STRIKE AT BLACKBALL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2944, 2 December 1916, Page 6

STRIKE AT BLACKBALL

NOT FAVOURED BY MINERS LEADERS i DELEGATES GO BACK TO THE COAST No news of developments at Blackall Sr any other West Coast mining contro reached Wellington .yesterday. The secretary, of the Miners' Federation (Mr. ; t\rbuckle), has made a statement in which he expresses disapproval of "sectional action!" but excuses in a measure the action of tho. strikers. It is evident from the general concern of the leaders of tho Minors' Fed-; oration that tlioy do hot want a strike at the present time. Two representatives of tho executive, Mr. P: O'Rourke, the retiring president,. and Mr. Arbuckle, left tor Blackball last,night. ' It". is.' understood : that they will try ' toinduce'the miners to resume'work, but it is not taken for granted even by the members ...of the Federation Executive, that the Blackball men wil; . be disposed to take their advice. If the" Blackball men should .prove obdurate, it is accepted as a'probability that something may'tlienbeheardfrom the other unions'..■• No action will be taken by'other unions .until after the executive delegates have put things to tho men oil Sunday. v STRIKE NOT AUTHORISED. ■ The following special statement regarding tho Blackball trouble was made yesterday by. Mr. J. Arbuckle and Mr. B. Semple, /of the Executive ( of tho Coalminers' Federation: — "Concerning Blackball —they have taken the initiative on themselves. The oxecvitive has. advised them to resumework;.. With regard to the rumours 1 that other mines will stop on Monday,' we put-the statements down as ru- ;. mours, which are not likely to eventuate'at .present at any Tate. ( The executive is bound-, to have something to i, say before that happens.,' There is a tremendous feeling of indignation amongst the miners.regarding conscription, and a grim determination on their part that their liberty shall not ho encroached on by what they deem to bo the evil and unnecessary policy on tho part of the Government. Wo are determined that .if anything is done it must be done in a firm .and business liko way, and not spasmodically. We do not encourage sectional action on the t>art of any union, as this, would not bo effective." , AN ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY. MINERS WILL-'NOT BE .■'■■:.. CONSCRIPTED;. ..'• The Hon. James Allen (Actina-Primc Minister) made a statement to a reporter. Yesterday regarding miners and the ballot. "I wish to make it nerfectly clear," said the Minister, "that if a man is drawn in the ballot not only lirfs he a rip-lit to anneal to' the Military Service Boards, hut his.employer has also tho sight to apncal. I am very anxious indeed thf-t tho coal miners should be retained in the industry, because.'this is of very great importance to New Z«aland. In oixlt.i to assist tbcm .in their appeals to Hie Military Service Boards.- a regulntio'i was '.published in the ■Gir/nttp. of (I think) October 1, under which the Min-i-fibi of Munitions—a'thonah 't states •Minister of Defence in the. Gazette — I'iay send a certificate;+o the Militarv. '■Service.Board stati™ that a miner is T-vruirr' 1 in the industry and nxemntion will bo ("'anted. I hon'V that the coal miners will tb"t +hou<;h they may be called, in" the ballot we look *o tb«m to "tend in notices of anneal, and the Defence TJejyr.tment will help, them in.every, way." MINERS STILL IDLE. By Telegraph-r-Press Association. Greymouih. December 1. Tho blackball coal mine was idle to- : day. 'Hie executive of the Miners' I Federation is expected to arr ; "o to-mor-row. A. further meeting will he held on Sunday next, .but. in the meantime there will be no work at the nvnes.