The Blackball Strike

Southland Times, Issue 12120, 28 April 1908, Page 3

The Blackball Strike

CRIB TIME CONCEDED. UNION MAKES NEW DIEFIOULTY. MINERS' STRIKE PAY. Per United Press Association. OREYMOUTU, April 27. Ther» waa groat hope of a. settlement ol lh. Blackball utrkke cm Saturday, when a oo tifiTrmU was httd between the presltlwal and secretary o( tho Onion, the Hon. A. U. Guinness, and tho mine manager. It had leated out that tho Company was prepared to grant the half hour cribtlmo, end from, all appearances nothing remained to keep tho men hut on sthiMn At) tho conference the manager slated that he was prepared to grant the miners half an hour cribtime provided the mine was worked on the same conditions as before the strike. The Union representative agreed to accept the manager’s terms as far as tho half hour cribtimo was concerned ; hut refused to allow the truckers to work ten hours. They were prepared to allow two c? the truckers who had responsible positions to put in the extra time, hut he wanted the miners to do the rest of the trucking. This the manager would not agree to. as it meant reducing the output of the mine and running a risk of accident, owing to allowing men to undertake work thoy were unaccustomed to. The manager's conditions were put before a meeting of the Union nnd it was decided by fit to !1 not to accept them, hut to remain out on strike. Tho decision was arrived at by open Voting. It is alleged that Mr Hickey gave the mlr.«rs to understand that they would 'gel; just «S .good support on the trucker question as on that of cribtimo. The only point in dispute was the half hour, cribtime, and now that that is set(led tho men advance the plea of the truckers. The truckers before the strike were anxious to work the -overtime a, they received time and a half for it. but now the Union will not allow them to dr.

Since the strike commenced between 30 nnd 40 miners have left Blackball t«r fresh Mils. Consequently the strike fund f. divjtW amongst (hose remaining. Tt is statvyl that the sum of £8 10a finds its way into one home weekly. Ibe father rets £1 10s, mother 10s, the four sons (strikers) Cl IPs each, and two children ."s each. One miner rave it out that he is saving money out of his strike paj.