BLACKBALL STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6493, 13 April 1908, Page 5

BLACKBALL STRIKE

MINISTER AND DELEGATE.

MR PRITCHARD "SNUBBED 1 ' BY MR MILLAR. (To tho Editor "X.Z. Times.") Sir. Kindly permit me to bring before tho public one of tho grossest injustices which has ever been, or possibly could lx*. perpetrated on a working community, and which conclusively proves the iniquity of allowing even a Minister of tho brown too much latitude. The following explanation is necessary to clearly follow the issue: On the afternoon of Tuesday, 7th inst., considering my mission practically fulfilled in the South Island. I telegraphed my executive, advising them of my opinion. and also requesting further instructions how to proceed. On Wednesday morning, Bth iust., I received tho following reply: Pritchard, Post Office, C'hristch inch. Havo a frets hand; ko where you choose. Rodgers, Blackball. Knowing full well X could do nothing more in tho South Island, I determined to make a final effort to bring about a settlement of tho dispute before returning to Blackball. I therefore, on receipt of the above telegram, telegraphed Mr. Ixmias, Chief Factory Inspector. Wellington, as follows: Mr Lamas,

Chief Factory Inspector, Wellington. (Private.) Unofficially coining to Wellington. Can you arrange interview with Minister of Labour or Mines for Friday? Consideration of dispute. Pritchard, Post Office, Christchurch.

Ehrly in the afternoon of the same day (Wednesday) I received the following reply; Mr Pritchard,

Post Office, Christchurch. I am in communication with Minister, who ie at present in Palmerston North. Con you state nature of business? Will arrange interview If at all possible. Lomas, Wellington. To this my reply was as follows: Mr Lomas,

Chief Factory Inspector, Wellington. (Private.) Unofficially coming to Wellington to-night by Pateena. Will call your office to-morrow morning. 11 a.ni. Conversation regarding existing dispute. Pritchard.

At 11 oclock on Thursday forenoon, according to my appointment, I was received by Mr Lomas, and after talking tho whole matter over with him and Mr Tregear. it was finally decided that, as Mr Lomas would bo absent on Friday, Mr Tregear would accompany mo to the office of the Minister of Labour, and try to obtain for mo an interview with him. Accordingly on Friday morning, accompanied by Mr Tregear, I visited the offices of the Minister of Labour, and I was not long kept in suspense, for in about three minutes Hr Tregear returned and informed me the Minister would not receive me as a private individual, Questioned mo as to his reasons for such hostility, Mr Tregear informed me that the Minister said X hnd "said some* hard things about him, and ho would not receive mo i ns a private individual until I publicly withdrew and publicly apologised for saying same,"

T replied: "If Mr Millar will not receive ’me until I retract—(publicly or privately—one word of what I have uttered concerning him, you may toll him we will never meet."

By this action of his, I feel doubly justified in everything X havesaid con»- . coming him and his Parliamentary 1 conduct. Thanking Mr Tregear for his honest and conscientious endeavour to further, through me. tho possible chance of a settlement being arrived at, I loft the building in a manner, which, I fear did not disguise my contempt for Ministerial autocracy. I may hero state that my sole aim in attempting to gain cm interview with Mr Millar was to obtain by letter of introduction or Ministerial influence an interview with Mr G. G, Stead, of Christchurch, concerning tho strike.

Sir, allow me here to publicly thank Mr Lomas and Mr Tregear for tho efforts they put forth on ray behalf. In justification of what I s'dd concerning Mr Millar, I will reiterate the following two instances:—ln a public letter to the press, I said: "How can w® hail Mr Millar as an emissary of peace ?” etc., ©tc. And I ask tho earn© question actly coincide with hi© action toward me to-day. as an individual member of the Blackball Miners' Union, then let him publicly justify this manifest superficiality of conduct, which plainly indicates that ho puts his private senti* mente before tho public interests. While addressing a meeting in Dunedin X characterised Mr Millar as an r‘autocratic despot." If I am wrong, then I do not know what a "despot" is, nor am I acquainted with tho interpretation of an "autocrat." Does Mr Millar admit what I ©aid concerning him is true? And is that why ho has taken this opportunity of insulting—through me—the members of tho union I have tho honour to represent, and indirectly the whole of the workers of this Dominion? For what is the real significance of this act of Mr Millar's? It is this—that if a member of any union dares to subject the Minister of Labour to adverse public criti- , cism, and if that member is placed in a position similar to my own, and is desirous of reconciling the contending parties to a dispute, and also desirous of executing his operations without attracting the public gaze on him, ho is going to be defeated, and his union, snubbed; because ho dared to speak what ho thought was truth, and dared to adversely criticise Ministerial conduct.

