THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 7

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

A COMPLETE CHANGE.

RESIGNATION OF THE

EXECUTIVE.

A SETTLEMENT EXPECTED

[BY TKLEGRAPH.-—PRESS association.]

G-betmottth, Friday. Thf.R». lias been a complete change in the position of the Blackball strike during the last few days, and now there is great discontent in the ranks of the strikers. One o' them lias written to the Grey Argus detailing telegrams which the president of the Blackball Miners' Union received from Mr. Tregear, Secretary for Labour, suggesting a solution of the difficulty, and this letter has been replied to by Mr. W. Rogers, secretary of the union. The publication of these letters has caused a great commo- j tion, and the executive are receiving some very hard knocks from the public and the local press. The executive of the union has notified its intention of resigning, and a meeting of the union will be held to-morrow morning to receive the resignation. The secretary of the Wharf Labourers' Union was presented to-day with a requisition signed by the members asking that an extraordinary meeting be called for the purpose of considering the position of the strike at Blackball. The meeting has been set down for 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, when an effort will be made to rescind the resolution giving support to the miners. Last week the donation from the Wharf Labourers' Union reached £17. being 5 per cent, of the wages earned. It is considered that a settlement of the trouble will soon follow. OIIBiSTCHUKCH, Friday. The special correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, ab.Greymouth, reports that the executive of the Blackball Miners' Uuion has -withheld from the men the proposals submitted to them for a settlement of the difficulty, and in fact even when asked, they refused to produce for the men's information important telegrams winch would probably have led to a settlement some time ago. The report further states that Hickey was sent North to collect money and not to confer with others. This is interpreted here to mean that as long as the unions in other districts will subscribe money to support the executive in idleness, they discourage any attempt at effecting, a settlement of the difficulty. , The Lyttelton Times points out that the miners are bring wantonly incited to continue the strike by their own leaders. •■.iii.iii —w »■■ i i i) ii ii WELLINGTON ASSISTANCE. [BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington*, Friday. The Wellington Trades and Labour Council has invited all the local unions to send—financial assistance to the Blackball miners, and the invitation, it is stated, is being responded to by almost every union. Some are sending lump sums of £5 and upwards weekly. So far only one union has written refusing to subscribe. DEFINING A STRIKE. A LEGAL OPINION. [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Friday. By request of the New Zealand Em ployers' Federation, Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C , has given an opinion on section 15 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1905. He says the section makes it an offence for a. union or worker to (1) propose a strike (2) strike; (3) participate in a strike; (4) aid or abet a strike, or a movement intended to produce a strike. In ordinary language a strike continues so long as the concerted refusal to work continues, and a strike is said to end when the men have resumed work. The fact that no penalty is provided for the continuance of the 'strike does not, in Mr. Skerrett's opinion, affect die matter. The fine imposed is the punishment for the act of striking, but taking part in a strike or lockout, is also punishable. The offender i cannot be punished twice for the same act, j but the fact that one- fine only can be im- '■ posed in. respect of the act'of striking can- | not prevent that which follows from the act of strikingthat is, a strike from be- ! ing a continuing tiling. Mr. Skerrett considers the suggestion is unfounded that the act of aiding or abetting must be previous to the strike to be punishable. He is of opinion that unions passing resolutions encouraging the continuance of a strike, and donating funds in aid of strikers, are liable to punishment, and adds that in his opinion neither the words " industrial union" or '" any workers" used in section 15, are limited to the particular trade or calling in which the strike has occurred.