THE MINERS' STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 134, 29 February 1908, Page 5

THE MINERS' STRIKE

*' I POSITION AT BLACKBALL. STATEMENT BY THE MANAGER. : AN OFFER REJECTED. " v (DY TEr.EOItArjI.—PKESS ASSOCIATION.) •• . . . Groymouth, February 28. The position at Blackball ..remains, unaltered.., No .work was dono to-day. The company will " only havo enough coal to fill ono-more steamer. ' ■ The manager, interviewed by a Greymouth "Star" reporter, stated that tho company desired, tho men to werk ten hours-per day, giving tho' men overtime.' This was' refused, and when tho eight hours was goiib back Wi ho had to dismiss somo of tho men, who could not have been profitably employed. ' Later. : The strike at Blackball still All work is suspended. ," ' 7" "r'" 7 This morning; .a meeting of the -Miners' Union was held, when Mr. Isdell, 1 ; of the Labour Department,, notified the Union that the company-was prepared to allow the men; to; rcsuinp',-work at oiioe, and'to permit tho dismissed men to be reinstated. • • .' > ' The chairman of. the /Union read ,V resolution .passed^..unanimously,. at tho .previous meeting . and sent, to tho manager as. follows 'Mhat; no. member, of tho Union re--sumo work in pie mini until the men- dismissed are reinstated, and. tho loss, oftirao from -tinipof; dismissal : refunded." It; wa,s pointed:-out ; that tho last clause had; been ignored by the', manager, .and, tho'meet-; i'ng agreed ,to'hold-out.

;• A deputation to tho manager informed him 'that;the miners:;agreed with tho proposal to rcinstato,-but in order, to prevent tho .men being victimised it had been decided that, iii the event .of tho management having to dismiss hands 'owing; to any cause whatever, the men to bo dismissed bo selected by ballot.; The manager refused'tii agree,' stating that ho wished "to keep in'the ' district' married nien who had built up homes. : j • Tho Union then unanimously' decided not t6 return to' workuntil some arrangements' were made to prevent the men being'victim- 1 ised. " -i. " - ■: ' "No further/development can tako place tomorrow, as;' the meeting adjourried''till Mon-; day at teh o'clock. • .'. ■: ! '• ' The - Hon! J. .A. Millar... telegraphed , for particulars, Vso! as". forjudge if. r a settlement, could bo, arrived- at'withoutJan appeal to the .law.-i not'well received. V • Mr. LoAias.i of tho Labour Department, has telegraphed /that ho .isleaving .Wellington by tho first boat. -.-;•' 7/) .Telegrams of sympathy , and offers of support have been . received. from' Denniston, 'Brilnner; j'Tynesido, and: Granity miners.' i Trogear(Wellington) ; tele-' grapiied. expressing.-sympathy..,.. ,- Mr.'Hj.M;. Fitzgerald, Socialist, organiser, delimed'a'V speech last- night '' at' Blackball urging.tho men to stand'firm. ; ' ■.'Thb-township-'is' quifit'' iiiid'prdorly. r '.v