STATEMENT BY THE WORKERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 31

STATEMENT BY THE WORKERS.

BOTH SIDES FIRM. (Frou Our Own Corkespondent.) GREYMOUTH, March 1. Four of the dismissed men from the Blackball mine have been giving their version of the strike. They first of all wished an emphatic denial to be given to the statement that a telegram had bern received by the Blackball Miners' Union from Mr E. Tregear (Secretary of Labour), expressing sympathy with the miners. The deputation wished this to be made clear. They state that on Wednesday the manager paid his usual round of inppecton in the morning, when everything was apparently all right. At 12.30 he again visited the mine, when the m^n were abruptly dismi°6ed. At that hour he went to whore P. H. Hickey was working, and ordered him out of the mine. Mr Leich was asked for an explanation, but he repl:ed, "You get out; you -will get no explanation from me. Yoii get right out of it.-" In reply to a question Mr Leich said he had nothing against Hickev's mate, Bromilow ; he could stay if he wanted to. Hickey was then e-cort*d out of the mine by the undorviewcr. The manager went to the o'her places, and d'smifsed Milligan, Fox, Goldsmith, Webb, and Hunter, absolutely refus'ng ;n every case to give a reason for dismissal. He then returned to Bromilow and " sarked " him, giving no reason for this action. The union held an ordinary meeting that evening, when the n:at.er came under _disoussion. After the men had explained their case it was decided to desuatch a

deputation to the manager with a request that the men be reinstated. The deputation then waited on Mr Leioh (the mine manager), who gave his explanation. He said the union was enforcing the half-hour crib time, and was also going to try to bring about the eight hours per day, and stop men working the 10 hours' shift. The result was that miners would either have to do their own trucking for two houre, or they would have to shorten hands. He thought the best thing to do was to shorten hands. The deputation then returned to the union, and explained what the manager had said. The meeting almost unanimously resolved that the deputation be instructed to give the manager to understand that unless the men were reinstated all the men would refuse to return to work, the exact motion being as follows: — "That no member of the union resume work in the mine until the men dismissed be reinstated and the time lost from time of dismissal be refunded." The deputation again interviewed the manager, who refused to comply. The delegates then returned to the union meeting, and it was decided not to go to work next day. The union communicated with the unions throughout New Zealand explaining the positon. On Thursday no new developments tcok place. EFFORTS FOR A SETTLEMENT. On Friday, Mr Jas. Isdell, local agent of the Labour Department, visited Blackball. A union meeting was held at 11 a.m., and when it was in progress a message was received from Mr Isdell stating that the manager was now agreeable to come to terms. He would reinstate the men, and try if possible to do away with the 10 hours' shift. The meeting adjourned to consider the proposal, and resumed at 3 p.m., when it was decided that, in order to prevent the dismissed men being victimised in the future, the deputation inform Mr Leich that the men were agreeable to resume work provided " that in the event of the management having to dismiss hands owing to any cause whatever, the men to be dismissed be selected by ballot." Further, it was decided to insist on the payment of lost time. The deputation again interviewed the manager, who refused to entertain for one moment the ballot proposition, nor would he pay back time. His reason for refusing to agree to the ballot was that some miners had vested interests (homes) in Blackball, and if they were balloted out they would be in an awkward position. If the men wore reinstated to-morrow (i.e., Saturday) he could give them 14 days' notice. It was to prevent this that the men insisted on the ballot principle. . The deputation then asked Mr Leich why he had dismissed Fox and Bromilow, both of whom were married men. while the former owned a house. Mr Leich replied that he was not aware of the fact. The deputation then asked why it was that, all the men dismissed were Socialists. The manager replied that he was - not aware that they were. It was here pointed out that the award provided for preference to unionists, while some non-unionists were working in the mine. Mr Leieh then informed the deputation that he would have to see Mr James Leich on the matter. The deputation returned to the union meeting, when it was agreed to let +he case of back time go to the Arbitration Court, but to insist, in order to protect the dismissed men, on the ballot in future. The deputation saw Messrs Walter and James Leich at 6 p.m.. and refused to divert from the demand for a ballot being taken when men were to be discharged. A deadlock was thus created, but it was decided to adjourn till 10 a.m. on Monday, when the position wiU again be diecussed. _ . . , At the union meeting on Friday a telegram was read from Mr Millar (Minister of Labour), asking for particulars so that he cculd judge whether it would be neceseavy to put the law in motion. This was received with laughter and "Pooh poohs. The Blackball Un.ion has received vyi/«s from all parts of the Dominion admiring the .stand taken by the miners. The Wei lington Socialist party and rarious unions throughout New Zealand have promised support . . . . , There is a consensus of opinjon in BlacKball that the sole reason for the dismissal w«is that the men were staunch -unionists and m-embers of the Socialists' cori-Tuttee. On Friday ni?ht 'he dismissed .man ad dressed a crowded meeting of union iSi.s at Brunnorton, wherr it was agreed to support tki> strikers by o\ery possible means. - At Dunollie yesterday afternoon the largest meeting of miners for some time was held, wl-en A motion endorsing the nction of the Blackball -miners was earri'u .->mid much er thusiasm. Last evaning Mr P. H. Hiokey (one of the dismissed men), Mi H M. Fitygera'.d (onra-nise'- <'f th«. Fooialht naitv) and Mr R. fumble (president of the State Collieries Miners' Union) addressed a largo open-air meeting in Gr°yrr:outh. the attendance being considerably over 500. Mr Hickey who outlined the whole affair on similar lines to that given above, stated that there had been a deal of frioHon at the mine ihis year, lotinstance, the amount of coal put through shewed a shortage. The union hold that this was due to the unusually fine ppell of weather drying the -wooe'en tubs, and thus reducing their weight. It was only after considerable pressure had been brought to boar on the manager that he agreed to weigh the tube, and when this was done it was found that some had decreased in weight by 141b and others by as much as 661 b, this accounting for the decreased weight. The miners had not taken their stand rashly, but after due consideration. If they had gone before the Arbitration Court, which had one law for the workere and another for the employers (cheers), — they would have had to wait about 10 or 12 months to get a hearing, durins which time the dismisesd men would have become scattered, and it would be impossible to pret the evidence necessaryOn the other hand, had it been the emoloyers who wanted the court it would have been around in a week or two. — (Cries of "Quite right.") Mr Millar, Minister of Labour, that political turncoat — ("Hear, ltear"), — had wired for particulars co that he could judgo if it was necessary to put the law in motion. When this came before j the meeting the men received it with j laughter and pooh-poohs. He (Mr Millar) ', should not obtrude himself, neither should | Mr Lomas when not required, for the miners could settle the matter themsehres. The fight was really one for liberty of speech and action, and he asked for the support of all workers for the Blackball minera.— (Acclamation.) I

