BEGINNING TO PALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6491, 10 April 1908, Page 7

BEGINNING TO PALL

BLACKBALL MINERS TIRING OF IDLENESS. GROWING DISCONTENT. A SUPPRESSED TELEGRAM. The position of affairs at Blackball in connection with the strike cou tinues- much the same as before. The men are receiving .£1 per week as strike pay, but evidence! of discontent at the continuance of the strike is obtainable on all sides. A TELEGRAM FROM MR TBEGEAR.

One of the discontented men states that, on March 25th the Secretary of Labom, Mr Tregear. forwarded the following teleg.am to the union:— “I hav* been engaged on several occasions with Mr Hickey and Mr .H'Cuiloiigh in endeavour!n,; lo find some solution of the, present difficulty. I have come to the conclusion that there is no way out of it except by the Mimsler’s influence being used with Mr Stead and (he directors. Tho Ministers, however, will not move after the manner in which their former approach was met without having a guarantee of the union, through its executive, that any arrangement mado by them would bo adhered to. “The proposals formulated in my mind are an follow: ‘lhe directors to grant within a fortnight thirty minutes’ crib-time, restoration of the discharged men to their former positions, and the payment <3 half the fine. The men on their part guarantee that if these concessions are granled,-they will return to work at once. If the men will ask the Minister to intervene with- Mr Stead, the matter need not bo made public in any way. In fact, it would bo an entirely private arrangement, and one that would be expected to be confidential so far as the press is concerned. “In regard to payment of half the fine, the Government would give very easy terms, namely, three months, a portion being paid each month': but trio final payment to bo made within the three months Personally, I urge you to accept because I not only feel that you will gain nearly all the benefits for which the strike was instituted, bin also because I have private information that many of the directors are urging that the mine should he shut down altogether until the railway comes near.—Edward Tregear, Secretary for Laborin'’

A SECRET DECISION. The executive kept the telegram secret, and replied, refusing to entertain the .proposal. Two days later the Government announced its intention to collect tho fine. Later on some of the miners hoard rumours of the' telegram, and at a meeting asked that it be read. This was re, used, so DJr Tregear was telegraphed lo for a copy, and replied as follows: "Of . course I cannot say that the terms mentioned could now be obtained. The telegram 1 sent was accompanied by one from Mr Hickey and one from Mr Hogg, for the Socialist party, recommending that the 'terms suggested, should, bo The telegram I sent on March 25th was as follows:

(Here follows an exact copy of the telegram already given above.)

dissension in the ranks.

Ou Saturday last a special meeting of the union was requisitioned for, and was held, on Tuesday, when, after a lot _bf dismission, the telegram' was read. A motion was then proposed agreeing ,to the terms but was ruled put of order, while a motion " That Ave go back to work On twenty minutes’ crib time, if the manager will favourably consider half an hour’s orib time,” was howled down by those in favour of continuance of the strike. It is understood the proposal was not insisted cm, and the meeting adjourned without any decision being arrived at. It is felt that if the proposals oon[tained in Mr Tregear’s first telegram arc again offered the union in'a public ■m inner that they would be accepted, despite the attitude of the executive. The discontent at the enforced idleness is growing, and will probably put an end to the strike within the next week. A LEADER SUSPENDED. The union executive ha® suspended one Mori from the Union, but the reason is not disclosed. One of the 'Blackball strikers writes:— When, at the beginning of the trouble Mr Mori, one of the ablest men in the union, suggested that the men should recognise the law, j and act with it at their back, be- 1 oauso by doing otherwise they would be fighting a brick wall, he was ruled out of order, and called upon to sit down. Mr Mori continued throughout the whole of the trouble to ad- j vooate these principles, and for so doing he has been suspended from I the uriion altogether by our learned executive. THE VOTING QUESTION.

In regard to the voting by ballot or open discussion, the- rule of the’ union concerning the matter is as follows; All members are to vote either for or. against every proposition put to the meeting; no member shall stand neutral on amy question, the penalty for non-voting to be sixpence. At all meetings of the union ewery question shall, except where otherwise especially provided for, be disposed of by a majority of the members present and voting thereon. Voting shall he by division or ballot.

Since the commencement of the trouble the business ha.s been conducted by open discussion, but if the majority determine they Could get a ballot at any time.

Wb are indebted to our. evening contemporary for the foregoing, the Press Association having failed to furnish particulars.