THE BLACKBALL STRIKE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9213, 16 April 1908, Page 1

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE

THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS

DUTY.

HON J. A. MILLAR IN DEFENCE,

[Fxom On* CoßßxsroNDKitr.]

WELLINGTON, April 15. " People imagine that nothing has been done by the Government/ said the Minister -'of Labour (the Hon J. A. Millar), when discussing the strike situation at Blackball. " There seems to be an idea prevalent that the Department has taken no action. That idea is entirely erroneous. What are the facts? The Arbitration Court gave its decision in the case on March 12. The demand for payment of the fine was made on March 18. \ A reply was received from the Union on March 20, saying it had. no funds. This was forwarded to the Chief Inspector of Awards, who then made a demand, for immediate payment. On March 80 the Union again stated that it had no funds, and on April 7 the Crown Prosecutor at Greymouth was told to take the necessary legal steps to recover the penalty. He now has the matter in hand. The reason *why the demand for payment of the fine in the first instance was not made until March 18 was because negotiations were going on for a settlement. As soon as it became apparent that nothing would be done in this direction, I immediately put the law in The • Crown Prosecutor will first proceed against the Union officials and then, if necessary, against every individual member of the Union."

The Minister added that the only way to render the law thoroughly effective in relation to the collection of fines was t<> embody in the Act the proposal submitted in his Bill last year. This would give the right to "follow" a worker who had been fined to any employer for whom he subsequently worked and collect a percentage of his wages towards the ultimate liquidation of the penalty.