BLACKBALL MINERS.

Grey River Argus, 27 August 1928, Page 5

BLACKBALL MINERS.

MASS MEETING. A Ballot Decided On. A mass meeting of the Blackball Miners’ Union was held yesterday morning to consider the matter of th? dismissal notices received by oyer 170 of the members, the single men, and the proposals of the Company to meet th' situation. The Company had previously intimated that it regarded the Union proposal for the sharing c of work as being nnpracticable, and had offeml three other alternatives, namely, the giving of preference in employment to miners who are married or have dependents; the balloting-out men; and the working of the mine by the Union on tribute. The meeting discussed the situation at length, and as a result it was resolved that to-morrow the Union should hold a ballot on the two following alternatives: —(1) That the married men and th' single men, with dependents should have the preference of employment, and that the Union in tluv meantime ndeavour to support the single men until such time as they secure, employment; and (2) that the Union insist upon the sharing of among all the members irrespective of the consequence. The officials of the Union strongly advocated the adoption of the first alternative, contending that the second alt rnative would entail a general hardship, while fho- c e with dependents, would have to maintain them on hilf the ordinary rate. Other members urged the adoption of the seemul alternativ. , contending that it would be preferable for all the members to hyve a share in what work there was a,t the mine than to leave it under the -existing circumstances. Tt was -finally resolved, therefore, to take a vote on tho question. • Until th<‘ ballot is- held, th re, will be no work at the mine-