THE STRIKE AT SHAG POINT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 8 May 1890, Page 25

THE STRIKE AT SHAG POINT.

The mine manager, Mr W. H. Williams, at Messrs Hazletfe and Glendining's colliery at Shag Point, gives a different version of the cause of the strike from that which has been furnished by the miners. Mr Williams states that Blackie, upon whose dismissal the trouble has hinged, went out to work at the mine some two or three months ago, and a day or two afterwards asked if his son might work with him. This permission was granted, and complaints were shortly afterwards made as to the quality of the coal being sent up by them. Blackie thereupon said that he would leave the mine, and talked of giving notice, but he remained although he sent his son away. Blackie was then put to work along with another of the employes, and complaints continued that stone was sent up from the men amongst the coal. Blackie was finally put to work by himself, but no better results were obtained. The top man, or pithead man, whose duty it is to receive the trucks as sent from the mine, kept a box on Thursday and pointed out to Blackie that it contained a lot of stone. Blackie impertinently replied, " You may be very thankful you don't get it worse," and a similar answer was made to the underground overseer, whose reply was, "You have got a fine cheek, Blackie." On Blackie's insubordination being reported to the manager, he told Blackie that he must not go down the mine again, and, according to Mr Williams, Blackie answered, " I will make it the worst day's work you ever had. I will put the union on to you." At 7 o'clock the same evening a deputation waited on Mr Williams, and said that they wished to consult with him as representing the Shag "Valley branch of the Amalgamated Miners and Labourers' Association. Mr Williams says that he told them that there was no union question involved — it was not a matter of reduction of wages, or alteration in the working of the mine— bub the dispute between Blackie and himself was merely as to the quality of the coal being supplied. He further said that he had no objection to the men having a union, but that this must not interfere with their work. As he refused to allow Blackie to return to his work the whole of the men went out on strike, and on doing so examined the coal that had been complained of, and came to the conclusion that it was a fair skip of third-class coal. Mr Williams says that although this was the decision of the men he could not accept their judgment, as if the coal had been sent into town it would have been rejected by customers, and the mine Beriously injured. Over 70 of the miners are now out on strike, and the local union have now called out the enginemen. Should the latter go out the dispute will have reached a most serious stage, for there will be a danger of the mine being flooded, and consequent destruction of the property. Mr Williams is most emphatic in his assertion that he never threatened to discharge Blackie for mentioning the union, or any others belonging to it. As a matter of fact those holding the most responsible positions in the mine were members of the union, and he was aware of that fact. Mr Williams says, however, that he was not aware that Blackie was president of the local branch, and when the deputation represented to him that he had discharged their president his reply was: "Well, if he bad been President of the United States I should also have discharged him for continuing to send up bad coal."

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