Evidently truth cnta deeper than, tbs sword. To the workers c f New Zealand and elsewhere, I again reiterate what I have said irony every platform I have spoken from during tho present dispute: Trade _ unionists, adopt tho caucus system in. yonr unions, and turn your industrial organisations into political organisations for the purpose of capturing the political machinery, for then, and not till then, will you obtain direct representation in the Bouse of Parliament, rnd secure for yourselves what is duo to you, namely the results of his labour to tho labourer. On behalf of the Blackball Miners' Union. BA NIPT K. PRITCHARD. Trocadoro Hotel, Wellington, April 11th. THE OTHER SIDE OP THE QUESTION. ME MILLAR'S VERSION. A representative of the "Now Zealand Times'’ called on the Minister of Labour last evening to give him an opportunity of stating his side of the case. Mr Millar was quite concise. He said he had received a telegram when he was it. Palmerston North from Mr Lomas, asking if ho would grant an interview *o Mr Pritchard. He replied, saying that if he was informed of tho nature of Mr ; Pritchard's business he would be able bo [give a definite reply. 1 "In reply to this,” said Mr Millar, "I .war informed that Mr Pritchard's visit was quite unofficial, and that he merely

wanted to have a talk with me over the Blackball .strike. As the executive of the union had declined any interference from outside, I failed to see that anything could bo gained by having a private interview with Mr Pritchard, especially as he had publicly declared that I was a traitor to the cause. I was more than surprised that a man. who held such an opinion should come and ask lor a private interview, "it had also appeared in public print fhM Mr TTiekey, who acted in a similar position to Mr Pritchard In the South iMiami, had been told by his executive that his mission was to collect money, and not to effect a settlement. Therefore, in tho face of any direct evidence to the contrary, I could assume that Mr Pritchard held a similar X therefore declined to seo him as a private individual. "At no time did cither Mr Pritchard or anyone ctee inform me that lie was authorised to act on behalf of the union. Up to the present the Labour Department has done everything possible to effect a settlement, but all offers have been refused unless the conditions of tho union aro absolutely agreed to, and as the executive of tho union had declined to effect a settlement through us, I felt it was only waste of time to discuss tho matter with 'Mr Pritchard. That is all I have to say."

ME PRITCHARD IN WELLINGTON.

ATTITUDE OF THE MEN. Hr Pritchard, .of tho Blackball Miners’ Union, is at present in Wellington. On Saturday he received a telegram from Greymouth. stating;—"Committee resigned. All re-elected. Still firm/’ Mr Pritchard states that tho union is receiving over <£3oo per week in subscriptions in aid of the strikers. In the Auckland province alone over two thousand miners are each contributing one shilling per week. Mr Pritchard states that the only matter now in dispute between the union and the company is that of crib-time. The men want thirty minutes for their lunch. The company is willing to allow twenty minutes. The men do not feel disposed to yield regarding the disputed ten minutes. They claim that the halfhour crib-time would cost tho owners very little, and would not affect the output- The miners are employed at piece rates, and it is to their own interest to keep up tho output. Asked why the men struck work, knowing (as Mr Pritchard admits they knew) that they were violating the law and would bo punished, Mr Pritchard said it was becanse seven men had been discharged. They 1 ' consider these men were victimised by the mine manager for thir prominence in tho union, and becanse they comprised the executive of tho local Socialist party.' Three of the seven, .ho says, were members of a deputation which waited on the Hon. J. McGowan, Minister of Mines, complaining of bad ventilation at Blackball. Mr Pritchard complains that the Arbitration Act does not afford sufficient protection # to members or officials of a union, inasmuch as it only provides that a worker must not b© discharged "merely" becanse he is a member of a union. It is claimed that it would b© almost impossible to prove a breach, of this section of tho Act. RESIGNATION OF THE PRESIDENT. MEN DECIDE TO KDMAIN LDLF. DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS. P 8863 ASSOCIATION. GEE* MOUTH, April Vi. On Saturday the executive of the Blackball Miners' Union sent in their resignations. As a meeting had been called, the members attended, and an election was taken, the old executive, with the exception of Mr Barnhill, offering themselves for re-election. The reason given for Mr Barnhill’s abstention was that, as ho works on the JNgaher.e-BlackbaU railway, he found it was very inconvenient for him to give the necessary time to tho duties of his office as president. THE NEW EXECUTIVE.

The following officers were nominated and declared -elected: —President, Mr Fox; vice-president, Mr Buchanan ; secretary, Mr Rogers; committee, Messrs Meecham, Webb, Hall, Milligan, W. Leitch and Richards. TELEGRAMS PROM "AM BAHADURS." The following telegram to the secretary, Mr Rogers, was read at the meeting:— Tregeor wished that his position should be dealt with by tho executive.—Hickey. A telegram from Mr Pritchard to Mr Rogers was also read as follows: Don’t resign despite traitors. Keep a solid front and. victory will be on is. Don’t heed tho clamourings ot a few creatures who would rather be slaves than free men. lours, m the cans© of union and justice,— Pritchard. IDLENESS TO CONTINUE.

It was decided to continue the strike, and remain firm in the demand for half an hour crib-time. STRIKE PAI.

It is reported that over £3OO was distributed m strike pay on Saturday, the basis of payment being £1 10s for a man, 10s for a wife, and 5s for each child. One miner lifted £3 10s for the week. SUPPORTERS WAVERING.

The Tyneside Miners' Union met on Saturday, and rescinded the resolution agreeing to give support to the strikers. ’Wharf Labourers' Union met this morning to consider -the question of withdrawing support, but the press was not admitted, and all information os to the result was withheld.