BLACKBALL NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 26 June 1922, Page 8

BLACKBALL NOTES.

(Our Blackball Correspondent.) The committee who have the interests of the ratepayers re the water scheme in their hands, have decided to send a deputation io the next meeting of the Grey County Council. Blackball last week had several sporting events. Wo turned out two Rugby League, teams, a Soccer team, and a ladies’ hockey team, and with Hie exception of the hockey team, who notched a draw, all were victorious. The victories of the senior League team rind lhe Soccer team against Wakita and Runanga were of more than average merit. Goordie Nuttall’s fourth graders pleased their manager immensely by their display against a much heavier Rfn.inga combination, running 'out easv winners by 14 points to nil. The Moonlight Soccer team mot with a n no expect i*d defeat at the hands of the Grey Club on the Domain lately. The result., 4—l, in favour of Greymouth, did not altogether represent the run of plav. However, the Greymoutli players grasped wlmiever opportunities came their way, and turned them tn good account, so deserved the Iwo points. Mr Ron Davidson, president of the Miners’Federation and Millerton T.nion was a Blackball visitor last week. It. is pleasing to see that wo have wage slaves in New Zealand who arc not altogether satisfied With taking everything the bosses and the Arbitration Court, decree, lying down. The workers of Blackball wish the freezing workers the best of luck in their attempt to resist the lowering of their standard of living. It is quite on lhe cards that the servile Henry Dubb is at least opening his eyes a little. When hr fully wakes up from his long sleep, the exploiting class will commence to shake like an underset “blancmange.” It seems that the Millerton Union has a proposal to submit io the other West Coast minors’ unions, which they think will go a long wav towards regenerating a little organised resistance to the inroads the coal owners and the Arbitration Court are making into wages and working conditions. There is no reason nt all why wc of the working class should not learn our lesson from past defeats ami setbacks. Of one thing we should make certain, and that is that the unfortunate debacle of last December should not be allowed to occur so easily again. There is quite a lot to be said for the Millerton Union’s proposals, which will lie discussed at the next meeting of the Blackball Miners’ Union. Wo notice those middle class, alleged Labourites, Messrs Clynes and Henderson, and R. McDonald, who ape the top hat. and frock coats, of their masters and incidentally have sufficient “sugar” to send their progeny to the classic universities, are now in favour of joining the League of Nations. One remembers they also actively assisted the capitalists in official capacities during the late war for “democracy,” the chief result of which is unemployment and starvation for British workers and longer hours, and rations for German wage slaves. No wonder the hireling Press of the exploiters boom Sane Labour gentry of the type of Henderson, Clvnes, and party. The Blackball Mine is at present working good time and the. class of coal being produced is of the best, so there should be no difficulty in negotiating sales. Of course, the com--1 pany maintain they are making no profit. but the workers cannot be blamed for that part of the business. It is very doubtful if imported black labour could produce it any cheaper. Several of the Arbitration Court's pamphlets giving so-called reasons why wages were reduced have reached Blackball. .Judge Frazer and his colleagues sure mlvance some very original theories to prove that a common worker, his wife and family can live on £1 8/4 worth of food per week. One of the “gems” is that when Henry gets less wages, he will have more purchasing power. This statement is the dizzy limit! Water is being carted round Blackball at fid per tin full. A note to that effect has been sent to the Government Statistician, so that lie can get it in his next cost of living figures.