WEST COAST MINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21363, 17 June 1931, Page 6

WEST COAST MINES

THE TRIBUTE SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION BY UNIONISTS (Per United Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, June 16. Between 700 and 800 Grey district miners to-day held a demonstration at Blackball against the introduction of the tribute system at the West Coast collieries, including Blackball, where the company, after a five months' dispute with the union, has leased an area to a party of II miners who formed a company with a capital of £4OOO. From all the Grey district unions parties of miners travelled to the demonstration, which was orderly. Previously numerous police were drafted to Blackball, 35 men under Inspector Fitzpatrick being present to-day. Their only intervention was to prevent the procession from proceeding in the direction of the residence of the leader of the party which has obtained an area from the company. The demonstrators visited the vicinity of the party’s operations, where they sang “The Red Flag,” then returning to the township, hooting as they passed the houses of members of the party. The proceedings opened at 9 a.m. at the Miners’ Hall. Speeches were delivered by Messrs John Smeaton (president of the United Mine Workers), Angus M'Lagan (secretary), J. K. Connell (Stats miners’ president), A. M'Alavey (secretary), W. Barker (Grey Valley miners' president), W. Purdy (secretary), and R. Clarke (Blackball miners’ secretary). The procession began at 11.30, and was headed by the Pipers’ Band. It circled the town, finally reaching the foot of the hill where the party is engaged, and where a force of police was stationed. After singing “The Red Flag” the men returned to the Miners’ Hall, where luncheon was served to all the visitors, and was followed by a concert. Then a mass meeting passed the fol*

lowing resolutions:— 1. “That members of the union accept no work under the Blackball Coal Company until the matter has been discussed and sanctioned by the union.” 2, “That the unions of the Grey district pledge themselves to fight the 'tribute’ system to the last ditch." The demonstration was then peacefully concluded, the visiting miners departing homewards in buses.

ACTION BY UNIONISTS (Feb United Pbess Association.) WESTPORT, June 1«. The preoident, secretary, and treasurer of the Westport Waterside Workers’ Union waited on the station master 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 the co-operative, or, as the union alleges, the tribute system. In reply to a question, the members! of the deputation stated that they would 1 not handle the ; Cascade or 1 the Charming Creek coal that ivas now m the railway yard, but would handle-any other coals. •, The Katoa and the Komata are due on Thursday to load coal from these two mines. The trouble has arisen through the failure of negotiations, which have- been going on for some time between the cooperative company and the Miners’ Union. On Wednesday last the company commenced developing their holding, which is a little to the north of the Blackball Company’s old working, and at once met with _ objections from the union. ■ Several meetings have been held to discuss the position, but a strong difference remains between the parties. The company, whch has been formed with £4.000 capital, has Air W. Balderstone, a, prominent Labour supporter, as its secretary. Attending a meeting of the union a few days ago. Air Baldeivtone stated that it was the intention of the company to work the new mine, employing only miners who were resident in Blackball. He also indicated that no provision existed to restrict the supply of coal to the Blackball Coal Company. The new company would, in addition, exercise its nght_ to sell on any market. Objection to the proposals was recorded by the union until the dispute between the union and the Blackball Company had been settled. The negotiations then broke down, and the co-operative company put its plans into operation, and hae continued its working. Aleantime, members of the union have openly declared their intention of resorting to means of stopping the operations.