STRIKE AT BLACKBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 6 December 1916, Page 4

STRIKE AT BLACKBALL.

MINERS STILL OUT. MINISTER OF MINES TO VISIT SCENE. -<, GREYMOUTH, Dec 5. The Blackball and Paparoa coal miners are still on strike. A meeting at Blackball ast night decided to remain out to the end of this week and await developments at other coal mines. The restricted output of the State collieries has been partly raised so far as hewing was concerned, but truckers, formerly paid lOs 'id, are now paid 11/6, including ten per cent, war bonus. The demand for eight and a half per cent. additional would make the truckers' wages 12/3: meanwhile the miners' maximum wage is fixed by the union at 17/6, including a bonus of ten per cent, WELLINGTON. Dec, 5. Members of the National Cabinet have given a good deal of consideration to the industrial situation in the last few days. It was decided that the Hon. W. D. S. McDonald, Minister of Mines, shall visit the mining storm centre on the West Coast, leaving Wellington on Tuesday. The Acting-Pre-mier, the Hon. das. Allen, in announcing this fact, stated that the Government was satisfied with tin; assurance of the Miners' Federation that it was against sectional strikes. Mr P Webb, member for Grey, who also opposed the' strike, would accompany the Minister of Mines. J|7