THE SHAG POINT COLLIERS STRIKE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1315, 24 June 1880, Page 2

THE SHAG POINT COLLIERS STRIKE.

(BY OUIt SPECIAL EEPOBTEH.) i Your spgpial travelled from Oamaru by first train to Palmerston yesterday, arriving there at 10 a.m. Here there was a , delay of about an hour, consequent on some mishap to the train from Dunedin, which fortunately was not attended with any evil results. However, at 11 a.m. we got away to Shag' Point junction, where we halted and got out. The Qonstabulary, under charge of inspector Thompson, and consisting of five constables from the Oamaru district and S.ergt. -Major Bevan j and ten constables from the Dunedin district, were mashed on to the colliery, where they found all quiet. There they were met by Mr, Rowley, a director, and Mr. Williams, jnanager of the Company. These gentlemen interviewed the Inspeotor; and stated that the manager, acting, under, the advice pf the, Company's solicitor, Mr. George Cook, of Dunedin, haid, on the 21st inst., posted a written notice 5 in "the works this tnenieo would be paid at 4 p.m. the next dajQ, " Set having been paid they woifia uo required to give up possession of the Company's houses occupied by them. ; that they had been paid, but had not given up possession of their houses, and declined to Igave the works, and they therefore requested the Inspector to evict them. The Inspector in the absenpe of. a warrant of ejectment, he pould not himself evict, nor could he assist any o.the? person to da so. After some 'discussion, it was finally arranged that the iflapager should again refer to the Company's solicitor,- The Inapeotor then, by arrangement, interviewed a party.of the men : on strike and explained to them that \yhilehe.waa not going to enter into the question of their right to occupy the houses 'or to bat their right of ingress or egress, still that if thoy attempted, to intimidate any of . .the : men at work they would ooiflTOita serious breach of the law, And that'if they trespassed on the works and did not leave when required by the manager they would be arrested. He then called upon- them to disperse, which they quietly didj' and seemed to agree with of the Inspector's remarks. After partaking of the manager's hospitality, the Cobstabiilarly returned to Palmerston,. returned to. thejt several diatrictsi fcwb only remaining jt the Point, it having finally decided to proceed offenders by aunv .

a£.:.' r monk The manner in which* Inspector Thompson carried through a somewhat difficult and; delicate matter is deserving of the highest praise. We noticed that the steamer Shag had to leave the pit with less than half a cargo of coal, and that as thero were only five men at work getting coal, there seems every probability that the Rants'- of this district, as well as more distarrfc-'ones, will not be supplied causes of the strike, it may be mentioned that 'in 'course Of conversation . -with-'one of' the' men no - mention -waa made by him of the foul ..air which' seems to have caused so much comment. n The pfihcipaTgrievatice Boemed to be r the men had to work on an average twelrd • / hours a day in the pin, and were not able to make what they considered adequate wages.