THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11250, 15 April 1908, Page 3

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

(Per P. ess Association.) AUCKLAND, last, night. Referring to tho recent developments tjf the BlacKball miners' dispute, in which the men have gone out on strike, the •Minister for Mines (the Hon. Mr McGowan) this morning- informed u press reporter that the law must be carried out. "The men may adopt a certain stand, and believe they are within their rights,'* Mr McGowan said, "but the fine must be paid. Uf that there is no possible question of a doubt. Ib is at present impossible to say what the ' developments of the future will be, but the law must be paramount, and must be carried out. No Government can passively stand by and see the law defied. The public are apt to be hasty and clamor for an immediate settlement of a rather complex situation. This is not a matter, however, which can be rushed through. It uiay be taken for granted that the Government will do what is right in the Blackball case, aud the first thing is to collect this money. What is more, thfcre .6 no doubt that, the Government will do it." CHRISTOHURCH, last night. Mi*. D. K. Pritchard had an interview to r day with Mr Geo. G. Stead, which lasted Over art hour, and discussed the position of matters at Blackball. As Mr . Pritchard was not oflicially authorised- to commit the union to any arrangement, tho 'conversation was merely general.