THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13533, 2 March 1908, Page 6

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

SUPPORT FROM UNIONS.

BOTH SIDES DTTERMINED

Per Press Association.

GREY MOUTH, February 29.

A crowded meeting of unionists at Brnnner last- night decided to support the strikers. The Wellington Trades and Labour Council and the Wellington Socialist party promised support, to the ir.tn. Many telegrams have been, received from Unions in all parts of the Dominion admiring the stand of the miners. Mr Lomas", Chief Inspector of Factories, arrives on Monday and will attend the conference.

At present both sides seem determined. The miners insist on a ballot when men are to be dismissed, but the manager will not entertain such a proposal. The miners' representative deny that Mr Tregear sent a message of sympathy.

WELLINGTON, February 29

Mr Tregear denies that he sent any mtfsage expressing sympathy with the Blackball mine strike.

A telegram to the Minister of Labour states than an early settlement i.f the trouble at Blackball is probab!-.

CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE

On February 12th two miners were charged at the Greymouth Warden's Court with disobedience of the manager's instructions. The facts us put before the Court were that -some years ago half an hour's! crib time was allowed. At the request of the Miners' Union this time wax Ttduced to a quarter of an hour, thus enabling the men to leave the mine a quarter of an hour earlier. When the eight hours bank-to-bank principle was placed on the statute book, the miners rcwrtJiL to half an hour, which meant that the: actual working time was a, good deal lesis than seven hours. Tin; rnanager ordered that only a quarter of an hour's crib time should be observed. but. this in struction was disobeyed. For the defence ttio point was raised that the Court- iiad no jurisdiction, and that the matter should go before the Arbitration Court. 'I he warden resierved fiis decision. wliicli has not yet been given. On Ttiursday last tiie underground man ager visited seven different colli, is and dismissed them without, any explanation. Such an act. is is alleged, being roir'tr.iry to an award of the Arbitration Court. an explanation was asked for. which was refused. A special meeting of the Union was called for 7.30 o'clock, wh-ti. after the dismissed mm had stated their treatment. it. was decided to refuse to iclnrn to work until the seven men vere iem-

stated. A deputation was also appointed to wait- on the underground manager and ask for an explanation why the men were dismissed. The answer was that in future the mine would only work eight hours a. day, so he could do without the men in question, a course which, it is contended, is not in accordance with the award. The deputation later on paid another visit to the underground manager, and informed him of the decision arrived at fay the Union, and his reply was to the effect ihat that was all he wanted to know. The names of the men dismissed are P. H Hickey, T. Milligan, S. Webb', J. Goldsmith, W. Bromilow, H. Fox and G. Hunter, all of whom are on the committee of the local branch of the Socialistic Partv. All the works are at a standstill, and there is no indication of any attempt at <» settlement <at present.