THE BLACKBALL STRIKE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9214, 18 April 1908, Page 5

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE

THE QUESTION OF GASES. THE MANAGER 7 S~CHALLENGE. [From Our Correspondent.] GREYMOUTH, April 18. I The mine manager (Mr Lei gat ' Blackball to-day issued the following challenge:-" Sir, I have waited patently until Messrs Hickey and i itehJd returned from their tour round the dominion, and now that they have returned, or are about to *ffi™>* issue the following challenge : lhat^ the Minister of Mines be asked to JJJW* two men, one to be a first-class mine manager the other to be a qualified miner hiving a thorough knowledge ot the gases met with in. coal mines, to inspect the Blackball .mine and it they can find carbon dioxido (black damp), carbon monoxide (white damp), carburretted hydrogen (fire damp), or sulphuretted hydrogen (these are all the gases commonly found in mines) in' any bore, level or hoarding in which the miners worked on the last day the mine worked I guarantee to pay the expenses of 'these two men, and also pay £20 to the Grey River Hospital ; but if, none of the above gases can be found in the aforesaid places, the expenses 01 the two experts and the £20 to the. hospital shall be paid by Messrs Hickey and Pritcbard. Messrs Hickey and Pritchard may go into the mine along with the two experts and myself, and may point out the working places where they say the gases are to be found. My reason for issuing the above challenge is that untruthful statements regarding the ventilation of the Blackball mine have been made by Messrs Hickey and Pritchard,. two of which I will quote in the words of the speakers. The following statement was made by Mr Pritchard: 'Why, then, had he allowed men to work for years amidst danger, among gelatine smoke and black damp and gas damp and othej damps?' Mr Pritchard is reported to have made this statement publicly in Ohristchurch. The following statement was made in a special article to ' The Worker,' written by Mr Hickey r — 'To a miner there is nothing so important as fresh air in sufficient quantities to cany off the fumes of explosives, black damp and other noxious gases, and. in no mine on the West Coast were there more gasos than in the case of the Blackball mine.' I might state that no work has been done in the mine since Messrs Tennent and Hall inspected it, and, therefore, the working places are in the same condition as when left by tb.B miners, and I will leave, it to Messrs Tennent and Hall whether I have altered the conditions or not. Therefore, I would urge upon Messrs Hickey and Pritchard to accept this challange, and have this matter cleared up. I will not correspond with anyone on this matter, but will leave this challange open for three days from the date of the publication of the said challenge, and if at the expiration of that time it is not accepted by Messrs Hickey and Pritchard, the publio of New Zealand will then see that the statements made by Messrs Hickey and Pritchard are false. In conclusion, I might state that I could not allow the above statements to go by unchallenged, as they are ruinous to my reputation, and, in the words of Shakespeare,

He who steals my purs© sieale trash. But he who filches from me my good name Hobs me of that which not 'enriches him, But loavoa me poor indeed. This £ood namo is the greatest treasure in any person's possession."

11'eb Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, April 18. After a stormy meeting the Brunner miners decided to have no sympathy with the strikers, but in order to prevent wives and children suffering decided to call in a 5 per cent levy on the miners' wages. Negotiations for a settlement aro lflcely.