UNREST AT COAL MINES

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1929, Page 8

UNREST AT COAL MINES

THREAT OF WIDER STRIKE DEMONSTRATION AT BLACKBALL. 25 PUNISHED FOR “CONSPIRING.” ■ By 'Tel egrap-h.—Press Association. Greymouth, November 11. Twenty-two men and three women were charged in the Court with conspiracy in connection with the Blackball mine dispute. They were charged with demonstrating by the house of James Levings, an engine-driver at the mine. , The police gave evidence that on Wednesday evening a crowd of 250 assembled by the house, yelling, hooting, banging kerosene tins, and singing “We’ll hang James Levings on a sour apple tree.” Levings was due to go on a shift at 10 p.m., and it was apparent that the demonstration was for the purpose of preventing him working. Each defendant was convicted and fined £l, with costs. One man was also fined ss. for throwing a stone at the house. The police report that all is quiet at Blackball to-day. It is now reported that stop-work meetings will be held throughout the Buller district to-morrow, when the question of striking or not will be discussed. The trouble has its origin in Blackball over the employment of two non-unionists. It is generally considered that if the strike eventuates, it will be confined to the West Coast.