BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9108, 30 March 1908, Page 5

BLACKBALL STRIKE.

OTHER UNIONS REFUSE TO STRIKE. Per Press Association. Greymouth, March 29. UMie Blackball miners received ~a great disappointment on Saturday when the Tyneside miners, by a large majority, refused to strike. The delegates from Blackball arrived to"attend and address the meeting, but were refused admittance owing to their not being members of the Union. Mr Russell, a director of Tyneside, aud also a member of the Union, attended the meeting and pointed out the great loss that they incur by the mine being closed down. The vote against the strike was 78 to 13. The news was received in Blackball with disgust, it being understood that the Tyneside miners would stand by the Blackball men. A meeting of the Wharf Labourers’ Union was held this afternoon to consider striking out of sympathy with tiie Blackball miners. It was unanimously decided not to strike, aud that a levy of 5 per cent, on the men’s total wages bo made for the maintenance of the women aud children. The sum of .-£5 Os (id was collected in the hall. A CORRECTED REPORT.

Greymouth, March 30. At a largely attended meeting .of Brunner Miners’ Union on Saturday afternoon a motion was moved as follows “That the Blackball Union be informed that this Union cannot entertain such r« proposal, as it is not in accord since with the Industrial Arbitration and Conciliation Act, and this Union does not favour the cancellation of the Act, and until such cancellation we are bound to abide by -the Act.

An amendment was moved as follows “That we respectfully request the management to refrain from supplying orders from the .Blackball Coal Company, and that an early reply be requested. ” lu the discussion that followed, no one was in favour of a strike which it was recognised would be a very foolish step to take. Mr Bussell was not present: at the mooting, nor were the representatives cf Blackball miners. Many married miners, who opposed the strike, came to town as usual, knowing that the Blackball proposal would bo rejected by an overwhelming majority. This proved to be the case, the voting being 87 to 12.