BLACKBALL NOTES

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1928, Page 8

BLACKBALL NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Needless to say there are black times ■ n Blackball, with the immediate prospects for improvement not very promising. Last pay the majority of the slaves had only one day’s pay or less to draw and (the forthcoming pay will sec about three shifts the average. As everyone is aware, it is absolutely impossible to keep going under the present condi- i tions. Such a thing as not paying the rent or the storekeepers must of nec- i essity become the custom, if present conditions continue. The Blackball-Roa Miners’ Union have decided to hold the usual May Day celebrations, which for the past few years have taken the shape of a social and dance and sports in the afternoon. Owing to the scarcity of money the adult sports programme may have to be eliminated, or severely curtailed, but at the last meeting of the Union sufficient funds were voted to enable a good programme of <hildren’s sports to be drawn up. Mr IT. Chilton has been appointed the Blackball-Roa Union’s representa

t:ve on the District Miners’ Council, vice Messrs A. McLagan and W. Wild, v. ho formerly were representing both the Blackball and Roa branches respectively. The district membership decided that, the Blackball-Roa combined Union were only entitled to one representative, and that a National Council president or secretary was not eligible for the position. A letter was discussed by the Union from the Grey Harbour Board in reply to one sent by the West Coast Miners’ Council relative to the state of the harbour. The meeting considered that the Board had not proved a very live body, and had lack of initiative in dealing with a really important matter, find also considered that a publicly elected Board would be far preferable to a Government appointed one.

Messrs Freeman and Griffen, of Wellington, well-known members of the N.Z. Communist Party, are visitors to Blackball. They addressed a well-at-tended public meeting on Sunday night last in the Miners’ Hall, Mr J. Doyle (Vice-President of the Timber Workers’ Union) being in the chair. The addresses of the speakers, which will appear later, were well received and at

the close, on the motion of Mr A. McLagan, National Secretary of the United Mine Workers, the policies outlined were endorsed by acclamation. I am sorry to record the death of Mr Joe Williams, who passed away last week after a very long illness, borne with fortitude. Deceased, who was a native of Scotland, and had been resident in Blackball for the pas.t three years, leaves a widow and young son to mourn their loss. At the last meeting of the Miners’ Union (of which the late Mr Williams was a member) a vote of condolence was carried in silence, all standing. The Blackball Soccer teams are getting in plenty of practice and the newly formed schoolboys’ eleven are seating the other grades a good example by their enthusiasm and earnestness The League teams are also getting in

a fair amount of practice, and will be ready when the whistle blows to give cf theip best. The Centre could do worse than give .the red and blacks a home game or two to start with as finances are not plentiful. The same remark applies to the Soccer code. Quite a number have left the township in search of more constant work. Amongst them are one or two prominent footballers of both codes. Mr Don McKinnon is at present on •i visit to Palmerston North. Mr Frank Dornan, of We llington. son of Mrs M. Dornan and the late Mark Dornan, of Blackball, recently joined the ranks of the benedicts. It is a pity that the proposed water scheme for Blackball has not been definitely decided on. The putting in hand of the work at this juncture would provide a lot of work for local i csidents. The local Pipe Band intend running a scries of euchre tournaments and dances’for the purpose of raising funds, and are at present trying to make mutual arrangements to stage the same on pay Friday nights. Several disputes from the Blackball and Roa miners have been referred to the District Disputes Committee, which meets on Saturday. Disputes from Reefton and the State Mines will also be dealt with, so a busy session is probable.