QUESTION OF CRIB TIME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 32

QUESTION OF CRIB TIME.

WORKERS FINED. (From Our Own Correspondent )

GREYMOUTH, March t.

One of the most interesting events today in connection with - the Blackball strike was Mr Turton's judgment in the charges against two miners of refusing to obey the command of the manager. " The facts," said his Woiehip. "show that defendants refused to resume work at the expiration of 15 minutes' crib time, and claimed .that crib time now extended for 30 minutes. For a number of years crib time has been 15 minutes."' On January 23 last the secretary of the Blackball Miners' Union %vrote to the informant: "I am instructed to write notifying you that the union had decided to have 30 minutes for meal time, and the same to come into operation on and after Monday, January 27, 1908." To this letter the informant wrote a reply, :,sking the secretary by what authority the union extended crib time, and went on to say: "This company* will expect all the workmen to resume work after the expiration of 15 minutes for meal time." The secretary of the union then wrote :. " I have laid your communication before a general meeting of my union, and I have been instructed to inform you that it was decided to adhere to 30 minutes for meal time." It is, I think, quite 'clear that the union had no authority at all to alter the crib time from 15 *o 30 minutes. It might, "with as little show of reason, claim to extend it from 15 minutes to, 6ay, an fcour and a-half. The secretary's letter therefore could not change the time, although that letter had another effect, which I ehall presently mention. There is an award in force between the Blackball Coal Miners' Union and the Blackball Coal Company, clause 30 of which reads as follows:— "Should any matter or dispute arise during the term of this award, end not herein provided for, such matter oldispute ehall be dealt with by mutual agreement between the president of the union and Mr Scott, the manager of the company." In no place .in the award is crib time mentioned. Although the secretary's letter could not extend the meal time, yet the eorespondence shows that' there was a disagreement or dispute over orib time. As that subject was not provided for in the award, it would seem that the parties to the award should avail themselves of clause 30. and have the matter settled by agreement That clause may present a difficulty owing to a change of mine manager, but this court is not concerned with that aspect of the case. There is a dispute betwe?n the parties to the award, which remains unadjusted. .1 am not concerned with that in adjudicating upon the information. I am merely dealing with a charge against the defendant of refusing to obey orders, and I see no reason to preclude my doing so. As this case was brought merely to test the point, defendant is convicted and fined se, and court costs (78) and counsel's fee (£1 Is). Naturally the decision has been received with jubilation by the employers' representatives, but the workers claim that, they are not yet beaten, and that a conference will now have to be held to settle the" point. RESOLUTION BY SOCIALISTS. WELLINGTON, March 2. At the close of a Socialist meeting last night the following motion was proposed : "That this meeting of trade unionists and Socialists heartily sympathises with the seven miners dismissed without cause from ; the Blackball mine, and congratulates their fellow workers on their promptness in i espousing the cause of their victimised fellows. We trades unionists and SocLali ts j pledge ourselves to render moral and financ ial assistance during the continuance , of their struggles against- ' class tyranny.' " I The motion was carried unanimously.