MR TREGEAR’S TELEGRAM.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9119, 11 April 1908, Page 5

MR TREGEAR’S TELEGRAM.

On March 35th Mr Tregear sent the following telegram to the chairman of Blackball Union: —I have been engaged on several occasions with Mr Hickey and Mr M‘Gullough, in endeavouring to find some solution of the present difficulty. I have come to the conclusion that there is no way out of it, except by the Minister’s influence being used with Mr Stead and directors. Ministers, however, will not move after the manner in which a former approach was met, without having the guarantee of Union, through its Executive, that any arrangement made by them would be adhered to. The proposals formulated in my mind are as follow :—■

The directors to grant within a fortnight thirty minutes’ crib time. Restoration of the discharged men to their former position. The payment of half of the fine. The men, on their part, to guarantee that, if these concessions are granted, they will return to work at once.

If the men will ask the Minister to intervene with Mr Stead, the matter need not be made public in any way. In fact, it would be an entirely private arrangement, and one that would be expected to Ibe confidential, so far as the Press is concerned. In regard to payment of half the fine, the Government would give very easv terms' —namely, three months, a portion being paid each mouth, but the final payment to be made within the three months. Personally, I urge yon to accept, because I not only feel that you will gain nearly all the benefits for which the strike was instituted, but also because I have private information that many of the directors are urging that the mine should be r shut down altogether until the ‘railway comes nearer.