WEST COAST MINES

Otago Witness, Issue 4032, 23 June 1931, Page 49

WEST COAST MINES

THE TRIBUTE SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION BY UNIONISTS. GREYMOUTH. June 16. Between 700 and 800 Grey district miners to-day held a demonstration at Blackball against the introduction of the tribute system at the West Coast collieries, including Blackball, where the company, after a five months’ dispute with the union, has leased an area to a party of 11 miners who formed a company with a capital of £4OOO. From all the Grey district unions parties of miners travelled to the demonstration, which was orderly. Previously numerous police were drafted to Blackball, 35 men under Inspector Fitzpatrick being present to-day. Their only intervention was to prevent the procession from proceeding in the direction of the residence of the leader of the party which has obtained an area from the company. The demonstrators visited the vicinity of the party’s operations, where they sang “ The Red Flag,” then returning to the township, hooting as they passed the houses of members of the party. The proceedings opened at 9 a.m. at the Miners' Hall. Speeches were delivered by Messrs John Smeaton (president of the United Mine Workers), Angus M'Lagan (secretary), J. K. Connell (State miners’ president). A. M'Alavey (secretary), W. Barker (Grey Valley miners' president). W. Purdy (secretary), and RClarke (Blackball miners’ secretary). The procession began at 11.30, and was headed by the Pipers’ Band. It circled the town, finally reaching the foot of the hill where the party is engaged, and where a force of police was stationed. After singing “ The Red Flag ” the men returned to the Miners’ Hall, where luncheon was served to all the visitors, and was followed by a concert. Then a mass meeting passed the following resolutions:— 1. “ That members of the union accept no work under the Blackball Coal Company until the matter has been discussed and sanctioned by the union.”

2. “That the unions of the Grey district pledge themselves to fight the * tribute ’ system to the last ditch.” The demonstration was then peacefully concluded, the visiting miners departing ■homewards in buses.