THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, 13 March 1908, Page 3

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

THE ARBITRATION COURT'S JUDGMENT. THE LIABILIfToF STRIKERS. < THE FINE ON THE UNION. WARNING TO SHORTSIGHTED LABOUR LEADERS. [Unitbd Peess Association.] GREYMOUTH Friday. In connection with the Blackball mine dispute, the Arbitration Court gave an elaborate decision, occupying ten pages. It stated that the argument ; that the strike cannot be an offence unj d<sr-Sec. 16 -of the Act unless an award or industrial agreement was made after i the Act came into force was referred to ! in sub-section (3) of that section. The matter was considered by the Court in the cas9 of the Inspector of Awards v. Millar, and it was there decided that the effect of Section 15 was to make a strike punishable in. all cases where an award or industrial agreemnt was in force as specified in sub-section (3) of Section 15, whether such award or agreement was made before or after the Act came into force. The Court held therefore that there had been a strike within the meaning of the Act, and as this took place jh pursuance of a resolution passed by the Miners' Union, the Union had been guilty of the offence of proposing a strike, and was liable to the sirike, the Court decided to inflict a penalty under Section 15. After reviewing the facts leading up to the penalty of £75. The cases against the Company were all dismissed. The Court concluded by saying that the decision was a warning that both arbitration and strikes as a means of settling disputes could not exist side by side. If the workers by striking and approving of striking brought about the destruction of the arbitration system, they might have occasion in futiye to deplore, when tco late, the sad want of foresight shown by their leaders.