THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9123, 16 April 1908, Page 5

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

STATEMENT BY MR MILLAR. Press Association. Wellington, April 15. “People imagine that nothing has been done by the Government,’’ said the Minister for- Labour (the Hon. J. A. Millar), when discussing the strike situation at Blackball. “There seems to be an idea prevalent that the Department has taken no action. That idea is entirely erroneous. What are the facts? The Arbitration Court gave its decision in the case on the 12th March. The demand for payment of the fine was made on the 18th March. A reply was received from the Union on the 20th March, saying it had no funds. This was forwarded to the Chief Inspector of Awards, who then made a demand for immediate payment. On tiie 30th March the Union again stated it had no funds, and on the 7th April the Crown Prosecutor at Greymouth was told to take the necessary legal steps to recover the penalty. He now has the matter in hand. The reason why the demand for payment of the fine in the first instance was not made until the 18th March was because negotiations wore going on for a settlement. As soon as it became apparent that nothing would be done in this direction I immediately put the law in motion. The Crown Prosecutor will first proceed against the Union officials. Then, if necessary, against every individual member of the Union. ’ ’

The Minister added that the only way to render the law thoroughly effective in relation to the collection of tines was to embody in the Act the proposal submitted in his Bill last year, i.e., the right’to “follow” a worker who had been fined, to any employer whom he subsequently worked for and collect a percentage of his wages towards the ultimate liquidation of the penalty.

DUNEDIN EMPLOYERS’ ACTION. Dunedin, April 15. A special meeting of the Employers’ Association was held to-day to consider the Government’s actions in connection with the Blackball strike, and also the question of aiding and abetting—Mr Skerrett’s opinion of section 14 of the Factories Act Amendment Act, 1907. The following resolutions were carried ; “That this meeting of the Otago employers express its disappoinmteut at the turn tilings have taken in connection with the Blackball strike, and very much regrets tire Government’s continued .inactivity to enforce the Act. The meeting considers that in the best interests of the community as a whole it should be immediately attended to, and made enforceable against all parties, or expunged from the statute books of the Dominion altogether.'- ’ “That, as the Government refuse to take prompt action against those Unions which have been guilty of aiding and abetting the strike, in passing resolutions of sympathy and donation of money to carry on the strike, the New Zealand Employers’ Federation be asked to institute proceedings against one or two of the principals, so that a test case may be made and the position of the employers ascertained.” “That this meeting is strongly of opinion that radical amendments must be made to the Industrial, Conciliation, and Arbitration Act, if it is to be of any lasting benefit to the community, and that the local federation bo appointed to draw up the necessary amendments (to be approved by a general meeting) and forwarded to the Federation for submission to the employers throughout the Dominion.”