BLACKBALL DISPUTE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9098, 19 March 1908, Page 5

BLACKBALL DISPUTE.

MEN TIRED OF IT,

Press Association

Grevmouth, March 18 g “Let us,” says this morning’s Argns, “dare the Blackball,Union to settle by a vote by ballot whether the men shall go back to work or not. Does it not seem the height and fifty men swayed by a nondescript creature, who is not a miner, and apparently knows very little of any sort of honest work beyond mouthing and posturing as an agitator? Let some one who objects to acting the fool any longer demand that the vital 'question of resuming work or not be settled by secret ballot. There is a prevailing conviction that the silent miners want to go to work, only they are deferred by the blatant howlers and open voting. ”

THE REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. Auckland, March 19. Auckland Trades and Labour Council deferred consideration of a request for financial assistance from Blackball miners pending the receipt of correspondence. BUNKUM FROM BARCLAY. Mr Barclav, addressing his constituents, generally approved of the Government policy, but he thought redistribution of seats should only take place every 10 years. He regretted the Blackball strike, but said the miners were insulted and tortured bj the dismissal of seven of their leaders. He was satisfied that these seven men were marked because of their exertions on behalf of their fellows, and because the position they took up in endeavouring to assist them to better their condition. A vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously passed.