THE MINISTER FOR MINES ON BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12218, 15 April 1908, Page 2

THE MINISTER FOR MINES ON BLACKBALL STRIKE.

"THE ELNES MUST BE PAID." "THE. LAW MUST BE PARAI MOUJNT. " ' ; Auckland, April 14. Refeiring to the recent developments of the Blackball ruineis' ciiapute in which the raea have gone out on ainke. the Minister tor Mines (the lion. J. McGowan) this morning informed a press represeccative that the law must be carried out. "The men may adopt a certain stand, and beliere they are within their rights," Mr^McGowan said, "but the tine must be paid, of that there is no .possible question of doubt. It ia at present impossible to say what the development, of the future will be," but the law must be paramount, and must bo carried out. No Government can passively stand by and see trio law defied. The public are apt to b 8 hasty, and clamor for au immediate settlement of a rather complex situation. This is not a matter however jfrbich can be rushed through. It may be taken for granted that the Government will do what is right in the Blackball case, and the n'rst thing is to collect this money, and what ia more, there is no doubt that the Government will do it." Christchurch, April 14. Mr D. R. J'ritchard had an interview to-day with Mr Geo. G. Stead, which lasted over one hour, and they discussed the position of mat-

ters at Blackball, as Mr Fritcharcl was not officially t authorised to com iiiit the Miners' Union to any arrangement, the conversation wa? considered merely general.

2 Mr Jliokey, one of the representatives of the Blackball miners, who has beon tour: Jig the Dominion cnileavoring to eniist ptuctical sympathy oh iiibii* behulf,. arrived in Nel son yesterday; During the past live wboks ho has addtesstfd butwetiD twonty and thirty meetiugs in different pu-t3 of the North Island, and in every case resolutions expressing sympathy with the miners in the clispute were carried. To-night, Mr jlickey will address a, public iiieetn.g in the Drtiids'' v ilall. Mr Hiclwy was born at Wangapeka, whero his father at one time owned the property now occupied by Mr falconer.