Mr Fitzgerald, who followed, attacked the local members of Parliament (Mesera Guinness and Seddon), and spoke urging the workers throughout the country to supi< port the miners in their fight for right. Mr Semple, who followed, stated thaV the action of the Blackball miners wa» strongly supported by the State collerie* miners. The meeting throughout was very orderly, and was apparently in agreement with the speakers. The effect of the strike was eagerly canvassed yesterday. One aspect of the question is the loading of the s.s. Petone at Greymouth to-morrow. The company has enough coal on hand to fill this vessel, but the question is whether it will be possible to load her. On top of the Blackball trouble come* news from Reefton that it is freelj rumoured that a strike is imminent there.. Regarding the ballot proposal, Mr Hickey states that to overcome the mine manager's objection the union was quite agreeable that married men with homes in Blackball and single men with parents dependent on them should be excluded from the ballot. Thus only single men would go to the ballot* There were 120 men present at the meeting when it was decided to cease working, and of these only five were in favour ol going to work. * STATEMENT BY MR TREGEAR. WELLINGTON, February 29. Mr Tregear denies that he sent any message expressing sympathy with thi Blackball mine strike. QUESTION OF SETTLEMENT. WELLINGTON, February 29. A telegram to the Minister .of Labou* states that an early, settlement of the trouble at Blackball is probable. LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE* (Fkom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. February 29. The Hon. Mr Millar informed me this afternoon that he had heard of no change in the position of affairs at the Blackball I mine. He ie sending Mr Lomas to the scene of the trouble. j It is genei'ally understood that in the j event >t)f an almost immediate settlement j not being arrived at between the company; and the men, the Government will not hesitate strictly to carry out the Jaw against those who- have broken it. It is hopefc. however, that the hitch in the negotiations between th^-Jcqmpany and the strikers will' be got over." In the case of a strike, the officers of the Labour Department first of all investigate the matter, and if in their opinion; the law ha« been broken they report to the head of the department, and instructioija are given to the Crown Prosecutor to prepare the summonses citine -the men to appear before the Arbitration Court to I answer the charge of striking. If, in tho ' opinion of the Arbitration Court, the men j have been guilty of striking, the court ' then inflicts a penalty. If the men do i not pay the 'fine, an application is then made to the Supreme Court for a writ of attachment.