BLACKALL COAL STRIKE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10526, 2 December 1916, Page 2

BLACKALL COAL STRIKE.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec 1. The Hon. \V. D, S. Mac Donald, Minister of Mines, states that ho received information today from tho State mines that everything is going on satisfactorily so far as they are concerned. Regarding the Blackball strike. Mr Mac Donald said that he understood that the Miners' .Federation delegates who had been interviewing Mr Alien and himself were returning to 'Blackball tc put the position before the men with a view t-o arriving nl n --. ttlement, so that it is quite possible thafc .there will be no fur ther development till thev arrive there. Tin- nrrom of tho Cbalniincr ' Federation, Mr R. Seiuple, and the secretary, Mr Ai bucle, have made the following joinj, stale ment concerning Blackball miner.-;: "They have I a icon the initiative on themselves. The cxeciitiyj; has advised the.ni to resume work. Willi regard | tl ih,. rnmouin that other mines will .-top on Monday, we put statements down a- rumours which are not likely to eventuate c.\ present. At any rate, the executive is bound to have something to sty before that happens. There ] s a tre-j mendous feeling of indignation amongst tho ! miners regarding conscript-ion, and a grim determination on their pari that Ihcir liberty shall not be encroached on by what they deem to be an evil and unnecessary policy on the part of the Government. We arc determined that if anything is done it must be done in ;i firm .and businesslike way and not spasmodically. We do not encourage sectional action on the pari of any union, as this would not be ell'ccfive." Private 1 advices received in Wellington state Ihiil ihe Blackball miners, in addition lo their present protest against conscription lire dem-uidim; an increase ol 17.', per cent in (he ii. i.im.on wage. I The [Jennislon miners, according lo a pri rate telegram, have decided to cease work j if ;:n\ of their '-wri member? are eon--lipt'ed. I