THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 April 1908, Page 2

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

THE RECENT FINE. THE MINISTER OF LABOUR FIRM. THE MINISTER OF MINES FIRM. AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Referring to the recent developments of the Blackball miners' dispute in which the men have gone out on strike, the Minister for Mines (Mr J. McGowan) this morning informed a press representative that the law must be carried out. "The men may adopt a certain stand, and believe they are within their rights," 1 Mr McGowan said, "but the fine must Ibe paid, of that there is no possiblo „ question of doubt. It is at present impossible to say what the development of the future will be, but ihe law must be paramount, and must be carried out. No Government can passively stand by and see the law defied. The "public are apt to be hasty, and clamour for an immediate settlement of a rather complex situation. This is not a matter, however, which oan he rushed through. It may be taken for granted that the Government will do what is right in the Blackball case, and the first thing is to collect- this money, and what is more, there is no doubt that tht Government will do it." CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Mr D. R. Pritchard had an interview to-day with Mr Geo. Stead, which lasted over one hour, and they the position of matters at Blackball. As Mr Pritchard was not officially authorised to commit tho Miners' Union to any arrangement, the conversation was considered merely general.