THE MINERS' EMISSARIES:

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9191, 21 March 1908, Page 7

THE MINERS' EMISSARIES:

MR PRITCHARD'S "WELCOME. [From Otra Gobbespondhtt.] GREYMOUTH, March 20. The "Grey Star's" Christchurch correspondent telegraphed recently that the Blackball miners* delegate would not Teoeive much support from unionists there. Apparently to contradict this, Mr Thorn, secretary of the Trades and. Labour Council of Canterbury,

telegraphs to the Blackball Union* *--j "The Ohristchurch Political Lftbtfff League denies the statement that the workers here are unsympatbetio. Mr Pritohard was welcomed last night at a big meeting." i At a meeting of tie Political Labottf : League on Wednesday evetang^^corres-' pondence was received froMHShe TMackball Miners' Union, asking for financial assistance. Considerable d&oufisiotk ensued as to whether such assistance .: should be given. It was resolved that a subscription list should be. circulated amongst membere and a robsfcantial sum was collected at the meetjßg. Attention w*» drawn, to a tejfgram appearing in. the " Lytteltqn. Irau* " relative to the lack of sympathy amongst the workers for the Blackball minart, and the secretary was insfcrdoted to tolefljraph to the Blackball UnfcMi, con* tradioting the statement. ..:.. ; Mr D. K. Pritohard vM$& #ytii&ton yesterday and made arrangements with the wharf labourers the*©* to hold! a meeting >on Monday evening, when; he will give an addresß on the Blackball strike. t ' ./'•'■ In connection with! the fepbtt of Mtf J. Thorn's remarks at^th^,. Socialists' meeting on Thursday night, some ra** - prise has been exTyresseoT "fcha^r jwie pw sident of the Trades and I^bwor'Council shouia speak as he did. Mp.Thoml told a reporter yesterday tKat he did not speak es an official of tike Uplincil or any other body, but sdmply as ai private individual. The meeting, wait held by. the Socialist Party and wad op<m io anyone interested.- -■■ Mr D. K. Pritchard has 3fawn" alh tention to an error in th©; 'report' of hie speech on Thursday /evening. Bfei was reported to have stated thsix there ; were faces in the Blackball mine whicH : no air could reaoh for for^rei^tii hoors at a time. He stated tihat there wera : faces which were forty^ feet from *t*h3 ; : actual current of air in the maiii conraes, for want of a few yards of brattice. . ■■■; ■ - —————— i——l» \ ■;.■: