THE BLACKBALL STRIKE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 16 April 1908, Page 5

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE

THE LAW IN OPERATION

STATEMENT BY MR MILLAR.

IPBfcSB ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, April 15. "People imagine that nothing has been done by the Government," said the Minister for Labor (the Hon. J. A. Millar), when discussing the strike situation at Blackball. "There seems to be an idea prevalent that the Department has taken no action. That idea is entirely erroneous. What are the facts? The Arbitration Court gave its decision on the 12th March. The demand for payment of the fine was made on March 18th. A reply was received from the Union on. March 20th saying it had no funds. This was forwarded to the Chief Inspector of Awards, who then made a demand for immediate payment. On March 30th the Union again 'stated ■ that it had no funds, and on April 7th the Crown Prosecutor at Greymouth was' told to take the necessary steps to recover the penalty. He now has the matter in hand. The reason why the demand for payment of the fine in the first instance was not made until March 18th was because negotiations were going on for a settlement. As soon as it became apparent that nothing would be done in this direction, I immediately put the law in motion. The Crown Prosecutor will first proceed against the Union officials; and then, if, necessary, against every individual member of the Union." The Minister added that the only way to render the law thoroughly effective in relation to the collection of fines was to embody in the Act the proposal submitted in his Bill last year, i.e., the right to "follow" a worker who had been fined to any employer whom he subsequently worked for, and collect a percentage of his wages towards the ultimate liquidation of the penalty.