THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11251, 16 April 1908, Page 3

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. "People imagine that nothing has been done by. the Government," said the Minister for Labor (the Hon. J. A. Millar) when discussing the strike situation at Blackball. "There seems to be an idea prevalent that the Department has taken no action, but that idea . is entirely erroneous. What are the facts? The Arbitration Court gave its decision in the case on the 12th of March.' The demand for payment of the fine was * made on the 18th of March and a reply was received from the union on the 20th of March saying it had no funds. This was forwarded to the Chief Inspector of Awards, who then made a demand for immediate payment. On the 30th of March the union again stated it had no funds, and on the 7th of April the Crown Prosecutor at Greymouth was told k) take the necessary legal steps to recover the penalty. He now has the matter in hand. The reason why the demand for payment of the fine in the first instance was not made until the 18th of March was because negotiations were going on for a .settlement. As soon as it became apparent that notliing would be done in this direction, I immediately put the law in motion. The Crown Prosecutor will first proceed against the union officials, and then, if necessary, against every member of the -union." The Minister added that the only way to -render the law thoroughly effective in v relation to the collection . of . fines was to embody in the, Act the proposals submitted in his Bill last year, i.e., the right to follow a -.worker who had been fined to any employer whom he subsequently worked for, and collect a percentage of his wages towards the ultimate liquidation of the penalty. A special meeting of the Employers' Association was held to-day to consider the Government's action in connection with the Blackball strike, and also the question of aiding and abetting, and the matter of Mr Skerrett's opinion of section 14 of the Factories Act Amendment Act, 1907.. The following resolutions were carried': — "That this meeting expresses its disappointment at the turn things have taken in connection with the Blackball strike, and very much regrets the Government's continued inactivity to enforce the Act. The meeting considers that in the best interests of the community as a whole it should be immediately amended and made eriforcable againpt all parties or expunged from the Statute Books of the Dominion altogether." "That as the Government refuses to take prompt action against vnions wliich have been guilty of aiding and abetting the strike in passing resolutions of sympathy and the donations of money to carry on the strike, the New Zealand Employers' Federation be asked to institute proceedings against one or two of the principals, so that a test case may be made, and the position of employers ascertained." "That this meeting is strongly ot the opinion that radical amendments must be made to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act if it is td be of any lasting benefit to the community, and that tlie local federation be appointed to draw up necessary amendments to be approved by a general meeting and forwarded to the federation for submission to employers throughout, the Dominion."