor Department, informed the meeting that, on behalf of the company,, he was instructed to inform the Union that the company were willing that all the men should start work .at once, and that thoe £ dismissed would be. reinstated. The chairman read the following motion that had been carried at a previous meeting and sent to the manager:— "That no member of the Union resume work in the miii c till the men dismissed have been reinstated, and that the loss of time from the cm c of dismissal be paid for. 'The Union pointed out that the last clause of the resolution had been ignored, and it. was agreed to stick to the provision.

The mine manager, on being interviewed, stated that he could not give an answer until he conferred with the general manager, Mr Leitch, ■wjio was in Greymouth, on the matter.

The Union then resolved that the deputation go back to the manager and tell him that th c miners agreed with the proposal to reinstate the men ; but, in order to prevent the men from being victimised, the meeting passed the following motion : — "That in the event of the management having to dismiss hands, owing to "any cause whatever, th c men to be dismissed be selected by ballot," In reply to this motion the manager said that he would not agree to it, making it as his excuse that he wished to keep in the district married men who had their homes established there.

The Union refused 1 to consider the matter, as they believed that if the men were reinstated they would be victimised. It was then tinanimously agreed not to return to work until some arrangement was made to prevent the men being made victims of.

No further developments can possibly take plac c to-day, as the meeting

adjourned until 10 o'clock on Monday morning.

The lion Mr Millar telegraphed asking for particulars of the dispute, so that he could judge if a settlement could b e arrived at without the law being put into action.

The telegram was not well received. Mr Lomas, of the Labor Department, Wellington, telegraphed that he was leaving for Blackball by the first boat.

Telegrams were received from the Denniston Union, State Collieries, Brunner and Granity expressing sympathy with the miners and promising support. 1

Mr Edward Trcgear. of Wellington, telegraphed his sympathy with the miners.

The miners take strong exception to the statement made by the manager that it is the intention to dispense with the services of th P . new arrivals and keep the old hands, as he knew them and could rely on them. The miners point out that two of the men dismissed have been in the employ of the company for eight months, and theie are men still kept on who have only worked a few months.

Mr H. M. Fitzgerald, the well known Socialist organiser, put up something of a record in travelling-, lie was at Millerton when he first heard of the strike," and at once started and walked 20 miles to West-port .He caught the coach to Reefton and arrived at Blackball the same evening.

c mounted the platform and gave a spirited address of two hours' duration.

Th c township of Blackball is very quiet and peaceful, and a stranger would hardly know that a strike was on. Inspector Black visited the township yesterday, but found all quiet and in order.

To-day the miners will tak c part in the -school children' annual picnic, so that strike matters will be almost forgotten till Monday.