UNREST AMONG MINERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 10

UNREST AMONG MINERS.

WEST COAST COLLIERIES.

GATHERING AT BLACKBALL.

TRIBUTE SYSTEM OPPOSED. [nvr TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GREY MOUTH, Tuesday. Between 700 and 800 Grey district miners to-day held a demonstration at Blackball against the - introduction of the tributo system at West Coast collieries, including Blackball, where the after a dispute with the union lasting five months, has leased an area to a party of 11 miners who formed a company with a capital of £4OOO. All the mines were idle to-day and parties of men from all the Grey district unions travelled to the demonstration, which was orderly. Previously numerous police had been drafted to Blackball, and 35 under Inspector Fitzpatrick were present to-day. Their only intervention was to prevent a procession proceeding in the direction of the residence of the leader of the party which has obtained the area from tho company. .

Proceedings opened at 9 a.m. at • the miners' hall where speeches were made by union officials. The procession-began at. 11.30, headed by the pipers' band. The demonstrators circled tho town, finally reaching tho foot of the hill whero tho party is.engaged and where a forco of police was stationed. After singing the "lied ,Flag," the demonstrators returned to the township hooting as they passed • the houses of members of the party. At. the miners' hall luncheon was served to all the visitors, followed by a concert.

Then a mass meeting passed resolutions that members of tho unions accept no work under Blackball Coal Company until the matter had been discussed and sanctioned by tho union; that tho unions of the Grey district pledge themselves to fight the tribute system to tho last ditch. The demonstration then concluded peacefully, the visiting miners departing homewards in buses. REFUSAL TO HANDLE OOAL. DECISION OF WATERSIDERS. [BY telegraph.—PßESS ASSOCIATION.] WESTPORT, Tuesday. The president, secretary, and treasurer of tho.'. Westport Waterside Workers' Union waited upon the stationmasters in charge at Westport this afternoon and stated that the union had decided not to handle coal from the Cascade and Charming Creek mines, which are run on tho co-operative, or' as tho union alleges, the tribute system. In reply to a question the deputation stated they would not handle Cascade or Charming Creek coal now in 'the railway yard, but would handle any other coals. Tho Katoa and Komata aro due on Thursday to load coal froin these two mines. . - '