BLACKBALL MINE

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1931, Page 5

BLACKBALL MINE

Co-op. Proposal

WITHOUT THE TRIBUTE PRINCIPLE.

(Our Own Correspondent.) BLACKBALL, June 12.

Regarding- the position of the coal industry at Blackball, a new development is recorded. A party has been formed in Blackball to mine coal on part of the Blackball Coal Company’s freehold.

On Monday night last Messrs W. Balderstone and Rarity called on the Union Secretary, Mr Clarke, and made the following statements:— That a Co-operative Party had been formed, and was starting immediately to make preparations, to work a piece of coal on Blackball Creek. The party wore duly registered as a Company. They had secured a straight-out lease of the area to be worked, from the Blackball Coal Company, paying a royalty on the coal won to the Blackball Coal Company. They had absolute selling rights over all coal to be produced, and could sell in any market. They had raised sufficient capital (on loan) to float the co-opera-tive party. The Blackball Coal Company reserved the right to send their Manager round the workings, at stated periods, to sec that no coal was unduly wasted. Further than this the Company had no jurisdiction. The new co-operative party would provide their own management, when they got properly going. It would be some time before they reached the producing stage. When this point was reached the party proposed to employ labour from amongst the Blackball people, and had no intention of introducing any outside labour. The party wore prepared to place full particulars before the Executive of the Miners ’ Union.

The delegation claimed that there was nothing of the tribute about, the party, and that they intended in their operations to uphold trade union rates and conditions.

Later on the Secretary of the Union reported the above'to the Union Executive, and was instructed to get into immediate communication with the District and National Secretaries on the matter.

A special meeting of the Blackball Miners’ Union was held in the Miners’ Hall on Thursday evening to hear a report on the co-operative party who have started operations on the Blackball Coal Company’s freehold. The President, Mr Adamson, occupied the chair, and, as showing the interest being taken in the situation, it is safe to say it was the most representative meeting held since the early stages of the trouble on this field. The information contained in the foregoing paragraphs was placed before the meeting.

After a deal of heated discussion, it was finally agreed by 115 votes to 90, that Mr Balderstone should be invited to meet the local Executive and place full particulars before them. The meeting was arranged to take place in the Union Office on Friday afternoon, and subsequently a general meeting will be held (at which the National officials will be present) to hear a further report.

Apropos of the latest turn of events, a contingent of police has been drafted into the town.